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I might be getting too involved with my writing, work or otherwise, to get any blogging done.

But I think I’m absorbing a lot of good advice on writing in the meanwhile, and here I share with you something Natalie Goldberg says about preparing to write.

“….right before you are planning to write, a good preparation is to become an animal. Move slowly, stalking your prey, which is whatever you plan to write about, no matter what else you might be doing at the moment–taking out the garbage, walking to the library, watering the garden. Get all your senses intent. Turn off your logical mind–empty, no thoughts. Let your words come from your belly. Bring your brain down to your stomach and digest your thoughts. let them give nourishment to your body. Have a round belly, like Buddha, breathing all the way inside. Don’t hold in your stomach. Be patient and measured. Let the writing percolate below the level of thought forms, in the subconscious and through your veins.”

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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3 Comments

  • Mental Mist says:

    yep sound advice! all the best Damyanti, do tell once you are written, i would love to read!

  • “stalking your prey” is a good way to put it. When I’m getting ready to write (or rewrite), I feel like I’m circling around my ideas, studying them and learning their habits. Everything I do becomes somehow about the writing, even prosaic tasks like washing up the dishes are seen through the lens of the writing. Which is helpful, but can annoy those around us.

    “Are you listening to me at all?” they say.

    “Yes,” I answer, thinking It’s interesting the way she tilts her head when she’s annoyed. I wonder if I can use that?

  • lotusgirl says:

    Yes. Let it simmer! Let it sink in. Then pour it all out!