Zen and the Art of Paper Training

Whenever I go back to my writing books ('cause it's always better to read about writing than actually do it), I end up pulling Bird by Bird off of the shelf.

Looking at one of my new favorite blogs today ('cause it's always better to read about getting organized than to get organized), I see an Anne-ism that I had forgotten about.

I haven't thought about Anne or Bird by Bird for awhile, now I'm gonna have to go back and revisit. I'm sure it will be like catching up with an old friend. Anybody remember when she used to write on Salon? Oh wait, I see she's back. Maybe it's me who strayed away.

Putting the puppy back on the paper. It's a secret we already know about, like trying to tame the monkey mind that Natalie Goldberg talks about.

Simple ... like learning to meditate. Just sit and count your breaths. 1, 2, 3, 4. And then repeat. Do that for 15-30 minutes a day. And when you forget what number you're on, go back to one and have a do-over.

Focus, lose focus, refocus.

Or as Samuel Beckett said, "fail again, fail better."

Now, where did I put that puppy paper?