On Not Writing. Part Three.

So I'm eight months into my year of not writing (see My Inhale Year and On Not Writing for the back story) and no surprise really: I'm reading more.

But what I didn't expect is how much more deeply I'm taking writer's words in. Without my own ongoing churning, there's more space for concentration, as if I've put sound reduction headphones on and the voices, including my own, have been dialed down. There's simply less noise.

Rather than freaking me out, I'm finding it rather liberating. I'm drinking the words in, swirling them around, allowing them to activate my tastebuds. Swallowing what tastes good and letting the rest go. I did, after all, designate this as my inhale year.

All of this ingesting has, however, made me more selective. It's allowed me to take note of the writing I like best: work that stimulates my intellect, touches my heart or makes me laugh. I am identifying how my voice is similiar and different and what ingredients I might add or take away to access more of my own.

All in the hope that when I release them, my words will offer readers the tastiest version.

Photo by Ellen Blum Barish. Copyright 2016.