Taoist Pearls, Wisdom for Writers: Effortlessly

the ripple

disappears

still lake

–Terry Chitwood

The ripple disappears by itself. Without effort. Just let go. However, letting go isn’t always that easy. In fact, behaving effortlessly can be more difficult than using effort. Can effortlessness be learned?  Yes.

Set Words Free

Effortlessness is a state of mind. As writers, we need to let words choose themselves, arrange themselves on the page, and quit coming when they’re done. We need to let words out of prison, giving them absolute freedom.

Still Lake

When we let our thoughts about what we should be writing settle, then the still lake inside can write for us—without effort . . . with flow.