This is a little exercise from my workshops and retreats. I don’t always do it. And I only do it with people who won’t think it’s really silly. But if people are prepared to go with it, then it can be interesting.

So what is it then? Well, I sometimes ask people to pause and take five or ten minutes to write a letter to themselves from their writing. Yes, that’s right. A letter to the writer from their writing.

I ask, What does your writing need you to do? What does your writing want from you now, at this minute? Sometimes I also ask if the writing has any advice about how to proceed.

OK, this sounds dopey. But there is a kind of method in its peculiarity. Switching your headset to become your writing is also often a switch to a more distanced perspective. And /or a more…