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Digging into "Discipline"     by Alicia King  c. 2007 

As a translator, I’ve learned to be sensitive to the connotations that color the words we use. A word's significance within the culture cannot be removed from the minds of readers. When these meanings collide with the intent of the original text, a translator must select an alternate word.

Of the nine meanings in the definition of the noun “Discipline” only one holds the spirit of a consistent writing practice: “2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training”. The remaining meanings are not positive; synonyms are under the entry for “Punish”. The etymology of the word at “disciple” is that of a student or pupil. As noted in the Online Etymology Dictionary, the “sense of ‘treatment that corrects or punishes’ is from the notion of ‘order necessary for instruction’.”

My internal editor enjoys inhibiting the creation of new work with censorship and tools of fear and doubt. She would too happily wield a whip to “correct and train” my creative spirit. I have worked hard to befriend my inner editor, to ensure that she and I are working on the same team toward a common goal of quality written work. To use this image offers too much power to the shadows of my inner world.

I will have to choose another word.

What about “training”? This is also relative to the idea of education - being “dragged behind” a teacher, so to speak. I wonder if a push-and-pull relationship is what I want to undertake….

“Rigor” is too stiff and “regimen” too authoritarian. To cultivate a “habit” implies too little conscious choice. A “routine” refers to “the beaten path” which the creative must strive to avoid!

I like the word “exercise”, the idea of activity and keeping busy, and the etymology of “removing restraints”. I also like the word “practice” though it implies habitual and customary work; it also refers to practical measurable accomplishment, even expertise. “Ritual” has a religious overtone that I don’t mind - why not use writing as a rite to the divine?

After much consideration, my favorite replacement for the word “discipline” is “diligence”. “1. constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.” The only connotations are “care or caution”, “attentive care; heedfulness”. Originally from diligere: "value highly, love, choose”, the meaning evolved from "love" through "attentiveness" to "carefulness" to "steady effort."

The word diligence reflects a motivation of love, rather than mechanical habit or rote. Diligence allows for the care with which I must nurture my work; my internal editor morphs from a brutal sergeant into a cautious mother.

I no longer strive for discipline, but diligence instead.

Alicia King (email: contact@lilifx.com) is a writer for Suite 101 though her own website is still under construction. She writes, breathes, bikes, and gardens in East Point, Georgia.

 

Disciple of Creativity   by Grace Allison  Copyright 2007

As a disciple of creativity, I become the piece I am writing. A structured environment of meditation, physical exercise, music, and photos is vital to my process. I take walks near the lake where I live, do yoga and workouts at a local gym.  Music assists me with staying in my heart; I use classical, Greek, Hawaiian, anything with a strong beat that resonates with the piece I am writing. I paste photos, hang objects and sometimes dress in the theme of my writing.

Writing for me is a love affair with words, surrendering to the inspired intention beyond my mind to the truth of an idea. The story becomes my lover, who shares its sacred secrets of what it wants told.  Any daily physical, mental or spiritual exercise assists my internal courage into mad hatter endorphins; I fly and follow the joy.

 In the spring of 2006, I wanted to enter a story into the Mayborn Conference in July. I was packing for a trip to Hawaii when my story lover showed me a rainbow and said I should write a story of Hawaii.

In meditation one morning before my trip, I sat on my bed and closed my eyes, and breathing deeply I began to hold the intentions of a story of Hawaii in my heart. I breathed in and out, inwardly repeating, “God Bless You I love, God Bless You I love you.”  Letting go I felt a carefree loving warm wind blowing words, phrases and pictures that seemed to fall from a Texas-size sky onto my inner screen.  I peaked out every few minutes for only a few microseconds to write into my journal.  When the story lover stopped, I havehad an outline that included rainbows, peace, legends and the many cultures that live in Hawaii.

While on my trip, I took time each day to bless my story lover through my meditation process. During the two-week visit to the land of rainbows, I followed my story lover’s instructions to visit bookstores, read the local newspaper and write down my many conversations with the people I met.

At home, my writing routine for the next three months found me immersed in the slack key music of the islands; I glanced at the photo of Maui next to my computer screen, and allowed my story lover to direct the words on the page.

When my lover stopped talking, I turned off the computer, went shopping or did housework and allowed the story lover to visit when it was ready. Sure enough as I continued through my day, my lover whispered ideas for research and story lines. 

By May I had a 3500-word essay ready for the Mayborn Conference on “Discovering Aloha.” In June, I received an invitation from the Mayborn inviting me to attend the conference.

 

Grace Allison is author of A Dream Is A Wish The Heart Makes and lives in Dallas, Texas.  She works at Southern Methodist University in property management of one of SMU’s office buildings.