The Writing Practice of Non-Attachment
By: Mary Gallagher
Tags: Letting Go, Writers Life, Writing Tips, Books And Authors, Writers On Writing

Natalie Goldberg says that we should practice non-attachment to our writing. To write and let it go into the world.

Most times, as writers, we grow very attached to our own writing. And rightfully we so: we spend hours at the keyboard crafting what we want to say, being vulnerable, and rereading to revise and edit. It’s personal.

Some refer to their writing and books as their babies, because it feels like we are giving life to something important and unique. Writing — good writing that is — comes from the depths of our hearts and memories and painful or profound experiences.

Even when we’re not writing directly about ourselves what we produce is connected to us in some way — it has to be or it wouldn’t be in us to bring forth.

I admit that I often go back and reread my Medium articles. Sometimes to remind myself what I wrote and need to hear again, other times to check in to see if I am producing something worth reading.

We seek validation and acceptance. We check for fans and likes and comments and claps. We are eager for someone to read our latest post and let us know that it meant something to them. We are feedback junkies.

To practice non-attachment is literally and emotionally challenging. Goldberg suggests some ways to do this in the chapter called Spontaneous Writing Booths from Writing Down the Bones.

We are a part of everything, When we understand this, we see that we are not writing, but everything is writing through us. — Natalie Goldberg

Spontaneous Writing Booths. Set up a writing booth at a local festival or carnival and offer to write poems. Charge a nominal fee like a buck and when children and adults give you a topic like their favorite color, faith, happiness, or puppies, you write about it until you fill one side of the page and then hand it over never to be seen by your eyes again.

No rereading, no editing. Just write and release.

Goldberg once received a letter from a man who told her that he joined the Coast Guard to get his head on straight. He only took two things with him: photos of his family and the poem she had written for him.

Goldberg doesn’t remember what she wrote for him that day, but that’s exactly the point! It wasn’t for her, it was for him.

Haikus out to sea. In Japan, some haiku writers put their poems in a bottle and send them out to sea.

I’ve thought of more ways to practice non-attachment with writing.

Write your own cards — birthday, anniversary, Christmas. You have words for the people that mean so much to you so don’t abdicate your role as a writer to Hallmark. Trust what comes from the heart.

Social media. Use Facebook and Instagram as a practice ground. Instead of trying to be profound and polished, dash off what comes to mind when you share the picture of your latest hike or the smiles of your grandkids. Don’t reread, don’t count likes, just practice the non-attachment of letting go.

TIP: Use stories instead of posts because they disappear in 24 hours — the analogy of setting your words out to sea.

In what ways do you practice non-attachment with your writing?

Writing about writing:

How the Practice of Morning Pages Will Make You a Better Writer

When Inspiration Strikes but You Are Unprepared

And letting go: