Let's talk about the 'D' words
...otherwise nothing will ever get written
I’ve recently returned from a Vipassana meditation course. This basically means I’ve spent ten whole days in a darkened room with 120 other meditators in absolute silence. If you’ve never tried a good stint of sitting down and shutting up, I can highly recommend it! Without all the usual distractions of other people, work, phones, global disasters, etc. my mind was able to whirr its way into quiet. And from the quiet all kinds of inspirations, revelations and understandings emerged.
The first stage of this meditation practice involves focusing the attention entirely on the breath. Other thoughts might arise, but don’t get distracted by them. Come back to the sensations of the breath entering and leaving the body. Once this has been mastered, the next part of the practice involves scanning the body from head to toe, observing (but, very importantly, not responding to) physical sensations. Maintain perfect equanimity, the teacher, S N Goenka, reminds us repeatedly. Tingling in head? Remain equanimous. Ache in shoulder? Remain equanimous. Numbness in foot from sitting crossed-legged? Remain equanimous.
From day 4, we are instructed to sit three 60 minute sessions of “Strong Determination” (or adhiṭṭhāna) a day. That means not moving at all for the entire hour and sharpening up awareness, attention and equanimity to the max.
It’s tough. Painful at times, both physically and emotionally. But, oh my, it is so worthwhile.
Which brings me to the ‘D’ words. To make serious progress in meditation, to go beyond the stage of daydreaming and to find those moments of pure focus that might lead to ecstatic bliss, one has to work. One has to show up every day, to sit in one place, to focus and try, and fail and try, and fail and try again. Aka one requires that strong determination along with a good spoonful of discipline and a side order of dedication.
And this is the same with all creative practices - writing included. If you want to write, it’s no good just staring out of the window having Deep and Meaningful Thoughts. There’s no point just wafting around telling everyone about your Fabulous Idea for a Book. You have to find the determination to sit down and put the words on the page.
Determination. Discipline. Dedication.
The ‘D’ words might not feel terribly sexy. But they are exactly what we all need.
Now, get offline and go do some writing!
love,
Alison x
PS If you’d like a prompt to get you started today, plus my suggested reading for this month, AND five places to submit your work (or if you’d just like to show some love for all that WriteClub offers) become a paid subscriber today - yay!
Upcoming workshops
Join us on Thursday 18th December 7-9pm [GMT] for this online creative writing workshop exploring the theme of gifts — the ones we give, receive, and discover within ourselves. Respond to inspiring prompts through poetry, personal essay, or fiction, and see where your words take you.
Only 20 spaces available. Booking essential. Tiered ticketing: £16/£18.50/£22
Starting Monday 12th January 2026 the New Year’s Co-Writing Club is a six week series of online co-writing sessions designed to help you stay focused and inspired. With weekly prompts delivered to your inbox plus four 60 minute sessions a week you’ll easily make 2026 the year you commit to your writing.
Sessions on Mon+Wed 7:30-8:30pm plus Fri+Sun 10-11am. All writers welcome.
Tiered ticketing: £29/£35/£39
