Writing Back to the Self
By Jane Vick for the Pacific Sun
There’s a certain irony to writing about writer’s block. But those of us who put pen to paper, or fingertips to keys, for a living are no stranger to the affliction.
Searching for the right words to convey a story, a sensation, or to translate a demanding but as-yet-cryptic feeling can be a process akin to pulling teeth. Luckily, Linda Tritchter Metcalf, an author who is all too familiar with this challenge, has developed a method of writing to counteract blockages. It’s called Proprioceptive Writing.
Metcalf, who received her MA and PhD in literature from New York University, began developing the process inadvertently as she finished her dissertation while teaching English and humanities at Pratt College. Examining her subjective response to a Shirley Jackson novel, Metcalf spent six hours a day for three months reading and writing about her experience with the work.
After this period of intense reflection, Metcalf noticed a profound change in her entire being—a notably increased sense of clarity, focus and self-awareness. Her connection to self improved to a degree she had never experienced before, and her mind felt alert and active in an entirely new sense.