The (Stoic) Philosophy of Writing

In his article The Stoic Art of Journaling, modern Stoic Ryan Holiday states that “journaling is Stoicism” — the two are intertwined. One cannot truly be Stoic without writing. From this point of view, the act of writing itself becomes philosophy in practice, which is not surprising, given that writing demands retrospection.

Stoicism is a philosophy emerged in ancient Griece around 300 B.C.. The three prominent ancient Stoics we know today are Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca. They all share one common habit: journaling.

Thanks to Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, we can learn so much about this ancient wisdom and benefit from it even today. Modern Stoics suggest that Marcus Aurelius wrote his meditations religiously in the morning, preparing himself for the day ahead. Writing was his way of setting the tone for the day and maintaining focus on what he could control.

It is therefore not too far-fetched to assume that we were not his intended audience — he wrote for himself. And yet his meditations, originally meant to help him become a calm and content person, now serve as an inspiration for all who wish to follow his example.

And I believe this is what separates Stoic journaling from journaling in general. Stoics write to assess their thoughts and actions, to commit themselves to focusing on what they can control (the central tenet of Stoicism), and to engage in a profound and honest dialogue with their inner self.

How to create a (mental) space conducive to writing?

There is a Dutch saying: een dag niet gelachen is een dag niet geleefd. Loosely translated: a day without laughter is a day not lived. A beautiful proverb I fully agree with.

In the context of writing, I’d like to borrow that proverb and say: a day you haven’t written is a day you haven’t fully lived. It may sound slightly dramatic, but it captures just how important writing is to me. In my previous post,  Writing for the Sake of Writing: How Writing Can Save You, I mentioned how writing helps keep my emotions balanced and my thoughts in check.

But while writing can be therapeutic and meditative, it can also be intimidating. Silencing your inner critic is challenging once it takes over. I still remember writing my thesis years ago — I was in agony! And yet, I miss it.

If you’re like me — someone who has an affinity for writing and is at the same time intimidated by it — then maybe you’ll benefit from creating a mental and/or physical space that is conducive to writing.

It is also important to note that having that writing space, whether mental or physical, does not guarantee motivation. Experience has taught me that motivation comes after I start working, not before. A writing space becomes useless if you simply sit there waiting for inspiration to descend from the heavens. Still, it is wonderful to have a space in your home — and in your life — dedicated to writing.

Writing for the Sake of Writing: How Writing Can Save You

The desire to be a writer—or more accurately, my desire to write—began many years ago. Even before I stumbled upon a book in a bookstore when I was in my early twenties. The title was Hoe Schrijf Ik Een Boek: Het Schrijven van Non-Fictie (How to Write a Book: Non-Fiction Writing) by Roy Martina and Willem Jan van Wetering. That book became fuel for an already burning desire to write.

As you may have noticed, the book is in Dutch. And Dutch is not my mother tongue. In fact, if we’re being precise, it’s not even my second language. That’s one of the main reasons I felt such elation and satisfaction when I finished reading it. I still remember that feeling vividly.

Finishing a book—and truly understanding it—brings a profound sense of accomplishment. So I often wonder: how would it feel to write a book and see it published? Will I ever experience that moment?

Whether I do or not, nothing can stop me from writing every day. Writing feels like an unrequited love. I love it deeply, even if it doesn’t always love me back. And I ask for nothing in return. How’s that for a metaphor?

Writing 10 Minutes a Day: Building A Writing Habit

 

One of the many reasons I started this blog is so that I can write every day. The goal is to build a daily writing habit, because for someone who claims to have an affinity with writing, I’m not actually writing enough.

And if I have hours to waste mindlessly scrolling through social media, I certainly can spare ten minutes to write thoughtfully. Therefore, having no time to write is not an excuse.

I completely agree with what Wendy Laura Belcher wrote in her book Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success:

“You are not too busy to write; you are busy because you do not write. Busy-ness is what you do to explain your not writing.”

It’s from this book that I learned it only takes ten minutes of daily writing to become a prolific writer — or in my case, a prolific blogger. In this blog, I’d like to put Belcher’s principle into practice.