Zachariah Holte

Creative Writing Coach w/ a background in Holistic Health e.g. trauma, illness & addiction recovery | nutrition | Yoga (meditation, breathwork, movement)

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

...which turns my time in revision away from the act of refinement and instead toward the role of being a housekeeper in a dirty, decrepit motel.

In a word, sometimes it's best to trade identification (as one thing or another) for adaptation.

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

In the writing-craft world, much is made of the distinction between a pantser & a plotter.

For most of my writing life, I've considered myself in the middle. I don't formally outline, but I do keep plans, character mutations & various elements of world-building in mind as I go.

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

It's a way of establishing the substructure that will make the writing to come more precise and also an attempt to spare myself, perhaps avoid entirely, days of producing so-called ‘word vomit’ on the page...

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

Mr. Kriss:

https://t.co/LpqtajFgDE

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

What can we learn about writing from Mr. Kriss?

Writing a book, a poem, a play, or anything else is a dance, a balance between falling and flying, climbing and clumsily tumbling towards epiphany.

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

Say the things that can only be said when the body is present in this dancing mystery and the mind is transmuted into visceral musicality.

To watch a video performance by Mr. Kriss, click the link in the comments below.

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

Don’t let this age of Anxiety & Progress trick you:

Being a writer has little to do with publishing, followers, or books.

Being a writer is about:

- working your craft
- inviting continuous growth
- being brutally honest with yourself

Do these things, and you are a writer.

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

If you're interested in writing craft and holistic health, join me on Substack ↓

https://t.co/dyZD0NsOJq

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

Woke up feeling rough today.

(Holistic detox is hard on the body and the mind.)

But a sovereign writer pushes through, rain or shine.

I know from years of experience that if I let myself slide, tomorrow will be worse—a compounding resistance.

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

Study a bit of herbalism and naturopathy (another one of her interests).

And then continue a small scene I started last night.

Nothing has to be finished, damn sure ain’t going to be perfect… but it’s continued work, and continued work compounds over time.

[Zachariah Holte @ZachariahHolte]

So, I break my writing day up into small goals, and I rest at intervals.

Study a bit of Tarot (researching the craft of one of my characters).

Pick a card at random, write down my initial impressions.