The Write Mind: Centering in Medias Res

In writing, we can choose whether or not to begin in medias res—in the middle of things—but in life we’re there all the time, whether we like it or not. Our personal stories, episodes and epiphanies are constantly unfolding—sometimes all at once.

Ever find yourself revising your novel, mentally shopping for holiday gifts, worrying about the economy and brainstorming to-do lists all at the same time? In this scattered state, we waste precious energy, get less done, and tend to reinforce the cycle in a futile rush for denouement. We’re in the middle of the action, but we’re far from centered, and this can leave us feeling anxious, worried and spread too thin.

Conversely, when we achieve a centered presence, we concentrate energy, alleviate stress, function from a place of creativity, and become more effective at everything we do. Use the following exercise, adapted from Eric Maisel’s book Coaching the Artist Within, to center yourself whenever you feel scattered or undertake a task that requires your full attention—especially writing. Practice now, as you read through the steps...

First, take five deep breaths to ditch that scattered feeling. Inhale, and imagine your breath entering through the top of your head and stopping at your hips. Exhale, and imagine it going down through your legs into the ground and wrapping around a root or rock at the center of the earth. Now you’re grounded and ready to CENTER:

C: Come to a complete stop. Inhale while thinking or saying the words, “I am completely…” Exhale while thinking or saying, “Stopping.” Lengthen the statements as necessary to fully occupy the inhale and exhale. Do this for the remaining steps, too.

E: Empty yourself of expectations. Inhale while thinking or saying, “I expect…” Exhale while thinking or saying, “Nothing.”

N: Name your work. Inhale while naming the work at hand. For example, “I’m finishing chapter 26” or “I’m focusing on this exercise.” Exhale and name it again. Your work can be a task you want to accomplish, a quality you want to embody, a plan you want to implement, etc. To make this exercise more efficient next time, have your work in mind before the initial breathing step.

T: Trust your resources. Inhale while thinking or saying, “I trust…” Exhale while thinking or saying, “My resources.”

E: Embrace the present moment. Inhale while thinking or saying, “I embrace…” Exhale while thinking or saying, “This moment…”

R: Return with strength. Inhale while thinking or saying, “I return to the present…” Exhale while thinking or saying, “With strength.”

Once you’ve finished, pause to observe how you feel. Most people report immediate results, everything from feelings of confidence, energy and focus to a sense of connection with something larger than themselves. Adapt the statements in this exercise to suit your personal situation and needs. Practice centering as often as possible, and before you know it, you’ll be living in medias res without feeling lost in the plot.

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Doug Kurtz is a published novelist, certified life coach and the owner of Write Life Coaching (www.writelifecoaching.com). He earned his MA in creative writing at the University of Colorado, where he also taught fiction writing. He currently lives in Boulder, where he’s busy coaching other writers and working on his next novel.