Discovering Mindful Writers: Satya Robyn
Wisdom and reflections from Satya's writing journey
Welcome to the June “Discovering Mindful Writers Q&A”. Each month, a guest writer answers the same seven questions about their writing life.
I am delighted to welcome
this month. Satya is a IFS psychotherapist, Buddhist teacher, owner of two little dogs & appreciator of books & good chocolate. She writes Going Gently helping folk to move towards being gentler with themselves, others and our dear Earth.
I hope you enjoy her answers to my questions. I really like the idea of writing, among other mindfulness practices, helping us to snuggle up closer to the truth. Often we think of truths as being harsh so the image of snuggling one is very powerful to me. What about you? And that we need time out from that seeking too - I definitely enjoy time off to watch Netflix and have a glass of wine!
The series has proven very popular and I have guests booked in up until April 2025 now so I am not taking on anyone else at the moment. I will let everyone know in the new year when I’m opening up again for future interviews.
With love,
What does mindful writing mean to you?
Mindful writing, for me, is making use our human capacity to translate experience into words in order to pull us in closer to that experience. To write well, we need to pay exquisite attention to ourselves, to others and to the world. This, regardless of the writing that emerges, is its own reward.
How does a mindful writing practice fit into your wider mindfulness journey?
I guess that all my writing could be classified as mindful writing in that I am trying, with all my filters and preconceptions and biases, to describe myself, other beings and the world as accurately as I can. Writing is one 'tool' to do this - I also use my Buddhist practice, my time in nature, books, conversations and all sorts of other things to try and snuggle up closer to the truth. I also do lots of things that give me a break from a truth (watching RuPaul, eating cake etc.) - I think as human beings we need a mixture of both!
What do you write? Essays, poetry, fiction, plays?
My favourite things to write are short confessional pieces - 'this happened, this is what I learnt, this is how it is to be me'. I hope that this sometimes deeply personal and honest writing helps others to connect with their own fallibilities, and ultimately to feel better about themselves.
What drives you to write?
Writing, for me, is as essential as breathing. If I don't do it for a while it starts to feel like I'm holding my breath.
What stops you from writing?
What DOESN'T stop me from writing?! Having to get breakfast for the dogs. A feeling of inadequacy that drives me to endlessly scroll on social media. Having to let the dogs out. A resistance to sitting down and tackling the blank page. Having to let the dogs in again. Etc.
In the past I have said, slightly overdramatically, that writing is both the most difficult and the most important thing that I do. There is often an internal battle between the parts of me that know that writing is good for me (and hopefully the world), and all the other parts of me that resist doing it like crazy. Luckily, my writing parts are fierce!
What do you hope to achieve with your writing?
I would love to pass on the wisdom that I have received from others. I would love to occasionally delight a reader with a perfectlly formed sentence. I am also glad to be earning money from my writing here at Substack, which allows me to honour my writing, putting proper time aside for it during my week rather than squeezing it in at the edges (which I know that many of us have to do, and which I have done for decades).
How do you write? Are you a planner or do you just start writing from an idea and let it lead you?
Suprisingly, as in life I am a BIG planner, I'm more of a 'start somewhere and then follow the thread' kind of writer. I trust that the writing knows where it wants to go, even if I don't have a clue.
Thanks so much for your time and sharing your insights and inspirations, Satya.
Next month’s guest is who writes Live Free.
Read previous interviews in the series here.
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I love Satya's writing. Writing can be similar to breathing, I can relate to that. :)
I enjoyed this interview it's interesting to see the inside of what makes people write and have a mindful edge. I just subscribed to read more.