20.41: DongWon Song’s Personal Writing Process

In this episode of Writing Excuses, the hosts discuss DongWon's personal writing process, emphasizing the importance of creating "negative space" and cultivating boredom to facilitate unconscious problem-solving. DongWon describes fitting writing around a demanding day job as a literary agent, highlighting the need for an orderly, low-stimulus environment to allow the brain to latch onto creative tasks. The discussion covers techniques such as jotting down initial thoughts, walking away to let ideas percolate, and using meditation practices to tap into physical sensations and overcome distractions. The hosts also address the challenges of balancing multiple projects and managing the guilt associated with taking time for oneself, offering strategies for intentional boredom and priming the engine with specific questions to focus the mind.