I had a deadline to share a draft with a mentor last week. Unfortunately, inspiration didn’t hit until two days before the deadline, not enough time to complete the draft. I want my writing to be polished enough to show who I am (better said, to reveal just enough of myself). I want to …
I worked with a client who knew their writing was radical, meant to shock readers into transformational clarity. To put words to experiences and issues not commonly spoken about. Almost like once their words were read, the reader wouldn’t be the same again. Whew, what an intense and tender thing to carry this purpose. Especially …
The fated question: “What did you do over the weekend?” Mind: BLANK Mind: Weekend. There was a weekend. I must have done things. BLANK Why can’t I think of what happened? Amnesia—no, I didn’t hit my head. Memory loss? Eyes: See expectantly waiting face. Mind: Oh no, I haven’t answered. Must answer. Mouth: “Uhhh.” Sound …
Pretend you’re visiting Arizona and want to head back home to California. You have multiple ways to get there. Fly directly by plane. Take a road trip by car. Horseback? Just like travel, there are many ways to approach writing. 1) Sometimes, you know exactly what you need to write and how you will get …
Say you have a big ol’ reaction when you’re stuck in your creative project. Maybe it seems like more frustration and distress than the situation warrants. You might even feel silly later, or embarrassed for getting so worked up about nothing. All of these are quite common. You may feel lost between your creativity and …
Maybe you’ve worked for hours and it’s still not complete. You have no juice left. You’re impatient and overwhelmed. Maybe you feel suffocated by the weight of your unfinished ideas. Or drown in the distance between idealized vision and reality. ~ I crashed like that after my creative writing storm several weeks ago. Clearly it …
A 5,000 word short story came out of me last Sunday. By “came out of me,” I mean the first draft flowed through my fingertips onto the document. No forcing, no pushing, no straining. Just steady writing over the course of several hours. It started off as a simple idea. Then it turned into dialogue …
When Inspiration Strikes, The Possibilities Can Surprise You Read More »
“Writing feels hard. Like work.” An attendee at Time To Write shared that and asked if others agreed. There was nodding all around. I was grateful she named it. Writing takes a surprising amount of work. It takes time. It takes effort to think, process, revise. It can take hours, weeks, even years to finish …
A few weeks ago, on April 15, 2021, I was looking through the library’s limited selection for a book. I saw one where stickers obscured the cover, but under that I was drawn to its image of a paw on a hand. When I picked it up, I realized it was the perfect book at …
Profound timing: The right story at the right time Read More »
With springtime, new moon energy, flowers blooming, plants growing, and sun shining, the energy of new beginnings, creative action, and accelerated growth is here. If you’re not feeling that, it’s okay. Sometimes when you’re in the midst of your current reality, it’s impossible to imagine anything different. The idea that your value is …