Lose Control and Just Write!

  • Lose Control and Just Write!

    Goldberg.SecretNatalie Goldberg expands her thinking about writing practice in her latest book, The True Secret of Writing. You may have heard these ideas before and may be familiar with her other books, Wild Mind and Writing Down The Bones. And it’s good to be reminded of “the basics” of freewrites.

    Helpful ideas for writing from Nat:

    1. Keep your hand moving. If you say you will write for ten minutes, twenty, an hour, keep your hand going. Not frantically, clutching the pen. But don’t stop. This is your chance to break through to wild mind, to the way you really think, see, and feel, rather than how you think you should think, see and feel. This does not mean you have to write orgasmic sex scenes smeared with butter to touch wild mind. You might end up writing about toast, your sore throat, your fingernail. But it will be alive, real.

    Yes, even you who have never left home, never stepped out of your gray suit, even you have wild mind . . .

    You might write for ten minutes and never land. That’s okay. If you accept your mind at whatever level it is as you begin to write, if you don’t fight it, it will eventually settle . . .

    1. Feel free to write the worst junk in America. You have to turn over your mind a lot for the gems to pop out . . .
    2. Be specific. Not car but Cadillac. Not horse but palomino. Not fruit but tangerine
    3. Lose control. Say what you want to say, not what you think you should say.

    Note from Marlene: Pick something to write about and Just write!  For ideas on what to write about, click here and here.  You can read what others have written and post your writing on The Write Spot Blog.

    Marlene C

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  • Let it go. Prompt #125

    What do you want to let go? What do you need to let go? What should you let go?

    Take a look at these lyrics to the song, “Let It Go,” from the movie, Frozen.

    It’s funny how some distance
    Makes everything seem small
    And the fears that once controlled me
    Can’t get to me at all

    It’s time to see what I can do
    To test the limits and break through
    No right, no wrong, no rules for me,
    I’m free!

    Let it go, let it go
    I am one with the wind and sky
    Let it go, let it go
    You’ll never see me cry
    Here I stand
    And here I’ll stay
    Let the storm rage on

    Lolita.miniYour turn. What do you need to do to let go? What will happen if you just . . . let . . . go?

    Click here for the full lyrics to “Let it Go.” Music and lyrics composed by the husband-and-wife songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. 

    Marlene C

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  • Guest Blogger Mona Mechling, In memory of Karen Batchelor

    Mona first posted “In memory of Karen Batchelor” on her blog, Envelope of Random Things.

    Karen BatchelorIn memory of Karen Batchelor

    A year ago a talented, amazing woman left us too soon. I always felt she was a mentor to me, not just in my writing world, but about life in general. In memory of her I want to post what I call my mission statement. Ok, other writers out there, let’s send the world some stories! I can only hope that somehow I might continue her legacy in that way.

                                           Mona’s Mission Statement

    MonaMy mission is to be a mentor to upcoming writers struggling to find their way with the craft of writing. I hope to do this as a testament to the mentors who were there for me. I will do this by being an example of how crucial it is to continue in my quest for knowledge of the process of the written word and the power that is behind a great story. If this gets me to work more fiercely and with more dedication, then I know all is how it should be and the cosmos has willed it to be so.

    Mona Mechling considers herself a dark Erma Bombeck. As a preteen, she began writing poems and short stories that went into a drawer. Her first published story was one in Vintage Voices when she was fifty. Life, family and friends are her inspiration.

    Marlene C

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  • How do you want to be remembered? Prompt #124

    Humorous or serious – what would you write for your epitaph?

    Compose several brief epitaphs for yourself — the headlines you’d like to see on your headstone. Think of them as messages to future generations that convey how you want to be remembered. And then. . . write a story that explains why the epitaph is appropriate.

    You could also write this for your fictional character.

    Here are some ideas:

    He Was Happiest When He Was Young. Strongest When He Was Old.

    Family First, Last, and Always

    I’d Rather Be Smelling the Roses (Than Lying Underneath Them)

    Wish I Had It All to Do Over Again (So I Could Do It All the Same but Better)

    Akeret.Family talesPrompt: Write your obituary, or your Life’s Tributes.  Share your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog.

    From Family Tales, Family Wisdom —  How to gather the stories of a lifetime and share them with your family, by Dr. Robert U. Akeret with Daniel Klein

    Marlene C

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  • “First thoughts have tremendous energy.” Natalie Goldberg

    Natalie Goldberg says . . .   “First thoughts have tremendous energy. It is the way the mind first flashes on something.” Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones.

    Natalie GoldbergNat’s quote perfectly describes what a free write can do . . . opens us up to ideas and thoughts that lie within us.  Try it. Go to the prompts category here or here and choose a prompt. Then write . . . freely. Just Write!

    Marlene C

  • Waterways – Poetry in the Mainstream

    The Waterways Project of Ten Penny Players and the related Bard Press has published both established and emerging poets. The literary magazine, Waterways: Poetry in the Mainstream, has been in continuous publication since 1979. For thirty years, Waterways and Ten Penny Players worked with special needs and incarcerated children in New York City schools. (Wikipedia)

    Waterways asks that poems relate to photos on their website, scroll to this page for the photos. Scroll to the bottom of the page for submission details.

    WaterwaysDeadlines for January through May: The 15th of each month.

    Waterways was introduced to The Write Spot Blog by Arlene Mandell.

    Now, go write . . . dig through your poems. . . as Arlene says: Edit and Submit!

    Marlene C

  • What is your body telling you? Prompt #123

    For today’s writing . . . sit comfortably. Take a deep breath in. Let it out. Another deep, refreshing breath in. Release. One more big, nourishing breath. Let it whoosh out.

    Mentally scan your body. Become aware of any area that draws your attention – notice what part of your body calls out to you.

    Place the palm of your writing hand on the place that calls out. Or bring your breath there if it’s not reachable with your hand.

    Allow your hand to be filled with the information from that place.

    When you are ready, write about what you have discovered.

    Marlene C

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  • Guest Blogger Ted A. Moreno – You Don’t Need Silence to Be Quiet

    The following is from Ted A. Moreno’s 12/16/14 email, “You Don’t Need Silence to Be Quiet.”

    Sit back, relax and enjoy.

    Ted writes:

    Last night I sat in a filled auditorium and watched as my 9 year old daughter, along with scores of other elementary school kids, gave her first band performance. They played 5 notes.

    When the curtain rose, she was right in my line of vision, wearing the white shirt and black pants her mom had picked up for her that afternoon. She sat with her clarinet, Taylor Swift hair, and sparkly eyes. She spotted me and returned my thumbs up sign with a huge grin.

    And even though the auditorium was filled with hooting parents calling out their kids’ names, I felt a stillness within. It hadn’t been a really good day, too busy, but right then and there it got a whole lot better.

    It wasn’t really all about pride for my daughter or happiness that my $22 a month clarinet rental was paying dividends. It went deeper than that.

    I got quiet and present to my life.

    This was my life: a wife, a 7 and a 9 year old, a home, music, business. It didn’t look like what a lot of other people have, but that didn’t matter. At that moment, it was perfect.

    Call it grace, luck, an auspicious alignment of the stars, whatever you want. I just got out of my way and allowed some little bit of peace in.

    You don’t need silence to be quiet inside, you just need to allow yourself the chance to connect with it. You see, it’s always there waiting for your attention. And what that is, is essentially, you.

    Stop. Sit. Quiet. Give it to yourself because no one else will. Turn off the TV, put away the electronic gizmos, stop thinking. Listen, first outside, then inside. What’s the message waiting for you? In the sound of rain or the traffic or the barking dogs?

    Even if you are in the middle of all the noise and hurry and haste, you can still be quiet. Breathe. Ask yourself, “What’s happening here?” Look and feel and get it. Step back from what is experienced and connect with the That which Experiences.

    Even though it’s all moving all the time, the only constant is your awareness. It really is the only thing that is ever True. See for yourself.

    Let me know how it’s going. I’d love to hear from you.

    Ted A. Moreno, Success Performance Coach and Certified Hypnotherapist
    626.826.0612

    Click here for Ted’s website.

    From Marlene:  Ted’s hypnotherapy work is extremely effective and therapeutic. He listens carefully, offers helpful feedback and suggestions that aid in getting to the heart of the situation. He is extremely perceptive, kind and understanding. If you think hypnotherapy might work for you . . . Ted’s your guy.

    Marlene C

  • Gifts! Prompt #122

    Write about one or more:

    Capture~ The most disappointing gift you have received and what it revealed about the giver.

    ~ The most unusual gift you have received, or given.

    ~ The most wonderful gift you have received, or given.

    ~Write about intangible gifts.

     

    Marlene C

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  • An author is an amateur who never quits. — Richard Bach

    I love discovering new things about writers.  You might remember Richard Bach as the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

    I enjoy Richard’s Bach’s musings. . . here’s the beginning of his September 7, 2014 blog post:

    “I AM SO SLOW!

    All my life there have been bright and clear events, all of them happening in plain sight, but I haven’t noticed them, till all of a sudden now.  They’ve never been secrets, they’re like friendly dogs, going for walks with me year after year, and I never noticed.”

    You might enjoy posts by Richard Bach.

    Jonathan Livingston SeagullOctober 25, 2014 was the publication date of the New Edition of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.  It’s the complete edition, with Part 4, written immediately after Part 3,  years ago, but never published with the first parts.

     

     

    Marlene C