Today’s Writing Prompt:
Things I can’t forget . . .
Take a moment and then . . . Just Write!
Blog
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Lily Poetry Review
Lily Poetry Review is a print journal set to publish in the winter and summer of each year.
“Our porch light is always on.”
We must charge a nominal fee ($3) to cover the cost of submissions.
The Lily Poetry Review is interested in promoting contemporary poets, poetry, flash fiction and literary citizenship.
Please don’t send previously published material.
Send no more than five pieces per submission. All must be contained in one document.
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Just Write! Prompt #395
Want to write? Having trouble getting started? Stuck in a rut?Using prompts, or ideas, are a great way to free your mind and unstick your blocked mind.
Set a timer for fifteen minutes. Choose one of the prompts below and Just Write!
I remember . . .
A childhood memory
Something bad that turned out good
Something you would like to see again
Someone from your childhood
How I really spent my summer vacation
Or, write whatever is on your mind.
Just write! It’s healthy. It can be fun. And it’s free!
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The Courage to Write
My new writing friend, Nancy Julien Kopp, writes beautiful and inspiring posts on her blog, Writer Granny’s World by Nancy Julien Kopp.New Writers Need To Believe—Memoirs and Family Stories, by Nancy Julien Kopp
Ever hear naysayers in the world of those who want to write a memoir or family stories who utter things like:
I’m not a professional writer.
I can’t write like some people do.
I want to write the story but I wouldn’t know where to start.
My grammar is not good enough to write.
My writing is boring.
All of the above can be overcome. But the first thing you must do is believe that you can write a memoir or a book of family stories. Sounds easy? Maybe.
Possible? Yes.
It takes some courage to do something new. Look at the people who zipline.
Looks like fun but maybe a bit scary, too. Those who try to zip from one end of a line to the other have to believe they can do it or they’d never take step 1.
An athletic kid who tries out for a sport has to believe in him/herself enough to make that effort. They know success is not ensured but they believe they can make it so they try. They’re brave enough to give it a whirl.
If you have a little bit of courage and a small dose of bravery, you can do many things you never thought you could.
Believing in yourself is only part of being able to overcome the problems listed above. Another part is having the courage to try. Still another is working hard to be a better writer. How?
Read. If you want to write a memoir, read as many as you can find. You’ll see the various methods used.
Read books on the topic of general writing—not just memoir or family stories.
Attend conferences to learn more about writing methods.
Do writing exercises. I pound and pound about this and too many writers want to skip it. Don’t!
Many books on writing have exercises at the end of each chapter. They are to help you. Try them!
Sign up for a writing class, either locally or online. Don’t be embarrassed to tell the others you’re new at this game and here to learn. They’ll admire you for that.
Don’t start out attempting to write a full book. Try short snippets that can be put together later.
Taking on too much at the onset is overwhelming and sometimes defeating, and can be a quick way to stop believing in yourself.
Becoming a better writer doesn’t happen overnight or in a week or two. Time and hard work and writing on a regular basis all help you achieve that goal.
Originally posted on Writer Granny’s World by Nancy Julien Kopp, August 15, 2018
Note from Marlene: Great advice, Nancy.
I’m currently reading The Sound of Paper by Julia Cameron. I highly recommend this book to help go from “What was I thinking” to “I can write this.”
Nancy Julien Kopp:
Nancy has been published in 21 Chicken Soup for the Soul books, several other anthologies, newspapers, magazines and ezines. Her writing includes award winning fiction for children, creative nonfiction, poetry, travel and personal essays. She was named Prose Writer of the Year in 2013 by the Kansas Authors Club. A former teacher, she continues to teach through the written word.
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Do Dreams Come True? Prompt #394
Do dreams come true? I think they can. I’ve had a dream since 2005, an item I can now cross off my bucket list: Produce a series of books to inspire writing.The recently published, The Write Spot: Reflections is the third book in The Write Spot Series.
Today’s Prompt:
Write your bucket list . . . things you want to do. Your dream wish list. Take a few minutes for this.
Next: Choose an item from this list and write as if it were five years from now and you have completed your dream. A sort of cheerleading note to yourself.
Go on . . . Dare to dream!
For more inspirational writing on this topic:
Prompt #212: What is on your bucket list?
Prompt #216: Portals, Dreams and Promises
The Write Spot: Reflections is available for $12 at Amazon, Copperfield’s Petaluma, and JavAmore Café .
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About Anthologies
What do you think when you hear a book is an anthology?Some people may be delighted with thoughts of reading from a variety of authors. Others may groan, remembering antiquated stories in outdated books.
Me? I’m excited to produce anthologies so that a diverse group of writers can be introduced into the writing scene.
My third anthology, The Write Spot: Reflections was recently published with the help of two authors who didn’t even know they were cheering me on.
Eleanor Henderson and Anna Solomon, co-editors of Labor Day: True Birth Stories by Today’s Best Women Writers, wrote an article, “Labor of Love,” printed in Poets & Writers magazine, May June 2014.
“Labor of Love” was my steadfast companion on my journey from “What am I doing?” and “Will this work?” to the completion of three anthologies.
Excerpt from “Labor of Love”
“We’ve always loved anthologies. As new writers, we buried ourselves in them, finding stories, poems, and essays that shaped and inspired our own work. Now we return to them when we need a good laugh, or comfort — when we need the sort of perspective that only multiple voices can provide. The best anthologies are like the best mix tapes: individual pieces playing with and against one another, resulting in an eclectic, vibrant chorus.”
Beautiful, gorgeous writing by Eleanor and Anna.
“Labor of Love” describes their journey from conception of their idea for an anthology to the birth of their successful book.
“When we checked in with our agents, they were tepid about the idea.”
Eleanor and Anna persisted. They had faith in their project, gathered birth stories, found a publishing house and their book was published.
Their final words, and these are the words that kept me going when I had doubts about producing anthologies:
“Don’t lose faith. So the word anthology might turn some people off at first. But if you develop a unique idea and stay true to your vision, eventually it will pull readers in.”
One of the challenges for The Write Spot series of books was what title to use. I wanted a title that indicated these are books to inspire writing and also books that are entertaining. With the third book, I simply shortened the title.
The Write Spot anthologies are available for $12 at Amazon.
The Write Spot to Jumpstart Your Writing: Discoveries
The Write Spot to Jumpstart Your Writing: Connections
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Autumnal glow . . . Prompt #393
Finish the sentence and keep writing:
The autumnal glow, chilly afternoons, and crisp nights . . .
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Ignite Your Creativity
Today’s post is inspired by Creativity Coach Suzanne Murray.
Photo by John Pierce.
Suzanne writes:
CREATIVITY COMES FROM BEYOND THE MIND All the things that truly matter – beauty, love , creativity, joy, inner peace – arise from beyond the mind. – Eckhart Tolle
Once years ago when someone asked me what we did in my writing workshop I laughingly responded, “I’ll teach you to lose your mind.” I was delighted when they signed up on the spot. One of the reasons most people don’t think they are creative is that the mind doesn’t understand how creativity works.
I remember early in my writing life when one of my personal essays won a significant award, including a grant to support my work, I went into a bit of a panic because I wasn’t completely sure how I had written the piece. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do it again and they would find out I was a fraud.
As I continued to write I realized that I had actually been practicing the craft of writing for years by showing up to write at least a page of some kind every day, reading the kind of writing I am drawn to write, playing with revision and evolving my own voice and style all from the place of the intuitive mind. I had a sense of how a piece wanted to come together and just keep playing with the weaving of words.
I eventually understood that this was how the creative process worked. If I kept showing up the inspiration would continue to meet me and I would have a sense of what to do with it. I also learned that not everything I started wanted to be finished. Sometimes it was part of the learning process that took me to the next step or the next level.
With more than twenty years experience of teaching the writing process and working as a creativity coach, I’ve seen the importance of actually giving people the experience of being creative. Helping them move beyond the mind so that they learn to let go and allow their hearts and the fires of imagination take them into the creative flow. That’s where the joy is, which provides the motivation to keep going. We discover that the act of being creative is its own reward.
Suzanne Murray is a writing coach, creativity coach, and EFT worker.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)
I’ve been working with EFT in new ways that allow us to laser in on the issue and shift it at the core. It can help expand your life on every level, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We often make significant shifts in a single session. Sessions are available by phone and Skype.
Creativity is a process that can be learned. Do you want to experience the pleasure and joy that comes from adding satisfaction and meaning and a sense of well being to your life through creative expression? I will offer practical, emotional and soulful strategies to help you fully uncover your creative gifts and support yourself in expressing them.
HEART OF WRITING PROCESS COACHING
Do you want to ignite your creativity and show up to your writing on a regular basis or go deeper into the process and craft? I offer online coaching to support you and coach you through any resistance or problems along the way. I can send you daily lessons and assignments that cover important aspects of the writing process and information on craft. Or if you are working on a project or book we can tailor our work together to really fit your specific needs. I hold the space of unconditional acceptance and support to nurturing your unique voice and work on the stories that are really important to you.
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Midsummer’s Day . . . Prompt #392
It was a sultry midsummer’s day . . .
You can finish the sentence or use the photo to inspire your writing.
Write whatever comes up for you.
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Prized possession. Prompt #391
What is your most prized or cherished possession?
Why?