The Write Spot Blog by Marlene Cullen

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  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

     

  • 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.

     

     

  • “When there is an obstacle . . . ” Angelina Jolie

    “When there is an obstacle, you have to rise to the challenge, not be overwhelmed by it. And we’re not alone in the world. I don’t know if there’s a name for that — religion or faith — just that there’s something greater than all of us, and it’s uniting and beautiful.” — Angelina Jolie, December 22, 2014 People magazine.

    March.stone wallFrom Marlene: Writing unites and connects us and that is, indeed, beautiful. When you reach an obstacle or challenge with your writing, see if you can work around it. Write sideways, in the margins. Come at the problem from a new angle. See the stumbling block as an opportunity to explore the problem and create a new solution. How? By doing a freewrite. Write down the first word that pops into your head and then write, for 12-15 minutes. Click here and here for more writing prompts. Just Write!

    Photo by Jim C. March

  • Reader’s Digest Poetry Contest

    Lola.200Dazzle ’em with your best poem, 15 lines or fewer. One grand-prize winner will receive $500 and will be published in the June 2015 issue of Reader’s Digest magazine.

    Additional winners will receive $100.

    Contest ends January 30, 2015.

    Click here to go to the Reader’s Digest submission page. Warning: There will be some pop-up ads. . . click the “x” in the upper right-hand corner to get out of that screen and back to the Reader’s Digest submission page.

  • Write a telegram . . . Prompt #121

    Western Union TelegramCompose a telegram — a brief note that could be sent over the wires. Oh, I guess this sounds like an email, or a text message. But doesn’t “telegram” sound dramatic and perhaps romantic?

    Nostalgic for some people, a curiosity for others.

    So . . . write a telegram to someone who has touched your life in a significant way. Have your message tell him or her something you wish you could say in person. Or, if the person is no longer in your life, what do you wish you could have said?

    You could also write a telegram to or from your fictional character.

    Idea inspired from  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

  • Write about something that happened . . . Prompt #120

    Breana.birdWrite about something that happened to you this week. It can be something big, or something small. Maybe something you saw or observed. Perhaps something or someone touched you in a meaningful way. Write, using great detail. Or write sparse. Just write!

    Prompt: Write about something that happened to you this week.

    Photo by Breana Marie

  • Sweet memories are woven from the good times

    Sweet memories are woven from the good times. Author unknown.

    scarvesFrom Marlene: Your writing comes from memory, imagination, good times and bad. Share your memories through your writing. Create good times for readers. Weave your words, like threads on a loom, into a pattern that others can enjoy. Share your story.

  • “. . the best prize that life offers . . .

    Theodore Roosevelt.1“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” — Theodore Roosevelt, from a speech given in Syracuse, New York (September 7, 1903) From Real Simple magazine, September 2014

    Note from Marlene:  Your writing, your work matters.  Just write!