I love to work in the garden, pulling weeds, and occasionally being creative with new plantings. I love tugging at weeds and hearing the slrrp as they surrender their grip and let go. Writing is a lot like weeding . . . letting go and enjoying the moment. Not always worrying about the end product; just enjoying the moment of complete surrender. Later, after the writing seedlings have sprouted, it’s time for editing, which is a lot like pruning. When I’m pruning a fruit tree or a rose bush, I make a few snips, stand back to see how it looks and how it’s shaping up. It’s the same with editing. . . . make a few changes, then re-read. Keep what’s good and continue pruning until the piece has shaped to satisfaction.
Yard sale, garage sale, tag sale . . . Prompt #91
Yard sale, garage sale, tag sale. . . whatever you call ’em, what do you think about ’em? Or . . . write about an unusual find at a yard sale, garage sale, tag sale . . . whatever you call ’em.
Freewrites. . . what do you call them?
When you are writing in a “freewrite” style of writing, using the types of prompts suggested in The Write Spot Blog, you can use your personal experiences for your writing. Or you can write about something that happened to someone else. Or you can write fiction. If you are writing fiction, respond to the prompt the way your fictional character would respond. Freewrites are also referred to as free flow writing, free association, writing freely and I’m sure there are more descriptions for this type of writing. Writing prompts are also referred to as: sparks, jumping-off points and, again, I’m sure there are more references to writing prompts. I’m curious and interested. . . what do you call this type of writing? And what other phrases do you use for writing prompts? Whatever you call this form of writing and whatever sparks your imagination . . . Just write.
What I know . . . Prompt #90
What I know . . . Write whatever comes up for you. Photo by Jane Person
West Marin Review accepting submissions
West Marin Review, a literary and arts journal published by Point Reyes Books and Neighbors & Friends, is now accepting submissions of literary works, poetry, and visual art for Volume 6, for publication in 2015. Submission Deadline: September 1, 2014 Click here for submission guidelines. Submit only unpublished work in all categories (excerpts from blogs are okay). Prose and poetry may be submitted online or through U.S. Mail. Visual art may only be submitted through U.S. Mail. Submission fee: Please attach a check for $10.00 made out to West Marin Review with your submission. If you are submitting more than one piece or in more than one category, you need only pay once. If you are submitting online and through the mail (for example poetry and art), you need only pay with your online submission; please note this in your mailing. Mail to: West Marin Review Post Office Box 1302…
Guest Blogger Ted A. Moreno’s Top Ten Tips for Super Productivity
Ted A. Moreno, Certified Hypnotherapist and Success Coach, shares his top ten tips for super productivity. 1. Start the day centered and grounded. Jim Rohn said “Either you run the day, or the day runs you.” How you start the day will affect how your day goes. If you wake up and you are already rushing around and running late, the day is running you. Give yourself some space to be prepared mentally and feel super in the morning, even if it means getting up earlier to exercise, read or meditate. 2. Write down your goals the night before. Make your to do list the night before. Plan to start the next day with the most important things that will make the biggest difference, or start with the hardest. This way, you move into the day with momentum and the feeling of productivity and being super! 3. Keep yourself fed and…
The only sin writers can commit is . . .
“The only sin writers can commit is not to write.” — Eleanor Hyde, originally in the August 1976 issue of the Writer Magazine, reprinted in the August 2014 issue. Note from Marlene: So, you are itching to write and need a jumpstart? Go to the prompts page of this blog for ideas. Click here for more prompts and read what others have written. Scroll down and click on a plaque.
Pocket Pronouncements . . . Prompt #89
Today’s prompts are inspired by Write Free, Attracting the Creative Life by Rebecca Lawton and Jordan E. Rosenfeld. Pocket Pronouncements: Today I trust: Today I give: Today I celebrate: Note from Marlene: You can write on one of these, two of these or all three. You can mix and match them. Becca and Jordan write: “We call these ‘Pocket Pronouncements’ because you should be able to write them on something small enough to carry around with you, yet their size and power is far greater than you imagine.” Marlene has two copies of Write Free, Attracting the Creative Life to give away to the first two people who comment on this blog post. You can purchase Write Free Attracting the Creative Life at Becca‘s or Jordan’s website.
We all have an intuitive sense. . .
I think we all have an intuitive sense, but we get side-tracked by what others think or we get distracted by all the “noise” both inside our heads and outside. It’s hard to get quiet and listen to what we think. But when we do, we experience the joy of discovering what’s going on for ourselves. A passage in Reading Water, Lessons From The River, by Rebecca Lawton, describes a situation when Becca was a white water rafting guide and had one person, a friend, in her raft. They capsized, lost the boat and nearly drowned. Becca managed to save the life of her friend. After it was all over, Becca asked her friend: “Do you regret running it?” Becca’s friend answered, “It might have been the right choice for you,” she said, “But from now on, I’m making my own decisions.” Here’s an idea for getting in touch with…
Aprons . . . Prompt #88
My grandmother put her apron on every morning right after she put on her house dress. She wore an apron every day, even to parties. She made all her clothes, including her aprons. She always chose a small flower design and used colorful seam binding for trim around the edges. I also wear aprons, but only when cooking and eating. . . saves many an outfit from food stains. Today’s prompt is: Aprons Thank you, Kathy Myers, for the inspiration to hang my aprons in the kitchen. Thank you, Pam Swanson, for emailing so many years ago, “The History of Aprons.” THE HISTORY OF APRONS The principal use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath. Because she only had a few dresses, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing…