April 20, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: LET LONELINESS BE AND WRITE
Last time I was talking about Natalie Goldberg's Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life. Let me continue with that. (…)
April 17, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: THE POWER OF SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE
In my last writing coaching group a new person, having joined the group the prior time, submitted her writing to the group. It was inspiring to see how delighted the person was to get positive feedback about her writing. Having been stuck for so long, she had come to believe that she did not write well. In the case of writing, it need not be true that if you don't use it, you'll lose it. (…)
April 14, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: OVERCOMING STRESS WITH ROUTINE
Stress is inevitable. Whether self induced or externally induced, without managing stress we are at its mercy. In my last post I talked about mindfulness as a way of addressing stress. You may already have an effective way to handle your stress. No one way can work best for everyone. (…)
April 11, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness is a meditative practice that has gained popularity in the west through the work of Jon Kabat Zinn (Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness). His work was addressed to people who were having physical (medical) problems. Yet, it was found that people with emotional problems benefitted from the techniques as well. (…)
April 8, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: A GOOD DAY
What is a good writing day for you? Is it when you've written a certain amount, or you've written for a certain length of time? Is it when you've produced something you set out to produce? Is it simply sitting down to write? Is it when you've finished something you feel ready to show others? (…)
April 2, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: OVERCOMING EDITING FEARS
One of the important aspects of the editing process is freewriting. Usually we don't think about editing as involving freewriting. Yet, in the editing process, we often run into obstacles that prevent us from moving forward. When that happens, we know from experience that freewriting gets our writing voice active. (…)
March 30, 2009
- WRITER'S BLOCK: TAKE A BREAK
I'm suggesting that you take a break from your writing, unless you have a deadline you must meet, in order to rejuvenate your writing. Nor because you feel stuck, frustrated, depleted of ideas…. or any other negative reason you can think of. (…)
March 27, 2009
- WRITING WHEN YOU'RE NOT WRITING
Writing when you're not writing appears to be a contradiction. Yet, it is important to be aware that writers often think they're writing when they don't have pen to paper or aren't sitting down at their computer. Probably you know that it's generally advised (as a writing tip) that you carry a notebook with you to write down your ideas. And many writers and wannabe writers do exactly that. (…)
March 24, 2009
- POSITIVE SELF ESTEEM AND WRITING
Which comes first? (…)
March 21, 2009
- TELEGROUPS HELP YOU GROW AS A WRITER
In my writing coaching telegroup, one of the most valuable aspects is the opportunity to receive positive feedback. We often underestimate the value of hearing/seeing what we have done right. In the context of the group, this means what we have written that pleases others. (…)
March 18, 2009
- FREEWRITING IS THINKING
Often we don't know what we're thinking until we have a conversation with someone, or until we write, freely, uncritically, for no one but us. This is not necessarily the kind of writing that leads to a finished product. Nor is that necessarily the intent of the freewriting. Rather, the goal is to know what we're thinking. Thinking without writing or talking can lead to rumination, not to new ideas. One of the reasons conversations can impede the development of new ideas is that we must be aware of who the person is with whom we're talking. Often they have a point of view that influences our thinking. Not in the direction we want to go, even if we didn't know that before they spoke. Not so with freewriting. (…)
March 15, 2009
- FREEWRITING DURING REVISING
Nothing can be written, usually, without revision, albeit minor revision. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is possible to get to the point where your freewriting is close to a finished product. But, when this does not happen and revision is needed, there is still an important place for freewriting. (…)
March 12, 2009
- Freewriting During Revising
Nothing can be written — usually — without revision, albeit minor revision. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is possible to get to the point where your freewriting is close to a finished product. But, when this does not happen and revision is needed, there is still an important place for freewriting. (…)
March 6, 2009
- What About Left Handed Writing?
Left handed writing is NOT like a left handed compliment. Nor do you necessarily write with your left hand. You write with your non-dominant hand which typically is your left hand. (…)
February 28, 2009
- Write About Non Writing Problems
Today I was distressed over a problem (not a writing problem) and I knew it was interfering with my writing. So, I decided to write about the problem and see what would happen. Two and a half hours later I stopped writing. And, I had a fairly good handle on the problem and the solution. I felt energized to do my writing, in particular this blog. (…)
February 25, 2009
- The Flow of Writing
I have taken on a new non writing work situation, and it is both taking time (new time) and I am tired because it is a new activity. Still, writing is key for me. I often like to blog about things other writers have found useful. I guess you've noticed that. But, today's writing is different. It's about keeping in the flow of writing no matter what. (…)
February 22, 2009
- FREEWRITING CAN LEAD TO COMPLETION
I guess you could say that Peter Elbow had writer's block since he spent two years NOT writing. He attributes this occurrence to his need to have his writing be perfect the first time around (Writing with Power, p. (…)
February 19, 2009
- WRITE YOUR WRITING GOAL
Write It Down Make It Happen is the title of a book by Henriette Anne Klauser which relies on the premise that if you write down what you want your goal to be, the goal will happen. (…)
February 16, 2009
- FREEWRITING EXERCISES FOR YOUR GROWTH AS A WRITER
Freewriting is as essential to the writer and wannabe writer as scales are to the musician. There needs to be the opportunity to practice – practice – practice – without having to produce what you believe is some fabulous product. (…)
February 13, 2009
- BEGIN WITH FREE WRITING
"If we taught our children to speak in the way we teach them to write, everyone would stutter."
– Mark Twain
For any of you who are parents, you will remember how happy you were to hear your first child's first words. Nor did you correct the way your child spoke the word. You were simply excited to hear "the word." And as your child grew, and their vocabulary along with it, you did not correct how your child spoke. Not until you sensed that your child had comfort with speech. (…)
