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Posts from the ‘Writing Life’ Category

Dec 19

Writing poetry as a way to explore the unspeakable

In this short video, Poet Adrienne Rich discussed love, poetry, and reading at the 2001 ChilePoesia.

She said, “…it’s in the writing of the poem that you find what you’re not saying and it’s in the writing of the poem that you find what you’re still having to push up against… it’s not so much a question of thinking, but of what the imagination allows itself…poetry was always for me a kind of probe into the unspeakable, because it was a way of speaking indirectly about things I couldn’t speak directly about…”

For a special treat, listen to Rich read her poem “Planetarium.”

Read Carly’s post for more tips on “How to draw from life to write poetry.”

Dec 18

Celebrate your family history this holiday season with the “Do You Know? scale

If you’re writing a memoir or family history, holiday family gatherings are good times to learn more about your family history.

As I wrote the draft of my memoir, I turned to my knowledge of family history I gained from stories shared at family dinners, Christmas parties, and sitting around the campfire on camping trips.

Research indicates that telling family stories and creating traditions can make families stronger and give children a sense of stability.

Bruce Feiler, author of The Secrets of Happy Families: Improve Your Mornings, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play, and Much More, wrote about Emory University professor and psychologist Marshall Duke’s research into what makes strong families,  and observations by Duke’s wife Sara, a psychologist, who found that children face challenges better when they have deep knowledge about their families.

A “Do You Know Scale” was developed by researchers to test family knowledge and predict children’s emotional health and happiness. The questions are also valuable research starters for anyone who also wants to write about their family. The “Do You Know” questions provide valuable information on their own, but also spark further discussion.

Here are several of the questions from the scale:

  • Do you know how your parents met? Y N
  • Do you know where some of your grandparents grew up? Y N
  • Do you know the source of your name? Y N
  • Do you know which person in your family you look most like? Y N

For more insight, read Feiler’s article, The stories that bind us in the New York Times. Then read Marshall Duke’s Huffington Post article, The Stories That Bind Us: What Are the Twenty Questions?, for the complete list and additional information about the study.

On a related note, in case you missed it, read Carol’s post, Lessons in character development: parental influences, for her take on how understanding family dynamics can help you create characters.

Dec 16

How to write your annual holiday letter

It’s time to don your Christmas socks, brew a cup of tea, and write your annual holiday letter.

For tips and ideas, check out these past posts. In The holidays are upon us: Tips for writing a letter to friends and family, you’ll find ideas for what to write about. Then read, Apply your writerly skills to a holiday letter to find format and style tips.

Happy writing!

 

Dec 12

Last-minute gifts that help writers capture their best ideas

Ideas are a writer’s currency. If you’re looking for a writerly gift for a friend or even yourself, here are three ideas for gifts that spark and preserve your best ideas.

Aqua Notes – Waterproof Notepad – When I’m stuck, and even when I’m not, taking a shower is a sure way to clarify a writing problem, think of a title for a story, or come up with the perfect character name. Something about water makes ideas pop to the surface, and my Aqua Notes has saved many an idea.

The Writer’s Block: 786 Ideas to Jump-Start Your Imagination – Do you ever experience dreaded writer’s block? Laugh in its face with this real writer’s block. $10.26

Dream Essentials Nite Note, Night Time Notepad with Fisher Ball Point Space Pen – This nifty pad lights up when the pen that comes with it is removed from the pad. The Fisher Space Pen that comes with it is perfect for capturing those ideas when you’re lying in bed in the dark. $14.95.

In case you missed it this week, see Carol’s post, Holiday gift ideas for the writer in your life.

Dec 9

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Holiday gift ideas for the writer in your life

Can you believe it’s December, already? It seems like the year has flown by. Today, my son asked me what I wanted for Christmas. My response, “You know me–anything related to writing is great!”

So, what do writers like? Notebooks, cool pens, writing conferences and retreats, subscriptions to favorite writing magazines, just to name a few.

My writing wish list grew this year with two new items: Boorum & Pease Journals (with lined and numbered pages!) and Scapple–a fun brainstorming/mind mapping software program made especially for writers by the inventors of Scrivener, my favorite novel-writing software. To check out just how useful Scapple can be see my post “Try Scapple for mind mapping your writing ideas.”

Below are a few more ideas from previous years’ posts that may give you some gift ideas for the writer in your life:

In Carly’s post on last-minute gift ideas for writers, she gives ideas for everything from jewelry for writers to ergonomic writing accessories.

In “Gift ideas for the writer in your life,” I share a few of my favorite writing journals, subscriptions to writing magazines, conferences, and other writing-related adventures.

What are some of the favorite writing gifts you’ve received over the years? Please share in the comments below.

Dec 4

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One of the best things about writing: The element of surprise

One of the best things about writing is the way it surprises me, the way I sometimes look back on something I’ve written and think, “Did I write that?” This element of surprise reminds me that so much happens beyond our conscious state.

Here are several posts you might have missed that will inspire you to let go and find the story that lives in your subconscious.

In How to write in your sleep, I share some tips about using the power of sleep to find new revelations in your writing.

Read Trust in randomness and mine your subconscious with this writing exercise to see how you can use your subconscious and observational instincts to write a new poem or piece of flash fiction.

Become a prolific writer by harnessing creative flow offers tips to put yourself in a trance so you can immerse yourself in your writing world.

What is your favorite way to find creative flow?

Dec 3

Create a playground for your imagination with these four attributes

“The impulse to create is like the impulse to breathe,” says author Rikki Ducornet, a contributor to the imaginative, playful book, Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fictionby Jeff VanderMeer.

Writing, she says, is a place to reclaim the initial impulses we are born with—to play and create and love—impulses that society tries to hammer out of us as we grow up. Our parents, and sometimes teachers, tell us to “be quiet and quit asking questions.” But as writers, we’re encouraged to ask questions and be curious. In fact, to be successful in our art we HAVE TO ask questions.  Read more

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