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Posts from the ‘Writing Life’ Category

Dec 31

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My 2014 personal writing theme revealed

I can’t help it. I love the idea of a fresh new notebook, a new year to see what is possible. A clean slate. I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions, but I like having a theme that helps me move through the year in a positive trajectory. It’s my touchstone to remind me of what I value.

Several things happened this year that propelled me to find my 2014 theme.

First, I took a short story writing class and discovered a breakthrough writing method. It involved writing 100 sentences and then seeing what kind of story would take shape. It really was a revelation for me and helped me lose some of my resistance around writing.

Second, I went to a workshop and heard Patricia Charpentier speak about how she keeps a five-year diary. I’ve always wanted to do this but never stuck to it. I decided this would be my year. I would do it by committing to at least one sentence. And while some of them may be random or boring observations about my day, others could likely turn into story themes or first lines. For more inspiration and my thoughts about this, read my post, Let your short story write itself. Read more

Dec 30

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Busting the writing myth of “not enough time”

When I get overly tired, I tend to do dumb things like walk into walls, trip going up the stairs, or bump my toe into a hard piece of furniture. Little things. Annoying things.

The day after Christmas, I could tell I was suffering from this state of fatigue because I walked into the bathroom door, I spilled aromatherapy oil on our piano, and as I picked up a picture frame from a bookshelf, the glass slipped out and sliced my finger on its way to the floor. Ouch. I lost a nice patch of skin from the side of my pinky finger and had to hold gauze on the wound for two hours to get it to stop bleeding. Double ouch.

I took the rest of the day off, realizing, a bit belatedly, that I needed to rest and regain my energy and motor skills.

In “Chapter After Chapter: Discover the Dedication and Focus You Need to Write the Book of Your Dreams,” author Heather Sellers writes about how many would-be authors say they can’t finish their novels or writing projects because they don’t have enough time. She thinks this is the case of a misdiagnosis. In reality, she says, it’s not really time that is the issue but a lack of energy. I can relate to her diagnosis. Read more

Dec 24

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Take a break from holiday madness to watch a cat video

Holidays are happy, stressful, and sometimes tiring. So how do you deal with the ups and downs? I like to take a break and watch a cat video.

Some of my favorites are about Henri, the French Existentialist Cat. In the spirit of Christmas, enjoy Henri in The Worst Noel.

Merry Christmas from One Wild Word.

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.

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