Go on, Go on, Go on...

Mrs Doyle: Who’s for writing?

Father Jack: Writing? FECK!

Father Ted: I’m fine, Mrs Doyle.

Mrs Doyle: You won’t write today?

Old Spice and Rainbows

 “Hello, readers, take a moment to open up a blank page, now look at a book, now back to your page, now back to the book. Sadly, your page is not a book, but if you stopped thinking about writing and switched to actually writing, you could write one. Look down, back up, where are you? You’re on a boat with the writer you could write like. What’s in your hand, look at the writer. They have it, it’s a manuscript about that thing you love. Look again, the manuscript is now chocolate bars. Anything is possible when you start writing and stop procrastinating. I’m on a unicorn, and it farts rainbows.”

Steel Grey Days

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPny4frBuVM

It is a steel-grey morning, the kind that reminds me of the music of Songs: Ohia, slow, aching, raw. I’m tired today, and cranky, and damn it, I don’t feel like writing one single word on one single page!

But I am.

“I have forced myself to begin writing when I’ve been utterly exhausted, when I’ve felt my soul as thin as a playing card, when nothing has seemed worth enduring for another five minutes…and somehow the activity of writing changes everything. Or appears to do so.” - Joyce Carol Oates

Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started. I heard of trick you can play on your mind, you tell yourself that you are only going to write for 5 minutes, "Just 5 minutes, and then you can do whatever you want." The trick is to just get you started, and then you look up 40 minutes later to see you have been writing the whole time.

On Sunday I was doing the most torturous, grueling activity in the world: editing. I sat down and looked at my manuscript which I was sure was utter trash. I edited a line, maybe two, then I had to get up and get away from it. I forced myself back in the chair and edited a little more, then got up again. I did this for a couple of hours. I told myself, "just a little more, just get through this paragraph, look, you are almost to the end of the chapter, finish that and you can be done for the day." And I did. It wasn’t a group of gleaming, perfectly written paragraphs afterwards, but they were better. Progress, not perfection, right? The moral of the story is: taking things chunk by chunk works.

I am going to write today

As I drove to work this morning, I felt a sense of excitement. I am going to write today. The morning sun poured golden light on houses, brick buildings, and cars. I saw the flowering trees, dandelion fields and dewy grass just waking up. Morning is a magical time, when the world is fresh and new. The whole day is ahead of you and anything is possible. There is energy to it, like a river that I want to channel into all of my hopes and goals of the day.

When I sit down, I wonder what I am going to write. A tingling of fear and excitement creeps up, and I wonder if nothing will come out of me, but I am also excited to see what does. I should stop thinking that nothing will come. We are each deep, vast wells of memories, emotions, wonder and truths. Like the pregnant morning, we too are full of possibilities. Our wells are bottomless.

Sometimes writing reminds me of being on the swim team in high school. I would wake up at 5 AM to swim before school started, then swim again after school every day.  Practice is a good thing, we don’t expect someone who doesn’t swim often to just jump in the water and win a 300 meter race. We know it takes time, practice and dedication.

Letters to the Sky

I remember as a child, I would tie a message to a balloon and let it fly off. I loved watching the balloon dance in the wind as it flew up and away. I sent my message out into the unknown hoping it would go for miles before it finally landed. I imagined someone would find it on the ground and read, with a smile, all of the secrets it contained. I can’t remember what I wrote to those unknown recipients. I just remember the sense of magic I felt at writing letters to the sky.

I think it would be fun to once again write a message and send it out to the world.

• Write a message and tie it to a balloon and watch it fly off
• Put a message in a bottle and let it float out into the water
• Write a message on a post-it note and put it somewhere random - like a bathroom stall, a wall, or at a bus stop
• Write in the snow, in the sand, or on the ground
• Write something besides, “clean me” on the dusty car windshield
• Write on a fogged bathroom mirror
• Buy or borrow some chalk and write on the sidewalk
• Write a message in a card, seal it in an envelope and leave it for someone to find

How to Bust the Grumps

Ok, guys.. I’m feeling a Bane of Creativity that I didn’t realize before. This Bane is like a black shadow that hides in the corners of your mind and whispers ugly things to you. The worst part is you think it’s coming from your own mind! The presence of this venomous shade causes symptoms of tiredness, irritability, sudden bouts of crying, and a desire for chocolate and/or hamburgers. The shadowy monster loves ice cream too. Some, call it PMS, but I think today I will call it Grumpy Poo Poo Head. If I let it get too out of control, they may have to throw me in the attic, lock it, and slide chocolate under the door. But, I won’t let it get to that point, because...

If you're seeing things running through your head

Who ya gonna call? Grump Busters!

Books That Inspire You to Write

Here is a collection of books that have really helped inspire me to write. They are filled with ideas and and heartfelt encouragement.These books will get you writing!

The Right to Write

By Julia Cameron

http://www.amazon.com/The-Right-Write-Invitation-Initiation/dp/1585420093/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

This book feels like a warm summer breeze,  there is something wonderfully comforting about it. It encourages you to free yourself from the blocks and fears and write for yourself. This book will help to awaken the love of writing within you.

Poetry

"Poetry soothes and emboldens the soul to accept mystery." - From the movie, Bright Star.

Start a Free Writing Journal

And I’m free, free writing

Yeah, I’m free, free writing...

Free writing gets us comfortable with allowing ideas to flow, and can be very therapeutic in its own right. When you free write it allows your subconscious to open, and thoughts will come from you that you didn't even know where there. I know of know better cure for Writers Block. The possibilities of discovery are endless!

Ways To Start Your Free Writing Journal

• Pick a journal or notebook out that you really like, you can find really good ones at book stores, or you can even find them at places like Target.
• Start a journal folder on your computer and open up a document file.
• Start a blog – no one has to see it but you.
• Start an online Journal or Diary at http://www.livejournal.com/ or  http://www.opendiary.com/

This space will be used for free writing, to let yourself write whatever you want, generate ideas, and be as creative as you want!

Confession Session

Confession Time: So, my plan was to work on writing my novella this weekend – wow doesn’t that sound schmancy and cool? 

It all like, “Pardon me do you have any grey poupon? I’m going to work on my novella.” But then I’m going to tell you that I’m working on a paranormal romance about shape shifters in the Midwest, and it becomes, “Can you gimmie a down payment on a cheeseburger? I’m working on some smut, ya see?” 

Let’s get this straight once and for all; there is a big difference between smut and romance- even if uninformed minds don’t think so. Romance is all about true love, and deep, soul to soul tenderness and magic and rose petals, and sweet, tingly kisses. Smut is not!

So I’m trying to work on my story this morning, and here comes the Banes of Creativity. I can’t just turn on the computer and start typing, God no! I need to get some coffee first (aka writing juice).

OK, got my coffee. Now I should go upstairs and.. but I haven’t had breakfast yet, and you know it’s the most important meal of the day and I want PANCAKES! I should make some pancakes, but that takes effort, maybe I should go out for pancakes? Do you see where this is heading? To the fields of distraction, ruled by the evil overlord – The Distractinator.

Let Your Light Shine

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson

My Life Purpose-ular Cellular Phone

Yesterday you heard the phone ring, and it was your passion calling. You may not want to answer it but let me tell ya, they are the worst telemarketers I know. If you ignore them, they just keep calling back. So let’s answer it!

Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring.. Purpose Phone

Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping.. Purpose Phone

It’s no bologna, it ain’t a phony, it’s My Life Purpose-ular Cellular Phone...

Ok, now we're pumped!! Are you ready? The big question of the day is... What is my life's purpose? 

I have been having trouble lately trying to figure this one out myself. What to do with my life, what career should I take, what am I really here for? I think a lot of people struggle with this at some point in their lives. And this guide can help you find the answers. So, grab your papers and your pencils and let’s give it a try.

Ring Ring, Your Passion is Calling

Do you have a calling in your heart – to write, to draw, to make music, to anything?

Its time to discover what you are passionate about that gives you happy joy-joy feelings.

Make a “Things I love to do list.”

Write I love______ and write what you love in the blank. Do this again on the next line and the next, until nothing else comes to mind. There is no right or wrong, just write :) And if you want to, feel free to share.

Because...

It feels good.

It’s therapeutic, and a lot cheaper than a therapist.

You can do it anywhere.

It can make you feel alive, and on fire.

You can get lost in it.

It can be so much fun.

It can help you explore new things.

It can be used for self-discovery.

Its great to do while listening to music.

It gives a sense of wonder and magic.

It can be a spiritual experience.

What am I talking about? Writing of course!

Getting Started

The first thing I wanted to do this morning was write in my blog. Wow, what an amazing feeling.  It’s like a fresh spring morning when the birds are singing, and the trees are blooming, and you are twirling round and round singing, “The words are alive, with the sound of music!” while unicorns fly rainbows around you. I was eager to put my fingertips to keyboard and let the thoughts pour out. Nothing seems to invigorate me like a new project (if only it wasn’t so hard to finish them)!  Ok, I’m excited, I want to write. Good. Now, what should I write about?

Introduction

There are times when The Muse is inspired and writing can enchant a person’s soul. When you are in the writing zone and the ideas flow through you as fast as your fingers can move. There is something magical about it, and you feel spellbound by what you are are creating. The goal of this blog is to provide ideas, insights and exercises that will inspire The Muse.

This is a place of support and encouragement, to fuel the creative fire, and hopefully open a new chapter in your life as a writer.

So relax, have fun, and enjoy writing!

Andrea