Right to Write ~ Week Three

Good Morning! Week two reading The Right to Write by Julia Cameron. Jump in when you can and do what you are able.


Mood
Drama
The Wall of Infamy
Valuing Our Experience

I really felt this set of chapters had so many neat ideas and concepts! I sincerely hope you all get a chance to read through them.

Some of my favorite thoughts:

E-mail (pg 34):  I don't have to sit down and write a whole book or even a whole page. Just write a paragraph...a quick little "e-mail" today and one tomorrow and the next day. Before I know it, I have a page, a chapter, maybe one day even a book.

Drama (pg 41):  Keep the drama on the page. When I'm experiencing an overwhelming emotion, especially in a relationship, it is easy to just react. But if I took a moment to put it on paper and work through my thoughts and feelings on paper, which can be torn up when I'm done, I may prevent an heated exchange of words which I do not really mean and cannot take back once spoken. Keep the drama of the situation on paper, so my words are exactly what I mean them to be, not what my hurt feelings wish them to be.

Experience (pg 48):  I tend to think I'm not a good writer...I'm not a good scientist or mathematician or mechanic...well, let's just say there are lots of things I'm not very good at. But how often to I give myself credit for all the things I AM good at? I bake really good bread. I can swaddle and rock most any fussy baby to sleep. I have faced some pretty big fears this past couple years and conquered many of them.

How 'bout you? Did anything stand out in the reading this week? Or in your writing? I'd love to hear about it!

If you were unable to read this week, or do not have the book, my favorite writing assignment for this week is an exercise in recognizing emotions...and actually naming them. Take out a sheet of paper or find an empty page in a notebook, set a timer for 15 minutes and list as many situations or things that you are feeling an emotion about. Such as:  I am excited about our plans for the weekend. I am disappointed I have to cancel an appt today. I love watching the snow fall from my warm kitchen. I am sad for a friend going through a divorce. I am anxious to complete a photo project I've started. Etc... 

Next Week:
Specificity
Body of Experience
The Well
Sketching

Right to Write ~ Week Two

Good Morning! Week two reading The Right to Write by Julia Cameron. Jump in when you can and do what you are able.

The Time Lie
Track
Bad Writing
This Writing Life

"We can use writing the way a filmmaker uses a lens: to pull focus, to put things into a different perspective. We can zoom into a closeup. We can pull way back and put something against a larger swathe of landscape. If writing is observing the movie in our minds, it is also editing it, adding sounds track, putting on a voice-over." (pg 31)

I love the concept of using writing to adjust my focus. What a neat way of looking at these exercises and the time it takes to do them!

 If you were unable to read this week, or do not have the book, my favorite writing assignment for this week is an exercise in writing about your life. Take three sheets of paper and use the practice from last week to write about you. This time, though, pick one situation such as a purchase you're debating, a relationship you want to work on, a challenge you are facing. Now just write! Don't worry about grammar or spelling or readability, just write and see where your writing takes you.


Next Week:
Mood
Drama
The Wall of Infamy
Valuing Our Experience

Right to Write, Week One

Welcome! Week one reading The Right to Write by Julia Cameron. Jump in when you can and do what you are able.

Intro
Begin
Let Yourself Write
Let Yourself Listen

This is not a "how-to" book, but a "why write" book...as someone who never thought of myself as a writer, I find a freedom in simply learning to write whether or not it's any "good." The quality of writing can come later, if I choose, but I have found learning to put thoughts and feelings and ideas on paper to be therapeutic.

So please join me and give this a try. You may choose to keep everything you write hidden, or you may find you have something to share! Either way, I believe this is a skill to be learned. I have enjoyed my journey in this area and look forward to exploring further.

If you were unable to read this week, or do not have the book, my favorite writing assignment for this week was what Julia calls "pages". Take three 8 1/2 by 11 sheets of paper and write whatever is on your mind. Feelings, thoughts, ideas, anything. If you are familiar with "ally" writing, you can use this exercise to explore a feeling or work through a situation (or two or three).

Next week:
The Time Lie
Track
Bad Writing
This Writing Life

First Book for 2013

After much debate, I decided on a book that I have started and not been able to finish, but really feel is valuable to me. I would love for you to join me! The book is available many places, here is a link for Amazon.

"The Right to Write" by Julia Cameron

Please don't be intimidated by the number of chapters or the suggested writing. My reason for working through this book is to encourage myself to put my thoughts and feelings and ideas on paper. I don't have to be a good writer to write. I don't have to have something globally important to say to write. I just need to make time to do it.

I have divided the book into eleven sections, starting January 15th and completing it March 26th. I will be reading four "chapters" each week and choosing at least one of the writing assignments. If I have time, I will do all four assignments. Just read and write what you can!

Week One:  Introduction, Begin, Let Yourself Write, Let Yourself Listen

For those of you who have completed Phase I of the Ultimate Journey through Christ-Life, think of this as ally letter practice!

For those of  you who are unable to purchase the book, I will be posting one of the writing assignments each week, as well. Feel free to follow along and just do the assignments I post.

Part Three

Final week of "The Four Seasons of Marriage" by Gary Chapman.

We did it! A second book read this year. What did you think of it? Favorite thought? Anything you disagreed with? Have you tried one of the strategies? Shared any of this with your spouse?

With the holiday, I tried to keep the reading light for this week, so we just had a couple pages summing up the book. I also read through the question/answer section. I appreciated the clarification that the strategies work together, not in sequence (pg 179-180). I can focus on one at a time, but all seven work together to strengthen a relationship. It also caught my attention, when he shared the reality that if both spouses see the relationship in different seasons, one of them is not seeing the truth (pg 176-177). I can see the relationship as all sunshine and roses, but if my spouse is feeling a frost, then I need to face the reality that things may not be as good as I think they are.

This book as ignited some discussions with my husband and has brought understanding to a relationship I have been powerless to help. How 'bout you?

Strategies Six & Seven

Hello! We are on week five reading Gary Chapman's "The Four Seasons of Marriage."

We are almost done with this book, but I feel I could re-read it again! I love the tools, suggestions and concepts that I can apply, not just to my marriage, but also to other important relationships. I have found empathetic listening to be especially helpful with my kiddos and minimizing differences to cast a different light on interactions with my mother-in-law.

I also appreciate the strategy dedicated to the relationships or at least times in a relationship when the other person isn't interested in improving the relationship. We are both unique individuals who are always changing and moving and feeling, but we are definitely not always on the same page. Knowing that I can do something to improve my outlook and the atmosphere of our home is power I didn't always recognize.

How about you? How has this information impacted you? Have you implemented any of the strategies?

Next weeks post will also be on Wednesday, due to Christmas. I will be wrapping up this book with Phase III.

Posting about the next book for the new year later this week!

Strategies Four & Five

Good afternoon! This is week four reading "The Four Seasons of Marriage" by Gary Chapman.

I have personally experienced the power of empathetic listening. It can take a very tense interaction and bring two parties to a point of respect. I also find this strategy to be one of the hardest for me. The keys listed in this chapter are a simple reminder of this technique. So are you a "Dead Sea" or a "Babbling Brook"? I am most definitely a "Babbling Brook" and my husband would probably agree, if I let him get a word in. :)

Strategy five, however, is my personal favorite. "You can't help a man uphill without getting closer to the top yourself." (pg 119) Gary Chapman talked about the concept of a "love tank" (pg 96) and I think it carries over here. When I am feeling loved, accepted and encouraged, I am more creative, resilient and therefore more successful. When I speak my husband's love language, take time to listen and encourage him, I help him to succeed, too!

I am very interested in your take on this material. What do you think of Dr Chapman's work? Have you tried any of these strategies? Can you identify one that you want to work on?