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