It Begins with Words

Whether I am teaching writing or immersing myself in the craft, I have learned one very important lesson. What works for you may not work for me. 

Experienced writers often give out advice which includes where they write, what paper they use, what pen works best, and where their ideas come from.  Along comes a person who wants to spend more time with the written word, but doesn't know where to start. An experienced writer has shared all that works. It seems so daunting. "Oh dear....that room didn't work. Legal pads are better than a journal. What do you mean a red Bic pen?" 

I want to let you in on a  little secret. It begins with words. It doesn't matter where you are, what you are wearing, what you are drinking, or what color of ink you are using. It begins with words. 

Get the words down. With my own students I have an exercise called word spill. "Write down everything that comes to mind when I say............."Myself it is just beginning the words and writing until I can't think of anything else to say.  Whether thinking quietly first about the words helps, do it. For some it is brainstorming. Others read others' words to get inspired. It begins with words. Do what works for you.

I believe there are many writers that have much to say, but aren't writing because of being afraid it may not be done right.  Insecurity creeps in because they don't know the rules of the writing club. There is much to share, much to say, but  the person is crippled with writer's block.  

Guess what? There are no rules. You can't be wrong. That is why I love writing so much. I can do it anywhere, any time, any place. I can save it, rip it up, delete it, or publish it. I can put it here on my blog or share it with my students. They are my words. I put them all together and arranged them to suit me. I own them. 

Remember, it begins with the words. Oh... and you don't have to use an old typewriter!

What writing rituals work for you?

What holds you back when you have something you want to write?

What advice do you have for other writers?

 

 

Gather Up Winter

As the end of spring I often find myself gathering up dead leaves from spent tulips while trying not to pull up the bulbs. Gathering in summer could be flowers for a bouqet, bugs off of roses, deadheads off of geraniums, or fruit off a tree in the orchard. Autumn is the queen gathering season. Leaves are gathered, the last tomatoes before the frost, eggs before the chickens begin molting, and the last of the garden vegetables. 

 

What do we gather up in winter? The last of the holly that was in the pot for decoration? The Christmas lights that still haven't come down? The little items that were dropped and lost in the snow during the long winter months perhaps?

I do gather photos. Winter photos are a challenge. The days are darker. Snow sometimes doesn't look very pretty. As my husband loves to say, " You see one snow covered fencepost...you've seen them all." I gathered a collection of my favorite winter photos as spring looms in the horizon.