Your Writing Mentor

Mary Knippel

[Friday Five-Minute Writing Prompt] Let’s start a new conversation…

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Let’s start a new conversation…

Take out a fresh sheet of paper. Natalie Goldberg uses a “fast-writing” pen. I suggest using your favorite writing instrument and an unlined piece of colored paper for fun. I use a fountain pen with purple ink. Some folks opt to use a computer. Please remember that typing puts you in another part of your brain. I believe you have greater access to messages from your soul with the pen to paper. However, if you are not physically able to write, then just open a new word document on your computer and go for it. The point is to keep your fingers moving for five minutes and not stop. I want you to experience how much writing can be accomplished in a short period.

If you get stuck, just repeat the writing prompt – Let’s start a new conversation... or any other phrase that is comfortable for you. Do not stop to edit, correct spelling, look up a better word, or rearrange a sentence. Do not question what comes up in the five minutes: this doesn’t make sense, where did that come from, or what a crazy notion. This is a timed writing exercise so be sure to set the timer on your watch, phone, microwave, computer, or kitchen stove. Whether you use an egg timer, a No. 2 pencil and a spiral notebook, your iPad, or even your iPhone, the theory is the same. Keep your hand and fingers moving and have fun taking dictation from your unconscious self. Make a list, hum a tune, write a poem, or create a short, short story. This is your time to explore and experiment.

Photo credit: jamienease.com

[Friday Five-Minute Writing Prompt] Learning to perfect my…

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Learning to perfect my…

Take out a fresh sheet of paper. Natalie Goldberg uses a “fast-writing” pen. I suggest using your favorite writing instrument and an unlined piece of colored paper for fun. I use a fountain pen with purple ink. Some folks opt to use a computer. Please remember that typing puts you in another part of your brain. I believe you have greater access to messages from your soul with the pen to paper. However, if you are not physically able to write, then just open a new word document on your computer and go for it. The point is to keep your fingers moving for five minutes and not stop. I want you to experience how much writing can be accomplished in a short period.

If you get stuck, just repeat the writing prompt – Learning to perfect my... or any other phrase that is comfortable for you. Do not stop to edit, correct spelling, look up a better word, or rearrange a sentence. Do not question what comes up in the five minutes: this doesn’t make sense, where did that come from, or what a crazy notion. This is a timed writing exercise so be sure to set the timer on your watch, phone, microwave, computer, or kitchen stove. Whether you use an egg timer, a No. 2 pencil and a spiral notebook, your iPad, or even your iPhone, the theory is the same. Keep your hand and fingers moving and have fun taking dictation from your unconscious self. Make a list, hum a tune, write a poem, or create a short, short story. This is your time to explore and experiment.

Photo credit: jamienease.com

Create your secret sauce for independence

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s.p.u.n.k with Writer Unleashed
Mary E. Knippel, Writer Unleashed

Independence:  the ability to act freely, have self-confidence, possess spunk, to be outspoken, or attitude of boldness.

Do any of those descriptions ring a bell for you?

No?

Well, it’s time that they did!

 Let freedom ring!

Your day of reckoning doesn’t have to come with a revolution. It can come quietly as you take a stand for yourself today by turning right instead of left on your walk today, choose something more exotic than vanilla or chocolate to celebrate July as National Ice Cream Month, prepare fish instead of hamburger for dinner, wear red (or a flattering version of a festive hue) instead of that customary (read safe) shade of beige, read a whole article, or chapter, instead of watching that sit-com summer rerun on TV.

Where on that face do you see evidence of anyone who had the ability to be outspoken…let alone bold?

That child only wanted to please and for quite a while, that was the story of the woman she grew up to be. However, circumstances forced her to see the consequences of always pleasing others at the expense of her own well-being. 

That little girl could be your daughter, your mother, your aunt, your niece, your cousin, your best friend, your co-worker…it could be YOU! 

Choose you…speak up for yourself!

You don’t have to wait until you have a health crisis to take care of yourself.

Rewrite your story!

You can choose to put yourself on that To Do List…be outspoken and buy that summer novel for yourself, then boldly read it in a bubble bath tonight, show some spunk and schedule a massage before you desperately need it and claim the freedom to take care of yourself.

By the way, taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you’ll stop doing what comes naturally to you…taking care of your loved ones…it only means you have demonstrated your ability to act freely and choose to include yourself among those whom you nurture, love and support. 

Hop over to my Facebook page and let me know what independence looks like for you.

Photo credit:  EAOverland

 

 

 

 

[Friday Five-Minute Writing Prompt] In search of summer magic…

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In search of summer magic…

Take out a fresh sheet of paper. Natalie Goldberg uses a “fast-writing” pen. I suggest using your favorite writing instrument and an unlined piece of colored paper for fun. I use a fountain pen with purple ink. Some folks opt to use a computer. Please remember that typing puts you in another part of your brain. I believe you have greater access to messages from your soul with the pen to paper. However, if you are not physically able to write, then just open a new word document on your computer and go for it. The point is to keep your fingers moving for five minutes and not stop. I want you to experience how much writing can be accomplished in a short period.

If you get stuck, just repeat the writing prompt – In search of summer magic... or any other phrase that is comfortable for you. Do not stop to edit, correct spelling, look up a better word, or rearrange a sentence. Do not question what comes up in the five minutes: this doesn’t make sense, where did that come from, or what a crazy notion. This is a timed writing exercise so be sure to set the timer on your watch, phone, microwave, computer, or kitchen stove. Whether you use an egg timer, a No. 2 pencil and a spiral notebook, your iPad, or even your iPhone, the theory is the same. Keep your hand and fingers moving and have fun taking dictation from your unconscious self. Make a list, hum a tune, write a poem, or create a short, short story. This is your time to explore and experiment.

Photo credit: jamienease.com

Tell me something – are you a real writer?

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writersblock.dreamstimeextrasmall_10515665.jpgI’m curious about something and I thought I’d ask the question that so many of us harbor when sitting down to write:

Am I a Real Writer?

 

Now that I have the Boogie Man question out of the way, I’ll offer a suggestion to get your pen moving. Start with you using your words…yes, I mean speaking…talking about what you want to write about. Sometimes finding your writing voice means that you use your speaking voice to hear what you think and to learn what to write about.

I’ve been where you are… sitting there ready to write, pen in hand and poised over your page, or staring at the blank computer screen with the cursor blinking at you expectantly…and you think that you know what you want to say…then beating yourself up with those doubting thoughts…

  • who do you think you are to say that?
  • see, you really don’t have any authority to be writing about that…if you did, this would be easy for you
  • real writers have no problem with getting their thoughts out of their heads and on paper so you must not be a real writer

Real writers struggle with the doubting thoughts, insecurities and fear of judgment as much as anyone who puts pen to paper with the intention that someone else reads their words. 

Do you want to know a little secret?  You are a Real Writer whether your words are a few lines in a birthday card or the great American novel. When you share your thoughts with someone else in written form…you are a writer.

Now, back to that writing tip…speak your thoughts. Use a tape recorder, call yourself and record a message on your phone, or talk with a friend.

I recently helped a client create a chapter in her book by asking her questions and leading her deeper into the material she wanted to share. By brainstorming, she unleashed the material she wanted to include in the chapter. We didn’t follow an agenda or have a need to address specific bullet points.  In fact, the whole experience was a discovery session to explore the information we knew and what still needed to be discovered. 

So the next time you think you have nothing to write about when you sit down to write…get up and talk to someone. And let me know what happens!

photo credit:  Dreamstime.com