Archive for March, 2010

Writer’s Journey Tip of the Week

Monday, March 29th, 2010

artistic_flower_pattern_and_painting_1001Here in the UK we have just changed our clocks to British Summer Time (and we’re all looking forward to the sunshine returning!)

Although I love the extra hour of daylight in the evenings, the transition itself can be unsettling to the natural flow until the new rhythm settles. Once that has happened, the shift in perspective always opens up fresh ideas and creative opportunities.

A similar result can be gained from choosing voluntarily to change old habits or patterns of thought and behaviour which no longer serve you. And Spring is certainly an excellent time to refresh your commitment to your writing and all activities relating to your success as an author.

Habits can be hard and initially uncomfortable to break. However, it is always worth releasing the creative energy which becomes locked in a loop when you are entrenched in habitual routines. So here’s a tip to help you to just that:

  • Alter your regular daily routine in one significant area which has an effect on the habit you are aiming to let go of.

For example, if you normally do your writing after you have finished a whole load of other tasks on your ‘to do’ list, try turning this around and do your writing first.

Repeat this approach for 21 days to reinforce your new rhythm … and then review the results. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you discover an improvement in the quality and the quantity of your writing, all from one simple, yet well-chosen change.

I’d love to hear about the changes you are choosing to make this Spring in support of your writing, so do add your comments below.

Enjoy the journey!

Julia

PS Talking of Spring and supporting your writing, we currently have a Spring Equinox Bonus Interview offer at the International Association of Conscious & Creative Writers. So if you’d like to hear about the inside story of independent publishers with Hay House MD & Publisher Michelle Pilley, and learn what the challenges and opportunities facing authors today are from Society of Authors General Secretary Mark LeFanu, click here …

 

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Posted in Creativity, Writing | 7 Comments »

IACCW Member Event: Discover the Poet In You

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Julia McCutchen interviews poet and author Jay Ramsay11_6_t

Thursday 1st April at
16:00 BST / 11:00 EST

A poem is like a butterfly. A moment seeds itself inside us. A memory.
An experience when we saw, we felt, perhaps even, we knew.

It touches something deep in us. Deeper than words. And something begins, in that inner space. Something that is uniquely ours to speak of.

There is a poet in all of us. However unknown or neglected that part of us may be, it is there, often just waiting for the right conditions to present itself.

Whether you write – or want to write – poetry, fiction or non-fiction, discovering the poet in you is like revealing the hidden treasure which will nourish your creative soul.

Writing poetry is also a powerful catalyst with the potential for inner healing and personal growth. By the end of this inspiring interview you will understand how:

  • poetry is not just literature, it is a whole way of being, a whole way of relating to life
  • poetry’s home is in the expression of the values that make our lives worthwhile
  • poetry doesn’t just take place on the page, it is all around us in the living air
  • so called amateur poets are sometimes more relevant than professional ones
  • to be conscious of moments during the day when you experience poetry and apply that state of being to whatever your current writing project is

Jay Ramsay is the author of over 30 books most recently Out of Time: Selected Poems 1998-2008 (PS Avalon), Places of Truth (Awen), and The Poet in You (O Books). Co-founder of the Angels of Fire poetry collective in London in 1983, he has performed his work in public for many years.

Want to listen to this teleseminar interview for free but not yet an IACCW member?

Find out about how to do so and discover the other benefits of becoming a member of the International Association of Conscious & Creative Writers (IACCW) by clicking here …

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Twitter as a New Literary Tool?

Monday, March 15th, 2010

twitterWith many authors yet to embrace fully the platform-building potential of Twitter, are we already seeing the next wave of possibility for this microblogging site?

It seems that authors in Japan may be ahead of the game when it comes to creative usage of Twitter as a new trend emerges with authors actually writing books on Twitter.

When you consider that each ‘tweet’ is just 140 characters long, it must be quite a challenge to write a Twitter novel!

As most writers understand, it is often much harder to craft a powerful message or tell an enticing tale using a modest number of words. So the reduction to a handful of characters is taking the minimalist idea to the extreme.

Yet, according to freelance journalist Felicity Hughes* who writes a blog for the Japan Times, Japanese authors have begun writing Twitter books.

Perhaps even more intriguingly, this trend is being watched by publishers who are looking to the internet as a “testing ground for new talent”.

This is good news for authors who are hoping to attract the positive attention of agents and editors, many of whom are active on Twitter themselves.

In fact the first collection of Twitter novels, One Hundred and Forty Character Stories, was published by Discover towards the end of last year and includes 1,000 short “novels” from 10 professional writers.

Although this is clearly very early days, it is fascinating to see how creative both writers and publishers can be when it comes to taking stories to the marketplace.

So what can be learnt from their example?

In my view, this is an opportunity to remember that “less is often more” when it comes to writing, and that lesson is probably one which many of us benefit from being reminded of more than once.

What are your views on Twitter as a potential literary tool and how easy do you find it to write less to say more? Add your comments below …

* With thanx to The Bookseller and to Felicity Hughes for providing source information and for inspiring this commentary.

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Posted in Creativity, Publishing, Writing | 2 Comments »

5 Ways to Sharpen the Edge of Your Creative Writing

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Sharp_Edge_PencilsThe creative cycle has distinct phases which all need to be honoured to keep your writing focused and fluent. 

Ironically, the most over-looked phase is the most important of all. Silence, stillness and space are all facets of the same creative diamond out of which the impulse to create arises.

Reconnecting fully with your creative Source by choosing to prioritise these crucial ingredients is one of the most powerful ways to keep your writing sharp and vibrant.

Taking regular time out from everyday life, whether it is for a short break or a longer retreat, allows you to recharge after surfing a creative wave and to gather your energy for the next creative phase.

Here are 5 ways to make the most of such an opportunity and to sharpen the edge of your creative writing at any time:

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What Mindset Shift Are You Ready to Make?

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Spring_flowerHere in the UK, the first day of March signals that spring is just around the corner, and after many months of winter, that is good news indeed!

February is usually my least favourite month but this year it has been completely different because I have been engaged with the successful launch of a brand new creation into the world (the IACCW).

From now on, February will be associated with that uplifting and transformative energy. This is a positive shift for me and I am looking forward to carrying this new energy forwards onto the next level I now find myself on. 

Before we say goodbye to winter altogether, or simply the month which has passed, why not take the opportunity to think about what mindset shift(s) might be useful for you at this time of change?

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Posted in Creativity, Personal Reflections, Publishing, Writing | 6 Comments »