Well, sometimes life happens and before you realise it, far too much time has gone by since your last post. Oops. Apologies dear readers. So, what has happened over the last year? Well, amongst other things, I’ve started three of those books on my reading list in the post Becoming A Better Writer. Even when life is busy and I’m on the go, I still find time to read. Though lately, I’ve noticed that I’m starting a lot of books,…
I step off the train at Vicenza and make my way through the station pulling my suitcase behind me. I’m wearing one backpack on my back and the other on my front. Maybe, one day I’ll learn to travel lightly. I stop outside to take in the view of the wide open park area and the low lying hills in the distance. After the high mountains of Trentino where I’ve spent the last three weeks, it makes a nice change…
Have you ever considered that 10 minutes of writing for enjoyment could add a positive aspect to your day? Many of us write everyday for work purposes, on instant messaging apps or to fill in paperwork. But what if a regular daily writing practice of a different kind could not only help you to clarify ideas but also to feel good afterwards? Here are three ways writing can help you move forward 1 Writing helps you to let go of…
When writing, we tend to concentrate on the finished product; a book, a poem or an essay. But, what happens if, instead of focusing on the outcome, we focus on the actual process of writing itself? This is what I began to explore in 2018 when, as a volunteer, I started to run Creative Writing for Wellbeing sessions. As we progressed through the sessions, I discovered that the participants benefited enormously from this type of writing in a group. It…
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to spend a week away writing? I am an enormous fan of spending creative time away with others on an organised writing holiday. So, I am really pleased to be sharing this fabulous guest post by writer, Hilary Smith. Hilary, who is co-author of a non-fiction book for primary school teachers published by Routledge, wanted to refresh her creative writing skills, so she attended a residential writing week hosted by the Arvon Foundation….
From gaining clarity to giving you inspiration or providing props, there are many ways letters can motivate you and energise your writing. Here are five that can help you find energy and inspiration 1. Writing to your novel, poem or other project A technique I came across recently via an interview on the Professional Writing Academy with author, teacher and co- author of Writing Works, Victoria Field, is to write a letter to your novel asking what it needs from…
Writing groups are often free or low-cost and are a great way to meet like-minded people and develop your skills as a writer. For me, joining a writing group is probably one of the most important things I have done with regard to my creative writing. Whether you join a regular group, a short course or a writing retreat, the experience can be extremely valuable. So, here are 7 reasons why I think joining a group is a good idea….
Have you ever thought about running a writing retreat? There’s no doubt that retreats are great opportunity to do something different that your writers will love. I hosted my first writing retreat in our tiny mountain village in Andalucía, Spain for a UK based client. The client, a coach who writes non-fiction for business purposes, brought three emerging writers with her to spend five days focusing on their writing. The writers loved it. They got the opportunity to spend quality…
My blog had been off track for a while due to a lack of energy and a heavy workload. I knew that if I was to continue blogging, I needed to take action. So, when the email from Problogger popped into my in-box with news about a ‘content’ sprint, I checked it out. The reasons Darren Rowse, creator of Problogger, gave for setting up the content sprint resonated with me. I have been following Problogger since I started this blog…
Over the past year, I’ve been experimenting with morning writing. While it’s not my first attempt at writing early in the morning, I have noticed that my morning writing has taken a different course. Therapeutic writing In the past I have used free flow or unconscious writing as a technique to 1) rant and get rid of stress and negative emotions without upsetting anyone else 2) to clarify my thoughts when I have needed to make an important decision Some…