The Gift of this Day (for Writing)

a writing nook

"You have to count on living every single day in a way you believe will make you feel good about your life." –Jane Seymour

For us writers securing a writing time and place to write is part of what makes our life good. Yes? There are so many interferences to writing, which ultimately come down to internal struggles. The outer hindrances to our writing such as work, relationships, illness, loss, other commitments, are, well, just our life. To live the writer's life we must admit that our internal world of emotions (fears), beliefs, ideas, resistances, assumptions, distractions and doubts are what stops us from fully living a writer's life. The life that we can feel good about; a fully lived life for us writers means a time and place to write.

For example, if we don't feel that our writing is of value, we will find it hard to carve out that space in our home or time to write. Writing keeps getting kicked to the side.  

"Your life takes the form of each new day that was given you."  –John O'Donohue 

Each day offers up new possibilities and potentialities. A good preparation for the days to come is to create that inner and outer landscape for your writer's life. Challenge any negativity around writing. I highly recommend Steven Pressfield's book: The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles.  Reframe and reinvent your writer's life.  Hold a conscious relationship with your writing intentions and goals. Another great read for all writers is The Zero Point Agreement: How to Be Who Who Already Are. 

There is no subject that hasn't been written about, so focus on the personal message and theme, that which only you can write about. (See my Master Class below, offered at the upcoming Writers' Institute). 

Writers build worlds.....Build a writer's world. I recommend that you join up with other writers in circles, readings, and retreats. Join other writers and me at the upcoming Writers' Institute (see below). Create spaces to write.  I have at least 2 writing spaces in my home, separate from my working space. I also enjoy writing in noisy busy places, like Sjolinds in Mount Horeb or Barriques in Fitchburg. (Stay tuned for future dates to join me there!). I have a free (full day) Spring retreat coming up in March too.  It's always good to join up with a writing partner to write.  Just like a good meditation practice, if you can give yourself a few days to a couple weeks away from the routine, go on a writing retreat. 

"Complacency, habit and blindness often prevent you form feeling your life. So much depends on the frame of vision–the window through which we look." –John O'Donohue 

Oh, and I never leave home without a notebook. I may not write on my novel everyday but I am always taking notes. 

Join me and other writers at this years UW Writers' Institute in beautiful downtown Madison, March 26th through the 29th. 

Want to get your message across to readers? Sign up for my master class!: 
 
​Master Class - Soul Writing: Making What’s Meaningful to you (the Writer) Meaningful to Readers –by Julie Tallard Johnson 
This session is for writers that are using their life experiences to write a memoir, the new autobiography, autobiographical fiction, blogs, essays and creative nonfiction.
We will explore and use writing techniques that rely on and develop the autobiographical and personal nature of your story. You will explore and apply writing techniques and approaches that bring forth your most meaningful writing. 
 
 Topics addressed:
*How to write autobiographical pieces that capture universal themes
* Writing soulful (meaningful) pieces
* Understand and explore the universal nature of one’s subject
* Identify and draw out the autobiographical theme of your subject and writing project
* The use and value of symbolic writing, using metaphorical templates, third things, and myth.
* Identify a possible personal myth
* How to follow your theme
* The 5 Elements of Soulful Writing

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