Someone Stole the Moon

Listening by Lydia Bear Ishmael

I can’t find anything clever
Or beautiful to write           tonight 

the moon is gone

                        Who does that?

Who takes a moon?

Dear Writer,  

So much comes up for us as writers. Concerns and vulnerabilities around our subject and themes. We ask ourselves:  Who am I to share this?  Who cares? Is my writing or message good enough?  I feel so vulnerable and even afraid to share my story, so why share it? Will any of this make a difference? 

All these concerns and vulnerabilities, I want to reassure you, go with the writer’s life. You have probably seen The Power of Vulnerability by Renee Browne. This is worth another viewing.  

I would pursue your inner nudge to write and to share your story. I am working on a book for writers. The name of which reveals a universal experience we writers (at all stages of our writing) have: So What and Who Cares?  The thing is, those of us who have a personal and vulnerable story and who have likely been shut down or shut up, have to dig inside for that courage, that calling, to share our stories. Sharing our stories is important and valuable.  (I will keep saying this. Truth is worth a repeat). 

The other truth is: IT’S DOABLE.  I can truly say if I can write a book (now 11), and get them published, anyone can. This is where the trust comes in:  trusting your calling, trusting yourself and trusting others (me, future readers, the world). And, I am certain your writing is far, far more beautiful and well-written then you may let yourself know. I start all my writing with stream-line of consciousness — this is great. I just get the idea and words on the page, no concern of how well the writing is. This is a perfect place to start. Then we get to go back and re-write and explore all the ways we can make what is meaningful to us, meaningful to our readers. 

For the past two weeks I have been offering a free virtual writing circle (for 40 writers). At least 20 show up every day. In my welcome email each morning I give writing prompts for on and off the page. Here are mine for today (enjoy): 

Writing Prompt:  Using a stream-line of consciousness, write about what you don’t remember.  Repeat this line:  “I don’t remember,” without lifting your pen off the page and without stopping to think. Even if you have to repeat several times the one line, I don’t remember, do so... keep the pen moving. Something will come, something will show up on the page . . .(You can pick a subject or person that’s relevant to a writing project). 

Off the page prompts:   Today, spend some time on your deck, porch or in your yard, with your field notebook. Take notes of the sounds you hear. Make a list of every sound you hear.   Then later today, bring the two pieces together — What you don’t remember and the sounds you heard.  Write a poem. 

Tonight watch https://vimeo.com/watch. Fantastic Fungi (if you haven’t already).

"We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper, we will respond to its endangerment with passion." – Hildegard von Bingen

Buy your Writing Sherpa a Cuppa of Java: HERE.  But no worries if you can’t! That’s how this works — I can offer free retreats and virtual writing circles and consultations because those who can buy me a cup of java, do. It all works so beautifully. Thank you.  And, keep writing.