the advice I give my writing students is the same advice I give myself-if it doesn't make you squirm to write it, you're probably skimming the surface of what most needs to be expressed. There's already plenty of surface art out there. Why bother adding a bobble to the facade when you could offer up a shovel and a torch? I often say if you don't feel like puking when you publish something, you're probably not being honest enough.
This is from my cousin who writes, as u can read above, and also has a great sense of humor!
Thanks Cathy for your encouraging words on writing. Loved it!
Hi Brenda, hope you don't mind if I jump in here. Organizing thoughts in webs (also called mind mapping) is the way I've been brainstorming since I started writing. It is also the way I taught Writer's Workshop when I was a classroom teacher.
In the last several years it's also the way I've mapped out my thoughts for poems. Many of those poems are in my current book "Mining the Bright Birds:Poems of Longing for Home."
I taught a workshop last year at our church called Making Friends with Poetry and modeled this process for the participants who shared their final products. They said they found it very helpful.
Cathy, how-to's for writing poetry, especially a concrete process--are so helpful. So glad you shared this!
the advice I give my writing students is the same advice I give myself-if it doesn't make you squirm to write it, you're probably skimming the surface of what most needs to be expressed. There's already plenty of surface art out there. Why bother adding a bobble to the facade when you could offer up a shovel and a torch? I often say if you don't feel like puking when you publish something, you're probably not being honest enough.
This is from my cousin who writes, as u can read above, and also has a great sense of humor!
Thanks Cathy for your encouraging words on writing. Loved it!
I tend to agree with your cousin! ☺️
I’d love to see the finished paragraph or paragraphs that come from this.
Hi Brenda, hope you don't mind if I jump in here. Organizing thoughts in webs (also called mind mapping) is the way I've been brainstorming since I started writing. It is also the way I taught Writer's Workshop when I was a classroom teacher.
In the last several years it's also the way I've mapped out my thoughts for poems. Many of those poems are in my current book "Mining the Bright Birds:Poems of Longing for Home."
I taught a workshop last year at our church called Making Friends with Poetry and modeled this process for the participants who shared their final products. They said they found it very helpful.
https://walktheearthwatchthesky.substack.com/p/i-rise-early?r=3bqzww here’s the link.
Oh my goodness yes. The fleeting gold nuggets. Evaporating in shimmering dust.
Thank you for this practical lesson! Im definitely trying this.
Oh, the agony of escaping words is real. Thanks for the concrete suggestion and for eloquently sharing the struggle.
I feel like you embody the persistence and consistency part, Gina! I was reading your work 10+ years ago 🤍✨
Mind Mapping, Morning Pages, a Certain Amount of Minutes--what will work for Me?! 😆
At least we’ve got alliteration! 😅
Loved this! And saving it!! Thanks!