You don't have to write a novel each time you sit down to write, either at your desk or your computer. It is enough that you have actually WRITTEN something (well as long as they make vague sense and convey something to the reader - even if it is only yourself!!).
It is important to start the HABIT of writing, and you have to start somewhere and sometime, so start TODAY - now after you have read this prompt - no time like the present eh?
Define yourself in say - five sentences. Just freewrite for a few moments, in words, notes, just let your mind and pen wander. Then pick out the pertinent bits of how you would define yourself.
For example, I don't define myself through other's eyes and standards, I define myself by what I have inside and what I want to do and be in the world.
So I would go off on a five sentence rant about how I want to change the world one day at a time and where I would position myself to be most effective at achieving that change - today that would focus on something specific tomorrow it would be something else...
Some words will jump out of this free writing as most important, so work on them for a few more minutes.
There you go... writing done... and if you find this too personal, write it through the eyes of a fictional character... !! sometimes you never know which is which - am I fiction or am I real ? who cares...?
Best wishes
Shani
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Touching Base
Hi everyone.
Things have been very quiet over the summer on the writing front and I am sorry that I haven't been able to really be around as much as I would like to.
As many of you know I have been juggling a lot of commitments over the past three years and all the plates I have been spinning came tumbling down, simply because I became too tired to keep an eye on them. Everything just collided at once - fortunately I didn't break many plates as they hit the floor but there were a few casualties and a few of my writing commitments, along with other things which gave me a lot of pleasure have been neglected.
That said I have decided to resume teaching this autumn, but only for a few groups, until I have clarified which way my life is going to go in the forseeable future. We are very probably going to have to relocate to Devon, but it is difficult to judge at present.
I hope you will understand that I only have so many days in any given week, and some of those have to be spent on me and my family - and actually writing !! You are though all very welcome to become members of Writing in the Margins, or visit the Great Western Writers at the Library - details to be found at http://www.greatwesternwriters.com/.
Over the forthcoming months I will also be looking for a regular comfy "drop-in" spot somewhere central in Bristol, where any local writers/students can meet informally - say once a month - and I will be on hand for support as you strive towards your writing goals. I tried this last year, but it all became too difficult, so I will make renewed efforts and hope that some of you will feel that you can make it.
Anyone who is interested in starting a Novel - November is the time to join NaNoWriMo - http://www.nanowrimo.org/ where you basically get into the habit of writing every day. I can commend this to you as a brilliant way of getting into zone of writing regularly.
Best wishes and please feel free to contact me by email with any of your writing queries, comments or concerns and if I can assist, I will be pleased to do so.
Shani
Things have been very quiet over the summer on the writing front and I am sorry that I haven't been able to really be around as much as I would like to.
As many of you know I have been juggling a lot of commitments over the past three years and all the plates I have been spinning came tumbling down, simply because I became too tired to keep an eye on them. Everything just collided at once - fortunately I didn't break many plates as they hit the floor but there were a few casualties and a few of my writing commitments, along with other things which gave me a lot of pleasure have been neglected.
That said I have decided to resume teaching this autumn, but only for a few groups, until I have clarified which way my life is going to go in the forseeable future. We are very probably going to have to relocate to Devon, but it is difficult to judge at present.
I hope you will understand that I only have so many days in any given week, and some of those have to be spent on me and my family - and actually writing !! You are though all very welcome to become members of Writing in the Margins, or visit the Great Western Writers at the Library - details to be found at http://www.greatwesternwriters.com/.
Over the forthcoming months I will also be looking for a regular comfy "drop-in" spot somewhere central in Bristol, where any local writers/students can meet informally - say once a month - and I will be on hand for support as you strive towards your writing goals. I tried this last year, but it all became too difficult, so I will make renewed efforts and hope that some of you will feel that you can make it.
Anyone who is interested in starting a Novel - November is the time to join NaNoWriMo - http://www.nanowrimo.org/ where you basically get into the habit of writing every day. I can commend this to you as a brilliant way of getting into zone of writing regularly.
Best wishes and please feel free to contact me by email with any of your writing queries, comments or concerns and if I can assist, I will be pleased to do so.
Shani
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Today's Prompt
Write a paragraph using these three words in it somewhere...
Gnaw
Threshold
Blaring
have a good one....
Shani
Gnaw
Threshold
Blaring
have a good one....
Shani
Monday, 26 May 2008
Today's Prompt
Today's prompt - do you have a personal superstition about something? - anything? which is important to you? - write about it.....
I am not sure what mine are, so I am going to consciously watch myself over the next few days...
ps did you spot the deliberate mistake yesterday? - if so, care to share with us all why you think I did it?
I am not sure what mine are, so I am going to consciously watch myself over the next few days...
ps did you spot the deliberate mistake yesterday? - if so, care to share with us all why you think I did it?
Sunday, 25 May 2008
Touching Base and Today's Prompt
Hi - sorry about the recent radio silence again - I am very involved in some big projects at work, my course, and various other things in my life with very heavy deadlines, so am having to use friendship time to think.
I know this is no excuse for taking time out to write and keep in touch with friends, but on a practical note, I don't often get home until very late at night now and can't face the computer - the only strength I have is to pick up a bottle of wine....sorry.
Today's prompt is...
In the space between knowledge and the unknown, there is a place called supervision. - write about it....
Best wishes
Shani
I know this is no excuse for taking time out to write and keep in touch with friends, but on a practical note, I don't often get home until very late at night now and can't face the computer - the only strength I have is to pick up a bottle of wine....sorry.
Today's prompt is...
In the space between knowledge and the unknown, there is a place called supervision. - write about it....
Best wishes
Shani
Friday, 25 April 2008
Time
Time was I was young,
Time was I could do anything.
Time is I am older,
And I know I couldn't do everything.
But I know more what I can do
Know more what it is I want
Know more what will make me happy…
Time isn't money
But it can be sooooo rich!
Saturday, 12 April 2008
How to fill a free day
Yippee a free Saturday - a day when the sun is shining, wind is blowing, I don't HAVE to be anywhere and don't have any URGENT work on my desk and if I did - well tough.
So what am I going to do with this minor miracle - I must not waste it.... (fatally flawed first thought there - please spot) - shall I go to the Avon Spinners, Weavers and Dyers Guild meet? Nope - I would love to, but don't really want to talk to people today - just want to get my mind and thoughts all working in the same direction.
So I have sat at my computer thinking about the Great Western Writers meeting on Monday (still don't know whether this month's meeting will go ahead, something about a fire and the Library closing - on my To Do list....) and my friends at Cedar Writers (who I haven't seen for weeks due to work, Easter, and my illness) - and whilst thinking and prevaricating became inspired by the concept of an artist's/writer's journal sketchbook (which I already "sort" of do) whilst browsing through a book - and realised that I am "bombarded by people, chatter and rapidly changing surroundings......" not my words, those of Jenny Newman and Edmund Cusick -
 | The Writer's Workbook (Hodder Arnold Publication) by Read more about this title... |
In the last few weeks I have done nothing but work, worry, meet deadlines, travel hundreds of miles, knit socks and frantically look for inspiration and the girl I used to be. I have been divining information from the ripples that other's stones have created in the pools of my life.
I am emotionally battered and exhausted from other's deadline's and needs - most of which are actually nothing to do with me or what I am trying to achieve. Sales people ringing constantly - rush, rush, rush - decision, decision, decision......
In a pompous voice - I imagine myself welling my chest up and bellowing.... "actually I don't have to either make rushed decisions or even speak to you - you are my customer not I your victim... " - oh I wish I had the guts to say that to them. But I don't - except I do tell them I am too busy and decline to continue the conversation - more often now than is perhaps polite.
So enough of the moan.... I am about making habits, not good ones, prevaricating - organising knitting patterns, rather than writing (always a bad sign).
So I am now off to finish "twiddling" and get on with some constructive stuff... I am going to write over the next few weeks a selection of short stories on and "around" the subject of knitting/spinning/weaving... I have been reading a book called "Died in the Wool" - light fluffy reading at bedtime which has inspired me (as well as sending me to sleep !!)
 | Died in the Wool: A Knitting Mystery (Knitting Mysteries) by Mary Kruger Read more about this title... |
My close friend (well probably the only one I have left who is still speaking to me - so I think that qualifies her as close as well as long-suffering and understanding, actually to be precise I can't remember the last time we spoke - more fragmental email communications - "Hi Prairie dog here, sticking her nose out from out of her hole (self-dug) - how are you?" ) has published her latest book on Lulu this week - Mind and Motivation - well worth a read.
See you all again soon - and until the next time - keep writing !!!
Quote of the Day:
The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a good discussion.
--G.K. Chesterton
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