Tag Archive for writing groups

Journaling and Freewriting

January 26, 2013 Uncategorized One comment
Just a few journals

Just a few journals – M E Powell

I start each day by writing in a journal. I write three pages a day – well, most days. I started writing three pages because of The Artist’s Way, a book by Julia Cameron (http://juliacameronlive.com/). She calls these “Morning Pages” but I’ve done them at all times of the day – and night – and middle of the night when I can’t sleep.

I’m lucky there’s no such thing as the Journal Police.

People often say, “How can you write three pages a day? I wouldn’t have time for that.” But I’d have to agree with Cameron: I wouldn’t have time if I didn’t.

I write fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and poetry. My fiction and poetry appear in literary magazines and anthologies. Traditional publishers (Scholastic and soon Red Line) publish my children’s books. And my nonfiction appears in more than 70 consumer and trade markets across Canada and internationally. And I’ve won awards in all of them. On top of this I hold down a busy day-job, I’ve founded a professional association (PWAC-SK), and I’m a productive member of two writing groups and several associations.

On days when I don’t journal, I don’t accomplish half as much. Frankly, sometimes my journals contain three pages of worry. Or three pages of affirmations – even the same affirmation repeated 10 times just to make sure I get it. Sometimes I need that to get on with my writing day. Often I will try a few freewriting exercises and often I find ideas for a story, poem, or novel I’m writing, or the kernel of an idea for next time.

Over the past few years I’ve had many different kinds of journals: fancy cloth covered ones, pint-sized notebooks with pretty pictures on the cover, plain black ones, you name it.

These days writing three pages every day means I’ve been buying the cheapest, most ordinary coil notebooks I can find. The outside doesn’t matter; the act of writing is all that counts.

I love it that the word “journal” is now a verb.

Here are a few resources I like on journaling:

Writing Down the Bones – Natalie Goldberg:
http://books.google.ca/books/about/Writing_Down_the_Bones.html?id=9v5ZOh3liu0C

Other books by Natalie Goldberg: http://nataliegoldberg.com/books/

The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
http://books.google.ca/books/about/The_Artist_s_Way.html?id=ZaC7Br7sMBMC

And just for fun – After the Artist’s Way – a blog by Janice MacLeod: http://aftertheartistsway.blogspot.ca/p/about.html

Do you journal? What’s your favorite resource? Click on the word “Comment” above to leave a comment. Let’s share our idea banks.

Half-day writing retreat at Government House

February 21, 2012 Creative writing, Uncategorized, Writing No comments
Government House

Writing retreat at Government House - M E Powell

Writing group participation is a big part of my writing practice. I’m in three writing groups right now, and while it’s a lot of work to prepare so many critiques each month, it’s been a benefit to me personally as well as in my writing.

As well as giving and receiving valuable feedback on works-in-progress, I’ve been lucky to have developed a sense of camaraderie with group members in all three. For example, we’ve traveled to conferences, gone on writing retreats for the weekend, and even set up retreats just for one day, to get away from the distractions of home and concentrate on writing.

Most recently, one of my writing groups went on a tour of Government House, a local tourist attraction, ending in a half-day writing retreat.
Michelle

Our guide Michelle on the player piano - M E Powell

After coffee, we started the morning with a guided tour from staff member Michelle, who graciously showed us around the facility.
Opened in 1891, Government House was already serving as home for the Lieutenant-Governor of the Northwest Territories when Saskatchewan became a province in 1905, under Lt.-Gov. Amédée Forget. It was designed by architect Thomas Fuller, and many more details of the history are available on the website.
Government House mirror

Haunted mirror - spooky! - M E Powell

This particular group has members who write science fiction, fantasy, horror, and similar genres. So of course, we were interested in the stories of hauntings at Government House.
One story involves this “haunted mirror” upstairs that seems to show something moving behind the viewer – even when nothing is! Spooky.
(Too bad you can’t really see the effect in the still photo.)
Government House tea party

One lump or two? - M E Powell

Although we were told that many of the original furnishings were thrown out on the front lawn in 1945, a restoration project has resulted in many antiques similar to the originals being used in the displays, so the flavor of the experience is truly vintage.
Like this upstairs tea party, for example.
We toured the facility for about an hour, but we were also anxious to get down to work on our writing. Michelle led us back to where we had begun the morning, in the Conservatory.
Conservatory

Conservatory - M E Powell

This 1929 addition boasts original metal framing – along with the kind of sunshine and warmth that made it the perfect place for a January writing retreat in Saskatchewan!
Writing group retreats have a lot to offer, including the space and time to work, and the chance to gain a new perspective in unusual surroundings.
Have you ever gone on a writing retreat in your local area or city? Please leave a comment and share your experience.

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