Author of My Life by Nancy Rorke

It’s not that I can’t write, it’s more that it’s been difficult to find flow, when it feels like I’m taking dictation from my soul, or possibly channeling an article, story or poem.  It’s when I write every word that I hear without censoring it.

The late Robin Williams said that everything flowed through him and that he mainly channeled his work.  He also said that many writers, artists, actors, or creative people talk about being the conduit.

I prefer to write in flow, like Beethoven did, but without becoming a monster.  He was obsessive and wrote music incessantly.  Or I’d like to compose like Mozart, who penned music effortlessly, sometimes completing his masterpieces in one draft.

Or I’d rather create like van Gogh, one of my favourite masters, who painted because he must…but I could do without having the depression and committing suicide.  One year he completed two hundred canvases. Starving, penniless and sick, he generated works of art simply for the joy.

Actually, I’d like to write like Marilyn Kleiber, a fellow writer, who is prolific. She writes one or two short stories a day.  Marilyn creates the beginning of short stories with prompts given at the Headwaters Writers’ Guild meetings. She definitely writes in flow, possibly because she writes on a consistent basis.

For me, poetry sometimes arrives without any effort on my part. That’s when I rejoice. My creativity flows when I remember to write with passion and from my heart. I swear it frees the writer within me.

Whenever I become discouraged and have writer’s block, I remember van Gogh, who painted from his heart and soul, and he recognized that creativity is its own reward.

Eric Maisel, author of Coaching the Artist Within, suggests that we must coach ourselves to become the artist or writer of our dreams. Change your thoughts – change your creative life.

I’m infatuated with words, and I even doodle words. I adore journaling, seeing the blank space fill up with uninvited words.

It’s not easy being a writer. Doubt is always present, along with fear.  But I hunger for a creative life. I write for the joy of it and how it fascinates and excites me at the same time. I want to say that I lived and to record my perspective on life.

Maisel also suggests that creative individuals should write out life-mission statements. How could I have forgotten that I am the author of my life, or that I assign my life’s purpose, and my life unfolds according to my commands or the choices that I’ve made?

All this time, I waited for the Universe to tell me my life’s purpose when I should have told the Universe.

I wrote this piece in September 2008. It flowed in my journal. Even when I channel some of my writing, I still need to edit.

Written by Nancy Rorke, posted by Mary Patricia Bird

Journal Writing & Prompts

Recently I wrote two articles for Triond about journal writing. You'd be surprised at the number of different types of journals you can create.

The articles can be found here:

http://writinghood.com/writing/journals-seven-examples-of-different-journal-types/

http://writinghood.com/writing/journal-writing-part-two/

I think this would be a great idea for writing prompts for our group, but since I am not a leader I decided to post prompts here. I challenge you to come up with something under one of the following categories. You can write something serious or go crazy and write fiction. For example, if you are writing about a date to the movies you can go into some crazy details about the date itself as well as the movie. The movie itself can be made up. Here are some prompts:

Write about a book you've read. Who would you like to star in the movie?
Write about a movie and the events surrounding it. Would you like to be in the movie?
Write a diary entry.
Write about pregnancy or menopause. Have fun with it.
Write about your kids' antics.
Write about a television show.
Write a prayer.
Write about gratitude. What are you grateful for?
Write about your first job, real or fictional.
Write about someone's reaction to reading one of your journals.

Some great stories can be born here, perhaps a best seller. ;)

MY JOURNAL IS EVERYTHING

I don't know what I'd do without my journal. I've completed over 200 journals and I'm still journaling.

On Sunday, I read my raw short story 'Til We Meet in Heaven. I mentioned that I first wrote it in my journal in February 2005 during a bad winter storm. I wondered how my ancestors buried in Horning Mills would have survived a bad storm. The what if prompted me to write the short story.

For years, I wrote by long hand in my journal and then typed up my stories, poems, or parts of a novel on the computer. In order to save time, I learned to compose at the computer. Most of my pieces still start by hand and then move to the computer. If I'm having trouble starting or finishing a writing project, I always revert back to writing in my journal. For me, handwriting allows me to find "flow."

July 6, 2001 Journal

I had two dreams that talked about my writing. I’m hedging. When I allow myself to write then everything else falls into place. I ’m just a beginner. I push my worries aside. Maybe I’m afraid I might have to write about the disasters of my youth.

What ever happened to our dreams? Polished and left in our closets or locked away in a special room. Afraid to breathe or begin a new life, we retreat, we take the bus, follow the crowd and we lock away our special dreams.

Who are we to dream? Who do we think we are? We cringe and our dreams remain hidden and silent. We take the bus and live an ordinary life. Who are we to dream?

JOURNAL - MORNING PAGES

It’s in the silence that I experience my creative voice. Noise shuts out my inner voice or soul that longs to express itself. All I have to do is show up at the page and record three morning pages (The Artist Way) and I believe I won’t experience writer’s block again.

I write morning pages daily to enable me to write from the prompts at our Headwaters Writers’ Guild (HWG) meetings. Otherwise, I would freeze on my page. It’s not like I write anything profound or awesome like Harry and Alex but at least I am able to write something.

I remember Barbara Kyle (author) saying, “Everything can be fixed.”

If I view my raw writing as if it were a masterpiece, I’d never pick up my pen. I would have quit writing years ago. And I certainly wouldn’t write anything at HWG’s writing sessions. Allowing myself to write badly frees the writer within.

Whenever my writing is edited, I am reminded that writing is really rewriting. It would be wonderful if my prose or poetry never needed editing. Possibly, in twenty years from now, it might happen but I’m not holding my breath waiting for perfection. If I waited to write perfectly the first time, I’d have given up a long time ago.

The late Ed Wildman used to say, “You can only be defeated if you quit.”

It’s not easy being a writer. One of my biggest regrets is that I stopped writing in my early twenties. My inner critic taunts me. “Imagine what a good writer you’d be if you never stopped.”

I disregard the thought and just continue writing. I focus on the present and not the past. I remember that writers, write.

Last week when I met my writing friend Bonnie for lunch, she wanted to know if I’d finished editing my poetry book.

“No,” I said.

“Do you have a deadline?”

“No.” I shook my head.

“Without a deadline your dream will never happen.”

Thanks Bonnie for the kick in the butt. I’ve finished editing (hopefully the second last edit). It’s great having writing friends that encourage you.