Post #23 – Memoir Writing, Journaling – Amber Starfire
Stay motivated to write and keep your journaling fresh with these 11 tips for 2011:
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- Before doing anything else each morning, write in your journal. When you begin writing before you’re fully awake, it’s easier to tap into your intuition and creativity.
– - Keep a separate gratitude journal where you write about all the people and things for which you are thankful. Kept regularly, you can turn to this journal during difficult times for inspiration and encouragement.
– - If you’re not feeling motivated to write, ask yourself, “What would my life be like if I was living the life of my dreams?” and write a description of a typical day. Then, write about one small step you can take toward living that life.
– - Experiment with writing at different times of day to see if the quality and substance of your writing changes.
– - Remember that journaling is like taking a walk — you can take the same walk every day or choose to explore new territory. The choice is yours.
– - When you don’t know what to write about, grab a book off your bookshelf. Open the book to any page, close your eyes, and point a finger randomly, anywhere on the page. Open your eyes and look at the word your finger has landed upon. That’s your topic. Write about it, free word associate, or write about why you don’t want to write about it—for at least ten minutes.
– - When you feel a strong emotional response to something, the emotion is a sign that there’s something deeper going on and worth exploring in your journal.
– - When you’re having trouble fitting journal writing into your schedule, make an appointment with yourself and commit to write for only 10 minutes. At the appointed time, open your journal, set a timer for 10 minutes and write, nonstop, until the timer goes off. You can do anything for 10 minutes!
– - Go for a short walk, even if it’s just around the block, and notice how many different sounds you can hear: birds singing, sirens, wind chimes, children playing, bees buzzing, and so on. Notice the associations you have with these sounds. What does each one remind you of? When you return, pick one of these sounds and write about the what it brought to mind and memory.
– - On the first day of each month, read your journal entries for the same month of a selected previous year. As you read, highlight phrases, thoughts, ideas, and events you think are especially memorable or significant. This exercise is especially interesting at the start of each new year.
– - Before you begin to write, close your eyes and take three to five deep breaths. Feel your heartbeat and your thoughts slow down. When you open your eyes, you will be more centered and ready to begin.
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Be sure to connect with Amber on her website: Writing Through Life.
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