Post #4 – Memoir Writing, Journaling – Amber Starfire
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Journaling is an excellent way to record life’s events, feelings, sensations, and opinions, as well as a resource for nonfiction, memoir, fiction, and poetic creative writing. Sometimes, however, journaling can take on a dry, pedantic quality, where we document a list of facts about what we did during the day. Or we repeat the same thoughts from one journal entry to another, until we are sick of our own writing.
If your journaling feels parched of life — or is in danger of becoming so — take a sensory break to inspire creativity and stimulate animated, lively writing. Ways to find sensual inspiration are as many and varied as your imagination.
Here are three suggestions to get you started:
1. Get outdoors. Take a walk, visit your local park, or go to a peaceful place in your yard. Find a comfortable place to sit and close your eyes. Take a couple of deep, slow breaths, and then — without opening your eyes — take note of everything you hear, smell, and feel. Are insects buzzing near you? Birds singing? Squirrels chattering? Is there a fragrance of dry grass? Newly cut lawn? Traffic sounds and smells? What about the sun or the feel of the breeze on your skin? Sit and notice everything you can for about five minutes. Now, open your journal and vividly describe everything you can remember.
2. Take a food break. We all love to eat, and this sensual inspiration can take any form you wish, from a simple coffee break to a full feast. If you are drinking something, notice the weight and form of the cup or glass in your hand. Feel the sensation of the edge of it against your lips. Is the liquid cool or hot? Does the steam rise into your face, or bubbles tickle your nose? Feel the fork or spoon in your hand, the force applied to cut or scoop or skewer the food. Notice how it feels in your mouth. Does your mouth water? Can you roll the food around in your mouth? Is it sweet, salty, or sour? Take note of and savor every sensory moment of your food break. When you are done, open your journal and write.
3. Appreciate art. Visit a museum, stand in front of a local sculpture, or revisit a piece of art in your home. Let your eyes and, if it’s a sculpture that is okay to touch, your hands, take in the shapes, colors, and textures of the art. Notice the way your eyes follow the form. Notice any emotions and thoughts the art evokes. Observe the surroundings in which the art is placed. How does it fit or not fit? After a minimum of five minutes of observation, taking in as many details as possible, open your journal and write a description of the piece of art and any emotions, thoughts, or memories it evoked.
For more writing prompts and inspirational quotes to help keep your journal writing fresh, visit WritingThroughLife.com, sign up for my weekly e-zine, Journaling Through Life, and be sure to get a FREE copy of my e-book, Journaling Essentials: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Keep a Journal. To receive Journaling Essentials, simply fill out the form on the right with your name and email, and click submit.
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Amber:
You’ve given all writers, not just those journaling, a set of sensory practice tips that can become part of a regular habit to encourage awareness of sensory details.
Thanks for this post.
-Matilda
What a great list!! You’ve inspired me to add to it from my own memoir writing experience: DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE. For example, when the writing got tricky and I needed a sensory break I would go dance. The stimulation of my creativity in a mind/body/music way helped release my blocks and get me back into flow. Our senses are heightened when we put ourselves into a joyful state.
Thanks for commenting, Matilda. I agree. Sensory awareness practice can help with all types of writing.
And Michele — yes, creativity is not only stimulated by the joyful state, but also just getting the blood and lymph moving through the body. Movement and dance have a way of bringing us into the present moment and centering us. As a result, it helps us focus. Good stuff!
Thankyou for the “pickup” encouragement. It helps to view things from a different angle, and also ’spice up’ the drive for writing! It’s lovely how the simple things in life make a big difference.