“When there is an obstacle . . . ” Angelina Jolie

  • “When there is an obstacle, you have to rise to the challenge, not be overwhelmed by it. And we’re not alone in the world. I don’t know if there’s a name for that — religion or faith — just that there’s something greater than all of us, and it’s uniting and beautiful.” — Angelina Jolie, December 22, 2014 People magazine.

    March.stone wallFrom Marlene: Writing unites and connects us and that is, indeed, beautiful. When you reach an obstacle or challenge with your writing, see if you can work around it. Write sideways, in the margins. Come at the problem from a new angle. See the stumbling block as an opportunity to explore the problem and create a new solution. How? By doing a freewrite. Write down the first word that pops into your head and then write, for 12-15 minutes. Click here and here for more writing prompts. Just Write!

    Photo by Jim C. March

  • Theodore Roosevelt.1“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” — Theodore Roosevelt, from a speech given in Syracuse, New York (September 7, 1903) From Real Simple magazine, September 2014

    Note from Marlene:  Your writing, your work matters.  Just write!

  • Hand & PenWe write for a variety of reasons:

    ~ To tell a story, or what happened as we remember it

    ~ To create a fictional story

    ~ To tell a fiction story, based on truth

    ~ To journal what happened and our feelings about what happened

    ~ To write non-fiction: share our knowledge or to tell what happened

    All of this involves what we learned, what changed us, what impressed us.

    It doesn’t matter why you are writing. It is important that you write.

    No matter the motivation for your writing . . . Just Write!

  • keep going.

    — Christina Baker Kline, interviewed by Alicia Anstead in the October 2014 issue of The Writer Magazine.

    Or, as Dory sings in Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming. . . swimming. . . swimming. . . ”

    At some point in your writing life, you may think your writing is no-good, awful, horrible and no one would want to read it.

    Join the Ark. Most writers, I think, are in that boat at least once.

    Take the advice of Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train, “Breathe, focus, keep your head down and keep going.”

    Click here if you want prompts to jumpstart your writing. Click on “Comments” on any of the Write Spot Blog posts to read inspirational writing.

    fish 3And just keep swimming, swimming. . . writing, writing.

     

     

  • Marlene and dreadsDo you think emails and Facebook posts can be considered as “writing?”

    I do!

    You are writing and communicating.  Have fun with your writing . . . wherever that takes you. Your writing is your personal, and sometimes public, journey. Wherever your writing lands . . . Just write!

  • From the October 2014 issue of Writer Magazine, “Writers on Writing,” Roxane Gay:

    “Writing, at its best and truest, can offer solace and salvation for both readers and writers.”

    Vivien .book. 2011Marlene’s Musings: Sometimes we want to read something good, just like we want comfort food. We need you, Writers, to do your best to create those words that soothe and settle us.

    Use the prompts sprinkled throughout The Write Spot Blog and Just Write!

     

  • Poets & WritersKevin Larimer, editor of Poets & Writers magazine, in the Sept.-Oct issue:

    “Writing is vital; it’s important to more people than you can imagine.”

                                  Just write!

     

  • The subject of death may be uncomfortable or difficult for some. And yet, we are all going to die . . . some time. . . somehow. Here’s a quote from Steve Jobs.

    “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” — Steve Jobs

    LolaNote from Marlene: Writing. . . letting others read your writing . . . can make you feel vulnerable, afraid and weak in the knees. And yet, when we pay attention to our desire to write and when we write. . . it’s such a satisfying feeling. So, I say, let go of your fears. . . be brave. . . write and share your writing. Go for it and Just Write.

     

  • Editing is writing, too.

    Do you resist editing your writing?

    Does the idea of polishing your writing make you feel uncomfortable?

    I hear ya!

    Do you resist sharing your writing with others?

    Does putting your writing “out there” feel like you’re sending your precious child into the (cold, cruel) world?

    Yep, I hear that, too.

    I used to be very nervous about showing my writing to others. And I still am a bit nervous sometimes.

    But then I joined writing groups here and there and I began to share my writing.

    When my writing was published — it happened sort of by accident — I didn’t seek to be published. A friend encouraged me (thank you, Pat Tyler) and . . . now I’ve been published in 6 anthologies. And I have to tell ya . . . it’s fun.

    Here are my thoughts about the writing process of going from the creativity of a new idea to editing to final product.

    When you first write something. . . it can be creative and fun.  Then, when the possibility of publishing comes up. . . that precious, personal writing becomes . . . A Product.

    And that can be a difficult shift to make.  But, here’s the thing. . . editing and polishing your writing for publishing can be fun.  Although it’s challenging to select the exact right word or phrase choice, when you have success, it’s a fabulous Eureka moment! It can be fun to shape the writing so others can understand what you are trying to say.

    Finally, it can be rewarding to share your writing and receive positive feedback that helps strengthen your writing.

    Editing is like pruning a fruit tree or a rose bush.  Make a few snips (changes), step back, take a look . . . make a few more changes until the shape gets better and better, and more pleasing. Until, finally, you like the final product and you’re ready to send your precious writing into the world.

    Give it a twirl . . . post your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog, and see what happens. I predict good things for you.

    Thank you, Kelly and all my friends, for the inspiration for this post.

    Just Write!

    Rose by JeffPhoto by Jeff Cullen