Rituals, Rhythms, & Practices: The Writing Life

If you've been paying really close attention, you might have noticed that I changed the name of my upcoming online writing course. The main title stayed the same ("The Writing Life"), but the subtitle morphed from "Illuminate Your Creative Process" to "Rituals, Rhythms, & Practices."

Why the change?

A bit of market testing (and by "market testing" I mean input from trusted colleagues and my own gut instinct) showed that the original subtitle was a goat rodeo of a name. It was all over the place. It was confusing and hard to say, and not really representative of what this class is about. 

So what is this class about?

Well, I hope it's there in the name now: This class is about the rituals, rhythms, and practices that go into your writing life.

It's about understanding your routines, preferences, and schedules so that you can write more often and with more ease.

It's about learning how a wide variety of factors can influence the way you write.

Whether you realize it or not, you make a lot of decisions when you choose to write (or choose to not write). Sometimes subtle shifts in these choices can make a big difference in your writing.

This class will help you to answer these kinds of questions, which will empower your writing life:

• Do you think before you write, or do you write in order to think?
• Do you write best to music or in silence?
• Are you a linear or an associative thinker? And what does that mean for how you write?
• Do you write best with pen and paper or on a keyboard?
• Can you sit and write for hours on end, or do you work better in shorter bursts?
• Do you really have to write every day in order to be a writer?
• How can outlines, index cards, and mindmaps support (or hinder) your writing?
• Which of these words motivates you more: discipline or enthusiasm?
• How can the physical objects around you make you feel more inspired and focused?
• How can you stoke your creativity when you're not writing?

I created this class because the process and practice of writing comes up all the time with writers at all levels of experience. I've had similar conversations with brand new writers and with published authors. All of us writerly types are looking for ways to make our writing lives easier and more prolific. 

Here's a broad outline of the course content, to give a flavor of the topics we'll cover:

• Writing as a Process of Discovery: Cultivating a writer's mindset, clearing the mental clutter, and practicing the practice
  
  
• The Inner World of Your Writing Life: Understanding the different phases of your process, knowing how your mind works, and embracing your natural writing "breath"
  
  
• The Outer World of Your Writing Life: Understanding how your surroundings impact your work, finding inspiration in tangible objects, creating rituals and routines, and leveraging your natural rhythms and schedules
  
  
• Living the Writing Life: Setting livable writing goals and dreams, discovering what motivates you, and choosing to live the writing life

By taking this class, you'll unravel the misconceptions and myths of what being a "Real Writer" looks like. (That pesky myth of the real writer is a persistent little guy!) You'll tap into your creative energy and unleash it in a sustainable way. You'll learn techniques for transforming your perceived weaknesses into the strengths of your writing life. You'll figure out what it will take for you to write more. And you'll probably start to have a lot more fun while writing!  

I hope you'll join me for The Writing Life: Rituals, Rhythms, & Practices. Class runs from March 31 to April 27. The course is just $47, which gives you a full month of lessons, prompts, exercises, and inspiration, plus access to a private online community with your fellow students.

Full details and registration are available over here. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or contact me. I'm happy to help. 

 p.s. If you're interested in reading more about my own writing process, I wrote about it over here.

The Myth of the Real Writer

[This is Part 1 of 2. Read Part 2 here.]

The Myth of the Real Writer:

It comes tapping at your mind, a harbinger of doubt and dread, whispering one of your worst fears: All of your attempts are in vain, and no matter what you do, you'll never be a Real Writer. It swoops in at odd times, maybe upon a dreary midnight, or after you've been napping, or while you're reading a book you love. Often it shows up as when you're in the middle of writing a difficult paragraph. Once it takes hold, it's hard to hear anything else besides its heart-wrenching, energy-draining refrain. 

It's time to break free from the Myth of the Real Writer.

What is this myth? It contains many components, a litany of absolutes about what Real Writers do or don't do.

Real Writers... 

• ...write every single day.
• ...get up early to write first thing in the morning.
• ...know the whole story before they sit down to write.
• ...write fantastic first drafts.
• ...never have to revise.
• ...write only by hand in Moleskine journals (or on typewriters or on laptops in cute coffeeshops).
• ...never have writer's block.
• ...never fear the blank page.
• ...are willing to sacrifice anything for their creative work.
• ...have read all of the Classics, all important contemporary literature, and everything in-between.

As I mentioned in my last post, I used to think I couldn't be a Real Writer because my creative process didn't match my ideas of how a Real Writer operates.

I thought:

I can't be a Real Writer because I don't write every day.

I can't be a Real Writer because I have to write a lot of nonsense before I figure out what I'm really trying to get at.

I can't be a Real Writer because sometimes I don't know what to write about.

I can't be a Real Writer because I haven't read Tolstoy yet and I forget the titles and plots of some major Shakespeare plays.

I can't be a Real Writer because sometimes my own writing bores me.

I can't be a Real Writer because I don't write as much in one day as other people do.

The list could go on.

What helped me to see beyond the Myth of the Real Writer?

First, I got to know more writers and realized that most of them struggle with similar issues.

Second, I discovered that every writer's creative process is unique. I learned that there's no universally "right way" to approach writing.

Even now that I know this, I still get tripped up on different versions of the myth. In my next post I'll share a story about how this happened to me just earlier this week.

What about you? Do you have a Myth of the Real Writer in your head, too? What does it tell you? And how do you respond?

---

Want to break free from your own Myth of the Real Writer?

Join The Word Cellar Writers Guild, an online community and resource center for writers. 

We have a library of writing modules (like self-paced e-courses) that focus on elements of craft and issues of the writing life, all to help you become the writer you long to be.  

Write into the Heart of Your Story: Starts Sunday

It's been great to read the names of the people registering for my upcoming e-course. Some of you I know and have worked with before, and many of you are new names to me -- and both of these things make me so very happy! It's a great feeling to see that what I'm putting out into the world is resonating with so many of you. Thank you to everyone who has signed-up so far. You'll receive the first email on Sunday. (And look for your invitation to the community group to come this weekend, too.)

If you haven't registered yet but would like to, there's still a spot for you. (Registration is still open, and you will have access to all course materials, even if you sign-up after the start date.) Please keep reading for all the details and the registration button. updated 11/18/13: Registration is now closed. (The official course page is over here, but why click when you can scroll?)

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to leave a comment below or email me. (There's also a short FAQ section at the end of this post.) 

If you're new to me and my work, you might like to read some past student testimonials to get a feel for things. If so, please check out the right-hand sidebar on this page.

Write into the Heart of Your Story (Nov. 10-24)

an online course for writers at all stages

Writing the stories of your life is about more than recording a series of events. It's about creating meaning and connection.

Whether you're writing blog posts, essays, a memoir, or in your journal, how do you write beyond what happened and into the heart of a story?

In this 2-week online course, we'll explore ways to write into the heart of your story using prompts, exercises, and techniques that you can use again and again.

What the Course Includes:

• Daily posts sent to your email inbox with that day's content
• A lovely mix of instruction and inspiration
• Writing prompts to discover your stories
• Exercises to explore your personal creative process
• Techniques to dive deeper into your story's meaning
• Resources to keep the momentum going
• An optional, private community space to connect with other participants (housed on Facebook)

Registration: $27.00 (closed)

Two notes about email:
1) If you would like to receive the course emails at an address that is different than what you use for payment, please put your preferred email address in the "Notes" section when you check-out.

2) If you use Gmail, remember to check your "Promotions" tab for the daily course emails.

FAQ

What do I need to take the course?
You'll need an email address and an Internet connection. (You might like to have a journal or notebook that you use for the course, or you might prefer to write on your computer or typewriter.)

Do I have to have a Facebook account to participate?
Nope! The private community group on Facebook is totally optional. The group will be private, so only course participants will be able to see the contents and posts in the group.

I'm not a writer. Is this course for me?
Yes! If the idea of writing stories from your life appeals to you, this course is for you. We'll use a variety of prompts and exercises that are accessible and no-stress, whatever your writing experience.

I am a writer. Is this course for me?
Yes! Even if you've been writing for awhile, the practice of digging deeper into your stories will be useful. I'll be sharing techniques that significantly improved my own writing when I learned them after years of being a writer.

Upcoming Writing Courses, Double Alchemy (and possible last call)

This class is amazing, and you are an amazing person and gifted teacher. ~ Ell C., Alchemy participant

Registration is now open for both Alchemy online writing courses. This will be the second time I've run Alchemy Inspiration: Start Writing and the fifth (fifth!) time around for Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing.

I want to let you know: This may be the final time I offer either one as an online course.

I love these courses and believe that they are truly useful in helping people find the sweet spot between writing technique and inspiration. But I feel my energy shifting toward some new projects for next year, and I can't promise that the Alchemy classes will be around again in their current form. This isn't a scare-tactic to get you to register, but rather full disclosure so you know that I might not run them again.

Details about both courses, including a special Double Alchemy discount are below.

Alchemy Inspiration: Start Writing runs September 1-30. This is a 4-week course designed to get you writing -- now! It's perfect for writers (or wish-to-be writers) who haven't written before, or haven't written in a while. In addition to a month filled with inspiration, writing prompts, tips and lessons, and other goodies like videos, guests, and a private online community, you'll also get an ebook of the content to keep. There is no formal feedback in this course because it's all about starting and gaining momentum. (But if you really want some personalized feedback, you can add a mini-mentoring session with me for a reduced rate.) I'm available to all participants during the course to answer questions, provide encouragement, and suggest additional resources. The course, community, and ebook are just $89. Get the full details and registration info.

Thank you for hosting this safe place to come, learn, share, be inspired and not be afraid. Thank you for offering Alchemy and Alchemy Daily. I continue learning ways to weave my words together and hope someday to have a tangible tale upon which to look back. Your teachings here have offered me more eggs to add to my creativity nest. I am excited for what is yet to come. ~ Kristina Wood, Alchemy participant

Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing is a 6-week course, and the next session runs October 15 - November 23. (It wraps up right around U.S. Thanksgiving, so you can be done just in time for the holiday madness goodness.) This course is perfect for writers in the intermediate to intensive stages of their writing life, and for newer writers who have taken Alchemy Inspiration. (Note: You do not have to take Alchemy Inspiration in order to take this course. But if you'd like to take both courses, there's a Double Alchemy discount.) Each week of this course is packed with core and bonus lessons, audio and video extras, a featured guest (with the likes of Brené Brown and Marianne Elliott), nuggets of encouragement, invitations to inspiration, and oodles of writing exercises to use as practice. There's a private online community where you can share your writing and support your fellow Alchemists. You'll also get an ebook of the lessons to keep. Plus, each participant has the option to receive personal feedback on a short piece of writing. This course is the full pot of gold, to use the Alchemy imagery. I created it to share everything I've learned from years of writing and years of grad school. The course, community, feedback, and ebook are $169. Get the full details and register.

Double Alchemy Discount

Double Alchemy! What does it mean? It's like two pots of gold at the end of the "double rainbow!"

What if you're ready to go all-out and register for both courses? Can you get a discount? Yes, you can!

Here's the deal: Some of the content in Alchemy Inspiration is also included in Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing. How much? No more than 40%. This means that at least 60% of the content in the longer course will be brand spankin' new to you if you take both courses. This includes additional topics, new lessons, new writing prompts, different guests, and much more. So... if you'd like to register for both courses, you can save a whopping 40% off of Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing. This brings the price down from $169 to $101. 

So how much for both courses?

Alchemy Inspiration: Start Writing -- $89
+
Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing -- $169  $101
=
DOUBLE ALCHEMY -- $258  $190

(You save $68. Or think of it this way: It's like getting Alchemy Inspiration for just $21.)

Register for both Alchemy courses here.

I am still amazed at the sheer amount of amazing (and totally usable/practical/universal) content you provided in Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing. It was so full of goodness. I'm not sure I conveyed how satisfying it was to take part and access your brain for those weeks of writing. ~Meredith Winn, featured Alchemy guest and participant

If you have any questions about either course, please ask. I'd love to see you in one (or both) of these sessions, especially since this may be the last time I offer them.