YOUR WRITER ’ S JOURNAL IS A SACRED SPACE By : Alice Orr
YOUR WRITER ’ S JOURNAL IS A SACRED SPACE By : Alice Orr
This is What I Heard Several Writers say this Summer . “ I haven ’ t done much writing lately .” I susp e c t t h e y meant they had not sat down and worked on a specific story for a significant period of time and done so regularly . May I suggest there is another kind of writing that is just as valid . Working in your Writer ’ s Journal .
Was it a Challenge for you to Find Manuscript Writing Time this Summer ? Has that challenge persisted into Fall ? Do you work in your Writer ’ s Journal during the spare patches of time you can squeeze out of your busy days ? Do you even have a Writer ’ s Journal ?
Get Yourself a Writer ’ s Journal Right Now !! Hurry to Staples . Seek out your favorite 99-cent story . Hop on Amazon . Notebooks are everywhere and you need one . But not just any one . Find the journal version that is special to you . You will recognize her when you see her . The journal notebook that will inspire you to fill her pages .
Size Does Matter . Your Writer ’ s Journal must be portable . Of dimensions that make it easy to carry with you everywhere . And I mean Everywhere . Some of my best ideas come to me in parking lots . Maybe it is the “ Between Things ” aspect of the place . Not home . Not my destination . Tailormade for being with the beings I give birth to in my imagination .
These Pages Belong to Your Imaginary Protagonists and Antagonists . Your characters find further life in your Writer ’ s Journal . And that is what you write about there . My Writer ’ s Journal is the sacred space I share with my parking lot pals . Where can you find a solitary corner — no matter how temporary — for yourself and the inhabitants of your story ’ s world ?
There are Secrets Your Characters Have Not Yet Told You . However deep you may be into your story there is stlll more to discover about the people you are creating . Your Writer ’ s Journal is the perfect place to explore that as yet unknown territory .
Ask Your Character these Questions . Record her answers — in her voice — in your Writer ’ s Journal . Assure her that this is a sacred space so she can tell you anything . Her most secret secrets .
The worst lies she has ever told and is or is not ashamed of . Encourage her to tell it all . Until you have filled this moment you have stolen from your busy day with written words .
Describe your physical appearance . How do you really feel about the way you look ?
What relationship in your life has involved the most conflict ? Caused you the most pain ?
Who have you loved most intensely in your life ? How did that love change you ?
Who have you disliked most intensely in your life ? Why was that dislike so extreme ?
What do you long for ? Why do you desire and need this thing so profoundly ?
What do you dread most fearfully and pray will never happen to you ? Why ?
What do you like most about yourself ? Why is this so special to you ?
What do you dislike most about yourself ? How has this surfaced in your life ?
In what experience of your life have you been most heartbroken ? Why ?
In what experience of your life did you feel most ecstatic ? What made you so happy ?
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