Tag: #writing

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Henri Nouwen on writing…writing therapy! :)

Writing Reveals What is Alive in Us

“Writing is a process in which we discover what lives in us. The writing itself reveals to us what is alive in us. The deepest satisfaction of writing is precisely that it opens up new spaces within us of which we were not aware before we started to write. To write is to embark on a journey whose final destination we do not know. Thus, writing requires a real act of trust. We have to say to ourselves: “I do not yet know what I carry in my heart, but I trust that it will emerge as I write.” Writing is like giving away the few loaves and fishes one has, trusting that they will multiply in the giving. Once we dare to “give away” on paper the few thoughts that come to us, we start discovering how much is hidden underneath these thoughts and gradually come in touch with our own riches.”

Text excerpts taken from “You are the Beloved”
by Henri J.M. Nouwen
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Personal stories in your novel…

Hey guys,

I just wanted to write about my writing process at the moment. I have reached as I said a deeply personal section of my novel. I am still in two minds as to whether I will include it in the final novel. This morning I was writing about a personal experience of mine in life, and most of this novel is not directly related to my life, though it is to some degree as always.

Where I am right now – there is a dilemma, and I am faced with an experience, I can’t put my full experience in the novel as it is not appropriate and the question is, am I satisfied with that? Or do I keep that narrative as part of another novel or a non fiction work?

Today, I wrote this experience into the novel modified through the eyes of my main character, Sarah Johns. I am satisfied with it at the moment, but I will keep exploring. I could possibly change the ending slightly, if I want to remove this plot, but on the other hand it is also all the way through. I think I am slowly forming a modified version of w hat really happened.

A writer friend of mine said I was very brave to be sharing this deep experience into the world, I hadn’t really thought about it like that. Art should share the deep experiences of the human condition, I believe. Of course some art is also for entertainment, pleasure and enjoyment and I am not against that. In fact I really want to write a humourous novel next. 🙂

So, anyway, I am still plugging along and if you are writers or if not, maybe you will understand that things develop as we go. But I didn’t want to be paralysed by this point in my book. So, I am still writing, cause it makes me feel good and brings me into a spiritual connection with myself and the Divine.

Anyway, have a great day. Kind regards, Suz

abstract abstract painting acrylic acrylic paint
Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com
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Life and writing…

Hey guys, this week has been tough. The whole world is in turmoil at the moment, and personally there are quite a few things that are difficult for me at the moment. Family things with siblings health and personal things in my own life as well. I find people are often harsher than I think they will be, which shocks me. I know I am not perfect either to other people but I try to be sensitive to people’s feelings. This week I was shocked by harshness and it was painful. I feel like I am more optimistic or idealistic than other people, and then the reality of this sets in for me when other people are not the same. I am shocked back into the reality that people don’t think the way I do. Some do, and some don’t.

Anyway, let’s move on to my writing, I found this week with my novel I have hit a road block. The part of my novel I thought I would find the most straight forward to write – I am finding the hardest. This part of my novel is the part that is somewhat representative of my own life and experience. I am finding it hard as I have to choose what parts of my life to include, the characters that I write about as well and what not to include.

My novel writing is the thing that makes me feel alive and doing what I am meant to, (my faith in God makes me feel hopeful,) and this week it has stalled. I need to just keep going. I need to find my way back into the novel and what is happening. I will seek to do that today. Soon, I will be teaching more and my energy will be focused on this. I wanted to have a whole draft completed before then but this does not look realistic now. It is close though.

Anyway, it is a beautiful day and there is much to be thankful about. I am thankful for family, sunshine, health, flowers, the ocean and the beach and the mountains. One day I hope to be travelling again, because that is when I feel most alive and engaged. But then again I value being in one place as well, especially as I am able to create. Life is balance.

I hope you are finding joy in the little things. Feel free to comment if you wish. Have a peaceful day. Love Suz.

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Freedom Writing -Journal Free for 3 days…

Hey guys, I am giving away my book Freedom Writing for free for the next four days.

Monday June 15-Wednesday June 18.

Feel free to download it from Amazon. 🙂 These two books talk about the amazing power of writing therapy that is available to everyone even if you use single words to release your emotion. I wrote these books to help people find the freedom I have found in writing down my emotions and releasing unwanted memories or trauma or simple everyday emotions.

Now, they are free for a few days, so take advantage of it and download them. Try it and you will see the power of writing therapy!

Go well today and always, stay well. Kind regards, Suz

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Following your main character

“First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him or her!”

Ray Bradbury

I always think the best work I’ve written is when I allowed my characters to do what they would do, and say. That is when it works. Let them be who they are, say what they will and do what they will do, not what you would. This has been the case for me the many years I have been writing.

Have a great day!

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Keep at it…

“I believe myself that a good writer doesn’t really need to be told anything except to keep at it.”

Chinua Achebe

In my opinion, if you are a ‘writer’ you will simply keep writing. You won’t be able to give it up. 🙂 Suz

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Interesting…Virginia Woolf

“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.”

— Virginia Woolf

I am not sure all of our soul secrets end up on the page, but I do think a lot of our inner world, memories and impressions of life come alive with our characters and plot lines. The voice of a writer can be heard long after they have passed, on the pages of their work.

Kind regards, Suz

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Expressive Writing therapy workshop

This weekend I am doing a writing therapy workshop in my area. I will be taking participants through how we can use writing therapy to get through a lot of stresses in our lives. Using simple techniques we can overcome stressful experiences as well as memories that may have entangled us for years. 🙂

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2019.

Time: 9:30-11:00am

Price: $50

Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia.

Contact me if you would like further details or to book in. 🙂

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