Prompts & Notes-A weekly Write

 I have so enjoyed the Natalie Goldberg workshops I attended in May and June and met some great people during the reading and writing sessions. Since then we formed a group: Writing Around the World and meet every Wednesday evening SA time and various other times as the group comprises people from around the world-France, SA, US and Canada so we have a wonderful and eclectic group of people.

Because (in a way) it is 'my' group I get to host the one hour sessions more often than not which was initially quote daunting, but (obviously) becomes easier the more often I do it. The session is an hour long and the 'host' generally has a quote and 2 prompts for each session with writing ideas for the week.

We don't discuss much, but do sit quietly for about 5minutes before we start the writing and then the 'host' leads the session keeping pace and time. So far it works extremely well and we all enjoy a quick 'hello' before we move into writing. What I do find is that the writing time stimulates my own writing and I really enjoy the variety and silent times.

Here is an example of tonight's session:

9 June Session:

Quote: Winter Solitude: In a world of one colour, the sound of the wind. Basho

Writing prompts:

10 minutes

1) A broken window

15 minutes:

2) The last autumn leaf on the tree

Writing prompts for the week:

1) A storm in a forest

2) A concert

3) A shooting star

4) Yellow lemons in a blue bowl

Quote: 'Each moment is a place you’ve never been’. Mark Strand

Take care all. It is very cold in SA at the moment (0 degrees early morning and night. COLD in the day). I hope you are all enjoying your summer.

By all means use the prompts and enjoy the quiet time. 

Kaleidoscope

Writing is an exciting past time, especially when a writing partner is part of the journey.

My friend Sam and I write together over mail and occasional writing workshops.We share books, quotes and blogs. Writing sites, poems and mentors.

At the moment we are reading 'radical' stories of women mystics like Hildegaard and Julian of Norwich. Sam gave me the new Mary Sharatt novel Illuminations, which is historically accurate, well written and - dare I say this - illuminating.

Mixed into this pot-puorrie of stories are some tarot cards, David Whytte and of course John O'Donahue. To make our path more exciting we have drawings, meditations and rote learning to add spice to our work. All to open up our 'mystical' side, which in the modern world of iPhones and iPads is often well hidden.

Our time together is precious and we hold each other together through e-mail, an occasional coffee and even more occasional call.

This Saturday we work together with Dorian on a collage of intent. I look forward to the quiet and to seeing what we produce.

No doubt our journey will be long with a few lush oasis stops as a reward along the way which will be re-created in a kaleidoscope of words and images.