For years, I've had this project inside me. Several years ago I posed two different projects to my then-coach, Baeth Davis. "I want to create something beautiful, and I want to write a book. But writing the book scares the shit out of me."
"Well, that's easy," says Baeth. "Write the book."
So I did, and it's been one of those phoenix rising experiences for which I'll be forever grateful. But now that the phoenix of the book has risen and gone, it's been time to go back to the other soul-stirring project, a card deck for writers that is so inspiring, motivating, and beautiful that it makes one gasp.
I've teamed up with my friend and feng shui consultant, Chris Baeza, and we're making good progress: writing the text, talking with artists, getting proposals, talking with publishers....
Our plan is to create a pilot deck and test them with writers. Here's where you can help. First, imagine that you have a beautiful deck of 52 cards. Each card has one word and an image on it. You can use the card as is to inspire you in whatever writing project you're working on, or you can flip to the oh-so-helpful guidebook to get more inspiration.
What I'll be doing here on Write Well Me is posting the text in the guidebook for each card. What you can do is give me feedback.
- Is the text helpful?
- Is it inspiring?
- What came up for you as you read it?
- Did you apply it to your writing project? If so, what were the results?
- Any recommendations?
Here's the idea behind the card deck:
At some point in the writing process, we all get stuck, or at least get temporarily paused. It’s not always stuck. Maybe we have the very beginnings of an idea, and we need to flesh it out. Maybe our editing gremlin is in full force, and we need to shift out of critic mode and into creative mode. Maybe we’ve made significant progress, and … we’re not sure where to go next.
These situations pop up for writers at all levels. It’s normal. The trick is not to get mired in the muck of WRITER’S BLOCK. Writer’s Block is a lovely place to be, actually. When we’re there, we are justified in not writing. “Sorry,” we say, “I can’t write anything. I have [insert dramatic pause] writer’s block.”I don’t believe writer’s block exists. That’s probably because I see writing looking very different from the way other people see it. Writing can be staring out the window, taking a walk, driving to the kids’ soccer practice, doodling on a notepad, research, jotting down core words, reading other books… Writing isn’t simply the act of putting words in sentences; it’s the creation of ideas and concepts.
We need to joyfully embrace the creative process. Who is that character? What drives him? How could that scene play out? What’s the best way to illustrate this concept? What are the steps I want to take people through? What am I passionate about? What are my readers passionate about?
I’ve spent years teaching writing, the writing process, and creativity. I’ve developed dozens of strategies to help writers be more creative, many taking into account the various way we process information. There are all sorts of approaches to spark creativity. This writing card deck is just one approach.
So why Feng Shui? I’ve always been fascinated by Feng Shui. The idea of different elements that balance to create harmony… The idea that each element is its own distinct element AND it works together with the other elements to make a whole.
Look for the first card deck post tomorrow.
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