Contemplative Springs of Hope An interactive journaling, contemplative prayer, poetry, and artwork exhibition: created and curated by Molly Ovenden.Molly Ovenden is a prolific typewriter poet, visual artist, creative mentor, who loves sharing journaling prompts in order to get closer to God as a spiritual practice. Welcome to “Contemplative Springs of Hope.”Thank you so much for being here! I’m so delighted to get to share Beauty and Hope, through art, poetry, and contemplative reflections, with you from wherever you are around the world. Breakers, an original painting by Molly Ovenden Aha!, an original painting by Molly Ovenden Turquoise Sunshine, an original painting by Molly Ovenden When Evening Comes, an original painting by Molly Ovenden Ephemeral Iridescence, an original painting by Molly Ovenden Yellow, You Get Me, an original painting by Molly Ovenden Sunshine & Sherbet, an original painting by Molly Ovenden Peach Fuzz & Fire, an original painting by Molly Ovenden Featured Artwork “Breakers” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here.“Aha” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here.“Turquoise Sunshine” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here.“When Evening Comes” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here.“Ephemeral Iridescence” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here.“Yellow, You Get Me” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here.“Sunshine & Sherbet” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here.“Peach Fuzz & Fire” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here. (Note: You can watch the above 25 seconds of quick, time lapsed walkthrough to get a glimpse of the feel of the exhibition here.) With prayerful joy, Molly shares “Contemplative Springs of Hope” as an offering of creativity and Beauty–as an arrow of Hope that point to Jesus. No matter your faith background, she hopes that you take a moment to pause and reflect on the paintings and the poems. Perhaps you will become aware of something sacred in your life. Maybe you will notice a fresh experience of Holy Spirit presence and guidance. You might even feel a well of Hope bubbling up as a living spring as you contemplate what’s before you in this gallery. Visio Divina is an Ignatian spiritual practice of finding God and the sacred in art and in nature by contemplating on the visual. It’s a practice of invitation to slow down, to really look and look again, and to notice what you see, visually as well as in your being–emotionally, as memories or thoughts well up. No matter what you experience, how engaged you are here, or what you get out of the art, poetry, and prompts, Molly hopes you will feel full of Hope when you leave this space. (Note: You may choose to experience the gallery exhibition in a slower pace than the time lapsed video earlier. You can watch and pause this video here with the chatter and bustle of Sunday morning gathering and giddiness.) What is VISIO DIVINA? Click here to find out more of how to engage. When we look at Art, often within one to two seconds we’ve decided, “I don’t get it. I love it. I don’t like it. That’s cool. I like it. I hate it. I don’t understand art.” And whatever declaration we make about the piece, we simply move on without much thought. In school we tend to experience and learn about Art (if we learn about Art, at all) in its parts and pieces: elements and principles. We learn to label color, line, texture, pattern, balance, contrast, and we practice treating Art like we do in Biology while dissecting frogs. Here are all of the pieces taken apart…but, what do we do with them? How do we put them back together? What am I meant to do? How do I create and notice beauty with all of…this mess? Art may be a source of discouragement or hurt for you. You are invited. “Artist” may be a title you courageously call yourself. You are invited. Poetry may be a mystery that baffles and distances you. You are invited. “Writer” may be a title you comfortably use to identify yourself. You are invited. Maybe you used to love art or words, but an important person in your life–a parent, a teacher, a close friend–laughed at you, said your words were crap, or that being creative and expressing emotions was a waste of time…or, even just plain wrong. Maybe you know Art is Beauty and you co-create with the Creator of the universe. You’ve studied it, been published, shared your creative work regularly–received positive responses from your collectors and readers…and you’ve found that Art is part of who you are. But, what if you responded “Yes” to this invitation to search for the sacred and connect with Our Heavenly Father through Art and Beauty in Nature? What if you began to see Beauty as an Arrow of Hope, pointing to Jesus? What if you paused for a couple of breaths to notice God in Art? Visio Divina is a contemplative prayer practice from Ignatian Spirituality which invites the viewer of art to ponder and dwell with a piece of art for a bit longer than normal. It’s an invitation to notice and experience the sacred, the divine, to see our Creator God in the art. And, it’s an invitation to wait on Holy Spirit to reveal something fresh to us through Beauty–in Art, in Nature. “Breakers”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 10 x 10 inches Become a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Breakers” “Breakers” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here. Something I love about this painting is…the way the negative white space holds the wave droplets of blue from the bottom right square scrape. This is one of my “Scrapings” and one of the things I love about this process of painting is how unpredictable it is. It’s always a practice of freedom from control and perfectionism. This favorite part of mine is there only because I let go of control. I love the squelch of acrylic paint and how it squishes and then when I lift off my scraper, there’s some cool pattern left over. The meaning behind the title is…my parents and I went to an RV marina resort in central Minnesota when I was about 10-13 years old. It was called “Breakers.” I learned to fish out there on Lake Mille Lacs and I loved staying in our Airstream trailer and doing stuff by the water. Breakers are the waves that break against the land. You can see the whitecaps (which is partly played out in the white negative space of this piece) of the breakers and it just reminds me of happy summers with my mom. “Breakers”A Poem By: Molly OvendenRiding edges of water smooth glass mirrorsseagulls flitter disturbingcalm into waves walleye leap munching,surface ‘squitos hover,perch feast bubbling,humid mayflies dance,northern pike fighting,slimy leeches slithercalm into waves foamy white rippleseagles rest observingactive waters cascade sapphires ebb to wakeloons laugh beckoningcalm into wavesinto crashing breakers’ spray Riding edges of water Try this: Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Breakers.” Which part are you drawn to most: The straight, clean edge of the top squares? Or, the uneven edge of the bottom squares? God, why might this stand out to me today? How do you respond to this collection of blues? God, what might You want to say to me about this color? Thank You, God, for being with me in this moment of reflection. “Aha!”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 9 x 11 inches Become a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Aha!” “Aha” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here. How did it get this title? Once I’d held up the matt to “find” the painting, I had a physical reaction, like a gasp–like an, “Aha!” moment of joy and discovery. It’s called what it did to me and for me. Something I love about this painting…is how many colors are used without being muddy. I love the deep blue at the bottom next to the turquoise. I love the metallic shimmer throughout. I love the warmth of peace. I love how the white actually participates within each square–not just as a backdrop. I love how it still makes me gasp with joyful realization long after I created it. “Aha!”A Poem By: Molly OvendenI’ve been waitingI’ve been wishingI’ve been exploringI want that momentTo come in surpriseTo shock me aliveTo ignite my soul–without any warning! I’ve been prayingThrough cloudy nightsI’ve been pleadingThrough foggy daysI’ve been waitingIn Hope until morning “Aha!” When my eyes brimFrom tears as BeautyIn sunrise blazing peachy-blueAnd I praiseIn a gasp of solitude. Try this: Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “Aha!” Which square are you drawn to? What do you notice about how the colors mix together? God, what might You want to say to me about this mixture of colors? How does your response to the negative space (where paint isn’t) differ from your response to the positive space (where paint is)? God, what might You want to show me through my response? Jesus, thank You for being with me in this moment of prayer. “Turquoise Sunshine”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 11 x 9 inches Become a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Turquoise Sunshine” “Turquoise Sunshine” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here. How did it get this title? Haha–isn’t it obvious? Just kidding! This angle of scrapes lends itself to suggesting movement–but, a very slight and gentle movement. It’s this same kind of impression I feel on a cool, summer day with sunshine streaming through the shade of some old tree–the light changes–and so do the colors and leaves. Something I love about this painting…is the gentle movement. I really love it. I love the puffs of white that subtly make them selves known, like clouds on a blue sky canvas of summer sunshine. I also like how clean it feels. And although the yellow use here is mainly like lemonade, I love the little blip of egg yolk in the upper left edge of the piece. “Turquoise Sunshine”A Poem By: Molly OvendenSun cream smeared,–check!Beach lounger secured,–check!Snazziest sunglasses donned,–check! Eyes closed in sunshine,Imagination dreaming peace,Deep breaths inhaled–a pause…Cleansing breaths released. Sun hat? Shading perfection,Cool breeze? Gentle direction,Camera ready? Indeed!With views sans obstruction. A moment by the waterCould be turquoise by the sea,Or simply: an afternoon Near my neighborhood pond.–just sunshine–And, you and me! Try this: Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Turquoise Sunshine.” What do you notice about the angle of this piece? God, where in my life might You want to show me a different perspective? Consider the title or the poem alongside this painting: Can you see the poem happening in the painting? What other stories do you see happening in the painting? God, what might You want to show me about the stories I tell myself about my life? Holy Spirit, thank You for guiding me in this time of prayer and contemplation. “When Evening Comes”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 11 x 9 inches Become a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“When Evening Comes” “When Evening Comes” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here. How did it get this title? In Yorkshire, the latitude is further north than in Minnesota, so the angle of light is different. As an island, Great Britain is surrounded by unique cloud cover. This also alters the quality of light as it dissipates. The rapeseed fields of most delightful yellow thrill my eyes–especially at the low light of sunset. That is the moment I see captured in this piece. Something I love about this painting…EVERYTHING! THe yellow is exactly the yellow of my favourite fields. There’s an indigo-purple-blue situation in the top ⅔ of six scrapes of squares. I love the “sloppiness” of the twilight and how light and shadow interact with the progression of day into night. “When Evening Comes”A Poem By: Molly OvendenWhen evening comes…Today’s fun must pause:Resetting.Returning.Putting it all away. When evening comes…Night’s fears may threaten:Swallowing.Isolating.Mocking insecurities stay. When evening comes…Resting Beauty winks indoors:Basking.Mesmerising.Standing in awe, awake. When Evening comes…This moment’s choice to follow:Seeking Truth.Pursuing Life.Holding Hope for Day when it’s Night,Or choosing lesser that leaves one hollow– When evening comes…May there be pondering peaceAnd intentions of gratitude. Try this: Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “When Evening Comes.” What do you notice about the textures the paint makes in this piece? God, why am I drawn most to this particular type of texture? Consider the descriptions alongside the piece–what the artist loves and where the title comes from: How does connecting with the artist through her words create meaning as you experience this painting? God, where might I be longing for connection with someone in a relationship that has gone dark into the evening? Abba, Father, thank You for loving me as I spend time seeking You now. “Ephemeral Iridescence”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 10 x 10 inches Become a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Ephemeral Iridescence” “Ephemeral Iridescence” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here. How did it get this title? According to lexicom/com Ephemeral, is defined as “lasting for a short time…(chiefly of plants) having a short life cycle” and iridescence, defined as “Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.” Noticing beauty in nature is really important to me; sometimes it is fleeting, but the beauty in nature is always a gift from God. Something I love about this painting is…the pastel shades and the way that each of these four squares in this “Scraping” create the white, negative space of the white canvas paper, creating a cross that’s slightly at a jaunty angle. “Ephemeral Iridescence”A Poem By: Molly Ovenden trying to catcha leprechaunleft a trail:golden glitterthrough each hallthen gone trying to recalla dreamleft a whisperstrange memorythrough the mindthen gone trying to holda hopeleft a yearning:yet unansweredthrough caverns of griefthen gone trying to kindlea friendshipleft a sweetness:imprinted the soulthrough lifetimes of love–a season ephemeral, fleeting though valued–a grace iridescent,glimmering through raised palms Try this: Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Ephemeral Iridescence.” Which part are you drawn to most: The vertical or horizontal space between squares? Or, the space where the paint is? God, why might this particular detail stand out to me today? What do you notice about your emotional reaction to these shades of colors? God, what might You want to say to me about these colors? Thank You, God, for being with me in this moment of reflection. “Yellow, you get me.”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 9 x 11 inches Become a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Yellow, you get me.” “Yellow, You Get Me” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here. How did it get this title? Yellow is joyful, triumphant, light, and fun. I want to be joyful, triumphant, light, and fun! So, I feel like yellow understands who I am and who I hope to be. I hope that it could be an encouragement to others who see this painting. Something I love about this painting…is the fact that it is yellow. Because I love yellow! I always say that all of the colors are my favorite, but I think that yellow might actually be my favorite. It’s so happy! “Yellow, You Get Me.”A Poem By: Molly OvendenIn a worldWhere Lonely curlsCosy in at home,FeigningAcceptance whenWe all feel alone–In a worldWhere risking honestWords aloud screamsRetreatingObscurity whenWe all feel misunderstood– It’s a smile.It’s a nod.It’s a “hello”Each todayThat dulls inStreaks of grey…It’s a welcome homeGreeting, of gratitudeAnd joyous relief:“Yellow, you get me!” Try this: Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “Yellow, You Get Me!” Which square are you drawn to? Are you drawn to more than one because of how they connect? Because of something else? God, what might You want to say to me about this collection of shapes? How does your response to the negative space (where paint isn’t) differ from your response to the positive space (where paint is)? God, what might You want to show me through my response? Jesus, thank You for being with me in this moment of prayer. “Sunshine & Sherbet”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 11 x 9 inches Become a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Sunshine & Sherbet” “Sunshine & Sherbet” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here. How did it get this title? It looks like a glorious summer day with high up, wispy clouds in the all blue and then there’s this bright spot of yellow joy the color of both a sugary lemon sherbet and of sunshine. Something I love about this painting…that while I tend to go for a warm yellow, this one is much cooler–and, I love the effect. And when I take a moment to really look at this painting, I love how many different combinations of blues and yellows there are without fully making green. “Sunshine & Sherbet”A Poem By: Molly OvendenTrampoline imaginings–free!Those summer daysWay before I reached my teens. Bouncing to fly–high!Those summer dreamsWay before youth washed away. June till August scheming–please!Those summer ice creams,Long walks on the beach,Hiking trails through leafy trees,Swimming with lake fishOr, salty creatures from the sea. Tender dancing–glee!Those summer firefly nightsWay before autumn beckons–it’s sunshine and sherbetMemories to create for me. Try this: Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, open your eyes and pause for another couple breaths as you look at this painting called, “Sunshine & Sherbet.” What do you notice about the perspective created in this piece? God, where in my life might You want me to find a new balance? Consider the title or the poem alongside this painting: Can you see the poem happening in the painting? What other stories do you see happening in the painting? God, what might You want to show me about the stories I tell myself about my life? Holy Spirit, thank You for guiding me in this time of prayer and contemplation. “Peach Fuzz & Fire”Original. Acrylic. Matted & Framed. 11 x 9 inches Become a Collector:Click Here to Purchase“Peach Fuzz & Fire” “Peach Fuzz & Fire” a painting and poem with spiritual reflection – Listen here & watch here. How did it get this title? I love peaches and their fuzzy squish. The edges of each of these squareish scrapes are not sharp–they have a gentle fuzz. The lift-off of paint is minor and creates just an edge of blue, like the spherical, though fuzzed edge of a peach. And, the colors are similar to peaches I’ve enjoyed eating. Oh–and, especially the top right square looks like flames to me! Something I love about this painting…is that it has orange and peach and dusty mauve colors. They weren’t colors, at the time of painting this piece, that I usually chose to include. But, when someone viewed an exhibit of mine, they shared an observation: Molly, you don’t really paint with orange, do you? I hadn’t realized! So, I started to introduce warmer colors and this is such a fun result! I also experimented by off-setting the scrapes: I love the experience of how the negative space changes. “Peach Fuzz & Fire”A Poem By: Molly Ovendengushing juicesof fruits in season,tapping toes giddyin queues eternal–that sweetness,so worth it,a delicious reason! oh, to eat them:these long-awaitedpeaches, drippingtastebud joy.encircled by friends,sharing slurps,laughing storiesaround a starry-skiedcrackling summer fireeveryone praysshan’t ever end… Try this: Take a couple of slow breaths to become present in this moment and invite Holy Spirit to come while you observe this painting, “Peach Fuzz & Fire.” What do you notice about the textures the paint makes in this piece? God, why am I drawn most to this particular type of texture? Consider the descriptions alongside the piece–what the artist loves and where the title comes from: How does connecting with the artist through her words create meaning as you experience this painting? God, where might I be longing for fire to be rekindled? Or extinguished? Abba, Father, thank You for loving me as I spend time seeking You now. Thank you! I am so grateful that you have taken time to look, listen, contemplate, sit with, reflect on, read this exhibition, “Contemplative Springs of Hope.” And my prayer is that you’d find a moment of Beauty that is an arrow of Hope for you.
Am I Grateful? Caption: This is a photograph of Molly Ovenden’s left hand (the photographer and author of this article) holding five smooth stones in a variety of colors on the shore of Lake Superior with white foaming waves coming into the sandy beach. It’s November now and Thanksgiving is upon us. For many of us, it’s a joyful time with family and food–for others of us, it’s a painful time without the food or family we want or need. And, for even others still, Thanksgiving and November are simply the days we live through, take for granted or struggle in. ******* Would you like to be part of a live, online video course to help with your gratitude journaling practice?Wednesday, November 8 at 7-8:30pm Central TimeAre you in Duluth? Register here.Are you in Cloquet? Register here.Are you in Proctor or Hermantown? Register here.Are you somewhere else? Choose any of the above links to register.Expressing gratitude through the written word can be powerful for our hearts and beneficial for our mental health. Whether you’re a beginner or familiar with journaling, there is space for you here. Through interactive guided prompts and group discussion, you’ll have the opportunity to practice the profound habit of gratitude in your own notebook. After this workshop you’ll have several practical tools to keep the momentum of being thankful all year round. Let’s make November the month we deepen our gratitude practice through journaling. ******* If you find offering gratitude something that comes easily for you, that’s fantastic and I’m truly grateful for YOU! 🙂 What follows may give you a new variety of ideas for your gratitude practice. If you, however, excel as noticing what you don’t have, where you haven’t been, who’s not in your life, or you just take everything as it comes without acknowledging it, then I hope what follows might inspire a thankful moment of pause in your daily life. Whether you journal to keep a record on paper (or digitally) or not, doesn’t matter as much as taking the time to reflect. One minute, one hour, one day…however much time is realistic for you, take that time. Here are a few ideas to keep the fire burning or to ignite it for your gratitude practice: Caption: This is a black and white photograph of someone who is right-handed, with a check-patterned shirt and a bracelet, writing with a pen in a lined journal with a ribbon. ONETake a moment to consider your day and the people in it. Complete these two phrases honestly. Once you’ve responded, take action or get back to your day-to-day.1. The person I’m most grateful for today is (BLANK) because (BLANK)…2. The moment I’m most grateful for today is (BLANK)… TWOGet present to all your senses and allow your heart and mind to swell with gratitude. Here are some examples from my recent practice:Sight – I am thankful for Duluth’s autumn colors.Sound – I am grateful to hear my niece and nephew’s laughter.Smell – I am grateful for the crisp, fresh, frosty morning scent of mulching leaves.Taste – I’m thankful for the sweet tang of apple cider.Touch – I’m grateful for the cozy warmth of extra quilts and crocheted afghans. Caption: This is a photograph of Molly Ovenden, author of this article, smiling at the camera, wearing a navy cardigan and fluffy, grey scarf. THREECreative reflections, especially when we make as a significant part of our time, can be beneficial to measure progress and to help remember why we love making it. If creating for work or for pleasure or for favors on behalf of others is something you have a habit of doing, perhaps add to your habit expressing gratitude while you make or create. Or, try expressing gratitude for all that you have made.Maybe you create paintings or partnerships. Maybe you make meals or meaningful experiences. Maybe you knit cardigans or you lead adventure tours. Whatever you make or create, big and small, consider the positive impact and the gratitude you have for each.You could ask these questions:1. This week I made (BLANK) for (BLANK) and I feel grateful because…2. I tried a new (BLANK) recently, and I love that I took time for that because…3. I’m thankful I made a connection with (BLANK) because…4. I’m proud of myself for (BLANK) and I want to pause to be thankful because… FOURThere are so many ways to be thankful, whether it’s around the dinner table, holding your favorite mug of tea, coffee, apple cider, or in your gratitude journal. Journaling can be a gift of a method to keep track of the good that’s happened in your life and it can also be a reminder to take a moment to reflect and celebrate all that’s around you.I’ve made a 30-day freebie for you to enjoy a gratitude practice all month long. Simply enter your email address here and you’ll receive 30 daily prompts to guide your Gratitude Journaling practice. Truly, I’m grateful for YOU, my dear reader, for taking time to read through these ideas and consider how gratitude could be a practice in your life. Happy Thanksgiving (in October to my Canadian readers and in November to my American readers) and happy year-round giving thanks to all of us!
3 Methods of Journaling Practice to Improve Your Daily Life Journaling as a daily practice may sound too intense or too time consuming for your own life–that’s okay! You can still benefit from little bits of journaling throughout the day with a one-line reflection or every few days. You can even try seasonally or at crucial and transitional times of life. Sometimes we feel stuck in life’s circumstances, but we don’t know why. Other times, life is simply overwhelming with endless distractions and endless opportunities, resulting in decision-fatigue. Still other various points in life offer us the opportunity to let go of a certain heaviness or give us a leg up to heal and grow in our own lives. Journaling regularly can improve the quality of your life, your mental health, and help you to make a positive impact on the world as you become who you’re made to be. Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional. This article and tips within it are meant to encourage you along the way, but are not a substitute for professional help. If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to your general practitioner, therapist, counselor, or spiritual director for the professional attention you need. I am a typewriter poet, writer, coach, speaker, and visual artist. I know about being in the trenches of creativity and being paralyzed by views of current circumstances (and dreading the days because life isn’t what you’d hoped it would be). I also know about wanting to improve and taking the initiative to move forward and make positive changes, but feeling at a loss for how to prioritize. In this article I want to offer three simple methods for you to use as a journaling practice to improve your daily life. This is an original acrylic painting I painted because of how much I enjoy engaged with the seasons, and I especially love autumn. Find out more about my art here. 1. Use your 5 senses: Stay present.If your mind is full of future worries, anxiety, uncertainty, it can be challenging to stay in present reality. If your soul is heavy from past hurts, shame, or failure, making any change to improve your conditions can be challenging, or even impossible. These non-present states of being can be a strain on your mental health and prevent you from moving forward and slow you down from becoming who you’re truly made to be. When we engage our five senses, we lovingly force ourselves to pay attention to here and now. It can be emotionally and spiritually grounding to acknowledge what is real and accurate as we experience life in present time: no slower or faster than here and now. Try this: Using one line per sense, write a brief present account of your experience right here and right now. This doesn’t need to take any longer than five minutes and can be quicker than that. Example:I can hear the morning rush hour traffic heading to work.I can feel the chilly air on my fingers.I can smell my hot cup of coffee after it’s brewed.I can taste my mint toothpaste.I can see the messy desk in front of me. Whatever you notice in your five senses is information. There’s no need to make meaning over what you notice, but simply notice and take notes. This is journaling that you can do at any point during the day and with any frequency that you fancy. Becoming present in this sensory manner alleviates past and future anxieties by being focused on here and now. This offers clarity for emotions and for decision making. Photo Credit: Used with permission from Pexels || Karolina Grabowska 2. Engage with poetry: Express emotions safely.If your mind is full and processing at race pace, it may feel like there’s no time to pause for emotions. Emotions at any heightened state (whether it’s elation or devastation) can feel scary, overwhelming, or too much.When I was a kid, I learned that in order to stay safe and not bring any pain to others, that I should keep my emotions as even as possible. If I was too excited and celebrating, someone who was not celebrating the same achievement my feel disappointed or like I was arrogant celebrating “in their face.” If I was too sad or angry, someone else might become sadder or more angry than they wanted to be, so I should regulate my expression of emotions to not have a negative impact on anyone.Having grown and healed a lot, having worked with professionals who have helped me identity, experience, and express emotions, and then, express them healthily, I’ve learned that the feelings we have can often be indicators of what our emotions are in our real circumstances. Our emotions can trigger various thoughts and then, prompt certain actions, as a result. As I’ve grown as a writer, I’ve noticed how poetry is a fantastic and effective container for and carrier of emotion. Lots of poetry is a manageable length, meaning that you can take a moment to read a poem and be curious to notice how you feel, what emotions surface, and how you want to respond as a result of interacting with the poem. Try this:Read one of the following poems and journal for a few lines, answering a selection of these questions:a) “What memories were stirred as I read this poem?”b) “What fears or shame came up?”c) “What do I love/hate about interacting with this poem?”d) “What would I add to/change in this poem to personalize it for myself?”e) “If I were to complete the phrase, ‘I feel…’ after reading this poem, what would I say?” Simply allow yourself curiosity in this space with poetry. When we notice what comes up, it’s like taking a deep breath or having a sigh of relief. Sometimes we don’t know that we’re hanging onto something, but poetry can help to loose the grip and unlock insight. Example Poem 1: “I Feel Happy”By Molly Ovenden I love to run in yellow-flowered fieldsWhen leaves of tall treesTickle blue skies.I love to smile at yellow petalsWhen the outdoor ceiling shinesBrilliant blue between branches. I love to imagine a day whenMy yellow flower friendsGo on walksAnd tell jokesAnd giggle with joy. I love to imagine a day whenMy arms stretch as high asThe trees to feel the fluff of Clouds between my fingers. I love these happy days whenMy heart wraps aroundThe blue sky full of trees andThe yellow flowers full of sunshine Because… I want to hug them! Example Poem 2: “When the Ice…”By: Molly Ovenden Ice cracks a gunshot echoingShattered silence speaksThe roaring waters beneathShards of ice float piled highPushed relentless by the LakeObscuring the view untilWaves dance, swaying to meltTo music of ice chimesWaters ebb and flow along the shoreKeeping time to the rhythm of springSuch beauty once dappled in winter freezeOf Lake glassWith winter tears to grieve its deathSay farewell with April’s breathWhose soul, watered to explodeWith greens and purples andAll colors bright,Shares light of suns risingMornings earlier, perhaps its farewellTo the long winter’s nightAll the rage of the inland seaAll the rage of all that sinks so deepAll the rage of what’s withheldCrashes free, drawn from leagues beyondThe ice breaks, the dawn awakesThe ground quakes with a surge of new life Poems For My People: Community, Volume 1 is a collection of poetry I wrote that captures a broad spectrum of human emotion, featuring 100 poems written for 100 individuals–mostly spontaneous and in live settings with my typewriter. Find out more here. 3. Morning Pages: Daily Reflection and Brain DumpThe concept of “Morning Pages,” or three handwritten pages of stream-of-consiousness writing, done first thing in the morning was popularized by Julia Cameron, particularly in her book, The Artist’s Way and elaborated on with more detailed descriptions in her newer book, The Listening Path. Morning pages are everything and they are nothing at all. They are everything that you can possibly think of in the morning when you’ve just woken up and they aren’t necessarily about anything in particular. Example: I’m annoyed that my back hurts because my mattress and I wish I wasn’t allergic to dogs and we have to take the laundry out of the dryer before our landlords need to use the laundry room and I can’t remember what else I need to do before my trip next week and my muscles on my rib keep twitching and it’s weird and what does weird mean? And I wish I had straightforward answers to…etc. Morning pages can clear the cobwebs of your waking up mind and offer permission for the day and clarity for prioritization. But, they also can be a map for the direction to go with a project or where to unearth a solution. Morning pages can often demonstrate what you care about deeply. When we journal first thing in the morning (or even, last thing at night), we are tired enough to not edit or censor ourselves from otherwise telling the truth of what we think and feel. We can dump out all of the stuff of life that feels bigger when we leave it to constantly remind us that it’s there. When we put our thoughts or worries on the page, they are allowed to be the size that they really are. Morning pages allow small things to stop being obnoxious in our brains, bouncing around for attention. And this tired form of journaling gives voice to the big things that our conscious mind tells to be quiet and shuts down when it’s awake and trying to keep us safe. It may feel intimidating to start journaling Morning pages, but you can always use a variety of prompts, like questions to answer or to finish a sentence. Try one of these prompts:Today, I feel…I wish I knew what to do about…What would happen if I finally said yes to my dreams?It’s really scary that…What if good things happened instead?If I’m honest with myself, the thing I’ve been avoiding is…I remember…My favorite…I love…The worst/best thing I remember happening to me… Reading your journals as another practice can be beneficial to notice patterns, to express gratitude, to celebrate progress and overcoming. When we slow down long enough to pay attention and notice, our mental health and our growth overall in daily life improves. Why? We’re no longer stuck in our heads catastrophising or being lonely and unrealistic. Putting words and thoughts and emotions on the page help us to identify what actions we might take toward health and growth–that, without writing it down, we might not have noticed. May you be inspired today in your journaling practice whether you’re starting for the first time, trying again, or a seasoned journaler. Happy discoveries and happy healthy growth to you on the page! … Would you like a few prompts to get you started in your journaling practice? Sign up here for creative journaling prompts to nudge you toward growth and health in your everyday creative life. Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional. This article and tips within it are meant to encourage you along the way, but are not a substitute for professional help. If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to your general practitioner, therapist, counselor, or spiritual director for the professional attention you need.
4 Ways to Appreciate Poetry For many people, poetry is something beyond ethereal, something that feels out of reach for some to engage with. Even for a confident writer, poetry can be challenging to approach, let alone to appreciate. In school, often we are taught to break up poems into pieces, dissecting them like frogs or fetal pigs and we’re left with a nauseous feeling in the pits of our stomachs. What is poetry and why do I want to appreciate it? Poetry is, in simple terms, a word container for expressing emotions. It is a method to gather thoughts or experiences and articulate them in a way that can be interpreted from various unique angles. It is a manner in which to express intangible concepts like Beauty, Love, Truth in words, making them a bit more tangible. Poetry is a form of writing which allows the writer to create word art within a rigid and disciplined framework, but also allows the writer to create words by breaking all of the rules and letting go of suffocating structure. There are several different types of poetry–if you use a search engine online, you’ll find many articles with varying viewpoints on how many forms of poetry exist. You’ll also encounter words like enjambment, onomatopoeia, alliteration, anaphora, consonance, assonance–these are all literary devices, or tools, that help you to communicate meaning through writing. Overall, poetry is complexly simple and it’s basic to write and experience, while simultaneously being layered, confusing, and complicated. But, if you’re willing to invest a little time to experience poetry, I think you’ll be more willing to appreciate it as a type of writing–even if you don’t fall madly in love with it. There are four ways to get started appreciating poetry:1. Reading it.2. Listening to it.3. Writing it.4. Giving it as a gift. Reading it. There are so many different types of poetry! Reading widely can open your eyes to finding the type of poetry or a specific poet whose work you particularly enjoy. Whether you read William Shakespeare’s sonnets from the 16th century London or Ogden Nash’s light (and often humorous) verse from the 1900s in New York, interacting with a range of poetry will help you appreciate the diversity of expression through this form of writing. You may grow to love Maya Angelou’s southern passion from the late 20th century into the 21st, or you may fall in love with Morgan Harper Nichols’ contemporary poetry paired with her own artwork. Perhaps reading Chitra Divakaruni’s poetry from India from around the 1990s, like her poem, “Woman with Kite” or Mutabaruka’s poetry from Jamaica in the same era, like his poem called, “dis poem” will teach you to appreciate poetry in its vibrant diversity. Check out a book of poetry from the library or ask at your local independent bookstore for their poetry recommendations. Or, you could choose a poetry collection I’ve written, like Poems for My People: Community, Volume 1, available here. Listening to it. Many poems are written to be displayed in such a way that visual meaning comes across when a poem is simply read from the page. More often than not, however, poetry is written to be experienced and performed. I know some writers who have gone on the quest to create the most aesthetically pleasing poem to read aloud. The way the mouth can articulate a poem through its rhythm, repetitions of sounds, where breathing and pauses occur–all of this is lost when a poem is merely read from the page. But, when it’s performed, it can come alive! You can read poems aloud by yourself or you can have someone read them to you. If you don’t have a poetry companion to read to you in person, you might like to try listening to poetry podcasts like “A Mouthful of Air” with Mark McGuinness. You can also find some poetry to listen to on sites like PoetryFoundation.org. Writing it. Once you’ve been inspired to appreciate poetry by reading it and listening to it, now you can try writing it. You might believe at first that you’re no good at writing poetry. Maybe you aren’t, and that’s okay. But, what if you were good at writing poetry and you had a real gift of collecting words in this literary container? This article on the Grammarly blog shares several simple steps to help you get started writing poetry. You could also take a class to help you get started writing poetry. I teach one such class called, “Playing with Poetry.” New class and workshop dates are posted inside the shop here. If you already enjoy writing poetry, but are looking to develop your poetry skills or want support to publish your collection of poetry, I’d love to chat with you about your poetry project. Take a look at the coaching packages I offer here. The basics of starting to write poetry, however are:1. Read a variety of poems written in various forms, time periods, by a variety of poets.2. Make observations about the poems. What do you like or dislike? Do you know why?3. Choose a topic to write about. It can be silly or serious, but start with just one.4. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and brainstorm a list of things you could say about this topic. 5. Select bits from the list that sit comfortably together or simply use bits that you enjoy.6. Write the selected words or phrases from the list into an assembled mixture of lines and literary devices.7. Revise your poem to ensure it includes specific details, vivid imagery, emotion, and is in the accurate structure (if you’re following a precise form with rules). Otherwise, you can practice using free verse. This can be a great form to choose when you’re starting out.8. Read your poem and experience it on the page visually. Make any adjustments you feel necessary.9. Read your poem aloud. You may want to record yourself reading it confidently and listen to the recording. It may feel awkward at first to listen to your own voice, but push through the discomfort and all yourself to experience your poem. Again, make any adjustments you feel necessary.10. Write another poem! Note: Sharing your poetry with others is always optional. Often we can use poetry as a tool to express emotion that we don’t feel comfortable revealing to others. This is a great use of poetry — as a gift to ourselves. Giving it as a gift! Once you’ve experienced a number of poems, you likely have found some writers you enjoy. You may have also discovered you enjoy writing poetry. A magical way to develop a deep appreciation for poetry is to give someone else the gift of poetry. You can do this in several ways. As you’ve been practicing writing poetry, you can write someone a poem and give it to them. If you do this, know that it is a vulnerable act to give poetry from your heart, so be careful about who the recipient is. Your appreciate deepens when you experience the poem from another person’s perspective. You may find a special edition or collection of poetry of your new favorite writer to purchase for your loved one or friend as a gift. When you get the chance to explain what you love about this writer or this collection, your appreciation for poetry deepens. Commission a poem for yourself or a loved one. You may have the rare privilege of coming across a writer who is busking in public and writing typewriter poetry (I am one of those people! Read more about that here.) Requesting a poem to be written on your behalf or to gift as an anniversary or “just because” kind of gift is in and of itself a demonstration of your growing appreciation. Your request communicates honor of the craft of poetry and creativity. Playing a role in the birth of a poem is a special and unique opportunity. Schedule a commission a poem from me here.Note: The entire Poems for My People Collection features poems written for individual people. Either the person requesting the poem needed something poetic for themselves to process grief or joy, or they want to communicate an intangible and emotional experience. Celebrate National Poetry Month this April and grow in your appreciation for poetry!
Why Read What Women Write? Why Read What Women Write? I have a simple answer to this question: because they have written something! It takes a lot of work and courage to produce anything in writing–even a short blog post–even when someone is a talented writer. There are lifetimes of wisdom, insight, encouragement, creative delight on bookshelves all over the world that women have painstakingly and joyfully pulled from brain to page and gotten them into the hands of readers like you who will devour their words. As it is Women’s History Month in the USA, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be a writer and to be a woman. There are literally countless written works by women writers available to us in the library, bookstores, online archives, and probably our own bookshelves at home. Where should we start, and why? What first comes to mind for me is something I read as a teenager in English class. Published in 1892, the story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman brought to light issues of mental illness and misunderstanding of female psychology–among other things. This was controversial and revealing about the quality of life and quality of mental health which Gilman observed and wanted to share. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a gift from history left to us to get an inside look at how things might have been experienced in the past, as the story is thought to be partly autobiographical. This fascinating piece is now in the public domain and you can read it here. When we read work written by women writers throughout history it widens our perspective beyond our normal, everyday life, and increases our awareness of how other people experience the world. In the same way that reading fiction allows us the opportunity to practice empathy by connecting with the main characters, reading words written by people who are different from us is essential. As a young girl, I loved writing. When I read, I felt inspired to write and be creative in other areas of my life. I remember one assignment in grade school I had that I loved: research an author you enjoy. I chose a local Minnesota author who lived in St. Paul at the time, Judy Delton. During her career as an author, Delton wrote 40 chapter books for young readers in the Pee Wee Scout series (find out more about them here) and many picture books. She was a family friend and I got the privilege of meeting her–a real author! She even wrote me a letter to encourage me in my own writing. One of the characters in the Pee Wee Scouts is named Molly, and although I’m fairly certain she wasn’t named after me, there was still a connection. And it was inspiring to read because I knew the author. When I was growing up, we had another family friend, romance author named Betina Krahn, who continues to be a delightfully, madly prolific author of stories that her readers devour. In many ways, I can look back and see breadcrumbs of the women who came before me and I feel a weighty sense of gratitude for how they’ve made a way with their writing work so that I could step into being the writer I am today. Writers are normal people–we really are! And when we can as readers make a connection with the authors of work we can appreciate the conversation through literature that follows. Why read what women write? While we can in 2023 look back in history as the women who wrote and inspired us with their courage to overcome societal norms that held them back. George Eliot, for instance, who wrote a book called Middlemarch in the mid-nineteenth century is a pen name for the woman author, Mary Ann Evans. You can read more about Evans/Eliot and other women of classic literature here in the Literary Ladies Guide. She published under a man’s name in order to be accepted as a writer. Some may say that it was oppressive and unfair that she didn’t or couldn’t use her given name, but I think it’s an empowered decision. Evans/Eliot didn’t allow society to hold her back from expressing through words. She overcome society by using a pen name and worked diligently to get her words out into the world. I admire this perseverance greatly. Why read what women write? Why not? I find it interesting that there is an argument for investing time to read Women’s Literature when “Men’s Literature” isn’t really a category that needs persuasion to read from. I don’t have any issues with reading books written by men. However, if we are reading only one type of book or books written by one type of person, our thinking and human interaction can be narrowed. Instead, how might we all benefit from reading widely? I coach and teach my creative writing clients that in order to BECOME the Writer we’re made to be, read voraciously! If you aren’t sure where to start, or you feel stuck in a rut, go to a local bookstore or your local library and ask them for recommendations. Particularly librarians are excellent at curating themed lists and offering recommendations to get readers out of our comfort zones. And don’t just read books written by women. Read books, full stop! Read voraciously to learn, for enjoyment, to stay curious. Reading isn’t about agreeing with everything you encounter, but about opening up to listen to what others are saying. And when we read work from those who have gone before us, reading historical work can be an honoring act. In the same way that wandering through a cemetery with moss-covered gravestones and whispering the names out loud can be an honoring act of remembrance, so too can reading work from authors who have written centuries and decades before us. There are many recommendations I can offer, but instead of trying to name everyone and undoubtedly missing an infinite number of great books to remember, I wanted to share very simply, 5 books that happen to be on my bookshelf today that are written by Minnesotan women. If you’re not sure where to start, perhaps you could begin with one of these: Storm Front by Susan May Warren (part of the Montana Rescue series) Olympus by K. A. Williams (book 2 of the Firebird Chronicles) Thy Father’s Will by Kirsten Jacobsen Stasney (a historical novel based on true events) The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich (juvenile fiction, book 1 of the Birchbark series) Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers (a standalone coming of age YA novel) Read widely. Use your voice. Write for joy. Happy reading this Women’s History Month!
3 Gentle Habits for Reflection Watch or Listen to “3 Gentle Habits of Reflection” Hi there! As we approach the year end, I want to share some gentle reflective habits to help you finish strong, confident, and just as you are now. You may find journaling works well for you, so feel free to take notes to reflect on or journal on more later as this season passes. 🙂 3 Gentle Habits of Reflection: 1. What are you proud of? 2. What surprised you? 3. What are you taking with you to the next season? And…new things are coming to BECOME the Writer 2023! So, watch this space, everyone! For more information about my coaching and membership services, please visit: http://mollyovenden.com/coaching/
7 Benefits of Joining a Creative Writing Membership Memberships have become more and more of a common model and part of everyday life for so many of us. Whether it’s video streaming services, gym memberships, monthly food or hygiene delivery, or activity boxes for kids, there are memberships for pretty much everything you can think of. Creative Writing learning is no exception. From finding community of likeminded creatives to expert support to specific journey steps to guide you along your individual path for growth, there are myriad benefits of membership for those wanting to develop their creative writing lives and author careers. Here are 7 reasons for you to consider: FriendshipDoing any activity with friends is more fun. Learning with friends creates a shared experience which deepens your relationship. Some of the greatest writers we hear of were part of a circle of equally prolific friends. Writing and learning from friends promotes healthy peer pressure and friendly competition to help each other mutually improve. It’s not just any kind of friendship, though — it’s genuine relationships with writers who get it. ColleaguesCreative writing life and an author career can be a really lonely path. It’s an odd sense of autonomy and independence. In some cases there are extended times of isolation. The separation from likeminded others can be demoralizing because those with whom you share daily life may not understand. A writing membership allows the opportunity for a community of professionals who understand the highs and lows, the motivations and the pains of the writing life, so they don’t need you to explain: they already all understand. InspirationBeing in community with creative individuals will fuel your inspiration. When there is a collection of individuals meeting together, each creative perspective bounces off the other and compounds the creative joy. Staring out the window brings a certain amount of creativity, but being able to speak aloud your ideas in the presence of someone else who will ask you questions to provoke the further development of creativity can be super helpful, too.MomentumThere is a certain motivation that comes from belonging to a community with a monthly calendar. With a range of curated content such as accountability check ins, expert panelists, live Q&A sessions, or hot seat coaching sessions there is a rhythm to it. The rhythm of content inspires and perpetuates momentum. Done well, the membership content will be curated in a helpful pattern so as to help members take one step after the other, thus creating momentum, by keeping the learning and implementation in motion.CurationThe best memberships are created with a focused progression of activities, learning, and insights to help members move forward. Usually three to five stages allow members to self-identify where in the process they are and at which stage. This self-identification aspect is really helpful to reduce overwhelm. Often an argument against memberships in learning environments is that all of the information is out there on the internet for free, so why would we pay for it? It’s true: there is a lot of good information out there, but it can be really overwhelming and time-consuming to sift through it all. A membership’s materials are in order and the most important pieces are selected for members to focus on and curated in the best order possible, minimizing overwhelm. SupportPanels of experts are a tool to support your journey. For creative writing this can be one of the most significant parts of the membership journey because of the laser focus available. Memberships are often run by experts, but they are usually only experts in one or two fields. This is where panel interviews come in. The best memberships will listen to its members and schedule experts to address some of the widespread questions that will have a positive impact on the majority of the group. Members may encounter expert interviews on topics from daily habits to plot development, selecting an agent to cover design.AnswersWhen you are writing at a new level of growth with uncertainty at to what lies ahead, chances are you have a lot of questions. Many creative writing memberships have an opportunity to get answers to your questions. Some may have an easy to access search function to see if someone else had your same question and others may have a monthly live Q&A session. You may be given the opportunity to ask questions ahead of time to allow the panelists or membership organizers time to prepare or it could all happen live. But, most importantly is that memberships can provide answers that you need precisely when you need them, tailored to your current stage of the writing and authoring journey. There you have it. Those were seven real benefits for you today of how you could really put a stake in the ground in your creative writing life and author career. There is no reason that you should ever feel alone. We are made for community and creativity, so a creative writing community is a no brainer. I have always loved the groups I’ve been part of as they’ve propelled me forward and my confidence grew. If you are serious about finishing your manuscript, finally getting your brilliant idea from brain to page, let’s get you the help you need. Hey! I’m Molly Ovenden! Creative Writing Coach, Author, Visual Artist, at your service! BECOME the Writer paid membership exists to create and nurture a creative writing community for those who want to move forward in their writing lives and author careers. Get started and sign up today: click here.
10 Questions to Ask so You Can Habitually Finish Your Book(s)! 10 Questions to Ask so You Can Habitually Finish Your Book–or Books! Is this you? So many people loved writing when they were in school, but once adulthood set in, they believed they only had time for serious endeavors which don’t include writing. So many people believe they’ve got a book in them, but they feel scared or uncertain about starting, or just can’t seem to find the time. So many people have started writing a book, but haven’t finished because they’ve burnt out with perfectionism, fizzled out with fear about what others might think of them, or they procrastinated and ran out of time and motivation. You don’t have to be one of these people. The fact that you’re here, taking in these words, shows me that YOU ARE A BRILLIANT WRITER! You’ve got a desire to learn, to get your words from brain to page, and to truly make an epic and life-changingly positive impact on the world. You CAN do this. You CAN write this book. You CAN get your book published and into the hands of those readers who will devour your words. When you find yourself struggling to show up for your daily writing or you’re at the edge of the finish line, but dragging your feet, here are 10 lovingly convicting questions to ask yourself (perhaps via reflective journal entry) to find the courage you need to follow through. 1. Who are you as a writer? Identity is so important when we write. If you don’t know who you are, it will be really challenging to write authentically. Often writers resist becoming authors, resisting publication, resisting the accountability for finishing what you said was important. If you don’t know who you are, then you don’t have a certainty about whom you’re making this writing promise to, to finish your book. When you know who you are as a writer and creative and who you want to be, you begin to stand on a firmer foundation. You begin to live with more focus. Each action you take can bring you into life living as that person, or becoming someone else completely different. Try this: I want to be a writer who (fill in the blank). 2. How does what you are actually writing resonate with who you are? You might find that a reason you are struggling to make time every day for your creative writing habits is because it just doesn’t feel like you’re the one to write it. Are you writing something in the way you think it “should be written” or are you writing in a way that feels authentic to you personally and in your own voice? Do you actually need to write this? Or, is this writing something someone else could do instead of you? Try this: Read a selection of your book out loud. How well does it read aloud? Take notes and make adjustments accordingly in revision time. 3. Who is your reader? Think of a single person you are telling your story to. In your imagination, bring them into your room. Perhaps, if your ideal reader is a couple different people, set out metaphorical chairs in your writing room for these few people and then write like you’re speaking or reading to just them. You may argue your book is for more than these couple of folks, or even that it’s for everyone. That’s great! You’ve got massive vision. But, it’s important you speak directly to these individuals so your readers know the story is for them. If you speak to the crowd, it all tends to get muddy and harder for your readers to connect with you and the stories you’re trying to share. Try this: Imagine your ideal reader sat in the chair across from you. Pay attention to what they are doing or saying and allow them to react and respond while you read and write. 4. How does what you are actually writing help your reader? Think of your actual ideal reader. How is what you’re writing for them bringing inspiration or helping them learn or entertaining them? It can be tempting to write for the agent or publisher or your 2nd grade teacher who told you you’d never write anything good. But unless they are a picture of your ideal reader, don’t bring them into your living room to tell them your story. Writing can be a fight to get the words out. When you consider who your words will actually help, this can bring clarity and the second wind of endurance you need to finish strong. Try this: As you already have your ideal reader sat in the chair across from you, read your words out loud to them. Think critically whether what you’ve written resonates with them. You may want to imagine their facial expressions. Even better could be to get your literal ideal reader together with you and ask them for focused feedback. 5. Why are you writing this book? If you’re like most creative people, you’ve probably got heaps of inspiration and ideas mulling around in that imagination of yours. Knowing why you’ve chosen to write this particular one can be a gift of clarity to help you finish it. There was one point when it seemed like the best idea in the world to work on this book right now. Take a moment to remember why this is important to you. Also, think about some of the other books you would like to write. They won’t get written if you don’t finish this one. Use the promise of the next book you want to write to propel you onward. Perhaps you have a series in mind or a collection – those books need each other. Try this: Make a list of reasons why you chose to write this book. Put the list somewhere you can see it regularly. Read it out loud to yourself as often as it takes. 6. What are you most excited about for this book? If you’ve been working on this book for a while, it might have lost its sparkle from conception. Maybe you’re in the messy middle and it feels very messy and all you can think of is how much it’s going to take to clean it all up and make sense of all the mind mud. Maybe you’ve been saying things like this for months (to yourself and others), “I’m very nearly finished…I just have the last little details to polish…just one last bit to sort out…” This can be demoralizing and prolong the finishing. Try this: Make a list of 3-5 aspects of your book that excite you. You may refer to some pieces on your previous list. And, you may use future books as an incentive to get excited enough to propel you to the finish. Put your list somewhere you can read it and remember as often as it takes. 7. What would happen to your readers if you never finished this book? The reality is that perhaps nothing would happen if you never finished writing this book. But, consider your readers again. If you feel compelled to write something, to persevere through actually finishing a bunch of words in book form and getting it out into the world, then it’s likely worth finishing. It’s worth finishing because of who the words are for. Your readers may continue feeling sad and not knowing how to escape and if they don’t read your novel, they won’t learn about the magical land of Smorithinya and its mystical beings, the Carinchimpfs who can only fly with their eyes closed. If you don’t finish your book, your readers will never experience the connection they would have when they read your memoir – their feelings of being outcast and uninspired will remain. They will still be stuck in their issues and unsure how to go forward – even though your book, were you to finish it, would provide some answers. Try this: Imagine: What would happen to your readers if you never finished this book? 8. What will it feel like to see people devouring your book? You’ll never know the feeling of how your words impact the world in a positive way if you don’t finish writing your book and putting it out into the world. But to imagine how big of a rippling and far reaching impact that it could make? All of the potential it could have? If only you finished getting your words on the page and submitted. But, how cool to watch the delight in young readers’ eyes. How cool to witness the transformation in a person when you walk them through the step-by-step process of how you overcame obstacles. How amazing it will feel to hear about how much your book meant to your readers. Try this: Imagine: What will it feel like to see people devouring your book? 9. When are you writing? The human mind and emotions and body and soul are complicated. These all play a role in our stick-to-it-ness of finishing the book, but also toward how you feel during your writing times. Even though last season worked really well to write in the early morning, now the sun rises earlier and you find it too distracting to watch the sunrise. Perhaps you’ve changed your diet or exercise routine and now you need to make sure you eat before you write instead of after like you did last year. There are so many factors which it might be helpful to consider. Try this: Take an honest assessment of the time of day, the length of time, the frequency each week. Assess what you’re doing before and after your writing time, too. Determine whether this is the best time and schedule for you to continue using. Make a change, if necessary. 10. What needs to happen for you to keep the momentum? Sometimes life gets in the way and we need to restructure life and our writing schedule for them to work and play well together. Sometimes saying “no” to late nights with friends or family extras needs to happen for a season. Sometimes riding the wave of inspiration needs to happen even though it’s late into the night. What habits are preventing you from moving forward to cross the finish line? What habits would help to slingshot you across the finish? What is something awesome (or not-so-awesome) that has actually been keeping you from finishing? Even good things can hold us back. Try this: Consider what you could pause for a season that could help you finish your book. Then, have the conversation to get extra help. Buy noise canceling headphones. Put your writing pants on – whatever it takes, and keep the momentum. That’s it. Those are the questions to ask so you can habitually finish your book–or, books! Consider each of these questions as much as you need to, but please, don’t use trying to find the best answers for each question as another thing to prevent you from finishing your book. There are so many reasons which could prevent us from finishing. From health issues, to busy seasons at work, to creative blockages from fear, imposter syndrome, perfectionism. Whatever your “thing” is that’s preventing you from finishing, get some help. Do the inner work yourself to be able to address it with these questions and then you’ve got a starting point to get the help you need. Depending on the topic, you could be experiencing resistance due to the highly emotional content or you could be experiencing resistance if you feel like you’re not the most qualified person to talk about this issue or teach this subject. Perhaps interviewing an expert for your topic’s research could help. Maybe a session with a counselor could help un-pick what’s holding you back. An accountability writing group who meet regularly could be just the ticket. Enrolling in writing classes and hiring a creative writing coach could be just what you need. Do what it takes. Tell a friend. Ask for help. Remind yourself of the writer you are and who you want to be. Remind yourself of who will miss out if you don’t finish. Get your words out from your brain to the page and into the hands of readers who will devour your book! Put the stake in the ground and write. You can totally do this. I believe in you! Happy writing! Hey, I’m Molly Ovenden. Author, Creative Writing Coach, Visual Artist, Perseverance Expert. Let’s talk to see if working with a Creative Writing Coach is your next best step. Schedule your free call now.
5 Actions That Help My Body Write Writing is a purely intellectual pursuit. I strongly disagree with this statement. Of course a lot of writing requires thought processes, but I’ve found that there are a lot of physical processes that for me to find success during writing sessions. Longevity of my author career is really important to me so that I can reinforce who I believe I am made to be: someone who creates for a living…primarily through words. Because I’ve realized that I want to have a creative career, I need both my mental and my emotional health in tip top shape. When I don’t sleep well and rely on coffee to fuel me or when I don’t leave the house (where I work in my in-home studio and writing space), my mental and emotional health suffer. Being physically active is hugely beneficial to my own writing life. As a result, I regularly do things that impact my body in a positive way so I can write and bring entertaining, joy and hope-filled, educational words to readers around the world. Here are five physical activities I regularly take part in to help my body write: 1. RunI am a marathon runner. I began my running life in elementary school against my will having to suffer the mile run in gym class on rainy days and do laps in the sweaty gymnasium. When I reached my mid-twenties I began running to travel more quickly (my feet were my transportation and I was bored of walking). After a short while, I actually fell in love with running (I also used to think people who “love running” were lying to me). When I run, I restore the connection between my mind and body. When I write or sit at my computer all day and “forget” or otherwise neglect to run, my mind has a tendency to run on its own in an unhealthy way. Running bring head, heart, body all together. Running is also a social time for me when I see people in my running group. I also find my awareness to my five senses is heightened. More awareness of my senses makes for better writing. Since I am a distance runner, I find that there are so many parallels between the perseverance to physically run my 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon race, and respective training and the writing life–especially the book writing, publishing, marketing aspects. It’s all a long-game view and running provides a lot of writing material. 2. YogaSimilar to running, yoga brings a reconnection to my mind, body, heart. When I am in the writing space, I can be far away from wherever “here” is when I write. But yoga requires me to focus my mind on what my body is doing, so my mind does a helpful reset. For me, yoga is also like running in that they are both spiritual practices. Faith is really important to me and when I spend time running, stretching after running, or strengthening my core with yoga, I’m also connecting to God. I’m inviting the Holy Spirit into my day and moments of practice in the quiet and I’m asking my friend Jesus to run with me or to help my mind be at peace. While yoga is meditative and a tool to help me let go in prayer and give God any anxious thoughts in exchange for His peaceful thoughts, there is also a pure physical process to yoga that really helps my body to write, too. Yoga strengthens and grows lean muscles and my core, too which is important for running efficiently (which helps my writing life), but also to sit properly at my desk, to sleep well for my mind to be clear, and to make space for creative thoughts. 3. Physical therapy Physical therapy is something I began out of necessity because I had some balance issues we thought were my equilibrium, but ended up being a strain on my neck and shoulders. Yes, yoga is a pure physical improvement to my body. Sitting at a computer or bending my head over to write in a notebook can bring physical strains. However, there are some exercises I turn to in the realm of yoga or pilates that were given to me by my physical therapist, massage therapist, and chiropractor. When I take time to stretch my wrists and hands, my forearms are healthier. When I take time to stretch my hips, my lower back is looser. When I take time to stretch my chest and shoulders, my neck is less strained. When I don’t take time to stretch or do my physical therapy exercises because I feel too busy, I actually slow myself down and prevent myself from making the progress in my writing life that I want to make because it can become too painful, and actually physically stuck that it’s difficult to write. 4. Breathing There are many physical benefits of breathing. We know this because it’s an involuntary action for most: breathing literally keeps us alive. There are other benefits, too. Deep and slow breathing increases lung capacity for oxygen which means blood cells have more oxygen to function and this increases the strength of our immune system. Not only the immune system is improved, but also our muscles can be more relaxed with deep breathing. Sleep improves with intentional breathing practices because the involuntary breathing becomes more efficient. I’ve found that taking rhythmically slow, deep breaths, when I breathe out slowly I can reduce stress. Intentional breathing also helps me to focus. Being distracted when I write means less productivity and less articulated in my writing. Breath work allows me to focus on my breath and also helps me reinforce the habit of focusing on whatever task is on hand. The practice of focusing on the sound of my inhales and exhales and how each movement of breath impacts my body increases my awareness to details. Noticing details allows writing with specificity, which results in writing more authentically. 5. Drinking water Our bodies are made up of water, so if we don’t replenish what we use, things get sluggish and sticky. I know when I don’t drink enough water I get distracted by dry and chapped lips and I can get stomach aches and head aches from not being hydrated. This distraction prevents efficient writing. Because dehydration is known for causing dizziness, fatigue, and memory loss (among other things), being sufficiently hydrated means creativity will improve. I know first hand how trying to force myself to be creative and productive tends to backfire when I don’t give myself the fuel needed. My brain feels like it’s trudging sluggishly and no sparkles of creativity come out. And I think the biggest one that I notice when I am drinking sufficient quantities of water is that my memory improves and I don’t waste time trying to force myself to remember what’s going on. In conclusion… There are so many routines we can put in plan to ensure creativity and writing are completed in the most delightfully efficient manner. For me running, yoga, physical therapy, breathing, and drinking water are necessary basic needs I miss when I don’t make them each a priority. Another way I choose to support my creativity is by being part of communities of people who are working toward a similar goal and lifestyle as I am. It’s immensely helpful to have a common goal and common understanding. In large part this comes from the support from not only my writing groups, but also my coaches and mentors. Everyone benefits from working with a coach. That’s why I have coaches in various areas of my life and that’s why I am a coach. If you would like more information about what it’s like to work with me as your creative writing coach, get started today with a strategy call. You may find you’re ready to write in community and have support in a group setting with other writers like you wanting to make significant progress, join the BECOME the Writer paid membership is great fun. Happy writing!
Closer, the book Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers and Thinkers helps people of faith grow closer to God through the acts of writing and thinking, so that they can live full, authentic lives as the person who they are made to be.Purchase your signed copy here. The process all started more than ten years before the book was released into the wild.Listen to pre-launch day reflections here. I had graduated from college during a recession. I’d started my university education at a time when organizations simply wanted their employees to have a degree in something and I ended with a degree when organizations preferred their new employees to start with at least five years of professional, working experience in the field they were hiring. So. I sat at home in my pajamas applying for teaching jobs every day of the summer. I worked for a family member, too, so at least I had a summer income. While I worked I had a lot of time to think about fun things, like actually becoming the writer I dreamed of being. Like actually writing a book. Like continuing to write regularly as I’d been doing while I was a student. (By the way…I also have signed copied of Closer: Companion Journal for Writers & Thinkers available to purchase here.) My summer job with family was an assembly line and I was quicker than the machine (yay, me!) and this meant I could write my thoughts and book ideas in a notebook between assembly. Thankfully my boss was a supportive family member (because I got the work done efficiently and quickly — my writing along the way didn’t slow me down). When 4:30pm hit, I’d clock out and hop into my car, clutching my notes from the day. I’d charge through the door of my mom’s house, still wearing my greasy clothes from the machine shop and I’d plop down at the dining room table with my notebook. I’d spend the next 30 to 60 minutes furiously scribbling all of the thoughts I’d had about the notes I’d jotted that day. Grab your signed copy of Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers & Thinkers here.. . . . . . . By the way…I also have signed copied of Closer: Companion Journal for Writers & Thinkers available to purchase here. Now you can get your words out from brain to page and into the hands of readers who will devour them, too. I wanted everything that had been swirling around all day to get on the page. And, I was curious about what might come out. I had a practice of capturing ideas all day in a scrap of notebook paper. I had a practice of expanding the ideas every day when I got home from work. I had a practice of showing up every day as the writer I wanted to be. Listen to pre-launch day reflections here. This practice meant that I was available daily for the muse to come and inspire me. In this book’s case, my muse was the Holy Spirit. And, I developed a practice of listening for the Holy Spirit, noticing where God is in my daily life, and looking for what I could learn from God to get closer to Him. 📚You can find a signed copy of my book Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers & Thinkers here. (By the way…I also have signed copied of Closer: Companion Journal for Writers & Thinkers available to purchase here.) 📚You can find my book on pretty much wherever books are sold. If you enjoy reading my book, please leave an honest review on Amazon: 📚You can order the Kindle or print version on Amazon. The print version is available at the following (& more!) locations, regionally: 🇺🇸US readers order print copies here. 🇦🇺Australian readers order print copies here. 🇬🇧UK readers order print copies here. Closer is a collection of essays about every day events where I experienced the presence of God and learned to grow closer in my relationship with Him. The format is simple:a) Here’s my story.b) Here’s how you and I, dear reader, are in it together.c) Here are some questions to think about where you might notice God.d) Here’s a prompt for you to write YOUR story. e) Read. Write. Think. Repeat. Intrigued? Sign up here to get all of the details about this book and how you can get your hands on it. 📚You can find my book on Amazon or wherever books are sold. If you enjoy reading my book, please leave an honest review on Amazon: 📚You can order the Kindle or print version on Amazon. The print version is available at the following (& more!) locations, regionally: 🇺🇸US readers order print copies here. 🇦🇺Australian readers order print copies here. 🇬🇧UK readers order print copies here. Listen to pre-launch day reflections here.