Have you ever tried writing when it’s felt less like flow and more like… pushing play-doh through an extractor? That’s how I felt a few days ago. I sat down to write my newsletter and words came out in messy clumps on my paper. Nothing fit together, and nothing felt easy.

Luckily, I’ve been writing long enough to know that there’s always a better way. I could doggedly stick with my plan and force out the words… or I could step back and tune in.

So, I started getting curious about why the writing wasn’t coming more easily. As I mindfully folded clothes, I noticed an achiness in my body and a tightness in my forehead. Thoughts were racing through my brain. As I slowed down my breathing and watched my thoughts a bit, bingo, there it was.

I’ve been opening my coaching practice into some new and untested areas, stretching the boundaries of where I’ve been and taking interesting turns at places. So, when I sat down to write, what showed up was confusion (What direction am I going, What else am I meant to be?) and old marching orders (Write about this writing topic that’s been on your list for weeks). With all this murkiness about what I really wanted to express, no wonder I couldn’t write!

I also realized that my “buzz” wasn’t going to come from any of the tired topics I had planned to write about. As I did some breathing, the words appeared — Beginners Mind. I was trying to force writing from places I’d been, instead of writing from the freshness of where I was standing in the moment. Where I was standing was in the midst of transition, which can be seen as negative and stressful or the precipice of something exciting. In that moment, being an expert held little interest to me. As Zen Master Shunryo Suzuki says, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”

Being an “expert” felt boring, and my writing reflected that. Even worse, it sounded artificial — like I was talking about something from a part of me that wasn’t authentic. What felt so much more inviting and freeing in that moment was to release all that and give myself permission not to know. To just write from “here I am and who knows what will come out.” I trusted that the right message would appear – for me and my readers. As soon as I did that, the writing began…

Writing Pearls:

At times, we all find our creativity clogged with old thoughts and habits. Perhaps it’s time to get the Drano and clear the pipes?

What in your life are you ready to release? What identity/habit/thought have you held onto for so long that it’s become boring and flat and inhibits you from full expression? What would happen if you approached your writing with beginner’s mind, being fully in the moment and noticing what bubbles up?

As founder of Backyard Pearls, LLC, Carolyn Scarborough helps people tap into their inner wisdom, then share it with the world through books, blogs and articles. As a Writing Wisdom Coach, she supports you through the journey from inspiring idea to published piece in a way that’s joyful, effortless and profitable.

She’s done almost every kind of writing imaginable, including magazine features, newspaper columns, books, journaling — even ghostwriting for Donald Trump! Her favorite sort of writing is the kind where she has to be really present to find the story, so her life and writing are both a constant awakening to a deeper, richer way to live in the world.

To subscribe to Backyard Pearls Newsletter, visit the site here.

Request your complimentary “Getting to Know You” session to start turning your inner whisperings into a published book, blog or article.

You may reprint the featured article, in its entirety, by including a byline and the following information: “Carolyn Scarborough, The Book Whisperer, helps people tap into their inner wisdom, then share it with the world through books, blogs and articles. You can get a free audio on overcoming writers block by clicking HERE.”

Have you ever had one of those days where you just didn’t wake up feeling great? Last week I got up and my shoulders were stiff and achy and I felt “blah.” However, it was a beautiful day and I had promised my husband and daughter that we’d do a big day hike, so immediately a voice in my head started in. Get over it, the voice said. You’ll never enjoy a day hiking in this mood. Pep up! Get with the program!

And the more the voice continued, the more tired I got. In fact, I had just woken up an hour earlier and a nap already sounded good! Instead, I decided to do a few minutes of journaling and see what came up. About three minutes into writing, I recognized the voice that was ruining my peace. It was the one that says I need to be “up” all the time, part of the team, ready to go. I’ve never been a cheerleader, but it had that peppy “let’s go” attitude… only with a sharp tone.

As soon as I recognized it, I realized that what I really needed was compassion, not marching orders. I gave myself permission to feel tired and grumpy. Permission to go on a hike not being my “best” self. As soon as I did that, my energy began to rise… and it stayed high the rest of the day.

This is where journaling can be so powerful. So often we power through signals we’re getting that something needs to shift. Journaling is a way of slowing us down long enough to listen. We get to process what’s going on and extract the wisdom, rather than hurtling forward without gathering the gifts along the way.

These are a few of my favorite journaling techniques…

• Question technique. I ask a question, such as “Why am I feeling so tired?” then breathe deeply and wait for answers to float up.
• Fear splat. I quickly write everything that I’m currently worried about, from the small to the large. This includes everything from health concerns to my pants not fitting. Nothing is too trivial…
• Dialoging. I have a conversation with some issue that’s “hot” for me at the time. Perhaps I’ll dialog with my perfectionist side on why she’s not wanting me to begin a book. Or I’ll dialog with my writer’s block or with a part of my body that is aching for mysterious reasons. You can dialog with anything, even your big toe!

So next time something is awry, consider taking to the page rather than immediately moving forward. Watch things shift as you take the time to be with your perfectly imperfect self…

As founder of Backyard Pearls, LLC, Carolyn Scarborough helps people tap into their inner wisdom, then share it with the world through books, blogs and articles. As a Writing Wisdom Coach, she supports you through the journey from inspiring idea to published piece in a way that’s joyful, effortless and profitable.

She’s done almost every kind of writing imaginable, including magazine features, newspaper columns, books, journaling — even ghostwriting for Donald Trump! Her favorite sort of writing is the kind where she has to be really present to find the story, so her life and writing are both a constant awakening to a deeper, richer way to live in the world.

To subscribe to Backyard Pearls Newsletter, visit the site here.

Request your complimentary “Getting to Know You” session to start turning your inner whisperings into a published book, blog or article.

You may reprint the featured article, in its entirety, by including a byline and the following information: “Carolyn Scarborough, The Book Whisperer, helps people tap into their inner wisdom, then share it with the world through books, blogs and articles. You can get a free audio on overcoming writers block by clicking HERE.”

School are wonderful places… and for writers, too often the scene of crimes against creativity. I don’t know how many people I’ve seen in my coaching practice who have been unable to write or to enjoy it when they do because of something that happened to them in school. (And yes, schools also are places that can inspire writers as well).

Usually it goes along these lines: An enthusiastic writer turns something in to the teacher, whether a creative piece or an essay on the History of Western Civilization. The teacher, probably tired and cranky after a long day, is sitting at home grading papers when her own teen storms out the door to smoke cigarettes. Angrily, the teacher picks up the paper… and vents. She doesn’t just grade it, she adds a comment like “Whatever you do, make sure you don’t take up writing as a profession,” or “I’ve seen chimpanzees write better papers than this.”

Not helpful.

The student reads the paper, takes the comment personally, and that’s it. They have just enough doubt in their own ability (who doesn’t in school?) to believe the comment. Then they continue through the years finding “evidence” to back up the belief that they can’t write, which is just how the mind does things. We like to prove ourselves right, even if it’s painful and untrue.

Then, they show up at my door X number of years later because, despite that blow, an inner writing voice has been quietly trying to get their attention. And it’s been knocking at the door a long, long time.

Another version of this is the budding writer who turns in something highly creative… and it’s strangulated by grammar rules. So they start learning to jump through grammar hoops rather than creative hoola hoops.

Then there’s the academic who has gone on for advanced degrees and was taught a rigorous, stylized method of writing. Rather than learning to open and write from their passion, they make each word work. Hard. Each sentence has to stand at fancy angles to look smart, and be obtuse enough to impress. Their inner editor rides them with a whip the whole way.

Usually it doesn’t take long much coaching for a client to get beyond these wounds and start writing in a way that feels more natural and fun. But if you’re looking for a few tricks to try on your own, try:

• Take the thought, such as “Mrs. Blarneybum said my writing was worse than chicken scratch,” and imagine what her life might have been like. Instead of seeing her as the all knowing God she obviously wasn’t, humanize her. Imagine her getting home after a long day. Taking off her shoes and massaging her bunions. Eating cold Chinese food leftovers. And then sitting in her threadbare recliner to grade papers… and not seeing past her own pain or arrogance as she graded your writing. Just as you couldn’t see your writing objectively, neither could she.
• Don’t see writing as black or white, good or bad, acceptable or not. See it as shades of gray, and then get a paint brush, a dollop of yellow and red, and jump in and play. Do some word cartwheels. Don’t let your editor in, just have fun and don’t judge. Isn’t that why you want to write anyway, to perhaps get a message out WHILE you’re frolicking?
• Keep in mind that if you can talk, you can write. Period.

As adults, away from the grades and criticism, it’s our time to dip into the joyful, creative part of the writing process. If you’ve been waiting to write, don’t wait any longer – take the leap and see if you don’t just fly…

As founder of Backyard Pearls, LLC, Carolyn Scarborough helps people tap into their inner wisdom, then share it with the world through books, blogs and articles. As a Writing Wisdom Coach, she supports you through the journey from inspiring idea to published piece in a way that’s joyful, effortless and profitable.

She’s done almost every kind of writing imaginable, including magazine features, newspaper columns, books, journaling — even ghostwriting for Donald Trump! Her favorite sort of writing is the kind where she has to be really present to find the story, so her life and writing are both a constant awakening to a deeper, richer way to live in the world.

To subscribe to Backyard Pearls Newsletter, visit the site here.

Request your complimentary “Getting to Know You” session to start turning your inner whisperings into a published book, blog or article.

You may reprint the featured article, in its entirety, by including a byline and the following information: “Carolyn Scarborough, The Book Whisperer, helps people tap into their inner wisdom, then share it with the world through books, blogs and articles. You can get a free audio on overcoming writers block by clicking HERE.”

This week I was interviewed by author Abhijit Bhaduri on what exactly a Book Whisperer is, and how I work with writers. One of the questions he asked me was how to find your voice as a writer, and part of my answer is below. For the full interview, go to http://bit.ly/meet-book-whisperer-interview.

Abhijit: How does a writer find his/her voice? How does one know that they have succeeded?

Carolyn: The best way of finding your voice is to write without rules, which you can do in a journal that no one will read. What do I mean by this? Well, when I take my dog Ziggy for a walk, he really enjoys it, and he’s also very good at staying right by my side on the leash. Nothing wrong with that. Yet when I let him off the leash in the park, he looks completely different. He runs, he walks, he bounds, he rolls, he leaps. He has his “voice.” He also does things which are socially unacceptable, like eating from the garbage bin. That’s also his voice, but that part can always be edited out later. J

Voice is how we sound when we write without fear, without “shoulds,” without trying to look good. I had one client who was stuck on her book, but she could blog quite effortlessly. That’s because with her book she was so focused on trying to sound “impressive,” she couldn’t write at all! Her inner perfectionist got her.

Another client has a very warm, enthusiastic personality, yet her writing sounded stilted and formal. She had so many fears and so many rules she was trying to follow, that it didn’t come out naturally. Her own voice was choked out. But when she was able to see and let go some of her fears and break all the rules, something very different appeared.

If you’re feeling a little late winter/early spring writing fever, here are a few writing workshops I”ll be teaching to get you going. Enjoy!

Carolyn  

Finding Your Voice
February 22, 2011 (12-1 pm)
Soma Vida Work-Life Balance Center
1210 Rosewood Avenue, Austin, Texas
512-628-1580

Bring a brown bag lunch, your sense of adventure and $10 and join Carolyn Scarborough at Soma Vida for an hour’s exploration into “Finding your Voice.” Whether you’re writing a book, blog, newsletter or article, you know when you are coming across as vibrantly who you are… and when your writing plods along robotically. We will explore how to tap into your authentic voice when you write. The result will be writing that is more aligned, joyful to write … and read!

Unleash your Writing Mojo… And Actually Finish that Book or Blog

March 10, 2011 (10:00 a.m.)

The Long Center for the Performing Arts
701 West Riverside Drive Austin, TX 78704

https://www.riseglobal.org/sessions/day/2011/03/10

At the RISE “un-conference” for entrepreneurs, Carolyn Scarborough will have a small group session about how to move through your non-fiction book, memoir, blog or other writing project in a way that feels authentic and energizing. This “un-conference” is free and open to the public. Details will be posted starting Feb. 1 at www.riseglobal.org/about and on my blog  www.backyardpearls.com/blog

Backyard Pearls Spring Writing Telecourse

Thursdays from 12-1:30 CT, March 31-April 28, 2011

On the Telephone

If you are feeling the call to write — perhaps finally launching that newsletter, writing your memoir, or compiling your business wisdom in a book — I’d love for you to join me for a 5-week writing adventure! This journey takes place with an intimate group via telephone, so you can live anywhere in the world and still participate. By the end of the class, you’ll have a Writing Success Blueprint Journal that you can use over and over to glide over writing obstacles and actually finish your writing projects.

For more information,go to http://www.backyardpearls.com/WritingTelecourse.html  or email me at CoachCarolyn@backyardpearls.com,