The Writer's Journey

As a writer, journeys are essential. Lately, I've started a writer's journey of sorts. My travels so far have been in the direction of the epicenter of my inner most being. The place where I live all by myself and am afraid to visit at times.

Three tour guides are directing my adventure. In no particular order, the first is Natalie Goldberg. My copy of "Writing Down the Bones" is the 1986 printing. Goldberg teaches us how to reach into the depths of our soul and expose our unknown self -- to our known self. She leads us gently into areas of our lives, worthy of exploration, void of explanation, and stripped of expectation in search of who we are inside. Using writing practices and encouraging honesty, she creates a stirring to discern and learn about our covert self.

Next, is Julia Cameron author of "The Artist's Way". It's a book of healing, personal development, and artistic discovery. The textbook and / or the accompanying workbook is chock full of exercises and ideas to nurture the artist that lives with us. The course is a how-to and includes encouragements and ideas for losing the baggage that keeps our creative self struggling to move forward. My version is part of a volume that includes The Artist's Way, Walking Through This World, and Finding Water.

The last, but not least, of my tour guides is Andy Couturier, author of "Writing Open the Mind." His exercises are not traditional writing exercises but unique techniques that stretch the imagination and waken the writer with calistenics for the brain.

This will be my first time through Cameron's twelve week process and Couturier's eleven step system. I'll keep you updated about this adventure and in the meantime encourage you to start your own writer's journey. Stimulate your right brain. Let me know how it goes.

Note: Painstaker, author of Writing Panes, has not received compensation in any form for the mention of any author's books listed in this blog. I would like to thank author Darnell Arnoult for her blog that mentioned Julia Cameron's work, which initiated my interest in taking a personal writer's journey.