Writing the Moments

"If your journal consists of the best moments of your life and reading, then rereading it will be like walking a high mountain trail that goes from peak to peak without the intervening descent into the trough of routine. Just reading in such a journal of high points will tighten your strings and raise your pitch."                                                 Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Ralph Waldo Emerson kept what he called "commonplace books." These bound volumes recorded his ideas, observed images, turns of phrase, high points from his life and reading. He relished words and language and used his notebooks to capture everything for his future writing.

During childhood, I started writing in a blue diary that closed with a lock. Many secrets inked the pages, along with treasures pasted beside entries. Over the years, I have kept various notebooks. Because of my curiosity for change, black bound books moved aside for spiral notebooks. I tried hand-sized books to carry and exchanged them for covers of colorful design.

Often I can't decide just where to write my notions so they begin life when and where the ink falls. I record observations and eavesdrops, collect words or phrases from readings, feelings and frustrations. Charts and doodles fill pages. I write on and on then return to these pages to mine ideas and develop thoughts.

Emerson prized the journal process and advised writers to try anything to keep it going with determination. He called it a "casting moment" when you see it and keep the writing in its original form, uncontaminated by later improvements.

I appreciate the process more than the product because of the feelings of freedom and exhilaration gained pushing the pen.

Creative Write: Determine your best way to document what attracts you. Experiment with journals in a variety of sizes and shapes. Use colored pens to engage with words. Don't worry about results. Stay in your casting stage as long as possible.

Transform Negative Energy to Tell Your Stories

Do you have a relationship that causes irritation?  Have you made unfortunate choices in reacting to this person?

Transform the negative energy to engage your writing talent. Choose to write about the situation in detail.  Bring in all the senses.  Add dialogue and go for it.

After detailing your side, write it from the other person's point of view.

Then, write another choice you could have made.

Choose a mythological or historical character to tell this story.

Exhaust the possibilities.  You might add to potential in the relationship and you'll have a tale to share.

Cross-train Your Writing

There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual — become clairvoyant. We reach then into reality. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest vision. - Robert Henri

Henri called these levels the “song from within.”  We have a tune inside that catches our attention and fluffs us with wonder. Learning to listen takes moving into a space of marvel. Our rational mind often steps in and grabs us to return to the ordinary.  

To adventure in peak experiences requires a flow moment. Movement of pen or fingers on the keyboard settles into words without judgment or concern. Adding scents, tastes, sounds and color expands the possibilities.

Creative Write: Try cross-training with your senses. Select three types of your favorite music. 


Choose one for its lyrics, another for melody, and the third for varieties of rhythm and changes.


Write from the beginning to the end of the piece by combining the music with a sensory image. 

Begin writing to the first selection by adding color: magenta, lavendar, azure. Let words arrive where colors and sounds blend. 


For the second choice, write into flavors or scents: cinnamon and vanilla yogurt, apples, toast, leaves in autumn, grass, gardenias.

Shift again to writing out sounds to the music: bump, rattle, sizzle, clack.

Discover where listening to music and combining imagery leads. Let the words flow with the notes in a cross-training experience.