Archive for November, 2009
The Value of Inspiration for a Writer
I’m reading some great books these days on positive thinking and how our thoughts affect our lives. What affects my life affects my writing, after all, so I consider this type of reading crucial to the health of my writing life. These days my writing life has been meager due to the stresses of downsizing, day job loss, and some health issues. But there is hope in this blog today because I have been finding hope in these books. The first one is As a Man Thinketh by James Allen. Originally published in 1902, this gem of a pocket book summarizes the world’s (ancient and contemporary) wisdom on the power of thought. I have highlighted and noted so many phrases in this little volume. Here are a few for your inspiration:
- [A person's] wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions.
- [People] are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.
- [A person] is the causer (though nearly always unconsciously) of his circumstances, and that, while aiming at a good end, he is continually frustrating its accomplishment by encouraging thoughts and desires which cannot possibly harmonize with that end.
- Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results.
Another book that is really “speaking” to my writer’s Muse these days is written by Dr. Karen E. Peterson: Write. 10 Days to Overcome Writer’s Block. Period. Dr. Peterson writes about how our right brain (the home of the Muse) and left brain often are at odds with each other. Through a series of dominant hand/nondominant hand exercises, she helps the blocked writer “see” into his/her right brain and therefore get insight into the resistance that the right brain is putting out there and thereby blocking the writer’s efforts to create. The promise of the title is true: in less than 10 days of reading this book, I have found I am able to finally put pen to paper (or fingers to laptop keyboard) and write 2,000 words. Now that’s progress!
On your writing journey, remember the rewards of reading, especially inspirational texts, for your writing.
Happy Writing!
Sue