Newsflash! Delight Detective locates Writing Moxie at Cynthia Morris retreat
Last month I discovered that one of my Blogging Triage “Docs”, Cynthia Morris, would be offering her Claim Your Authority writing retreat in my backyard. Well, almost in my backyard. It would be in Oregon (yes!) at the beach (even better!) and at the oh-so-fun and quirky Sylvia Beach Hotel (yay!). Plus I’d be retreating with 7 fascinating women, including Alyson Stanfield, my other wonderful Triage Doc (bonus yay!).
I do love synchronicity. As I connected all of the dots, I smiled and thought “I’m taking my writing self on a glorious Artist Date!”.
In her retreat description Cynthia promises to “shine a light on your writing process in ways other workshops don’t”. Oh boy, does she deliver the goods!
Cynthia is passionate about cultivating the impulse to write. This thread winds through the wealth of tools and personal insights she shared with us. With kind-hearted assurance and sassy wit she dished out her unique “JuJu mix” of writing and sharing exercises to help us better clarify and strengthen our personal writing goals.
Here, then, are seven of Agent Morris’ Claim Your Authority gems, distilled into my personal writing manifesto:
1) Values! Write from my heart: allow what I value (delight, love and creativity, for instance) to be my helpful guide as I choose my themes and stories to share.
2) Voice! Be myself: trust that my natural voice will ring true. Let it express what’s on my mind.
3) Trust! Keep writing despite my pesky inner critics. I have all I need to write my own stories.
4) Funnel! Choose one idea and work it through the “Funnel Tunnel” as Cynthia puts it. Allow my story idea to start wide, brimming with all possibilities, then drill it down to its essence. And what about all of those good story angles that I just tossed out the window? Worry not! They can blossom into new stories!
5) POYO! That’s The Not So Big Life author Susan Susanka’s shorthand for a Place of Your Own.
After I returned from the retreat, I created a special place in my studio to write. When necessary, I can even erect my powerful Do Not Disturb Force-Field which makes me invisible to family, friends and visitors. (Mum’s the word on this…it’s top secret scoop!)
6) Date! Set time aside to write and show up. And then write. Trust the process and the practice.
7) Free Write! Set a timer and write whatever comes into my head without going back to make changes. What game-changing ah-ha nugget for me! Before I would write AND edit simultaneously which is a slow and constricted way to unleash my stories. Cynthia helped me separate (and celebrate) these two very different roles.
Voilà: my seven gem personal road map for writing!
And since today’s theme is about Connecting the Dot, allow me to connect you to Cynthia’s next Free Write Fling which (serendipitously) starts tomorrow, Wednesday August 1st. This event dishes out all sorts of goodies to nurture and energize your writing practice. Plus (yes and yay) you’ll connect with Cynthia and an inspired community of ‘flingers’.
And while you’re checking out the writing Fling, have a look around the rest of her beautiful Original Impulse site. You’ll discover a wealth of knowledge and inspiration, plus the scoop on her lively new book, Chasing Sylvia Beach.
I’ll close with a snippet of my letter to Cynthia last week (I’m sure she won’t mind):
You, my dear, have a fabulous no-nonsense yet loving style that works for me.
You radiate strength and confidence – and you’re passion for what you are sharing (your values) shines through.
I am inspired by everyone’s stories and projects. I thought our group was easy to be with, supportive, fascinating as all get out, and just plain fun.
I came back rested, inspired and committed to my writing practice.
Thank you Cynthia for all that you do.
And my closing thoughts for you dear readers:
- Try Cynthia’s technique for free-writing and pen your own writing practice manifesto.
- What does your special Power Zone look like?
- How do you protect your time and space to create?
- What does your secret Disturbance Free Force Field look like? and finally,
- What’s your personal Newsflash! for today?
Thanks for writing and sharing your stories with us!
In Delight,
Wow, Frances! This is about the sweetest recap of a workshop I’ve ever seen.
I LOVE that you have a ton of focus and energy for what’s important to you now. I love that you stole away to give yourself and your writing this respect.
It was SUCH a treat to meet you in person and to be a breeze of juju ruffling your writing garden. I love your work and look forward to seeing more!
Thanks for sharing this with your readers. It’s a real honor.
Hi Cynthia – it’s *my pleasure* to spread the word and sing your praises. The retreat was such a catalyst for me. You have lit a fire under my derriere, that’s for sure!
Merci! ; )
great post Francis – your energy is contagious!
Thanks dear Maude – you’re inspired blog helped me take the plunge. See you soon I hope! xo f
Hi Frances,
I enjoyed this post very much.
It sounds like a wonderful workshop–I only wish I could have been there too!
cheers,
Kristina
Hi Kristina – it was a kick in the pants for me! I think Cynthia plans to take her retreat further afield…perhaps you can entice her to do a fall retreat (in time for ‘leaf peeping’ season… I love that expression!) ; )
Hi Frances,
Great post. I really enjoyed it. Love your style, and the recap. Maude is right, your energy is contagious. I love your “writing space!”
I’m taking Cynthia’s Free Write Fling this month and I’m hoping it helps. I like you tend to write and edit at the same time, and it makes writing a painful process that I hope to shift!
Hi Lynda! Thanks for your nice feedback. I’m glad I’m not the only one that writes/edits. I’ve been doing it for so long, it’s a tough habit to knock out of my head! I’d like to write more spontaneous posts, and trust my words enough to just hit the Publish button without too much editing. That’s my vision! I didn’t sign up for this month’s FLING so you’ll have to keep us posted on how it’s going. I shall check in with your blog! ; )
ps – I love your latest series of paintings….vivid and colorful!
What an inspiring post, Frances.You obviously have a talent for writing. I also write and edit at the same time and I’ll incorporate some of your hints to try and improve my writing style.
Hi Linda – thanks for stopping in!
I’m glad my post resonated with you – the write AND edit habit is a tough one to break. I tried writing my first post (re: Daily Paper Prompt challenge I am doing) directly from WP and yes, I did the write/edit thing in the same chunk of time….tsk tsk tsk!
Cynthia dished out a lot of great suggestions at the retreat, and her site (which I’m still exploring) has a ton of excellent resources. I’m not in her current Free Write Fling – but plan to sign up for a future one.
Hi Frances,
Sounds like you had a great time and got a lot out of that workshop ! I can just picture the scene out there by the water at a great hotel, 7 women, Cynthia’s inspirational energy and teaching. Feel empowered just reading the recap. Just back from an all woman art retreat myself, also by the ocean, your description resonates perfectly (love your creativity funnel image !!) I think it’s so important to take time out to go on these retreats. It’s really a much deserved gift one gives to oneself. Can’t wait to hear about your next writing adventures.
Hi Andrea, thanks for stopping by! This was my first non-fiber related retreat and I’m glad I took the plunge and took my fledgling-writer self to Cynthia’s. It was just what I needed to inject a bit more MoJo confidence.
I’ll be popping over to your blog today to read about *your* experience – how awesome that you traveled back to the US for it – that’s saying a big yes to you and your art. Hugs from here, fcf
Well, well…very well done indeed. You’ve lit a little spark for me to attend a writing workshop in the future.
Glad I could provide the spark Suzanne – it was a very satisfying experience!