Writing 101 – Commit to a writing process

Day 3 and the challenge is

“Write about the three most important songs in your life — what do they mean to you? and
Today, try free writing. To begin, empty your mind onto the page. Don’t censor yourself; don’t think. Just let go. Let the emotions or memories connected to your three songs carry you.”

Well I have been doing free writing for years. Ever since I read the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron in 2005 (or there about) I have been writing what she calls Morning Pages.  I shared this idea with my clients when I was practising as a Life Coach and always in my seminars and courses, whatever I happened to be sharing with the group.  But I have never had the idea to pin the writing on a theme.  It was done each morning as soon as, or even before, I got up and it just was whatever came to mind.  Alas, that good habit has flown out of the window since my life changed so radically just one year ago.  Now there is somebody else to consider and his schedule to consider so my Morning Pages have been abandoned.

But turning to today’s challenge – what are my three favourite songs?

1. Yesterday When I Was Young sung by Charles Aznavour.  This song brings me so many happy memories.  Living the life of a young mother in three different parts of the world; my lovely Dashing Young Scotsman who took me to many places, my two delightful now grown up children.  Happy happy memories of times now past.

But I have so many other favourite songs.  I love anything and everything sung by Diana Krall and Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole and and and….  So as you can see I cant list my favourits.  Oh April in Paris of course.  That takes me back to a time before children when we were two young people very much in love, with the world and the future before us.

So my allocated 15 minutes is up.  I shall set myself the task of building a habit of writing at least 15 minutes every day – I think I shall make it longer but who knows.

I have a resource by Judy Reeves called A Creative Writer’s Kit.  I used to refer to it often and particularly when I had no idea what to write about that day.  I highly recommend this.

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