Creative Life Writing

I'm gaining a new confidence to say out loud "I love to write". 

There's something in me that just wants to get in down on paper.  Gorgeous little stories about my life and my forebears has been a meaningful topic of late.  I've always kept a diary/journal and now I blog. 

Recently I met this wonderful lady Lindy Warrell - Anthropologist/Writer.  She runs a Buddhist meditation group and various types of writing courses.  She lives next door to my brother at Aldinga. 

When I heard she was doing writing courses I thought it would be a good idea to do the Creative Life Writing course.  I wanted to learn new ways to get my story down on paper.

Every week we focused on a different topic.  Some weeks I struggled with the concept.  As a shy person, it was hard bringing up stories about my life that were both personal and sensitive to a group of strangers.  Sometimes I found it difficult to bring out emotion, and tell the whole truth because of embarrassment and privacy. 

The practical side of the course was very interesting and provided us with insight into our own life. At each session we were asked to write short stories. Lindy would give us a few minutes to write a short story about a topic eg. write a short story about when you said yes to something when you really wanted to say no. Then one at a time we would go around the group to share. The different stories that came out of these practical session were amazing.

If we were not happy with what we wrote we were not allowed to say sorry otherwise we would have to put invisible money in the invisible money jar.

The different stories that the other ladies told about their lives were incredible.  Their ability to provide imagery to their piece and with feelings of emotion that excited the group.  Some sessions were like counselling, although we were always reminded not to council but provide a support of silence because many stories were very personal bringing up the stories of rape, abandonment, cruelty to children, physical and emotion violence, drugs, and more.  All of these things that were very personal to the writer.  Importantly, we were always reminded to keep it confidential and not discuss out of the group. 

Personally I struggled with the week we discussed emotions because I couldn't seem write the whole truth and Lindy and the other ladies knew this straight away.

Write about what we learnt here when i find my notes..................

Throughout the course, I wrote some lovely short stories and my final essay (was rushed sorry thats $10 in the money jar) but could be expanded upon with interesting feedback from Lindy and the other ladies.  One of the ladies who I adored said that I need to come more outward, give more emotion into the stories eg what it feels like to do my karate, the passion, the feeling, the emotion, and provide more of a sense to who I am as a person.  This person who is interested in all of these things, but what it is like to actually do it.  What I am like at home when I am angry, etc too.  This is definitely something I can work onto paper.  Positive feedback no doubt.  Write more about the feedback here. 

I loved all of the other ladies stories too.  They were all gifted writers and lovely ladies too with amazing stories. 

I have put my name down to do the course again next year because I will continue to grow, different stories will arise from each session about my life and Lindy will change the course outline and examples.  Some of the ladies have been doing the course more than once. 

My life story will become more outward onto paper which will be a lovely keepsake and it will help me work through different issues in my life too.  It will also help me gain confidence in both writing and public speaking too.