Writing from The Heart: Principal Discipline

Writing from The Heart

"Writing from The Heart" is a workshop on creative writing, creative drawing, and creative drama. There are three available versions of this workshop: one for beginners on the secondary, tertiary, and graduate levels, and another for practitioners. A third version of this workshop is designed as an outreach program to disadvantaged and underserved audiences such as the disabled, the poor and the marginalized, victims of human trafficking, battered women and abused children, drug rehabilitation center residents, child combatants, children in conflict with the law, prisoners, and gang leaders. This third version incorporates creativity and problem awareness, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, trauma therapy, and peacemaking.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Principal Discipline

We love to write, but we prevent ourselves from writing.

All too often we have exciting ideas for short stories, novels, and plays. Yet, we subconsciously command ourselves, "I'll start this:"

--"when I'm good and ready"

--"when I'm in a completely relaxed state"

--"after all the chores are done"

--"after I get myself a new desktop"

--"as soon as I am able to help my brother overcome his problem"

--"as soon as the weather clears and I am able to repair the house"

and so on.

Discipline yourself to write two hours each day, as schoolchildren study two hours each day, NO MATTER WHAT. Choose a time when you are able to drop everything. Just write--with or without an objective in mind.

Even when I am not working on a painting, for example, I sketch two hours, whether on a professional grade pad and with an art pencil or on the backs of discarded receipts with a salvaged pencil stub.

Don't wait for the circumstances to get right. Just write.