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Cynthia Morris

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Mine Your Journals for Writing Gems

You may have been happily journaling for years. Perhaps you used your journal to write your way through a transformative life experience.

One day, you feel the impulse to poke around in your pages to see what’s there and how you can share it with the world.
You may find stories, poems, or even just a few great sentences that you may be able to use elsewhere. You never know what gold is waiting in your journals until you get in there and explore.

Here are fourteen steps to mine the gems from your journal. 

Don’t worry yet about where you’ll publish anything.

Read through and flag the entries that move you. Use sticky notes or dog-ear the page. 

Schedule time to start typing things up. 

Honor those writing time commitments. 

Begin to type the entries. Feel free to simply enter them as they are or edit as you go – adding, embellishing, deleting. Just commit to typing up the whole entry. 

Do this without judging or worrying about whether anyone else will find it interesting. This is critical – you will doubt if anyone else cares. If you like it, keep going. 

While doing this, your challenge will be to be completely honest. When you find your finger heading toward the delete key, know that you have something good and keep it. (We often want to censor our best work.) Let this draft be for your eyes only so you have the courage to leave the good stuff in. 

You will at some point start worrying and wondering how all this is coming together. Trust the process. Trust the content. Be curious and keep exploring. 

Print your typed entries.

Take yourself to a pleasant place – a café, the park, wherever – and read your pieces. See what moves you, see what inspires you. Make notes for things you’d like to expand or change.

Choose one piece and choose a place where you’d like to submit it.

Find out the submission criteria for that publication. Follow these guidelines when you submit. Or, decide when you’ll publish the piece on your blog or any other way you plan to share it.

Do any final polishing, then send or post your essay.

Celebrate your efforts of bringing a piece from your journal to the world!

What helps you choose the best nuggets from your journals? How do you know when you’ve penned something you want to share?

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Prioritizing for Creatives With Too Many Ideas

You’re gifted with tons of ideas, which all seem great. And you want to do all of them now.
The problem is, you’re not the goddess Kali, gifted with many arms and the ability to multitask. You have to choose. You have to prioritize.
Every client and student I’ve worked with has this challenge. I do, too. With so many things to do, how to know what to do and when? Here’s what my clients and I find works.
Start big, work small
Know what you want in the bigger picture. What are you doing in this life? What are you trying to achieve?
Having clarity on you’re about and how you want to execute that will help you choose projects that align with your vision.
Work with the calendar
At the start of each year, take time to explore your focus for the year. If you’re an artist or writer, is this year about producing work? Or is it time to put your work into the world?
Understanding where you are in your creative cycle will help you focus on what’s important. This will make it easier to say no to things that aren’t related to your focus.
From your annual focus, break it down quarterly. What is each quarter of the year about? What resources do you need, what actions do you need to take, what help do you need?
You may not be able to answer these questions past the first quarter, but even one quarter is a great start.
From the quarterly viewpoint, break it down into weekly actions. Again, you may not be able to plan it all out, but a sense of each week’s work will help.
Each week, get clear on the thing(s) you most want to achieve that week. Keep this to three or fewer items. Be sure you’re breaking bigger items (write novel) into smaller tasks (draft chapter one, write back story for characters X and Y).
Every day, when you go to work, do the same thing: identify the thing you most want to accomplish that day. Have no more than three things on this daily list.
This may not be the thing you want to do. It may be the thing that gives the most satisfaction to you, or that brings you closer to completing your goal.
When other opportunities spring up, ask yourself how they align with your bigger picture goals and focus. Learn to say ‘no’ as a way to say ‘yes’ to what’s really important to you.
Keep breaking it down
One mistake people make is thinking that once they set their priorities with their vision or even a weekly plan, it should be easy to follow.
But you have to keep driving yourself to reprioritize. I use this system and still have to keep asking myself throughout the day, “What now? What now?” After I complete each task or project, I consult my list.
The secret is to spend a little time planning. Plan the year, the quarter, the month, the week, the day. You’ll feel more satisfied on a daily basis and on an annual basis, you’ll see the results you want.
What helps you prioritize? How will you try my suggestions here? 
Coaches help prioritize
One of the things that really helps to prioritize and take meaningful action is working with a coach. Earlier this year I hired a coach to help me with my business. I tell you, when you plunk down money to work with someone who has your best interests in mind, you get clear on your priorities.
My coach helped me see the bigger picture and identify specific actions to attain my goals. It worked. 2011 was my best fiscal year ever. I finished my novel, increased my reach, and felt happier and more empowered by it. I published more, traveled more, and enjoyed life more.
This is what I experience when I prioritize. This is what my clients experience when they prioritize.
I have a few spaces open for new clients in 2012. My rates will be increasing slightly on January 13th. If you need help prioritizing, send me an email and we’ll talk about how to get started with our work together.

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What Is Your Public Contribution?

The Place de la Concorde métro station in Paris is paneled with white tiles. On these white tiles are blue letters so when the train comes into the station, you feel as if you’re entering a tunnel of words. But only if you use the pause to see the letters will you see that they’re not random letters.
One day I picked out ‘contribution publique’. Public contribution. I love that. It made me question my contribution.
What am I contributing to the public space?
Often it’s something along the lines of:

  • Irritation
  • Hurriedness
  • Anxiety

When I become conscious of my state of being, I can slow down and choose something other than grumpiness.
I do this thing in airports where there’s a lot of tension and anxiety. I consciously emanate calmness. Moving slowly through the space, I act as if there’s no need for fear or worry. I relax and trust that all is well. I usually find a wall to the side of the waiting area and practice a few yoga asanas.
Often I see people start doing their own pre-flight stretches. People have approached me and asked about yoga. I see the ripple effect of a few public stretches. I know I’ve sent out:

  • Calmness
  • Peace
  • Trust

For my life online, my policy is to not put negative comments into the space. Often I want to complain about something. A snarky response dances at the edge of my fingertips, wanting to get out there and show how clever and smart I am.
But I hold back. That’s not the contribution I want to make.
I can do this anywhere – send out ‘good vibes’. This is one possible contribution publique, to be mindful of the energy I put into the world around me.
The Occupy Movement is another public contribution. Giving money or food to people begging on the street is another public contribution.
As part of the American Thanksgiving celebration, consider your public contribution.
What do you contribute and what would you like to contribute? 

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Get Current: Update Your Inner Landscape

To keep things fresh and operating smoothly, you update you software and apps. You change the oil in your car and get your hair cut regularly. You may even do a spring and fall cleaning of your home.
You keep things current. If you don’t, your systems aren’t operating at full capacity. You are limited in what you can generate if you’re not up to date.
You’re good about these external updates, but what about updates for your inner landscape?
When is the last time you refreshed your commitments and beliefs? If you’re feeling stale or uninspired, pressured, it may be time to get current with your beliefs.
Getting current with France
In February 2000, I stood in the Pere Lachaise cemetery. It had been 8 years since I’d been to Paris. I was enjoying a few days there after my job as a hot air balloon chef in Switzerland.
Standing among the mossy sepulchers, I had a blinding realization: I speak French. I speak French, and this francophilia was a huge part of who I had always been. I missed France and loved speaking French.
Right there, I made a commitment to myself to return to France every year.
Fast forward to 2011. I’ve almost kept my commitment. I’ve been to France every year but 2002 and 2004, and during those years I’d gone to London. (Close enough, right?)
In Paris this year with my friend Tonja, I recount this story of my commitment to return to France every year. She listens, nods, and finally says, “You don’t have to come back every year.” “I know,” I say, brushing on to the next thought.
But later, I reflected on what she said. That’s right, I thought. I don’t have to come back every year. That commitment I made 10 years ago needed updating.
When I considered not coming back every year, I felt liberated. I’ve satisfied my francophilia. I’ve improved my French and learned more about French and European culture. I’ve shared this love with people on my excursions.
Getting current feels good
I probably will come back regularly, but I don’t have to. Updating this commitment helps me stay open to new commitments, like publishing my novel and offering my new writing workshop. It puts me at choice in the present.
Getting current like this has inspired me to look at my other beliefs and commitments. I’ve made a list and am checking in with what’s true for me now. I renew some beliefs  and release others. It feels good to do this updating of my inner landscape. It allows me to grow even further than I imagined when I made those commitments.
Try this for yourself. What beliefs and commitments can you update? Share your experience with this process in a comment below.
I help my clients get current so they can more toward what they want in life. Work with me to make life sweeter, easier and more authentic to your original impulse.

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Be More Creative: Less Journaling, More Story

In my online writing group, we huddle together (virtually) every day to write for 15 minutes. The only rules are to keep writing for 15 minutes.

A range of writing and responses come from the group. Many of us are disappointed that our writing still feels like journaling. We use this time to process what’s happening in our lives, to release and understand the stories we’re living.

We’re frustrated that the writing is just showing us our same old stories and not revealing anything new, exciting and sparkly. Where’s our creative genius?

It can take time and effort to shift from journal writing to ‘creative’ writing where stories and lyrical writing fill your pages.

To advance toward more ‘creative’ writing, try these approaches.
[Read more…] about Be More Creative: Less Journaling, More Story

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The Disclaimplanation – Don’t Do It!

You’re at a concert of your favorite band, Abba. They come onstage and spend 5 minutes apologizing for not putting out an album in the last 20 years. They shrug and moan a bit, announcing that they may be a bit rusty, and that they hope you don’t mind.

Finally, they get into what you came for, swinging into a hot new version of ‘Dancing Queen’ that has you and your friend grooving like you’re sixteen. The concert goes on, dancing and merriment is had by all, and the awkward bit at the beginning is almost forgotten.

Almost.

Disclaimers leave a slight smudge on the space. The energy subtly wanes and your passion for the artist turns toward pity.

Don’t do it. Don’t disclaim.

Do you disclaim? [Read more…] about The Disclaimplanation – Don’t Do It!

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Finding Your Writing Form

You’ve wanted to write for years, and now, yes, now, you finally step up to the pen. You’re ready to go.

But what to write? You have some ideas but aren’t sure about the form. Blog post? Personal essay? Poetry, or perhaps a novella?

I remember this confusion when I embarked on my writing life in 1994. I felt the desire to write but had no idea where to start.

Luckily, I discovered Natalie Goldberg. The free writing method allowed me to get my words on paper first, then figure out what form they’d take.

With that freedom, I explored:

  • Poetry
  • Personal essays
  • Survey articles
  • How-to articles
  • Performance pieces
  • Plays
  • Screenplays
  • Novel

Almost every newbie writer I’ve encountered has this same dilemma. I encourage them to start with free writing and let the content inform the structure. [Read more…] about Finding Your Writing Form

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That pesky 'and'

If you’re like me, your description of what you do can be a run-on sentence. “I’m a coach and an author and a speaker and a traveler and a yogini, and…”
Or, you have an idea for a project. It’s a brilliant core idea, and it’s got a lot of branches. “It’s a workshop and an e-book and an app and…”

Bored with 'and'

Or, your description of what you’re currently up to resembles a train with a million cars attached. “I’m working on my novel and an e-book and a series for this workshop I want to lead and…”
Do you see the problem with ‘and’? I’m exhausted just writing about it. You’re probably overwhelmed thinking about all you’re trying to do. And the person you’re telling this to? Completely incapable of grasping or caring about anything past the first ‘and’.
It’s okay to be juggling multiple projects. We all do it. Whether we’re doing it successfully is another topic.
Stop the ‘and’
If your descriptions of what you do are peppered with ‘ands’, I invite you to embrace the full stop period instead of ‘and’. Try sharing just one thing.
“What are you up to?”
“I’m working on publishing my novel.”
From there, the conversation can deepen into this one topic. Perhaps it will spread to other subjects as well, where you can share the other things you’re up to. Leaving out the ‘and’ allows for a little more breathing space and perhaps a bit more focus, for the duration of the conversation at least.
Works for writing, too
The ‘and’ can detract from your writing as well. This is one of my personal writing weaknesses. I want to pack so much into a sentence that all my sentences are compound. This kind of writing can be confusing and distracting. Run-on thoughts leave the reader tired and overwhelmed. (See?)
Is this true for you? Put your antennae up for ‘and’ this week both in your speech and writing. See what it’s like to use a full stop. Enjoy the simplicity of focusing only on one thing at a time. Notice what’s different for you, and let us know in a comment below.

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Why We Don’t Create

You don’t have time.
You have too many ideas and find it hard to focus.
You don’t have a supportive community.
You don’t have the right space in which to create.

These are all the reasons you and I don’t create. All are true and valid. And, that’s only the partial truth.

The truth is, you don’t create because you’re scared silly. You’re afraid you don’t have anything original to say. You’re afraid that despite your creative urges, you’re not good enough. You’re afraid that if you share your work with the world, you’ll be exposed as a talent-less loser.

How do I know? Have I peeked into the deep recesses of your creative unconscious?
No. I know because these are the fears that lurk in every writer I’ve ever coached, myself included.
Creating is scary. The original impulse of an idea is fun, energizing, exciting. The actual path to executing and completing that idea is fraught with our very human fears.

I’m feeling pretty terrified these days

As I approach the publication of my novel Chasing Sylvia Beach (2012), I feel more and more fear. I’ve been working on this book for twelve years and it means a lot to me and my work.

I find myself having to fight off deep, deep fear at every step of the way. It starts in my chest, seizing my heart and rooting in my gut with an acidic and painful grip. The fear saturates my blood and rushes to my brain, convincing me to abandon the mission and go hide somewhere dark and safe.

I swear if I didn’t have coaching skills I wouldn’t be able to talk myself off the ledge of quitting. Luckily, I know how to soothe my nervous system and squelch my fears.

I also know that fear will accompany me every step of the way. If I didn’t care so much, I wouldn’t be afraid.

I believe that our creative work transforms us, and that these fears arrive to help us delve deeper, grow further, understand more about our own unique process. Sure, you can work with a therapist to help you overcome your deeply rooted psychological issues (and I recommend you do) but adopting a creative course will give you much the same insights and opportunities for growing yourself as a person.

Keep going despite the fear

Our passion and fear come in equal measure. How to keep going despite the fear? Connect to your bigger mission, surround yourself with creative allies, and trust your creative impulses to help stay on track.

Here are a handful of books that have helped me choose commitment to my art over fear:
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Courage to Write by Ralph Keyes
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Enrolling allies

Coaching helps me and my clients continue on when the fear is too great. Sure, I help them arrange their schedules so they can write. I guide them to choose the projects that hold the most meaning for them, and to enlist help from creative allies.

But much of our work together revolves around eradicating fear enough to get the words out. I honor the brave souls who recognize that the external barriers to writing are only part of the reason we avoid creating.