Writing: Finding the Rhythm of Your Voice

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By Andrea Hylen, Founder of Heal My Voice

 

The first time I endeavored to write a short, personal story about my life was for the anthology book of stories by women called, “Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman’s Guide to Life. Even though I had been a journal writer for 20+ years and had participated in book circles with women, I found myself stuck in comparing my writing to others with feelings of being vulnerable and exposed and not good enough to publish my words.

I was stuck in not knowing which story to write, what style to write it in and how to get started.

One day I was driving to New York City to have a short overnight visit with my daughter Mary. It was a three and a half hour drive in the pouring down rain with plenty of alone time in the car. I decided to listen to a book on tape. I had just stopped by the library and picked up an audio copy of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. As I listened to her voice and her words for hours, I felt her words so deeply in my heart and soul. She is a professional writer who writes with authenticity about her life and feelings.

Something surprising began to happen as I listened and felt her story. Instead of comparing my writing to hers, I was inspired to tell my own life stories. I was inspired to write from my heart; my way with my voice. I thought to myself, that’s her voice. I want to write from my voice with feelings and passion and connection to my own stories. 

Listening to the book on tape inspired me to speak and write and learn how to tell my own stories. I encourage you today to read and listen to stories by other people. Instead of being intimidated by someone’s unique expression, allow them to help you open the door to yours.

Reading the words written by someone else is like listening to music. Open your heart and feel. Let your voice emerge from your soul and find the rhythm of your voice.

I did write my story by climbing into bed with my laptop every night for three weeks and letting the words and the feelings and emotions pour through me. I mentored 44 women to write their stories in the book Conscious Choices. I helped the women find the rhythm of their voices and let go of some formulaic way of writing. Three years later, I became the founder of Heal My Voice. In the first five Heal My Voice books, there are now over 100 vulnerable, powerful, authentic, personal stories and poems written by women who found the rhythm of their voice. We have created a symphony of voices.

Your Voice Matters. Find the rhythm of your voice and write your stories today.

To connect with Andrea and learn about current projects go to: www.andreahylen.com

 IMG_1306Andrea Hylen believes in the power of a woman’s voice to usher in a new world. She is the founder of Heal My Voice, a Writing and Transition Coach, Orgasmic Meditation Teacher and co- author of Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman’s Guide to Life. Andrea has discovered her unique gifts while parenting three daughters and learning to celebrate life after the deaths of her brother, son and husband. She currently lives in Los Angeles following the inspiration to collaborate with women in organizations and to travel around the world speaking and leading workshops. Her passion is connecting women to support each other in the full expression of who they are.

Inspired Voices: A Blessing

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For the past few days we have been talking about different pieces of writing to write for the construction of a book. We talked about the Foreword and the Introduction.

One of the traditions in the Heal My Voice Books is to ask someone from outside of the project to write a Blessing.

The intention of the blessing is to:

*Bless the women who have written a vulnerable, powerful story about some part of their personal life journey

*Bless the people who read the stories

*Bless the world

 

Here is the blessing from Inspired Voices: True Stories by Visionary Women:

 

Blessings from One

By Marie ek Lipanovska

 

Inspired is the star on a dark sky at night showing us the way to salvation.
Inspired are the first leaves coming through the surface after a cold hard winter.
Inspired are the birds singing in spring time.

Inspired are the children born on this day and walking on their own within a year.
Inspired are the men working daily to keep their families and communities safe.
Inspired are the women in this book writing a story to heal the world through their own bodies.


This is one inspiring book with many inspired voices coming together as One.
The voices of the inspired One are the voices of those that are In Spirit.
Although they speak with different tunes they are the inspired voice of One.
Inspired is the voice that writes as One, to everyone. Inspiration is the emotion of the contact with One.

It is a complete symphony you are holding in your hand. Music is brought to you with each and every story. Songs are being sung for you. You are listening to the One voice of unconditional Love that are here to heal a story within you. Open up to receive the Love and Blessings from One, through the Inspired Voices of these women.

~Marie Ek Lipanovska, the Voice of One

Founder of Heal My Voice Sweden

Marie Queen

Marie Ek Lipanovska is a woman dedicated to empower her own voice by focusing on different styles of listening. She finds her inner wisdom and her strength through meditation, prayer and silence. For sixteen years she has worked with guided meditations. The divine guidance coming through her deep devotion to listen, leads her to share her voice through several shows on her own blogtalkradio and by co-operating with other leading ladies in the field of empowering women. Marie is a passionate writer, sharing her words in books and blog posts, giving lectures, doing webinars, teleseminars and gathering women in circles. !She is a former freelance journalist and also the co-author of Empowered Voices: True Stories by Awakened Women. During spring 2013 two of her books are released in Sweden. One is a conversation with God and the other book contains channeled messages from Christ. !Marie is also leading the first Heal My Voice Sweden book circle for 22 Swedish women. In September 2013 this first Swedish book will be for sale. !www.sjalaglad.nu and www.healmyvoicesweden.se

Awaken and Stimulate Your Writer Senses

By Andrea Hylen, Founder and Executive Director of Heal My Voice

Writing for healing and self-discovery; here are some ways to open your senses and connect to the richness of a story.
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1) Artist Date: In The Artist’s Way, author Julia Cameron talks about taking yourself on an artist date. It awakens your senses and helps to release your thinking brain.

Go to an art museum, a craft store, sit down with a pad of paper and crayons or pastel crayons and draw something or just scribble. See what creative medium is calling to you. Write down words with gel pens, colored pencils or markers. Crayons can awaken the inner child memories. Go to a fabric store and feel the fabric. Take a walk through a farmer’s market and pause to see the colors, smell the foods, listen to the conversations, touch the fruits and vegetables and flowers and feel the sensations in your body.

 

 

2. Listen to a variety of music. What were some of your favorite songs during your childhood, as a teen, in your early adulthood? What memories does the music stir and awaken? What are the feelings? Listen to different genres: folk, pop, jazz, rock, classical, country, hip hop and blues. Listen to different cultures: African, Asian, Caribbean, Brazilian, and Avant Garde. Immerse yourself and see what

 

3) In a journal, choose a scene and practice writing about feelings and emotions and what the scene looks like. How would you describe this to a person who is blind, who is hearing impaired, or cannot smell or taste?

4) Get a different perspective. If you are writing about something that happened with another person, spend time thinking about the story from their perspective. Write a short story from two or three or four perspectives.

5) Sit in a coffee shop or a park bench and make up stories about the conversations that are happening with the people around you.

6) Look at the story you are writing with a microscope and look at it with a telescope. Go in to describe the little details closely and then zoom out for the big picture details. Play with the story from the minute to the broad details.

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7) Take walks. Connect with the rhythm of nature. Look for clues along the way. What are you drawn to? Colors, shapes, textures. Do any woodland creatures cross your path? Google the “Animal Speak” message if you see a squirrel, a dog, a giraffe or another animal. Animal speak wisdom for a dog crossing your path is to reflect on the meaning of loyalty in your life. Google the Animal totem for birds, animals and insects.

8) Connect with body-mind-spirit with physical activity to stimulate ideas for your story. Yoga, jogging, swimming. Ask yourself a question or set an intention before exercising. In yoga, I always set an intention to learn or shift something during the session.

9) Read someone’s story in a book or article and see what feelings it stirs up for you.

Wake up all of your senses!

To connect with Andrea and learn about current projects go to: www.andreahylen.com

 IMG_1306Andrea Hylen believes in the power of a woman’s voice to usher in a new world. She is the founder of Heal My Voice, a Writing and Transition Coach, Orgasmic Meditation Teacher and co- author of Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman’s Guide to Life. Andrea has discovered her unique gifts while parenting three daughters and learning to celebrate life after the deaths of her brother, son and husband. She currently lives in Los Angeles following the inspiration to collaborate with women in organizations and to travel around the world speaking and leading workshops. Her passion is connecting women to support each other in the full expression of who they are.

 

 

 

 

Sacred Sanctuary Writing Space

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A few years ago, I was inspired to create a space for Heal My Voice writers to gather and energetically receive support and consistency for writing. I called it the Sacred Sanctuary Writing Space. Every month, I create 12 audio recordings on the first 12 days of every month with an inspiration and silent time to write.

I cut words and phrases out of magazines and collect them in plastic sandwich bags. Every day, I close my eyes and connect with the energy of the day. Then, I reach in to the bag and pull out a clipping.

I begin the recording with some thoughts about the words and then “open the space” for 25 minutes of silence. At the end of the 25 minutes, I say a few words and end the recording.

It is a tool and a resource for setting up a time and space to write.

 

Here is the recording from July 1, 2014:

 

The phrase is ” The Guide: Home”Screen Shot 2013-05-19 at 5.42.38 AM

 

Enjoy!

 

Sacred Sanctuary Writing Space:

July 1, 2014

http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=57217512

 

To connect with Andrea and learn about current projects go to: www.andreahylen.com

 IMG_1306Andrea Hylen believes in the power of a woman’s voice to usher in a new world. She is the founder of Heal My Voice, a Writing and Transition Coach, Orgasmic Meditation Teacher and co- author of Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman’s Guide to Life. Andrea has discovered her unique gifts while parenting three daughters and learning to celebrate life after the deaths of her brother, son and husband. She currently lives in Los Angeles following the inspiration to collaborate with women in organizations and to travel around the world speaking and leading workshops. Her passion is connecting women to support each other in the full expression of who they are.

Journaling For Reconnection Podcast

By Beth Terrence

Heal My Voice Author and Board Member

300x300xBeth-300x300.jpg.pagespeed.ic.1TV4zdIMOmEarlier this year, I was a guest on a podcast hosted by Nathan Ohren of JournalTalk, a wonderful online resource on journaling for passion, clarity and purpose.  The topic was “Reconnection To Self”.  We had a great chat and it really got me thinking about journaling, which has been a part of my life for a long time.  I feel like this conversation is part of what has led me to do some of my recent posts on journaling and writing for health and well-being.

We covered quite a bit during the show and even talked about Heal My Voice and our Chrysalis House project, which supports women in long-term addiction recovery to heal through writing and sharing their stories – journaling is a core part of this program.  For today’s post, I thought I’d share a link to the podcast as well as an overview of some of the questions we covered below.  I hope you’ll take some time to listen and also, be sure to check all of the great podcasts and resources offered on JournalTalk.

Listen To Podcast

Here are some highlights of the interview:

– When did you start journaling

As a kid, I always like to write and play with words, but I really started journaling when I was in 6th grade.  I was introduced to it by a teacher who had us keep a journal and as I had already enjoyed writing, it was a natural fit.  I have kept journals on and off throughout my whole life, sometimes writing daily, sometimes dropping off a bit but always coming back to the page.

– How do you like to keep a journal?  What do you use?

My journal style has varied over the years.  Currently I like to use a large sketchbook which I decorate with collage on the outside as well as on some of the pages. There’s something about the blank page without lines that I love and also sometimes I may add a drawing or sketch an idea out there, too.  I like to write everyday but unlike other times when I was set on morning pages or evening reflections, I like to be organic about when I journal.  I love it when I have a day when I can head out to the café and have an almond milk chai and do some journaling.  Also, sometimes I keep a couple of journals – if I am working on an issue, I may create a specific journal for it and I always keep a separate self-care journal.  Also, there are times I like to keep a typed journal, too.

– Do you ever go back and read your old journal entries?  What have you learned about yourself?

I do like to go through old journals sometimes to reflect.  It is great to see where I have been and where I am now. I find it interesting that in some ways I am very different and in others still the same as when I was younger.  I know I have healed a lot of pain.   And, I have really grown as a writer.

– What are the top 2 or 3 benefits you’ve experienced about journaling?

I would say the benefits to me are having an avenue for self-reflection, self-awareness, and letting go of what’s in my head ~ it creates a space to see myself more clearly.  Also, it enhances creativity and has helped me to explore writing and my ideas.  It’s kind of like my own sacred space!

Typed? or hand-written?

Both, but more hand-written for journaling.  For other writing, more typed.

What’s your favorite place to write in your journal?

Anywhere really. I like to go sit out in nature sometimes, or just on my deck when the weather is nice.  Also, I love to go to cafes to journal and write.

What else is interesting about your journaling style?

I would say that my style varies between free-writing or stream of consciousness and list making, such as feelings, ideas, self-care reviews, etc.  I also really use my journal as a working tool in my life for self-direction and for discovering how to flow with my work as well.

Happy Journaling!

bethbroBeth Terrence is a Shaman, Holistic Health & Wellness Expert, Speaker and Writer.  She has been working in the field of Holistic Healing and Transformation for over 18 years.  This path evolved from her own healing journey through fibromyalgia and the impact of trauma on her life.  Beth found that by taking a holistic approach to life and well-being, she was able to achieve of a state of happiness and wholeness that she never imagined was possible.  Her mission is to support others in cultivating a heart-centered, balanced and joyful life through discovering the healer within.

Writing has always been one of Beth’s greatest passions.  Since childhood, she has written poetry and kept a journal.  Participating in a Heal My Voice project opened the door to Beth stepping forward in the world as a writer.  Her stories are featured in Inspired Voices: True Stories of Visionary Women and Harmonic Voices: True Stories Of Women On The Path To Peace.  Beth joined the Heal My Voice board of directors in May 2013.  Additionally, she is the lead facilitator and program developer for a Heal My Voice program that brings writing and creativity to women in addiction recovery at Chrysalis House in Crownsville, MD.

Learn more at www.bethterrence.com or check out her new teleclass program starting July 22nd:

Love Yourself, Live Your Life
Summer Breakthrough Program
With Beth Terrence
5-Session Teleclass
Do you want to live more from the heart? 
Is it a struggle to be gentle and loving with yourself?
Are you ready to step into your soul purpose from a space of the heart?
Does your inner critic keep you stuck? 
Do you want to have a deeper sense of connection with yourself, others and the world? 

 

In this 5-Session Teleclass, you will: 
  • Learn to connect with your heart on a deeper level and live more from the heart space.    
  • Cultivate love and compassion for yourself using a variety of transformational tools including meditation, shamanic journey work, affirmations, self-reflection and creative exercises.  
  • Uncover limiting beliefs and obstacles that prevent you from embodying greater love and compassion for your self and others and also, keep you from moving forward in your life.  
  • Learn to access your essential self and embody your soul purpose from the space of the heart
  • Begin to facilitate your own process of transformation and healing and create a foundation to continue that process in your life.
Dates: Tuesday, July 22nd – August 19th  
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 EST 
Where: Wherever You Are – Call in by phone or listen online
Audio replays will be available after the weekly call

 

Basic Package $97, includes
– 5 weekly teleclass sessions 
– an mp3 audio of calls 
– weekly transformational resource handouts
– private Facebook discussion group, plus 
– 2 special audio bonuses 
 Register by July 14th for Special Pricing ~ $77
 
Premium Package $247, includes 
–  Basic Program plus  
–  One 1 1/2 hour Individual Session with Beth Terrence in person in Annapolis, MD or By PHONE/SKYPE
 Register by July 14th for Special Pricing $227
   
Are you ready to embrace the truth of who you are –  
a being full of loving-kindness and compassion?

How much longer do you want to continue struggling?

Do you want the heart to be a guiding force in your life? 
 
The journey begins with you!
 

Journaling For Health And Well-Being

By Beth Terrence

Heal My Voice Author and Board Member

Member-JournalingJournaling or reflective writing is a practice that has been around for a long time.  Whether someone is a “writer” or not, really matters little when it comes to personal writing.  Journaling is simply a way to express and explore our life experiences and ourselves on a deeper level through the written word or even through art or imagery, too.  It doesn’t have to be for anyone but ourselves.  And, it is an exciting time as we are now seeing the scientific evidence supporting the benefit of this simple practice for our overall health and well-being.

University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker has done extensive research on the benefits of journaling.  He has found that regular journaling strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes.  Other research has indicated that journaling decreases the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.  Pennebaker believes that writing about stressful events helps you come to terms with them, thereby reducing the impact of stressors on your physical health.  He recommends writing for 20 minutes per day.

Additionally, the benefits go way beyond your physical health.  Scientific evidence has discovered that the act of writing actually accesses your left brain, which is the analytical and rational part.  When you begin writing, your left brain becomes engaged freeing your right brain to create, intuit and feel.  So, in a sense, writing takes you out of your head and into your heart.  This allows you to use all of your brainpower to better understand yourself, others and the world around you.  The act of writing is helping you to access your creativity on a deeper level.

Journaling helps you to:

  • Clarify your thoughts and feelings.
  • Know yourself better.
  • Reduce stress.
  • Be healthier.
  • Solve problems more effectively.
  • Resolve disagreements with others
  • Practice good self-care
  • Access your creativity
  • Release and Express Held Memories & Emotions
  • Set Intentions

You may be saying to yourself, “But, I’m not a writer, so how can journaling work for me?”  There are many ways to explore journaling and many types of practices.  Writing offers an opportunity to explore who you are, what are your likes and dislikes, and your strengths and weaknesses.  It is a vehicle to find your voice and explore ways you can flow more easily with life.

Here are some ways you can explore writing and journaling:

  • Stream Of Consciousness ~ Just put the pen on the paper and let whatever words come to mind flow onto the page
  • List Writing (e.g. Make a list of Feelings, Choices, Losses, Things You Enjoy, Topics for Writing, Triggers, Self-Care Toolbox, Favorites, etc.)
  • Gratitude – Make a list of everything you are grateful for – this can be a powerful daily practice
  • Affirmations & Intentions – For the day, month, year or as you feel to
  • Prayers/Blessings Write for yourself, family, friends, the world…
  • Meditations – Pick a topic like peace, love, happiness, etc.
  • Poetry – Explore haiku or free verse.  Write a poem or read a poem and write what it means to you.
  • Just For Today I will… – Write 
  • Letter Writing (e.g. To Self, Family, Friends, Higher Power, Past/Future)
  • Holistic Exploration – Do A Check-In or Self-Care Review For Body, Mind, Emotion & Spirit
  • Morning Pages – Do three handwritten stream of consciousness pages first thing every morning (from The Artist’s Way)
  • Or, try Dr. Pennebaker’s Basic Writing Assignment:

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Here are some books on journaling and writing to explore, too!

I hope you’ll take some time to explore journaling for health and well-being.  If you don’t have a journal, you may wish to browse around for a journal that feels meaningful to you.  Or, just pick up a composition book or blank sketchbook and you are ready to go.  If you want to, you can decorate it and use the words or images to inspire your writing.  Maybe you want to make one journal dedicated to self-care or gratitude practice.  Be creative, explore and enjoy!

If you have any journaling practices or tools that you’d like to share, feel free to drop us a note in the comments below.  We love to hear from you – YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

 

bethbro

Beth Terrence is a Shaman, Holistic Health & Wellness Expert, Speaker and Writer.  She has been working in the field of Holistic Healing and Transformation for over 18 years.  This path evolved from her own healing journey through fibromyalgia and the impact of trauma on her life.  Beth found that by taking a holistic approach to life and well-being, she was able to achieve of a state of happiness and wholeness that she never imagined was possible.  Her mission is to support others in cultivating a heart-centered, balanced and joyful life through discovering the healer within.

Writing has always been one of Beth’s greatest passions.  Since childhood, she has written poetry and kept a journal.  Participating in a Heal My Voice project opened the door to Beth stepping forward in the world as a writer.  Her stories are featured in Inspired Voices: True Stories of Visionary Women and Harmonic Voices: True Stories Of Women On The Path To Peace.  Beth joined the Heal My Voice board of directors in May 2013.  Additionally, she is the lead facilitator and program developer for a Heal My Voice program that brings writing and creativity to women in addiction recovery at Chrysalis House in Crownsville, MD.

Beth is available for Integrative Transformational Healing Sessions & Programs by Phone/Skype or in person in Annapolis, MD.  She offers a variety of classes, workshops and trainings on Holistic Healing, Transformation, Writing and Creativity in the MD/DC/VA area and virtually.  Beth also writes regularly on her own blog, The Heart Of Awakening: Searching For A New Paradigm, an online resource for transformation and healing. To learn more about Beth’s Integrative Transformational Healing Services, visit http://www.bethterrence.com.

Beth’s Take A Break Summer Special Offer:

20% Off All Sessions By Phone/Skype Or In Person In Annapolis, MD Summer is a the perfect time to relax, reflect and renew.  We’ve passed the Solstice so the days are beginning to get shorter once again but the Fire energy of summer is still very strong through July 22nd.  The intensity of this Yang energy can take a toll on our system – it is still very expansive but a part of us is beginning to pull within. With the outward energy of summer, increased social activities and extreme heat and humidity, our systems can more easily move out of balance.  It may not be uncommon to experience fatigue, headaches, and intense waves of emotions during this time.  I invite you to come for a healing session to support your overall balance and ease of well-being.  Take A Break ~ Relax, Reflect & Renew! Integrative Healing Sessions may include Shamanic Healing, Bach Flower Remedies, Zero Balancing, Body/Energy Therapies, Meditation, Holistic Self-Care and other holistic resources to support transformation and healing on all levels – body, mind, emotion and spirit. Learn more about Beth’s Take A Break Summer Special Offer and Integrative Transformational Healing Services in July’s Discover The Healer Within E-News

Where To Connect With Beth:

Website: www.bethterrence.com

Blog: http://theheartofawakening.wordpress.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bethterrence

Twitter: @BethTerrence

Contact: beth@bethterrence.com

     

30 Quotes To Inspire & Ignite Your Writing

YourVoiceMatters2

By Beth Terrence

Heal My Voice Author and Board Member

One of the tools that has helped me to develop as a writer and to support others in getting their words flowing is to have a toolbox of various writing prompts.  A writing prompt simply consists of an idea, word, image, phrase or set of instructions to help you jumpstart your writing.  You may want to use a prompt on the days when you just can’t seem to get the words flowing or you may wish to work with writing prompts as a part of your regular writing practice.

One of my favorite type of writing prompts are quotes.  When looking for inspiration, I look for a quote on a specific topic or theme, such as love, peace or leadership or I may gather as many quotes as I can on that topic and put them all together on one sheet.  Later, I cut them up and put them in my idea box, post them around or save them in a ziploc baggie for future use.  Sometimes when looking for a prompt for the Heal My Voice Chrysalis House weekly writing circle, I will bring a bag of quotes; participants will pick one randomly and then explore what inspiration comes from the quote for their writing that day.

I have found that as a writer, it’s essential to have a variety of tools in your toolbox.  I find quotes to be a great tool for getting my ideas and words flowing.  And, one of my favorite things to do is read quotes by other writers to help me gain insight into the art of writing and the experience of being a writer.  Here are 30 quotes by writers to inspire and ignite your writing:

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~ Maya Angelou

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”  ~ Ernest Hemingway

“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” ~ Sylvia Plath

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle

“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” ~ Toni Morrison

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”  ~ Stephen King

“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” ~ Mark Twain

“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” ~ Saul Bellow

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” ~ Anais Nin

“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” ~ Ray Bradbury

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” ~ Louis L’Amour

“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” ~ Anne Frank

“A word after a word after a word is power.” ~ Margaret Atwood

“Writing is like sex. First you do it for love, then you do it for your friends, and then you do it for money.” ~ Virginia Wolf

“Tears are words that need to be written.” ~ Paulo Coehlo

“Write the kind of story you would like to read. People will give you all sorts of advice about writing, but if you are not writing something you like, no one else will like it either.” ~  Meg Cabot

“The role of a writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say.” ~ Anais Nin

“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” ~ Albert Camus

“I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.” ~ James A. Michener

“Write what should not be forgotten.” ~ Isabel Allende

“I’ve got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen.” ~ Louisa May Alcott

“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” ~ Emily Dickinson

“Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry.” ~ Muriel Rukeyser

“Instructions for living a life:
pay attention
be astonished
tell about it” ~ Mary Oliver

“Revision is not going back and fussing around, but going forward into the highly complex and satisfying process of creation” ~ Mary Sarton

“Writing is an extreme privilege but it’s also a gift. It’s a gift to yourself and it’s a gift of giving a story to someone.” ~ Amy Tan

“If you’re going to write a good book, you have to make mistakes and you have to not be so cautious all the time.” ~ Zadie Smith

It’s better to write about things you feel than about things you know about. ~ L. P. Hartley

My aim is to put down what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way I can tell it. ~ Ernest Hemingway

“The unread story is not a story; it is little black marks on wood pulp. The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live thing, a story.” ~ Ursula K. Le Guin

I hope you’ll take some time to explore working with quotes as a writing prompt.  And, if you have any favorite quotes by writers that you would like to share, please drop us a note in the comments below.

Happy Writing!

bethbro

 

Beth Terrence is a Shaman, Holistic Health & Wellness Expert, Speaker and Writer.  She has been working in the field of Holistic Healing and Transformation for over 18 years.  This path evolved from her own healing journey through fibromyalgia and the impact of trauma on her life.  Beth found that by taking a holistic approach to life and well-being, she was able to achieve of a state of happiness and wholeness that she never imagined was possible.  Her mission is to support others in cultivating a heart-centered, balanced and joyful life through discovering the healer within.

Writing has always been one of Beth’s greatest passions.  Since childhood, she has written poetry and kept a journal.  Participating in a Heal My Voice project opened the door to Beth stepping forward in the world as a writer.  Her stories are featured in Inspired Voices: True Stories of Visionary Women and Harmonic Voices: True Stories Of Women On The Path To Peace.  Beth joined the Heal My Voice board of directors in May 2013.  Additionally, she is the lead facilitator and program developer for a Heal My Voice program that brings writing and creativity to women in addiction recovery at Chrysalis House in Crownsville, MD.

Beth is available for Integrative Transformational Healing Sessions & Programs by Phone/Skype or in person in Annapolis, MD.  She offers a variety of classes, workshops and trainings on Holistic Healing, Transformation, Writing and Creativity in the MD/DC/VA area and virtually.  Beth also writes regularly on her own blog, The Heart Of Awakening: Searching For A New Paradigm, an online resource for transformation and healing. To learn more about Beth’s Integrative Transformational Healing Services, visit http://www.bethterrence.com.

Beth’s Take A Break Summer Special Offer:

20% Off All Sessions By Phone/Skype Or In Person In Annapolis, MD

Summer is a the perfect time to relax, reflect and renew.  We’ve passed the Solstice so the days are beginning to get shorter once again but the Fire energy of summer is still very strong through July 22nd.  The intensity of this Yang energy can take a toll on our system – it is still very expansive but a part of us is beginning to pull within. With the outward energy of summer, increased social activities and extreme heat and humidity, our systems can more easily move out of balance.  It may not be uncommon to experience fatigue, headaches, and intense waves of emotions during this time.  I invite you to come for a healing session to support your overall balance and ease of well-being.  Take A Break ~ Relax, Reflect & Renew!

Integrative Healing Sessions may include Shamanic Healing, Bach Flower Remedies, Zero Balancing, Body/Energy Therapies, Meditation, Holistic Self-Care and other holistic resources to support transformation and healing on all levels – body, mind, emotion and spirit.

Learn more about Beth’s Take A Break Summer Special Offer and Integrative Transformational Healing Services in July’s Discover The Healer Within E-News

Where To Connect With Beth:

Website: www.bethterrence.com

Blog: http://theheartofawakening.wordpress.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bethterrence

Twitter: @BethTerrence

Contact: beth@bethterrence.com