When I sit in silence, I hear all the disappointments of what I should have done.
When I sit alone, I am filled with all the failures I have become.
Sometimes I don’t want to be still, because of all the ways I feel like a fool, a failure, a less than I think I should be.
When I sit in silence, I hear all the beautiful sounds of life.
When I sit alone, I am filled with all the blessings and love that is in my existence.
Sometimes I don’t want to be still, because I have so many exciting things that I want to do. My heart, my flow too plugged in and ready to just be in one place at one time.
When I sit in silence, I hear all the noise of my surroundings and what is right now.
When I sit alone, I am so aware of myself and the things I am thinking and dreaming.
Sometimes I just want to stay here where I am, because it feels exactly the right place to be, the right thing to do.
When I sit in silence, I hear all the voices and wisdom that is available to all.
When I sit alone, I am anything but alone. I am tapped into the vastness of everything.
Sometimes I don’t want to ever move again, because I am so plugged into all that is. I feel like I am dancing in the stars and adventuring across the vastness of space and time, and realizing I have finally found home.
Recently, I decided to start doing daily writing prompts to get my creativity moving a little more fluidly. I have two apps I’ve been using specifically for this. Both have been useful in their own way, but today I want to talk about the Daily Writing Prompt App.
I have been using this for the last week, and I’ve really been enjoying it. This app has a new writing prompt every 24 hours. Sometimes it will have pictures, a list of words, or an idea as a prompt. It’s always fun to see what they have, and within a few moments it sparks an idea, and I’m writing!
I really look forward to doing these prompts each day, because I’m usually pleasantly surprised with what I come up with. And it’s just a great way to have fun writing. I sometimes get a little too “serious” with my writing. I put so many obligations on myself that it’s fun to make a connection with a carefree approach.
This app is available for iphones. You can do a search for writing prompts, and it will come up. This is a free app. It doesn’t have the best reviews, but that’s because many people would like to go back and edit (which it doesn’t have an option for). I personally don’t mind. I believe these quick prompts are for spurring creativity, not perfecting editing skills. In fact, I like the idea of not being able to edit. It leaves me free to create, and that’s it.
Want to give one of the writing prompts a try? This is the first prompt I did. I only spent about 20 minutes on this so ignore any “issues” it might have. Anyways, this prompt was submitted by Libby Anderson (which––by the way–– you can also submit your own writing prompts too). Here it goes…
In order to be a writer, one must write. But let’s face it, it’s not always easy to find the time to fit writing in, especially as a daily thing. But I’ve been writing long enough to know that I’m a lot more successful at writing, when I make writing a daily habit. So let’s take a look at five steps to be a daily writer.
Step 1: Time of Day
First identify the best time of the day to write for you. Everyone will be different, so don’t judge what works for you against someone else’s writing time. If you aren’t sure, do some experimenting. Is it first thing in the morning that you do the best writing? Is it midmorning or midday? Or is it the afternoon, or late at night?
Step 2: Set a Time Period
Next, set a period of time that you will write. This can be anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, to several hours, or more. Even if it’s just a short writing session, if you are writing everyday, then that time will add up. You may find too that somedays you will get more writing in than others, and that’s okay.
Step 3: Have a Routine to Get You Started
It’s a lot easier to start writing if you are in the right mindset. Otherwise you could be sitting for half your writing time or more just trying to get into the piece you want to write on. There are many ways to get into a writing mindset. I will list a few here.
Listen to music you have specifically for writing
Start by free writing for 10 minutes or so to get into writing
Spend a few minutes clearing your mind and setting an intention on what you plan to do
Have a specific spot that you write and only write so when you sit down you are automatically put in the writing mood
Use a “writing hat” which is anything you wear or have near you while writing
You can do one or more than one of the above, or even come up with your own way(s). The important part is having a routine, so that your mind knows you are sitting down to write, and it’s time to get to business.
Step 4: Do Things to Prep for Writing
It’s important to only write during the time you allot to write. This may mean doing some prepping before hand such as letting anyone who lives with you know not to bother you during this time, turning off distractions like the phone or access to internet, and deciding the day or night before what you will be writing on. If you set an intention to write on something specific, you will be far more likely to have a great writing session the next day.
Step 5: Have Fun With Writing
Most important step of all. Don’t forget to have fun with writing! That’s why you started writing in the first place isn’t it? Writing was fun. It was exhilarating as you created new characters and worlds, or mind-blowing nonfiction. That should still be the case. Don’t let your deadlines or feelings of obligations suck all the fun away. Remember why you started writing, why you keep writing, and how much fun it is to play with words!
Do you already have a writing routine, and would like to share? Please feel free to post in the comments.
Cynthia D. Griffin 