WRITING THERAPY
'There is more pleasure to building castles in the air than on the ground.'
- Edward Gibbon
- Edward Gibbon
Writing is not just about making stories.
It can help us relax, understand ourselves better and can be good therapy too.
For these reasons, EM includes a writing exercise in each of its editions.
So relax, get to know yourself better, discover creative outlet.
It can help us relax, understand ourselves better and can be good therapy too.
For these reasons, EM includes a writing exercise in each of its editions.
So relax, get to know yourself better, discover creative outlet.
June 2013 Winter
VISUALISATION
This season's Writing therapy is inspired by one of the 'Healing Action Steps' in the book 'Spiritual Divorce' by Debbie Ford.
Imagine you are on a bus, and everyone on the bus is a character trait or flaw. Meditate on this scenario for a while and
wait until someone on the imaginary bus approaches and talks to you. If it is 'Jealousy' for example, use the vision to write a reflection of when you feel jealous, and go further than that. Think of other's who demonstrate jealousy and how you feel about those people. Write about your feelings and how this reflects your own weaknesses.
This is meant as an empowerment activity and not an excuse to beat ourselves up. The idea is to recognise why we react to other's flaws by identifying them in ourselves.
VISUALISATION
This season's Writing therapy is inspired by one of the 'Healing Action Steps' in the book 'Spiritual Divorce' by Debbie Ford.
Imagine you are on a bus, and everyone on the bus is a character trait or flaw. Meditate on this scenario for a while and
wait until someone on the imaginary bus approaches and talks to you. If it is 'Jealousy' for example, use the vision to write a reflection of when you feel jealous, and go further than that. Think of other's who demonstrate jealousy and how you feel about those people. Write about your feelings and how this reflects your own weaknesses.
This is meant as an empowerment activity and not an excuse to beat ourselves up. The idea is to recognise why we react to other's flaws by identifying them in ourselves.
March 2013 Autumn
POETRY
Watch Buz Luhrmann's Youtube clip: Everyone is Free to Wear Sunscreen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI and take in the tips.
Write your own poem or create a Youtube clip of your own (if technical enough), that provides key advice you wish you knew earlier.
POETRY
Watch Buz Luhrmann's Youtube clip: Everyone is Free to Wear Sunscreen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI and take in the tips.
Write your own poem or create a Youtube clip of your own (if technical enough), that provides key advice you wish you knew earlier.
September 2012 Summer
HAPPY & SAD ENDING
This seasons writing therapy comes from the Writing Games event that I attend from time to time. The organiser Matt came up with this game for us to play. Write anything you like: a story, poem, and provide two endings - a positive and a negative one. Also, the work should contain these three words: Military, Truck, Bridge. Matt suggested that we begin with the endings and then write the rest of the text.
Here's what I came up with:
Lies. False truths
Webs of deceit
Fake. Unauthentic
Core in disguise
Selfish. Lone soldier
Military of one
Damaged. Broken soul
Truck loads of pain
(positive ending)
Bridging gaps. Restitution.
A survivor
(negative ending)
Bridges burning. Alone.
Victim of life
HAPPY & SAD ENDING
This seasons writing therapy comes from the Writing Games event that I attend from time to time. The organiser Matt came up with this game for us to play. Write anything you like: a story, poem, and provide two endings - a positive and a negative one. Also, the work should contain these three words: Military, Truck, Bridge. Matt suggested that we begin with the endings and then write the rest of the text.
Here's what I came up with:
Lies. False truths
Webs of deceit
Fake. Unauthentic
Core in disguise
Selfish. Lone soldier
Military of one
Damaged. Broken soul
Truck loads of pain
(positive ending)
Bridging gaps. Restitution.
A survivor
(negative ending)
Bridges burning. Alone.
Victim of life
September 2012 Spring
SONG WRITER
This season's writing challenge is to become a song writer - sound unachievable? Well, if the goal is to impress Molly Meldrum, maybe. But, if the goal is to generate deep thinking and self reflection, it is indeed a realistic pursuit.
Listen to the Lyrics of songs like: The Fighter (Gym Class Heroes) and Beautiful (Cristina Aquilara), and come up with your own song using keywords that resonate with you; using your own life challenges as your muse. We'd love to read them, and possibly publish them, if you are willing to share.
SONG WRITER
This season's writing challenge is to become a song writer - sound unachievable? Well, if the goal is to impress Molly Meldrum, maybe. But, if the goal is to generate deep thinking and self reflection, it is indeed a realistic pursuit.
Listen to the Lyrics of songs like: The Fighter (Gym Class Heroes) and Beautiful (Cristina Aquilara), and come up with your own song using keywords that resonate with you; using your own life challenges as your muse. We'd love to read them, and possibly publish them, if you are willing to share.
June 2012 Winter
LESSONS LIFE TAUGHT ME
This task comes from an email I received: A 90 year old woman, Regina Brett, from Cleveland, celebrated getting older by publishing what she considered to be the 45 lessons life taught her.
I think this is a brilliant idea and have used it as an activity with my own students:
Then, write your own list - it's not as difficult as you think. What 45 lessons has life taught you?
LESSONS LIFE TAUGHT ME
This task comes from an email I received: A 90 year old woman, Regina Brett, from Cleveland, celebrated getting older by publishing what she considered to be the 45 lessons life taught her.
I think this is a brilliant idea and have used it as an activity with my own students:
- Think about the important things you would like your own children to know
- Think about what life ultimately means to you
- Think about the regrets you may have
- Think about what makes you happiest
Then, write your own list - it's not as difficult as you think. What 45 lessons has life taught you?
March 2012 Autumn
A PIVOTAL MOMENT
This activity was suggested by a lecturer during my university days.
Close your eyes and think of one pivotal day in your life - might be the day you gave birth to a child; your wedding day, or; it may be a unique-to-you day that changed your life forever.
Envision the day as if it were happening now. Where are you? What does your environment look like? What noises can you hear?
Now write the fateful day's activity, step-by-step. Document every stage of the day - how you felt and what you saw, smelt and heard.
It will amaze you to discover so many small details that you unconsciously took in and never acknowledged.
A PIVOTAL MOMENT
This activity was suggested by a lecturer during my university days.
Close your eyes and think of one pivotal day in your life - might be the day you gave birth to a child; your wedding day, or; it may be a unique-to-you day that changed your life forever.
Envision the day as if it were happening now. Where are you? What does your environment look like? What noises can you hear?
Now write the fateful day's activity, step-by-step. Document every stage of the day - how you felt and what you saw, smelt and heard.
It will amaze you to discover so many small details that you unconsciously took in and never acknowledged.
December 2011 Summer
ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE
This activity is inspired by the book, 'How to Talk to Anyone' by Leil Lowndes. And although it is meant as a communication tool, I think it can work as a writing activity too.
Basically, you are required to underpin your qualities and ignore your weaknesses. So, take a moment to think of your strengths and begin to write a pitch to a hypothetical new friend - why should you like me? Look deeper then your qualifications and your abilities; think of your traits and your latent gifts too.
Be warned, this is more difficult then it sounds, we have a tendency to short change ourselves when it comes to looking at ourselves through optimistic glasses.
The benefit of this writing therapy is that we may get to like ourselves a little better and it will be a potential tool to use next time we meet someone new or go on a job interview.
ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE
This activity is inspired by the book, 'How to Talk to Anyone' by Leil Lowndes. And although it is meant as a communication tool, I think it can work as a writing activity too.
Basically, you are required to underpin your qualities and ignore your weaknesses. So, take a moment to think of your strengths and begin to write a pitch to a hypothetical new friend - why should you like me? Look deeper then your qualifications and your abilities; think of your traits and your latent gifts too.
Be warned, this is more difficult then it sounds, we have a tendency to short change ourselves when it comes to looking at ourselves through optimistic glasses.
The benefit of this writing therapy is that we may get to like ourselves a little better and it will be a potential tool to use next time we meet someone new or go on a job interview.
September 2011 Spring
HERO'S JOURNEY
The Hero's Journey is a writing structure that is commonly used in films and books. It was created by Joseph Campbell. Although it has many steps,for the purpose of this activity we will only use eight:
Ordinary Life - Life before anything out-of-the ordinary happens
Call to Adventure - This can be as simple as an invitation or as spectacular as a trip to the Greek Islands
Crossing the Threshold - Leaving your ordinary life behind
Tests, allies and enemies - People you meet along the way
The ordeal - Problems you face
The reward - Solutions, achievements
Crossing the Threshold back - Coming home
Ordinary Life - Life is back to normal but your experience has changed you
Writng yourself up as the hero in your own story, either recount an experience you have had or one you hope to have. Follow the eight steps when writing your story and it will become delightfully clear that you have been the hero in your own story many times before. Remember to think carefully about the eighth step - how did the experience change you?
HERO'S JOURNEY
The Hero's Journey is a writing structure that is commonly used in films and books. It was created by Joseph Campbell. Although it has many steps,for the purpose of this activity we will only use eight:
Ordinary Life - Life before anything out-of-the ordinary happens
Call to Adventure - This can be as simple as an invitation or as spectacular as a trip to the Greek Islands
Crossing the Threshold - Leaving your ordinary life behind
Tests, allies and enemies - People you meet along the way
The ordeal - Problems you face
The reward - Solutions, achievements
Crossing the Threshold back - Coming home
Ordinary Life - Life is back to normal but your experience has changed you
Writng yourself up as the hero in your own story, either recount an experience you have had or one you hope to have. Follow the eight steps when writing your story and it will become delightfully clear that you have been the hero in your own story many times before. Remember to think carefully about the eighth step - how did the experience change you?
Winter 2011 Edition
WRITE YOUR OWN EULOGY
This activity was suggested during my Diploma of Writing days by a few teachers at different time.
The idea is to write down everything you would like to be remembered as and envision that you are in fact
deceased - sound morbid? Maybe. However, it works to help determine the distance between your ought and actual self.
Have a go, I certainly learnt a few things about myself.
WRITE YOUR OWN EULOGY
This activity was suggested during my Diploma of Writing days by a few teachers at different time.
The idea is to write down everything you would like to be remembered as and envision that you are in fact
deceased - sound morbid? Maybe. However, it works to help determine the distance between your ought and actual self.
Have a go, I certainly learnt a few things about myself.
Autumn 2011 Edition
DOT THE DRAGON'S EYE
This activity is almost a philosophy, it comes from Jack Heffron's 'The Writer's Idea Workshop'.
"Hualong dianjing is a phrase used in Chinese painting and roughly translates to 'Dot the dragon's eye', and it comes to life. It refers to the need for including the key detail in a painting."
This season's activity challenges you to 'Dot the dragon's eye', not just in your written work but in every thing you do. Add that extra detail, that sparkle, that fireworks, to everything you write, say and do, and watch it transform from good to amazing.
DOT THE DRAGON'S EYE
This activity is almost a philosophy, it comes from Jack Heffron's 'The Writer's Idea Workshop'.
"Hualong dianjing is a phrase used in Chinese painting and roughly translates to 'Dot the dragon's eye', and it comes to life. It refers to the need for including the key detail in a painting."
This season's activity challenges you to 'Dot the dragon's eye', not just in your written work but in every thing you do. Add that extra detail, that sparkle, that fireworks, to everything you write, say and do, and watch it transform from good to amazing.
Summer 2010 Edition
NAME POEM
Another fun activity from Casterton's, 'Creative Writing, a practical guide' is to explore our own name through poetry.
Reflect on your name - what it means to you, what it says about you. "Say it aloud, say it silently inside your head." Speak to yourself and write the answer as a poem.
Here's my go:
Please Louise...
STRIVE if it kills you
draw from muses to will you
and fulfill you in reaching
your mark
STARK reality makes us
eventually breaks us
our potential must
patiently wait
FATE is a lot to live up to
chews you up and digests you
leaving pieces behind in
its teeth
BREATHE keep it all in your stride
dreams are far and they're wide
just one step at a time...
Please Louise
NAME POEM
Another fun activity from Casterton's, 'Creative Writing, a practical guide' is to explore our own name through poetry.
Reflect on your name - what it means to you, what it says about you. "Say it aloud, say it silently inside your head." Speak to yourself and write the answer as a poem.
Here's my go:
Please Louise...
STRIVE if it kills you
draw from muses to will you
and fulfill you in reaching
your mark
STARK reality makes us
eventually breaks us
our potential must
patiently wait
FATE is a lot to live up to
chews you up and digests you
leaving pieces behind in
its teeth
BREATHE keep it all in your stride
dreams are far and they're wide
just one step at a time...
Please Louise
Spring 2010 Edition
THE HAND
THE HAND
This exercise is taken from the book: 'Creative Writing' by Julia Casterton.
Look at your hand. Really look at it.
If you have scars, remember where they came from. Do you have your mum or dad's hand?
'As you explore your hand, allow your mind to wander over the significance of its markings'.
Think of your rings, calluses, knuckles.
'Now write a description of your hand...(let it) lead exactly where you need to go...write for as long as you can.'
You will be surprised to discover how much you learn about yourself simply by writing about your hand.
Here's what I came up with:
The contours of my hands are genetic emblems that showcase a delicate bone structure and fragility. Sometimes underestimated, they carry the hamper of life's necessities competently.
An arrangement of crucial and significant priorities wrapped in a sense of duty and tied with what needs to be done.
An emblem and my journal are these well used hands, dehydrated and moisturised by life. They hold memories in every crevice of every age line, just as they held: rings, babies, tissues and other hands through the years.
Inspired. I rearrange my hamper and add a bottle of what some might call indulgence.
The new balance of obligation and gratification scintillates an epiphany. I look at each item in my basket and see my own reflection.
What a revelation. My life is completely in my hands.
Look at your hand. Really look at it.
If you have scars, remember where they came from. Do you have your mum or dad's hand?
'As you explore your hand, allow your mind to wander over the significance of its markings'.
Think of your rings, calluses, knuckles.
'Now write a description of your hand...(let it) lead exactly where you need to go...write for as long as you can.'
You will be surprised to discover how much you learn about yourself simply by writing about your hand.
Here's what I came up with:
The contours of my hands are genetic emblems that showcase a delicate bone structure and fragility. Sometimes underestimated, they carry the hamper of life's necessities competently.
An arrangement of crucial and significant priorities wrapped in a sense of duty and tied with what needs to be done.
An emblem and my journal are these well used hands, dehydrated and moisturised by life. They hold memories in every crevice of every age line, just as they held: rings, babies, tissues and other hands through the years.
Inspired. I rearrange my hamper and add a bottle of what some might call indulgence.
The new balance of obligation and gratification scintillates an epiphany. I look at each item in my basket and see my own reflection.
What a revelation. My life is completely in my hands.
If you would like your writing therapy published, email it to:
Writing Therapy
[email protected]
Writing Therapy
[email protected]