Creative Life Midwife

Inspiring Artistic Rebirth

Inspirational Writing, Meditation & Poetry is Right Here & Out Beyond

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A Call to Love Yourself & Others

Sometimes it feels like “Self-Love” is overdone just like sometimes “Self-Care” often falls into a shallow trap of massages and manicures.

Beyond those limiting experiences, there is a depth of beauty you and I may not know yet.

This series “Out Beyond” will blend the richness of poetry, the mindfulness of meditation and the expression of writing and visual art to respond to the ever important call to love others… as yourself.

How often do we forget that this most important guidance not only calls us to love others, we also need to have a true respect and honoring for ourselves before we can understand and apply that same knowing of love for others.

Compassion: Beyond Others and Into Self

“Remember to give yourself grace,” I said yesterday to someone I am working with to have a more satisfying life experience while also living with a chronic illness.

I might as well have been holding up a mirror to my face.

How often do I offer myself undue favor, kindess and offer an outstretched hand of understanding before I leap into negative talk toward myself I would never say to others.

In “Out Beyond” we will explore compassion, too.

Forgiveness: Look Both Outward and Inward, to Self

It is not unusual for people to be great at forgiving others and not so good at forgiving themselves.

I will raise my hand and say “ME!” here because it is something I have been actively working on for quite a while. I recognize how valuable and necessary self-forgiveness and other-forgiveness are during this time of explosive separation, let’s step peacefully into increased forgiveness starting with ourselves.

This experience will take place here, at the Creative Life Midwife, and will writing exercises, videos, inspirational quotes and two five-day writing explorations with prompts and the option to practice and apply what you’re learning through the poetry and meditations.

Rumi wrote, “Out beyond the field of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I will meet you there.” A field of love, compassion and forgiveness will welcome you to explore, discover and add to your creative life in ways you may not even fathom yet.

I look forward to seeing you “Out Beyond” beginning on January 14.

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she is working on finishing her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch IGTV exclusive videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group by clicking here.

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Lights, Camera, Create Live Content (and have fun doing it!)

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A video or film set: livestreaming isn't this fancy and it has the same energy. The text says Light, Camera. Create Content!

Yesterday I started a live-streaming challenge along with several of my friends from the PeriGirls – a group of women who were pioneers in livestreaming who started going live way back in 2015. When our favorite livestreaming app disappeared, many of us lost the vigor to continue.

One of our members decided she wanted to get her groove back and recognized how much more fun it is to do when there are others out there doing it, too so here I am, livestreaming every day in January.

Beyond the Plan there is…. Action (even if afraid)

I have a plan, I know where I am broadcasting when. I am experienced. I have nothing to be frightened of and yet.

I have to tap that darned red button and go live. Every day. Whether I feel like it or not.

What is good about a challenge like this?

  1. If you are doing it with friends, you are more likely to get it done.
  2. You feel less pain as you rip off the mask of perfectionism because some days you are guaranteed to suck. Or be less great than usual. Or at least I am, maybe some of my cohort are always fabulous. Live-streaming is a great way to cure perfectionism, especially if you stick with it after you’ve fallen flat a couple times.
  3. You remember how to do “old things” more than you know. In case you haven’t ridden a bicycle in a long time, your knees may hurt and you may wobble at first, but it does get easier.

In case you are curious, I am live-streaming about writing, blogging, books and poetry… and people who write and read and lead passionately creative lives.

I would love your support when I live-stream

On Wednesdays I plan to interview people on instagram live (if you’re interested in being interviewed let me know in the comments!) I will turn the lives into videos that will stay on Instagram and become evergreen content.

On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays I will be going live in the Let Our Words Flow Creative Community and the Writing Camp with JJS Page on Facebook. These are streamed concurrently. Today I wasn’t so great. Tuesday will be fun as we are talking about activating our writing magical wands.

Meanwhile I almost didn’t get this blog post written because I was too busy cleaning, fussing and feeling sad. That’s another thing about this kind of challenge: it helps to keep you focused on what makes you feel good – and live-streaming always makes me feel good even if I don’t do all that well because I know I did something.

Taking a daily risk by going live also stretches the courage and vulnerability muscle.

Today I scooped up the lights, the camera and I am took action – just like I am doing with my blog here, today.

Have you ever live-streamed? What are your thoughts about live-streaming? Share in the comments – I love talking about it, too!

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she is working on finishing her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch IGTV exclusive videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group by clicking here.

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Platitudes May Be Poison: 3 Reasons Platitudes Aren’t Helpful and What You Can Do to Avoid Them

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A wooden floor reaches into a not very clear, cloudy yet colorful sky. The text reads: Platitudes are poison. Choose to be mindful to restore relationships.

Humans who love one another, on the whole, want to be helpful. They want to do their best. One of my oft-used phrases my children have been known to repeat is “No one wakes up plotting ways to make other people mad.”

Granted, some people do, but the majority of people do not wake up as sinister characters in mediocre books and movies.

What are platitudes?

Platitudes are throw-away phrases that are used because people are more comfortable saying something than not saying something, especially when they are in a conversation where people are being vulnerable.

Platitudes are not always wrong to use. Think of it like nutrition: we won’t expect to stay healthy and strong if our diet is 100% donuts. Sure, they may make us feel better for a short burst of time – and donuts can also become harmful when consumed too often and replace more healthy choices.

Here are some examples:

“Everything happens for a reason.”

”Good things come to those who wait.”

“Whatever will be, will be.”

Platitudes are not always bad: especially when not overused

Sometimes we say platitudes to ourselves and they serve as a bridge from feeling horrible to feeling more able to get to our next task or next conversation. This is a positive use of platitudes (and remember choosing between chocolate raised or a cruller six times a day will not make you a healthier person.

The reasons we ought to be mindful of using platitudes are many,  and it is especially important when we have loved ones who are grieving, hurt or recovering from illness or trauma.

Questions to consider before speaking in a cliched “tried and true” statement to a hurting person

  1. If I say this phrase, do I run the risk of shutting down the conversation with my loved one? Will this help or harm the healing process?
  2. Am I saying this to make myself feel better or am I saying this because I am uncomfortable being silent?
  3. Your mother may have given the admonishment mine did: “Think before you speak.” which may be considered a platitude, also. In fact, I heard my sister get lectured about this so many times I started thinking too much about thinking so my voice and thoughts most often went unspoken and lead to many years of therapy and healing work.

This platitude did lead to an acronym to consider before you blurt another phrase:

Easy check in to discern whether to speak or wait or say somethign different:

  • Is this true? Think factual rather than a big T truth.
  • Is this helpful? Can any action be taken from what you say? Will the person feel better or worse having heard what you say?
  • Is this inspiring? Will it build the person up or tear them down.
  • Is this necessary to say? Or is it empty fluffy “donut talk”
  • Is this kind? Is it compassionate and offered with love? Will the result of speaking this make your loved one feel more loved or will they feel defensive and dishonored or someplace in between?

When people are struggling, the last thing they want is to feel judged, shamed or surrounded by people who don’t want to listen and don’t seem to care about them.

Instead of platitudes, speak with your heart

Using platitudes may cause irreparable harm. Share from your heart, authentically, instead. with your heard. Being more and meaningfully may cause irreparable harm to your most important relationships. You may be well-meaning when you use platitudes, but unfortunately, this may not land well.

Options to use in uncomfortable conversations instead of platitudes:

I am not sure what to say right now.. I want to help you feel better because I care about you. I am afraid to say something stupid that I may regret saying.

Would you like some advice or would you like me to listen more?

I’m here for you: keep saying whatever you need to say. I am listening. 

This must be difficult for you to talk about – because I love you so much my knee jerk response is to rush in and make it all better. I am doing my best to not do that anymore. I apologize in advance if and when I do that.

The less you rely on platitudes, the better communicator you will become, the more comfortable you will be with uncomfortable conversations and the more meaningful your relationships will be.

Below: a 5 minute video on this topic that may be helpful to watch and share with people:

Julie JordanScott is a multipassionate creative who delights in inviting others into their own fullhearted. artistic experience via her creativity coaching individually or in groups, courses and workshops. To receive inspiring content and videos weekly and find out more about Coaching, Courses, Challenges and what’s going on in the Creative Life Midwife world? Subscribe here:

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Bloggers & Writers: Have fun Creating Content with Writing Experiments

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Blogger cartoon character is being reminded blogging can be fun! I can do it! Writing experiments are playful! I am stronger than my blocks! I am allowed to take a break.

Writing experiments are an easy way to become a better writer through curiosity and playfulness as a channel to writing improvement. Writing experiments focus on results being what they will be, thus ruling out the unfortunate sense of failure that overcomes many writers.

Writers are often curious, passionate and driven by learning how to improve and unfortunately may get discouraged when this leads to something other than the outcome we wanted. With writing experiments, we have freedom to see if something new works without being attached to what is right and what is wrong.

Your English Writing Teacher is NOT in your blogging room.

There are no “red pencil flashbacks” with writing experiments!

Today I actually failed with my ongoing #rolloverandwrite writing experiment. My response? Hey, for 40 days this worked beautifully. Now, how may I tweak it and start over? No beating myself up or deciding to never try again! Instead, a joyful experiment with a tiny change and back at it!

Watch this short video to learn about my most recent writing experiment.

Examples of writing experiments may include writing X for #number of days. I wrote at leasy one haiku poem for 377 consecutive days, for example. NaNoWriMo is a form of writing experiment. Some AuthorTubers borrow writing routines of favorite authors to see how it works in their lives and then share on YouTube.

Writing experiments are not about failing what you are trying, they reinforce any feedback being constructive feedback. Not Bad Writer/Good Writer. Not “I’m no good” instead, “Its all good!”

A New Way to Define Success as a Writer and Blogger

If you are putting words on the page, you are a success. Maybe my next writing experiment will be to try a week of writing badly or writing ridiculously or writing melodramatically. Normally, that would be horrifying! With writing experiments it is fun and may lead to learning something I wouldn’t have learned otherwise.

And now it’s your turn –

What writing experiment would you like to try? Remember, passion not perfection. Curiosity and playfulness will help all your results feel good. Ask questions in the comments or send me an email.

Let’s have fun with our next writing experiments!

Julie JordanScott is a multipassionate creative who delights in inviting others into their own fullhearted. artistic experience via her creativity coaching individually or in groups, courses and workshops. To receive inspiring content and videos weekly and find out more about Coaching, Courses, Challenges and what’s going on in the Creative Life Midwife world? Subscribe here:

Follow on Instagram to Watch IGTV exclusive videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group by clicking here.

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Top 7 Writing Micro-Goals for Creative Entrepreneurs

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I’ve seen this happen with more of my coaching, healing arts and creative entrepreneur clients than I can count – and I have even done it myself. We plunk down at our desks at our designated writing times and absolutely nothing happens.

Here’s the thing: creating a small, micro-goal specifically aimed to help you with consistent content creation is deceptively simple. Try one of these on for a week. If it doesn’t appeal, try a different one for seven days. Repeat as necessary.

My secret success is from having one solid “writing not for content but for exercising the writing muscle” practice, for me it is a daily stream of conscious journaling in the morning, and then have a second micro goal I mix up and serve differently, like a writing buffet.

Watch the video here and read below for more details for each tip.

  1. My newest accidental micro-goal is a daily #RollOverandWrite. That’s it. Wake up, roll over and pick up the notebook you placed at your bedside before you went to sleep and write a few sentences.
  1. Write an affirmative intention daily in the morning. “I am capable of writing effective blog posts.” “People enjoy what I write.” “My sales letter is both effective and engaging.”
  1. Exercise for 20 minutes and write immediately after. Set up your writing space before you go for your walk, job or attend your zumba class. If you work out someplace besides your home, bring a notebook with you and write in your car or at the gym or at a picnic table in the park. Your subconscious is watching to see how important your writing is to you by the consistent time you give it.
  1. Journal/free write for a set amount of time or set number of words/pages each day. You may write as few as 250 words (approximately one page) or for three minutes. The amount of writing matters less than simply flowing with your writing rather than attempting to mold it or edit as you go along. That comes later – and believe me, if you can get the words on the page to begin with, editing will come easily.
  1. To practice writing concisely and with the most writing “bang for your buck” write a daily haiku, six word story or American Sentence poem. Any of this “very micro writing” will help you be use your best words. It will help you write compelling copy and/or characters with a more curated conversational style than you may usually write. It will teach you to cut out unnecessary words that often bog down our readers.
  1. Write a 5 item gratitude list before you go to sleep. You may also make a list of “What went well today” or “5 Good Things that happened today” list. Thesetrain your brain to focus on what is constructive and helpful in your life. A bonus is the subject of each item on the list may easily become a blog post, a social media post or a chapter in a book or poem.
  1. Use a timer to write 5 minutes a day for 5 consecutive days, #5for5BrainDump style. You may try unprompted or prompted writing. In the Let Our Words Flow Creative Community we have prompts and videos to guide you as you practice this – plus it is free to join the group which also has a thriving community, lots of tips, video teachings and daily discussion for creative entrepreneurs.

Julie JordanScott is a multipassionate creative who delights in inviting others into their own fullhearted. artistic experience via her creativity coaching individually or in groups, courses and workshops. To receive inspiring content and videos weekly and find out more about Coaching, Courses, Challenges and what’s going on in the Creative Life Midwife world? Subscribe here:

Follow on Instagram to Watch IGTV exclusive videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group by clicking here.

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Would you like more delight, more personal growth and better storytelling?

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Challenging myself to new methods of cataloguing and enjoying my life and growing as I do so. I have collected quotes, gratitudes and good things. I took 365 Self Portraits before Selfies were “invented” and I did so by pointing my camera lens backwards and took photos blindly.

In other words, this sort of “I love trying new things!” challenges have been going on for a long time.

This month I started a new self-challenge at the last minute so I didn’t have a chance to blog it or share it officially on any of my usual platforms. 

The better news is I have continued not perfectly – but steadily – so this month’s results are much better than my August 2021 Fail-a-thon.

That’s another thing about me: when I don’t do what I set out to do, I give myself grace and offer forgiveness readily because I learned long ago the only positive notion to beating myself up is initiating a faster fall back into feeling depressed more consistently and that is definitely not something I want to do.

Here is how I am adding more satisfaction in September in addition to my 377 Tree Hugs – which are continuing very well after I got over a bit of a struggle between 150 and 250 tree hugs.

To have more Daily Delights, set your intention plus document daily

I am tracking 3 Daily Delights every day in September 2021.

Every day, I stay open to finding 3 things that fill me with the giddy feeling of delight. It really is delicious and makes me smile a lot. So far I have had unique things like seeing a bird sitting on a fire hydrant singing to purchasing a gatorade and shopping with a young man I had never met before. You get to decide what delights you. You may note it or not – again, you are the rule maker for all of these challenges.

To experience personal growth, pay attention to what opportunities are catching your attention and keep track of them.

Every day, I take note of up to three growth possibilities that show up on my horizon. This week, for example, I am journaling about messages “from the universe” and last week I journaled about “what my future self would like for me to learn.”

There are multiple reasons this works well. First, it teaches me to collect my ideas for self improvement. It also helps me to be detached from results and curate what possibilities I want to move forward. If I have the same growth possibility it will get to the point if I don’t accept that mission from the universe, I may be in for a lot of discomfort along the way.

To become a better storyteller, create stories beyond words.

Have you heard the expression, “a picture is worth 1,000 words”? I was introduced to visual narrative several years ago and have found it to be tremendously helpful in stretching myself as a storyteller and writer and visual artist. By the way, I never would have thought I would ever be a visual artist so be prepared to fall in love with visual storytelling.

There are two different ways I approaching visual storytelling: one is to create visual stories with props (for me these are items I find along the way – and the photos are like mini three dimensional art journals that usually only exist in my documentation. I have found these are great for intuitive growth and insight. 

The second method is more of a photojournalism approach which I have been using primarily. As I am out and about living my life, I am aware of images/scenes that call out to me.  Lately I have taken a lot of images that are seedy or “less than” beautiful by conventional standards AND if I challenge myself I know I can find a different subcategory. 

In fact, I may do that for the rest of the week we are in because it will help my creativity from seeming one dimensional as well as help me to “see” more.

 If any of these subcategories appeal to you, feel free to jump on board and try them out and follow along with me on my Writing Camp with Julie JordanScott Facebook Page. It is the simplest way for me to share largely no matter where I am from day-to-day.  If you would also appreciate “behind the scenes” I also have a free private facebook group called “Let Our Words Flow Creative Community” where many creative people participate in conversations along these themes daily.

Julie JordanScott is a multipassionate creative who delights in inviting others into their own fullhearted. artistic experience via her creativity coaching individually or in groups, courses and workshops. To receive inspiring content and videos weekly and find out more about Coaching, Courses, Challenges and what’s going on in the Creative Life Midwife world? Subscribe here:

Follow on Instagram to Watch IGTV exclusive videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group by clicking here.

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Writers: How You May Use Fear of Failure to Fuel Your Success in Going Live

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Think about your response to this question before you continue reading:

How often have you given up before you had any real evidence that you might not succeed at whatever your most recent sense of close-to-failure might be?

How many of us look forward to making mistakes and worse than that, how many of us look forward to failure?

Keep reading: this is important.

Successful Power House Sara Blakely Aims for Failure

Sara Blakely, founder and creator of Spanx Shapewear,  credits her tenacity amidst failure to her father’s attitude. 

She wrote,  “We’d sit around the dinner table and he’d ask, ‘What did you guys fail at this week?’ If we had nothing to tell him, he’d be disappointed,” she said. “He knew that many people become paralyzed by the fear of failure. My father wanted us to try everything and feel free to push the envelope. His attitude taught me to define failure as not trying something I want to do instead of not achieving the right outcome.”

I teach writers how to successfully go live (live-streaming) the easiest ways possible. I love going live myself, so this is a natural extension of that love and then I discovered many have challenges because they are afraid to make mistakes.

What would happen if you made making mistakes fun?

I even made a video about it for you – watch the video here.

Sarah Blakely has continued her quest of mistakes, failure and embarrassment. You may read of her latest conquest here.

Now it’s your turn: More on Success & Making Mistakes

How do you feel about making mistakes?

How might you use fear of making mistakes to fuel your future successes?

Comment below to continue the conversation!

Julie JordanScott is a multipassionate creative who delights in inviting others into their own fullhearted. artistic experience via her creativity coaching individually or in groups, courses and workshops. To receive inspiring content and videos weekly and find out more about Coaching, Courses, Challenges and what’s going on in the Creative Life Midwife world? Subscribe here:

Follow on Instagram to Watch IGTV exclusive videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group by clicking here.

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How to Use Simple Writing Warm Ups: 5 Easy Ideas to Try Now

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Musicians and athletes understand what some writers don’t understand. Before musicians do their primary work – singing that intense musical piece or performing before an audience or before an athlete runs (or swims or bikes or walks)  the race, one must warm up one’s “instrument” the voice or the body.

The same is true with writing.

It is a rare case when the first words we write are the best of what we write. 

Why should a writer use writing warm ups?

Consider the writing warm-up as an “on-ramp” to the rest of your writing. We have to get onto the on-ramp in order to build up speed for driving on the highway and getting to our next destination. 

Writing Warm Ups Allow Us To…

  • Reconnect with previous writing
  • Get focused on the task, mission or purpose of each particular writing session.
  • Provide a “Starting Point” that is better or more clear than the confusion when the writing session begins. 
  • Stretch our “writing muscles”. Playing with words that we aren’t attached to being good or right or perfect helps our later words improve.
  • Experiment: make your warm up into a game you may use to try new and unexpected things. You may find these experiments turn into some of your best ideas of all. If you didn’t do warm ups, you would have no space for such frivolity.

Writer Lindsay Price said, “I use warm ups especially when I don’t feel like writing. Instead of walking away from my desk, I do an exercise. Nine times out of ten by the time I’m done my warm up, I’ve changed my tune.”

How do writing warm ups work?

As I started writing this, for example, I was reminded of a test taking strategy that always resulted in a better grade: I would read the entire exam before I made a single mark on it.

Why?

If I knew the answers to the questions, there would be no problem in quickly checking those off, but for the questions that were tricky, it gave my subconscious mind a chance to “find the answer for me”. By the time I had zipped through the easy questions I knew I had right, my brain had warmed up to take on the more difficult questions.

In case you are not sure about how a writing warm-up may help you, I invite you to do a writing experiment using warm up exercises.

Challenge: Experiment and play to see how writing warm ups work best for you

Here are five warm-up exercises to try. The rules of writing engagement are:

  1. Do not warm up for longer than 5 minutes. 3 to 5 minutes is ideal.
  2. If you try one technique and it doesn’t work, choose a different technique. One not working doesn’t mean writing warm ups aren’t good, it means that particular writing warm up didn’t work
  3. Have a plan or purpose for your writing after the warm up. For example: “I will write 1000 words of my novel” or “I will work on my sales campaign for the next hour.”
  • Writing Warm Up 1: Free Flow, Stream of Consciousness or Automatic Writing: these are synonymous. Simply write without editing, judgement or forethought. Let your pencil float across the page or your fingers tap on the keyboard or scan the screen. This is my personal favorite warm up.
  • Writing Warm Up 2: Use prompted writing – the best single prompts include “I remember”, “Yesterday I….”, “If things were perfect, I would…”, “What would be wisest to do next is…” and the sensory prompts – “I see, I hear, I smell, I taste, I touch, and the sixth sense – I feel (intuitively or emotionally.)
  • Writing Warm Up 3: Take 60 seconds to write a complete description of an ordinary object that can fit in your hand. Experience the object fully – feel it in your hand but lift it to your face, feel it against your cheek, smell it, compare it to similar sized objects. Write everything down, take note of the tiniest details. Warning: this may change your relationship with the things you own. 🙂
  • Writing Warm Up 4: Explore where a quote takes you. If you don’t collect quotes, google “Quotes about (insert your favorite subject of the day.) Choose a quote, copy it into your notebook or document and add, “This makes me think” and/or “this makes me feel” and see where the thoughts and feelings take you. You may find it takes your main character someplace, too!
  • Writing Warm Up 5: Write about your favorites… whatever. You can even make a jar with papers listing “movies, teacher, sci fi films, poems, athlete, musician, book, genre of book, comedian, city to visit” or whatever your likely favorites may be. If you spend a week or ten days focusing on your favorites, you will likely have a week to ten days of more pleasant writing experiences.

Which writing warm up will you use first?

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, Writer, Speaker and Mom extraordinaire who loves working with creative entrepreneurs, artists and healers to get their words written on the page, spoken in their videos and shared across social media platforms with confidence.

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Meditative Writing from the Senses: Witness Your Life with Writing to Feel More Empowered and Courageous

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We write for many reasons. No matter what your reason is – or whatever form of content you plan to create – the best way to get to the heart of your message is to begin writing in a free-flow, meditative or stream of consciousness style.

Use Meditative Writing to Discover What You Think, Know and Understand

When I write either a first draft or a bit of timed meditative writing, what I discover often surprises me. It is like what novelist Flannery O’Connor said, ““I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” If you want to write a blog post or a video script or a sales page, the same skill set works. The same practices work. Today, we are focusing on witnessing your life via the senses – clearly and simply.

How to start writing from the senses

Instead of writing “It looks good” or “I think it is pretty” look carefully at the subject of your writing either in your minds eye or physically. From this experience, write something like this:

“The bright purple irises fill the glass vase with the twine tied in a bow.”

“There was a hint of vanilla in the chocolate chip cookies” or

“He was over six feet tall, which made my five foot four inch frame feel tiny.”

Yes, there is some opinion in that final sentence, but do you see how it is supported in fact?

PRACTICE: What would you write about this picture? Colors? Textures? (from items like this you have in your home)? What sounds do books make?

Feel free to share in the comments and we can dialogue there or send me a message to practice more.

A writing prompt image with a picture of books, a coffee cup and plants to inspire writers by using their senses for meditative writing.


Write with sensory details- write from what is specific and concrete.

Be with what sensory – be with specific and concrete details.

Once you hold the sensory experience – what you see, hear, touch, smell, feel – then you may delve into the sixth sense – what your intuition tells you and eventually what meaning you make from life experience and witnessing your life experience.

PRACTICE: USE THE PHOTO PROMPT ABOVE AND CONNECT THE DESCRIPTION WITH AN EXPERIENCE FROM YOUR LIFE. YOU MIGHT WRITE ABOUT THE LAST TIME YOU SHARED A CUP OF COFFEE OR TEA WITH A FRIEND OR A BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE OR YOUR FRIEND WHO ENJOYS AND COLLECTS SUCCULENTS.

Throughout this week, we will be sharing strategies to help you write more freely using techniques that will help you write better – whatever genre you have chosen to write within. Come back to discover more about how to improve your writing!

Julie JordanScott has been writing since before she was literate by dictating her thoughts to her mother and then copying in thick crayons onto construction paper. She was a pioneer in epublishing and continues to reach readers through her blog, bestselling books, greeting cards and her essays and poems in anthologies. Join her for one of her upcoming #5for5BrainDump programs or an upcoming writing circle or writing for social media programs.

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Wisdom from Emily Dickinson: Lifting Up Ourselves and others.

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What do you think when you hear “rise” or “lift” or “soar”?

The word “rise” and “rising” have been popular lately. There are books by Brene Brown (Rising Strong); Tiffany Reese (Strong Women Rising); and many books honoring the Maya Angelou poem, “Still I Rise” in their titles and messages.

Today in the front pages of the novel, “Keeping Lucy” by T. Greenwood, I found a quote by Emily Dickinson that includes the phrase “called to rise.”

I didn’t believe it could be accurate. After all, she was writing in the middle decades of the 19th century. 

What I found was this:

“We never know how high we are

  Till we are called to rise;

And then, if we are true to plan,

  Our statures touch the skies—”

Emily Dickinson

She did say it!

She even went further:

“The Heroism we recite

  Would be a daily thing”

I am starting a blog challenge today – posting daily in May. My initial thought as I sit in my parents’ home in Flagstaff, Arizona is “Are you kidding me? This is so not the time to do a month long challenge. It’s hard enough to finish these in the best of times.” 

Yet it may be the perfect way for me to rise – and allow my stature to reach up, touch the sky and write. Write. Write.

I hope you will read, read, read, and see where we come out, a month from now. 

I trust in writing – showing up at the page and sharing what I discover along the way – will help us all be lifted up. 

Woman writing on the front porch of a brick home,
Write wherever you find yourself.

Julie Jordan Scott is the Creator of the Radical Joy of Daily Consistency Course which helps people practice consistency and completion daily in order to experience a more incredible life experience. She also founded the free, private facebook community for writers and creative people at all levels of experience: the Word Love Writing Community. Join us!

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