The Right to Write

A couple months ago I started reading this book. It's called The Right to Write by an explicitly authentic and enamoring author by the name of Julia Cameron. I started looking into her books by recommendation of Shauna Neiquists blog and I am in love. The premise of this book is to convince her readers that everyone is a writer. We are all born loving and leveraging words but are quickly discouraged from exploring the millions of facets of writing when we enter into a formal box of strategy and construction. I don't get the sense that she is against formal education, but definitely that she is saddened over the lack of creativity it allows its students. Therefore, through her book, Julia has made it her mission to guide her readers through a simple, everyday, habit-forming way of writing.

So I'm gonna do it.

Now, if you are a frequent Julianna blog reader, you know that everyday commitments and me go together as well as oil and water. So as ambitious as I am, I'm not going to commit to an everyday thing. Life as a wife, student, teacher, and singer does not allow any more room for more commitments. But as an aspiring writer, I want to document this process. She gives practical advice, aids, and homework assignments that start the juices flowing. My favorite part about this book so far is that she emphasizes over and over again that everyone is a writer. Everyone. That means you too. We all have something to say and someone to say it to.

"In our current culture...writing is not forbidden, it is discouraged. Hallmark does it for us. We shop for the card that is the 'closest' to what we wish to say. Writing is about attractions, words you can't resist using to describe things too interesting to pass up. Forget the lofty motives. Begin, begin where you are." ~Cameron.

And that is what I am going to do. Your encouragement, ideas, and advice are greatly welcomed!

~JM


Initiation Tool for Chapter One:

Take 3 sheets of 8 1/2 by 11 paper and fill those pages with how you are feeling right now. Physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Write about anything and everything. Stop when you fill the 3 pages. [paraphrased from the book]