Writing for Self-Discovery

This book, which I co-wrote with John Killick, is intended for people who would like to use creative writing as a tool to explore themselves. It is addressed both to those who may have had little experience of writing and to practised writers who would like to deepen their work through self-discovery.

After an introductory section which offers some easy ways of getting in touch with feelings it introduces a series of basic techniques with many examples. Most of these are by people who have been to Myra and John's workshops. Later chapters draw on these techniques in suggesting approaches to writing about inner and outer worlds. Part Four examines in detail seven possibilities for the development of raw material into different kinds of prose or poems.

Part Five looks at ways of keeping a journal and points to consider in writing an autobiography. The book ends with five sections which show with commentary and illustration how well and little-known writers have tackled major personal themes.

Throughout there is reference to literature with a strong focus on poetry, autobiography and autobiographical fiction.

Here are the contents of the book:

Price £8.99
ISBN 1 84333 045 8
Vega Books
Available from me.

 
PART ONE: GETTING IN TOUCH WITH FEELINGS

PART TWO: TECHNIQUES
Flow-Writing
Clustering
Modelling
Tapping into memory
Image Explorations
Letters, Dramatized Scenes, Narratives and Internal Dialogues
Dreams and Active Imaginings
Drawing as a Stimulus

PART THREE: INNER AND OUTER
The Body
Relationships, Families and Other Groups
Inner Traits and Outside Influences
Self-Portraits and Life-Lines

PART FOUR: DEVELOPING PIECES OF WORK

PART FIVE: JOURNALS AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES
Keeping a Journal
Writing an Autobiography

PART SIX: THEMES AND EXAMPLES
Early Memories
Life Stages
Relationships
Loss
Self-Image and Spiritual Development

Conclusion
Further Reading
  This is part of the introduction to Flow-Writing followed by one way of starting it off and an example:
  By allowing ourselves to associate freely - that is to put down the first words that come into our heads, then to write down whatever these make us think of and to keep following the train of thought wherever it takes us - our deepest ideas and feelings begin to surface. When you try out this technique you may feel a strong urge to direct your writing, but resist it...

*****
 
 
 
  Here is another way to start Flow-Writing. Write down two or three of the following: a feeling, a colour, a food, a sound, a smell, a texture, something you've said or thought today, an object you've handled, a plant you've seen, an animal, the name of a person you know or have known. Now make up a sentence using at least two of the words you've written down. Let this be the first sentence of your Flow-Writing. Any of your preliminary words may have an influence on it.
 
Example

Red, anger, hoot. It must be lack of confidence not anger that made him hoot. Yes, he has to be in control or he can't cope. I know that feeling exactly, that sense that I must keep hold of all ends. Red ends fraying, ends jumping out of my hands, pulling off my jacket, leaving me so exposed I will never recover. Recover what old cushion? Cats' hairs all over the cushion...and at this point the cat walks over my wallet, over the computer keys and creates a word in the screen. Words, words, words, Hamlet - anger. How can I write about my anger? (Leigh Thomas)
  Writing in New Insight Ramona Moody said of Writing for Self-Discovery: 'A practical guide that really really works. Brimful of clever techniques guaranteed to unleash that creative spirit inside...Professional scribblers will find useful ideas for sparkling up the source of expression and breaking through writers' block. And absolutely anyone can find encouragement to set down some good, hard soul-searching...Also a good read for its diverse offerings of poetry and prose geared to self-expression. Highly recommended.'
   
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