Back in the fall of 1994 at a Boomer (Escapees Birds of a Feather group) gathering, Alice Zyetz suggested a writing practice. Five women gathered in my 1988 Pace Arrow motorhome one afternoon in Pena Blanca, AZ. Betty Prange writes about that first meeting in RV Traveling Tales: Women's Journeys on the Open Road. Our practice was based on Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones. This was the first of many writing sessions numerous RV writers would have over the years at other RV gatherings, RV parks and RV educational events.
Natalie stress the importance of writing regularly - timed writing practices for 5, 10 or 15 minutes each. The idea is to stop the internal editor and just write. It doesn't have to be good, just write.
Now Natalie Goldberg has published a book of exercises or topics for your timed writing. Old Friend From Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoirs has dozens of ideas. Opening the book at random, here are a couple of examples:
- Ten minutes: Write everything you know about mashed potatoes.
- What about a time you slept outside? Tell me about it. Go. Ten minutes.
Goldberg's books feel like she is talking to you directly. Alice and I attended one of her workshops in Sedona a couple of years ago. I can still hear her voice. In this book she gives encouragement and writing advice along with topics to write about.
No matter what type of writing you want to do, whether it is writing down your story for family or whether you hope to be published, regular writing exercise is the foundation. I recommend this one. Jaimie
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