Writer's Motivation
Welcome to Writer's Motivation!
I created this page so that my students would have a place to go when they are struck with the psychosomatic condition called "writer's block". Every few months, I hope to post different writers' comments about the art and process of writing.
Inspiration this month comes from a student of mine, Kim Storch. She is the kind of student who tries any exercise and will push herself to write, even if it is difficult. Below are some of the in-class warm-ups and exercises she did during this summer session of Releasing The Writer Within. Take a look at the exercise and her response. Then, try the exercises yourself and email me what you write. I will post responses.
Exercise: Read the following quote and then free write.
Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive -- the risk to be alive and express what we really are. Don Miguel Ruiz
It is so weird; the first quote had to do with death. During the stretching I was thinking if I were to die now it would suck because I feel like I’m just beginning. Beginning this new journey in writing and beginning watching Konrad and Koby grow into little boys. Weird. And I loved the part, Our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive-express what we really are. So true. I’ve been afraid since my dad passed away. Afraid I’ll lose something again, something so dear to me. Leaving the house I worry will I die today? Who will watch my kids? Or if Kurt or my mom or sister are driving far will they die today? Fear so gripping. My dad wouldn’t want me to feel this way so I must look at my fear of death and embrace living. This class has really given me back the power to do this. Writing helps me feel alive. It lets me see and enjoy. It lets me live. Through this I’ve been able to grow and it feels good. I guess it’ll take time to really stop the fear but as long as I write I’ll feel alive at the same time. Death will come, hopefully not to soon. When it does I want to be able to look back and say I lived- I lived a lot.
Exercise: Here's some setting details, and now you write the text.
Time: 1930
Time of day: 9 am
Day and month: Monday. September
Location: Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Where: Textile Mill
Weather: chilly, cloudy, 54 degrees, threat of a hurricane
Prop: winding machine. Yarn spools
I am so exhausted. Sitting at my God awful machine, my hands burn, my eyes ache. The only relief I get is when I look out the window of this God-forsaken place I can see the road that will lead me out of here. They say the hurricane is fast approaching but I don’t care, my sweater is packed. As soon as the 5:00 whistle shouts the day has ended I will push in my chair and never look back. The road ahead is mine. Good bye to you shitty textile mill. Leaving on this chilly, September day makes it easy to go. Sure I’ll miss the colors of the fall, the white of fresh fallen snow, but that’s it. Life is mine for the taking; won’t he be shocked when 5:15 comes and I don’t arrive at the door. The thought makes me smile. I glance around at the workers, you suckers, I think. Day in, day out, working your fingers to the bone. Bull! I say. There is more to life and I’ll be damned not to find out what it is.
Exercise: Warm up. Ask yourself why you are here, in class, today.
The word freedom came immediately into my head-why do I come to class? Why do I keep coming back? Yes-it’s freedom. Freedom to work on me. To get away from everyday life and build on something I am passionate about. Writing gives me purpose to create. I know when I’m getting bitchy or uptight at home I just stop and think and realize I haven’t written or read today-for me. Freedom for me to become a better mom, wife, friend,daughter. A better more free me. Me to ME. The freedom to write and create helps me live better, richer. I can see the purpose in daily life when I write. Having purpose, gaining freedom. A true blessing.
Student Bio
Kimberly(Kim) Ward Storch is a mom of 2 boys, Konrad Alfred is 2 (almost 3) and Koby Drew who is 1. She also is a pre-school teacher and has owned her own pre-school/daycare for 10 years. She’s been a writer since childhood. The craft of writing allows her freedom to create. It's a true blessing.
More of Kim's work is featured in the newly revised Releasing The Writer Within Workbook, available in October 2007.
Below are some of the responses to the exercises posted above:
"Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive -- the risk to be alive and express what we really are. "
Before April 6, 1998, I was totally petrified to die. Not that I thought of it often, but when I did, I thought I had too much life to live. But on April 6, 1998, the fear started to subside. My mother died that day and I was very sad. She was my biggest fan in life. She was so proud when I graduated college and even more ecstatic when I finished graduate school. She always encouraged me to be me and to be the best me I could be. When she died, I lost my biggest fan, but I also started to slowly accept death. Sure, I thought it was unfair to have my mother taken from me at age 69 and so soon after I was married - when I really needed her. I needed to hear all the reasons she "hated" my dad and why she still stayed with him for 48 years. I was struggling with being married too. Struggling to be me. In the seven years of dating my husband, I gradually became less of me and more of us. I no longer went to the beach to plant my toes in the sand or dip my feet in the salt water. I no longer owned a stereo to enjoy all the music I loved - the beach and music both energized me, but my husband didn't enjoy either so I stopped doing those things. I turned to my sister after my Mom died. My sister became my Mom. She became my life coach. She picked up where my Mom left off - she continued to give me the strength to be me. Her home was the first place I turned to the day my husband asked for a divorce. The day I realized my marriage had failed. And on that day, when I felt the sky was falling on me, she assured me I would be okay. She knew better than I did that the divorce was a blessing. She was so fucking smart. She knew this would give me a second chance. A second chance at love. A second chance at life. A second chance to never let myself become something other than me just to satisfy someone else. She encouraged me to only satisfy Linda - always! She took away any fear I had that I would never meet another man. She assured me that if I kept my 'true colors' in view, I would most definitely meet the right man for me. She made me feel so safe.
