21 Comments
User's avatar
ShinyGirl's avatar

August 1 - And I've got so much good around me but all I can think of is the shit I don't like.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

dear ShinyGirl: thanks so much for sharing this authentic and honest refection...

Sue Harrington's avatar

Ooohhhh! I just found this! I’m going to do it starting tomorrow.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

That’s wonderful, Sue. Let me know how it’s going!

Katerina | Inner Notebook's avatar

I have spent the last 8 months finding my writers voice and feel like I went about it back to front, I ended up doing voice to text rambling about a topic I knew well and then found it!

It wasnt really that simple but I wish I started there as you mentioned as a first step. I think for me.... I didn't recognize the way I spoke just knew it wasn't me. Collecting words I actually liked and enjoyed was increably helpful too. I really love this so much and it is so practical to use!

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Katerina: I love your approach - collecting words that you like and enjoy! I'm curious what are some of your favorite words? when i though about it mine are: thrive, flourish, prosper, think...

Katerina | Inner Notebook's avatar

Aaawee that is so lovely, my 5 words are; consciousness, absurdity, curious, awe, rigorous.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

These are great words!

Katerina | Inner Notebook's avatar

Thank you! What are your top ten?

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Mine are: flourish, thrive, prosper, curiosity, awareness, integrity, community, collaboration, empathy, gratitude.

Katerina | Inner Notebook's avatar

Love those words, very meaningful and human!!

Kavya Anklekar's avatar

August 1- Ah! It is so easy for people to pass judgment.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Kavya: thank you so much for sharing, this is such a re-occurring theme in so many of our thoughts

Jody Carlton's avatar

Maybe, I annoyed everyone else. Maybe I woke up the neighbors. I don't know. Should I go knock on their doors?

Susan D Akers's avatar

"I just don't want to do that anymore."

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Susan: this is such a great example of the re-occurring script - I know that I have this though million times in a day!

Susan D Akers's avatar

Yes, I'm beginning to use that particular thought (since I do tense up as well so I notice) as a cue to immediately follow with "and no problem!!". I don't always remember, but when I do, it makes a difference.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

I love, love this reframe!

Sara Mani's avatar

I really like that the experiment starts with how we already speak, rather than trying to invent a “writer voice”. I think a lot of us make writing harder by assuming our natural voice needs improving before it deserves to be on the page. I need to start doing the practices myself.

Magdalena Ponurska's avatar

Dear Sara: you make such a great point! starting with how we speak and experiment with how it sounds on page!

Courtney's avatar

"And it's just, like, back off, basically. That's the thing"

(I read the transcript of my rant and loved it and thought it was hilarious. Was hard to find anything I would want to delete, honestly. Ha! Makes me wonder if I am insane, possibly...) Anyway, this is a cool experiment. Thank you for sharing it! :)