Online Writing Guides ~ Journaling Course

Writing for Life: Creating a Story of Your Own
The therapeutic power of journaling, proven and embraced over the last century by doctors and psychologist, is an effective tool to improve health and achieve healing of the body, mind and spirit. The journaling and scrapbooking techniques taught in this course provide a creative way to connect with the inner self and heal emotional wounds while documenting your story, your life, in a fun and unique way.   [Learn more]   [Enroll Now]   [ Course Reviews ]

Write A Way: Journey to Creativity

In Celebration of Life
By Sandra Lee Schubert

If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing. ~ Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

June is a month for beginnings and for endings. Graduations have come and gone, and weddings are all around. We may be packing up to move to a new city and a new job. Or we are beginning a new life with a new person and leaving behind what we once knew.

June is also the month when summer hits and we can kick off our shoes and relax a little. We can begin that new renovation project on our home. Read a good thick and juicy novel. Or finally face the blank page and begin writing. What to do?

Idleness is not doing nothing. Idleness is being free to do anything. ~ Floyd Dell

In America we are tormented by the calendar. We are obsessed with filling in our days with something. I took a week off to do nothing and I did not do it well. I was tired and rest was on the list but I felt guilty about resting.

We have goals and dreams we wish to fulfill. The tension to do is great. The desire for creation is powerful. How can we best use that tension and desire to live a wonderful creative life?

My friend is learning to draw botanicals. She spends countless hours drawing circles, or creating shading. Part of her homework is to work with just one color of flower. This week it is yellow, next it will be red. What do circles or shading have to do with flowers? Each day she is building a foundation by laying out layer of color and technique. I admire her dedication and determination to be the best she can be at her craft. Her doing-ness has a purpose. It absorbs her creatively and has opened her eyes to see the world in all its color and shades.

A musician must make his music, an artist must paint, a poet must write if he is to ultimately be at peace with himself. ~ Abraham Maslow

The exhibit called Ashes and snow is created in a transitory environment. There are over 200 large-scale photographic artworks and an accompanying 35mm film by the artist Gregory Colbert that explores the wonder that all animals share. I felt as if I entered into something holy. The images of the animals are exceptionally beautiful and the images with the animals and humans and their interaction was breathtaking. The 35mm film brings the images to life using words and music in a way that I had not quite experienced before. As creative beings we are always looking for new ways to express our deepest feelings. I am fascinated by this use of many mediums. How can I create differently? How can I celebrate life as creation and not just an idle act of busy-ness? How can you?

Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day - like writing a poem, or saying a prayer. ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Think about what you do on any given day. Are you creating your life? What can you give up, delegate or change to make your life better? If you want to write - think about what stops you. Are the dishes calling to you or the laundry? Dare to let it all wait while you engage in something more creative.

The tendinous part of the mind, so to speak, is more developed in winter; the fleshy, in summer. I should say winter had given the bone and sinew to literature, summer the tissues and the blood. ~ ~ John Burroughs (1837 - 1921), The Snow-Walkers

June is here. It is time to leave behind old things and begin new ones. Immerse yourself in creative and beautiful activities. Visit art galleries, museums, gardens and parks. Look at beautiful things in stores, and shops. Enjoy the warm weather; absorb the sights and sounds of summer. Take photos, write poetry - dance a bit. Read a juicy novel or two, maybe even write one yourself. Remember to create the life you want.

This Month's Writing Prompt Ideas:

Museum hop - Go look at some artwork. Immerse yourself in color, images and the inspiration of the artist. Think what drove that artist to produce that particular piece of art. View different types of artwork. If you are classicist then see some surreal art. Or if you are avant-garde then spend time looking at the old masters. Write about the experience. What did you like? What made you mad? What struck you the most? How were you inspired?

Read - Pick up that juicy novel and read, read, read. Writers need to read. A good novel soaks into you. Become absorbed.

Write - Everyday. Try something new. Watching country music videos has fascinated me. I have decided despite the fact I have no musical experience I could write a country music song. They tell stories. Try to write one thing that is different then anything you have written before.

Live fully - Most of all enjoy the special pleasure that the summer brings. A life lived richly is a life lived fully. Enjoy.


Sandra Schubert is the creator and instructor for the Self-Healing Expressions e-course Writing for Life: Creating a Story of Your Own. To learn more about Sandra and her course, click here:

Course Overview

Copyright © 2005 Sandra Lee Schubert. All rights reserved. If you are interested in publishing this article, please email .