Writing

Many people think that there’s no writer in them. What you need to know for sure is that most writers who write great novels and submit things to publishers don’t always write the most awesome manuscripts either. Many manuscripts are proofread and edited by someone else.

Writing

1. Take a page in your journal and a good writing pen.
2. Start your sentence with “One thing I know for sure: …” and GO! Write without knowing where you will end up and write until nothing else comes. Don’t reread.
3. Can’t write anything anymore? Write the sentence again “One thing I know for sure: …” and GO! Until you are feel nothing comes any more.
4. Do this again and again and again.

“Writing is the act of burning through the fog in your mind.” – Natalie Goldberg

What if … you have trouble writing? Write to where you can. The writing doesn’t even have to be legible, as long as YOU know what it says.

Exercise of Natalie Goldberg

TIP: Natalie Goldberg is a writing teacher with a great reputation. She wrote the book “Writing from your heart.” With this writing exercise it is good to write without stopping, correcting or reading back. Trust that something is coming, no matter what, something for your shopping list, your deepest insight into the reality or the color of your bedroom walls …

Would you like to get in touch with others? In Facebook you find a page where participants connect.

Important to know:

Working in a Creative Diary is NOT about results, it’s about expressing you inner self. It is NOT about techniques, techniques only help you to express yourself in more different ways. The exercises I give are an INVITATION, not an obligation. You can do the exercise, or not, you can do it differently, it’s at your choosing. The most important thing to remember is that you’re putting yourself and your (inner) world on paper, you are NOT making art. So feel inspired by images, but don’t compare yourself ! Fun and self-expression come first.

What do you need?

• markers
• coloured pencils
• writing materials
• scissors
• glue
• watercolour
• soft pastels
• oil pastels
• some magazines

And of course: a journal/diary. I recommend an 8,3 inches x 11,7 inches notebook (A4 format) with blank paper, but take whatever you find in your house. Blank papier is good too.

More information:

The exercises used in this Creative Diary are based on a method described by Lucia Capacchione, American art-therapist and author of the book The Creative Journal, by Anne-Marie Jobin, Canadian art-therapist and author of the soon to be coming book The New Creative Journal, and myself, Sarah Timmermans, Belgian art-therapist and psychologist (Dutch book: Het Creatieve Dagboek). The method blends knowledge from writing therapy, art-therapy, psychology and basic creativity. It’s a simple method that doesn’t requires any artistic skills and has been used with many ages, many individuals and many groups of people. More questions? Please write me.

Who am I?

I’m Sarah Timmermans, Belgian art-therapist, naturopath and psychologist. I’m trained by Jungian art-therapist/psychologist Csilla Kemenzcei. I work with individuals and with groups. I’m specialised in using diaries, tarot (archetypes) and dreams.