The Gate of Galithonel

Writing is a craft, as well as an art. That’s good news; it means it can be improved with practice. If you want to be a writer, you have to write. And write and write and write… Stuck for ideas? Try this little end-of-the-day exercise.

Sit down and write a description of something mundane you did today. Say, for example, you bought gas. What were you thinking as you filled your tank? Were you having any feelings? What was the weather like? Scorching sun, rain, wind? Were your clothes stuck to your body with sweat; hair blowing in the gusty wind? Note the smell of the gas, people around, etc. Keep it simple. Write only one or two paragraphs.

Now re-read your narrative. Is it interesting or bland? Can you taste your sweat, feel the cold nip of the breeze on your nose? Does it lack flavor? No matter. Just take note of it without judgment, for this will help your writing improve.

Now you have the choice of writing more or chilling out. Which shall it be? Want to move on? Okay, now let’s get outlandish. Take the true beginning and add something absurd. Say you’re in the store paying for the gas and a man comes in and robs the place. You hide behind a row of snacks, terrified; trying not to wet yourself. As you peak through the canned goods you realize, in horror, that you know the man. In fact, you’re dating him!

Or maybe a van careens into the station lot, screeching to a halt. Two men jump out wearing Easter bunny masks and grab you, pulling you into the van and slamming the door behind them. The car lunges into gear and they tear out, speeding down the road. After a few minutes, the man in the front seat turns to face you. To your surprise, it is…the president of the United States!

See how it works? It’s easier to write than most of us have been told. So what are you waiting for? Just write!

Copyright 2008 Ashandra-Aah

Hi folks! Just wanted to let you know I’ve posted a new article on working with the chakras to improve your health. Although western medicine would have us believe that sickness is caused by mysterious disease processes, the origins of which are rarely known or understood, eastern traditions have long held that it is the quantity of energy and the efficacy of its distribution in the body that determines health. That is why I recommend the ancient art of spinning to strengthen the chakras and fuel the body. If this sounds like your cup of tea, you can read the whole article at www.shamaniclightwork.com. Peace, Ashandra-Aah

One strong and noble
One weak in need of helping
Make the difference

Copyright 2004 Ashandra-Aah

Before a show, some actors make odd sounds or strange faces to loosen up their tongue, throat and facial muscles. Likewise, an athlete may stretch, a singer may run scales. All these are simply ways of relaxing and preparing the body for a time of concentrated, high performance. Likewise, if you want to use your brain to write, it helps to “stretch” your mind it a bit, warming it up for its time of “performance.” Here’s a fun exercise that I enjoy. You can use this to “prime the pump” for a specific writing project, to jump-start your creativity if you feel your writing getting stale or, if you’re new to writing, as a way to get start putting pen to paper. I call this “Poetry in a Hat” because it reminds me of a magician pulling a rabbit from of a hat. I’ve also occasionally called it “poetry on the fly ” because I’m whizzin’ right through it.

What you’ll need

Preparing for this exercise involves a bit of work but, once it’s set up, it’ll be ready anytime you need it. What is required is a basket, bowl, bag, or hat with thousands of words in it. You can buy ready-made strips of paper containing words in some stores or you can cut them out of magazines while you sit around watching TV or other entertainment. It may take you a few days or weeks but, eventually, you’ll have it. If you have kids, try enlisting their help for a family project, teaching them how to use the words afterwards. They’ll love it. Or bribe them with a penny a word, a nice treat, or whatever their particular personalities respond to. At any rate, all you need for this exercise is a deep container and thousands of individual words.

How to use

Just mix up all your words and pull five from the hat. Now write a poem. Don’t think about it — just do it! We’re not going for a masterpiece. We just wanna loosen up. Here’s one I wrote:

Struggling humble
through the bramble
Strong words blow
the ruthless roots.
Prowl the dark side of the island,
cold steel and cypress beams;
Wreckage formed by friendly shatter.

Cavernous implosion
governed by Venus
Floats upon the flying wave
Touch the ruthless
rocky shadow
But ne’er walk
upon the grave!

See? Nothin’ to it. It doesn’t have to make total sense. In fact, you can come up with some interesting word choices when you just allow anything to come and not fight so hard. If I was trying to make sense, I would never have come up with “ruthless roots” or “friendly shatter,” two phrases I find appealing. The main thing is to get yourself playing with words and having fun. Then, before you know it, you’re back in touch with your creativity.

Copyright 2008 Ashandra-Aah