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blogging101, Journaling, Reflections, Uncategorized, Writers' Well (wordsthatserve), Writing 101, Writing Prompts
Harula over at wordsthatserve is conducting a regular Wednesday feature presenting writing prompts she uses in the creative writing class she teaches. I encourage all you writers to stop by there and check it out!
Here’s this week’s prompt!
Writing Prompt: Being in the Flow (5 minutes)
For 5 minutes just write about being in the flow, whatever that phrase means to you.
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You may choose to describe a specific experience, a time when you felt in the flow, or you may wish to describe it more as a state to which you aspire. Alternatively, you may want to explore what particular activities or environment can support the experience of such a state. Inwardly immerse yourself in the feeling, and then left the words flow.
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Getting in the flow… I can only get in the flow when I’m feeling very creative. I would spend hours and hours, days and days working on our books for our church’s women’s retreat every fall adding illustrations and graphics. I would play forever with our family newsletter at Christmas adding pictures in Pagemaker where I could move them around on the page like Colorforms. (Anyone remember those???)
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With a project like that I can get so caught up at the computer that I forget to eat. Someone can walk up to me and say something and I don’t even hear them. If they touch me to get my attention, they scare the bloomin’ tar out of me because I’m so intent on what I’m doing. There’s just something about the creation process that totally captivates me.
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And once I have the project done, I can sit there and edit and edit forever. I often wonder what it is about that process that possesses my soul, ’cause it really does feel like that when I’m in the flow. It even happened when I was writing Glencara’s Bane during NaNoWriMo in November 2013. (Now if I could just find that flow again to edit the darn thing!)
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When I was managing and working at Copy Express, a small copy center, I routinely did business cards, wedding invitations, graduation announcements, newsletters and forms for businesses, etc. And always the process took me hostage. There’s just something about being in the flow that makes me not care what else is going on at the moment. (Much to Drollery’s frequent annoyance!)
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Picture Sources:
Colorforms — Live And Learn
Flow — Inbound Buddha
Yoda — uk.pinterest.com
Impromptu Promptlings 
Getting into the flow is hard work; I believe it’s THE key discipline for a writer. The more I write the easier it is to get into the flow. When I slacken off or other things (like a persistent cough/feeling unwell) stop me from writing I have to work at getting back into the flow (which sounds like a contradiction but isn’t really.) Thanks for this post and for the link to Harula’s blog. 😉
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And when those distractions happy, do you find yourself throwing up even MORE roadblocks to keep from writing? I do when it’s just writing writing. I don’t seem to have that problem with something truly creative. Perhaps I need and adjustment in my attitude about these blogs!
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Indeed they do, and it takes me more time to get back into my routine. I’m not sure I differentiate between something ‘creative’ and my blogs. Every time I write I sweat blood. Maybe I need to relax more and simply enjoy the process? 🙂
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I never know what I’m going to get when I post a blog. It usually ends up being just stream of conscience (?) stuff. Writing Glencara’s Bane was different. I really had to think far ahead. Wasn’t used to that.
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Oh this is brilliant! Captures it exactly 🙂 Indeed it is like nothing else matters, the creative process ‘possesses my soul’ … which is sometimes why I find it hard to take the credit for something I’ve created, because it certainly wasn’t just me involved 😉 LOVE the photo of Yoda!! Blessings, Harula xxx
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You do feel like that from time to time, don’t you… That the inspiration and creation actually came from somewhere else. I so get that, Harula!
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Being in the flow is the best feeling there is. The world disappears and you’re safe… until you’re interrupted by the phone or the doorbell…
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Lord! Amen to that! How are you doing, girlfriend? Still chillin’? Have missed you. ❤
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I’v just written a post which explains a little, but there’s far more to it than that. You wrote about your inner critic – mine has just introduced himself to me (I’m sure he’s male). All these years he’s been very quiet, and now he’s suddenly yelling at me, telling me I’m useless and I can’t write. I’ve read every poem I’ve posted for the past two years, and I believe him.
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Oh bull! Go back and read all the comments on those poems. There is where the witness to your creativity and talent lies. Your poems are wonderful, girl!!! I left you a note on your blog.
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What a good definition of being in the “Flow”. That’s how I see it too, once I’m in the flow, I can’t get out.
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I have a theory about that… I know there are LOTS of people who disagree with me about how this world began, but I believe there was SOME KIND of Creator. I don’t care how you want to refer to it/he/she, even if it’s a can of coke! But whatever the Universe did, it CREATED, and I have this idea in my head that when we are CREATING we’re closest to that Creator being than at any other time. Sort of like getting caught in a tractor beam from the death star when the Jedi fly too close! 😀
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That’s a very interesting theory, I adhere!
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When I get in the flow I can’t stop. I go without sleep and food. I just go.
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Yeah, I’m like that, too. Good thing it only happens now and then. Wish I could call it up on command.
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Nothing like being immersed in The NOW !!!
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You really ARE elevated to a higher place. I bet you’ve had that happen, too, eh Raili?
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Many, many times 🙂
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