Last night, I had the opportunity to speak to the Rocktown Writers Guild about what it means to write intentionally (and the TV news showed up).
I believe with all of me that if we don’t live with intention, we are missing out. Fumbling through our days on auto-pilot, reacting to what lands in our path or on our screens, is not a joyful life.
The same goes for our writing. If we don’t write with intention, our writing will not go anywhere, or at the very least, not go anywhere fast.
It’s critical that we set intentions in our writing practice, but before we do that, we must set intentions for ourselves as writers.
Who are we as writers and what do we want to say?
Before we write one word, we need to think through that question.
Let’s try a little writing exercise, shall we?
Pull out a piece of paper and your favorite pen.
First, finish this phrase, “I am a writer who _________________.”
[If you aren’t a writer, or even if you are, you could also try the phrase, “I am a person who _________.”]
And then do it nine more times, until you have a list of ten sentences describing you as a writer.
[For the sake of time, last night I only had them answer “I am a writer who is ______”. It’s much faster to compose a list of adjectives. Feel free to use that shortcut.]
Now cut out five of your answers so you whittle the list down to the most crucial five.
Done?
Now whittle down your list to three.
One of my favorite podcasters always says that “Specificity is a superpower.”
If you want that superpower, try whittling your list down to one.
The next time you sit down to write, read that phrase or those phrases. Let them guide your writing plans and practices. See what happens when you bring intention to your writing.
That’s just the beginning. I have so many ideas on writing (and living) with intention. Since I so rarely get to teach anymore, I’m going to share my Write Intentionally workshop in a series of blog posts. I promise the ideas will be applicable to more than writing, so even if you didn’t come here for writing advice, you’ll find some food for thought, at the very least.
Meanwhile, MY NEW BOOK IS OUT! (just needed to shout that)
You can get your copy on Amazon.
I’m working on getting it on Ingram so you can get it in a book store, and I’m working on a larger size version for those of you who will want more space to write, will have it.
Please, please, dear friends, if you do buy a copy and try my system, let me know what you think! And if you liked it, please review it on Amazon (will get it on Goodreads next).
Honored,
Cara
If you’re curious about what else I’m up to, check out my website, CaraWrites.com.
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If you’re a dog lover, check out my other blog, Another Good Dog. And if you want to know what is really happening in the animal shelters in this country, visit, Who Will Let the Dogs Out, and subscribe to the blog I write there.
I’d love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Substack, and I’m thrilled to get emails from readers (and writers). You can reach me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.
My newest book is out! This one is a little different.
It’s a journal (full of my writing, but inviting your writing) that shares the daily practice I’ve created over years of striving to live my days intentionally.
Want to know more or get your copy? Click here.
My Life in Paragraphs 