KickStart Your Writing Year Workshop

Led my KickStart Workshop at the Lindum Scribes last night (see previous posts) and was very pleased with how it went. Members had completed the exercises in very different ways; including one member who had written that she 'never wrote resolutions' but then did give us a few anyway.

As I have said previously the majority of the workshop was based on quotes and articles that I have collected in the 4 years I have been writing this blog, so it would be daft to reproduce my workshop notes here. If however, anyone would like to see all the materials I produced I am more than happy to send them to you.

I split the workshop into 4 sections: Focus / Enthusiasm / Prioritise and Allocating Time, and gave out two handouts. The Jam Jar Illustration - to emphasise the need to allocate time to our writing (see: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2009/05/jam-jar-illustration.html) and another entitled; Setting Goals, which asked members to assess whether or not their resolutions were SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Targeted.

My main aim was to get members to really think about what they wanted from their writing and to look at how important it was to them; compared with the other 'stuff' in their lives. Therefore I used a few shock tactics including reading out Regrets of the Dying http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2011/06/regrets-of-dying.html This led to a lively discussion about why we feel the need to do so many other things before we allow ourselves time for what we really want to do i.e. upbringing, guilt, wanting to be 'nice', not wanting to appear 'selfish' etc.

As I said in the workshop; Just because someone throws you a ball, doesn't mean you have to catch it!

One of the members resolutions was 'To get rid of this Writers Block'. This led to a very interesting discussion regarding possible reasons for the blockage and possible solutions i.e. setting realistic goals, breaking his work down into chunks and Jon suggested 'morning pages'. The need to always have a notepad handy was re-emphasised as was the need for writers to think positive about one's work.

Another member discussed his desire to read, read, read this year, to which another member agreed and added he would like to see more plays and attend the theatre this year; as that was something he was interested in writing. There was talk of editing, writing, reading and more writing so I foresee a busy year for members of the Lindum Scribes.

A number of members were missing which was a shame and I suspect the reason for this may be that they had not written their resolutions. I for one see it as a good exercise if only to reassess what we want to achieve with regards to out writing in the coming year and give us a signpost.