ALONE OR LONELY? SELF INDULGENCE OR SELF EXPRESSION?

Many of us begin our writing journey by writing alone, scribbling in journals or note books. And that’s often enough for a long time. As we grow older, we may find ourselves wondering where we are going with our writing or wanting to continue but feeling a bit lonely scribbling away. Also, when life gets busier and often more demanding – creative expression can be the first to go. It’s a luxury right? An indulgence. Self indulgence is not something to be proud of. And where does it get us? No! I often find myself saying vehemently in my workshops. No! It’s not self indulgent! It’s about self expression, development, progressing, growing, shaping the craft. All of that stuff! You may feel you don’t fit into the ‘real world,’ I certainly do sometimes. That’s ok. Who knows what really goes on beyond the surface? Who knows how much creative energy is simmering away? Don’t be afraid. Continue.

I think that the huge increase in creative writing groups since I founded Creative Writes in 2009 is really interesting. What does this tell you? It tells you that you are not alone. That there are lots and lots of others who feel this need. The need for self expression and developing their writing. And sometimes they don’t want to do it alone. At Creative Writes, we spend as much of the 2 hours as possible actually writing and the energy in the room can be so incredibly powerful. It’s about being a part of a community too, isn’t it?

In an age of social media and technology advancing at an overwhelming pace, isolation is almost a dirty word. We shouldn’t be isolated when we have so many ways of communicating, right? Wrong. It’s the type of communication isn’t it? It’s not so real any more! It’s ok to want to sit next to another writer and write. It’s ok to say that you think what you are writing is rubbish. It’s ok to say you can’t be bothered today. You are not sure what you want to say. You don’t think it makes sense. You can’t even read your own handwriting.

My work in care homes for the housing charity C&C has increased recently and I have been going in to one of the homes every week, to run a reading group that we call Read Aloud. All of the residents in this home have dementia. I take in poems/short stories/extracts from novels, images, flowers, hats, Easter eggs(!), anything that I think will trigger responses and memory. We often have a particular theme, such as Spring, pets, Second hand goods, Moving house etc. I have a small core group and other residents come and go. I have noticed how the listening has increased. How the residents & staff are responding to each other. How they are interacting, laughing together, discussing, empathising. It may be just a moment. But it matters. In that moment, we are all less isolated. We are sharing the experience together. Here’s the link to C&C’s website: http://www.ccht.org.uk/

SHARE THE EXPERIENCE…SPRING WORKSHOPS WITH CREATIVE WRITES:

NEXT! *CREATIVE WRITES BLOCK OF THREE APRIL 2015 WORKSHOPS:

8, 15 & 22 April, 7.30-9.30pm at our regular venue in Muswell Hill, North London, N10.
https://www.creativewrites.co.uk/p/bookings-workshop-info-how-to-book.html

*Update! As of Sunday 5 April 2015 the April 2015 Block of three workshops is fully booked.
Due to demand, I have provisionally booked the venue for another block of three workshops on Wednesdays 3, 10 & 17 June. I will keep you updated!

Our Themed Workshop – Myriad of Objects, went really well last week. Here is a comment from one of the participants:

I really enjoyed the session and was happy to produce writing with relative ease and fluidity. It was a lovely group which was encouraging and supportive.

The next Themed Workshop is Creating Character on Wednesday 29 April 2015, 7.30-9.30pm at our regular venue in Muswell Hill, North London, N10. This is followed by Colour As Writing Inspiration on Wednesday 27 May and Writing the Senses on Wednesday 24 June.

Bye for now, hope to see you soon!

Nichola x

PS: If you are not on our mailing list and would like to be, please email: info@creativewrites.co.uk