When the Student is Ready????

My mother gave me this book last weekend. I've often looked at it - but it seems a bit flaky and demanding for a busy life - but I won't be working over the next few weeks. I do agree with her basic premise which is that we are all creative. People are so talented. If you ask a young child if they can draw a house, they smile and say yes. And draw you one, often with a few flowers or a tree thrown in. At what age does that change to: Oh, I can't draw. I'm rubbish at art?

The exercises she suggests clear pathways through which creative forces can operate. This book is all about letting go to a higher force. Well, why not? I've always been attracted to the mantra: 'Let go and let God.' Another image she uses in the introduction resonates because she talks about a spiritual chiropractic - exercises to attain alignment with the creative energy of the universe. A chill ran down my (much straighter spine) when I read that, because for the last year I've been working on my body, which was bent out of shape. A healthy mind in a healthy body?

Here are the basic principles. I have changed her terminology from God to energy or source or whatever else seems more comfortable than the Catholic images the nuns embedded in me!

1. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure, creative energy.
2. There is an underlying, in-dwelling, creative force infusing all of life - including ourselves.
3. When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator's creativity within us and our lives.
4. We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.
5. Creativity is the universe's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back.
6. The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.
7. When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to energy sources and good orderly direction.
8. As we open our creative channel to the creative energy, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.
9. It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity.
10. Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity.

She warns us to expect emotional tumult during the course. Well, as they say around here, you don't get owt for nowt.

How to Waste Time

Click on this link to see what Wordle made of yesterday's post!
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A Decision

Yesterday I went no mail on the romantic novelists loop. It felt strange - for about 12 years, I've read the emails every day. The RNA are a lovely bunch of writers - very supportive. They offer chat, gossip, debate about the art of writing, tips about the market (some of which made me money) advice and commiseration. Although I didn't often post, I felt part of a group. I had never understood sport - when Andy says about his football team: 'We won!' I think of Jerry Seinfeld shrugging and saying: 'No, the players won. You watched from the sofa!' Then I went to Manchester and watched the romantic novelists team on University Challenge, and suddenly understood that feeling of vicarious pride. 'We won!'

So why drop out now? Well, I think I've finally, finally, finally given up on the dream. When I first started to write, like so many authors, I thought I'd knock out 4 or 5 Mills & Boon a year and live the life of Riley. Ha, ha, ha!! It was such a wonderful idea, except for one small problem. I don't understand Mills & Boon and never will. I may well write a book which contains a love story, but I will never be a successful contemporary romance author because my head doesn't inhabit that world and what's more, I don't want it to!

So what's next? Er...

I am swotting for the maths exam, but I'd like to go back to reviewing my writing class notes as soon as possible. A thorough review and a fresh start.

I could get to like maths. What a shame I was so badly taught. I see what it's about now. I don't have the hours to spare to learn any more than scraping through the exam (due to dyslexia, at least 10 X longer than other people, don't forget) but it's lovely to be at peace with the subject.

Another Unread Writer's News

It's joined the other two in their shiny wrappers. I've cancelled the direct debit - not because I'll never read a writing magazine again, but as part of the general reorganisation of finance necessary to be a student for a year.

I am absorbed in studying for the numeracy exam at the moment - making friends with Pi and areas of cylinders and other such everyday items. Terry Jones made a great programme on numbers once. They interviewed an Australian Aborigine who didn't 'do' numbers. He did 'one' and 'many' and that was it. He could name all his grandchildren, but asked how many of them he had, the reply was: 'many'. He seemed happy enough, sitting under his tree in the outback, but then, I couldn't get a visa so unless I went feral, it's not an option.