My first theme? A chocolate chip cookie. I set out to create restriction around a writing prompt and creative direction. It is with limitation and constraint that a deeper engagement and insight develops around our work. The tiny theme of a chocolate chip cookie pulls us down deep and stretches us beyond the surface.
Tiny themes allows us to see increased possibility and opportunity in everyday life. Small moments, trivial occurrences and daily routine become rich soil for our work. It takes away the stuck stagnancy and lacking mindset to inspire hope, purpose and met potential. We start to shift our perspective to new.
Maybe you connect to our monthly theme or maybe you don’t. That’s okay. Either way, the theme is not what is important, what is — the process that that theme provides. By focusing on a tiny theme depth, clarity and focus are attained. We EXPAND within our work. It’s a launching point and eventually we get to where our mind and heart want us to go.
Theme.
Class Format.
We start each writing session with 2 minutes of free writing. This allows us to breathe, ground in our moment and release the stress that often comes with arriving to the group. It is a stabilizer.
We move into our theme at look at its place in our world — whether through literature, art, tv/film, music, fashion, etc. I keep the material very loose. It might be contemporary or rooted in history — whatever I am noticing or inspired by.
I share the first prompt and we write for 12 minutes.
I share the second prompt and we write again for 12 minutes.
With almost 25 solid minutes of solid writing time, we then choose a section to read out loud. This is one of the most profound benefits of the writing group. Reading out loud our writing requires strength and vulnerability. It also requires us to hone our reading voice so we become confident and better communicators.
4.
Four is my ideal number of weeks within a writing group. It is an achievable and formidable amount of time dedicated to deep writing and creative development. Four is also a good number — not too big or too small — four is achievable. Four weeks offer ease and fluidity — stay and continue to the next month around another theme or leave and rejoin at another time, season and focus. We are always here. Come and leave as your work calls you to.
Tools.
Notebooks. Many people find lines helpful, the grid a light suggestion. I prefer the blank page, this allows me to control size, shape and direction of my writing or any form.
Pens. I write in blue ink. I’ve found blue calming and bright at the same time — color is good (for me). Always nice to have a few pens on hand in case one runs out of ink.
Highlight. I also sometimes carry a highlighter or I use my pen to circle areas of my work that I want to come back to. That’s it! Writing tools are not to meant to be cumbersome, they are here to provide ease, flow and synchronicity with mind and body.
I’m Gaby!
I joined my first writing group in 2018 — a six week group led by a wonderful writing teacher, mentor and coach in midcoast Maine. I was so nervous because it was the first time I was in a room with incredibly creative women. They were either painters, photographers, interior designers, fashion designers, real estate developers, among many other trades. At first, I felt out of place — I was at the time working as a client service representative for a corporate insurance company. I felt depressed and stagnant in my current career and lifestyle.
I was hooked from then on. I continued to join each writing group after that with the same teacher for three years. I had to request a part time status in order to join the writing group, which was often held at 9am on a week day. When she retired, I felt the emptiness where the writing group had been.
Thus I began my own writing group — two actually, each ran for one full year. The success that I felt from those two year-long writing groups allowed me to consider a new offering that was accessible to people who couldn’t necessarily request part-time leave from their jobs or meet during work day hours, or SAHM hours. This endeavor took two years to build: the Four Sundays Writing Group is here.
Four Sundays is an absolute bliss to facilitate. I find so much enjoyment in the theme development, prompt facilitation and material curation. I love diving into conversations around our creative pursuits, our fears and mental blocks, and the new perspective and energy that comes through. I genuinely care about the work of others, no matter what form it takes, prose, screenplays, documentary film, pottery, painting, fashion. I feel deeply inspired by every single one of my group members. We cheer each other on, we show up with respect, admiration and presence. This is a community which carries us through. Together we do great work! Join us!