Ursula Leguin is a writing powerhouse who is ridiculously brainy and purposefully invokes the curiosity and intellect of her readers. She is a writer who makes me want to be better at my writing craft.
She reminds me of the importance of the reader/audience in my storytelling. “The unread story is not a story; it is little black marks on wood pulp. The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live thing, a story.”
Prompts for contemplation and writing:
What do your unread stories want your readers/audience to hear?
What is alive in your writing and/or story?
Sentence starters:
When I think of my story/writing as little black marks on wood pulp, what comes up for me is…
My story feels most alive when…..
Reflection at the end of the day:
How can I connect with my reader/listener?
Is it best for my process to prepare for the reader/listener on the first draft or later in the creative process?
Bonus layer to this thread, a Rilkean quote to add:
“To learn which questions are unanswerable, and not to answer them: this skill is most needful in times of stress and darkness.”
This blog post is a part of April's Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Visit here daily in April to be inspired by literary grannies across time.
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Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via her programs, playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world. She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and
mixed-media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people's creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming in Spring, 2015 and beyond.
To contact Julie to schedule a Writing or Creative Life Coaching Session, call or text her at 661.444.2735.
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