ADVICE FROM A PRO

ALERT: This post is not about writers and writing, so if you're coming from a different direction, fear not . . . the path is open to everyone.

Do you recall a TV show called "Welcome Back, Kotter?" Circa 1975.

One of the writers for that show was Dennis Palumbo. Sometime after his tenure with the show, he went back to school himself, became a licensed psychotherapist, and currently practices in Los Angeles; his practice is primarily aimed at the acting profession, but he also sees writers and other creative folks.

Dennis Palumbo is the "pro" in the title above. He wrote a book for writers called Writing from the Inside Out. It's an easy read--short chapters, conversational tone, brass tacks advice aimed at any writer (whatever genre).

Here are the three things I learned from Dennis Palumbo:

• YOU ARE ENOUGH - I don't need to get permission, or write in a group, or seek approval for what I choose to write. I don't have to do a lot of exciting things--I just need to mine the life I've lived. (Naturally, what I write may not be any good at all, but I can say it's mine--came from my life, my experiences, my thoughts, so on.)

• WRITING BEGETS WRITING - Another way of saying, "Practice, practice, practice." The more I practice, the easier the activity becomes. 

• WORK WITH WHAT YOU'RE GIVEN - You'll notice this is not the same as "write what you know," which is a common bit of advice to beginners. No, work with what you're given. You can't know everything. But you can observe what's around you. That's your "given." And yours is unique to you, just as mine is to me.

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Okay, so you're not a writer. You don't long to have a NYT bestseller, or have something you're written picked up for a movie starring your favorite actor. You don't make an effort to write poetry in your birthday cards.

Let's look at those three bits of advice again. Any one of them--or all of them--can be used for ANY creative effort. Think about it:

• woodworking
• fiber arts
• cooking
  
• landscaping
• fine art
• music
• photography

to name a few.

What Palumbo is talking about is not the end product--he's talking about process.

So we have to create a masterpiece first time? Lotsa luck with that one.

All the artists I follow, all the writers I admire, say the same thing: "Experiment. Play. Try new things. Think outside the box." These ideas work for every type of creative activity. You may not like the result. So what? It's only playing, trying something. But it always advances you and your creativity. Really.

And if you don't like these approaches, find some of your own. I think Dennis would approve.

Blessings,

Thursday's Child

ENCOURAGEMENT

YOU CAN DO THIS!

KEEP GOING!

GOOD JOB!

WELL DONE!

WAY TO GO!

Encouraging thoughts and actions are everywhere. Look at the above list--how many of those things have you heard--or said--in the past month?

There seems to be a movement afoot for kids (of all ages) to hear encouraging words--in school, at home, on the playing field, at a piano lesson--you name it, encouragement is the way to go.

You don't have to be a kid to receive and respond to encouragement. So let's look at some ways we can keep the encouragement going.

• simple kindnesses--saying thank you for something done for you (no matter how small); smiling at someone you don't know, just because you feel like it (maybe they need it); letting another shopper in front of you at the checkout (you're in no hurry, he is).
• notes and cards--if you like to write little notes of encouragement, then do that. But if you're "tongue-tied" with a pen in hand, send a card that says "thinking of you." (This is especially helpful if you're writing to someone who has had a death of someone close.) If it's appropriate, let the person know you pray for them.
• celebrate a success--let someone know you appreciate the effort they made to attain a goal.
• small gifts--sometimes a "no-reason present" can lift weary spirits.

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Famous people often mention encouragement they've received while they were working hard to get somewhere; here are a few you might recognize:

No one in my family was a reader of literary fiction. So, I didn't have encouragement, but I didn't have discouragement, because I don't think anybody knew what that meant.   Amy Tan

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Taking an interest in what others are thinking and doing is often a much more powerful form of encouragement than praise.   Robert Martin

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The essential support and encouragement comes from within, arising out of the mad notion that your society needs to know what only you can tell it.   John Updike

Blessings (and keep on keepin' on!)

Thursday's Child