Category Archives: writing inspiration

The Great Spring

Posted on 1st June 2018 by kathyhopewell

Natalie Goldberg, one of the greatest writers on freewriting, began as a student of Zen Buddhism.  It involved long hours of sitting meditation, disciplined timekeeping and mundane tasks, all in the spartan environment of the zendo (meditation centre). At the … Continue reading →

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Finding Your Voice

Posted on 1st February 2018 by kathyhopewell

Some artists have an utterly distinctive voice.  Within a second of hearing one twisted, mournful note, I can recognise the great Johnny Marr of The Smiths.  In the same way, the weirdly uncomfortable but perfect half-beat-off of Emily Dickinson’s poetry … Continue reading →

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Dieting for the Unconscious

Posted on 1st January 2018 by kathyhopewell

New Year is the time for dieting but what is the best way to feed the creative mind?  A diet of high-energy, fast entertainment and hectic socialising is all very well for a short time and a change is as … Continue reading →

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Things that Have Inspired Me Part 3: Yoga

Posted on 27th August 2015 by kathyhopewell

I’ve been trying to work out if what I know about yoga, which I’ve practiced on and off since childhood, can help me with freewriting because these two activities seem to be very similar in their aims. The aim of … Continue reading →

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Things That Have Inspired Me Part 2: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Posted on 17th February 2015 by kathyhopewell

One of my favourite books about writing is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. It’s full of cheering jokes and really useful advice from a startlingly honest writer. One of the best chapters is about how an editor’s rejection of … Continue reading →

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Things That Have Inspired Me to Write, Part 1: Baking bread

Posted on 17th January 2015 by kathyhopewell

I have a friend who runs a microbakery from home and this week I did a short course in sourdough baking with him.  We made ten different types of bread: white, wholemeal, with black olives, with sunflower and sesame seeds, … Continue reading →

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