Write with ease–even with dis-ease. Be present with whatever arises.
Mindfulness helps writers navigate the ups and downs outside us and within us.
Make room for it all.
Good writing isn’t just about crafting great sentences or developing original ideas. Good writing requires good attention–and clear thinking. Mindfulness sharpens both.
A mindful writing practice can help you think about how you think, and focus your attention on the page. Mindfulness can even shift your thinking about your thinking so you’re better able to work through doubts and fears, develop an even keel during rough weather, or simply reach a deadline.
Discover how mindfulness & writing merge, and practice letting go of what diminishes, distracts, and stifles the creative spirit. Whatever comes up, including difficult emotions, can become gateways to new insight–and meaningful writing sessions.
Approach a harsh inner critic with gentle attention.
Become curious about bad habits that blur your creative focus.
Clarify what matters most for your writing, right now.
Join the next Mindful Writing Offering at the Inlet:
Spring Mindful Writing Retreat
Date TBD
Sliding Scale Fee: $35-$50
A typical mindfulness practice incorporates the basic tenants of mindful meditation—being present with the body, observing the breath, watching the mind, naming our emotions and thought patterns, and making room for what’s there, with kindness.
In addition, a mindful writing practice asks you to:
- Find focus. Mindfulness includes fixed point attention, on the breath, a sound, a physical sensation. Writers can turn that focus onto the page. We’ll try out techniques to keep it there.
- Try out metaphor-based mindfulness. Invent helpful metaphors to support your writing practice and name good progress, or its lack, without judgement.
- Face the “trash talk” you tell yourself—put it in the spotlight. Recognize when the mind is spinning stories, stoking fears, fueling harmful habits. Name it. And let it go.
- Cultivate a gentle attention toward your writing habits, ticks, and even your attitude toward writing while away from the page so you can return ready to write with delight and edit with ease.
- Write through dis-ease. Sometimes “life” can bring us so down we have a hard time lifting our pens–especially this American life these days. Mindful techniques like loving kindness or tonglen can invite open-hearted awareness of the present moment, from the scary and jarring to the heart-warming and hopeful.
Join us. Explore these and other mindful writing approaches through guided mindfulness-based meditations, large group discussion, breakout discussion, reflective writing prompts, co-writing time, and on-the-spot mindful writing practices.
Gift yourself a Saturday afternoon of mindful writing. Come to write in shared solitude and reflect on your writing practice. Receive the support of guided mindfulness-based meditations, large group discussion, breakout discussion, reflective writing prompts, and time for you and the page
HOW TO REGISTER
There’s no button to click! I’m old school: You can register for the retreat by emailing me directly at angelarydell@gmail.com. I’ll send you payment info and the link.
FAQs
Do I need to know about mindfulness to attend this offering?
No experience with mindfulness is required for this class.
Will we be meditating in class?
Yes.
Will we be writing in class?
We’ll try out short writing prompts when we meet. You can work on your own writing while applying the courses mindfulness techniques, or explore a prompt.