Writing 101, Day One: Unlock the Mind

writing-101-june-2014-class-badge-2Blogging University’s Writing 101 course starts today! Every day we will be given an writing assignment and a twist. We can choose whether or not we want to do the twist…. and we can choose whether or not we want to publish what we wrote during that day’s assignment.

Our first assignment:

To get started, let’s loosen up. Let’s unlock the mind. Today, take twenty minutes to free write. And don’t think about what you’ll write. Just write.

Keep typing (or scribbling, if you prefer to handwrite for this exercise) until your twenty minutes are up. It doesn’t matter if what you write is incomplete, or nonsense, or not worthy of the “Publish” button.

And for your first twist? Publish this stream-of-consciousness post on your blog.

 

So here is the result of my 20 minutes of freestyle, stream of consciousness writing!

What should I write about? I have so many things to write about. Do I want to publish stream of consciousness on my blog. I don’t think so. Well I can write about taking the writing course. I am so excited to take this course. Blogging 101 was so helpful and I met so many wonderful bloggers, some of which I still connect with regularly. Learning more about story telling is very exciting to me. So much of what I write are stories and I have so many stories to tell. It is so interesting that I can remember so little about my first 21 years but can fill books with the next 44. I have truly been blessed. Well maybe I’m willing to put this stream of consciousness on my blog. Hmmm. I will decide later. I look forward to reconnecting with some of the people in the Blogging 101 course. And I look forward to meeting new people and discovering new blogs. I had no idea what was out there in the blogging world. And I hope to have a chance to write stories about: being in the 2004 tsunami; accidently becoming a train hopper or train jumper, whatever it is called; how our Litter Project began…. BTW we’ve picked up 213,000 cigarette butts;….. synchronicities…. that supposedly isn’t a word but it is a word to me; seeing a Victor Frankl video. I’m winding down. What else can I write in the 20 minutes? I read a blog yesterday written by someone who has a traumatic brain injury. I have a friend that has that too. I have so much respect for how both of them are dealing with such a devastating experience. So many people, including me, are dealing with chronic health problems. I also read yesterday about the effect of pesticides and other toxins on our health…something to become more aware of. I wonder what will be said about this period of our history when history looks back on it? What will we have created? Certainly lots of possibilities for posts are coming in this 20 minute assignment. I guess I will take the Writing 101 twist challenge and publish it!

Assignment #1 complete.  I’m happy I was brave enough to hit the publish button on something that is so “unfinished”.

25 thoughts on “Writing 101, Day One: Unlock the Mind”

  2. Love the title of your blog. I have been doing this since the beginning of this year and have also enjoyed reading other blogs and enjoying so many different point of views and ideas. I look forward to many more posts from you. I find it super interesting to see what other people think of in their stream of consciousness writing.

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  3. I love the imperfection of this perfect post. 🙂 Its a joy to see what comes to me when I let down my judgement’s of perfection and experience the flow of life.

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    1. I love the way you described my post! Thanks.

      And I also love happens when I let go and let the flow of life occur. I often describe it as “magic”.

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  4. I’m so glad you’re taking the class, Karuna. I decided I had too much writing already in the works to work on. I love stream of consciousness writing. Afterward, you can go back and come up with a dozen blog posts!

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    1. It was a very interesting exercise to do. I’m sorry you aren’t going to be taking the class along with me, but I totally understand! I’m hoping I can write some of the pieces on my to do list during the class.

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  6. Thank you for commenting on my article for 101. I find it strange that I suffered a head injury within the last year that has caused some problems and suffer from a Chronic health problem, Fibromyalgia. Amazing how a blogging community connects people. I think I’ll Follow you if that’s okay.
    Much Respect
    Ronovan

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    3. Ronovan, If you want to know the blog addresses for other people who are dealing with Fibromyalgia or TBI feel free to ask. I’m sorry you are having to deal with either one of them.

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  7. Hi Karuna, I’m glad we’re both taking Writing 101. I really want to learn something about fiction and story – I have never successfully fleshed out even one character I liked and so it’s especially good to have a great friend along I already know a little. I published mine too but yours is more interesting. I can’t wait to read your stories. By the way, love every comment you got!!

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    1. Fiction is very foreign to me too. I’ve done next to nothing in that realm. I’m very curious to see what we will do in this class.

      As you wrote this I was discovering your other blog. You and I have a lot in common, both in spiritual thinking, and also in life experiences!

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  8. Thanks for hitting publish! I liked your post and I liked how you can write so freely and not need much editing. It’s very mice. I use to edit a lot and I usually cut a lot from my texts, that’s why I loved this assignment so much. I guess I’ll use free writing to start Day 2’s assignment, and let all my ideas to the screen, then I’ll try to edit it without cutting much.

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I would love to hear from you!