It was my honor to lead the Journal and Discover Writing Workshop at Rust Library last night in Leesburg, VA. I delivered tips and techniques for self-reflective journal writing to encourage self-exploration and creative thinking. The response was incredible!
Easy to follow framework
I know this process inside and out because it was an important part of how I wrote my book. In my case, I was writing about work life balance issues often. I had to pivot many times after a good job turned bad.
We all have these made-up rules in our head to get through life. I had made up rules for myself. Things like the boss is always right, or, if I remain loyal, it will pay off. I kept questioning those old rules though when faced with the reality of sometimes toxic cultures. I knew I could not quit. Journaling was one of my strategies. I wrote out what was happening and kept asking myself questions to create new rules and new solutions. I used journaling to tap into my creativity to write the book and I shared that process with workshop participants.
We had an excellent turn out with approximately 25 people – amazing for a cold Tuesday in January. I loved the enthusiasm for this topic. The robust agenda included the benefits of journal writing, as well as the science behind it. I covered popular methods such as using journal prompts and borrowing a line. I also highlighted famous authors and artists who use journaling as a way to tap into their creativity. We concluded with two guided journaling exercises that generated new creative works. Participant engagement was fantastic and we all gained valuable insights from optional sharing.
Attendees walked away with an easy-to-follow framework for their own journaling practice for creative projects.
The program evaluations were very positive and there were multiple requests for repeat sessions plus Zoom options. Absolutely! I’m happy to oblige. Stay tuned for those new offerings.
What a magical night!