Hello,

I am so pleased to have your subscription to A-Muse Letter! I hope you are enjoying receiving it.

As you know, each month I offer coaching tips, ideas and inspiration to support you in your writing, creativity and personal growth. Please send your comments and questions and I'll write back personally or respond in a future edition of A-Muse Letter.

THE MYTH OF INSPIRATION

Do you have a romantic image of the writing life? Light streaming through the window, you clicking away at your computer keyboard, composing page after page of brilliant prose?

You wouldn't be the first to conjure up that image. However, that image is most often no more than a fantasy of the writing life.

In our teleseminar earlier this month we looked at five mistakes to avoid when writing. Towards the top of the list was "Waiting to be inspired."

Now, there's nothing wrong with being inspired. It's wonderful to write in a glorious state of flow, when words come without effort, aligning themselves into perfect sentences needing little or no editing.

The problem comes in the belief that you only begin writing when you're inspired. If we wait for inspiration to find us, most writing -- or any creative work for that matter, would never get done.

Here are 3 strategies for helping inspiration along (as well as three great film recommendations)!

SIT DOWN ANYWAY

I recently saw a wonderful film called "Starting Out in the Evening." In the film Frank Langella plays aging author Leonard Schiller. There are many fine moments in the film. One of my favorites was the dedication with which Professor Schiller sat down each day to write. His writing hours were sacred, not to be disturbed. Did he produce good writing every day? Not at all, as the film reveals. But he considered his pre-determined writing hours his job.

LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE WALKING

In the film "Finding Forrester," Sean Connery plays a reclusive Pulitzer Prize winning author. He mentors and teaches a gifted young man to write. In a particularly well-played scene, the young man sits thinking, staring at the typewriter in front of him, not writing. Eventually William Forrester hands him a manuscript to copy. He explains that sometimes just moving your fingers on the keyboard helps you to get started writing.

CHANGE LOCATIONS FOR NEW STIMULI

"Finding Neverland," is a film depicting the story of author J.M. Barrie's inspiration for writing "Peter Pan." In the film Johnny Depp plays J.M. Barrie. He is inspired both by the spirited relationship he creates with a young mother and her sons and his walks to the park, where he sits and writes in his leather-bound journal.

You may have heard the proverbial expression, "Good things come to those who wait."

But, when it comes to writing, all three of these films offer us a glimpse of writers who knew something about the truth of inspiration.

However you get inspired, it's not about waiting. Good things come to those who write!

Take good care,

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UPCOMING EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2008 - NEW! FREE MONTHLY TELESEMINARS - Join us the second Tuesday of each month for live teleseminars on support and tips for writing and creativity. Calls are at 12:00 noon, Pacific (1:00 pm Mountain, 2:00 pm Central and 3:00 pm Eastern).

Can't make a class? No worries. Sign-up anyway and we'll send you a free recording.

Never been on a teleseminar? A teleseminar is a virtual classroom. Accessible by telephone, you simply sign-up before hand then dial in at the appointed time. No travel, no hassle. Listen or be part of a seminar from anywhere in the world!

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT, NOW!

SATURDAY, APRIL 12 2008 - PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR NEW AND BEGINNING WRITERS - Full-day workshop: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, De Anza College, Cupertino, California.

If you want to start writing and don't know how to begin, your writing has stalled, you are feeling out-of-focus or you simply want to bring more writing into your life, this is the seminar for you. Although publishing may be your eventual goal, emphasis will be on the process of writing. All genres and skill levels (including absolute beginners) welcome.

Included:

• Tips and tricks to get started writing and keep going
• Get moving again when your writing has stalled
• Get your writing organized!
• Keep track of your ideas
• Silence your inner critic
• Manage your resistance
• Break through writer's block
• Deal with rejection

Susan Borkin, M.A. is a licensed psychotherapist, coach and writer. She is the founder of Write Now! a professional practice specializing in the use of writing for personal and professional growth. Susan specializes in helping people overcome creative blocks and achieve deep personal transformation through the use of writing. A personal growth writing teacher for more than twenty-five years, she is the author of When Your Heart Speaks, Take Good Notes: The Healing Power of Writing and Writing From the Inside Out: Using a Journal for Personal Growth & Transformation.

BOOKS TO STIMULATE YOUR WRITING AND CREATIVITY By Susan Borkin

Writing From the Inside Out: Using a Journal for Personal Growth and Transformation When Your Heart Speaks, Take Good Notes: The Healing Power of Writing

Both books are available for previewing and ordering at www.susanborkin.com. Sample chapters are only available to preview.

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GRATIS CORNER

• Sign up for free monthly teleseminars!

• if you find yourself needing some writing inspiration, contact me and request a GRATIS SESSION via phone or in person. Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to me to find out more.

• Need some journaling tips? Send for your GRATIS BONUS ARTICLE, 'Jumpstart Your Journaling'. Send an e-mail requesting the article by name.

• Have a question about writing or creativity? E-mail your question to Susan. She may use your questions in future issues of ' WRITE NOW! A-Muse Letter by Susan Borkin '.

Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to Susan at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more.

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