I’m reminding you that every time you write, something valuable occurs.

And that value is powerfull.

I’m also reminding you that your mind and inner critics will try to trick you into thinking that’s not true.

Just say out loud:

“POW!”

And envision any critics flying into the air-like in a cartoon where nobody gets hurt.

Then pick up a pen or pencil, put your fingers on the keyboard and let the power of your writing OUT.

If people ask how your writing is, do you sigh, or avoid the subject?

Do you ever feel like it’s “enough” writing?

Do you doubt your writing?

Your answers to these questions will guide you to know whether it’s time to reFRESH and inVIGORate your writing.

You do this by practicing telling new stories about your writing, playing games like “interview your future writer self,”                                       consistently communicating with your inner Wise Self and creating microMOVEments.

Your writing will respond quickly to your new ways.

Here’s to our new stories!

Flowing is non linear, it’s full of grace and wonder.

Fresh peaches and slants of sunlight are commonly seen during times of flow.

Flowing can occur in the bathtub and in the shower, and it’s no mistake that water FLOWS, as your writing will, when you allow it.

Flow loves surprises and new environments.

Take yourself and your writing somewhere brand new- and FUN!

Your writing is part of your spiritual expression.

Overscheduling your writing will diminish your writing AND your joy in living.

I can hear you wondering: “But what if I’m not writing at ALL?”

That’s where faith and MicroMOVEments come in.

Experiment, explore, EXPRESS yourself through your writing.

That’s what it’s for.

I give you permission to know the value of your stories and let them out so we can read them!

Let your stories tumble out. You have treasure chests of stories inside that are of great value. Let them out so others may benefit from them. Hoard nothing. And do not wait for the perfectionist to approve, or you will wait a lifetime.

The time is truly now, and your stories are needed!

We decide to occupy ourselves with these things to the exclusion of writing- because we’re waiting for a “better time.”

There is no better time than now, unless it’s later

I dare you to write more and energize your writing self with that!

This wise part of you arrived when you were born and will be with you your whole life and after.

Most people know that they have this part. You might call it your higher self, the holy spirit or pure positive energy. Many people haven’t discovered how to activate or empower that part of themselves.

Whatever you call it, it’s inside you and ready to help you to write.

In my WINS writing program, we write and share inner Wise Self “love notes.” This practice activates and empowers your inner Wise Self, feels great and promotes self-care and results in more writing getting written.

These love notes are a simple 5 minute way to activate and empower your inner Wise Self to help you to write, and to love your writing. Here’s a recent love note my inner Wise Self wrote to me:
(It loves to use endearments)

To my dearest and most ever-loving radiant bundle called Susan.

I adore your people pleasing, ego driven, emotional eating, strategizing for contact and distancing from contact. I love your quests for being met and found and chosen.

I love your yearnings. I accept and honor your sometimes fat feeling stomach and out of controlness in any and every dimension.

I respect your dislikes, distastes and your exuberant welcomings in every way.

I celebrate your allowings, your attendances and your change ability. I trust you, I love you. You are divinely guided, deeply loved and such a gift.

Because your writing comes from this divine source, it’s a chance for your writing to “speak” and share its love for you.

And when you read your writing out loud, it expands the spirit in your writing.

When I wrote my first book at 10 years old, I connected with my inner Wise Self, who told me I was meant to be a “beacon of hope, and write books for the world.”

I knew then that my writing loved me, and it took me 25 years to return to that divine knowing, and to begin sharing it with the world.

I’m so very glad that I did, and that I continue to create from that divine source.

Writing is meant to fit in with our actual lives, not be separate from it.

So many people think they need to go on a sabbatical to write. The sabbatical IS daily life. Writing happens in between the prayers, the laundry, the garbage and the lovemaking.

I teach a method called MicroMOVEments that I created over 20 years ago, that shows writers how to weave their writing into their daily lives.

Tiny movements equal huge results, and it’s how I created all of my 16 bestselling books and am currently writing 4 more simultaneously.

I also live a great life at the same time! And a great life means living in what i call the “marvelous messy middle,” feeling all of my feelings as much as possible. This results in more time for experiencing JOY.

And by the way, with microMOVEments there’s plenty of time to avoid, procrastinate, watch TV and resist writing too!

Actually, this is untrue.

You can write in your mind, anywhere your mind goes.

Some of my best writing occurs in the bathtub, while washing dishes and out walking.

I’m often stopping on a walk to make notes in my little notebook, and now also in my “smartphone” notes section.

Thinking about writing *IS* writing too!

In my WINS writing program, I also encourage the participants to write less, more often.  As a result, more writing gets written and more life gets lived. Writing while dreaming is particularly effective and all it requires is for you to lie down and sleep- or perhaps just sleep.

Writing while having a conversation can also happen, although it requires you to be an “ambidextrous listener.”

Writing while writing is another phenomenon, and it means that you’re thinking of other things to write as you’re writing something else.

Writing while eating is never recommended if it interrupts the pleasure of food;-)

So you can “write” while driving as long as you keep both hands on the wheel!

They go together, like everything that’s good goes together.

I’ve been mentored by so many great writers and people in my life.

I’ve also had the great privilege to mentor other writers, through my WINS (Write It Now with SARK- A Haven and Accelerator for Writers) writing program and individually with people over the years.

As we complete one year and begin another, I wanted to share some of my morsels of goodness and wisdom I’ve gathered about writing and mentoring.

I call them “paper mentors,” people who mentor you through the pages of their books. I’ve had countless numbers of paper mentors and I’m sure you have had too. Reading is a great way to be mentored.

Then there are what I call “people mentors.” These are the people that inspire your writing. They might be coaches, children, clerks or random “strangers.”

These people mentors are all around, waiting to be prompted by you, to inspire you and your writing.

To expand your capacity to be mentored in your writing, explore the following;

*Talk out loud about being a writer. Many writers don’t tell anyone they’re writing! And this often means that their writing is not being shared with others.

*Be willing to write badly and let others read it. Many writers fear this immensely and don’t realize that it’s called a writing practice for this reason! Practicing writing will usually result in more or better writing.

*Surround yourself with other writers writing. Writing in creative community is an accelerator for the writing process and is fun and nourishing, which fuels more writing.

*Allow your writing to be good and great. Lots of writers hide from knowing the goodness or greatness of their own writing.

*Let a writing mentor or writing community be a guide to your writing more and deeper. Let your writing be read and relished. Let your words help to change and expand the world.