Take space for writing. Where do you take space for writing? It can be literal…where do you write? At the kitchen table? On your couch? Out back when the sun is rising in the sky? It can be figurative. What kind of mind space do you create so you can write? Deep breaths? Angry outbursts?Continue reading “open invitation no. 42: writing space”
Author Archives: Ruth Ayres
open invitation no. 41: fancy
Be a little fancy. “Everybody wants to be someone fancy. Even if they’re just shy.”—Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz If you’re looking for a writing topic, consider something fancy. Fancy, I am sure, conjures different ideas for all of us. If you already know your topic and you’re looking for a way to write it,Continue reading “open invitation no. 41: fancy”
open invitation no. 41: breaks
Maybe it’s time to make a break. One of my favorite craft moves is paragraphing. No joke. I like the way a simple break changes the sound and, sometimes, the meaning. Naturally, I am also quite fond of line breaks in poetryand in prose. After you write, take time to reread and consider the paragraphContinue reading “open invitation no. 41: breaks”
open invitation no. 40: write
It’s okay if you don’t know what to think. Sometimes writers don’t know what they think. Sometimes writers don’t know what to feel. There are lots of emotions and lots of confusing things that happen in the world. This is a reminder that it’s okay to write, even when you don’t know what to think.Continue reading “open invitation no. 40: write”
open invitation no. 39: word
Write off of a word. It is popular to select One Little Word in lieu of a resolution. Maybe you kept a word close during 2020. Maybe you didn’t. Perhaps you are thinking of One Little Word for 2021. Perhaps you aren’t. The prompt today, if you are looking for inspiration, is to select aContinue reading “open invitation no. 39: word”
open invitation no. 38: rituals
Rituals are comforting “There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.” —Deborah Norville Rituals are comforting. Every morning, since I was a little girl, I’ve opened my eyes and think, “It’s going to be a good day.” It’s a ritual that starts myContinue reading “open invitation no. 38: rituals”
open invitation no. 37: routines
Open your blog. Write. The day is made up of routines. Whether intentional or not, each day has a rhythm and those rhythms are built through routines. I’ve come to believe that cues are the best ways to set routines in motion. A cue is a signal for something to happen. I read scripture andContinue reading “open invitation no. 37: routines”
open invitation no. 36: dessert
Keep a cookie in your purse. When I was in college, Nancy the librarian who worked with my mom and fed me books my entire life, sent me a card and a cookie. The card read, “When life is hard and getting worse, keep a cookie in your purse.” It was a little jingle thatContinue reading “open invitation no. 36: dessert”
open invitation no. 35: childhood loves
Take time to remember what you loved to do as a child. What did you love to do as a child? Pause and remember. This isn’t something you need to race to do; linger. Consider different locations where you could be found as a child—what did you love? Consider food you ate—what did you love?Continue reading “open invitation no. 35: childhood loves”
