Reading and Writing

I'm a bit behind with the blog this week although I've still been checking FB and Twitter regularly and I must admit I'm enjoying Instagram now and then as I love photos. I've also been catching up on various things at home - at the moment I'm clearing out another lot of drawers and trying to get writing notes organised (again!). 

At the end of the week, I'm speaking at a writing group so I'm enjoying preparing for that, especially so I could legitimately sit and read all the stories in recent copies of Take a Break Fiction Feast, Woman's Weekly Fiction Special and The People's Friend Special. Although I've long known the different types of stories they publish, it's a while since I've read these magazines right the way through. A fascinating and very enjoyable exercise, since many of the writers are lovely blogging friends. I even finished writing a short story of my own that I'd started ages ago!


It convinced me again how important it is to read as much as possible - not only for enjoyment but for inspiration and a little more understanding of what editors of magazines or publishers of books are accepting. As for books, I always have two on the go at a time - one on kindle for reading in bed and a paperback for reading downstairs, usually two different genres!

In my clearing out, I came across this interesting Idea to Release Writing. I hadn't taken note of where it originated so you may have come across it before. 

'Explore using your non-dominant hand for writing practice as it stimulates and strengthens the creative right brain hemisphere, freeing untapped fluency.' 

And here's a quote from American Brain Specialist Leonard Shlain:

'The right hemisphere is the realm of altered states of consciousness where faith and mystery rule over logic. It allows for spirituality, for musing, dreaming, imagining. Without it we would have no poetry.'

I love that quote! Happy writing.
Rosemary