I made my list of quirky character traits for Day 9 after writing in my dream journal and felt utterly uninspired to turn my traits into actual characaters.

Or maybe just resistant. I hadn’t attempted fiction in ages. Or maybe I just wasn’t ready…

Who am I to judge myself? Or anyone, for that matter.

A day later, I looked over my list. Twice. Maybe I’ll start with a character who sings off key. Only when I imagined my character she sang in a beautiful, haunting voice. Then I remembered another trait from my list—communicating with fairies. After that, my sprightly story wrote itself.

Your turn.

List some quirky character traits. Then pick a few for your character(s) and start playing.

Share a snippet or share something about your experience, as I did.

Remember, we’re just playing in our journals, no need to polish anything you share. This is just for FUN, to get our writing muscles working, to cultivate a sense of play and to experience writing in a supportive community.

Of course, if and when you stumble upon delight…that’s a gift, too.

Today’s meditation “Explore Your Inner Garden” came to me during a writing retreat at Kripalu Yoga and Conference Center. I was working on another book (the one I plan to publish next) and the whole garden metaphor came up as an inner landscape we can use to tap into our creativity and explore at will.

When the idea for The Joy of Writing Journal came up, I stole my own idea and put it in this book first.

Here’s a snippet of my exploration:

I immerse myself in the center of the pond…Drenched, I feel the water within me resonate with the pond water, as if all the crazy energy of being a human in a modern world dissipates and the water within me takes on the freshness and aliveness of the pond.

Your Turn

Listen to today’s meditation and root around in your own inner landscape.

Then write! Does the inner journey spark anything in your other creative projects or a writing piece you’ve been working on?

Share a snippet from your writing, if you like. Remember, we’re not editing or polishing, we’re delighting in the rough and tumble of the journal. So allow yourself to share something brambly and unfinished.

Today’s meditation, “Meet Your Muse,” is one of my favorite ways to help writers connect to their creativity and inner wisdom.

I taught my writing coach this meditation so she could lead me through it whenever I am searching for answers.

In today’s exploration, I journeyed to my muse. I felt the sun on my back in the meadow and then it became dark in the woods. Fireflies lit my way to the cottage where I usually meet my muse.

For the first time, I do not enter the cottage. Instead, my muse comes outside to meet me! We look at the stars and see shooting stars. My muse says, “Make a wish.”

I wish for a feeling that embodies The Joy of Writing Journal. I embody the book and the book feels so happy bringing joy to many people.

I see The Joy of Writing Journal being passed hand to hand—other books, poems, journaling, coming into being inspired by the seeds of inspiration it sows in its readers/journalers (you, perhaps!).

I see a wonderful ball of light representing creativity and that grows and grows as people work through the journal. We all have so much fun. We feel more alive, more connected to each other and to our own inner worlds. The light illuminates our lives and The Joy of Writing Journal is very happy to see all this richness of experience from one little, simple book.

On the one hand, I remember feeling so light and exhilarated when I wrote this. On the other hand, I’m a little embarrassed to share it. I worrry you’ll find it trite.

I’m going to take a risk that maybe you’ll find the idea and images hackneyed but maybe you’ll bask in that ball of light with me and just enjoy how when we share our creativity it grows and grows…

Do you have a question or two you want to ask your creative inner muse?

Listen to today’s meditation and ask your questions. See where your muse takes you.

Then write!

And after you write, or later today, spend some time on the summary page, jotting down things that happened this week that you could write about, things that inspired you. And don’t forget to record the times you plan to write each day during the coming week!