I read this recently and it’s my favorite new quote.
“What if there was no such thing as a writer? What if everyone simply wrote?”
Julia Cameron poses that question in her book The Right to Write.
I love it because it strips away the ego and identity from writing and simply positions it for what it is: An act of self expression, available to all. A way to know your own mind. To lay claim to your opinions and stories.
To decide writing has no use for you because you didn’t major in it? I don’t believe that for a moment.
A few weeks ago I led a workshop out in Snowmass with a group of C-suite female executives in the financial industry. One of the things I asked them to do was take out a piece of paper and write to a prompt for a few minutes.
Why, because they were there for a writing workshop? They were not. I had them write not because they’re writers, but because they’re leaders.
Of all the resources available to leaders, one of the most powerful and underused tools is the page.
Writing isn’t just for people who write for a living. The act of writing taps the part of your brain that expresses and reflects, tells stories, remembers, and imagines.
Several of the women at that event told me it was incredibly valuable to remember just how important it is to use writing to get clear and envisioning solutions. To finally hear themselves think.
Writing is a clarifier, a distiller, a generator. The more you do it, the more you learn about yourself and what you have to say.
These were not the first corporate executives I’ve led through this particular approach—I’ve done it with financial advisors and business owners, the admin team at one of the biggest tech firms in the world, the top female leadership at a global beauty brand.
And yes, with people who call themselves…writers.
Because what defines a writer is not a byline or a job title or a LinkedIn profile. The only thing a writer need do, is write. And that makes us all writers.
You don’t need to publish a book. You can simply decide to pick up a pen and start. Again. And again. And when you do, the world itself can change before your very eyes.
See for yourself why it’s worth doing—for your work, sure, but also, for yourself.
I’m leading another installment of my free virtual writing workshop series, Start Writing, on Sept 27, 28, and 29th @ 12p ET. Come to any and all.
Grab the link to join us here ⇒ https://territrespicio.com/start/
-Terri
P.S. Also, are you part of the Unfollow Your Passion book pre-party? Learn more about it and join us here.