Why We Write

Why We Write

By Julia Cameron

There are many things which resist naming,

And that is why we write.
We write because language is slippery,
And the truth is.
We write because
The light we have to see by
Is always shifting
Never forget that writers are prophets.
We speak in tongues.
We testify.
We are for each other a believing mirror.
Our words make us visible.
Our listening makes us heard.

Never forget that writers are soldiers.
Our writing is the long march,
The walk into time.
Each word is a drum.
We sound it across great distances,
Reaching one another and ourselves.
Every poem is a day's march.
A celebration more necessary than water or wine.
Every poem is a drink of blood.

Never forget that writing is an act of courage - 

Not on the days when it is simple and we discount it.
Not on the days when it is hard and we write like sand.
Our words are torches.
We pass them hand to hand
And mouth to mouth
Like a burning kiss.

Never forget to say thank you.
Every syllable is a grace.

Come and Join Us For Our Annual Writing Retreat

Join fellow writers and visiting author Bill Woolum on the shores of Lake Coeur d' Alene for writing, learning and relaxation for the NIWP annual writing retreat in July. The event will be held Monday, July 12th-Friday, July 16th 2010.  This retreat includes workshops with the writer, time to write and conference with other participants, and uninterrupted time for thinking, writing, reading, and reflecting. You can learn more about this retreat by going here.

To learn more about our visiting writer you can visit his blog at www.kelloggbloggin.blogspot.com

April is National Poetry Month

To learn more about National Poetry Month go to www.poets.org

Gathering Leaves

There are so many poems that work well for writing centering around the season of autumn. Here is a favorite of mine you might be able to use in some way for your own inspiration or with your students.

Gathering Leaves

by Robert Frost

Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.

I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.

But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.

I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?

Next to nothing for weight,
And since they grew duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.

Next to nothing for use.
But a crop is a crop,
And who's to say where
The harvest shall stop?

Everything

I love this poem by Mary Oliver. It inspires me to write poetry! cw

Everything

I want to make poems that say right out, plainly,
what I mean, that don't go looking for the
laces of elaboration, puffed sleeves. I want to
keep close and use often words like
heavy, heart, joy, soon, and to cherish
the question mark and her bold sister

the dash. I want to write with quiet hands. I
want to write while crossing the fields that are
fresh with daises and everlasting and the
ordinary grass. I want to make poems while thinking of
the bread of heaven and the
cup of astonishment; let them be

songs in which nothing is neglected,
not a hope, not a promise. I want to make poems
that look into the earth and the heavens
and see the unseeable. I want them to honor
both the heart of faith, and the light of the world;
the gladness that says, without any words, everything.


~ Mary Oliver ~

(New and Selected Poems Volume Two)

NIWP Writiing Retreat 2009

The annual NIWP Writing Retreat was moved to a new location and different week this year. We held the retreat at Camp N Sid Sen on Coeur d'Alene Lake the second week of July. Bill Woolum returned as the visiting writer and the participants immersed themselves in creating poetry, memoir, novel writing, and nonfiction. The new location was a perfect setting for retreating and writing. Between the delicious meals, the lake for swimming and boating, and the lovely lodge we had all to ourselves it was hard to leave! The Writing Retreat will be held next year July 12-16th. Watch this site or our website at www.niwp.org for information.

Reflecting On The Summer Institute 2009

I also had the priviledge to spend three of the four weeks with this amazing group of fellows at the summer institute. Every time I have been involved with the SI I come away with new teaching ideas, more wisdom, and a stronger community of writers.
We enjoyed lots of coffee, and the last week were re-energized with chocolate.
We also had some fine Friday feasts!
Many meaningful discussions were held. Here Mercedes and Timothy are designing a rubric for a muffin.
At the end everyone was still smiling!