Tuesday April 9, 5:30-6:30pm

90% of success is just showing up – showing up and writing that is. This one hour writing practice starts with showing up, pen and paper in hand ready to explore led by Jody Smiling.  Based on writing practice developed by Natalie Goldberg, the goal is to allow the written word to connect with the original mind, to write down the first thoughts we flash on, before the second and third thoughts come in and before our internal editors make corrections.

Write – Read – Write – Read.  We write for 15 minutes straight, no stopping, keeping our pens and hands moving, forgetting about grammar and spelling, letting our minds guide us.  After each 15 minute timed writing, we volunteer to read out loud. (There is always to option to pass on reading out loud.)  What’s unique about this method is that there is no feedback.  None.  It is just writing practice.  Free to write the best and the worst the world has ever heard we focus on learning to trust what intuitively comes — this is where the fresh energy is to grow new projects, to explore inner thoughts, discover obsessions, to see how our minds work.

“The mind changes all the time, just as the ocean waves change. Sometimes the water is turbulent, sometimes calm. You don’t have control of your mind; it goes where it wants to go. But with practice, you can have a relationship with it.” – Natalie Goldberg on meditation and writing practice.

Jody Smiling has studied and practiced writing with Natalie Goldberg for ten years.

You do not need to be a member to attend this event. If you are a non-member, please RSVP to membership@shared-sf.com so we know to look out for you and let you in the building.