What story, song, poem, painting, soul calling is waiting to be cultivated by you?
Lucha Corpi wrote a poem in homage to Emily Dickinson. I read the poem aloud during one of my "Poetry and Writing Prompt" Broadcasts and ever since I've been haunted by the idea of cultivating our words. Corpi wrote in this poem, "We are cultivators of the unsayable, migrant workers in search of floating gardens as yet unsown, as yet unharvested."
I ask you again and request you stay here, in conversation with me via the words on the page and in the videos, "What story, song, poem, painting, soul calling is waiting to be cultivated by you?"
It is a natural thing for us, women – nurturers, caretakers, huggers and holders – to want to “cultivate” – as Merriam Webster’s Dictionary reminds us, the definition of "cultivate" is:
- 1 : to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops; also : to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants)
- 2 a : to foster the growth of <cultivate vegetables> b : culture 2a c : to improve by labor, care, or study : refine <cultivate the mind>
- 3 : further, encourage <cultivate the arts>
- 4 : to seek the society of : make friends with –
When we cultivate our gardens, our farms – we prepare the soil.
How is that related to what we do as writers?
Think about that for a moment and ask yourself, “What do I do to prepare to write?” and “When I look at the blank page, what feelings come up? What can I do to take responsibility to see that page as inspiring and hope-filled?”
Do you carry a notebook with you to jot random ideas as they pop, or capture conversations overheard or describe a moment in time you want to mix into a scene to make the backstory richer and show something about your main character?
Do you have a daily writing practice to let your doubts, worries as well as simple gratitude and daily joy to show up on the page?
Do you feel compelled by a cause, something bigger than yourself?
Your story lives where your life intersects with your cause, your purpose or your passion.
What will you do to bring your story, your sales letter, your blog post, your vignette within your book to life today?
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