Writing Tools & Resources
Offered by facilitator Rebecca Gifford and the wonderful writers at the BC Brain Wellness Program
This is a page to offer writers at the BC Brain Wellness Program some resources and inspiration as they explore their inherent creativity and begin to condition their writing muscle. It contains a reminder about journaling, aka having a writing practice, some writing prompts and provocations, and a list of ideas, authors, poets, programs and resources offered by the entire group of beautiful writers and humans — to help you keep writing, exploring and expressing yourself.
On Journaling and Having a Regular Writing Practice
If you haven’t already, I strongly encourage you to start making this part of your life and wellness toolbox. Here are some tips on how to get started:
Buy a journal or notebook, create a digital file or find a way to make and store audio journals.
Don’t overthink this. Whatever you’ll use are the right tools. I recommend handwriting during your regular writing practice if possible, but if not, set aside a special space, name your own journal folder something special and meaningful, and make sure it’s private. If you are only able to do spoken word journaling, use voice to text, download a dictation app or create a folder to store audio recordings on your phone or computer. This journal and practice is for you and you alone – for your eyes only, if that is what you choose.
Writing regularly will condition the muscles faster, but start to write even it’s not a regular practice.
You can write for however long (even five minutes helps), and about absolutely anything. Or nothing. Using prompts is a great way to start (see prompts and resources below). It can be any time of day, in any place that is comfortable to you. There’s no wrong and there are no wrong tools. It’s your time. Get curious, take the expectations out of it, and see where this practice takes you.
If it’s helpful, set yourself up by using any of the tools we explored during the guided meditations in class, or use your own tools for getting into a calm, open, creative space.
If you need a deadline or some kind of accountability to get motivated...set it up! Put writing time on your calendar. Write with someone, or set up a sharing deadline with a friend. Set up what you need, then stick to it.
Some resources on the benefits of creativity and/or writing (research or links to studies included) and the psychology of forming healthy habits:
https://www.artandhealing.org/evidence-of-the-healing-power-of-expressive-writing/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320947
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17439760.2016.1257049?scroll=top&needAccess=true&journalCode=rpos20
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-it-take-to-form-a-habit
As potential inspiration, here are some links:
A blog Rebecca wrote on journaling for the World Parkinson Congress: https://www.worldpdcongress.org/home/2022/11/30/riding-the-parkinsons-rollercoaster-one-word-at-a-time
An episode of the podcast Rebecca and her husband co-host that is about using writing and creativity to cope and thrive: Go to When Life Gives You Parkinson’s, Season 2, Ep. 19 (February 18, 2020, How Writing Can Help People with Parkinson’s) featuring Rebecca discussing her story, tools and techniques: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/when-life-gives-you-parkinsons/id1404983468?i=1000466033102 (You also can find it on any podcast platform you may use.)
Remember… THERE ARE NO RULES TO WRITING PRACTICE! IT’S YOUR TIME.
There is no “right” or “wrong”. There is no “good writing” or “bad writing”. Spelling and grammar don’t matter. Just be curious and see where your writing takes you!
Potential Writing Prompts:
Keep it simple: “What I know is…” “I’m thinking of…” “What I want to say is…” “What I’m learning is…”
Write about your immediate surroundings. What do you see? What do you hear? Smell?
What or how is your body feeling in this moment?
Make a list of what you are grateful for today. Or most annoyed by. Or most amused about.
Listen to a piece of music. How does this make you feel? How would you describe it to someone who can’t hear it?
Look at a picture and describe it using all five senses. Or write a brief story imagining what could be occurring before, during or after the photo.
Pick a random page in a book or open up your web browser. What’s the first item that comes up? Write a few sentences about your reaction.
If you’re feeling stuck about what to write about, write about feeling stuck about what to write about. What does it feel like in your mind, body, heart? Why are you stuck?
If you’re looking for a challenge:
Write a series of haikus that tell a full story. (See Haiku links below.) Be sure there is a beginning, a middle and an end.
Write a short fiction story from the perspective of your pet, an animal in the zoo or aquarium, an animal you watch on a webcam, or an animal in your neighbourhood.
Try writing a children’s book explaining something you wish you’d understood better when you were a child.
Write a blog, essay or op-ed about an issue that is critically important to you. Now, write it again for a specific or different audience. How would you change it? Why?
Take a stab at a short screenplay based on how you imagine a conversation would go between two people you know but who have never met each other.
Pick one decision you’ve made in your life – a move, a job, a relationship, etc. How would your life be different now if you’d made a different choice? Perhaps write a short story imagining a day in that life.
Here are a few randomly selected writing prompts from 642 Things to Write About:
Re-create your earliest childhood memory.
Re-tell a recent joke you’ve heard as a short story/piece of fiction.
Write ten sayings for fortune cookies.
Write a love scene from the point of view of your hands.
Write an anonymous letter to a stranger detailing the things you’ve learned about life.
Write about a situation you were part of where others may expect you to be sorry, but you weren’t/aren’t.
Write about the most memorable meal you’ve ever eaten (and/or cooked).
Describe the most eccentric person you’ve ever met. Why do you remember them so well?
Additional writing, creativity, wellness and mental health resources and links (from Rebecca and your fellow Brain Wellness Program writers!):
Stay tuned!
BC Brain Wellness Creative Collective (for more info and to submit pieces): https://www.bcbrainwellness.ca/blog/creative-collective
Journaling/Writing Practice/Poetry Resources & Inspiration
20 Journaling Prompts for Working with Emotions
A great article with some ideas and prompts on free writing and journaling
https://www.kimroberts.co/blog/20-journaling-prompts-for-working-with-emotions
15 Writing Prompts to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing (also addresses the inner critic/editor)
https://medium.com/inspired-writer/15-writing-prompts-to-get-your-creative-juices-flowing-79b3aeb33e6
Start Where You Are (and other journals) — Meera Lee Patel
https://www.meeralee.com/
100 Days of Writing Challenge
https://www.lawritersgroup.com/100-day-writing-challenge/
50 Fantastic Creative Writing Exercises (thejohnfox.com)
https://thejohnfox.com/2016/05/creative-writing-exercises/
The 52 Lists Project: A Year of Weekly Journaling Inspiration — Moorea Seal
https://www.mooreaseal.com/ or http://www.oprah.com/inspiration/52-lists-project (includes excerpts and exercises)
Writing Prompts: 60 Ideas You Can Use Today — Freewrite
https://getfreewrite.com/blogs/writing-success/writing-prompts-60-ideas-you-can-use-today
(This site also offers daily writing prompts sent to your email.)
Poem-A-Day (free)
https://poets.org/poem-a-day?mc_cid=0a7ed8325f&mc_eid=f1a4919930
Poetry Foundation
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/
Poets.org
https://poets.org/
The Artist’s Way and Basic Tools — Julia Cameron (free writing)
https://juliacameronlive.com
Weekly Writing Prompts — Reedsy
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
Eventbrite Journaling Resources
Go to: https://www.eventbrite.ca and search Journaling
A Bagful of Haiku by Isabella Mori
https://www.amazon.ca/Bagful-Haiku-87-Imperfections/dp/0995902100/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1651084624&refinements=p_27%3AIsabella+Mori&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Isabella+Mori
How to Write a Haiku in Four Easy Steps
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-haiku-in-4-easy-steps#what-is-the-traditional-haiku-structure
The Perspective from Inside a Character
https://theeditorsblog.net/2016/11/28/the-perspective-from-inside-a-character/
Bullet Journaling
https://bulletjournal.com/
Workshop and Program Opportunities
Rebecca’s website — coaching and other workshops
https://www.rebeccagifford.com/
Writing Down the Bones — An online writing program with Natalie Goldberg (usually offered in the spring)
https://learn.shambhala.com/p/writing-down-the-bones
Writing Down the Bones is one of Goldberg’s books that is available on this site and wherever you get your books: https://nataliegoldberg.com/books/ She also has a card deck of writing prompts that is useful in your writing practice.
The Life Story Summit
https://www.lifestorylaboratory.com/lifestorysummit
Book Passage - San Francisco book store that hosts live events and online workshops
https://www.bookpassage.com/
Deep Story Design with April Bosshard
A BC-based writer, coach and workshop facilitator
https://www.deepstorydesign.com/
Susan Wooldridge - writer and workshop facilitator, creator of Wordpool
http://susanwooldridge.com/
Jacqueline Suskin
The Poem Store
http://www.jacquelinesuskin.com/
Federation of BC Writers
https://bcwriters.ca/
Vancouver Womens Writing Courses
https://vancouverwritingcourses.com/
The Sense Writing Course - Somatic Writing
https://sensewritingcourse.com/
Firefly Creative Writing
https://fireflycreativewriting.com/
Write on Bowen Festival of Readers and Writers (August)
https://www.writeonbowen.com/?fbclid=IwAR354ZBWYHHVVM3pTITb0GtFoVoMsgYsIFxOLJM_UU2EqkE0hc71D0Kd0Kw
100 Days of Writing Challenge
https://www.lawritersgroup.com/100-day-writing-challenge/
Amanda Gorman online Masterclass
Writing and performing poetry
https://www.masterclass.com/classes/amanda-gorman-teaches-writing-and-performing-poetry
Books, Authors & Poets
Tara Brach - teacher, author
https://www.tarabrach.com/
Billy Collins
https://billycollinspoetry.com/
Brian Bilston
https://brianbilston.com/
Stella Durndell
https://www.amazon.com/Even-More-Life-Funny-Stuff/dp/B08GLJ3F1R
Taming Your Gremlin by Rick Carson
https://www.tamingyourgremlin.com/
Marta Singh — storyteller, workshop facilitator
https://www.ottawastorytellers.ca/marta-singh
Leslie A. Davidson — award-winning BC author with Parkinson’s (also was a care partner to her husband who had Lewy Body Dementia). Her new memoir, Dancing in Small Spaces, dropped in October 2022. https://www.leslieadavidson.com/
Interview with her on Rebecca and her husband Larry’s podcast: https://omny.fm/shows/when-life-gives-you/care-partners-advocating-for-themselves
Dr. Brene Brown — author, researcher, speaker, podcaster, wise soul
https://brenebrown.com/
Her latest book is Atlas of the Heart, which is referenced regularly by Rebecca during workshops.
Sylvia Boorstein — author, teacher, activist, psychotherapist
http://www.sylviaboorstein.com/
For her books: http://www.sylviaboorstein.com/books
Natalie Goldberg — author, teacher
https://nataliegoldberg.com/
For her books, including Writing Down the Bones and the Writing Down the Bones Deck: https://nataliegoldberg.com/books/
The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/the-body-is-not-an-apology
Body Groove — body positive dance/exercise app and program
https://www.bodygroove.com/
Writing for Your Life: Discovering the Story of Your Life's Journey by Deena Metzger
https://deenametzger.net/published-works-3/writing-for-your-life/
Out of Our Minds: The Power of Being Creative by Sir Ken Robinson
https://www.sirkenrobinson.com/product/out-of-our-minds-the-power-of-being-creative/
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
https://www.amazon.ca/Bird-Some-Instructions-Writing-Life/dp/0385480016
The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
https://www.marykarr.com/the-art-of-memoir.html
Tomson Highway — Indigenous writer and performer
https://tomsonhighway.com
On Tomson Highway’s 2022 Massey Lectures: https://www.masseycollege.ca/2022/06/20/tomsom-highway-to-deliver-the-2023-cbc-massey-lectures/
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
https://www.burnoutbook.net/
Writing Hard Stories: Celebrated Artists Who Shaped Art from Trauma by Melanie Brooks
https://www.melaniebrooks.com/
The Power of Kindness: Why Empathy is Essential in Everyday Life by Brian Goldman, MD
https://www.harpercollins.ca/9781443451062/the-power-of-kindness/
I’ll Carry the Fork by Kara Swanson — author with a neurological condition
https://www.karaswanson.com/
Claudia Osborn - brain-injured author
www.claudiaosborn.com
Shireen Jeejeebhoy - brain-injured author
https://jeejeebhoy.ca/
Boundaries: Where You End and I Begin by Anne Katherine, MA
https://www.authoranne.org/
Boundaries: When to Say Yes & How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Thompson
https://www.drcloud.com/books/boundaries
Keep Sharp by Sanjay Gupta
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Keep-Sharp/Sanjay-Gupta/9781501166730
The Precious Days by Ann Patchett
http://www.annpatchett.com/
White Bird by R.J. Palacio
https://wonderthebook.com/books/white-bird
People Who Give Us Hope
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Indigenous musician and visionary
https://buffysainte-marie.com/
How to buy her new Canada Post stamp: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/blogs/personal/perspectives/stamp-celebrates-buffy-sainte-marie/
Ben & Jerry Podcast - Into the Mix
https://www.benjerry.com/whats-new/2022/02/into-the-mix-podcast
Mental Health Resources
Clarity (app available on Apple and other devices)
https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/clarity-cbt-thought-diary/id1010391170
Breathe Magazine
https://www.breathemagazine.com/
Mind Beacon - mental health services and programs
https://www.mindbeacon.com/
The Wisdom of Trauma - film about using healing from life’s challenges to discover wisdom and possibilities, featuring Dr. Gabor Mate
https://thewisdomoftrauma.com/