On the week we’ve had – and the week we want.
Every Wednesday in The Writers’ Gym messaging group, we have Wednesday Wishes.
This is not for ‘instant world peace’ or ‘being able to fly’ (though both would be fabulous).
It’s for ‘I wish I knew more about…’ ‘I wish I had clarity on…’ and we work through them together, either in one-to-one chat or in the group.
Last Wednesday, one message read ‘I wish it were a better news day!’
This is what I said:
“Okay, yeah, on that.
I wish I will keep my eyes, ears and self-esteem open for the ways I can make my immediate world better.
I wish I see, hear and appreciate the dangers of thinking bigger/more important people will always make the right decisions.
In my own corner, I wish to utilise Say The Thing for myself and those who benefit from me using my voice for good.”
Later I added:
“Despair is always easier. Reinforced sense of what we CAN do is always more useful.
If you, like me, are finding that hard today, know that the world needs what we can put into it now more than ever. Never stop doing what you can do.”
Two days before Bad News Wednesday, I was at Roehampton University lecturing on Life as a Freelance Writer. Talks like this are an opportunity to share all the things I wish someone had known how to talk to me about, back when the idea of what a writing career might look like was so new. The timing, in retrospect, feels like an important reminder. Like creative writing itself, creating our careers means we need to be able to imagine clearly in order to create specifically. If we’re too polite to fate, expect it to know best, put it ahead of imagination, if we believe more in the past than the future, we don’t create paths that are the result of who we are. And then, whoever has more confidence and potentially less empathy/sanity gets to choose. We’ve seen what that looks like. Let’s not emulate it. Let’s keep showing up with our creativity, with our power.
Below the photos are ways to put yourself in a creative space this week…
The Writing Room | 11-1pm Monday 11 November
FREE for everyone on my mailing list (if you’re reading this, that’s you!). Time and space to think and write with like-minded people. No expectations, no readings, just an open chat box and unmuting for ten minutes’ (totally optional) chat together at the end. Click here.
Riverscribes | 7-8.30pm Monday 11 November
A lively and supportive creative writing forum right by the river at Hammersmith’s wonderful arts venue Riverside Studios. This week we’re exploring character and point of view. Book here.
Coffee & Creativity | 1-2.30pm Wednesday 13 November
Quality writing time and quality company! Grab a coffee and have a mid-week chat, a write and then another chat with your fellow creatives. Free for Writers’ Gym members: type your discount code where indicated. Book here.
The Writers’ Gym Podcast | Wednesday 13 November
The current series of The Writers’ Gym, where I’m joined by Emily Inkpen and Chris Gregory, airs a new episode every Wednesday. Type The Writers’ Gym into any platform, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, to join the conversation.
Writing Room EXTRA | 11am-1pm Friday 15 November
Members only: please check your Voxer messages for this link.
You don’t have to be a member to join a Writers’ Gym session. But if you’d like to access our weekly programme for free, and receive 30% off all our other creative workouts:
Email thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com or
download a brochure at writersgym.com
For PT sessions and creative confidence for life, work and art, email info@rachelknightley.com