& special giveaway contest!
Journaling, like any writing adventure or exercise program, tends to be cyclical—there are the times when you can’t wait to get-to-it and times when you can’t get started. Mari has the fix! It is her new workbook,
Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days.
In this workbook, Mari addresses the most common roadblocks we come against in our journaling practice, from writer’s block and lack of time to finding motivation and silencing our inner critic. Whether you are new to journaling or need to climb out of a slump, these seven days of writing prompts will get you moving in the right direction.
While looking through this book, my first important realization was that I relate journaling to assigned writing—it’s a chore. Mari opens the book with a collage project! Perfect for drawing out my inner child and re-associating journaling time with play time. Sue Bradford Edwards tells us more about
Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days, and shows us her collage, in her
book review.
I haven’t worked through this book yet because I’m waiting to work through it with you! Join me for Mari’s upcoming
Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days Challenge June 4-10 and we will re-discover journaling together! Signing up for the challenge is free. See what fellow WOW
! team member, Anne Greenawalt, had to say about the challenge in the video below!
Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days is available from Create Write Now as an
eWorkbook,
spiral bound print copy, or
Kindle e-book.
Special Giveaway Contest!Give your journaling a true jumpstart with Mari’s
Journaling Jumpstarter Kit and an ecopy (.pdf) of
Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days! The Journaling Jumpstarter Kit includes Create Write Now's Signature Journal (spiral bound), 85 of
Mari's Most Musefull Journaling Tips (spiral bound) and luscious lavender scented pen. Simply leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in the random drawing. The giveaway
contest closes this Thursday, May 3 at 11:59 PM PST. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag
#7DaysStart
I’ve been in a writing slump. I’m meeting my deadlines, but only with numerous rewrites. I’m also having trouble connecting with what I write.
I realized why when I lost an assignment. I was mildly bothered by not getting to write for the audience, history hungry teens, but what really upset me was losing the income. Reality: I write for a living, but when that’s all it is, it’s a slog.
To reverse that, I needed to rediscover why I started writing. Right after I realized this, Mari McCarthy’s e-book Start
Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days arrived. Mari asks readers to consider their motivation for keeping a journal. “Do you want to become a better writer and think keeping a journal will be good practice? Are you looking for a way to learn more about yourself, your past experiences and your current motivations? Do you hope to get yourself out of a rut and find your path or passion in life?”
Find your reason to journal and then move on to the chapters. Each begins with thoughts about that day’s topic followed by a series of exercises. For the first chapter, you make a collage. Before selecting the images, you contemplate why you want to journal.
I knew I wanted to reconnect with my reasons for writing, but, perfectionist that I am, I balked. What if I picked this image instead of that one? Would it be good enough?
Then it hit me—when I second guess my every decision, I tense up. Ever tried to write flowing prose with your shoulders at your ears? Note to self: Focus on the joy of writing. Focus on inspiring your reader. Doing that will make your editor happy.
With this in mind, I noodled over what inspired me and found images of things I love, including authors and books that inspire me. I liked the collage so much, it is now on my desk.
This was my breakthrough chapter. Yours might be one of the other chapters: journaling for 20 minutes a day; rebutting your inner critic; writer’s block; dealing with too many ideas; finding time to write; and what to do when boredom strikes.
With McCarthy’s encouragement, at the beginning of each work day, I get out my journal. I write about that day’s project, focusing on what about this subject will make a young reader or fellow writer say, “Wow.” With this focus, I’m getting into my writing assignments that much faster. With the confidence this gives me, my voice is stronger than ever.
What obstacles stand in the way of your writing? Whether it’s a writing problem or something else that is sapping your energy, spend some time looking deeper with McCarthy’s
Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days. You may find the answers you need even if they aren’t the answers you expected.
–SueBE
Author Sue Bradford Edwards blogs at One Writer's Journey.
Well,
Mari McCarthy has done it again. In the newest book in her journaling series,
WHO Are You? 7 Days Self-Discovery Journaling Challenge, she gives writers the perfect head-start to writing, journaling, or just discovering who we are beneath the surface.
She starts by sharing us the aim of her book which is to answer questions we often avoid answering such as, "What kind of person am I?" and "What are my dreams and fears?" or even "Where have I been and where am I going?" The only rule Mari has is that we need to go through each of the seven days consecutively, doing all the exercises. Other than that, there is no right or wrong.
Each chapter is set up with an introduction to the chapter's theme, a couple of exercises then tips on how to 'Focus on YOU'. She even gives you a few sample sentences to prompt your creative juices. Each chapter leads into the next, which is why Mari stresses the importance of doing them in order.
The chapter I found most difficult to tackle was Day 5: Courage. You'd think that a person who has two memoirs under her belt would have no trouble writing about things like why I avoid the truth or why I think I shortchange myself or what I'm afraid of. But it was both terrifying and refreshing to complete this section. "Courage can be found in the folds of your beliefs," Mari says. "What do you believe?" It was tough to start but as I wrote, I felt myself opening up.
I won't ruin the joy of this book for you, but I will say I think every writer out there should pick up a copy. It helps get the words out using the art of free-flow writing--that's where you're writing without thinking or trying to be perfect (which many of us writers tend to do). It's all about learning about our inner selves and bringing that into our writing.
I sure wish I'd had Mari there with me when I was trying to get the words out for my memoir
White Elephants. Initially, I had so much trouble bringing the words--the
right words--out. Without even knowing Mari, I used the very same tactics to help me calm down, work through the anger and tell the story the way it should be told.
Thank you, Mari, for sharing yet another helpful tool to keep our writing strong and keeping our words flowing freely. And, as you always say:
WriteON!-----
Writers, join Mari's next 7 day journaling challenge, February 20-26, here:
http://www.createwritenow.com/Who-Are-You-Challenge-Sign-Up/-----
WOW
! is very happy to welcome back Journaling Guru Mari L. McCarthy who is here to share her new eBook
Dark Chocolate for the Journaler’s Soul (doesn’t that sound decadent?). This time Mari is treating us to a very special tour filled with wonderful treats so read on...
Some of you may know Mari from her previous tours with WOW
! when she shared her How-To journaling books
Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling and
Who Are You? How to use Journaling Therapy to Know and Grow your Life.
Dark Chocolate is a different type of journaling book; it is more like a journaling chat room where all your journaling friends are discussing how they use their journals and what their BFF (Best Friend Forever) has taught them.
Settle back and relax while 17 journaling experts share:
- What you should do when you find yourself cheating on your journal
- How you can make the Blank Page work for you
- What it's like to reconnect with your Inner Kid
- How journal writing hastens healing
- What the best time of day to journal is
and many more journal writing tips and tricks, ideas and inspiration that will help you jumpstart your personal journal practice for the first time or the four hundredth time.
Dark Chocolate is a community of journalers sharing what they love, and since the holidays are all about community, friendship, and a bit of self indulgence there is no better time to share
Dark Chocolate.
Special Tour Price! The 51 page
Dark Chocolate for the Journaler's Soul eBook will be available through January 6th at the
Special Tour Price of $7.97 when you order direct from Mari at
Create Write Now. Available as a pdf and eBook for iPhone, Nook, and Kindle.
Book & Journal Kit Giveaway Contest: Happy Holidays! Win a copy of
Dark Chocolate for the Journaler’s Soul AND a
Journaler’s Jumpstarter Kit. The kit consists of Create Write Now’s Signature Journal (spiral bound),
Mari’s Most Musefull Journaling Tips (spiral bound), and an intoxicating Lavender Scented Pen (the actual pen is scented, not the ink).
To win a copy of
Dark Chocolate for the Journaler’s Soul and Mari’s Jumpstarter Kit, please leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in a random drawing. The giveaway contest
closes this Thursday, December 8th at 11:5
When I think about the holidays, I’m reminded of the good things: roasted turkey shared with family and friends; singing carols around a roaring fireplace; the intoxicating smell of Christmas trees; attending
The Nutcracker ballet; making dolls and ornaments (a tradition of mine); and the surprised look on my loved ones’ faces as they open their gifts. Ah, the wonderful reflections on the holiday season. You may be feeling that today, on Thanksgiving, because
hopefully you are reading this after you’ve finished cooking and have time to relax! We all feel better after we’ve accomplished something, right?
Blerg! (As Tina Fey would say) But the reality is, the holidays always add extra pressure to my life, both personally and professionally. Like many women, I tend to do more cooking, entertaining, shopping, and visiting with in-laws (don't get me started on that one). That leaves less time for writing, deadlines, projects, and making money (at a time when I need it the most!). It can be downright stressful. So when I received a copy of Mari McCarthy’s new eWorkbook,
Help for the Holidays: 7 Days of Journaling to Ho! Ho! Ho!, it was a welcome invitation to spend time on myself and do a little attitude adjusting.
What a breath of fresh air! I was having a spell of writer’s block before I started this journaling experiment, but Day 1 in Mari’s eWorkbook allowed me to write the first sentence of this post. She asks you to list your favorite things about the holidays, as well as the ones that cause you the most stress or sadness or frustration. At the end of the chapter, she guides you to write a short story describing your perfect holiday season. This is where I had the most fun! I wrote like no one was reading; I indulged in everything I ever wanted.
In my story, it actually snowed in Long Beach, California
, and I was wearing a brand new pair of Louboutin boots. While those two things didn’t make for the most realistic scenario, the other things in my story were quite attainable. Things like spending quality time with family and friends, and going to holiday events. I read the story to my husband and he thought it was pretty attainable as well, and (surprisingly) it put him in the holiday spirit! We are making it a point of rekindling the holiday activities we’ve enjoyed in the past and turning them into a holiday tradition.
The best part about this eWorkbook is it works as your personal coach. Yes, you have to do the work yourself—an important part of journaling and self-discovery—but Mari guides you through the process with specific examples and exercises. And, it’s not too intensive.
Help for the Holidays: 7 Days of Journaling to Ho! Ho! Ho! is a 26-page workbook that you can complete in seven days. It’s like taking a class! Currently priced at $8.97, you also receive access to a pri
Who are you? What are your strengths, your fears, your goals? What have you learned so far and where do you go from here?
Sometimes who we really are is a mystery even to ourselves. As we grow into adulthood and through the phases of establishing home and job, raising families, divorce and loss, career changes and daily life something happens. We are no longer who we thought we were or who family and friends think they see—but who are we really? It is a mystery only we can solve—with some quiet introspection. Mari L. McCarthy’s new e-book
Who Are You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and Grow Your Life was written especially for the purpose of this journey through self-discovery.
Within this 30 page e-book Mari will guide you to:
- Make peace with the past and gain new respect for the wiser you.
- Learn to recognize and work with your inner critic and inner coach.
- Explore your dream language.
- Develop a new sense of wholeness in the connection of mind and body.
Whether your intent is to invite healing, seek change, or simply discover more about what makes you tick (or ticked off),
Who Are You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and Grow Your Life will help you uncover the answers.
Read Marcia Peterson's review of
Who Are You? on
The Muffin.
Blog Tour Special! Purchase a copy of
Who Are You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and Grow Your Life by Mari L. McCarthy at
20% off.
Who Are You? is available as an e-book for Kindle, Ibook, Sony, Nook and on Smashwords. Download a FREE chapter
here.
Special Giveaway Contest—A Book & A Song: We’re giving away a copy of
Who Are You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and Grow Your Life and a download of Mari McCarthy singing "Rhapsody in Truth" from her album "The Barry Thought of You." Please leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in a random drawing. The giveaway contest closes this
Thursday, August 25 at 11:59 PM, PST. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag
#WhoRUBook, then come back and leave us a link to your tweet. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post on the following day Friday, August 26. Good luck!
About the Author:
Mari states that, “Journaling is unparalleled in its ability to reveal new information about our inner life, conditioning, experiences and thoughts.” Mari knows thi
review by Marcia PetersonAs an avid journaler who’s recently been slacking off, a reminder about the wonderful benefits of journaling was a welcome assignment. Journal/Writing Therapist Mari L. McCarthy is passionate about helping people use journaling to create a better life, and she inspires many though her site
Create Right Now. Her latest publication,
Who Are
You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and Grow Your Life, focuses on journaling for the purposes of self-discovery.
In this 32 page e-book, McCarthy goes over the fundamentals of journaling, as well as some specific journaling techniques. You’ll learn how to get started, why handwriting is best, and how to make journaling a priority. If you sometimes feel that spending time journaling is selfish, you’ll even find out how
not journaling is inconsiderate to those around you.
Who Are You? contains a compelling discussion about why journaling matters, which is an important part of the book. Emphasis is placed on the benefits of keeping a journal, including connecting to inner wisdom, improving your attitude and achieving significant breakthroughs or epiphanies. Specific reasons to journal are also suggested, for those who might need ideas. “You might simply wish to make a record of your life, or some aspect of it,” McCarty writes. “Or maybe you’re working toward a goal and you want to journal as a way to get motivated or organized. You might use your journal as a friend when other friends aren’t around.”
A section on the seven principles of journaling provides some useful ideas for journalers. McCarthy maintains that there are several ways to journal and you may want to try various methods. For example, you could draw instead of write, or write at a different time of day than usual. Another principle states that the times when you least feel like journaling are the times when you need it the most. I’ve found this to be true, since allowing myself thirty minutes on the page always ends up being cheap and effective therapy during stressful times.
The final three chapters contain journaling prompts to spark writing and elicit self-discovery. The prompts are geared toward personal growth, such as journaling a letter to your former self, journaling with your inner critic and inner coach, and exploring your dreams through journaling. Step by step instructions and tips are included for each type of prompt.
In conclusion,
Who Are You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and Grow Your Life does a great job articulating the rewards of starting a journaling practice. It offers inspiration and exercises to try, and puts you in the mood to get writing as soon a possible. Journaling is a gift you give to yourself, so use whatever tools motivate you to give it a try.
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Sounds like exactly what i need to kick start my journaling that has been abandoned for almost twenty years (and then it was only when i was obsessive about a boy!) so need to branch out and begin anew!
I have always wanted to journal, but have never gotten around to it. I would love to read Mari's suggestions on how to get started!
Thank you Robyn for the great interview! See you in class in June! Hi to all my sister journalers! Please let me know how I can help you with starting and/or sticking to your Journaling Practice. WriteON!
Do you consider your MS part of your "author platform?"
[email protected]
Thanks for the interview and giveaway :)
tamarsweeps at gmail-dot.com
Hi Charlene,
I'm not familiar with the term "author platform". Please help me out there. Thanks.
I've been journaling for years, but lately I haven't been very consistent. This workbook would be a great help.
Hi Mari,
Looking forward to "class" in June and beginning a new relationship with my journal!
In regards to "author platform"--that is generally a term used by publicists/publishers to indicate a target market, how a book is marketed, or an author's audience.
This book sounds like it would be right up my alley. If I don't win, I will buy it.
Journaling is a major factor in my happiness!
Thanks Robyn, see you in June! And to Bonnie, ditto and WriteON! Lady.
What a neat kit! I've been journaling off and on for almost 30 years. It's so fun to look back to my journals from elementary school!
Jenndiggy at gmail dot com
This sounds like a good starting point for me. I've dreamed of writing for years. This year I've finally decided to make it a reality. I read a tip the other day to start by journaling if you're really not sure what to write. So that's where I'm beginning.
What a great way to start journaling! I love the idea.
jboyanto at swbell dot net
I have gone through periods of journaling and would like to start again. This would be helpful.
gabe411 at hotmail dot com