Have you heard the term "I have hit a brick wall" when you get stuck writing? Some people call it writers block.  I have experienced something that erases that block.  My first book took 4 years to write 75 pages in MS Word....oh my!  Good thing I wasn't writing for a company because I would have lost my job for sure. I held up my very short book grinning from ear to ear  "I did it! I am done!"  The truth is the first draft wasn't that great. Why? The experiences were touching but the underlying theme and solutions were unclear. My manuscript became a dust catcher.

Then a few months later something happened...it was as if some kind of outside inspirational force struck me.  I call it spirit or God's spirit or the Universe.  It really doesn't matter what we label it because it is an inspiring spirit that takes over our minds, hearts, and makes words flow so fast and easily. In six months using all my time outside of work the 75 pages soon turned into 400. It had a definite theme, it had life lessons with the experiences, and it was engaging. 

During that time of crazy fast writing I thought "Did I just write that? Wow, that doesn't even sound like me, it is really good!" Well, the same type of thing happened to me again. A year ago I ran to Sedona to write. Why? I needed to stop my yelling conscience. "So, where is that followup book you promised to your readers?" "You said you would write a book with more life lessons for them!"  Surely the spiritual vibrations of Sedona and the recordings of Eckhart Tolle and Wayne Dyer would make this book come out fast and easily!  Can you guess what happened? Two chapters and a title got done.  THEN...last January I felt that same unexplained spirit come to me and over me. In two afternoons and two eight hour days my new book Light to Your Heart-Daily inspiration for 31 Days was completed. Then, my daughter, Mernette Martin,  completed her first book Moose's Mindful Mantra in a few days. I was amazed at how fast she painted each illustration and wrote this children's book.

Here is what I learned and understand to be the key to writing without blockage.  You must be in the center of your purpose.  When you are you will feel it and know without a doubt you are doing what you are meant to do. Follow what is in your heart and do not be confined by your mind. I stuck myself in a box thinking I must write another book about life lessons because I said I would. But my heart said "Share what you love, speak what you believe, and share your passion!" So now I know, that spirit of inspiration is in my heart, it is in me...it is guided by God, or Universe, or Spirit...and now I write. In fact book #4 is in the making with spirit and truth guiding me.

Everyone can write. We do it every day with task lists, agendas, notes, and emails. When you write an essay, book, or even a poem a wonderful thing happens.  Your mind is engaged as you pen the words into your new creation. But when you let your heart and spirit guide your writing you can center your heart and soul.
Let me share some tips on how using journal writing---begin by taking a few deep breaths to settle yourself. Choose a topic or better yet just begin writing what comes into your mind. When I am worried or have a preoccupied mind I start with "How do I feel?" Then I write down what I am feeling, thinking, a situation until I have nothing else to write. You can use this same approach to write what makes you happy, an achievement, or awesome experience.  When you are done you will feel more clarity,centered, and grounded.

My first attempt at writing was through journal writing.  Even though I am now an author I still love to journal today.