Yesterday, I mentioned Natalie Goldberg’s first three rules for writing practice:  1.  Keep your hand moving. 2.  Don’t cross out, and 3. Don’t worry about spelling, punctuation, grammar.

I think of those as the permission giving rules.  Happy.  Healthy.  Not judgmental.  A kind and creative container.  But the next three rules:  they scare me! 

3. Lose control.

4. 4.Don’t think. Don’t get logical.
   

5. 5.Go for the jugular.
   

There is nothing nice about going for the jugular.  Nothing safe about a loss of control for heaven’s sake!  And how can I defy logic and not be all thinking about it? 

Well, this wouldn’t be a challenge if it wasn’t challenging.  So, yesterday I started working with Keri Smith’s Wreck this Journal.

There are exercises like “bring this book in the shower with you” and instructions that make it necessary to really get messy with a journal.  Coffee stains, spit, defaced photos, and fire.  I am walking in my Lenten desert wanting to mix up my creative life AND go to the scary place of sharing the hopes and doubts and fears that come with a more authentic and public writing experience.  To lose control, release the logic and actually go for the jugular?  I’m gonna take my journal and hit the road.  Literally.

It’s hard to admit but:  I am STILL  working on how to allow blog comments and stuff like that - bear with me and feel free to drop an email with tech assistance or comments! or hit me up on the ol’facebook)