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I was looking through my writing files and stumbled across a file called “Timed Writing”. It consisted of writing that resulted from an exercise that author Holly Lisle recommends. She says that a great way to get back your writing muse, and let you explore yourself to find out whats wrong with you, is to complete an exercise she calls “Timed Writing”.

What you do is set an alarm for 10 minutes. Then when the timer starts, write down whatever enters your mind. Don’t stop writing to correct, or to think. You must just let your fingers fly. You can write down random words if you need to that don’t make any sense. The purpose is for your fingers to continue moving.

I found that usually your first couple sentences don’t make sense, then you start piecing stuff together, and pretty soon you stumble onto some good topics that your mind has been wrestling with. I love this exercise. It is a great way to deal with your writers block, and any other problems that a person might be experiencing. It allows you to explore yourself and see what is bothering you. It’ll help you answer questions you might have.

That is what it has done for me.

These writings were from 2006. Now of course, some of these writings will consist of things that are for my eyes only because they do tend to go deep into your soul and rip out things that need to be brought to the surface.

But what I did tonight was go through one of my writings and put it into a poem so you can see the main topic that I discussed in this piece of writing.

Enjoy,

Cuyler Callahan

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Bad Words Good Bye

I must find it,
the key to my musing
A longer time spit?
My break is abusing

Words dead ride the page.
Here a word, there a word.
A pig eating a bush of sage,
my words describe a turd

More words I must write
I must meet my deadline
My words need be tight,
or no matter the shrine

A book I must love sweet,
for then I can see true,
a horn announce a treat,
sound me among the few

To this task I must complete,
I need to begin my career
Needs be I discard my heats,
to that end I must now adhere

My fingers must be slick
An oiled piston like fly
Write that piece to click,
my bad words good bye

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2. Free Flow Writing 28 March 2010
3. Free Flow Writing Session November 17, 2009
4. A Sad Love Story
5. Free Flow Writing Session December 01, 2009