Two Fundamentals

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Julie Tallard Johnson

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I encourage writers to include two fundamental habits in our life: secure that place and time to write (everyday); gather with other writers. Today I am sharing some places to come write, gather, learn, and make contact with your Muse (and the page). Let me start with the FREE WRITERS’ Retreat: Spring Green, WI. On SATURDAY MARCH 4th we are offering my first 2017 (free) WRITERS’ RETREAT at a friend’s home southwest of Spring Green in Clyde Township in her spacious, lovely home. Begins at 10:00 am and goes till 4:00. Write, enjoy a sunny spot on a window bench (she has a large home with plenty of writing … Continue reading →

Violin Lessons for the Writer

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Julie Tallard Johnson

I am taking violin lessons because (well, I confess I don’t know all my reasons). Someone recently asked me why I have a few strands of red hair. A story comes to mind: the gist of this story is that we must seek enlightenment like a woman with her hair on fire seeks the pond. But as I got my hair cut a month ago I simply felt like getting a strand of red added. Call it a nudge. Same with violin lessons really: I felt this internal nudge. I trusted these nudges enough to explore them. So here I am taking lessons from … Continue reading →

When Writing Becomes a Train Wreck and How To Get Back on Track by guest writer, Patrice Peltier

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Julie Tallard Johnson

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(This blog is written by journalist and gardener, Patrice Peltier): Sometimes my brain is like a train barreling towards its destination. When I get to where I think I’m going, I realize somewhere along the line I switched to another track. Just recently, this runaway train of a brain derailed my writing process. About three years ago, when I planted a new garden I began keeping notes. At first, my entries were brief. “Watered today.” “Added leaf mulch.” “Planted three ‘Cajun Fire’ heuchera purchased on sale.” It was record-keeping more than anything. A way to refresh my memory if I decided … Continue reading →

Living and Writing in the First Person: ASSUME This!

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Julie Tallard Johnson

“It is the nature of the mind to become addicted to certain ways of seeing things.” -Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Transforming Problems into Happiness When we write in the first person there are boundaries of what we can claim to know about the other people in our story. In fiction and nonfiction alike, the same boundaries apply. In first person we can’t assume what others are thinking, or their motives for their actions. At the same time, what we the writer or first person character assume about the others in our stories and scenes are critical to our message and the reader’s experience. … Continue reading →

Everything Is Waiting For You

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Julie Tallard Johnson

MY QUINTESSENTIAL LESSON FOR MY WRITING STUDENTS IS THIS: STAY IN THE CONVERSATION. FROM THIS ADAGE I OFFER ESSENTIAL WRITING PROMPTS AND EXPLORATIONS TO HELP WRITERS STAY IN THE CONVERSATION WITH THEIR SUBJECT AND THEME. Presently a subject I am writng about is spiritual teachers and the theme is around what makes a good teacher. I carried this question as I went on my morning walk. On several walks this summer I noticed how a Blue Bunting sat on the top branch of a dead tree. I recalled how a friend of mine mentioned how it seemed that birds liked to occupy dead trees. From here i got … Continue reading →

Give Your Self A Day: It’s Free

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Julie Tallard Johnson

On this coming FRIDAY AUGUST 5th and then on FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2nd I am offering my (free) WRITERS’ RETREAT at our home and retreat center: Thundering Clouds Center for Creative Living, LLC. Begins at 10:00 am and goes till 4:00. Bring own lunch. Write, walk the labyrinth spiral in the restored prairie, stalk the woods, visit with the horses. Take a spot on the deck. Enjoy the awakening inside and out. We have 40 acres to explore. Or, sit comfortably in the Writer’s gazebo. At 3:00 we have a sharing circle. The prairie spiral is in full August bloom. This is an opportunity too … Continue reading →

The Wanderer

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Julie Tallard Johnson

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My daughter and I just returned from Ireland. Yes, Ireland is beautiful, friendly and the roads are small and curvy. As travelers we were strangers in a strange land. As such, we approached each encounter and person with curiosity and respect. Traveling slowed us down. Not just driving on the “wrong” side of the road, from the “wrong” side of a car (with a stick shift on my left); being a stranger in a new place slowed me down. Everyone and everything was unfamiliar. A good traveler relies on attentiveness (Lydia navigated our entire trip; it took two to drive through country and city). When … Continue reading →

A Writing Prompt from Me and T.S. Eliot

Posted on June 18, 2016 by Julie Tallard Johnson

Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet. –Ralph Waldo Emerson Every writer needs a bit of prompting at times. I have several techniques and explorations that help us write when we have fooled ourselves into believing we are stuck. I find that there is never “writer’s block,” when we are in conversation with the world around us. There is always something to write about. When I can’t seem to move forward on a particular idea I either write on something else, go … Continue reading →

Are You A Tiger or a Fox?

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Julie Tallard Johnson

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“The modern dogma is comfort at any cost.” -Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac There are eleven pithy slogans that can be used as practice points and reminders of living the zero point agreement, which is to live life from your side; to live life from the inside-out. These are not exhaustive or to be used as clubs. They are simply pointers, references to help in being the cause rather than the effect of our life. Each of these are brought out throughout the book, The Zero Point Agreement but can be more quickly referenced here. Pithy intentions, slogans, and principles can redirect the mind, in the … Continue reading →

Frogs Into Princes

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Julie Tallard Johnson

The Vulnerable Man Who? Who is to turn this frog into a prince? Who is to wake the one asleep inside the virescent, damp skin? I see him glimpse out into this cast spelling world . . . Who? Who is to release the Divine, hidden in the heart of the exiled Beast? Beauty me? Beauty you? Beauty before, behind, below? Who? Who cast the spell? drove the beast into exhile? made thorns on roses? Who? Not me! Have the Maker kiss the emerald frog, break the wet skin that holds the inner man Have the Maker and Caster … Continue reading →