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 →

Ask The Expert This

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Julie Tallard Johnson

There are no experts on a subject. I trust the teacher (doctor or friend) who is still learning about their subjects. I trust the one who continues to explore subjects. When someone stops exploring, they stop learning and this “quitting” interferes with their capacity to truly contribute. When they stop their exploring their view becomes increasingly narrow where they ignore a wider berth of possibilities. I don’t seek “experts,” unless they are willing to engage in authentic conversation. In this authentic conversation we both explore together, so that we may discover what is truly possible. If we “already know” then we are unlikely to discover anything new. For … Continue reading →

Wire Your Brain to Compassion & Wisdom

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Julie Tallard Johnson

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Here is a simple but powerful meditation that helps unravel our negative habitual and reactive postures. This simple meditation helps “hardwire us to wisdom and compassion.” The effort only takes a few minutes a day. This trains your mind while imprinting the memory of love on the psychophysical level. Research has shown us how the brain is pliable and responsive to such mind-training. This meditation gives your brain a positive memory to retrieve when life’s circumstances trigger a pain story. This simple practice assists in the undoing of negative belief systems (and assumptions) that are hardwired into us. Our brains are wired to take care … Continue reading →

How Not To Give Up – Even When Someone Beats You To It

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Julie Tallard Johnson

Recently I came up with this Great Idea for a theme in a book. Then went to read Steven Pressfield’s popular Writing Wednesdays blog to find he beat me to it. What is a writer to do? Find out here: blogcritics.org.