The words that make me immediately tense up: "Just Relax." If it was that easy, I would be a surfer or own a marijuana dispensary. But instead I am a writer and at the end of my five week Stunt Writing practice, and I have found that I love the fire in the belly, the tension, the striving. I enjoy drinking strong coffee that puts me on edge. Feeling my shoulders hover up by my ears is nothing new, as my body contorts to take on the stress. I have a never-ending "to do" list that might as well have a line item for enjoying myself, planning fun things, and breathing. I'm a planner, pure and … [Read more...]
Stunt Writing: Multi-Tasking Meltdowns and the Mind/Body Connection
Want to watch a full-gown woman totally freak out? I didn't think so. It is not pretty. But it has been happening during the week between 1 and 3pm. You see at that point I have been working for at least 5- 8 hours straight. The guilt about other things I "should" be doing is starting to build up. My brain isn't working as well since I have, or course, forgotten to eat again. My mornings are strong coffee, my computer, and then...MELTDOWN. One of factors that feeds into my freak out is that I am multi-tasking. I do it all the time between a full-time job, teaching a 1,300 person … [Read more...]
Teacher as Student, Student as Teacher
This is my fourth time teaching Stunt Writing for Personal Growth so how do I, as the teacher, up the ante? I've decided to blog here about my own Stunt, an investigation surrounding the body/ mind connection. Everything I write here is just a draft, and not meant to push or influence anyone taking the class. I am looking for the same thing as everyone: a better knowledge of myself, to push through some boundaries, and also to reinvigorate integrative process of teaching and learning. STUNT WRITING FOR PERSONAL GROWTH: Parameters Erin Jourdan I commit to writing for 30 minutes … [Read more...]
Do you actually feel free?
The question: Do you actually feel free? Do you actually feel independent? I believe that freedom comes from knowing that you are at home in your body, knowing the difference between the should, could and would voices in your head, and having compassion for yourself as a human "animal." What I mean by the above statements is that even though we are living in an economic upturn, with amazing opportunities, and the constant onslaught of scientific advice about how to be healthy and live our best lives, we still are struggling. It is an incredibly complicated question without an answer. It … [Read more...]
Stunt Writing Badges
https://youtu.be/G8mLB-NI6zI This is my third time teaching this class and I have decided to take it along with you. I will be blogging about my experience as part of the challenge here. You can download one of the badges below to use if you are also blogging about your experience, or tweet @erinimus #stuntwriting. … [Read more...]
Stunt Writing: L.A. Gun Club
(Copyright 2013, Erin Jourdan The art work above was created from the targets.) Stunt Writing: The L.A. Gun Club by Erin Jourdan “Like a country club for ghetto people, only a lot smaller and instead of grass, there's just a shit load of guns!!” –Yelp Review My hands sweat even going to the LA Gun Club Website. I have decided to go to five places that I feel that I don’t belong and the shooting range is one of them. The pictures on the website are plain. A white room, the only décor is metal baskets of gun stuff. I cannot tell the gun stuff apart—it is just … [Read more...]
Free Stunt Writing for Personal Growth Class
FREE STUNT WRITING FOR PERSONAL GROWTH CLASS Registration Open Now! A stunt is a feat of daring, an act with a beginning and end, focused on showing off a specific skill. The Stunt Writing For Personal Growth class includes prompts, lectures, readings, and discussions for writers of any age, at any level. Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous quote, “Do one thing every day that scares you,” Stunt Writing For Personal Experience is a process that uses writing as a tool for you to learn about yourself, and gain skills in communicating your own unique story. As promised, here is the … [Read more...]
Rave Reviews for Stunt Writing for Personal Growth From Students
These comments are pulled from the 3 classes I taught on Instructure’s Canvas Network through MemoirClass.com using my Stunt Writing for Personal Growth method. If you want to learn more about what the class is about, check out Stunt Writing: A Quick Field Guide, or if you want to sign up for the next class starting July 20, 2015, join my newsletter for the sign-up link when registration opens. I taught over 3,000 students from all over the world, from many diverse backgrounds and reasons for taking the class and this is some of their feedback in their words. Please excuse ant typos or … [Read more...]
Three Essay Contests with Interesting Prizes
A house in Detroit or a Goat Dairy? These two contests offer essay winners an entirely new way of life. To win a Goat Dairy in Alabama, submit $150 and your best essay (200 words, or less!) by October 1, 2015: http://www.goatdairyessay.com or read more about the story on Mashable. To win the Write a House contest the entry is a bit more difficult. You must make less that 40,000 dollars a year and, "need to commit to living full-time in the city and to engaging with the literary community of Detroit." After a two year probationary period the home is signed over to the winning writer. … [Read more...]
New Writing Prompt: Defining and Defending
This writing prompt is adapted from How to Train a Wild Elephant by Jan Chozen Bays. Before I go to bed I often like to read a mindfulness exercise, as something to focus on for the next day. It helps set the stage for a more thoughtful and focused day, and is part of trying to approach life with a sense of practice and presence. In this particular chapter, Jan Chozen Bays writes, "Become aware of how you define yourself and defend yourself and your personal territory. For example do you see yourself as a Liberal or a Conservative? An East Coast person or West Coast person? How do you … [Read more...]