Category: journal

Pain Between the Lines

Published on by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

As I mentioned previously, I was cleaning when a pile of my old journals fell on me. As I’ve been working on memoir, it seems that my journals were screaming, open me, open me! I thought – yes, there’s probably plenty of hidden stories just waiting for me to bring the to life again.

Yet, I haven’t opened one.

There’s a lot of pain between the lines of those journals. It’s hidden now, stored away, somewhere deep inside of me and inside of a box at the bottom of the closet – lest they jump out and attempt to injure me again.

I still think there’s a reason that they fell on me that day. It was, perhaps, a message, a sign for me to open and suck out the pain of the past, use it for my stories, for my memoirs.

I’ve written a number of short memoir pieces and they’ve been published nearly immediately. Good, short memoir, I suppose, it difficult to find for literary journals.

Memoir is important as it is healing – I’ve written about that point a lot; however, it is not only healing to the author, but to the reader. A memoir helps the reader understand they are not alone in their pain and that someone out there survived and thrived.

So – yes – I know, I have to go back into those books. I have to push myself to open them. I have to make sense of them now, as an adult, or even some years away from whatever I might read, and perhaps I can heal little pieces of my chipped soul. And others may understand that they are not alone.

Smacked in the Head by the Past

Published on by Noreen Lace1 Comment

As I was cleaning, I reached up to put something on the top shelf of the closet when a number of journals tumbled down upon me. Then, this poster floated down on top of all of them.

West End was my first published novella. This was a promotional poster from my book signings. I didn’t realize I still had one.

I have to admit, I am still sincerely proud of West End. I’d worked so hard and so long on it. Some of the lines and images stick with me.

The story takes place on the West Side of Cleveland – although I think it’s only ever referred to as the West End. I grew up in Cleveland, Collinwood, East Side, North, West Side, and some things left an impression.

While West End is a story about an unnamed narrator, the setting is nearly a character in itself. There’s so much imagery and a strong sense of place.

I remember working and reworking sentences, the images, sitting for hours and days and weeks making certain the rhythm and language was beautiful.

I framed this poster and it hangs on my wall now.

West End is actually – as I check the link – is on sale at Amazon right now!

Healing from Torment

Published on by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

Recently, at a writer’s conference, I came across a number of authors writing about healing. One wrote about healing from long term illness. Another wrote about healing from life’s torments.

Previously, when attending writers’ conferences, I had not come across one person or one workshop about healing through writing.

I find it, not ironic, but apropos that so many writers focus on healing. I have written a number of entries about healing through writing.

I appreciate that more people are talking about it, creating safe spaces, and sharing prompts.

Growing up, the tortured artist effect became popular. In order to be a successful creative, one had to suffer. I wrote once that life offers – insists – upon torment. Many of us face so many challenges throughout our lifetimes, it seems insane to go looking for more. But some believed they had to suffer in order to inspire creation and earn success.

But maybe, today, we can focus on healing from life’s challenges and use that to inspire creation and earn success.

Healing through writing doesn’t necessarily mean to write to share, but journaling might help. I love this new journal: Joy: A Journal of Positive Thinking to Inspire Joy

Of course, any notebook will work. This one has prompts for inspiration.

We’ve had a challenging a few years. The news is full of negative stories. Anxiety, fear, unhappiness is at all time highs.

I’m inspired that so many authors are writing and publishing stories and prompts to help our world.

So many of us have something to offer. Start writing. Start healing. Start sharing!

Drama, drama, drama

Published on by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

I feel bad for a neighbor who is going through some stuff. I’m not going to judge her or what she may or may not have done. I am going to judge the people who showed up at her door screaming and yelling at her when she has small children inside.

I won’t go into her drama. I’m just saying – we’ve all had some, right?

Drama seems to follow some people – or does it? For some time, I felt drama followed me around like a stray dog. But like a stray dog – if you feed it, it’ll come back.

Once I got away from EVERYONE, and I mean everyone, who was into drama, gossiped, was jealous, said half assed things to me, the drama went with them.

Many, many years ago someone said to me, you are who you hang around with. They were talking about one particular girlfriend who was in trouble quite often. So, at that time, being the smart ass kid that I was, I refused to believe it.

It took me some time, sadly, to realize that you are who your friends are. Even if most of my friends were saints, I always had that one… you know the one… and I thought that really didn’t matter. They need me. I need them. They would help me hide the body.

At some point, I realized that person, or those people, don’t bring anything to my life. In fact, they take away from the quality, happiness, calm, peacefulness, so I decided to find a new crowd.

Well, not exactly. I decided I’d rather be alone than have people around me who didn’t truly care or support me. But soon I started finding real friends. Good friends. They may or may not help me hide a body, but I know they will stop me from doing stupid things, support me when I want to step out of my comfort zone. They will help when I need help and lift me when I’m down.

I’ve had enough drama to keep my journals filled and my writing sparked for the rest of my life. I don’t need anymore of that sh!t.

I checked on one of my friends recently, and she responded, “you are so incredibly kind.” And it took me a minute to see myself as she described. I mean – I have always, always attempted to be kind and giving and loving. But I was around people who did not care, people who said I did not give enough. It feels wonderful to be surrounded by those who see me, who help me to be who I want to be.

Drama can be addicting – some people live off of it, thrive off of it. They draw it in and pull others in with it. They create it through gossip and misadventure! Lie. Invent things.

One must really decide to make a change. And one must decide they’d rather be alone. Being alone can mean working on ourselves without outside interference and we all need that. And then be selective about those you include in your circle. There is nothing wrong with deciding who to fill your circle with. It’s one of the most important decisions in your life. It dictates who you want to be and who you can become.

An Avalanche of Journals

Published on by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

It’s amazing how sometimes ideas occur to you. Sometimes you hear a snippet of of conversation. Sometimes an avalanche of journals falls on you when you’re cleaning out a closet.

As I was cleaning the storage closet – admit it, we all have one – I reached up for something, which hit the stack of journals I placed up there some time ago and all of them proceeded to rain down upon me. I stepped back, surprised. There were so many.

Does anyone else have a stack of saved journals?

I’ve been vexed about these journals. See, I have way more than one stack. I have boxes. I can’t say I hate to admit it. I’m certain if I look through them, I have some from way back when. I think I started keeping a journal when I was ten or eleven.

Some people have been consistent, writing daily. There have been times that I journal has sat by my bedside for some time before I picked it up. I find that I’m a more organized and write more regularly when I keep a journal.

A writer told me she refers back to her journals for accuracy or ideas when writing memoir. OF COURSE!

I’ve been struggling with a memoir. If I can find those childhood journals, it might help…. it could hurt.

Journals and Journaling

Published on by Noreen Lace1 Comment

What do Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey, and Warren Buffet have in common?

Did you guess journaling? I mean – since it’s the title of the piece. But, yes, they all kept journals, along with Oprah, Darwin, Khalo – and so many more.

Oprah uses it to outline goals. Buffet uses much of his journaling as inspiration for his business – “Writing will make you a better investor.” Jennifer Aniston says she uses it to keep control of her emotions (me, too, girlie!).

Journaling also helps me work out things that are vexing me. It helps me think more critically by getting the emotional stuff out of the way.

Carly Long has journaled her whole life. She credits it with getting her out of bad circumstances and growing as a person. “You know what’s funny about journaling? Sometimes I go back and read things. And it’s obvious I was upset with someone and wondering what I should do next. I didn’t write the name down, but I wrote down what I could do. I remember doing those things and I continue to do them – but I can’t remember for the life of me who I was upset with!”

The healing process became part of her being!

I love this!

Carly has taken her digital media, writing, and healing skills and brought them together to begin creating beautiful journals. A few of them are available on Amazon. She’s giving away, Me-moir: A Journal of Memoir Prompts for Inspiration. (Inspired by one of my blogs!) to one of her followers on July 1st. To be eligible – follow her on IG. July 1st, she’ll chose a name live! You’ll receive a free copy! Follow Carly Long at 2carly4u for a chance to win a free journal!