Dear Friends,
Each one of us has stories to tell. But we don't always know how to begin or what to write about. A Year of Writing to Uncover the Authentic Self is a course that can help guide and enlighten you! From best-selling author and writing mentor, Rachel Astor, this program offers 52 weeks of thought-provoking writing prompts on an abundance of life topics that tap into your experiences.
- Receive a new lesson every week for 52 weeks (total of 52 lessons).
- Have lifetime access to the course for reference whenever you want.
- Select the amount you can afford, and get the same course as everyone.
- If you are not 100% satisfied, you may request a refund.
DailyOM: Who is this course for? Do students have to be writers?
Rachel Astor: Absolutely not! What makes this course special is that for each lesson there are several prompts. Participants can choose to use one prompt if it immediately speaks to them, or to go through them all, allowing the questions to spark memories and therefore stories in their minds. From there, the writing flows easily. This course is for anyone who feels like they have stories to tell, period. It doesn't matter whether a person has even written in a diary before. The course is designed for novice and advanced writers alike. Through the course topics each week, we explore many aspects of life that students may have never even considered writing about. This also means they may not have spent a lot of time thinking about these topics. Participants will be amazed at the insights they have while exploring these new concepts, as well as discover new ways they will begin to explore moments they have been revisiting for years.
So often we hear about "going inward" and discovering our "inner wisdom," but often it is not explained how, exactly, we are supposed to do that. This course makes it so much easier to find this inner wisdom as we explore our past and experiences, as well as our desires and beliefs. As students receive sparks of inspiration in the prompts, they will begin to solidify their thoughts on each topic. They will get them down on paper, discovering themes and genuine beliefs as they go, making their way closer to their authentic selves each week.
DailyOM: What do you hope people will get out of this course?
RA: First, I hope they come out with several completed essays that they can use for a variety of purposes. Personal essays are perfect for publication either individually for lifestyle articles and opinion pieces, or as several compiled together to form a memoir or lifestyle book. The essays can also become great marketing tools as blog or social media posts for anyone who is a business, lifestyle, or service industry leader. The essays can help your customers and clients get to know you on a deeper, more trusting level. Second, I hope that everyone who takes this course begins to understand just how many stories we all have to tell, and how many ways there are to tell them! The true beauty in the course is that each person will have a one-of-a-kind experience, and a one-of-a-kind product to show for it.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it is my greatest wish that all of my students gain a deeper insight into their past and their inner wisdom, allowing them to more fully understand how they became who they are, allowing them to heal and move into the authentic life they were born to pursue.
DailyOM: How does having a regular writing practice make a difference in our lives?
RA: Writing can be deeply healing. It allows us to explore situations and feelings in a way that is safe. The words can be kept private until we wish to show them to someone else. We are also safe in knowing that our writing does not have to be perfect the first time. We can continue writing until we find the truth in the story we are trying to tell. So often, we begin writing about one thing only to realize in the end that the story is about something else altogether. Something deeper. Something we may not have realized without going through the journey on paper. Writing also gives our minds a chance to call up all the details. We can take the time to explore a thought or a memory almost as if it was separate from ourselves. Often, once we get the thought out of our minds and onto paper, a clarity forms that we might have never found if we had only allowed the thought to roll over and over in our head.
Many people also find it immensely helpful to explore ideas specifically in this format of essays and stories, which have a beginning, middle, and end, and often carry with them a theme. It is in the digging up of the themes weaving through our memories that we often find the wisdom -- the "why" behind the actions. And in this, we often find compassion -- both for ourselves and for others -- as well as a sense of closure.
DailyOM: Your course is very focused on the homework that participants do each week. How does this format serve those who take this course?
RA: I am a strong believer in "doing the work." I have read so many self-improvement books and taken many, many courses, and what I have found is that you can understand concepts on an intellectual level without necessarily getting the information to stick in a meaningful way. Since authors and course presenters can never know each participant's history, the information presented is always given in a general way. Only through exploring how each topic relates to your own world can a person make any real progress. But when this is done -- when the person sits down and applies it to themselves -- magic happens. Healing happens. Wisdom happens. The problem is often that the material is so general that people don't know how to apply the concepts to their own lives. Sometimes very little concrete instruction is given. But with this course, the prompts and questions literally guide participants into their pasts, into their own beliefs and desires, and into their inner wisdom.
DailyOM: Throughout the course, you sometimes ask students to remember moments in their lives that could potentially be scary or traumatic. What if someone is not comfortable or ready to delve into these experiences?
RA: That is 100% okay! The most important thing to remember while going through the course is to always take care of yourself and your mental wellness. I never want anyone to delve into an area that scares them without having the tools to do so, and if a student feels they need to use a less intense memory for inspiration that week, that is always okay and encouraged. If a participant feels they need to skip a week, that is fine too! Though the act of writing can be very healing on its own, I also strongly encourage participants to seek outside help -- be it a wise friend, a therapist, or a spiritual professional -- whenever anything becomes too difficult to process on their own. You -- your safety and your wellness -- are always first priority.
DailyOM: After students have written several essays, what do you suggest they do with them?
RA: First of all, congratulations! Creating a writing practice is no easy feat. The first thing I would suggest is taking a good look at what you wish for your essays. Do you wish to keep them just for yourself, share them with friends and loved ones, try the self-publishing route, or attempt to find a traditional publisher who can help get your words into bookstores? Any and all of these options are totally doable, and there are so many options for writers right now! If you do choose to publish, self-publishing has gotten so much easier in the past several years and has become very mainstream. With a little research and preparation, any book can be made available to readers in an instant. If this appeals to you, I would suggest doing an internet search on "How to Self Publish". I'd also strongly recommend you find a good critique group or editor to help you polish your work before publication. Traditional publishers are also constantly on the lookout for new material. If you have always wanted to walk into a bookstore and find your name on the shelf, this is the route you might want to take. To start your journey, try researching something, such as "How to find a Literary Agent" or "How to find a traditional publisher."
Rachel gently guides you through each of the lessons, offering words of wisdom and plenty of inspiration to get your writing juices flowing. This course truly takes you on a deep, creative, and personal journey into your soul and creativity. Until next time.
Be well,
DailyOM
