Rambunctious Writing
Have Fun! Find Freedom! ALL AGES
Discover the power of playful writing to help us reconnect with and expand our self-awareness, creativity and wholeness.
Whether or not you’re a “writer,” in this gentle but exhilarating joyshop we’ll shake out the cobwebs, stimulate our spontaneity, tickle our imaginations, laugh a lot—and perhaps unveil some surprising personal insights.
"Sheer, bloody fun!"
"My energy came back! I discovered what’s been hidden - my creative, joyful, self."
“Will a Rambunctious Writing Playshop be suitable for my unique needs and background?”
Absolutely! No Question! Guaranteed! Whether or not you’ve got a formal, spattered or non-existent writing background.
When we forsake the learned, formulaic ways, the RULES! – and are playful with our writing (or our lives!) we open the floodgates on the expression that’s right here within – bursting – sometimes literally – dying – to flow out.
"Refreshingly self-affirming."
ORIGINS OF RAMBUNCTIOUS WRITING
Many years ago, in my late forties, I recognized that when I was with sparkly people, this sparkly, witty Barbara appeared. When left to myself, I was heavy. All this healing and spiritual stuff was SERIOUS work, hey? Together, with my husband, we were REALLY GOOD at being “Deep and Meaningful.” Deciding to crack the shell on my silliness, I enrolled in an improvisation class at the University, where we were 30 people rolling on the floor, streaming tears of laughter, gobsmacked at our own wittiness. Where did it come from? I came alive!
Because I couldn’t wait a week to the next class, I initiated weekly spontaneity gatherings with other addicts. Anyone, even the door-to-door salesman, was invited to play with me. Unable to wait for playmates, I translated the word games into writing and played with myself! Soon, I noticed my writing changing. My life-long forte had been descriptions of real places, people, experiences that touched or moved me, and journaling—to process self-discovery. While these approaches had indeed been inspired and spontaneous, and brought forth spectacular books, they weren’t especially playful.
Obviously, playing with simple spontaneity structures stimulated colourful, rhythmic, unexpected, imaginative, wildly surprising words and juxtapositions—all of which would have been totally unproduced-able in the “follow-the-dots” way of thinking or writing. Now, even if I’m writing something serious, I’ve cultivated within me the willingness to be surprised by and accept WHATEVER shows up.
My bliss is midwifing playshop participants and coaching partners into birthing their profound—often playful —“Power Of Now” in writing. This quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson says it all:
“Men grind and grind in the mill of tradition and nothing comes out but what was put in, but the moment they desert the tradition for a spontaneous thought then poetry, wit, hope, virtue, learning, anecdote all flock to their aid.”
There are several key components to developing the art of “forsaking tradition” which, of course, participants get to practice in my “Joyshops”.
RAMBUNCTIUS WRITING – ALL AGES
This stunning shot occurred at the Sunshine Coast’s Readers & Writers Festival. When our Rambunctious Writing group started spontaneously writing, 7 year-old Abbi, wrote several lines about a tree. I then got involved working with other kids. Next thing, the filming crew called, “Quick! Come outside!” Abbi had climbed up the tree and continued her writing—about a tree.