Writing from Your Essence
Last week I once again was part of a wonderful, almost indescribable experience. I had the privilege of joining World Champions of Public Speaking Darren LaCroix and Mark Brown at GET COACHED TO SPEAK, one of the monthly boot camps for Darren’s Stage Time University.
This was my third time participating in this workshop, and I’ve never able to fully explain – or describe – the magic that happens at this event. It’s both exciting and humbling to get to work with Darren and Mark, not just for their absolute mastery of all elements of speaking, but also for their humor and passion, and the compassion and love they show each of the speakers.
The connections created among everyone in the room, and the transformative results for the participants and their speeches are wonderful to experience.
Think of the scene in Amadeus where Salieri is furiously writing down the notes being dictated to him by Mozart. Salieri is in awe of the music coming seemingly from nothing, and instantly transforming into something glorious.
But who is creating it? Is it Salieri, because he’s the one putting it to paper? Mozart, who is relaying the notes so quickly he cannot possibly be thinking about them? Or is it something greater?
This is when Salieri realizes the sin and futility of blaming God for giving Mozart all the talent. Salieri knows now that both he and Mozart are both simply instruments of God – they are both “mediocrities” (in his words at the end of the film), but blessed to be a part of something so much greater.
It was the same with us last week, I think. It’s the coming together – the connection we had to each other and the speakers and the stories – that brought about the transformation and allowed all of us to experience our essence.
As a storyteller, these moments will occur for you as well. When you let go of concerns about whether what you’re writing is “good,” and about how it compares, and about how others will react, you can experience the deep connection you have with your characters, your readers and yourself.
In those moments, you will be the instrument for bringing to life the power and the emotion of your story, and the transformation that comes from within you – from your own essence.
Yes, thank you. I enjoyed this article very much. This is a great way to hand over some of the responsibility to a higher (or deeper) source and it takes some of the pressure off the creator to control everything. It doesn’t excuse us of the responsibility of doing the work before, during and afterwards, but maybe that work is a case of creating the best possible vessel for the creativity to flow through.
Another comment that is partly related to this idea. Sometimes I think something is finished, but when I allow time to pass (often doing something mundane, like housework) new ideas arise that help with the little problems that have not been able to be solved while I was sitting at the keyboard. Now, even when I think I’m done, I always try to take that time away to encourage that source to come again. And it usually turns out I wasn’t finished at all! 🙂
Thanks for this one. Love the spiritual (and sometimes Jungian) themes coming through ;).
Being a great story teller brings success in so many disciplines. For example, the most successful salespeople tell a great story, they never “sell” anything, the buyer desires the product or service by the time the story is complete. Your “favorite” teacher, coach, or mentor probably is a good story teller. Stories teach and the great ones never leave us, wish they would put math into story form! You can not put a value on the energy of a conference, my first writers conference was an inspiration from start to end and I wouldn’t miss the writers conference (GatewayCon) coming to St. Louis in June. To all you fellow writers out there, keep writing those wonderful stories! Thanks for sharing Michael.
I truly believe that Mozart was hearing the notes in his head and calling them out so they would not be lost. I believe also that the scene illustrates that when men and women are striving for great things, such interactions yield masterful works; be it in music or politics. To bad we have so many hindrances that stop such harmony.
Very insperatinal! Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful sharing. Thank you Michael.
Indeed. I agree, Sir and that is the magic of being a writer. The characters take control that sometimes is hard to keep up with them and you omit words because you don’t want to miss the tension, emotions, the conflict of the scene. It’s magic. It’s the “essence” your “voice”. Thank YOU.
Michael, love this perspective. Having the privilege of hosting Stage Time University’s weekly coaching calls, I’m privileged to continually experience the magic that occurs when several people with a common passion come together to create memorable stories and messages.
Thanks, maestro!
Wow…just what I needed to read today at this point.
Excellent. What a privilege to attend a workshop with such talent in your midst. I’d love to be a fly on the wall.
Sandra – glad you all enjoyed the article so much. But you don’t have to be a fly on a wall; you can be a storyteller on a chair! We’re doing another GET COACHED TO SPEAK later this year, plus another boot camp on storytelling. They’ll appear on my schedule when we lock down the date, or just go to Stage Time University through the link in the article and see all the many features it provides.
Great Article,
I’ve been writing for several years now and have yet to truly realize myself as a storyteller. It’s something that I am still seeking. I firmly believe that the story is the thing. If you can tell a great story it almost doesn’t matter how “good” of a writer you are.