“Christy spends a lot of time looking out the window.” If I heard it once, it was repeated at almost every parent-teacher conference of my school career. Though technically, the teachers in middle and high school had more problematic fish to fry. Indeed, I felt trapped and couldn’t wait for recess and end of school to get outside.

While looking out said windows, my mind wandered away from the squawking of my teachers and fellow classmates to invisible adventures. I wonder how many miles of horse back riding I accomplished without ever leaving the classroom. Questions would lure me away from subjects at hand. Who decided the shape of letters? Where do bees go in winter? Will I ever get a horse of my own?

Even though we have been thrust into sweater season, woolgathering is not for knitting. As with most of our words, the roots for the word woolgathering are in the actual activity of picking bits of wool off of bushes and fences. As it was a reclamation of lost bits activity, the gatherer appeared to be wandering aimlessly. That’s pretty much what it now means, though mostly mentally wandering.

Always pay attention to those moments. Take some detailed notes that include where you are, what the main idea is, any beautiful lines that have come forward, and any emotions you attach to the thoughts. These insights are the core of who you see yourself to be.

That brings me to my point. There are times when I sit down with strict purpose and intent. The words flow and it is much like Walter Wellesley Smith said, “You simply sit down at the typewriter, open your veins, and bleed.” To me this means I am spilling out that inner emotion and truth – revealing truths that others may have never seen.

What of those times when my message is not so easy to delineate?  Time, tools, and opportunity may be ripe, but the message is evasive. Then I need to turn to prompts and maybe even tricks to open the flow.

Prompts serve me by priming the pump. Do you have an inner critic? That is the voice that tells me what I am saying has already been said, or isn’t worth saying, or can be better said by a six-year-old. Prompts help me distract the inner critic by brute force. Writing over and around the inner critic. I begin writing in response to a prompt and am interrupted by my own truths.

There are books of prompts, websites with prompts, and groups that gather to write to specific prompts. I’m not here to give you specific prompts. I will give you the name of a book that I find very good at getting my words flowing. The Writer’s Devotional: 365 Inspirational Exercises, Ideas, Tips & Motivations on Writing by Amy Peters. Peters gives you prompts, practice, grammar lessons, writer biographies, and information every writer needs to know. Yes, there are 365 individual activities in the book.

Another favorite stimulation for my writing is ekphrasis. This is the act of using another person’s art as a prompt. I look for the meaning of a piece, question the creator’s intent, divining hidden meanings, or simply respond to parts or all of the piece.

All of this is to help you decide what your message is. What do you want the reader to come away with? That focus will overcome the inner critic and drive you to refine your work. I am planning a workshop in December to help you share your love of (insert the joy of your life here). We can be so busy with our activities that we don’t consider a legacy to future generations. Stop in at Vintage & Modern books tomorrow (Tuesday) between 12:30 and 2:30 to discuss your legacy.

—Christy Hoff, ArtRoot Writer-in-Residence