Yes! I'm starting a creative writing blog!

Hi dear reader! 

Welcome to A Gentle Quill!

A Gentle Quill is dedicated to all the writers, poets, creatives, and dreamers. Here, I hope to create a creative haven for those who find magic in the written word, want to learn how to cultivate and tend to their creativity, and explore the endless, beautiful journey of inner growth. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just dipping your toes into writing for the first time, I hope you will find all you need here in this creative space. 

First, let me start with a small introduction.

Hi, I’m CoraLynn! It is so nice to meet you.

I am a poet who writes under a pen name, a 38-year-old dreamer, a mother to two wildly creative boys, and a small-town girl from Belgium. By day, I am a part-time nurse assistant. By night, I spill my ink, chase creative ideas, and try to make sense of this beautifully messy life.

My writing journey was not something I actually planned or studied for, but it became life-changing for me. Writing poetry became a therapeutic outlet for me. Giving myself a voice after a lifetime of keeping my emotions and thoughts bottled up inside. What started as small scribbles in my journals gradually grew into something more. They became these gentle reminders to myself and my first small steps into poetry.

On a brave September evening, I started my poetry account on Instagram, holding at heart that if my poems would reach just one person, I might have made this world feel a little less lonely and chaotic. 

One poem can make a difference. One poem can change a life. And that has been my motivation ever since. Painting the world just a little bit brighter, one poem at a time.

Picture source: CoraLynn

So why start this creative writing blog, and what is it even for?

It has been three years since that brave September evening when I started my poetry account, and along the creative journey, I have grown as a person, poet, dreamer, and writer. In those three years, I have grown an amazing and supportive online community, a following of over 7000 people, made new meaningful connections with other poets and writers, enriched my life with the writing process, and delved deep into my newly found passion for poetry.

I want to use all that experience and share it with my fellow writers and poets. Be it from exploring and growing in your writing, deepening your connection with your creative self, easy social media tips for you to use, how to build a supportive community around you, or in need of tools to help you overcome your self-doubt or writer's block.

There is still so much I want to share, and a blog feels like the right space to share all this experience and knowledge.

Why combine writing, creativity, and inner growth?

You might wonder why I choose to combine writing advice with creativity exercises and the inner growth process. The answer is simple. These three elements are deeply interconnected. Creative work often brings us face-to-face with our doubts, fears, and dreams. Writing can become that mirror to reflect our own strengths and vulnerabilities. And when we approach it with an open heart that is when we truly discover our glorious inner self. 

By focusing on all three aspects, writing, creativity, and growth, we’ll be building up a therapeutic practice that can enrich your life far beyond the page.

Picture source: Ben white on Unsplash

What to expect from this blog?

Well, I will be sharing something for everyone. No matter what phase of their writing journey they are in. So here is a quick overview of some of the themes I will be talking about in this blog.

1) Writing advice for all writers

Writing is both an art and a craft. Storytelling takes different skills to make that story come alive and provoke a deep sense of wonder and emotions.

There is imagery that can be used to deepen the emotion you are trying to get across. Metaphors can become a bridge to share your point of view on life. Clever wordplay can make an emotion stand out and be the centerpiece that glues the entire piece together. And how even the first line of your poem can set the entire tone for the rest of your piece but also, how a low ending can make it all completely fade out. We will be deep-diving into honing the art of storytelling. How to refine your unique writing voice or break through a frustrating writer's block. Whether you write poetry, short stories, novels, journals or blogs, there will be something here for everyone.  

Picture source: Unseen studios on Unsplash

2) Cultivating creativity

Creativity can be cultivated with an open heart and an open mind. In this blog, I am offering a steady stream of prompts to get your creative juices flowing. These prompts are designed to stretch your imagination and invite you to explore new perspectives. Each prompt will hopefully nudge you toward an untapped corner of your imagination. 

Here are a few examples for you to try:

Descriptive prompts:

These prompts are meant to explore new perspectives and stretch your imagination.

• Describe an emotion, not as a feeling but as a place.

• Choose a random object near you and write about it’s day.

• Write about your favorite color without mentioning which color it is.

Creative prompts:

These are creative prompts for you to play with however you want.

• The poet in me

• Time never stands still

• In the arms of the sun

Prompts are an excellent way to break through writer’s block, unlock new ideas, and discover unexpected parts of yourself. As I share these prompts, I encourage you to use them flexibly. Feel free to adapt them, twist them, and follow them wherever they lead.

Cultivating creativity also goes hand-in-hand with mindful practices. Becoming inspired by daily life is how a creative mind can keep flowing freely and without bounds. I will also be dedicating some blog posts on mindful practices that have helped me to keep my creativity flowing and break my writer’s block. 

Picture source: My life through a lens on Unsplash

3) Inner Growth

Many people come to writing to better understand themselves or as a creative outlet for their emotions and thoughts. The act of writing can be incredibly meditative and invites us to slow down and listen to the inner whispers that often get lost in the noise of daily life. Writing can be a powerful tool for inner growth, and I am here to support you through the creative process.

Expect posts that will guide you through:

• Reflective journaling exercises for self-discovery.

• Therapeutic techniques for writing through difficult emotions or life transitions.

• Mindfulness practices to bring clarity and calmness to your creative process.

• Ways to cultivate gratitude, resilience, and personal insight through words.

• Gentle affirmations and easy mental health tools for poets and writers during the creative process.

If you’re new to these sort of reflective writing techniques, don’t worry. I'll walk you through the entire process.

These will be the three pillars of this blog but as I mentioned before, I will also be sharing useful tips on navigating your creative work on social media, growing a supportive community around you, useful checklists before posting on social media, thoughts and discussions on writing. I will also be sharing updates on my journey to self-publish my first poetry collection and navigating life and my mental health as a writer. 

Picture source: James Yu on Unsplash

Let’s begin this journey together.

In this blog, we will not just be filling pages with words. We will be building a creative sanctuary together. A supportive place where you can experiment, grow, and express yourself without judgment. So, grab your cup of tea (or coffee), settle in, and let us embark on this creative journey together. Whether you’re here for writing tips, a spark of inspiration, or a guide to inner reflection, I’m honored to have you here with me for this incredible journey. 

Let’s write, dream, and cultivate, one word at a time. 

All my love, CoraLynn