Week Eleven: Recovering a Sense of Possibility
If you're missing this week or would like the in-class handouts in e-form, here they are. See you soon! Our Blocks Blasting Through…
Marta Ferguson
Hi Folks, We're still under construction here at the new website, so what's rolling up below is jumbled. Please be patient as we sort out all the new widgets! Thanks! Marta
Blasting Through Blocks
Going with our worksheet theme tonight, this too is a group-process document. Please write any strategies you use to keep yourself from blocking…
Blasting Through Blocks: Sleep
Going with our worksheet theme tonight, this too is a group-process document. Please write any strategies you use to keep yourself from blocking…
Blasting Through Blocks: Retail Therapy
Going with our worksheet theme tonight, this too is a group-process document. Please write any strategies you use to keep yourself from blocking…
Blasting Through Blocks: House Stuff
Going with our worksheet theme tonight, this too is a group-process document. Please write any strategies you use to keep yourself from blocking…
Blasting Through Blocks: Video
Going with our worksheet theme tonight, this too is a group-process document. Please write any strategies you use to keep yourself from blocking…
Blasting Through Blocks: Reading
Going with our worksheet theme tonight, this too is a group-process document. Please write any strategies you use to keep yourself from blocking…
Blasting Through Blocks: The Internet
Going with our worksheet theme tonight, this too is a group-process document. Please write any strategies you use to keep yourself from blocking…
Blasting Through Blocks: Relationships
Going with our worksheet theme tonight, this too is a group-process document. Please write any strategies you use to keep yourself from blocking…
Blasting Through Blocks: Substances
Going with our worksheet theme tonight, this too is a group-process document. Please write any strategies you use to keep yourself from blocking…
Blasting Through Blocks: Work
Going with our worksheet theme tonight, this too is a group-process document. Please write any strategies you use to keep yourself from blocking…
Our Blocks
Okay, group. We're in this together. Rather than individual worksheets, this is a group-process document. What follows is a list of blocks. Put…
Week Ten: Recovering a Sense of Compassion
If you're missing this week or would like the in-class handouts in e-form, here they are. See you soon! Creative U-Turn Deconstructing Laziness…
Enthusiasm!
Name ten things you are reliably enthusiastic about doing. Next to each one, note how often you do it. If that frequency is…
Deconstructing Laziness
Name 10 things you tell yourself you are lazy about doing. Now, let's call it FEAR that's keeping you from doing those things.
Creative U-Turns
In the space below, write, draw, diagram or cartoon a creative u-turn that still stings.
Week Nine: Recovering a Sense of Strength
If you're missing this week or would like the in-class handouts in e-form, here they are. See you soon! Filling the Form Educational…
Redirections
Think of a point in your life when you felt thwarted in some creative endeavor and were able to redirect your creative energies…
Educational Violations
In both The Artist's Way and Vein of Gold, Julia Cameron reminds us that schooling scars last a long time. Even if it's…
Filling the Form
What small things can you do this week that will move you toward one of your creative goals? Try for just one per…
Week Eight: Recovering a Sense of Connection
If you're missing this week or would like the in-class handouts in e-form, here they are. See you soon! Making Some Mantras Music…
Music to Inspire
Okay, so this chapter takes us into risk, jealousy, perfectionism, "getting it down" vs. "thinking it up." The Vein of Gold Kingdom of…
Making Some Mantras
We've talked about affirmations and I hope you all are finding them useful as tools. This exercise, drawn from several Vein of Gold…
Week Seven: Recovering a Sense of Abundance
If you're missing this week or would like the in-class handouts in e-form, here they are. See you soon! The Life Pie Exercise…
Detoxing Our God Concepts
Julia invites us to spend some time in morning pages this week thinking about our god concepts: the god we believe in vs.
The Luxury of Making a Mess
What is it you're not doing because you don't want to clean it up? I recently realized that one of the ways I'm…
The Life Pie Exercise
Using the Life Pie diagram from chapter two, we are going to look at where your time and money go, then where you'd…
Week Six: Recovering a Sense of Possibility
If you're missing this week or would like the in-class handouts in e-form, here they are. See you soon! Playing the Fool Indirection…
Areas in which I Want Guidance from the Morning Pages
Complete this exercise as you're leaving class. Write or draw those things about which you want guidance and watch this week for how…
Too Nice!
Part of the Virtue Trap are those occasions when we are too nice. Sometimes we know then up front, sometimes only by the…
Indirection
As a freelance writer and editor, I am extremely familiar with the scenario Julia Cameron describes as, "...we shake the apple tree and…
Playing the Fool
One of the ways we limit ourselves and resist gifts from the universe is by resisting those chances we have to play the…
Week Five: Recovering a Sense of Integrity
If you're missing this week or would like the in-class handouts in e-form, here they are. See you soon! Out with the Old,…
The Big Check-In
You've now been following The Artist's Way for more than a month. What changes have you noticed? Anything dramatic? Maybe something more subtle?…
Reading Deprivation
(a.k.a. The Media Blackout)As everyone does the reading at a different point in the week, I'm not sure where you are in your…
Out with the Old, In with the New
By tossing the old and unworkable, we make way for the new and suitable.—Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way p. 83 List 10 things…
Week Four: Recovering a Sense of Power
If you're missing this week or would like the in-class handouts in e-form, here they are. See you soon! What is Your Anger…
Growth
This week I will take care of myself by doing the following kind things for myself on each day: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday:…
Synchronicity
In the last month, I have noticed synchronicity in my life in the following ways: I have responded to these gifts from the…
More Detective Work on Shaming
My family believes creative people are... My friends believe creative people are... Honestly, I believe creative people are... I want to believe I'm…
What is Your Anger Telling You?
Since I began the Artist's Way class, I have been angry about the following: I'm wondering if my anger about those things might…
Week Three: Recovering a Sense of Identity
If you're missing this week or would like the in-class handouts in e-form, here they are. See you soon! Secret Selves Time Tracking…
Positive Boundary Setting Ideas
Positive Boundary Setting IdeasBrainstorm some ideas for how you can set positive boundaries around your time. These can be things to say ("Thanks,…
Time Tracking
TimeMTWTFSSNotes6am 7am 8am 9am 10am 11am 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm 11pm 12am
Secret Selves
We've looked at our imaginary lives, now let's look at our real ones, who's living inside us? What do they want? Do…
Week Two: Recovering a Sense of Safety
If you're missing this week or would like the in-class handouts in e-form, here they are. See you soon! Mythologizing Our Monsters Mythologizing…
Five Imaginary Lives
Five Imaginary LivesImagine you could do anything--anything. Not just a new career, but a new life in a wholly different time and place.
Editorial Letters or Cartoons
Editorial Letters and CartoonsFocus on one childhood incident where your creative self was thwarted by an authority figure. In the space below, write…
Mythologizing Our Champions
Mythologizing Our Champions Step One As a group, brainstorm some myths, legends, stories, folktales, soap-opera or comic-book narratives that might help us think…
Mythologizing Our Monsters
Mythologizing Our Monsters Step One As a group, brainstorm some myths, legends, stories, folktales, soap-opera or comic-book narratives that might help us think…
Creativity Contract
The Creative Contract I, ________________________________, understand that I am undertaking an intensive, guided encounter with my own creativity. I commit myself to the…
Basic Principles of the Artist's Way
The Basic Principles of The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron from The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, p. 3
Worksheet 3: Brainstorming Artist Dates
Brainstorming Artist Date Ideas Bear in mind that the artist date ideas you'll get from Julia reflect her love of film and music.
Worksheet 2: Naming Your Higher Power
Naming Your Higher Power In The Artist's Way and Vein of Gold, Julia Cameron frequently refers to God or god. If you've got…
Worksheet 1: Identifying Your Censor
Identifying Your Censor In both The Artist's Way and Vein of Gold, Julia Cameron warns us to beware of our Censors. In the…
Artist Date Ideas
Artist Dates: A Listing of My Experiences and Plans When it comes to artist dates, Julia Cameron suggests that we think of mystery…
Advice on Morning Pages
Morning Pages: Some Advice I did regular morning pages from February of 2002-July of 2007. I got derailed by health issues at that…
Class Norms
The Artist's Way at Orr Street Norms From the parent page: On the Norms page, please note anything you'd like to see us…
Week One: The Basic Tools
If you've missed Week One or you'd like to try more of these in-class exercises at home, here are the files. On the…
About Wordhound
Wordhound Writing & Editing Services, LLC, has been in business since April 2002. Upcoming projects include work on Marta's Mystic Match Mystery novels,…
Class Agendas
Week One Agenda: Poems about Poetry and Poetry as Emotional Cartography Week Two Agenda: Poems as Image Machines Week Three Agenda: Poems as…
General Information: Reading Contemporary Poetry
Course Number: 09WG094Course Title: Reading Contemporary Poetry: Tools, Tips, and TricksInstructor: Dr. Marta FergusonSchedule: W 6-8pm, 02/11-/3/04Number of sessions: 4Textbook/ISBN: The Poetry Readers'…
Class Norms
Do not wear heavily scented perfumes or aftershaves.Put cell phones on meeting or vibrate settings.Take individual breaks for bathrooms and snacks as desired.
Important Poetry Links
Poetry Daily Verse Daily Poetry Foundation Academy of American Poets Poetry 180 American Life in Poetry Contemporary American Poetry Archive Lannan Foundation Best…
Reading Contemporary Poetry Week One: Poetry as Emotional Cartography
Week One AgendaAdministrivia Lannan Reading Introductions Poems About Poetry Polonsky Exercise Poetry as Emotional Cartography Revisiting Lannan Reading The Waking by Theodore Roethke…
Week One Poems
Poems About PoetryIntroduction to Poetry by Billy Collins The Poet by Tom Wayman Poetry by Don Paterson A New Poet by Linda Pastan…
Reading Contemporary Poetry Week Two: Poems as Image Machines
Week Two AgendaLannan Reading Questions/Discussion of Ch. 3: Image Polonsky paired exercise and discussion Group exercise on Ishmael Reed poem and discussion Individual…
Week Two Poems
Poems as Image MachinesNot Swans by Susan Ludvigson Nest by Marianne Boruch Between the Wars by Robert Haas Cloudy Day by Jimmy Santiago…
Reading Contemporary Poetry Week Three: Poems as Story Boxes
Week Three AgendaGiving Them Back to the AirPaired Exercise: StoriesGroup Exercise: StoriesHistory of Genre mini lecture History of American Poetry at WikipediaIndividual Exercises:…
Week Three Poems
Poems as Story BoxesFat is Not a Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen To a Daughter Leaving Home by Linda Pastan Our Other Sister…
Week Four Poems
Poems as Sound SystemsPoems Focused on SoundWheels by Jim Daniels Radio by Laurel Blossom Dorie Off to Atlanta by Mark Halliday Not that…
Reading Contemporary Poetry Week Four: Poems as Sound Systems
Week Four AgendaGiving Them Back to the Air Individual Sound Exercises Lannan Reading Roethke Exercise Class Evaluations Sonnet-a-ThonWeek Four ResourcesLinks to Week Four…
Wordhound Classes
Information about The Artist's Way at Orr Street and The Artist's Way Online ShowMeWriters MasterClass: Poetry Editing, MU Student Center, November 7, 2015…
Organizations
Editorial Freelancers AssociationSlow Food USAColumbia Freelance ForumCOLORS
Services Offered
Writing and Editing: Creative, academic, commercial. Whatever you need to have done, when you need it. Recent projects have included book-length manuscripts of…
Links
The Artist's Way Online Online Examples of Marta's Work Minor Arcana Press, Publisher of Drawn to Marvel: Poems from the Comic Books Columbia Art League, Publisher…
Credentials
Ph.D. in English, 2001, University of Missouri-Columbia. M.A. in English, 1996, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. B.A. in English and French, 1995, Creighton University, Omaha,…
Online Work
Three Poems at Sequestrum"Boundaries" at The Cortland Review"How to Draw Thursday Night" at Tawdry Bawdry"Mustang Sally Takes a Vacation" at So to Speak"Test…
General Information: Poetry Workshop
Course Number: 09WG093Course Title: Poetry WorkshopInstructor: Dr. Marta FergusonSchedule: W 6-8pm, 4/1-4/22Number of sessions: 4Textbook/ISBN: The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises from Poets…
Workshop Norms
Workshop NormsHonestyKindnessDesire to help one another become the best we can be.Open-mindedness, willing to break habits.Positive attitude.Let's share lots of poemsLet's critique rather…
Workshop Links
Poetry Daily Verse Daily Poetry Foundation Academy of American Poets Poetry 180 American Life in Poetry Contemporary American Poetry Archive Lannan Foundation Best…
Week One: Playing with Stories
Week One AgendaAdministrivia Introductions/Poems in the Air Workshop Norms T&B Group Exercise Workshop Time T&B Individual Exercises This week we'll use the Twitchell…
Week Two: Playing with Images and Metaphors
Week Two AgendaT&B Group Exercise Poems in the Air Review of Workshop Norms Review of the homework T&B Individual Exercises Workshop Time T&B…
Week Three: Playing with Literary Devices
Week Three AgendaPoems in the Air T&B Group Exercise Workshop Time T&B Individual Exercises Coming Soon!
Week Four: Playing with Poetic Forms
Week Four AgendaPoems in the Air T&B Group Exercise Workshop Time T&B Individual Exercises Coming Soon!
A Century of Great American Poetry Books
A Century of Great American Poetry BooksThis list was the basis of my Ph.D. comps in 2001. I wanted to look specifically at…
PoBiz Links
ChapbooksMain Street RagPudding House PressAnabiosis PressSEMO UP: Copperdome Chapbook CompetitionPoetry Society of America Chapbook FellowshipsSow's Ear PressKulupi PublishingCooper Dillon BooksGold Line PressCamber PressElixir…
Booking It
Artistic Concerns1. The book: A whole greater than the sum of its parts? Showcase of set pieces? 2. Frontloading: Why? Why not? 3.
Testimonials
Let me just say your work got me a promotion! You were easy to work with and distilled a beautiful résumé from all…
Privacy Policy
We at Wordhound are as concerned about our privacy as you are about yours. While we encourage you to contact us, we won't…
Contact Wordhound
Marta Ferguson Wordhound Writing & Editing Services, LLC PO Box 569 Waverly, IA 50677
2016 The Artist's Way
What is The Artist's Way?Alas, as much fun as it was to facilitate The Artist's Way at Orr Street in the summers of…
2015 ShowMe Writers Masterclass in Poetry Editing
Wordhound Editing Basics Poetry editing's a different beast than bread-and-butter document editing. I have 20 years of switch-hitting between the two to back…
2015 Live Create Tell a Story Repeat
Hallmarks of Good Editing: Consistency & CourtesyHOCS (Higher Order Concerns)/LOCS (Lower Order Concerns)HOCS: ContentKnowledge of the fieldReader-focused not writer-focusedLogical flow of ideasClear organizational…
2012 Small Press Fest in Milwaukee
Booking It: How to Make a ManuscriptIssues and Questions Links to Poetry Contests and Publishers A Century of Great American Poetry Books
2009 Poetry Workshop
Workshop Information Workshop Norms Workshop Links Week One: Playing with Stories Week Two: Playing with Images and Metaphors Week Three: Playing with Literary…
2009 Reading Contemporary Poetry
General InformationClass NormsImportant Poetry LinksWeek One: Why Poetry and Poetry as Emotional CartographyWeek Two: Poems as Image MachinesWeek Three: Poems as Story BoxesWeek…