Nature is often thought to inspire creativity. As spring begins to bloom around the Ozarks, one organization is working to combine the beauty of area botanical gardens with the creativity of local writers. KSMU's Theresa Bettmann has more on an upcoming writing retreat that invites people of all skill levels.
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Whether it's the butterfly house, Japanese garden, or Lake Drummond, leaders of next week's retreat hope the scene here at Nathanael Greene Close Memorial Park in Springfield will help inspire creativity in their writing. Participants will be given writing prompts after visiting at least three different areas of the park.
The garden-inspired writing retreat was created by David Burton with the University of Missouri Extension. The program, conducted in partnership with the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, began last fall. Burton says last year’s response was enjoyable, and hopes to build upon its success. Burton is a published creative writer himself, and says this retreat is a way to enjoy nature and get those "creative juices flowing."
"What we've tried to do here is blend some writing training along with the gardens. We'll be doing different writing exercises in three of the gardens out here. And we'll be there in [each] the garden[s] for around an hour. So you'll have time to enjoy the tranquility, sights and sounds of that garden while you're working on the writing exercise as a group," Burton says.
You do not have to be an experienced writer, says Burton, to enjoy the retreat. He says it is not a lecture setting that focuses on intensive writing mechanics. Burton explains it is for anyone who wants to have fun, leisurely enjoy the gardens, be more creative, or simply try out writing. This includes journal writing, poetry, fiction or non-fiction.
"For example, one of the gardens down by the Butterfly House we have some sort a butterfly-themed writing prompts. And a person can pick any of these writing prompts and write something and we'll share as a group. I know one of them was 'my life as a butterfly.' And so you've got about ten minutes to write something about life as a butterfly," says Burton.
Writing retreats are often therapeutic, Burton says, and a great way for improving motivation, productivity, and good physical and emotional well-being.
Dr. Jeffrey Cornelius-White, professor and Counseling Program coordinator with Missouri State University, agrees that writing is an effective therapeutic tool. He says over 200 studies link mental and physical health benefits with various types of writing.
"The motivation is important, like make a conscious decisions that you want to accomplish something and stick with it. Then make a modest and achievable goal. So, if you're goal is you want to resolve something that has been bothering you, or your goal is to be happier or you want to be more grateful, then pick that goal and make a conscious decision about what you're going to do about it," Cornelius-White says.
Make a plan to write more intensively for 10 or 15 minutes a day, says Cornelius-White. Shorter time periods ranging from three to seven days seem to be more effective than writing for extended periods of time, he explains.
"I would also suggest that you focus on depth more than breadth, so to share your deepest thoughts and feelings about it. To think about 'why', or to connect it to people, to savor the surprises that happen in life. Just things like that which are poignant and grab them and describe them," says Cornelius-White.
The garden writing event will be May 1st from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $10 a person and $5 for Springfield Writer's Guild members, to cover cost of the workbook. Registration in advance can be made in person or by mail to: the Greene County Extension Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave. Springfield, MO 65807. Burton recommends bringing a lawn chair, writing tools, and to be ready to so some walking.
