What Readers,
Writing Circle Members,
and Workshop Participants
are saying about Fear of Writing
Note from Milli: All of my testimonials are genuine, from real people who have read the book—or used the writing prompts, attended a workshop, joined a writing circle, etc. You can meet quite a few of them in photos throughout the Website. Just click the names in red to visit their various photos and features.
I'm still so amazed at how the Fear of Writing method WORKS for me. I can write creatively and leave my stuffy old left brain out of it!
—Sandy Schairer, Tijeras, New Mexico
Milli, you have wakened a giant, and I thank you greatly for it!
—Sandy Fleming, Pipe Creek, Texas
Page Contents
Read testimonials about:
The Book
The Four Short Stories in the Book
Fertile Material Writing Prompts
Writing Circles
Online Course
Fear of Writing Gazette
Fear of Writing Clinic
Tantrick Writing Clinic
The Website
I clicked on the link to your Website and looked at the pics. WOW!
—Colleen Welch, Santa Fe, New Mexico
I've spent the last hour going through your Website. Wow! There is so much material to peruse one can return over and over to get more. The feeling of community is tremendous.
—Catherine Greti, Menlo Park, California
The new Website design is beautiful and I am honored to be a part of it!!
—Jayni Therkildsen, Santa Fe, New Mexico
I'm owning aspects of myself I was trying to hide before. It is wonderful being released and it's because you have this site and I know I'm not alone or crazy.
—Judith Chantler, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia
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The Book
Even at 6:30 a.m., sans my first cup of coffee, the Chapter One excerpt made me laugh, it was so on target. I’ve got to read on so I can find out what’s going to happen to me!
—Sally McKissack-Lauck, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
I’ve studied hundreds of books on writing. This book has proven to be the best investment ever.
—D’Arcy Mayo, Online Writing Studio, Sydney, Australia
I want you to know that this book was written for me. It’s like you can read my mind.
—Margie Wellman, Clarion, Iowa
Just read your first chapter last night, and you were speaking directly to
me! If my fiancee hadn't been sleeping I would have shouted, “That is
SO me!” I'm sure that is SO a lot of people, and I'm not the first to tell you
that, but I just had to say thanks!
—Jenn Martin, O'ahu, Hawai'i
I love your book. I
reading the book in bed when I read, “Don't read this in
bed!” So I got up and sat in a chair and did the identical
exercise that we had done on Saturday [at the Fear of Writing Clinic], the jazz band
scenario. The fun part . . . I wrote an entirely different story
from the one on Saturday. I even started a poem today and
had not written a poem in 7-8 years!
—Bev Emmons, San Antonio, Texas
By the time I got to the “letting the dog out to play” part of your book I was so active with my two journals that I refer to them all day long and jot down ideas, thoughts and things that happened. The interplay is glorious. Sometimes things are flooding in so fast I have to write them up on the computer. Oh, it is all so exciting and it’s putting me into new habits. Habits of noticing more, of writing things down, of making a record. The habit of writing longer will come from this, I am sure. Already I came in from my walk one day this week and made an outline for a book I want to write. Now I believe I know what it is to get into writing!!!!! I mean I really feel it now, after seeing the results of “letting it out.”
—Catherine Greti, Menlo Park, California
Milli, you cannot imagine how much positive impact you have had on me, my writing, and I’m sure, tons of other people!
—Sandy Fleming, Pipe Creek, Texas
Thank you! Your [book excerpt] has given me two gifts—the knowledge that others are fighting the same inner battle of writing insecurity and, more importantly, that we can laugh at these insecurities and write anyway!
—Reader feedback, book excerpt at Innerself, www.innerself.com
I found a big piece of myself as I read this [book excerpt]. I thank the author for her courage in writing about her fear of writing in such a provoking manner.
—Reader feedback, book excerpt at Innerself, www.innerself.com
Lately I’ve been learning about going into feelings rather than avoiding them, but this is the first time I’ve been introduced to the idea of going straight into the fear of writing. What a wonderful, beautiful twist for me to see.
—Reader feedback, book excerpt at Innerself, www.innerself.com
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The Four Short Stories in Fear of Writing
I read “The God of Mystery” yesterday. I couldn't put it down!
—Sandy Fleming, Pipe Creek, Texas
I don't know if I ever told you, but the story about the grandfather baby-sitting his great-grandchild in Fear of Writing was one of the best short stories I've ever read.
—Sandy Schairer, Tijeras, New Mexico (referring to “The God of Mystery”)
The story “Worm Medicine,” with images I will never forget, made the point real—personal—alive and breathing. Afterwards, I went through and in a few hours fixed the corner I’d painted myself into with my novel. Woohoo!
—BJ Apostol, Santee, California
I just finished “The Way Dempsey Works.” The description of the mountains around Taos and the drive up to his adobe house was all too real for me. You made the coffee shop come alive. I could hear the chatter and smell the coffee and I felt like I had met Dempsey before.
—John Gaines, Boerne, Texas
I’d been battling a case of writer’s block ever since the terrorist attack on September 11. Each word needed to be squeezed out of me like lemon juice, and when it hit the page it was just as sour. And then I read “Jack’s House.” Every obstacle Helen encountered, every fear she had, every thought she had, paralleled my own troubles so completely I was stunned. I had been terrified that my fiction was trivial, meaningless, and without purpose, but when I finished reading “Jack’s House” I understood what I needed to do. This was the miracle I’d been searching for. Thank you!
—Jennifer Turner, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, author of Stark Knight
How to purchase “Fear of Writing”
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Fertile Material Writing Prompts
I’ve had loads of fun doing the Fertile Material exercises!
—Dena Harris, Madison, North Carolina
Great writing exercises! “Fertile Material.” Nothing has set me free like these.
—Lyn Canham, Sandia Park, New Mexico
Wow, I was laughing out loud at some of the skeleton plots! This is great stuff! I think our readers are really going to enjoy this contest.
—Krista Barrett, editor, writergazette.com
I’m excited to have won the contest (my first!) and even more thrilled to be the recipient of your book. I look forward to reading it and growing as a writer as I use more of your writing exercises.
—Dena Harris, Madison, North Carolina
I really am thrilled with this new way of writing. It seems to bypass the clinical/critical mind and get right to the creativity.
—Sandy Schairer, Tijeras, New Mexico
The freedom part of it, for me, is getting away from technical writing and having the chance to write something more fanciful. Also, not being critiqued on your English, spelling, formatting of paragraphs and so on. It's very therapeutic to run away from reality for a while! And humor comes naturally using the Fertile Material prompts. It even affects my other writing.
—John Gaines, Boerne, Texas
It really got them going. Even one student who never liked to write and usually stalled around was engaged.
—Micah Roseberry, principal, Country Day School, Taos, New Mexico, on using the Fertile Material exercises with her sixth graders
One great thing about the Fertile Material is that I can take a break from a longer piece (such as my novel #2) and have some real fun! Not that my regular writing isn’t fun, but I believe it’s important to stay fresh, and doing smaller projects really helps with that. But the best part about doing the Fertile Material exercises is that each story can be saved and worked on again later—either as a novel or as a short story that might be worth submitting to a magazine or writing contest.
—Jennifer Turner, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, author of Stark Knight
Dear Milli: Thank you so very much for coming to the LAWG meeting last night. Everybody had a lot of fun. And wasn’t it fun to see what a group of ‘brave’ [published] writers can do with the Fertile Material? The writing was hilarious and very creative. It’s intriguing to think that the Fertile Material has applications for motivating even the seasoned writer into another level of creativity.
—Penelope Stowell, host of the Fear of Writing Clinic presented by Milli to the Los Alamos Writers’ Group, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 4/25/02
Milli’s Fertile Material exercises have helped me go from a closet writer who dreamed of writing a novel when I retire, to a writer who began writing a book during what for me is the annual time crunch—tax season!
—Skip Pedlar, CPA, Taos, New Mexico
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Writing Circles
I've really enjoyed my writing circle sessions! Thanks for bringing me out of my shell.
—Daisy Whisenant, Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas
I wanted to tell you how much the writing circle has helped me with my writing anxiety. I’m much more relaxed about it now. The exercises gradually taught me that if I just start writing, a story will come out—all I have to do is let it flow!
—Donna Coyle, Fertile Material Writing Circle, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Milli and the Fear of Writing crew have come to my rescue. The weekly writing circles are great—a place where I can share my work with an appreciative audience, practice my skills, and learn from everyone involved. Thanks, Milli!
—Lainie Dulaney, Canyon Lake, Texas
The writing circle is always a nice, weekly entertaining social. We have fun and laugh a lot. As you know, laughter is good therapy for good health. We also learn about writing in a supportive, relaxed atmosphere. We turn our imaginations loose and, believe me, we're all very imaginative!
—Doris Stump, Canyon Lake, Texas
We wrote the one about discovering you're still in your pajamas at the office. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. Great fun!
—Donna Brown, Fertile Material Writing Circle, Albuquerque, New Mexico
I'd like to thank Milli Thornton for the innovative writing technique she developed to help writers get over their fear of writing. I would also like to thank the friends in my Fertile Material writing circle who’ve written with me weekly for over a year, listened to me read my stories, and shared their writing with me. I think it has made me a better writer, certainly a happier one.
—Sandy Schairer, Albuquerque, New Mexico, from the dedication page in her e-book, Once Upon a Blue Moon
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Fear of Writing Online Course
“I am so on fire! I’ll try not to inundate you with my assignments, but I’m having so much fun with your course that it's hard to stop myself. I feel so safe in this course already—that is a treat to me! I am healing slowly and courses like these are rebuilding my hope. I always think of new writers as gentle reeds . . . easily damaged if bent too far.”
—Claudia Errington, Woodland, California
"Declarations of existence excite me. Being isn't always enough. Sometimes I overflow with the desire to describe and share."
—Jayni Therkildsen, Santa Fe, New Mexico, excerpted from her assignment "I Am a Writer," Week Four of the Fear of Writing Online Course
"Dear Milli: Help! I’m an editor and a technical writer and have managed to frighten my inner writer into the depths of a deep, dark, musty coat closet, where she survives on the occasional crust of bread and sip of water. There are characters in my head—I fall asleep thinking about them every night lately—and I have an idea for a world that I’m really enthusiastic about, but all of it is flat as a pancake when I try to write about it. I’m so frustrated! May I please take your class? Thanks!"
—Beth Brooks, Senior Editor & President, Paraphrase, Inc., Clinton, New Jersey
“I am so very pleased that I found your Website and your course. I find myself dreading the day when I complete my eighth week in the program. The process of reading and responding, feeding my imagination and filling up pages has become integral to my daily routine. I will certainly miss these daily activities.”
—Walt Nickell, Celina, Ohio
"Milli, I love your feedback. You are so encouraging, so uplifting, and your words exude a strength that goes right to my soul. Thank you."
—Claudia Errington, Woodland, California
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Fear of Writing Gazette
I look forward to getting the Gazette. It's fun to read, Milli!
—Claudia Errington, Woodland, California
Hi Milli! The Gazette is good. I forwarded it to Gail (Moonlightwriter). I'm sure she'll enjoy it. Keep up the good work!
—Sharon Forrest, Smithville, New Jersey
I love the Gazette. I clicked on the link to your Website and looked at the pics. WOW!
—Colleen Welch, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Nice stuff!
—Dan Griffith, Space Coast Poetry Club of Bevard County, Florida
You've done a great job on your Gazette! Brava.
—Sandra Moore Williams, author of Faces: What You See is What You Get
Love the Gazette!!!! It's awesome!!! That pic of our group is great!!!
—Lainie Dulaney, Gazette subscriber and member of the 2/26/05 Fear of Writing Clinic, Canyon Lake, Texas
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Fear of Writing Clinic
It screams “safe”!
—Sallye Beranak, Ft. Collins, Colorado
The exercises were fun! I had a GREAT time.
—Donna Brown, Albuquerque, New Mexico
I’m not a poet, but after your Fear of Writing Clinic I felt so inspired I entered a poetry contest and won a Sony Vaio.
—Robert Beale, Taos, New Mexico
Milli, I had a wonderful time on Saturday. I came home tired but really enthused. I am amazed at how talented you are. How organized and in awe of your workshop abilities. You have been sent here as the Writer's Angel, I truly believe it. You have an amazing way of hearing what is not said and an empathetic way of listening. The way you have of encouraging and uplifting when one is in that place of fear and uncertainty is astounding.
—Deirdre Nielsen, Canyon Lake, Texas
I really enjoyed your workshop. It was fun. I look forward to seeing a “Son of Fear of Writing” workshop someday.
—Raven Puente, Spring Branch, Texas
Once again, thank you so much. At the beginning of the day I felt like “Ohmygoodness, ohmygoodness, I can't write anything around these people—they're all so good and I'm just going to sound dumb!” But we both had a really, really good time. Thanks, thanks, thanks!!
—Susan Smith, San Antonio, Texas, attending with her 16-year-old daughter, Caitlin Smith
Thanks for a great writing workshop. I realized several things—one of which is that other people’s fears are no greater or lesser than mine. That was very helpful.
—Terry Fisher, at a Fear of Writing Clinic sponsored by SouthWest Writers, 3/16/02
The exercises flexed my writing muscles. Milli comes up with the most imaginative ideas!
—Cindy Robison, Taos, New Mexico
More About the Fear of Writing Clinic
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Tantrick Writing Clinic
“It seems like I’ve been writing non-stop ever since your workshop. I had a fantastic idea for a book based on one of your workshop exercises and have been writing it ever since. It keeps me awake at night with new twists and turns. I can’t tell you the joy I’m feeling . . . it’s a feeling of coming home for me.”
—Kerrée Wheelock, Colorado Springs, Colorado
“I didn’t know what to expect at the Tantrick Writing Clinic. Milli was full of surprises!”
—Bill Peck, Cimarron, New Mexico
“Awesome! I’m a veteran of countless writing classes and workshops, but never have I been at a clinic quite like this one! On a scale of one to ten, you get a fifteen. Once people experience Tantrick writing, they will wonder how they ever did without it.”
—Penelope Stowell, Santa Fe, New Mexico
“Tantrick was two whole days of writing inspiration. Thanks, Milli, for yet another wonderful, uplifting workshop full of treasured memories.”
—Robert Beale, Taos, New Mexico
“You do a great workshop and you’re an encouragement to the timid ones. I have never, ever shared my writing with anyone as much as I did this weekend and it felt great. I loved all of the other participants. We both enjoyed ourselves tremendously.”
—Rosa Phelps & Jeff Kennel, Telluride, Colorado
“I promise not every email will be an emotional outpouring from me, but I feel it is important that you know the impact you had on me. It wasn’t a small thing and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling it. Encouragement is the mother’s milk that makes us grow, I believe.”
—Kerrée Wheelock, Colorado Springs, Colorado
“How would they go on now that the workshop was over and they must return to the unadorned spaces where they worked and tried to play?”
—Michael O’Hara, Denver, Colorado
More About the Tantrick Writing Clinic
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Writing Contests
Wow, I was laughing out loud at some of the skeleton plots! This is great stuff! I think our readers are really going to enjoy this contest.
—Krista Barrett, editor, writergazette.com
I’m excited to have won the contest (my first!) and even more thrilled to be the recipient of your book. I look forward to reading it and growing as a writer as I use more of your writing exercises.
—Dena Harris, Madison, North Carolina
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FoW Bookmark & Bumper Sticker
I cannot wait to decorate my car with this bumper sticker and have to answer all the spectators’ questions about how it came to be there. Thanks!
—Carol White
The phrase “fear of writing” has characterized my entire creative writing experience. Good stuff! Thanks!
—Ashley Middleton
Milli, thank you so much for the bumper stickers for our creative writing class at Lincoln-Way Central High. Everyone appreciates it. I love your site!
—Melanie Burke
Thanks for the bookmark and bumper sticker. Now if only I had a car to put it on!
—Heather-Marie Johnson
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