I am a writing advisor for a national writing program that is starting a new chapter in Arizona.  This program is one of the reasons why I choose to stay in AZ for a few more weeks (which extended my month of writing).

I had no intention to be an advisor for this program.  I only offered to document the program for my sister, who is a doc student and responsible for bring this program to the state.  I wanted to document the program because I wanted to observe the student transformation that I felt would occur based on the mission statement of the program.  At the end of day one the founder of the program suggested that I sign on as an advisor this year so that I can be an advisor next year to help grown and sustain this developing chapter.  I instinctively said yes.

The writing that the youth ages 13-18 are writing is blowing my mind on a day-to-day basis.  I am so impressed with what they come up with in a limited amount of time.  It’s not that I don’t think they have it in them, but considering the writing prompts they are given when I brain storm ideas I can only think of a few ideas, but their brain storming abilities are quicker and larger.  I love that they are playing with form and really spreading their wings.  With what I have read of their work this week I wanted to share a song that I love that I feel speaks to this theme of the week which is “Say What You Need to Say.”

“Say What You Need to Say” by John Mayer

Take all of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all of your so-called problems
Better put ’em in quotations

Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say

Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say

Walking like a one man army
Fighting with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you’d be better off instead
If you could only

Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say

Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say

Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You better know that in the end
It’s better to say too much
Than never to say what you need to say

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as your eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open

Wide

Say what you need to say