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Join us, Dear Reader, for a month-long celebration of letters – literally!
The writers of the Writer Zen Garden have collaborated to bring you posts about everything from Alphabet to Zen. Check back every day but Sunday as we explore the challenge and get some writing done. Click the picture, above, to be taken to the main Blogging From A to Z challenge page to get more information and to find out who else is participating.
Happy reading!
My favorite pastime in the world is day dreaming. I love it! No matter where I am, with whom, and despite what I’m supposed to be doing, I’m always day dreaming. It’s like magic…best during dedicated slots of time when I can day dream without any interruptions. 🙂
For an ADD girl, day dreaming is part of my nature, but it doesn’t mean that I always have it easy. I need to let go in order to tune into the world of inspiration and listen. Walks help me on days when I feel as removed from inspiration as my dog, Dobbi (named after the cute house elf from Harry Potter) from having the common sense not to snack from the cat’s litter box.
The other day I returned home after work with so many things crowding my brain, my temples throbbed. So instead of answering the call of comfort food and TV, I took Julia Cameron’s advice and stormed out with Dobbi by my side.
It’s hard, at first, to let go and clear my head of all the messy clutter. But with every step I take, I feel lighter, as if I left some of the burdens down on the floor…and on some I even stomped. Then, at some point, without noticing, I forget all of the tasks and burdens and start being in the moment. I notice the things around me, and as I look, I’m rewarded with day dreams and inspiration.
Suddenly, birds chirping, cars honking, construction workers drilling…aren’t an annoying noise anymore. I hear music. The wind rustles tree branches, and I see them dancing along with the tune. I see the world with layers of imagination. Trees have faces, splatters of mold on the wall have fantasy creature’s shapes. Dust twinkles under a ray of sun and transforms into a fairy. And all of this, everything around me, the silliest things, really—it all turns into inspiration for my stories.
I often wonder what other people see and hear. Do you see regular trees with regular branches? Do you hear construction drills? Cars driving by? What do you see when you look at a tree leaf? Maybe it’s in the shape of a heart? Is it big enough to hold a fairy? Do you even take the time to look at the things around you? If not, please try, because maybe you’ll discover new worlds, new mysteries to explore…right here next to you in the puddle of mud that would have ruined your new shoes if you hadn’t noticed it. 
There’s a kind of magic in taking a first look at the things around you, and a gift in making the time to take a second look. It’s in the second look that I usually get lost in a day dream. Don’t get distracted by where you need to be or where you’d rather go. That’s too easy. Let what’s around you, or what’s stuck in your path, lead you through a different twist in the road. The world around us is the biggest art gallery ever made, just waiting to be explored. There’s no need to chase inspiration. It’s right here next to you, waiting to be noticed.
Have fun day dreaming.
And if you need help getting into a walking routine, check out Julia Cameron’s Finding Water. All of my walking poetics are inspired by her awesome book!
I remember the joy that a new box of crayons would bring when I was young. The snazzy yellow box with the signature green stripes on the sides always took my breath away. The sight of all 64 colors in perfect order was like a magical glimpse of the rainbow made real in my hands.
Burnt sienna, sandalwood, magenta and salmon; they were words I’d heard but these crayons were my first exposure to the real thing. To this day I can see in my mind’s eye the lower case black lettering on the side of the crayons with that newly learned shade.
Today, many, many years later, there are new colors; purple mountains majesty, macaroni and cheese and fuzzy wuzzy brown; very descriptive and tactile. I’m sure they were chosen to help their newest consumers learn the shades of the rainbow.
Now if you’ll excuse me; I’m feeling the need to go get a box and right now and create something. I hear they sell boxes with 120 different shades…
Happy April! I’m pleased to be contributing to the challenge this month with my talented friends. My own theme this spring is music from my collection and I nearly used Bile (as in the band) for my post here.
Somehow, though, that name seemed just a little, well… gross. So I decided to blog about blogging. The art is not something at which I’m particularly prolific or gifted but have certainly met some wonderful people around the world. Additionally, it never ceases to impress me when folks manage to make money with the creative endeavor.
Several bloggers I’ve come to follow, especially in the nation of India, receive trips in return for product reviews. My favorite had to be an overnight visit cross country where my blogging friend got to tour an industrial plant. The writers all feasted on wonderful sounding foods and enjoyed the company of their peers.
And they took home goodies! Swag, I tell you!
It made me jealous until I remembered how introverted I am. Hence blogging gives me the perfect opportunity to reach out to the world from the comfort of my own home.
Image Copyright 2016 by Darla M. Sands. All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.
By all accounts I’m a newbie to Julia Cameron’s the Artist’s Way and my status is “currently reading” on Goodreads. 🙂
That being said, I can at times be a bit of a zealot when I find something new and “shiny”. When I read a book that sparks my passion, or uncovers hidden truths about writing, craft, publishing or any non-fiction books sparking a “Right on…” sort of response.
My family is usually the first to witness this phenomenon when I buy them the books for Christmas. And then my friends.
My children received Sewing Books for Christmas, because I thought the knowledge was so wonderful.
My sister and best friend received calendars which held quotes from an author, whom I find enlightening.
In spite of my conversion tendencies, I tend to not follow my own convictions. Which brings me back to the Artist’s Way…and my lack of completion of the book. It seems a bit hypocritical for me to tout the wisdom of the book, without actually completing the work myself, doesn’t it. I like to think Ms. Cameron will forgive my error, and hopefully appreciates my “word-of-mouth,” recommendations.
This isn’t to say that I don’t finish things, I absolutely do. It seems to when it comes to taking on things that I perceive as “learning” I procrastinate. Much like a student writing a paper. Hmm, this seems to be a theme in my writing as well…but that’s a letter for another day.
Perhaps I should’ve said, “A is for Accountability”. ~Tina
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| Sunrise Over Evanston or, What’s the “O” For? Oh, my God, it’s early! (Thank you Robin Williams!) Image Copyright 2015 A. Catherine Noon; All Rights Reserved |
So, those of you who are paying attention will notice that it’s actually Thursday. Yup. This may give you some indication of my state of the state, compounded to the fact that someone seems to have ripped May out of my calendar completely and it feels like it still should be early April. Maybe March.
This actually gave me my idea for today’s post: the “dreaded middle,” or the “sagging middle,” take your pick. Where I am in my life, the “sagging” is more apt on many levels, some of which I’m not prepared to discuss. ~grin~ So. Middles.
Writers talk of the middles as being the hardest part of writing a novel. Sure, crafting an opening that snares the reader, and finishing off with a bang, are all to be desired. But once we have them, there’s still the problem of the journey. Do we add layers? Do we have too many characters? Too few? What about that plot twist that you weren’t a hundred percent sure of – now that you’re at the other side of the mountain, does it provide shade, or block the light?
One of my buddies on Romance Divas, author Amity Lassiter, shared some motivation with the board that I think applies to how I’m feeling today. I’ll share it with you, but first, a warning: it’s loud, and rather startling, but very worth it – especially if you, like me, get stuck in the middle.
We can do this.
Theo, eyebrows bridged by a crease of concentration, waved her fingers midair in a seeming random pattern. When she finished, Sela gasped. The glowing trails coalesced to clearly show a portrait of their mother. The image sparkled before disappearing.
“You can do it, too. When…?”
“The night Mom died,” Theo whispered.
“We can’t tell him. You do know that, right?”
“I know, Sela. If Father finds out, I’ll be put in the institution just like Mom.”
Sela sat up straight, fists balled in her lap. Fear gathered in her throat but she shook her head and swallowed it.
“He’ll have to go through me first,” she growled.
The air shimmered and the eyes of both girls widened. They clasped hands and bowed their heads, thanking the goddess and their mother’s spirit. Two would now stand strong against the blindly bigoted theocracy headed by their maniacal patriarch.
–
Of the team of Noon & Wilder, I am the ‘Research Queen’ and how I adore my job. Even topics that I originally thought wouldn’t be interesting, often turn out to be the opposite. I think it’s important to get the details right so the reader believes in your writing.
On the other hand, a writer needs to be careful that it doesn’t turn out to be a distraction or overwhelming. You want to make sure it still flows with the story and doesn’t come across as an info dump.
Though, allowing some distraction, keeps your own interest. An example is the Bear Creek Brewery that Noony and I created for the sequel of Sealed By Fire (yet to be published). We had a great afternoon at the Goose Island Brewery in Chicago.
Took a tour:
And a beer tasting seminar:
All, of course, in the name of research. So make sure you’re having fun. Oh, and it helps to bring a pen or favorite pencil, notebook and camera.
Currently I’m writing a steampunk novel and most stories take place during the Victorian era. One of the things I like about steampunk is the history blended with the fantastical. Although steampunk stories have alternate time lines, its still nice to know where the history deviated.
I generally prefer stories with some history woven in. I tend to read historical romances (including steampunk) and then wonder about the facts of the story. Its not uncommon for historicals to have a political backdrop. Inevitably when I’m reading, I want to research what the author wrote. Between my own research and reading research, I’m always curious about the history behind the story.
I admit to a certain fascination with kings and queens, royal lineage, etc. One of my recent purchases was a wall map of the royals of Europe.
I figure it will help in my research and serve as a decent reference.
Tina