Tag: #atozchallenge

  • J Is For Just in Case

    My friends joke with me that I’d look forward to a zombie apocalypse.  I’d almost rather deal with a few shuffling rotters than a natural disaster that actually can happen. You don’t have to be on an episode of  Doomsday Prepper to need a three day supply of food and water.   Just think back to Hurricane Katrina or Superstorm Sandy.  I honestly don’t think I could live in the tornado alley of the Midwest or along the flood zone of the Mississippi.

    2016-04-12 J Pic 1

    But then there’s no place that’s truly ‘safe’. So the best you can do is have a bit of common sense and planning. It doesn’t take much time or money but it can give you loads of peace of mind.  You don’t have to worry about outrageous scenarios, just be practical about the possibility of a bad winter storm or the possibility of loosing your electricity and plumbing due to construction.

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    But, on the million and one chance zombies do come….

    Having a bit of a plan and some extra supplies can’t hurt. That way you can sit back and relax while you’re waiting until Daryl shows up.

    2016-04-12 J Pic 3

  • Is It Inspiration, Invention or Insight? or, Where Do You Get Your Story Ideas?

    2016-04-11 Letter I

    When people ask me where I get my ideas for stories and I have no answer for them except; I keep my eyes open and “it comes to me.”

    It’s true, there is nothing new under the sun, no unimagined ideas, no unshared topics.  There is however an unnumbered ways of viewing those experiences.

    Take Romeo and Juliet for example – of course Shakespeare penned it back in Elizabethan times but it was re-imagined in New York City’s gritty neighborhoods with street gangs instead of feuding families and ‘voila,’ West Side Story.  I’ve seen other versions, one set against the backdrop of World War II where an American girl falls in love with a Japanese boy and the Disney entry that showcases Pocahontas’ and John Smith’s love as their people fight openly in the background.  In fact, isn’t every romance story ever written about two people that fall in love and must struggle to find a way to become one despite their differences, their worlds, their friends and family?

    The basic idea of love resonates as a ‘universal truth’ that most humans face at least once in their lives and each new author reflects that story onto the page through the filter of their own individual reality.

    In “It,” Stephen King brings two now grown teenagers back together as adults and forces them to confront an evil they fought in their youth.  As they battle this monster, they remember their love for each other and come together in the end.  Yes, I said it; Stephen King rewrote Romeo and Juliet as a horror story.  That is his own view of the world, or at least the one he uses as he writes.

    So, back to me.  I write what I know, what I see, what I’ve experienced; and that means I need to keep my eyes open for that element that will bring me to the page.  I may be outside looking at the stars above me or watching a preview for a new show on CBS but both of those acts have brought memories or emotions to my mind and inspired stories.

    So, it’s important I keep my mind open; that I observe and not just exist.  In the Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron calls this idea ‘filling the well.’  Do something fun, something new, or something you love.  And keep your mind open as you do.  Fill your consciousness with the world around you.  There are so many beautiful, and yes ugly and painful things around you.  These are the things inspiration is made of.

    Take that ‘inspiration’ and find its meaning inside you, this is where the ‘insight’ part comes in.  Then invent something with it; something very individual, something your very own.  The universal truth is there as your inspiration, but the other two ‘I’ words have turned it into something new.

    I believe all three must be present to create.  Why don’t you give it a try?

  • H is for Hens

    This sounds like a very odd subject, chickens. In fact my choice tells you just how much I’m looking forward to vacation. You see, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina there is a little historic farm on Roanoke Island. The name is simply Island Farm.

    My partner and I appreciate the place for its history and also its hens. They are even a vintage breed, which fascinates us. And their clucks are very soothing.

    Isn’t she beautiful?

    They also make us laugh, gathering around their water cooler like office workers and running fast as lightning when there is corn on offer. Animals of all shapes and sizes make me grateful. Their presence grounds me and makes me smile.

    It’s even better when the ocean is mere miles away.

    Do you have any special summer travel plans?

  • G is for Goals

    https://plus.google.com/u/0/111300866668767334422/posts/YZwck3Nrdpr?pid=6269099564711326018&oid=111300866668767334422

    20160402_175101As a writer, Its important to have goals.  Milestones that represent our accomplishments in the various avenues of our life.   Whether it is work, our health or travel planning.

    Invariably when I set a goal – I break out my Franklin Planner and write tasks down to complete said goals.  If  I’m writing I’ll set so many words per day.  I have stickers, different colored pens, highlighters and flags to keep track of everything.  If I complete the task, I check it off.  If I miss I put a Red X through it.  Like its an epic fail.

    I often wonder are the tasks as important as the Goal.  My argument would be, “Yes.”  Most tasks I assign myself are for some sort of Goal.  Whether that is completing a book, or planning a retreat.

    I keep a seperate planner for all the Activity on my blog, and of course I have a schedule for the gym.  Not sure why I print and post that every month, but it makes me feel good. 🙂

    I don’t tend to reward myself for the tasks, but aren’t they in, and of themselves, mini goals?  Shouldn’t I spend some time rewarding myself for even writing once during the week?

    As I grow more as a writer, and person, I realize that these tasks are just as important as the goal they are propelling me towards.  Even if most days I’m more like the turtle in the race versus the hare.

    Excuse me while I check this blog post of my task list.   Maybe I should invest in some gold stars. 🙂

    ~Tina 

     

     

     

  • The F Word

    I bet you thought I mean that eff word, eh?

    Uh-huh.  Busted.

    F Is For Friendship!

    I have been blessed by the internet.  No, not because I sent a hundred thousand spams requesting money because I’m a Nigerian prince, or because I offered to provide an enlargement product, and not even to act as a marriage broker for offshore women.  No, I’ve been blessed by the internet with some of the best friendships I’ve ever had.

    The amazing thing about the world of the internet is how small it is.  One of my friends lives in Israel, another in Plymouth, another in Hawaii, and even a couple in Toronto.  This doesn’t even count the circle of friends here in the States that is the backbone of this very website, and who have built it with me from a tiny little blog on Blogger to what it is becoming.  I’d say that “I can’t imagine life without the internet,” but that’s not true: I can, and I’d be very lonely.  My friendships aren’t virtual, they’re very real and very precious.

    What about you, Dear Reader?  How has the internet changed your life?

    And about that eff word:  it was my first swear word.

    When I was about two years old.

    I used it in a telephone conversation with my very gentlemanly maternal grandfather.  “How was the ocean?”

    “Oh, Grandpa.  It was wonderful.  We collected sea glass, and shells, and played in the sand.  But Grandpa.  That water was so effing cold.”

    Dead silence reigned for at least a whole minute.  Tick.  Tock.

    And to the day she died, my mother never forgave my father for using that word in front of me.  He, on the other hand, maintained it was the neighbor’s children.

    Since it’s his favorite word too, I think I’m my father’s daughter, at least in this sense.

    ~grin~

  • E is for Emergency

    A lot of my friends tease me about being a Doomsday Prepper because I grew up in hurricane country and tend to be prepared.

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    For anything. Including, perhaps, zombies.

    But to be honest, an emergency can happen anywhere, anytime to anyone. And information can be vital. So some questions everyone should ask themselves is … if something happens to me and I am hospitalized who will take care of my children or pets? Does my family know what hospital I prefer? Do I? Which one is covered by my insurance?

    Do I have a list of important numbers that isn’t locked in my cell phone? Does the person I want to ‘be in charge’ know about it?  Even better, do they know and agree to be my ‘go to’ contact?

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    You can go deeper and consider if you have a current will or a living will? Does family know your wishes if you can’t express them? The time to figure this out is before you’re unconscious. Might be easier- just saying. After all, when you get home you want to concentrate on getting better.

    2016-04-06 Pic 3

  • D is for Day Dreaming

    D is for Day Dreaming

    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.

    A head full of fears has no space for dreamsThe 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. As you move toward a dream, the dream moves toward you

    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!

  • “C” is for Crayon

     

    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…

  • B is for Blogging!

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    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.

    What about you? Do you blog? Does it earn you benefits outside the creativeness? Please let us know in the comments so I can turn green with envy.

  • A is for Artist’s Way…

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    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