Tag: inspiration

We spent a little time at the State Fair last night with Number One Son and his girlfriend. We had hoped to enjoy the Shinedown concert, but the sound was pretty bad and crowd not really chill enough for our tastes.

I did have a good time checking out the chickens, bunnies, and cows. Saw one rabbit that is larger than my pillow and had way better hair than me.

I had hoped to make up the rest of the pesto today, but writing comes first. 

Ready…

Today’s advice: "I write for a couple of hours every day, even if I only get a couple sentences. I put in that time. You do that every day, and inspiration will come along. I don’t allow myself not to keep trying. It’s not fun, but if you wait until you want to write, you’ll never do it."  Dave Barry

Set….

Today’s prompt: Signs taken out of context are wonderful sparks for creativity. If you follow this blog regularly, you’ll see I often post photos of signs that strike me as funny, or intriguing, or as… yes, a sign about a larger experience than the physical, literal sign might imply at first glance.

On the way to the State Fair last night, I came across a sign that made me chuckle and is going to be the basis for my free-writing time today.

You can use my sign, too, or you can go for a walk or drive and find a sign of your own.

My sign?

Scroll down and all will be revealed…

The oracle is ready to speak…..

Can you feel the wind rise as She opens Her mouth?………

and whispers:……..

"Comfort window"

What would you see if you looked through YOUR comfort window?

Scribble….Scribble…. Scribble…

I’m off to give a speech this morning… a speech about writing. To teachers. I’ll be telling them about this challenge, among other things, and trying to help them shift out of editor mode and into writer mode. I’m also going to explain why focusing on publication can create problems for young writers.

Focusing on publication can create problems for ALL writers, come to think about it.

People at the beginning of their writing journey often assume that getting published is the goal, the end of their road. I did. I was willing to put all of my energy into tracking trends and editors and networking with other writers and thinking about how to market my books if they were ever published.

That was a mistake.

Yes, you do need to put some energy into those things, but the most important thing is to develop your craft. The best thing any of us can do for our careers is not to network, not to attend workshops, not to go to writer’s group, or read a blog or enter a contest or work on a website.

The best thing we can do for our careers, and more importantly, our souls, is to sit down, every day, and write. Like you are going to do right now. Just fifteen minutes, buddy. You can do this.

Ready….

Today’s advice: Here’s a quote from author Sue Grafton: “Writing isn’t about the destination — writing is the journey that transforms the soul and gives meaning to all else."

Set…

Today’s prompt: Last night my husband made me an incredible dinner; the kind of meal that you make for someone you’re dating when you are ready for the relationship to go to the next level. (Is there anything as nice as being courted by your spouse? I don’t think so.)

Write about preparing that kind of meal. It can be from your POV or that of a character. It could be the meal you’d like your beloved to make for you. Focus on taste and smell and making your reader very, very hungry.

Scribble…Scribble….Scribble!

Wow! I’ve had incredible feedback already – thanks to everyone who checked in on Twitter, Facebook, LJ, MySpace and all the other landing zones for this blog.

Several people wrote in with suggestions for keeping those precious fifteen minutes uninterrupted. My favorite so far: "Let the dog out before you begin writing."

What are you doing to protect your WFMAD time?

(If you have no idea what I’m talking about, read yesterday’s post.)

We had a Comfort Gathering for my father in the Forest yesterday. His oldest friends and family joined us to tell stories about my parents and share the joy of their presence. I had a big photo of my mother on the mantle; her senior picture from high school. That leads me to our prompt today.

Ready….

Today’s advice: Be clear with yourself about how much of your time is controlled by other people, and how much is really under your control.

Set…

Today’s prompt: Find a yearbook pic or school photo. It can be of you, your beloved, your kids or you can go here for inspiration (click on the image to make it larger). Choose a photo that evokes an emotional response – that gut feeling – even if you aren’t quite sure what that feeling is at first. Don’t think, just write the words that stream through your mind as you look at the photo. Write for fifteen minutes and have fun!

Scribble…Scribble….Scribble!