Re-Definition

post by Doris McCraw

How do you define your work? Do you ever feel like you are in a rut? I know I do.  I am always trying to find ways to push myself and my creativity. As many of you know I love history and have written papers on various historic subjects. I also write haiku as a daily writing practice that is in its second year.  Still, my work could become stilted and boring. I could become bored. For people who live for their creativity boredom can become a death knell.

Lately I have rethought  my writing and how it makes me feel.  I still love all that I am doing, but at the same time it feels like is something missing. I have started a search to reignite the flames of creativity to reach an even higher point. I want to push myself to create in ways that are new and unusual. To that end I have begun a search and have found some interesting options I thought I would share. Some of you may already know of them and some may not.

I have started to revisit the book “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day” by Michael J. Gelb. Looking at the seven steps again puts my mind in another state.  I see and look at things differently. This in turn translates into enhanced ideas and thoughts that show up in my writing. I am in no way the genius that daVinci was, but it is nice to inhabit what may have been his mindset for a while.

Self-portrait by Leonardo da Vinci, executed in red chalk sometime between 1512 and 1515 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the members of Pike Peak Writers has an improv writing group that meets once a week.  Anywhere from five to fifteen people show up. The rules are: no critiquing, each person reads their work aloud.  Different people bring three writing prompts which everyone writes to.  Even if you cannot think of anything to write you can just start writing words. There is no judgement on the part of the participants. I have found this exercise to be exciting and supportive.

I have just found a form of poetry called cento. You compose a new work using the verses or passages taken from another author or authors work put in a new form or order.  For more information on this form Wikipedia has a fairly simple definition and example.  What I like about this concept is learning and hearing ideas that I have formed from the works I love.

All these are ways for me to re-define my work and creativity. It is something I do to keep myself excited about the prospect of creating new and exciting works. The blog post, the haiku, the short story and non-fiction are all hopefully the beneficiary of this search.

I wish you all a fun creative week.

To read some of the haiku you can find them at http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com

Printing Progress

This post is by Erin Thorne.

Many people keep journals for various reasons. They use this medium to inscribe personal thoughts, vent difficult-to-handle emotions, and as a record of special life events. However, a journal is also an ideal place in which to track one’s writing progress.

I recently began to do this as an integrated part of my work. A writers’ group to which I belong has a feature that, once a week, lets us share with other members what we’ve accomplished in the past seven days. At first, my writing journal was strictly utilitarian. There was simply no way I could have remembered what I’d done if I didn’t write it down. By degrees, it became a motivational tool.

Some weeks are busier than others. During those that are packed with activities and obligations, I sometimes feel as though I’m not getting any writing done. This, in turn, leads me to feel badly about my lack of effort. To break out of this spiral, I take a peek inside the journal section of my day planner, which is where I enter my daily progress. Often, I’ve found more entries than I expected, and this has given my confidence a boost. On the other hand, I’ve occasionally been stared down by blank pages that I’d meant to fill. This has provided the impetus to do more, and to intentionally make time to write.

Overall, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the results. I have finished projects ahead of schedule, and kept a more positive mindset about the whole writing process. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I feel encouraged. I don’t dread sharing my week’s work with others, because I know I’ve done my best in spite of all the demands upon my time. I’d recommend this technique to others without hesitation; no matter what line of work you’re in, nothing lifts your sprits like seeing how far you’ve come. It inspires confidence, and gives you hope about how far you’ll go.

Hot Cross Buns by Cher’ley

 This Blog  by Cher’ley Grogg

Hot Cross Buns! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hot cross buns, hot cross buns–one a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns. I learned to play that little ditty on the piano long before I learned what a hot cross bun was.

Tune and lyrics for Hot Cross Buns, North Yorkshire version (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bread is an important part of my life, has been for as long as I can remember. I sometimes think about the bread truck that used to come to  Grandma’s house.

Excitement exploded from me,  every kind of bread imaginable to a child’s mind, and  my favorite  raisin bread, was piled high on that truck. The bread truck carried lots of goodies. Ooie-gooie cinnamon rolls, a large assortment of cookies and even some candies filled the shelves of the white panel truck. Grandma normally bought the same products every week, but when I was spending a few days with her, I picked out whatever I wanted.

Mom, on the other hand, bought bread from the bread store. I believe the loaves were a nickle a piece, and Mom bought 10 or more then froze them. There was a big difference between bread at our house and bread at Grandma’s house.

Once a month or so our house would be filled with a glorious smell and I often smelled the same smell at Grandma’s. Remember the jingle, “Nothing says lovin’, like somethin’ from the oven”. Sometimes I helped to make the bread, after we’d properly beat it, we put the perfectly rounded loaves in a pan to rise (my little eyes kept close watch)and them we baked. The smell of the bread baking wafted through the air, filling the whole house with the glorious aroma. We plucked the loaves from the oven and placed them on cooling racks.

Then we ate it.

Sometimes, it’s hard to get fresh bread. I used to aggravate my husband because I’d go down the bread aisle feeling each loaf, now he sometimes shops by himself and upon returning from the store, he’ll inform me, “This was the softest loaf.”

McKeel’s Bed & Breakfast, in my novel “Stamp Out Murder” is famous for its food, especially the baked goods. There’s a recipe for old-fashioned “Apple Dumplin’s” and how to prepare them in one of the chapters.

Here’s Aunt Linda’s Yeast Bread Recipe:

 Original recipe makes 2 – 9×5 inch loaves

• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 3 tablespoons lard, softened
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 6 1/2 cups bread flour

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Stir in lard, salt and two cups of the flour. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
2. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
3. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into two lightly greased 9×5 inch loaf pans. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
5. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

As a writer, I hope I convey a deep memory in you through your sense of smell.  I also found this cool site with memories from the late 50’s and early 60’s. 

How do you feel about bread, is it important to you? Do you have memories of delicious aromas wafting through your house?

Stamp Out Murder”.

“The Secret in Grandma’s Trunk” This is an especially good book for your Tween Children and Grandchildren.

And please join me on my Facebook Fanpage, that’s managed by one of my most faithful fans: Cindy Ferrell

Ain’t No Such Word as Ain’t by Cher’ley

 This Blog  by Cher’ley Grogg

Who do you think of when you hear “Dadburn  It”?  “Dadburn it, Joe, what in tarnation are you doing?”. A lost episode.  

My mom had lots of colorful sayings like, “If he ever gets that garden plowed we’ll draw a ring around the house.”  How about, “if wishes were horses all poor men could ride.” One saying Del’s mom and my mom both used and then I used it too was “When my ship comes in.”  Now, that’s been replaced with “When I win the lottery.” When my oldest grandson decided to get married, He said, “Grandma, you remember what you always told me.” I said, “What’s that honey, Grandma told you a lot of things.” He said, “You said you’d dance at my wedding.” I used to tell him, “If you’ll get me a glass of water, I’ll dance at your wedding,”

How about “Fetch me a glass of water.”? Are we losing something by correcting all the colorful sayings? Which sounds better to you? “Leave me be.” Or “Leave me alone.” Do you use the word “Ain’t”? Remember there ain’t no such word as ain’t, because the teacher said there ain’t. You the teacher would say, “Ain’t is not in the dictionary.”

Shortly after we moved to Kentucky, a woman worried over her son’s accomplishments in school called me and said, “Weren’t no need in them there tests.” Thinking she was kidding (funning), I giggled. By the time she had finished her next sentence, full of embarrassment, I realized she actually talked that way. I would never laugh at someone on purpose, or hurt someone’s feelings, so fortunately she thought I was laughing in amazement at his dilemma.  *I’m sure many people think I talk like a hick* I try to pick up cute little sayings and I try to remember the ones that my mom, grandma, or Del’s mom used. Since I grew up with country sayings and ways, this isn’t a far reach for me.

This comes from Chapter 2 in my novel “Stamp Out Murder”. James Freeman, a city slicker, is talking to two old Geezers in Wanton, WV. “I ain’t never been on the Internet, but I hear the youngsters talk about it. Got just about everything on there, they say. I didn’t know Benson even used a computer. He ain’t never invited me into his office. Course his office is just a room in the back of the store. I imagine it’s buzzing down there today. Too bad Old Sam come up dead.”

A saying is something that is said, notable in one respect or another, to be “a pithy expression of wisdom or truth”. There are a number of specific types of sayings, follow this link to be informed. 

Do you use colorful language? What saying did your parents or grandparents use that you still use?

Stamp Out Murder”.

“The Secret in Grandma’s Trunk” This is an especially good book for your Tween Children and Grandchildren.

And please join me on my Facebook Fanpage, that’s managed by one of my most faithful fans: Cindy Ferrell

Teeny, Tiny, Small, and Little by Cher’ley

  This Blog  by Cher’ley Grogg

An eyelash, a blade of grass, Tinkerbelle, Jack, and an embryo all have something in common they are teeny, tiny, small, and little. I lived in Texas for quite a while and in Texas the bigger the better. Everything is bigger in Texas, or so I’ve heard. I have come to realize that some of the most fascinating things on this earth are small.

I haven’t seen the movie Jack the Giant Killer on the big screen, but I read the book to my children when they were little, and I’m sure it was read to me when I was a tiny young’un. Jack, the small lad, climbs the beanstalk, kills the giant and gets the goose that lays the golden egg, and he and his mother live happily ever after. From the advertisements, I don’t believe that’s exactly what happens in the movie. But in the book that’s what happens, they live happily ever after and I like to think of life is being happily ever after too. However, I’m a realist, and I know this is not true, but I look for the little things in life that make me happy. Look for the little things that lift your spirits.

Jack the Giant Killer

How amazing is it to walk through the woods and spot those little teeny yellow flowers or those tiny blue flowers that grow wild and they are scattered everywhere for our enjoyment? If there’s a grassy patch, there are little flowers. The tiny buds on trees and bushes that burst forth in the spring are awesome.

Teeny, tiny, little, small pleasures of life give us some of the happiest most contented moments that anyone can experiences. Just think about the wonder of viewing a kitten, a puppy or a newborn baby.

Here’s a list of 40 LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR DAY

While under my instructor, during the time when I was developing my fine art, we’d examine paintings by great artists and Lee would tell me to watch for the details. He said to put in the little details. Water color is a looser form of painting, but still it has detail. Just like writing, I’d go back and add a little more color in one area and a little more water in another. I’d smudge it and move the paint around, constantly adding more detail. In writing, I’m painting a picture with words. Details bring the writing picture to life.

For instance, a little baby is soft to the touch. You smell the freshness of her hair. You look at the tiny creases in her arms and legs. and you marvel at her tiny feet. Her perfect eyelashes brush her cheek as she sleeps. Little sucking noises come from her rosy little mouth. There is nothing that beats the feeling when she curls that little hand around your finger, and you kiss her on the top of her head.

In my book “Stamp Out Murder”, James and Carolyn walk through a wooded area, to get to the Cheat River behind McKeel’s Bed and Breakfast. They touched trees, were careful not to slide down the hill, and took photos standing beside big trees. Carolyn taught James to skip a rock across the water, and they splashed and played in the shallow river like small children. A story poem by me. 

What teeny. tiny, small, or little something has touched your life? What unexpected noun gave pleasure to you?

Stamp Out Murder”.

“The Secret in Grandma’s Trunk” This is an especially good book for your Tween Children and Grandchildren.

And please join me on my Facebook Fanpage, that’s managed by one of my most faithful fans: Cindy Ferrell

Painting by Cher’ley Grogg

Don’t lean, clean!

This post is by Erin Thorne. I, like many teenagers, first entered the workforce via the avenue of the fast food industry. It was a hectic environment in which employees hustled to take food orders and speedily deliver bags and trays of greasy goodness to hungry customers. We were especially busy during the breakfast, lunch, and dinner rushes. Once the hubbub had died down, there was an overall tendency to mill around and goof off.

One manager in particular had a personal vendetta against this kind of behavior. In her mind, it reflected poorly upon the establishment, and upon herself as a taskmaster. It simply wouldn’t do for us to lack a productive occupation. She had a mantra which she encouraged us all to repeat: “Don’t lean, clean.”

At first, it irritated us to no end. We couldn’t take so much as a five minute breather; sure enough, this woman would swoop in and attack our indolence with her motto. I didn’t see the wisdom and practical application of this saying until many years later, when I applied it in a broader sense to my writing career.

Of course, I didn’t take the maxim literally; I abhor housework as much as anyone. I seized the spirit of it, the admonition to take advantage of one’s downtime instead of using it to lounge about. This comes in handy when I’m not sure how to move my protagonist from point A to point B in my work, when I’m stuck between plot highlights, or when I only have a small amount of time at my disposal.

I have a day planner with all of my tasks, large and small, penciled into their appropriate boxes. In the event that I have a few (or several) idle minutes, I take a peek at my datebook and check it for upcoming obligations. Often, I’ll find something in there which grabs my attention – a batch of press releases that must be sent to promote a future appearance, or perhaps someone whom I need to contact. On those occasions when writer’s block rears its ugly head, it’s helpful to do other things that are just as essential as the creation of new works.

In this way, I’m able to alleviate the feeling that I’m not achieving anything that day, in spite of the absence of inspiration. Frustration and unproductiveness are banished; impending duties are fulfilled prior to their assigned deadlines, and when I’m finally ready to sit down and write again, I can do so with the knowledge that I’ve used the interlude for my own benefit.

Old is New Again

This post is by Doris McCraw

I am filling in today and thought it might be fun to post a piece, edited of course, from the local paper, Gazette, dated July 19, 1873.  I have taken the liberty of adding comments and hope you all enjoy.

EASY DIRECTIONS TO YOUNG WRITERS OF MUSIC, POETS, ETC.

1. WRITE MUCH

All the old masters wrote much; otherwise they would never have obtained what you and I so much desire – immortality. (How may of us have heard this over and over?  It seems that history repeats itself over and over.) The article than uses as one of its examples reading a single paragraph of Mark Twain and then stopping. It then continues with: No, my dear young (or old)  friend, with the voluminous Beethoven, the prodigious Mozart…for your illustrious examples, write, write, WRITE!!!

2.THINK WELL OF YOUR OWN

Nothing can be more unnatural in a young author, poet, etc., than lack of self-appreciation.  …Your reputation at home and abroad, nine times out of ten, will be no “Freak of Fortune” bestowed by fairy hands, or thrown gratuitously at your feet by an indulgent public, but will begin and end with yourself.  ( I think this is one of the best pieces of information from the past.  We’re told to not toot our own horn, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t appreciate our work.)

3. LIVE AND DIE POOR

Here a great many fail. ‘Tis so hard to continually and effectually turn a deaf ear to the seductive wiles of earthly riches.   Remember Edgar Allan Poe, who, in spite of “marble bust” –his “velvet sofa” and “purple lining”–was poor as a raven. (This one took a bit to understand, but I think they are saying don’t write for the money, write what feeds your soul.)

4. GO WEST

Doubtless up0n this more than anything else, depends your future greatness. …Where would the Mayflower have landed, had she pointed otherwise than West?  ( I think they are saying go where others haven’t gone, follow your own star and see where it leads.)

The article ends with a long paragraph including this line…Remember the great undeveloped future.

I hope you enjoyed the trip to the past…the advice really hasn’t changed much, just the wording.

You can find my own pieces of writing at the following:

http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com

http://angelarainesshorts.blogspot.com

http://renawomyn.blogspot.com

http://www.dorismccraw.net

Winter Blahs? Go Yoga

This Blog by Sherry Hartzler

I’m of the opinion that the majority of creative people have the same problem, whether it’s writing, sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, or whatever. We procrastinate. Admittedly, I’m one of the biggest put-this-off-until-the-next-day gals. With the winter blahs and wanting to pull the covers over my head and hibernate until April, it’s easy to fall into the habit of waiting until tomorrow to start a new task.  Unfortunately, after a few days of free-range brain cell activity, I get irritated at myself for being, yes, I’ll say the word, LAZY.

Okay, so this morning I got up, and made myself do something FOR myself, first thing. I felt so good after my half hour of yoga that the next project of the day came much easier. I felt so much better about my work and myself. True, it does sound super simplistic, but believe me. Try it. Tomorrow morning when you wake up, do something for yourself, first!!! Whatever pleases you, do it!!

Note: sorry for no photos this morning. I had a rushed morning and apologize.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sherry+hartzler

Related articles

• by Cher’ley Grogg on Seasonal Affective Disorder 
• Winter Blahs? Go Yoga (writingwranglersandwarriors.wordpress.com)

Patience, Resolutions, One Size Fits All?

This was long thought to be the only portrait of William Shakespeare that had any claim to have been painted from life, until another possible life portrait, the Cobbe portrait, was revealed in 2009. The portrait is known as the ‘Chandos portrait’ after a previous owner, James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos. It was the first portrait to be acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in 1856. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This post is by Doris McCraw

“How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?” Shakespeare, Othello

As we begin the new year the standard practice is to make our resolutions.  We have big plans: loss weight, write that novel, submit so many queries. These are wonderful plans.  Some people make them goals, writing out a step by step process.  Others will look at the goal and start right then and there, almost becoming maniacal in their actions.

Others, like myself, don’t necessarily make resolutions as much as have intentions.  Perhaps we have an idea in mind and mull it over before committing to pursuing the final product. Before I write the haiku I have run the combination of syllables through my head most of the day.

As we proceed into 2013, perhaps we should be more kind to ourselves.  Have patience.  We have become a society of instantaneous response; fitting in; doing what others are doing. Folks nothing great was ever written or invented by following the crowd.  Yes, there are many ideas and tools to help achieve your desires, but no one  idea or tool fits everyone.  Have you ever looked at the ‘one size fits all’…it doesn’t. Even if you are writing a horror story, it is yours, not an Edgar Allan Poe or Dean Koontz.  Be your own storyteller. Tell the story that is in your heart.

As to the other resolutions we make, it is a good idea to make sure they are yours and not what others think they should be.

Make 2013 a great year for you, for when you take care of you then you have so much more to share with others, and that is the greatest gift you can give. Remember greatness takes time!

If you would like to read the Monday through Friday haiku that is continuing for 2013 here is the link:

http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com

If you would like to read some of the short stories I have written, they are located at:

http://angelarainesshorts.blogspot.com

or visit my website at www.dorismccraw.net

Happy New Year – Be of Good Cheer – By Sherry Hartzler

This post by Sherry Hartzler

 

 

 

Okay, it’s a new year. My resolutions are already half-way out the door, waving bye-bye. So, for the rest of the year I’ve decided to be just myself: write, read, and enjoy life to best of my abililty. In other words, I vow to enjoy life and open my eyes to new possibilities. Due to the super media frenzy of letting us know all the horribleness of the world, it’s darn lucky anyone can hold their heads up and have a positive attitude about anything.

The trick to KISS is to simply dive into our inner lives and produce what’s hiding behind all the “emotions” of what’s going on in the outside world. Remember though, it’s important that every so often, break to the surface and take in a good breath of reallity, and then drop back below the surface and use what you’ve learned to write the best story ever. Writers inject fear, hope, inspiration, humor, adventure and romance into their stories to create an end that justifies the beginning. We are writers who must write and the new year is always a new “Chapter One.”

Ground rules: January 1st, 2013

1.  Clear your desk of anything that distracts. That also means staying off of FB, games, and email;

2.  Don’t crowd the desk with the entire project. Give yourself space and a sense of accomplishment by breaking the project into workable portions that don’t overwhelm you.;

3.  Realize that recurrent disruptions are part of life, i.e. housework, phone calls, grocery shopping, day-job, kids, grandchildren, and all the other little things that take up time in a writer’s daily existence. We aren’t superhuman, we are human beings who write about human beings. Remember these little disruptions are the very things that often inspire our writing;

4.  Eat well. Don’t even think about taking a bag of potato chips or cookies to your work area and calling it lunch. Break for lunch, just as you would on your regular job site. Now this next suggestion might seem silly to some, but not to me. Be kind to yourself and go to the bathroom when you feel the urge and not “hold it in” for hours, thinking  you can get in at least another paragraph. Not a good thing for  your bladder;

5.  Remember to stay connected with friends and family. They tend to think you are avoiding them. Writing is a lonesome task and it can easily be interpreted as being selfish and self-centered. (Who, me?) You betcha. I’m guilty of that. It’s imperative we stay connected with those we love. Again, we are human beings who need the love and support of those we love;

6.   Negativity is poison. Meditation is good for draining this poison from your ego;

7.  Know when to separate yourself from the story. Like bread dough, let it ferment for a while before punching it down and reshaping the dough into it’s final form;

8.  Opinions are like an AA meeting: “Take what you want and leave the rest”;

9.  A good attitude is like gold to the soul;

10. Believe in yourself. Anything outside of your POV, doesn’t really count. In other words, don’t worry about what you think others think of you. It’s a waste of time and energy. In other words, be yourself. And that brings me back to my new year’s resolution.

Sherry Hartzler is the author of Three Moons Over Sedona and Island Passage – Available on Amazon.com

.  .http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sherry+hartzler