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| One Plank at a Time |
I bought canvas board to finally start
my first painting for my next endangered species book, "Through Desert Eyes." I have been looking for a nudge, a push, a kick in the butt, to get started and now that I am, I'm so excited! I'm still trying to decide which one I should do first. There are 16 to work on and they are all visually exciting (reading that last statement back sounds so pornographic.)
As I sit here staring at the screen, wondering what else to write, Greg Mortonson's journey to build schools in Pakistan popped into my head. Greg promised to build a school in the Pakistan village that helped him survive only to find that he must first build a bridge. I wonder if this is how it might happen for me and my journey to make a living doing what I love. Perhaps, to become a successful writer/illustrator I must figure out how to build the bridge first. The number one key to this process is not trying to rush it.
So, I am walking dogs, doing graphic design for a vacuum company, teaching kids art, and selling as many of my books as possible, to lay the planks of my bridge. I can see the other side, but I have a lot of planks to put down to actually get there. Once I get there-- man what a story that will be!
I have a tendency to pile things on my plate. I am not sure why I have the urge to be busy. Perhaps it is so I can complain about how busy I am. Maybe I am more efficient when I'm busy because I don't have time to lolly-gag (gosh I love that word.)
All the things I have added to my life to keep me busy ultimately benefit a lot of people, including myself. Volunteering for my kid's classes. Teaching a kid's art club. Writing. Painting. Helping the local zoo. Graphic Design.
No matter how I cut it, I still go to bed too late; I long to read more; and I wish my toes were a priority to paint because all the other important stuff was achieved.
The one beautiful thing I can say about my life right now, that I honestly couldn't have said two years ago, I get to have my biggest chunks of time with my kids and I love it.
My writing exercise today is to write something using the following information: a ringmaster from the circus is knocking on my front door, I am a small town cop looking through my peephole. I must start the exercise with the cop saying "If you know what's good for you..."
"If you know what's good for you," I said immediately throwing my door open, "You'll go back to your circus, pack it up and head out of town."
"My dear lady, let me introduce myself," he said with a grand bow. "My name is Arnold Puffenfleffer. I am the ringmaster of the Puffenfleffer Jabberwalky Circus. I have free tickets for you and your family to attend my show this weekend."
There was nothing I hated more than a circus -- a place with creepy clowns and abused animals. It reminded me of when I worked at a New York City precinct.
"Mr. Puffenfleffer, this town doesn't want your circus. I'm sure me and my boys can find plenty of laws you're company is breaking, and we might just be bored enough to look. So, my advice to you is to move it along."
Mr. Puffenfleffer's eyes became wide. He shuffled backwards and...
Agent, Mary Kole from ABLit is reading through 140 character pitch submissions on Market my Words. Here is what I submitted for the contest on my YA novel WIP.
Renna’s mauled by a lion in Africa. His venom gives her body cat-abilities. Renna must lie, kill and die in order to find value in her life.
I bought a book last week called "Take Ten for Writers," by Bonnie Neubauer. It is well designed, meaning it's pretty to look at, and super duper fun! So I thought I'd do at least one 10 min. writing exercise per week.
This week's challenge, that I randomly chose, was to write a 10 word message describing my mission on a planet called Warpagram incorporating the two words "slightly radioactive." I had 10 min. and here's what I came up with...
My slightly radioactive lips brought the Warpagram boy to life.
Note about my experience: Last time I did this, I took what first came to my mind. With this one, I put a lot more thought into it and challenged my brain. I wanted to capture an interesting event that would make a person ask, "and then what?"
I have to take a break and share with anyone out there that is listening, how much I'm enjoying WriteOnCon.com. It is a FREE conference, yes I did say the F word, and the speakers are wonderful. It is running from August 10-12. I can't wait to tune in tomorrow.
I have read so many great speakers today, I had to stop and link to at least one of my favorites. I am linking this more so that I can refer back to it one day than anything. The blog article is by Jodi Meadows about writing query letters.
Why do we need sleep again? Ugh it gets in the way.
I am sure most writers who have been writing for a while and have been to countless classes and workshops have done a thousand writing exercises. I have not.
So I went online to find some and stumbled upon several at About.com. So, I thought I'd give one a try.
I am putting my timer on for 10 minutes. And the only requirements are: it needs to be ten lines, using and modifying a phrase, I chose 'a needle in a haystack,' and using these five words...cliff, blackberry, needle, cloud, voice, mother, whir, lick. Here I go...
A Needle in a Haystack
I was going to check my blackberry to locate the needle,
but my phone had fallen off a cliff
I called in the loudest voice I could to my mother,
but her head was in a cloud.
I'm sure my voice was nothing but a whir to her,
and she couldn't care a lick about
finding my cell among thousands of rocks.
Get it? The phone has become the needle in the haystack-- I mean rocks. I know sophomoric, but a fun exercise.
Now, I'm off to paint my daughter some artwork for her bedroom walls.
