in Just -

I thought I'd share a poem that really inspires me today. I actually painted the words to it on a coffee table in grad school - I know, I am a nerd. But I think it's really great and hope you will, too.
in Just - by e.e. cummings
in Just-
spring   when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman

whistles     far   and wee

and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer
old balloonman whistles
far    and    wee
and bettyandisabel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's
spring
and


   the

       goat-footed

balloonMan   whistles
far
and
wee

I Deserve a Break Today

I am putting off working for my writing job in order to write this post. It amazes me how I could love writing so much, yet be so reluctant to do it. I have recently decided to take on a huge new writing job and am trying to decide how to budget my time.

It's important to me (and to everyone, I think), to find a balance between work and play. I feel like the past few weeks all I've done is work. Even things I normally enjoy, like taking a walk or going to the dog park, become chores when I am trying to squeeze them in on top of work.

Of course, I am glad to be working and don't want to change anything in that regard. I just want to put the fun back in my fun activities.

Does anyone else ever feel like a work and obligation machine? If so, how can we combat this? Today I'm thinking I am going to take my own advice and write for pleasure instead of profit.

Art that doesn't make me cry

I was taking my daily walk today and thinking about a comment that Mr. Write made on my blog yesterday. He said that people want art that either takes them down into depression or lifts them up to soaring heights. I call this emotive art.

When I was a few years younger, I used to listen to very emotive music - Jeff Buckley, Tori Amos, Elliot Smith - or what my husband calls "sad bastard music."

 I was talking with someone the other day who also listens to music like this and wondering where my penchant for emotive music had gone. Now, I prefer more mellow sounds.

Is this a function of getting older or years of therapy?

 I can't say, but it seems that most art critics have a prejudice toward sad pieces. I hope to combat this with my writing. I still want my pieces to be emotive, but I'd rather evoke happy emotions. Do you think art has to be sad to be good?

A Couple of Hints for "Juicy" Writing

I wrote last week that I was having a bit of writer's block with this blog. I got a lot of good ideas on how to overcome this, from surrounding myself with interesting people, to taking a walk outside. My friend today finally convinced me to write, as I extolled the virtues of the orange pineapple juice I was drinking after my walk. She said, "Write about how to juice up your writing."

I imagine there are those out there better qualified than I to tackle this subject, but, as this is a blog on writing, I'll give it a shot. I think the best way to make your writing more interesting is to bombard the reader with sensory information.

Even our emotions are nothing so much as feelings in our bodies - a tightness in the chest, a turning stomach, a sense of expansion in our head.

If something as personal as feelings is ties to our senses, how much could our writing benefit from some "juicy" sensory information?

Instead of writing that the orange pineapple juice was glorious (which it was!), I could tell you that it slid down like velvet on my tongue. Perhaps not the most original sensory explanation, but you get the picture. Likewise, taking a walk outside is sensory overload. I feel the beads of sweat on my upper lip as the close Colorado sun heats me up in my black t-shirt. I hear the ducks quack as they waddle to their mothers. I look at the lake and see, to quote Jerry Garcia, "a ripple where there is no wind or pebble tossed." How do you spice up your writing?

I've Got Writers Block, so It's Your Turn!

Well, it's the start to another week, and this week I resolve to post more. I've been going through a bit of a creative block, where I can't think of anything to write.

One book I've read suggests that writer's should make lists of things they want to write about when they feel inspired to help them through the times when they don't feel they have much to write about.

I've got a better idea. I'm going to turn it over to you guys. What would you like to discuss in the coming weeks?

We have this big forum here on the Internet and the sky's the limit. What writing issues are you having? What inspires you? What helps make the day more productive and fun? Let me know what you are thinking.

Variety Is the Spice of Life

Over the past few days, I have not been posting. I have been busy writing for work and working another job that does not involve writing. Actually, I think the new job is going to be beneficial to my writing because I'll have more sources of inspiration, instead of always pouring the writing out of me.

 That is not to say that practicing isn't important, but I think it's important to try to balance your resources and vary your schedule, hobbies, etc. There are so many things to do in this world. I reccomend trying to do as many things that give you pleasure as possible, and this will be reflected in your writing. Of course, work isn't always a source of pleasure, but it is an example of exposing yourself to different influences, which can be a source of pleasure.

Enjoy variety in life, even if it's just getting a different kind of coffee at Starbuck's. Try it yourself and see how it's reflected in your writing.

Perfecting the Art of Procrastination

I have been putting off doing my writing work for about 3 days now. My deadline isn't until next week, so I have plenty of time, but I wanted to get a jump on things because I'm going to be busy next week.

What is it about writing that makes it so hard to get started? As far as my journal goes, I look forward to writing in it everyday, but writing for work is another story.

 I hate to lump writing in with other kinds of work because there is a joy to creating something from your own head. It's like yoga - I feel great after I do it, but I'm forever dragging my feet to get to class.

Maybe I should use some tricks to talk myself into getting started, like a reward for writing. I'm thinking that if I write the first three lines, I get a 7up. What do you think? Do you have strategies that help you tackle big projects like writing (or painting the house, etc)?

Synethesia - Not Just a Disorder Anymore

I am currently reading a biography of Georgia O'Keeffe and finding it interesting, though rather dense. In the book, the author discusses how O'Keeffe, when she was learning to paint (perhaps later - I haven't gotten that far yet), would listen to music and paint the music.
This is called synesthesia. Synesthesia is actually a disorder that has far-reaching consequences, but we can incorporate a little of this into our own life.
I was imagining an exercise where we listen to music and try to write down what we hear. This would not be about lyrics but sounds. I often use music as a background when I'm writing my blogs, but I rarely make it the main focus.
As we have discussed before, exposure to any kind of art is important to stimulating creativity. This would be just another way to incorporate this into our lives. Personally, I think anyway to have a more musical life, is a good way.