Thank you

I used to believe that I couldn’t possibly write about writing. Although I had pieces published at Absolute Write, Writing Corner and other writing sites, I still felt I could never consistently write about writing as eloquently as the other writers did. No way could I ever invoke such passion in myself or worse, in others, especially writers. Nah, I’d stick to my decorating pieces.

Yet here I am embroiled in this blog and connecting with some wonderful bloggers: passionate, creative, joyful, inspiring writers - identifying with their stories, and they identifying with mine.

It's not about writing eloquently but truthfully, authentically and passionately.

Thank you for following and subscribing to Perspectives on Writing. You are the ones who are fueling my passion and sprinkling petals of inspiration on my journey.

Saturday Soirée - The writing connection

Like many dreams, mine got lost in the melee of living until my heart could no longer bear the thirst for something more. Of course at the time I did not know not what would quench the thirst, except that my heart yearned for something creative.

Pursuing one path, led me to another. For all the adventure and thrill interior design provided, it was simply a means to an end. Of course I did not know that at the time, but as I moved effortlessly and excitedly among floor plans, decorating styles, color, furniture placement, fabrics, lighting and all the other elements that make up the sum of the field, I gravitated to writing about interiors as opposed to creating them.

Rooted in my children, my dream to write never quite left me. It resurfaced, dressed in different clothes and stayed in the shadows. In time, it threw off its disguise and stepped into the light. No one was more surprised than I to discover my latent dream was alive and well and ready to take me on the adventure of a lifetime.

To cut a long story short, I found myself, my voice, my purpose, my passion.

What is your writing story? How did you connect or re-connect with your writing dream? When did the dream first tickle your heart? Were you like me, on a different life path when writing re-entered your life? What was the reunion like? How are you faring today with your writing?

Change can be fun

Aqua Poppy Designs drew me in and catered to my preference for elegant designs, subdued colors and simple, classic, understated patterns. I decided to change the backgrounds on all my blogs.

My previous post was meant to simply let you know about Chelsea's blog and free backgrounds. It was a spur-of-the-moment impulse that I asked you to comment on what you thought the new look said about me.

I'm so glad I did because it was interesting to read your observations and insights.

Thank you.

One minute the design seems cluttered because I am used to the solid-colored backgrounds I've been using. Then after I look at it for a second or two, it is a nice change, a fun change and a definite reflection of my love of country cottage style - notice the tiny checked (gingham) pattern on the bows. Another aspect in the new background is the overall pattern. It features curves in the leaf and petal shapes and swirls - so me.

And the prominence of green, my all-time favorite color. No more solid green, but accents against a pale neutral color.Ivory, cream, tan and sand will always get my vote. Did you see the pops of black?

I'm not a lover of blue but those soft blue lines and swirls are pretty. I like it.

This background will change in the future, I'm sure but I'm really liking this new change. It's fun. Change can be that way sometimes, especially when you have darling friends like you to share it with. Thanks again for making it so much fun.

Free Blog Backgrounds

Chelsea at Aqua Poppy Designs has some cool blog backgrounds to share and they are free too. The one I downloaded tells a little about me.

What do you think it says?

Saturday Soirée - Of trees and forests and your writing dream

Are you focused on your ultimate writing dream? I hope so. Keeping your eye on the prize you want to snag is a good and commendable thing. However, there could be a problem. With eyes trained on the future you could be missing the benefits of the of the day-to-day joys and struggles to get there.

Have you heard the saying about missing the forest for the trees? I think many writers; particularly aspiring writers are often guilty of missing the trees for the forest.

As you keep your eyes on the forest - your writing dream – notice the following trees and make use of what they offer.

• Tried and true and innovative steps you need to take to keep moving forward and achieving one goal at a time.
• Writing rules that ensure good writing and professional dealings with editors and other writers.
• A writing process that not only feeds off your inspiration but inspires you.
• Writing and life practices that encourage and promote efficient and productivity.
• Advice and information from other writers.

Each symbolic tree that makes up the forest of your dream is a vital part of the writing journey.

Have you been staring at the glory of being the writer you have always wanted to be? Good. That’s your forest. A more important question is, are you taking notice of the trees on your way there? Are you making use of their offerings?

Saturday Soirée - Writing spaces, rituals and treasures

Oodles of stories are told about the writing spaces, sacred rituals and cherished objects some writers cannot function without. They write their stories and do your best work when the writing spaces, sacred rituals and special treasures help to entice the muse, usher them into their writing zone and inspire them.

• Where do you write? Do you have the enviable writing room, a designated corner in your bedroom, kitchen or some other room? Do you have a favorite chair? Or maybe sunlight, fresh air, fragrant flowers and singing birds rouse your passion and generate ideas. Do you prefer the golden silence and book-stuffed aisles of the library, the coffee-shop with whispers of conversations in the background or the intermittent distraction of customers in a book store?
  

• What rituals do you perform to tickle your muse into spewing inspiration your way? Do you pray, meditate, journal, read, shower, dance, sing, exercise, freewrite?
  

• What item or items sit on your desk, hang on the wall or feature as your computer background to draw you into your writing zone? Do you wear a special item of clothing or a cherished piece of jewelry. Maybe you have a magic pen. How about family photos, a collage of writing quotes, a picture of your favorite writer?
  

Awww, come on, share your secrets.

My life in one word Meme

I found this Meme at Writer at Random and it was just so much fun to do.

1. Where is your cell phone? desk

2. Your hair? black

3. Your significant other? Stanley

4. Your mother? deceased

5. Your father? deceased

6. Your favorite thing? teapots

7. Your dream last night? rain

8. Your favorite drink? coffee

9. Your dream/goal? Spain

10. The room you’re in? bedroom

11. Your ex? none

12. Your fear? fire

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? writing

14. Where were you last night? home

15. What you’re not? outgoing

16. Muffins? bran

17. One of your wish list items? dryer

18. Where you grew up? Trinidad

19. The last thing you did? post

20. What are you wearing? pyjamas

21. Your TV? on

22. Your pets? cat

23. Your computer? notebook

24. Your life? creative

25. Your mood? pensive

26. Missing someone? mother

27. Your car? Kia

28. Something you’re not wearing? watch

29. Favorite store? Payless

30. Your summer? beach

31. Like(love) someone? granddaughter

32. Your favorite color? green

33. Last time you laughed? today

34. Last time you cried? funeral

35. Who will re-post this? Sita

I invite you to participate and pass it on.

REMEMBER, ANSWERS MUST BE ONE WORD ONLY!

I'm in the throes of a new change

It is official. I’m babysitting my granddaughter and I’m asking myself, how did I get here? It seems as if just the other day, I resigned from my job to spend my days writing. It seems as if just the other day, I was reveling in living my dream, writing fulltime. It seems as if just the other day… Well, those days are gone and here I am.

Whenever I am on the brink of a major life change, I usually step back from my accustomed activities. It is almost as if I am stuck in a holding pattern. That is what happened last week - no writing in my journal, no blogging, minimal commenting on my favorite blogs. Last week I felt disconnected and lost. I was standing still and waiting for the train of change to stop by my door.

Babysitting Sian is more or less a three-year commitment. She should be going to kindergarten at 3 - 3 1/2 years. Of course, as she gets older my daily routines will change and many days I will depart from how I function the day before. Nevertheless, it is a commitment I embrace joyfully.

These are the promises I’ve made to myself :

1. I will write in my journal daily, regardless of the composition of my day. I figure, I must go to bed so at least I can journal before I slide under the covers and switch off the bedside lamp.

2. I will honor my writing obligations - column, blogs, assignments, deadlines etc. My column and other miscellaneous assignments are the bread and butter and meat and potatoes of my writing life. My blogs are just as significant because they keep me on my writing toes, allows me to share my experiences, my thoughts and my feelings about life and writing. The ones I read religiously and comment at and my wonderful, creative, inspiring, caring and supportive blogging friends are the delicious, decadent desserts I need to have a balanced, informed, inspiring and creative life.

3. I will schedule personal time to nurture and nourish myself physically, mentally and spiritually by engaging in activities, I enjoy- napping on the couch, sitting on the porch, reading, writing in my journal, writing letters, drawing and photography.

Today wasn’t too bad. I managed to write a few blog posts and scheduled them for publication, finished the final read-through of the article for my column and sent it off. I identified the topic for the next installment and wrote a detailed outline. I prepared and emailed my invoices for work published last month. I backed-up my files and copied them to the notebook computer my husband gave me. It is so much more convenient to use anywhere. It’s smaller and lighter than my laptop.

I’ve always boasted that I am a lark (a morning person) - more inspired, more creative, more productive and all that good stuff between dawn and noon. I’ve been practicing to be an owl (a night person) and I’m not too bad at it either. Talk about change.

Until next time.

Saturday Soirée - Writing between the Sparks

This week I wrote about inspiration for my weekly column and wanted to stay with that theme here as well.

Inspiration sits at the foundation of our writing and it rises and falls as we follow the path along which our writing takes us. Sometimes though, or maybe I should say very often, inspiration seems to have a mind of her own and we become slaves to her whims and fancies.

In order to explore every nook and cranny and mountain and valley of our writing, we must learn to write between the sparks of inspiration.

When inspiration dances into our days, with her handful of delicacies, we must be quick to grab hold of her, dance along and sample her inspiring fare. Our daily commitments may not allow us to sit long with inspiration, move in sync with her rhythm and eat from her tempting menu. So we must be prepared to chip along for the brief moment we have, sniff the aromas and pinch a taste or two of her dishes without missing a beat of the rhythm of our day.

Then, there are times when we have the time or schedule time to write and inspiration does not come dancing and serving up her juicy goodies.

The place between inspiration’s appearances - between one jubilant spark and another - is where we discover our true writing mettle. It is there we learn to dig for treasure in our own backyards, as it were.

These are two popular methods of lighting a fire under our writing when inspiration doesn’t come calling.

Use prompts. They are short pieces designed to give us a creative jolt. Not every prompt will hit your bulls-eye. Keep searching until you find one with a sharp point that lands on target and you’re off.

Use timed writing. You don’t have to depend on someone else’s prompts. Set a timer for a short time, say 10, 20, no more than 30 minutes. Then write whatever comes to your mind. Treat it like toxic material - get it out of your head, fast. If it makes sense in the end, fix it and use it. If you write gibberish, as you surely will sometimes, don’t throw it away just yet. Shuffle through for any potential properties to explore. You may choose to keep all your timed gibberish in a folder. If that’s your fancy then do it.

How do you write between the sparks of inspiration?