31 Reasons I Love October-Day 31

Happy Halloween!

6 More Days

Where Does The Time Go?

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.”

I'm behind in my photos, I can't believe it's the 29th of October already. I got my first "packet" back with my adviser's comments. Instead of getting overwhelmed with all of the work I need to do...I'm going to use the idea that I saw on Lauri's blog and pick three projects and finish them before I go onto the next project. I think creative types tend to want to do everything and then don't finish things. Or maybe I'm just talking about myself.

Happiest of birthdays dearest Margaret!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 29

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 28

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 27

WOOF Winners

WOOF Contest – Top 5 Picks:

Poetry

Romeo - “The Natural World” - A short poem about nature and its beauty.

Jennifer M Scott - “Seeking Sun” - An avant garde poem about fall.

About Words / Writing

Kimota (Jonathan Crossfield) - “Time, Productivity and the Writer” - A look at how writing isn't necessarily as quick to produce as many outsiders believe. Taking three hours to produce 100 words might seem odd, but is perfectly legitimate to produce quality copy.

Fiction

Ferox - “Is that a Dragon?” - Things must be observed to exist. Otherwise, they can be anything.

~willow~ - “it's all a matter of perspective...” - ...where a young girl knocks a new perspective into an otherwise downcast boy on a bright autumn day...

Brought to you by PlotDog Press with the Serial Suspense "Intervention"

Presenting the finest of the writer’s blogs by the bloggers who write them. Highlighting the top 5 posts as chosen by the October 24, 2008 WOOF Contest participants. Want in to join the next WOOF? The next contest ends October 31. Submit a link to your best writing post of the last 2 weeks using the form at the bottom of this page.

Haunted Hotel and Autumn in Colorado

I'm back from beautiful Glenwood Springs, the haunted Hotel Colorado, the largest hot springs pool in the world, and an amazing train journey from Denver to Glenwood Springs.
156 pictures later, I have a lot of sorting to do before I can post any but it was quite a weekend.

Places I would highly recommend:

Hotel Colorado and the $5 tour of the hotel at night...I don't know if they just do the tour on the weekends but it was a really interesting, historic and ghostly tour. Perfect for a close to Halloween weekend.

Hot Springs Pool

Italian Underground, Glenwood Springs-I couldn't find a website for this restaurant but based on recommendations we went early and the place filled up within 5 minutes of them opening the door. Really good food, quick efficient service and comfortable atmosphere.

More to come...

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 23

Pumpkin Harvest
Originally uploaded by cocoaberg25

More pumpkins!

The real secret to being to writer

"The secret to being a writer is that you have to write. It's not enough to think about writing or to study literature or plan a future life as an author. You really have to lock yourself away, alone, and get to work." Augusten Burroughs

WOOF Winners-Week of October 17

WOOF Contest – Top Picks:

Fiction

Jenn - “In the Morning Light (Part Two)” - The conclusion of a two-part short story about a man who has lived a life of regret. The first installment is found here.

About Writing

Writing Nag - “Collage to Inspire, Reduce Anxiety and Have Fun” - Facing the blank page can be overwhelming. How to use another artistic outlet to prompt your daily writing.

Ferox - “Vindictive Poetry” - Writing a poem for the wrong reasons sometimes earns you a reward.

Poetry

Dragon Blogger - “In This Age” - Poem I wrote for my wife years ago.

Jennifer M Scott - “Mrs Butterworth” - A poem about Mrs Butterworth.

Brought to you by PlotDog Press with the Serial Thriller "Dead Play"

Presenting the finest of the writer’s blogs by the bloggers who write them. Highlighting the top 5 posts as chosen by the October 17, 2008 WOOF Contest participants. Want in to join the next WOOF? The next contest ends October 24. Submit a link to your best writing post of the last 2 weeks using the form at the bottom of this page.

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 21

Orange Door
Originally uploaded by cocoaberg25

Why I'll continue to journal

“Why do you stay in prison
when the door is so wide open?

Move outside the tangle of fear-thinking.
Live in silence.”
Jalal ad-Din Rumi

I just handed in my first packet of work for this semester, so I feel I have been away from my blog for a long time.I've done a lot of writing the last three weeks and because I did a little every day I was surprised how much was there when I went to hand it in. I consciously made the decision not to procrastinate this semester, the negatives from procrastinating are too great. My last adviser told me it was part of my process so I gave myself permission to "play" on the computer a little bit each day just not for the hours I did last time. Journaling almost every day the last three weeks has been pretty amazing. I hit the keyboard or the pad and pen, within 15 minutes of waking up. I'd also journal at slow times at work, when I was a passenger in the car, sitting in front of the TV, waiting at the dentist office

For me just in this short time I've found that journaling has given me

1. Less anxiety
2. 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep almost every night
3. Increased focus

I considered that it could be something else but I didn't change anything else in the last three weeks...and the great part about it is it's free!

Here's my found poem I wrote about journaling
The source is a 1925 ad in The Ladies Home Journal for The Hoover

Speed your work, lighten your brain

To prove words need journaling:
Why Not a “Vacation” for Your Brain?
The leisure hours you’ve always wanted—
the little “vacations” so inviting—
they’re yours, when journaling comes into your home.

Turn over a corner of your mind;
with the handle of an ordinary table knife,
this may be painful
some may consider a sedative before hand
or a glass or two of Pinot Noir
nothing too strong

give the underside of your memory
15-25 sharp taps
and watch
the words dance out
feel the destructive characters
of some words.

These are the words
your present writing methods have missed
and that beating them out has dislodged.

Correct use of journaling causes this embedded memory to be vibrated
to the surface by the rapid, gentle beating of the keyboard
or the wonderful new tool called a pen
Powerful suction lifts the words from your mind and draws
all the beaten-out, swept-away memories onto the blank page

An immaculate mind: longer-wearing memories
of enduring beauty; freedom from destructive thoughts
these are yours, with a journal

Today, a writing prompt for your journal. Write about what this quote means to you as a writer on your journey. It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end. Ursula K. Le Guin
Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 20

The beach in October is deserted, I am lost in my thoughts.

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 19

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 18

farmhouse2
Originally uploaded by cocoaberg25

Using Speech Recognition Software Creatively

One of the main obstacles to creative writing is fear. Fear that you're words aren't good enough, fear of the blank page, fear of failure, or for some writers fear of success. When I first starting working with a creativity coach she suggested that I set a goal to write everyday, even if it was only for 15 minutes. At first this was difficult but like any habit the more you do it the easier it became. For more than 9 months I've been writing everyday with very few exceptions. One of the ways I accomplished this was by using voice recognition software. Then it became almost like a game. I was just talking to a friend about my story and the words appeared. I was brainstorming a poem, just getting my ideas or words out, or as some coaches call it "brain dumping." Is it all usable material? No, but it stopped a lot of my resistance by giving me another tool in my writing kit.
Dragon Naturally Speaking

I am putting together a workshop in November that addresses a way to work through that fear by using speech recognition software within a small group. In my class we will work on collaborative poetry and short stories. We've been practicing with this software in my writing group with great results. Using Dragon speech recognition software we are able to go at the pace of each writer's natural speaking voice. We use prompts and other writing exercises to get started.




Will our collaborative work need editing? Yes. But the natural way people tell a story or write a poem can get lost when their fingers hit the keys. Finding your voice (literally and figuratively) and speaking in front of other writers becomes a supportive learning process using this tool.

If you don't have this software but are considering purchasing it read- Dragon Reviews
- Dragon’s typing speed test!

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 17

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 16

Writing with Passion

I'm not turning my blog into a photo blog but I am using my photos to write a poem, when I started posting photos of October or why I love October the first few pics were easy...now with 16 days left to post I'm really having to stretch my brain. The obvious leaves and pumpkins but what is it about October that makes it my favorite time of year? There is a feeling about October for me contentment, gratitude, appreciation of beauty, that isn't there the other months of the year. Using the photos as a jumping off point I hope to verbalize my feelings by tapping into my passion for October.

Do you have a passion for what you are writing? In Carol Bly's book The Passionate, Accurate Story, Bly suggests going deeper than the "first idea that occurs to you while writing." Jack Heffron in The Writer's Idea Book writes "she suggests pushing deeper, where you will find a more original and compelling idea."

My goal for this semester was to get into this deep writing mindset, I am doing that by daily journaling, poetry and collage. How can you tap into this deep writing mindset? Or are you already there? Today, outline a piece of "finished" writing.In this writing did you write the easy stuff or did you get a little deeper into your thoughts? Rewrite. Look at the two pieces of writing side by side which one is more interesting? Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 15

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 14

The last of the garden is harvested before the first freeze, the counter tops are full of carrots, onions, cherry peppers, and beans.

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 13

"In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought
and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as
from August to November."
- Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden

Take time to enjoy the late flowers before the freeze.

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 12

Hot drinks on a cold rainy Sunday afternoon.

Collage to Inspire, Reduce Anxiety and Have Fun

I just finished my first collage for this packet work. When it was finished to my surprise I had another idea for a poem. In my relaxed state of cutting paper, arranging colors, words and pictures I let go of my anxiety.

When facing a creative block or feeling stressed about your writing the urge to flee or do nothing (resistance) can be overwhelming. Sometimes a walk around the block is enough to get me to the next level. But when it doesn't work I discovered last semester that working with paper, scissors and glue reduces my stress and provides another creative outlet.

You'll need magazines, scrap paper, scissors, glue, a small block of time, and an open mind. This collage is for you, don't think too much about how it compares to another artist's work. It can simply be fun.


1.Go through magazines and pull or cut out images you like, don't think too much about this,pick colors, pictures, words that speak to you.

2.Randomly place pictures, words, scrap paper, into a pattern that pleases you. Some beginning collage artists suggest looking at magazine ads for layout ideas, but this can also be intimidating. Don't glue anything yet.

3.Leave the collage unglued for a couple of hours or even a day.

4.When you come back glue the images in place. You might find a new layout looks even better after an incubation time.

5. Set the timer for thirty minutes and write about your collage.

Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Learn More About The Art of Collage.

Learn More About Resistance and Creative Blocks.

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 11

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 10

"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly
changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools."
Henry Beston, Northern Farm

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 9

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."
Elizabeth Lawrence

The Courage to Create

“Another word for creativity is courage”

Having a blog and regularly posting your words or art takes a lot of courage. For many writers and artists it is their first step in "putting it out there".

One of the blogs I regularly visit when I need to smile is Travel and Sing,. I was initially drawn to it because of the way she combines words with illustrations.

Yesterday Linda posted this Autumn Thank You Cake in gratitude to her friends and fans. Scroll down and look at her other autumn illustrations!

Thank you Travel and Sing! Your art inspires me!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 8

"We fancy men are individuals; so are pumpkins; but every pumpkin in the field goes through every point of pumpkin history”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Journaling for a full day-A day in your life

Today, set yourself up to journal the entire day tomorrow. That means having a pen and paper ready right when you wake up to record any thoughts or dreams. And continuing on through the day not missing any detail, conversation, thoughts, memories. This is based on a prompt in The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron. He suggests "don't let more than an hour pass without writing."

He also writes "whatever you do, don't stop." If your day gets too busy, jot down words instead of notes. A few days later, or a week later take these notes and write a fictional character experiencing your day or expand your notes into a memoir piece. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Happy Birthday Karen!

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”
Abraham Lincoln

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 7

"The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on."
- Emily Dickinson, Nature 27 - Autumn

I Remember

“Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.”
Kevin Arnold

In several poetry workshops and in many craft books on poetry Joe Brainard's book I Remember is referenced. His book, the story of his life through sentences or paragraphs that begin with the words "I remember" are funny, sad, nostalgic and honest.

Today set the timer for 30 minutes and write I remember followed by your memory. Don't stop writing keep your fingers on the keyboard or the pen to the paper. Each sentence or paragraph should begin with I remember. One of these long forgotten memories might just spark a poem, an essay or a short story. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 6

"Youth is like spring, an over-praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes.
Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits."
- Samuel Butler

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 5

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October."
- Nathaniel Hawthorne

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 4

"I saw old Autumn in the misty morn
Stand, shadowless like Silence, listening
To Silence."
- Thomas Hood

A Cake of portable soup

A page of my journal is like a cake of portable soup. A little may be diffused into a considerable portion.
James Boswell

I love this image the hard dense brick of soup-add hot water-and then a full steaming bowl of soup. The idea that your words are condensed but they will bring forth nourishment.

In the memoir book there is a very difficult exercise, today choose a 10 year increment of your life and condense it down to two pages. Within the two pages your sentences must be three words. No more, no less. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 3

Late blooming flowers extend the summer.

"In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought
and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as
from August to November."
- Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden

Keeping a Journal, a Diary, a Blog

What is a diary as a rule? A document useful to the person who keeps it. Dull to the contemporary who reads it and invaluable to the student, centuries afterwards, who treasures it.
Walter Scott

I'm reading a book on memoir from someone who doesn't like to use the word or phrase journaling, her opinion of course. I don't like to use the word diary because a diary to me has a secretive element to it. Maybe because my diary in grade school has a tiny little lock and key and most entries read like this:

Woke up at 7:00, almost missed the school bus because I was tired and couldn't seem to get my socks and shoes on, I tried not to talk all morning which was pretty easy because my mom wasn't up yet but by the time I got to school Debbie was at my locker so I had to talk to her. I think B.W. looked at me today in History class but then again Peter was talking to the teacher and he sits behind me so he could have been looking at him. He never faces forward, always sits turned around in his chair.

To me journaling isn't writing exactly what happened but seeing where the words take you. My journal entry yesterday started when I fell in the pumpkin patch Tuesday after being weighed down by 16 books in my backpack and ended up in NYC in 1980. I let the transition happen naturally and tried not to stop where my thoughts go. I do wish I had my diary from grade school though, it could have been good for a few laughs. A blog serves the same purpose for me, it gives me a place to write daily, but it is much more censored than my journal. How can blogging, journaling or writing in a diary be helpful in your writing? I think it gives you a place just to write and not to think so much about form. It can evolve into a personal essay, a poem or a short story but there is no expectations it can just be words on a page. Journaling can help you get the stuff out there that needs to be said or wants out of your head. As Abigail Thomas writes in Thinking About Memoir "be honest, dig deep, or don't bother." Today write two pages without censoring your words.Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

31 Reasons I Love October-Day 2

I am fulfilled

I am fulfilled
Originally uploaded by cocoaberg25

I am graceful

I am graceful
Originally uploaded by cocoaberg25

Positive affirmation and delicious local food in Montpelier, Vermont. All of their buckwheat crepes are named with positive affirmations choose from I am happy, I am fulfilled, I am beautiful, I am graceful, I am loved, I am good. After we ate here my friends thought we should continue the theme at the rest of our cafeteria meals. There is something wonderful about positive affirmations combined with food.

31 Reasons I love October-Day 1

Excavating Memories

“It's surprising how much of memory is built around things unnoticed at the time”
Barbara Kingsolver

Since I'm working on journaling this semester I've been getting up the last two days and writing journal entries, similar to Julia Cameron's morning pages. I'm already surprised what is coming up in just the last two days, with this semester being 15 weeks I imagine that I will be excavating a lot of memories that I thought were long gone.

Today, try morning pages. Commit to writing morning pages this week. After the week you might find that this becomes a great warm up for your other writing.Try not to censor your thoughts as random as they seem. Later you might find a good jumping off point from these seemingly random thoughts. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag