Attention: Time to Eat

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.
Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

ehow offered me a bonus if I wrote 5 new articles so this morning when I couldn't sleep I managed to write 5 NEW food recipe articles squeaking in just under the deadline for May and one article on the new social networking website, Lunchster.

Spinach and Sausage Saute
Savory Scones
Italian-Style Potato Salad
Vanilla Almond "Instant Breakfast" Protein Shake
Basil Pesto Biscuits

 Lunchster - see your friends more often.
Has anyone signed up for this yet? You can use your Facebook account or just sign up with your email address.

Anyways, I'll be back this afternoon with a writing prompt. Now I'm hungry.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

A Discovery...

A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind.
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

On Saturday I spent about three hours in Florence, Colorado. It was raining most of the day so rummaging through the twenty antique/junk shops in Florence sounded like a good way to spend the morning. I don't have a lot of money to spend but since I'm usually looking for paper for collage or inspiration I can often find something under $10. The two illustrations posted are just part of a 11 x17 folded children's book that was published in a November 1912 woman's magazine. I couldn't wait until Thanksgiving to post it. I love the "its" that look like frogs that are carrying in the food and wearing chef hats. A very unique turn of the century illustration for $2.50. There are so many stories in antique shops, histories and lives lived.

Today, inspired by Bonni Goldberg's Room to Write "describe your basement" using all of your senses. What could be discovered about you by the contents of your attic or basement, how could you use those items as inspiration for a story or a character?Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Nature Poems

Another Rainy, Lazy Day

How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home. 

William Faulkner

It is the fifth day of cold, rainy weather...very reminiscent of Portland and Ireland. I am of course enjoying it because I'm one of those people who loves gray days. While I enjoy the sun I'd rather have the sun in moderation, the opposite of living in Colorado. Gray days make the colors in the garden more beautiful and the plants are happy I think knowing it won't last for long.

If you look really close you can see the pinkish/purple buds of the Concord grapes.


The pink lupine is my favorite. Anyone know what the bell flowers are called? I can't remember.

The purple lupine are just starting to bloom.

A wind chime hangs from an old screen door.

My gnome girl guards the garden.


Budding Bell Flower

Today, pick your favorite season and write about it in detail. List at least twenty details in a short one page piece, then take the details and  work them into a poem. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

The Swift Leap of a Good Story

"Isak Dinesen said that she wrote a little every day, without hope and without despair. I like that."

Raymond Carver

The Writer's Almanac reminded me that today would have been Raymond Carver's 71st birthday.

Raymond Carver was one of the first short story writers I read after a teacher told me that one of my stories reminded her of his stort story Menudo. He wrote about everyday middle-class working people salesmen, waitresses, blue collar and white collar in ordinary situations. Simple language but powerful themes love, relationships, loss, alcoholism in any small town America.

In the foreward from Where I'm Calling From Carver writes:

"I love the swift leap of a good story, the excitement that often commences in the first sentence, the sense of beauty and mystery found in the best of them; and the fact - so crucially important to me back at the beginning and now still a consideration - that the story can be written and read in one sitting." (Like poems!)

Raymond Carver was also a poet. His poems are in the same voice with similar themes. This poem Happiness is one of my favorites capturing a moment that few writers would think to write down as a poem.

Today, consider jotting down a few moments of happiness you had this weekend as we honor those who sacrificed all so we may continue to have those moments. Now get back to your holiday!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Strawberry, Spinach and BBQ

An easy, healthy salad for a Memorial Day BBQ or any day.

Playing for Change

Thanks to Nancy for sending me this link.

Peace Through Music.

Vintage Memorial Day Images

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! Maya Angelou

Image Credit

The greatest gift

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. Hanna Rion

This afternoon is cool and rainy, which is a nice break from the unseasonably warm week we had last week. This spring we have a pair of doves in the garden, they perch on the roof of the garage in the afternoon and early evening and coo. It is a lovely soothing sound. I just heard back from my adviser who suggested I write more garden poetry, maybe the doves will find their way into a poem.

I was excited to come home, check the mail and find two beautiful chapbooks from my classmates. While I love the internet, I miss snail mail. And more are on their way!

Today, consider printing out one of your poems, short stories or essays and sending it through the mail to a friend or family member. What a gift to give someone. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Wild, Creative Delight

The maker of a sentence launches out into the infinite and builds a road into Chaos and old Night, and is followed by those who hear him with something of wild, creative delight. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Two new and fantastic books I'm reading for fun this week. The first one is a graphic travel novel by Lucy Knisley, French Milk
that "documents a six-week trip Knisley and her mother took to Paris when each was facing a milestone birthday." back cover I'm so envious of people that can draw! It was also cool to see places in Paris that I've been to through another writer's eyes. She also includes lots of food in her travel journal, not surprising since Paris=food. The book made me hungry.

The second book Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design highlights the craft movement and many of the artists that I love online. There are too many great artists to list here but some of my favorite sites were highlighted.

If N' Books & Marks
My Paper Crane
Jenine Bressner Fireworks!
The Small Object
EKRA
Knitta

There are so many more inspiring creative artists so the book is definitely worth the read. Then it reminded me I never posted about another craft artist/Goddard student I met in Vermont. If you find yourself in Burlington, Vermont stop by! Or you can buy their goods on etsy.com

The Bobbin




Today, visit the websites of these wildly creative people and perhaps get inspired to make your own art. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

A Unique Gift For the One You Love

A Library with no Late Fees

I saw this awhile back but looked a little closer this morning. BookSwim is calling it self the "Netflix of books." Choose your books, they mail them to you, keep them as long as you want no late fees. You can purchase the books at a discount if you decide you can't live without them. College students can rent textbooks saving 60%! Read more about BookSwim, right now subscriptions are 50% off for the first month.

Ready to drop

Whew!! After a crazy busy week and a lot of writing I'm almost caught up and ready to be back blogging. See you soon!

A Perfectly Healthy Sentence

A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare. For the most part we miss the hue and fragrance of the thought; as if we could be satisfied with the dews of the morning or evening without their colors, or the heavens without their azure.
Henry David Thoreau

My Early Love, Emily Bronte

"This year the moisture has made the peonies outside my studio so heavy with their beauty that they droop to the ground and I think of my early love, Emily Brontë. The cruelty of our different ages kept us apart. I tie and prop up the peo- nies to prolong their lives, just as I would have nursed Emily so she could see another spring."
Mark Strand

This is an excerpt from Mark Strand's poem Early Spring that can be found on The Writer's Almanac this morning. I love his voice at the end of the poem and how he made the connection between peonies and nursing Emily Bronte. So clever. The more poetry I'm exposed to the more I see how poets teach through their words. And on that note a few notes on submitting your work from Saturday's Pikes Peak Writers monthly meeting.

There is a lot of discussion on craft. Most of the answers from the panel aren’t new to me, but good reminders for all writers.

• Be an active part of a larger community of writers
• Read critically all the time even if you’re reading a children’s book
• Read widely and deeply.
• Read everything, craft books, non-fiction, and fiction, literary, poetry. Expose yourself to good writing.
• Work on the whole package. The piece of work, the query letter, the cover letter. Present a professional package.
• Don’t write in a tunnel. Many writers buy the Writer’s Market and just send their work in randomly without ever reading the publication or knowing the market.
• Master your craft, always keep learning. Open yourself up to new learning experiences.


Because all of the members of the panel have been editors or judges in writing contests at one time they give good examples of what not to do when submitting your work based on their experiences. Their do’s and don’ts follow:

• Don’t send in a submission to a contest with a rejection letter from another contest in the envelope. Yes, this happens.
• Don’t send in crumbled, tea stained, or marked up work.
• Don’t use fancy fonts or sparkly paper. Use professional fonts and normal white paper.
• Don’t use a copyright mark, the first sign to an editor you’re an amateur. Read up on copyright info if you don’t understand why.
• Don’t think the editors are going to steal your work. This doesn’t happen.
• Don’t call the editor and ask why your submission wasn’t taken. They are looking for work that fits into their vision for the journal. Try another market.
• Don’t say you don’t have time to read. Take the time to read it will make you a better writer.
• Do read the publications back issues which are often available online.
• Do follow the submission instructions; they are there for a reason.
• Do consider the literary journal’s reputation and where you would like to see your work.
• Don’t give up. Be persistent and keep writing.
• Don’t tell the editor your mother really likes the piece or you think it’s better than whats been published previously in their journal.
• Don’t tell the editor you’ve never been published. They take unpublished writers work all the time, they are looking for good work.
• Don’t compare your piece to other literary stars. I.e. “This horror story is better than Steven King’s first story.” Good work speaks for itself.

Today, what do or don'ts could you add to the list based on your creative writing experiences? Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

WOOF Winners for May 8, 2009

WOOF Contest – Top Picks

Fiction / Short Story / Flash Fiction

Zorlone – “Insanity Road” - An Urban Legend about the outcome of trespassing a private road.

Webbielady – “Isn't Life Supposed To Be Meaningful?” - He was in the process of taking his own life... he's ready to die until some strange melody played over the air that made him do something....

About Writing

Izzy Daniels – “5 things you should learn before starting a blog” - Some beginning bloggers have a view common ideas that they think blogging is linked to. In this post, I let people know how to avoid these common issues.

Writing Nag – “A Perfect Day” - Can writing about what you want make it happen? Writing with intention and writing about your perfect day.

Poetry

Christable Anon – “Memories” - Where did moths steal their wings from?

Dragon Blogger – “Honorless Man” - Rhyming poem made from random words about a man living a double life.

Jennifer M Scott – “four horsepowered heart” - A surreal poem includes a drawing by as well, welcome to my weird world.

Roy – “Man... I am” - A poem about why real men shouldn't hide their own emotions...

Presenting the finest of the writer’s blogs by the bloggers who write them. Highlighting the top posts as chosen by the May 8, 2009 WOOF Contest participants. Want in to join the next WOOF? The next contest ends May 15. Submit a link to your best writing post of the last 3 weeks using the form on this page.

Be yourself

“Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.”
John Jakes

I'm working on finishing up my work for school which is due next Monday so hopefully I'll have time to post tomorrow. I went to a good panel discussion and poetry reading on Saturday which will most likely turn into a post. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Happy Mother's Day!

On Mother's Day I have written a poem for you. In the interest of poetic economy and truth, I have succeeded in concentrating my deepest feelings and beliefs into two perfectly crafted lines: You're my mother, I would have no other! Forest Houtenschil

Filling the Silence

Writing is a struggle against silence. Carlos Fuentes

In my partnering with my subconscious my subconscious has a lot to say. And most of what he says (yes, my subconscious is a he) relates to silence. While I am working with the texts they may become prose poems or an essay, I am thinking how so many people avoid silence. We fill our lives with sound what are we trying to drown out?

During the last residency we went on a "sound walk", eight of us single file followed our adviser around campus and when she stopped we stood and just listened. Concentrating on the sounds we normally don't hear, our soundscape. I liked this definition from City In a Soundwalk "The soundwalk is a practice of focused listening in which one moves through an environment with complete attention to sound. Any environment, at any time of day or night, can provide space for soundwalking."


Usually, when I write I put on the television or the radio as background noise. This morning instead I am sitting by the open window and just listening. In the garden I hear the squirrels barking as they fight each other over bird seed in the anti-squirrel feeder that they figured out in weeks. I hear the doves cooing in the mock orange tree. The hum of the fridge and the sprinklers in my neighbor's yard. A car goes by the next street over. Cocoa sleeping at my feet is breathing deeply, not quite a snore. All these sounds I miss when the white noise of the TV is on. And then there is the music and sound of language. A reason why everything you write should be read aloud. It sounds different on the page.

Today, consider taking a soundwalk, by yourself or in a group. How will this help your writing? By being more in tune with your surroundings and the sounds you will remember to add all of the details to your writing. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Wish You Were Here, Kissimmee, Florida

At this time last year I was planning my summer trip to Ireland after three mini-vacations. In my last post I talked about a perfect day and what's more perfect than planning a vacation?Kissimmee thinks you should be thinking of a vacation too because they are giving away a vacation to Kissimmee, Florida on their brand new website Visit Kissimmee. Explore the new website where you can plan your perfect Florida vacation, enter the sweepstakes to possibly win your perfect Florida vacation, see what events are coming up in May, June and all summer long.

Because I love history and tours I would definitely make a stop at the Osceola County Historical Society & Pioneer Museum, take a walking tour of Kissimmee's historic downtown district, Old Town, make time for nearby Disney World attractions, and bask in the warm central Florida temperatures at nearby pristine beaches. Other attractions close to Kissimmee include The Kennedy Space Center, Bok Tower Gardens, Silver Springs and the Fantasy of Flight aviation museum. There's so much to do in central Florida that Kissimmee may just become your new yearly vacation spot.
Enter the Freedom to Enjoy sweepstakes to win a 6-night vacation for 4, weekend excursions and more to beautiful Kissimmee, Florida.





A Perfect Day

The best things in life are nearest:  Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.  Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.  

Robert Louis Stevenson

In many of my creative writing groups we talked and wrote about what would be our version of a perfect day. When I look back in my writing notebooks and my personal journals there are many trips, days, and events that I considered to be perfect. They almost always include good food, good company, nature,  and no work. While I still haven't worked out the "no work" bit, I am convinced I could spend every day doing creative, fun things if I didn't have to earn a living. Instead I can dream and write about it.  Inspired by this book: Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want And Getting It written years before the Power of Intention, I created the days I wanted to experience by writing about them.

Today, read poet Jane Gentry's poem On a Perfect Day and then spend some time writing your own poem or essay. If you're having a problem getting started consider using the clustering method outlined in Writing the Natural Way to help get all of your ideas out on the page. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,

The Writing Nag

Win a 10-day Costa Rica Tour!

Enter To Win 10 Day All Inclusive Costa
Rica Tour

A Gardening Tip

I ran across this contest this morning, free to enter with fun prizes all you have to do is share a frugal or gardening tip. Click on the banner for more info!

My gardening tip for the contest is to start a neighbor garden. Over the years my back garden has grown at little to no cost thanks to my neighbors. We regularly get together to share plants, seeds, our harvest, suggestions and garden tools. By dividing our plants we're keeping our own gardens from getting overgrown and sharing our harvest means no waste. Saving seeds is also a money saver and lets me try out new plants that I know work well in my area.

The Plant's Point of View

I think spring might really be here! I haven't had lilacs for two years because the weather managed to thwart their blooming but it looks good for this year!

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view.
H. Fred Ale

Every year that the garden comes back I'm amazed, it is always exciting for me to see the herbs and the perennials burst through the ground just like they're supposed to do. You would think by now I'd be used to it; the garden has been looking pretty good for the last seven years but there's still such a sense of awe that nature figures it out and I get to enjoy it another season. This morning I noticed the sweet peas have started unfurling their leaves and the peonies are getting comfortable in their wire cages. They have become so top heavy that they need to be contained or the flowers just pulls the bushes to the ground. Here's the bush from last summer.

I took today off from work to try and get caught up with schoolwork. My food/poetry paper needs a rewrite and I'm working on revision and planning my first low-fi publishing project.Low-fi publishing, short for low-finance publishing is taking publishing into your own hands, cheaply by making a small booklet, or chapbook and sharing it with your community, your friends or your family. Our assignment requires us to take any piece of work we want and make a limited edition publication. I still haven't picked what poem I'm going to use but I'm definately going to introduce some collage into each booklet. The idea behind this is that you are ready for publication, you don't have to wait until an editor decides you are ready.
Today, consider making a low-fi publication of your own. Take a piece of writing and using simple desk-top publishing software play with font, style, tone, etc.
Our first assignment we dubbed quick and stapled. It's all about getting your work out.Have fun and experiment! Consider making limited edition copies for your friends or family. Share your work with others in a creative fun way. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

If you're ordering flowers, cookies, candy or any gifts for Mother's Day don't forget to order through Ebates and get 4%-15% cash back. Sign up here and get $5 just for signing up a friend or family member.

What fosters creativity?

The key question isn't "What fosters creativity?" But it is why in God's name isn't everyone creative? Where was the human potential lost? How was it crippled? I think therefore a good question might be not why do people create? But why do people not create or innovate? We have got to abandon that sense of amazement in the face of creativity, as if it were a miracle if anybody created anything.

Abraham Maslow

Two thoughts this morning before I head to work.

1. This is my 717th post, I could have written at least one book or maybe even two small ones or 700 paid/published articles...just a thought.

2. Today for any Colorado Springs readers is "Small Art, Sustainable World" an artist trading card show at Med Cafe. Local artists have created these miniature works of art using recycled, found, and natural elements.

4:00-5:00 p.m. opening reception

Meet and mingle with local artists. Eat. Drink. Browse the gallery.

Hope to see you there.

Lovingly,

The Writing Nag

Deadlines

I am one of those people who thrive on deadlines, nothing brings on inspiration more readily than desperation.
Harry Shearer

I should have written this quote. Due to my procrastinating nature deadlines are what drives me. Yesterday I entered a poetry contest, deadline April 30th. I wanted to enter 3 contests but I waited until it was too late so I had to pick just one. Procrastinating makes my neck and shoulders tense up, gives me horrible headaches, an attitude and a lot of anger towards anything that gets in my way in the final hours before my project, paper or assignment is due. This is something I've been working on but as my adviser told me my first semester its become part of my writing process so work with it not against it. With that advise I'm extending the following idea to you.

Today is May 1st, TODAY, research contests, dates, assignments, goals you want to accomplish in May. Print out or use a calendar with big spaces. If the deadline for a contest is May 31st put it on your calendar for May 17th. Imagine how good you will feel when you finish something way before its due. Set appointments with yourself to complete work and don't break the appointment for anything or anyone.

Ask yourself these questions.

What is one thing I could do this month:

• to feel more organized?
• feel less stressed?
• to have fun?
• to procrastinate less?
• to have more energy?
  

What have you procrastinated in April?
Why?

May is a month of change and celebration. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag