Thing 8 --Slide Show

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Photos left to right Row 1: Black Cat in green by Oimax; Hydrangea Hortensia byviZZZual.com; Smell of Summer by Per Ola Wiberg (Powi); Memories of Summer by Micky. Row 2: Beach by Wolfgang Staudt; Luck of summer rain by lepiaf.geo; Our brightest blazes of gladness by lepiaf.geo; A touch of summer by Per ola Wiberg (Powi). Row 3: Unknown; Countdown to Spring by aussiegall; Spring colors (Explored) byPRANAV; Sleeping Cat by domingins. Row4: Royal Tern by mikebaird; Hydrangea by Ingorrr; Summer in Redgranite by Just add Light; End of Summer#3 by noe**.

My slide show is titled "A Taste of Summer"

Brilliant colors, warm days,
Summer comes reluctantly
To the winter weary...


I enjoyed putting this slide show together. Most of my pictures came from Flickr. It was very easy to do. I can see where I could use slide shows or a montage in other areas of my writing. I can even see using this tool in my emails to my friends.

Cool Writing Prompts

I found these two writing prompts on "One Minute Writing Prompts."

1. You've decided you want a new name--one that will reflect who you are. What is your new name?

My new name would be Annelise. I love the way it sounds-- kind of ethereal. I see myself as delicate and refined. In Hebrew Annelise means grace/favor. I believe that God has truly blessed me. So to me, it would fit perfectly.

2. Is life getting better or worse as you get older?

Life is getting better as I get older. Yeah, my body is changing--I can't see, my bones and muscles ache, and my memory-- well let's say I'm lucky if I remember what I had for lunch yesterday-- but I love being in my late forties. I have gained the treasure of wisdom. I truly don't sweat the small stuff. I'm not poor like I was when I was younger. I've learned that life is about simplicity. "Keep it simple" my dad says. I try to live a simple, uncluttered life. When you can get to that point, it's very liberating. I've found that all I really need is my faith in God, my health, and my family and friends. And life is good.

Life's Changes

Well, I've completed the move from Southfield to Canton. It's amazing how much stuff one can accumulate over the years. When packing you find stuff you thought you had lost; stuff you wished you had lost and those special items you never want to let go of that are dear to your heart. The last few months have been an emotional roller coaster. I'm so happy to be sharing my life with my fiance and planning our wedding, but it's sad and hard to close a chapter in my life and give up things that are just logistically impractical to continue because I live too far away.

But life is about change and the journey we all must take. I think if you look at life as an adventure, it makes it fun and exciting. I know I'll find new projects, make new friends, decorate my house, and plant a garden...while writing all the while. I know this new chapter of my life is going to be a doozie and I'm looking forward to the ride.

Thing 6 --Finding the Right Picture

Flickr is a great resource for online images. You can find lots of great images and some images you wonder why did they share?

I like the fact that you can store your personal photos at the site. I haven't taken pictures lately because I don't want to collect any more photo albums. But being able to store my photos online at sites like Flickr or Picasa could be the answer. I wouldn't want to share my photos with the world, but I will consider Flickr as an option for an online photo album.

The Witch Seekers

This is something I wrote over 20 years ago. It still resonates with me because I am somewhat of an introvert. Yet, I long not to be. But I am what I am.


Photo --"In a cabin in the woods" by ktylerconk@flickr

The Witch Seekers

Part I
Autumn came;
It was time to go,
A journey to my cabin retreat.
Late afternoon arrival,
The sun setting in the West,
A hike through the woods
To my one wood shanty
To find an oak bed and an old wood stove,
The comforts of home.
Unpacked and fed,
I laze in front of the fire, waiting--
Waiting for winter's sleep,
My hour of quiet alert,
That dormant state that contains my survival--
Life frozen in a dream state.

Part II

Awakened by voices,
Quick and muffled,
And laughter--
It's the laughter of children;
It must be them again.
I stand wrapping my blanket about me,
Moving slowly to the door.
The iron latch is cold.
I pull the door toward me
Opening my quiet world
And letting in the chilled wind.

Yes, it's the children.
Their chatter stops at the sound of the door;
Like startled birds, they look up
But don't fly.
I clear my throat--frowning
Aware of my power over them,
I smile and brighten my face,
Like adjusting a kerosene lamp.
It doesn't work.
"Hello," I say,
More a question that a greeting.

Silence--
Then a nudge,
The youngest one speaks,
His small red face stares up at me,
Wanting to look through me
And around me
And into my world.
"Ah...are you..." he's nudged again.
"Are you a witch?"
They freeze--
At the unspeakable voiced.
I stare.
The tension builds.
I smile
Before they scatter like leaves in the wind.
"No. I'm not a witch. I just like being alone."
My words sound feeble even to me.
They don't buy it.
They shrug and back away down the wooded path.
They think that I'll cast a spell on them,
If they show fear.
They're brave.
I admire them; they face their fear.
I try to sleep mine away.

Suddenly, the sleepiness leaves me.
My stomach growls.
It takes me to the kitchen.
I fix a sandwich and sip my tea.
Out of the window, I can see the children--
A brave troop.
I wish I could join them,
Laughing, playing and running in the leaves.
When I grow up,
I'd like to be just like them.


Photo--"Misty Forest" by Pareerica@flickr

Thing 5-Subscribing to blogs

Blogline is a great RSS. I like being able to sort and file my blogs into various catagories. I can read what I want when I want. Having a central location for my news and information is allowing me to explore new interests and reestablish others.

In my search for blogs to subcribe to, I found a site called "Authors' Blogs." This is a site that lists aspiring and published authors' blogs. There are some interesting blogs there. I also would recomend Dragon Writing Prompts.

The address to Authors' Blogs is http://www.authorsblogs.com/

Tragedy and the Writer

This quote is from the April 5th Dragonwritingprompts:

"Coleridge was a drug addict. Poe was an alcoholic. Marlowe was killed by a man whom he was treacherously trying to stab. Pope took money to keep a woman's name out of a satire then wrote a piece so she could still be recognized anyhow. Chatterton killed himself. Byron was accused of incest. Do you still want to be a writer--and if so, why?" --Bennett Cerf

More than anything, I like being a writer. I like creating drama, and I love it when my writing resonates with my readers. I think one reason that I can do that is because I have suffered pain, loss, grief, anger, disappointment, as well as joy, infatuation, love, giddiness, surprise and all the emotions in between. When I tap into how those emotions made me feel at a given time, I'm able to relate that feeling to my readers through words. Life is full of joy and sorrow and life would be boring if it weren't. I think I would be a boring person if I had experienced many of the things I have. But those things good or bad shaped me into the person I am today. And fortunately, I like me. Plus, my life experiences are great fodder for stories.

As tragic as the aforementioned writers' lives were, their tragedies and/or character flaws helped make them the great writers and poets that they were.

Thing 4--Waiting on the World to Change…

www.flickr.com/photos/claudia1967/445895825/

The world has changed. And where was I? Asleep at the keyboard? I thought I was keeping up… I guess not! But learning about Web 2.0 technologies is giving me a chance to truly be a part of the 21st century. My Blogline account is helping me manage information. I was never one to 'surf the net', because I didn't know where to go or what to do. Having a Blogline account lets all the information come to me. All the information and news flowing into one site is great, especially for those of us who don’t have time to hit every website we’re interested in.

With the world changing the way it is, it makes me wonder how the next generation will fair. There are those who will do well, but there are those who will not. They will be so lost and left behind.

I work in the criminal justice system and yesterday, I saw nine or ten girls, maybe middle school or freshmen in high school age, in court at around 10 am. My first thought was why aren’t they in school? Why are they down here watching Billy Ray’s or BoBo the Fool’s trial? They need to be in school preparing themselves for the workforce and the technologies to come, not supporting someone whose future is questionable.

I, who have computer skills, am overwhelmed and lost by all the new changes. Where is that going to leave those who don't get an education? How do we reach kids and make them understand how important education is to their future? To our future? These children are going to be the ones taking care of us in our old age. They are our future artists, musicians, poets and writers... readers for that matter. How can they create or under what we write, if they are limited in their knowledge. How can we help them become excited about their future and the ever changing world? There is so much out there for them and they just don’t know it or don’t get it or don't care. Whatever it is-- it'd sad and very frightening for the rest of us.

What can we do? We can become more involved with the children in our lives and the children we come in contact with. We have to help them see that life has value and is worth living. That knowledge is the key to their sucess.

Question:

What can we do as writers to help the next generation of readers succeed in life?

Thing 3-Exploring Blogs

I have really enjoyed checking out other blogs. I didn't realize how many different blogs there are out there and on every subject imaginable.

I could use my blog for collaboration or for soliciting help when I'm trying to figure out some element of a story. As for my readers, I could use my blog to post excerpts of a story or entire stories to try to gain a following.

I think thought provoking questions are the way to elicit comments and responses.

I really like blogging. I wish I had more time to do it.
Question
If you were to start another blog unrelated to writing, what would it be? And why?


Picture: DE CHIRICO, Giorgio
The Great Metaphysician
The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Today's Writing Prompt: Entrepreneur

The business I would like to start is a B&B. I always liked the idea of having a great old house on a lake decorated in shabby chic. There would be a verandah that wrapped around the house with a swing and lovely wicker furniture. I love to cook, so it would be great to fix meals for my guests. Maybe one day.

Thing 1 and 2: Wow - Web 2.0

The Scream(Norwegian: Skrik)
Edvard Munch, 1893
Oil, tempera, and pastel on cardboard
91 cm × 73.5 cm (36 in × 29 in)
National Gallery, Oslo

I watched the video about Web 2.0 and I was amazed. I’ve seen the impact the Web has had on society, but I guess I never fully comprehended its true impact. I’ve considered myself computer savvy but in view of the video, I’m not as savvy as I thought I was. Learning about the new forms of communication this technology offers us as writers has been very enlightening. It’s exciting to know all the new forms of communication that are available to us, if we are willing to take advantage of them.

I realized watching the video that I have become a product of Web 2.0. I would rather email or IM (I haven’t learned to text yet) my friends than talk to them on the phone. A majority of my daily activities revolves around the Internet. I am hooked and I never saw it coming.

Technology is great but what effect will all this have on interpersonal relationships? We talked to people around the world and in real time sitting at our computers, but we don’t have that one on one, eye contact or the inflection or tone of someone’s voice that moves us. Will or has it affected our capacity to be compassionate or considerate toward others? Where will this technology take us? Will we be writing our books in abbreviated text? What will the language of the year 2050 be?


Even with those concerns, we as writers are living at the greatest time in history. We can self-publish and put our dreams, stories and thoughts on the internet for the world to read. How can we take advantage of this technology? I agree with Taleone that using podcasts is one way to get our writing to the masses. I also believe that blogging is another good method. My intent with this blog is to not only use it to explore the exercises of “Writers 23 Things to DoC List,” but to use it as a platform to express myself and share some of my writings.

Even though I have always considered myself among the curious, there are aspects of Web 2.0 technology that I’ve never considered using such as this blog. This journey is going to be a grand adventure for me and those who choose to follow along.

Finding my passion

I joined the Deadwood Writers group about two years ago. It's a wonderful group of writers who are very encouraging and very inspiring. We do more than critiquing each others work. John, our facilitator, encourages us to think outside the box. We do projects that help us improve as writers. Our group is about learning and growing in our craft. This project of using a blog to journal about our experiences with new technologies is a perfect example. I don't think I would have ever created a blog on my own.

I left the group for a while. During that time, I was writing sporadically. I found that I missed the feedback and the encouragement I got from the group. I'm attending the meetings again. I'm ready to focus and to find my passion-- the love for writing that I once had. A day didn't go by that I didn't write something, even if it was a journal entry. I want that back. Attending the meetings and reading what others are doing is very inspirational. Sometimes it's intimidating--to read others' work and know how good they are as writers--it make me wonder if I'm good enough or if I'll ever be that good.

Sometimes, I think I'm afraid to write for fear of failure...what if my story isn't good enough, interesting enough... the plot is lacking or no one would care about my characters. All these fears bombard my psyche and paralyze me. But I am determined to regain who I am... I am a writer. Though I may struggle and my fiction hasn't been published yet, I was born to write. I had the passion and slowly I feel it coming back.