A PICTURE FOR THE WEEKEND NO. 11

WRITING UPDATE + TIPS

First draft of my co-novel - DONE!  I should also add that my co-author finished her end of things ages ago, and I have been the one holding up the entire project.  So when I say "done," I am referring to the whole she-bang.  Thankfully, I saw some juicy edits that I can now dive into, full tilt.  The fun never ends!   

In the meantime, here are some tips I cobbled together during the process of getting myself back in writing shape:

• Most obvious: find a way to write often that suits you.  This is why I started blogging.  You can also journal, but I don't like journaling because it's like being your own main character in every single thing you write, all the time.  I prefer to mix it up. 
• Try your hand at Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month).  In November, ignore your family obligations and instead write 50,000 words, and you can receive a bound copy of your finished product, but only if you finish.  
• This is what I did to start my current novel.  50K was not enough to complete the story, but when you've hit your number, you're well on your way and you can see the end approaching.  
•  Morning Pages: In the morning, hand write three pages on paper.  
• Okay, as part of the laptop generation, I know this sounds like torture, however, for some reason, writing by hand stimulates creativity, and will get your juices flowing when you're in a rut, even if you have to finish the other 80% on your computer.  
• 750words.com.  Following the same principles of Morning Pages but using typing, 750 words is approximately three handwritten pages, and this online program allows you to type out and track whether or not you have met your quota.  If your writing is illegible, this is probably a better method.
• Hypnotherapy.  Life is short, right? I would say use yelp or word of mouth to find an effective practitioner, because it can be an useful method for dealing with mental blocks. To put it another way, hypnotherapy is a way to adjust yourself mentally, and it can be helpful because writer's block is primarily a problem that exists in your mind. I would suggest that you know yourself well enough to tell the practitioner exactly what you want to work on, and then constantly reinforce the techniques she provides. 
• Join a writing Meetup.  This has really helped me and I cannot emphasize enough how effective this has been. Writing can be very isolating, and that's not always a good thing. There really is nothing like being in the company of people who, on some level, understand you and are doing the same thing, even if it's not a chatty group and people just sit and write. I think when people write together, the creative energy is stronger and you can pick up on it and let it carry you forward.   
• And don't forget: 7 Writing Habits of Amazing Writers 

EMBRACING IMPERFECTION

Cracked Cup from Jima

A while back I tried a DIY pendant lamp cover that was supposed to look like the Moooi Random light (If you follow the link, it should lead to a pic of a nude male model humping the light cover.  I'm not sure if I should be turned on, but it's an interesting way to promote a pendant lamp, no?)  My DIY did not work out quite like that one, and sadly, no model would want to have sex with it.  You can see it below. But then I looked at it again, and thought: I kind of like it. To be honest, what I actually said was not that eloquent and involved dropping an f-bomb, but I think imperfections are interesting. I really like looking at my shoes after I've worn them down, especially boots, because perfect, new products all look the same, but after they've lived a little, the scars and tears have a story to tell you.

The DIY version

Do you ever wonder at all the time you spending chasing perfection? Advertisements promote poreless skin, faces that are perfectly symmetrical, and models with beautiful proportions (humping lamps). I think this inherently creates dissatisfaction, because perfection is exhausting and almost impossible to achieve in your day to day life, that is, unless you chase it.  And where does that leave you?

 
This is part of a theme I'm gradually exploring. I'm not going to chat too much about buying things or making dramatic changes.  I'll share a mental restraint I use while shopping in another post. For now, though, I'm less about changing the way the way I dress than the way I think, and reorganizing my thoughts to match my priorities. Why? Underneath the clutter, I believe, you will find the things that really matter to you. Everything else is not all that important.   

If you want to make a study of this method of thought, there is a Japanese aesthetic called Wabi-sabi. Wabi-Sabi values beauty that is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete.

HENRY MILLER'S 11 COMMANDMENTS ON WRITING

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A PICTURE FOR THE WEEKEND NO. 10

EASY WEEKEND DIY: LEAF IN A VASE

Photo Courtesy of Old Brand New blog

Above is a pic from Oldbrandnewblog.com.  I like this blog for ideas and for the colors.  Sometimes there are simple things that I could actually do myself, such as that dramatic leaf arching out of a clear vase.  Perfect.

A Pair and A Spare also has a version.

BRAD FROST: ON ENDING BULLSHIT

2013/4 Brad Frost from CreativeMornings/PGH on Vimeo.

QUICKIE ON BOSTON: I WISH, I WISH, I WISH

One of the few times I wish I had actually gone to medical school is when I hear about events like the attack in Boston, so that I would actually have the skills to help heal people.  I wish I could have a direct hand in helping.

But I live in California, and Boston is far away.  The way I try to think about traumatic events is: Now what positive thing can I do for those close to me, to counteract the negative?  My sphere of influence is small, but it's there.  I can always try to make the world better for those around me.  I don't need to make grand gestures, a series of small, positive gestures will do just fine. 

MANIFESTO

Also Known As: The About Me Page

I decided to wait awhile before writing this, because I wanted to get a feel for what exactly I wanted to do with this blog.  I was also afraid I might run of things to write about, to be perfectly honest.  It's still a work in progress, but I now have some ideas.  

So, after thinking about this conceptually for about fifteen minutes while a rerun of Elementary played in the background, I thought the best format to present my ideas would be to interview myself.   This way, if you don't like the question, then you can skip over the answer, no matter how fascinating and intellectually fulfilling it will be, and how your life may potentially be ruined by missing a single one of these philosophical gems.

If the link doesn't work, then I've also added this post successfully to the header bar.  I believe in the belt and suspenders way of life.

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

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I'm working on adding pages to this blog, but if you click on Manifesto, it takes you back to the home page.  I'm working on it.  Damn you blogger.