A lot of what I read about writing claims I should structure my writing time. Plan a place, make a dater and set a goal. The problem I have with that is I don’t write well when I structure it. It starts to feel forced. So I have started instead to attempt at least do something writing related for 25 minutes every day. Now that really doesn’t always have a word count attached. It can be editing, or outlining, brainstorming, or organization of files. It can even be research or reading a article about writing.
Even searching for inspiration on the net. I realize many of those don’t sound like writing. In many ways that’s why writing isn’t seen as work. Because of course all we as writers do is tell a story. However, it’s not always that cut and dried. For a writer, one of our biggest tools is our mind. Imagination and creativity are a part, yet without the ability to direct it, writing lacks a fire that is difficult to explain. To hone that ability, we need to do what encourages our minds to grow. Which is something I believe everyone should do.
Writing. Perspective.
In trying to convince myself that I am not the only writer who struggle with the promotion aspect of publishing, I have been reading many blogs about writing. Writing is for me necessary. Whether I ever put it out there, it is as much as breathing. Now that publication is able to be done independently, and costs me nothing, it seems that is common sense. That being said I have never been good at self promotion.
As a writer, each thing i write feels like a child of mine. That being said, promotion feels like i am selling out. I realize that is the purpose of publication. However it still cuts the grain.
Reading these blogs really have given me perspective. Every one of the writers in these blogs seems to share my insecure issues about publishing and the trials involved. Many of my dreams about being a writer did not include the actuality of selling. Then again nothing of the actuality of publication is as i dreamed. I honestly believe many writers feel the same.
Being a published author seems glamorous and likely to end one up famous and rich…right? Not really. Some of the best writers were paupers and completely unknown in their own time. So for me, knowing that, I really didn’t expect fame and riches. I think i only planned slight acknowledgement to be my reward. Silly isn’t it? I really didn’t expect disillusionment. Which is what I have been seeing in so many authors and poets.
That same disillusion is responsible for me deleting half of what I write. Even for this blog. After all, if is sounds whiney….why would anyone read it? That’s what diaries are for. So when it becomes too difficult to keep my writing in perspective, time to surf other writers and their thoughts. Time to remind myself, I am not Alone.
Pages and reasons….
Patricia Harris, Author On Facebook
https://m.facebook.com/mouseypoet
Serenity Studios( my jewelry studio) on Facebook
https://m.facebook.com/theserenitystudios.
My Amazon author page.
http://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Harris/e/B012U5ZRD2
my etsy shop
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SerenitysOoak
My zazzle shop
http://www.zazzle.com/serenity_studios
And though you can get these links through the pages above… for convenient access….
A Pocketful of Poetry
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mobi – http://www.amazon.com/Pocketful-Poetry-Patricia-Harris-ebook/dp/B009XG5FKW/ref=la_B012U5ZRD2_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1448293762&sr=1-5
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Creative Juices
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mobi – http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JY0FSTA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1448768721&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165&keywords=creative+juices+patricia+harris
paperback – http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1516812573/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1448768721&sr=8-1
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Castle Truth
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mobi – http://www.amazon.com/Castle-Truth-Patricia-Harris-ebook/dp/B00ATTA1RO/ref=la_B012U5ZRD2_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449767867&sr=1-2
paperback – http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1515362396/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1449767867&sr=1-2
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There are others but I’m still working on releasing for nook and trying to get the links straight. Will adjust the page as I can.
Self absorption
I have suddenly realized that all of my best “stories ” from my life center on me. I was the hero of my own tale. While that’s not really unusual, I never saw myself as that self absorbed. I have always put others first. Been sympathetic and empathetic.Yet, today I realized, I see things only from one point of view. As a writer I have tried to at least imagine things from opposing views from my own. I think of it as an exercise. Social media helps. Although I am often disappointed in things I see in others. Don’t get me wrong, I am far from perfect. However I hope to always see kindness and charity…. and I rarely do. Yet this morning I talked online with someone. She was a good friend in high school( admittedly almost thirty years ago now) …And although I remember her vividly, she doesn’t really remember me. Part of my ego was bruised at that. It got me thinking. Wondering at the variations of all my life stories…. when seen from another set of eyes. Would the things that seemed so darn important to me even have made it to the footnote? Point of view makes all the difference in what direction the stories take. Does it make a difference in who I am? Not sure. Perhaps that still requires thought.
Titles
I started something tonight when i decided to post a blog post. Another step in life to make a mark on the world around me. Still not sure what my mark will be. I struggle constantly with self worth. I am forty… and although Ihave done a lot, I really do not have anything to show for it. I can write code in c#…but I taught myself to do. I craft, making jewelry, crocheting, sewing( although badly). Yet, in the long run, this too is not something where I took classes and have a certificate. I write, both poetry and stories. Yet, though I have four volumes of poetry, a novella and a children’s book published in various formats( still working on releasing them for Nook.) None have sold. Now I add blogger to my titles. Writing isn’t something I could even give up. Nor is drawing. (Even if it feels like I do both badly). Truthfully, in the end I doubt I could really give up doing anything that I do. So my titles grow, and I am still just a high school graduate…
Just for the curious…. my titles include…. Geek, Programmer, Jewelry Artist, Author, Poet, Mom, Crafter, Pansexual, Survivor, Blogger, Artist, Gamer, Pagan and who knows what I’ll add.
Not everyone is rude.
I was reading a local message board online. I do this to help me understand the goings on in my community. However sometimes this really is a bad thing. I end up feeling less social because i see such unkindness out in the word. A lady was posting how she felt the christmas season had ended and the hate had returned. I think i agree with her as her posts comments made me feel the hate. She posted that her son was trying to help someone and accidentally bumped into someone else. The person he bumped into responded “Don’t Touch Me!” Okay, in his place, if a stranger bumped into me, my first response would have been the same. It’s hard to tell what kind of life that man has lived, so no way of knowing if there are legitimate reasons for his reaction or not.
Normally I would not have done more than shake my head at such a story. An outraged mother thinking her son had been rudely treated. I can see why she was so mean about the encounter. However, there was fifteen responses. All were horrible. People calling him names, and there was even one wishing harm on this poor unfortunate. I was floored. After all, in his place i would have done the same. Not because i was rude…Because with my anxieties and all that i have been through, I don’t handle strangers touching me well. I struggle to react normally when i am in a hugely filled public place…But there are days where it is unavoidable.
Is there no compassion in the world anymore? Could the woman not have merely been proud that she had taught her son to show kindness? Did it not occur to any of the fifteen people who responded that perhaps it was not rudeness, merely an automatic response born of any number of possible reasons? These questions arise and make me sorry for humanity. It feels as if we are losing the kindness and becoming something nasty and cruel. I don’t care if it makes me weird. I refuse to assume the worst of people. I just wish it was a more common trait.
Check out this Etsy shop!
Hey, I found this really awesome Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/SerenitysOoak
my website.
http://www.freewebs.com/serenitylace/
i cleaned it up and added a list of my webcomic links i am caught up on the archives of. am proud of it for as cheesy it is. I will be updating more over the next few days, Adding art and such.
my attempt at art
difference and indifference
ok, normally i come on here with daily struggles and disappointments and such. but this is solely for exercise and deepness of thought.(in plain terms, this is a writing exercise meant to make me (and anyone else who happens to read the crap i spew sometimes…lol) think.)
so here is the exercise: (and feel free to answer the question yourself readers…)
How do you want people to think of you when you leave a room?
Pattimouse 