DAY 45: Friday Forward
To the point
This entry is
So that I spend the time
Left in the day
On my creative ventures
Sharing laughs with family
Hugs and kisses from Aunt Kelly
A fantastic and inspiring end to the week
Inspiration from within
And plenty that surrounds
Treasuring the present like a gift.
DAY 44: Writing Ahead
Social media hashtags have us looking back on Thursdays, but today I’m looking ahead!
I spend the majority of my work breaks writing. I come home and continue writing. Before I visit the dream state, I write a little bit more. In the past five days I wrote over 8,000 words on a new story and made time to watch my favorite TV shows. (Must keep my priorities on check, right?)
I’m tired but determined to keep moving forward. And I’ll keep writing as I travel.
I began the 111 Day Writer’s Journey with the best of intentions. Truly, I did! Truth be told, I haven’t been as invested or excited about this venture as the I did last year (111 Day Artistic Spirit Pledge). I’m 43 days in and have skipped days, ultimately blending two in one on numerous occasions. Am I being lazy? Am I unmotivated? Did I think too big and not know how to follow through? I’ve wondered about those questions a lot the past week and came to a conclusion: The goal was to write – and that’s exactly what I’m doing!
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. – ABOUT page on Nanowrimo.org
Writing 50,000 words in 30 days? Can I do it! Will it be any good? Quite frankly, I don’t care about the level of quality at the end of this undertaking. My goal is to reach that 50,000 word count and even surpass it. (What is this and how can you join? Check out the website to learn more about how it works.)
I’ve considered taking part in this annual challenge in years past, but my focus quickly waned. “I’ve got a YA novel to edit and blogs to manage; I can’t commit to 1,667 words per day!” However, I decided to see it through this time. What changed? My YA novel still needs publication, and my blogs remain a key outlet for my creative writing, but I needed to step outside of my comfort zone. On November 1st, I figured I’d give it a try and see whether anything of value took shape. At the end of Day 3 of #NaNoWriMo, I’ve written almost 5,000 words on a brand-new story that’s got my attention. I am excited about where it will lead, but mainly I’m just having fun writing. I’m not second-guessing myself or editing as I go. I’m writing and that’s what matters.
If any of you are also taking part in NaNoWriMo, please don’t forget to cheer one another on via social media. We can do this!
I’m using this week’s Writing Prompt Wednesday image to inspire the continuation of my NaNoWriMo venture. Perhaps you’ll find that it sparks your own creativity.
Use the image above as creative inspiration. Draft a short story, poem, song, or in-depth essay. There are no right or wrong answers. Just write!
DAY 41: Motivational Monday poem
*Original and fictional*
You left too soon
Before I could refute
Your claims that scarred my soul
I’m not same as I once was
Nor could I ever be
I observe, learn, and grow
In the seasons of my life
You go your way
And I’ll go mine
Perhaps we’ll meet again
When we can leave the past behind.
There are certain fears which are understandable – like arachnophobia and fear of heights. How about the ones that go unseen yet are equally impactful?
While my answers to the above questions would not all be YES, there are a few areas in which fear has stifled my emotional, physical, and spiritual growth.
I can see myself living life in joy, passion, artistry, and love. Yet, it’s like I’m looking at it through a long-range lens. I’m standing at a ravine, staring across the canyon desperate to get to the other side but petrified at what to do next.
I’ve spent way too many years waiting at the ravine, wishing and hoping to somehow reach my desired destination. How much time did I waste when I could have been building that bridge? Some tools I already had at my disposal while others I dismissed as unimportant and insignificant.
I recently made a list of the tools I’ll need to build my personal bridge. Here are some:
I’m ready to get started building my bridge, because standing there waiting for someone else to do it for me scares me more than my fear of heights.
What tools would you use to build your bridge? Have you ever felt like the next step in your journey was out of reach or too far?
Days 38 and 39
I hope you’ve enjoyed your Halloween celebrations! I’m working on an in-depth post for Day 40, so nothing new to report for the past few days.
Check back tomorrow!
DAY 37: Piloting My Creativity
I don’t know about you, fellow writers, but certain stories just fit into a particular format. For instance, I wrote my YA fantasty/magic realism adventure as a novel because the language required an expansive canvas. However, most of my prior writing focused on stories fit for the big screen or theatrical setting.
While editing the novel, I realized that I started to focus too much on one of the featured characters. I cut her scenes severely, but left just enough to add texture and dimension.
I went back, upon completion of the novel, and revisited the featured character’s backstory. I found myself intrigued by her journey and the dialogue effortlessly flowed.
Sometime in the last few months I envisioned her back story, a prequel to the YA novel, as a dramatic TV series. It’s still in the early writing stages, but my passion for this project deepens with each line of dialogue.
As I journey towards turning “writer” from a self-proclaimed label to professional title, I’ve decided to give myself a focused challenge. Each day, from now until January 11, 2016, I hereby pledge to focus on my writings: novel, screenplay drafts, stage play rewrites, TV pilot scenes, etc. Documenting my progress each day will help keep me motivated, inspired, and determined to keep moving forward. If so inspired, join me along my journey by documenting your own!
DAY 36: WPW – Moonlit
Don’t be scared? Go on…give this week’s Writing Prompt Wednesday a try!
Use the image below as a source of creative inspiration. Draft a spooky story, scary poem, or write a flash fiction piece set in a cemetery. Pick up those pens or pencils! Charge up your tablet! Ready? And….write!!!!!
DAY 35
I didn’t make much time to focus on my writings today. However, I wasn’t about to call it a night without getting something on paper.
A slew of random phrases later and I asked myself a question to which I do not know the answer: Do I fear failure, success, or a little of both?
As I write the next chapter in my story, I’m sure that question will need to be addressed.
I often think of seeds planted
Long before my body and spirit met
The men and women who choices
Defined not only their lives
But fertilized the ground from which I stemmed
I imagine the place they once called home
And the steps they took to find another
From Czechoslovakia to Pennsylvania
Or Scotland to Canada to Michigan
Their footprints leave a mark on my journey
My ancestors traversed a path
Paved by those before them
Along the way they left droplets of inspiration
For the ones still to come
Kelly Deeny