In Pictures

This week I have spent a lot of time going through old pictures ranging from kindergarten to high school graduation.  I have begun to see those old pictures through an unrealistic, misty gauze now.  I forget about the trials and tribulations—I smile at the happy times and I ache for all of those classmates who never made it to this part of life.  The older I get, the more I understand that life is truly fleeting and fragile—it can literally be taken away in seconds, leaving those behind to wonder what could have been.  We wonder if it is silly to hope, to dream, to wish—to believe in possibilities.  Then each morning, the sun always rises and we greet the day with renewed hope.  In pictures you see the innocence of youth, the possibilities of the past, and the promise of the future.  You see life, laid out in a rectangular tapestry.  You see the events and people who forever changed you and shaped the person you are today.

Stress

Unless you were lucky enough to have been born in a vacuum, stress is undoubtedly a part of your life.  Some stress is self-induced but it seems that entirely took much is placed on us due to the demands of others.   Sometimes we fail to realize that we are placing unrealistic demands on those close to us; no one, no matter how much we wish to idolize them, is a superhero.  We are all merely human, of flesh and blood—much like the old Human League song.   It is important to realize that nothing’s ever perfect, and life is a long journey that will be filled with its share of obstacles and triumphs.  Whenever you can, put away the hurt and disappointment for a day or two and stop to smell the proverbial roses.

Currently listening to “Holding Back the Years” by Simply Red

A New Month

For the month of August, I am going to take upon myself a new attitude toward blogging.  I am going to write blogs alongside my novel, this ensuring a more significant output.  With that in mind, I’ll set of goal of posting at least 20 blogs this month.  Today hasn’t been the most conducive to blogging or writing, unfortunately.  It seems like I am tired all the time lately and my brain suffers as a result—I write, but it takes forever.  Another goal I need to set for myself?  Getting to bed at a decent hour.

Currently listening to “When I Close My Eyes” by Kenny Chesney

Setting Goals

Setting goals and then achieving them can be one of life’s most difficult prospects.  I had plans to update this blog more regularly this month, so that’s one goal I will have missed.  It only means I will have to work harder next month.   The two major goals in life that I have already accomplished are earning a college degree and completing graduate school.  Other future goals I have for myself:  beginning my career; financial independence; and getting married.  I would also love to travel more.  I have found in the past that placing things on a timeline and expecting them to happen at certain intervals just doesn’t work for me.   It’s like buying something because you have the money for it—sometimes you take a step back and decide to put it off just in case.  Sometimes you miss your chance, but other times you avert potential disaster by being prepared for the future.  My writing doesn’t really follow specific time frames—it flows, I allow it to happen, and I usually wind up completing my work much quicker than expected.  This is an instance where setting goals, like writing one chapter a day, are merely building blocks to a larger process.

Currently listening to “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson

Neglect

I feel bad because I have been neglecting this blog!  I’ve been so busying with writing, and my summer reading, that I forget to type out thoughts here.   Anyway, writing is going very well—getting to 40,000 words won’t take long at all at the rate I am typing.  Even though I was worried about this novel, I am slowly finding my voice, and the voices of the characters.  Inspiration truly comes from the strangest places sometimes.  And as always, there’s a certain amount in the fiction that reflects my own personality, desires, and interests.

Currently listening to “Cheaper than Free” by Stevie Nicks

Stumbling Through Writer's Block

I've been known to dramatize things, turning minor events into life-altering situations with a simple turn of phrase.  So it should no surprise that, halfway through writing my third novel, I find a slight lack of inspiration to be disconcerting.  I'm writing this as we speak, maneuvering back and forth.  I tend to do multiple things at once—a manic kind of multitasking that I know isn't good for my brain!  At any rate, I am still looking at writing through different angles, drawing inspiration from any and all sources.   Ideas can come from unexpected places; notions can arrive from unknown recesses of the brain.   I find myself not as able to blog right now, either, but I’m trying.  Call it a summer dry spell. 

Currently listening to “Blue Moon with Heartache” by Rosanne Cash

Nose to the Grindstone

I am hard at work at my third novel, even though I promised myself I would take a sabbatical from writing. When the inspiration to write hits me, however, I have to start again.  It’s an interesting process thus far.  It’s a sequel to my first novel, Windswept, but I am working to cover different ground, to tell a story from a different angle.  I’ve explored a variety of subjects in my first two novels, things I had never really considered writing until, well, I wrote them.  So with that said, I’m still thinking about the different angles.  Many popular fiction authors will write upwards of 30 or more books during a career—how do you get to a point where everything is still unique,  and you aren’t just writing the same thing over and over again?  It requires a lot of creativity, a lot of effort on the part of the author.