Write Anyway

When the world around me starts to spin out of control – technology failed, deadlines missed, calls dropped, schedules collided – I go looking for peace in visuals. A walk at sunset. A picture set from last summer. Something I can rest my eyes on, not have to think about too much, and from there, regroup, reorganize, and restart, with a fresh, clear mind whatever I need to do.

Included in this post are two good “visuals” if your week has been anything like mine…and if it has? I am so sorry. Let me offer you a “virtual” tasty beverage of your choosing – on me.

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hump day, inspiration, pictures, visuals, regrouping, relaxing, writing, write anyway

The mother board on my laptop died last night, may she rest in peace. Replacement may take a day or two - I’ll be back tomorrow, though, with a borrowed computer. Sorry for the interruption. Isn’t technology grand? Yes…when it works.

A very angry Mother Nature beat parts of the United States to a pulp over the past few days. My thoughts and hopes are with the people of what was once Greensburg, Kansas. Being from a small town, and knowing all the work, energy and love that goes into such a community, I do hope the citizens decide to rebuild.

(Update: they are.)

While I like of think it was an unfortunate coincidence, the movie “Twister” was on TV over the weekend. But the weather the plains states were suffering and the images on the TV were enough to get me wondering how many writers use the “Man vs. Nature” as their conflict of choice. Typically, I don’t. I use “Man vs. Man” or my personal favorite, “Man vs. Himself” as the main conflict for most of my fiction writing.

What do you use for conflict in your writing?

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BitS, weather, conflict, Greensburg Kansas, “Twister”, writing, write anyway

I have been beyond busy the past two weeks, which has really put me in a strange place with my writing. On one hand, I have many ideas: notes scribbled on napkins and stuffed in folders or pockets of my computer case, half-started drafts clutter up my computer desktop. On the other hand, my schedule is booked solid with meetings, projects that HAVE to be done for work, and the typical tug-of-war between all I do for my job and all I should be doing for family, house and home.

Regardless, I am encouraged at the direction my writing is going. And when I think about it, I would rather be busy, inspired, and writing than bored, blocked, and frustrated.

How are you doing?

(Have a great weekend – and remember to write anyway.)

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TGIF, writing, ideas, inspired, busy, write anyway

Something I did recently – not intentionally or premeditatedly – was to interview someone I work with from a distance. (We traveled together to Pensacola last week and had a lot of time in airports and such.) By asking questions and otherwise keeping my mouth shut, I learned a lot about her, her family, her life – stuff I would never have known had I not used the travel time to listen to her, to get to know her.

Because I did that, I think we have a better working relationship and the start of a great personal relationship. Funny how that works – when one takes time to get to know someone, a level of understanding, even trust, develops that cannot be manufactured in a workplace environment, remote or otherwise.

So for today on this “Anything Goes Thursday,” I suggest you take some time and – without being forward or intrusive, which is a fine line to walk – ask someone questions that get to the heart of who they are. Questions I tried to ask:

“Do you see yourself doing something other than what you are now doing in 3-5-10 years? If so, what? Why?”

“Tell me about where you went to school/grew up?”

“Why did you choose this path (college, or not, marriage, or not, line of work, etc.) instead of the alternative(s)?”

“If you could go back and do anything different, what would it be? Why?”

This kind of questioning can be used in your writing. Try it. Let me know how it goes!

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Anything Goes, write anyway, interview, relationships, writing

My office is across the street from a middle school, so getting to work – on time – through all the moms and dads trying to drop off little Suzie or Johnny at the front door of the school (which faces the parking lot I use) can be more than even the patience of Job can handle before eight in the morning. However, there is an advantage to the location – especially in the spring.

When the weather starts to turn, flirting outright with summer, the band director takes his classes outside to practice marching. There is nothing more inspirational – or oddly entertaining – on an afternoon when I should be working to watch a bunch of self-conscious pre-teen band kids trying to march in step and to play on key at the same time. I’m not making fun; I was a band geek myself. And this geek traveled with the marching band all over the country performing – not a bad way to take a “FREE” vacation two or three times a year.

Anyway, there is something inspirational about a young group of kids trying and failing to follow the barked orders of a hoarse second-year band director. There is so much potential for greatness; so much energy in the youth of the group; so much optimism and hope in the faces of the band. And while I feel for the band director, sweating, yelling, and trying to get a kid to turn to his “other” left, I cannot help but be inspired.

Where do you find your inspiration?

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hump day, inspiration, write anyway, marching band, spring, writing

I gave myself a writing assignment yesterday. Here is what I came up with – and remember, this is raw: no edits, no smithing, essentially “warts and all” writing.

Pick a favorite scent and write about it:

My favorite scent is coconut-tanning oil, like Hawaiian Tropic or Banana Boat. Something about that smell conjures memories at the lake with my family when I was a child. My brother, who tanned like a native, always made me so jealous as I would have to suffer slathering of sunscreen (granted back then, we didn’t use the 50 block I punish my children with) or the sun would sting me pink before I’d eventually turn brown at the end of the season – just in time for school to start.

But the smell and feel of tanning oil on my hands, mixed with sand and lake water, makes me smile. Endless days on the water’s edge building sand castles only to have the waves wash them away in chunks. Throwing sticks for the dog until she would fetch the thing for the last time, take it into the woods, and hide just so she could have a rest. Skiing and tubing until our arms ached from the effort, but that old yellow boat with a Chrysler 75 outboard would never run out of gas.

That coconut smell reminds me of how good a hamburger on the grill tastes when eaten with a side of potato chips right from the bag and washed down with “Poppe Shoppe” sarsaparilla soda pop.

What scent did you pick?

move me, scent, free writing, coconut, memories, lake

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