And Its Goodnight From Me - Close Your Eyes

Does closing your eyes even briefly give you that moment of inner peace or a chance to focus and organise the thoughts rushing round a chaotic mind?

When I am painting I often close my eyes to give myself an insight into the fantasy world I am making. What and where is the central focus? What are the colours? Maybe it is a trick of the mind I can use when I write. So as well as doodles in my art journal I'm now going to make a note book to word doodle my ideas.

I am guessing I need to use the things that make me want to draw to write as the methods of inspiration listed are much the same. I am probably, more than likely, totally wrong but it's a thought.

Copyright:JeMs2007

Morning Pages - Waterfalls

Morning Pages

One of the journal prompts suggested on a website is to use a photograph. I have loads of those being an image nut! So my morning pages are going to be from my photo collection.

How apt? The first one is Betws-y-Coed (try spelling that after a couple of scrumpies). I love waterfalls especially ones that are magically surrounded by nature's beauty like Swallow Falls here. That really gets my fantasy juices going with images of fairies and cheeky pixies. I have no idea why there would be that bizarre connection in my head -- who am I to argue with my muses.

I love the way the water seemingly so gentle as it approaches the edge then cascades with such power under gravity to the lower pool in circles of frothy white. After such a chaotic frenzy of action it then flows gently onward on its journey as if nothing had happened. A brief interlude of noisy even aggressive activity surrounded by peaceful serenity.

Jems 31 August 2007

Copyright:JeMs2007

And Its Goodnight From Me - Book Fest

Went for a browse around the new book resale shop - oh I'm in heaven. Spent too much of course. I managed to pick a few biographies, a mushy novel and a couple of creative writing books (keen am I or what?)

Finally got my hands on JK Rowling's biography - perfect get into the mind of a fantasy writer, and I love Harry. Maybe I can use the fact I need to read to research as an excuse to read the final Potter novel again.

I also had a couple of novels put on lay way as I couldn't remember which ones I had already. Yes I know I really need to catalogue my Agatha Christie and Pratchett. I got my course stuff organised so don;t want to scare everyone by appearing totally efficient do I?

Anyway I'm going to curl up for night with Madonna, her biography of course I ain't that lucky!!!



Copyright:JeMs2007

Morning Pages - The Beginnings

Morning Pages

So today is my first day as a writing student and I now have to train myself into a few minutes scribbling each morning. When the first unit arrived from Vanda yesterday I was excited and still am.

I'm aiming to start by doing a little each day and I guess this is where I'll air my none too humble opinion on the day before. I did a quick scan through yesterday, like a kid with a new toy - I wanna start playing. And like the present from that uncle each Christmas I couldn't. Why? - no kit (paper and folders instead of batteries not included).

So did I throw a toddler style tantrum - no I have grown up a tiny tad in 41 years. Instead I started a blog, well a set of blogs purely for my writing. I could in theory work on the computer, not likely no one in my house takes me seriously working on the PC, yet they do when I am sat with my old, faithful Parker and bottle of Quink. Perhaps the pen has more authority over technology as well as being mightier than the sword. Writing in ink has something I'm sure but that's a topic for another days waffling.

I also went through my writing bookmarks, printing out the sections relevant to unit 1. I'll use them as resources which I guess is their purpose, well it is now.

Today is about getting myself organized, there's a first time for everything. Maybe a state of semi chaos will do for starters. Already I think its going to be a couple of hours a day in the library. It's not been 30 minutes and I'm being hassled. Then a type up session on my PC/laptop. Laptop might be better as Paul will have his coursework to do and, of course, his own computer isn't good enough, so he'll nobble mine and fill its memory with crap - much the same as he does to mine each day.

Jems 30 August 2007

Copyright:JeMs2007