Morning folks! It's August 4th, yes sir! And as promised, I would start writing today about my working through Susan Tiberghien's book "One Year to a Writing Life". There are twelve lessons, some might go faster than others. I want to savor the beginning though, so I'll go at the recommended pace, one exercise per week, one lesson per month.
Her first lesson is on journaling. I already do/have done lots of this in my life, and I already have (had/am having?) a pretty steady habit. What's new for me is drawing, creating images ("mandala") and getting a story from those images, going deeper.
I suck at drawing... most of what I produce is cartoon like, and looks nothing like the picture I have in my head. I always envied those heady, industrious artists with their color pencils or charcoals, drawing away at art galleries. Maybe I could try harder, it might improve my sense of texture and detail. I like remembering my old summer arts school friends who could draw and bring images to still and make a thousand words. I wonder what they are doing now?
Going deeper. This is key for me, and probably something I am a bit self-conscious about. Until now, I've noticed my stories don't seem to have enough meat, stuff one could really sink their teeth into.
Susan suggests that in my journal then, I can take risks, and lock it up... but just for now. Eventually some of these deeper things will come out in my writing, and then those are the messages I want to get out, the stories deep inside. I have to be both protective and nurturing, for my little muse silkworm needs some help to make beautiful translucent silk.
Of course we need to have some fun too! All work and no play makes writers and engineers dull girls and boys! Beauty is everywhere, you just have to know how to look.
