Monday, September 5, 2016

Cultivating your craft

On our evening walk, hubby and I discovered some delightful things on the school playground in our neighborhood. At the base of a tree, we found all these little decorative fairy stones probably designed by kindergarten students. 
Are you using your creativity to bake a yummy dish, create a fall craft, or craft a story?
                                                                               
This stepping stone reminds me of the photo albums of long ago when I had to lick the little black sticky triangles that held each corner of the picture in scrap books.

 It is your job as a writer to be observant. I imagine an older teacher was in charge of this classroom project, and the students were probably in 8th grade from the size of those thumbprint bees. What other things can you deduce from examining this photo? Leave a comment.                                                                                                                                                      
Last spring before school was dismissed for summer break, we noticed a community garden at the back of the school. We watched it wither in the oppressive summer heat, snap back after a rain, and against all odds, because Mother Nature was its only caretaker, produce produce.
 Did my last sentence make you stop, stumble, go back and read? If you are writing a manuscript, you do not want too many of these kinds of speed bumps. They cause the reader to stop and reread to discover where emphasis should be on which syllable.
                                                                               
Take a look at the foreground of this picture. See the parched hole in the ground from which this vine is growing? Trail up that one skinny vine and discover the lone prize tomato it produced. I am certain one of the classrooms is waiting for it to ripen. One day someone will notice a glimmer of red, and every student will be so proud. That is unless a squirrel makes off with that Big Boy, as they have been doing with our garden. They waddle down the fence carrying tomatoes as large as their heads.
The message here is good things come to those who wait. And sometimes, no matter how great a masterpiece you produce, it doesn't make it to the desired end result. In a writer's case, that would be publication. What if every disappointed gardener decided not to try again the next year? If you are a writer, don't give up. One day your story may crop up in a magazine, book, or on line.  
                                                                             
This sunflower has taken nourishment from the soil to provide nourishment for insects and birds.
Writers are a community of strugglers who persevere, give up, plow on, and  share their bounty. If you've been dormant too long, spent the summer away from writing (or whatever creative endeavor), get back into the swing of things. Cooler days are headed our way. Refreshing, cool morning air is one of my inspirations. What are yours?

9 comments:

Sioux Roslawski said...

Linda--Thanks for all the writerly reminders. We all need nudges now and then.

Pat Wahler said...

Wonderful observations, Linda, and so true.

Pat

Connie said...

Thank you for the good advice for writers. That community garden looks like it is doing well.

Sandi said...

Love these sweet little treasures you found!

Merlesworld said...

Squirrels eat tomatoes I never knew that, it was amusing thinking of one waddling around the garden with one as big as it head does he carry it on his head to.
Merle..................

Val said...

Thanks for the tips. I have speed bumps that need leveling, and tomatoes that need tending.

My inspiration is currently a bright, sunny day, with an autumn slant to those rays. That solar power gets my writing gears turning.

Bookie said...

Sure hope I can leave writing dormancy behind soon!!!

Susan said...

Hi Linda...One thing I deduced from studying the bee project was that its creators were "buzzing" with creativity! Perhaps they were "stung" into making that masterpiece. One of my own inspirations in writing is the desire to leave behind little windows to my world when I go to the other side. I want my grandchildren to be able to read my pieces and gain insight into the kind of person their Grammie was! Hugs. Susan

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Those fairy stones are precious. Things like that are a great inspiration. Sunrise is my favorite time of day, so I'll have to say that is inspiring. And I'd be remiss if I didn't give credit to my morning coffee, as well. :)