Weird Things

Have you ever been cleaning out a closet or a drawer, only to realize that you collect weird things?? I was cleaning out a cupboard today - and realized that I have a penchant for collecting notebooks.  Pretty notebooks for writing in.  I have quite the pile of them, and yes, I do love to write.  However.  With the digital age, I do most of my writing on the computer -- so what's with the pretty little notebooks???? 

Maybe its like when I was a kid -- there was nothing more fun than a fresh box of crayons and a new coloring book!  or maybe its the whole brand new, starting over feel reminiscent of September mornings at the start of a new school year. 

Sitting down with an empty notebook, I feel obliged to fill it with thoughts, words, quotes, or even doodles and shopping lists.  I sometimes wonder if years from now, my kids or grandkids will find a notebook of mine and sit down to read some sliver of time in my life and think about who I was as a person, and not just a mom or grandmother.  Maybe they'll read about my dreams, or my wishes for the future, or regrets about my past.  

Either way, I'm a huge fan of these things --
I really should start using them :)
Happy Writing!

Write it, you'll like it !!

“Use your blog to connect. Use it as you.
Don't ‘network’ or ‘promote.’ Just talk.”
Neil Gaiman

I've recently begun following a few folks on Twitter. Quotes4Writers is one. Neil Gaiman is another. He's a favorite author of mine. I admire his writing, have read his wonderful books, and enjoy the whimsy of many of them. But above is a good piece of advice when it comes to blogging. It isn't about trying to *do* as much as it is to practice your craft.

So many folks are hesitant to sit down and blog. With the folks I've spoken to, I am continually amazed how many say they "have nothing to say". Everyone has something to speak about! It's learning to focus on something, to have something to share.

As most of you know, photography is a huge hobby of mine. And every day, there's a daily challenge with instructions on what to look for when taking the daily picture. Take the other day: "Make a photograph from a high point of view. Get on top of a building, use a ladder, or just look down at a small object." OK, that's specific instructions. But in fact, what do you see when you get on a building or a ladder? My backyard or front yard isn't interesting enough to take a photo of to share. Or is it? Its about learning to think outside the normal way we see things and use a different 'eye' when taking a photo. And I think it's the same with writing.

It takes time to re-learn something we had to do in school. Remember those "What I Did on My Summer Vacation" papers we had to write? It was an exercise in getting our thoughts, our memories, committed to paper in a logical, well written, perhaps even a funny manner.

So if you're thinking you can't write, or have nothing to say, I challenge you to take a moment to think of something to write about. And maybe you'll give it a try!!

HUGS to everyone!