Living with Attention

 

StoryStorm takes place each year in January. The goal is to come up with 30 story ideas in the 31 days of January. Each day, a new post arrives with a daily dose of inspiration and motivation. Some are fun, some are serious, and all are very helpful. But, some really hit home. One such post this year did so for me and started me thinking seriously about my writing.

Day 15 featured Marcie Colleen, author of numerous acclaimed books for young readers, discussing the Quiet Work of Noticing. Colleen said, "...noticing is a choice. Attention shapes meaning." 

As writers, we talk about story ideas being everywhere. We just need to pay attention to our surroundings and listen to those around us. However, Colleen's words about this really spoke to me and brought new meaning to the ideas of noticing and attention. 

She said...

"Living with attention means slowing down enough to notice what usually gets brushed past. A feeling that lingers. A moment that makes you pause. A thought that quietly returns when everything else moves on. These are small things. They're easy to miss. And they're exactly where stories begin."

Yes! I really need to work on the slowing down enough to notice all, but I plan to work on it. Thank you for the brilliant advice, Marcie! And thank you, Tara Lazar, for StoryStorm each year. It is truly an inspiration. 

To learn more about StoryStorm, visit Tara Lazar's blog & website. 

To learn more about Marcie Colleen, visit her site at https://www.thisismarciecolleen.com/.

January, here we come!

 

Can't wait! Here we go...

Storystorm 2024 Complete

 

38 new ideas in 31 days, 39 if you count a new twist on an older idea. Thank you, Tara Lazar, for the month of inspiration and motivation!

StoryStorm 2024

 

Excited to kick off the new year with a month full of inspiration and motivation. Thank you, Tara Lazar, for helping me start off the new year in good fashion. 30 ideas in 31days!

Here We Go...

 

'Tis the season to kick off StoryStorm 2023. 30 ideas in 31 days. It is such an awesome way to kick off the new year and renew one's motivation and writer's focus. Thank you, Tara Lazar, for this month of inspiration.

To learn more, visit Tara's blog at https://taralazar.com/.

ABSURD WORDS

 

I purchased this book recently and just finished it this morning. I LOVE IT! Way to go, Tara Lazar! 

It is such a fun way to build vocabulary and language growth. While technically written for kids, I enjoyed it immensely and think any adult would as well. Some of the words are familiar, but many are unfamiliar and so fun to say, learn how to pronounce and how to use. 

I encourage you all to check it out and become an aficionado of the scintillating language within so others are flabbergasted by your confabulation at your next soiree or shindig.

Happy reading!

Mission Complete

 

30 ideas in 30 days...check! Thank you, Tara Lazar, for the month of inspiration and growth. I am looking forward to exploring my ideas and seeing where they lead.

StoryStorm 2022

 

Looking forward to a new year of Tara Lazar's annual STORYSTORM challenge in January. 30 picture book ideas in 31 days...game on! If you haven't participated yet, I highly recommend you give it a shot. It is a great way to kick off the new writing year. 

You can find more information here, https://taralazar.com/.

 Well, I jumped the gun and posted too soon. Here is the badge that makes it official...

Thank you, again, Tara, for the inspiring and productive month.

Mission Complete

As January came to a close and February dawned (bringing Spring ever closer, thankfully), I wrapped up my January StoryStorm challenge of 30 ideas in 31 days...I actually jotted 31 ideas in 31 days. Not all are good nor worthy of developing even to the shiXXy rough draft stage, but some I am quite excited about pursuing. 

Thank you, Tara Lazar, for your ongoing inspiration and support of children's authors everywhere.

 

Words

Continuing on with the idea of words and the importance they can carry in this world, I read a chapter today and the words were profound. 

I loved Elizabeth Gilbert's EAT, PRAY, LOVE and purchased BIG MAGIC based on all the positive comments I read about it, particularly from a writer perspective. It has been some time since I started it, and I haven't gotten very far. I picked it up today to read a bit as I seem to be struggling on the creativity front as of late. 

 

I am participating in Tara Lazar's StoryStorm this January (30 ideas in 30 days) and have been rock solid at coming up with daily ideas and/or titles but have struggled to really put pen to paper and create anything that would constitute a new rough, even shiXXy, draft. So, in my effort to incite some level of creativity and something new to think and write about, I picked up a few different books to read a some chapters. One in BIG MAGIC spoke to me.

The section was titled Creative Living, Defined. The title alone drew me as, clearly, I am in need of some creative living. It discussed having the "courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you," (hmmm...that is HARD. How does one REALLY get courageous enough to do so?). I am working on it, but it is often easier to stay the course on the safe path and not really push myself for more.

Gilbert says, "The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them. The hunt to uncover those jewels--that's creative living." Gilbert also suggests, "The often surprising results of that hunt--that's what I call Big Magic." 

Wow!! I am now even more excited to read this book and see what treasures it brings. I am also newly focused on digging deep and exploring the treasures within to see where they lead.

I would love to hear how you uncover your special jewels and translate them into your writing should you be willing to share.

Story Ideas to Kick Off the New Year

 

As a new year dawns, so does a new month of StoryStorm. Thank you, Tara Lazar!

StoryStorm is a month long challenge to create 30 story ideas in 30 days supplemented by blog posts by authors, illustrators, editors and publishing professionals for inspiration. It is a great way to kick off the new year and get your creativity flowing. Registration is free and open through the first week of January.

For more info, see Tara's blog at https://taralazar.com/storystorm/.

Happy writing!

Find a Breath of Fresh Air

"If I take the moments to walk, will you bring me a breath of fresh air? If I move to a new space for a while, will you make it interesting and help my mind break out of its patterns? If I take time to look at clouds or flowers, will you fill my creative self with a new idea or two?"

The above comes from a little prayer at the end of a chapter in the book, SIMPLE ACTS OF MOVING FORWARD:  60 SUGGESTIONS FOR GETTING UNSTUCK.

I've posted about this wonderful book in the past and continue to find it so helpful. I had been struggling with stagnant writing, lack of time throughout the holidays and just an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy as 2019 wrapped up. I know I'm not alone in this feeling, but it can still be a very "alone" mentality at times.

As 2020 dawned, StoryStorm brought new ideas and inspiration (thank you, Tara Lazar). With the start of March came Reading for Research Month, known as ReFoReMo (thank you, Carrie Charley Brown and Kirsti Call). Both have re-lit the fire within me and helped get me back on track with my writing and creativity. Today, I read more of this book and came across the chapter and prayer quoted above, and it just reiterated the importance of taking moments of self healing and care which will, in turn, create and open my mind and ability to put life in perspective which, in turn, creates a calmness and sense of relaxation that helps spur my ability to write and create. And it has helped considerably. Much needed!

What works for you? I would love to hear how you fuel the fires of creativity, especially in those trying and busy times of life.

Mission Accomplished

Another great StoryStorm finished.  31 picture book ideas in 31 days. Thank you, Tara Lazar, for the wonderful month of inspiration!

Storystorm 2020

I'm in...are you? STORYSTORM is the brain child of Tara Lazar, and it is much fun.

How does STORYSTORM work? It’s simple…

• Register.
• Read daily posts.
• Write down story ideas.
• That’s pretty much it.

At the end of January if you have at least 30 new ideas, you can sign the STORYSTORM PLEDGE and be eligible for PRIZES.

To learn more or sign up, visit Tara's blog at https://taralazar.com. 

Registration will remain open through JANUARY 7TH.

StoryStorm Complete

Mission accomplished!  30 ideas in 30 days in the month of January...some of which I am very excited to pursue.  Thank you, Tara Lazar, for the month of focus and inspiration.

StoryStorm Begins

Here we go...the best way I know to kick off the start of a new writing year is with Tara Lazar's StoryStorm.

It's not too late for you to join the fun.  Sign up by January 7 and add 30+ fresh writing ideas to kick off the new year.

Learn more at https://taralazar.com.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Storystorm Success

A storm of ideas it was through the month of January. I generated 31 ideas in 31 days, one of which has already been developed into my first rough draft of the year.  Thank you, Tara Lazar, for providing this opportunity to kick off the new year right!

Flex Your Muscle

Thank you, Tara Lazar, for sharing this quote by Jess Keating. I LOVE it!

I think as writers, we have the tendency to sit and wait for that aha moment, the ever-fleeting muse or big idea to strike before sitting down to write in earnest.  At least, I know I often do. I may do writing-related tasks like research or jot down ideas, but I am often slower to just dive in and write initially and wait for that big thunderbolt of an idea to germinate more fully.

This quote really spoke to me as I love the idea of inspiration being a muscle...and one I must flex and work often, even when not feeling like it or when motivation is slow to strike. I frequently don't feel like lacing up my shoes and hopping on the treadmill, but I do.  Because it is good for me and my mental and physical health and well-being.  So why should writing inspiration be any different? It is definitely good for me mentally to write...physically may be another story with all the butt in chair and chocolate required:)

I aim to be better about flexing my inspiration muscle throughout this new year...consistently and often and not just sit back and wait for my muse to strike.  I will search her out and conquer! I hope you do the same. If inclined, please do share how you go about flexing your inspiration muscle.

Storystorm Start

And so it begins...

Happy creating for all those participating in Storystorm this year. I am excited to explore this month of ideas. How many of you will be story storming as well?