Birthday Presence

The Gift of Birthday Cupcakes 2015 YUM!

Have you ever had an unexpected gift?  Maybe it was disguised in a strange shape- or maybe your first instinct was to return to sender. But then time reveals the true gift.  This is my “birthday week” so I thought I’d unwrap a few with you.

I am grateful for:  

“Distraction”

This is where most of the other gifts have originated. In the process of blogging I have cultivated an interest in mindfulness. Taking time to set an intention for the week for you has given more clarity to me.  The mindset of being present to this moment has great implications. Look for more mindfulness on the blog as I begin more formal mindfulness education on April 10^th at a seminar in OKC. I am happy to share my “present of presence” with others.

“The Hangries”

Sweetness asked me to discuss my "hangries" at my annual physical.  He noticed that a late night, or delayed travel that changed meal times did not bring out the best in me (to say the least).  I became snappy, irritable, and RAVENOUS. Turns out that what I thought was a temporary problem to endure (menopause) was a treatable problem- hypoglycemia. A nutritionist confirmed the diagnosis and helped me develop an eating plan of smaller, more frequent meals.  I celebrate Nutrition Awareness month with dramatically improved energy and healthy weight loss! 

“Detours”

I have been in the company of a wonderful group of writers for over 10 years.  Several of our members have published traditional books and are actively writing.  I went into this adventure with the expectation that I would be more “successful” at writing. Blogging was an unexpected plot twist. I am undergoing a massive paradigm shift in defining writing success. Renewed creativity is a gift.

“Clutter”

A client and Amazon recommended a book to me that made a strong promise and hit a definite chord.  The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo ….  My aha moment: I have a problem of abundance  Despite the habit of regular donations of used clothing and household items, there is never enough storage. Too much stuff is too much stuff no matter how cleverly you organize it! I have begun my quest to reduce my home base to the zen like simplicity of my lake trailer. Simplicity is a gift.

This post is an attempt to be generous with my gifts in the hope that they will create a framework of unexpected gifts in your life. 

I am grateful always for your readership and shares.

Big Rock Resolutions

Premiere Jewelry Party
Benefiting Suited for Success OKC

At the beginning of the month I shared with you my big goals for 2015.  In the interest of accountability--and the hope that my changes might in some way encourage change for you-- here is my update on "putting first things first" with my resolutions:

1.  Establish a Writing Routine. According to my calendar (where I entered my start/stop times) I have logged 38 hours of writing time this month. Without question, this is an increase!  Directing my attention and intention towards this goal is making an impact.  

 2.  Renew Relationships.  This is a more subjective report. My time with family and friends is always worthwhile.  I have traveled, coffeed, lunched, stayed up late, and hosted a jewelry party all in the name of renewing relationships.  I plan to continue to deepen these connections through real "face time" on an ongoing basis.

3.  Focus on Health. Oh dear, what was I thinking? My health journey has taken me through blood work, the yearly mammogram, new fitness classes, and is leading me to a nutritionist in February.  Some of the changes in this category are going to hurt--but I am told it "is a good hurt." A definite adventure for 2015.

I found a video of Stephen Covey's wisdom on "The Big Rocks"-- a demonstration of the habit of putting first things first.  Hope you like it!

Wishing you much success in YOUR big rock resolutions!

Group Works: Finding Scenius

The original Inklings met some Tuesday mornings at a local pub in Oxford in the 1930s.  It was a group of writerly types who would read, critique each other’s work, and share ideas. They each had their own spin on the written word and equal love of stories. Everyone brought something special to the table.  All of the members benefited in some way from the exchange and collaboration- some became famous.  You may recognize a few of them:  C.S.Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams to name drop a bit.

Thirty years later in a New York studio, creatives met regularly to share their passion for music, art, and theater.  The studio became known as The Factory and belonged to experimental artist Andy Warhol.  Folks like Salvadore Dali, Truman Capote, and Bob Dylan liked to come “hang out.” They talked, tested out new work, and partied together. Imagine the energy.

History is filled with evidence of collective intelligence and proof that creativity does not occur in a dark silent solitary place.  We feed the creative spirit when we find a group of people who encourage and challenge us to do our best work.  Imagination thrives in the right culture - it is up to us to find that scene.

I have been reading (and loving) Austin Kleon’s book Show Your Work! He expanded my thinking and vocabulary to include the word scenius: The intelligence and the intuition of a whole cultural scene . . . the communal form of the concept of genius. Kleon credits musician Brian Eno with naming the concept- each of us has something unique to contribute to one another and we nurture our creative spirit through trusted social exchange. There is a collective intelligence in sharing ideas and making connections.  It is a generosity of creative energy that brings about scenius.

This weekend marks the summer Inklings Retreat.  Our critique group was inspired by the original Oxford Inklings and we aspire to scenius.  We have differing genres of writing, tastes in literature, and perspectives on grammar (!)  But we trust each other enough to share our opinions and barely edited work. We carve out a weekend to connect, inspire, share ideas, eat heartily, drink merrily, and cultivate the creativity within each of us.

Feed your spirit by seeking scenius- it is somewhere waiting for your special talent to spark magic. 

Creativity: Daring Greatly

The time is now. We have reached the final step in our creative journey. We must face the reality that art is a communication- it breathes life only when it is shared with an audience—Artist and Other. We aren't wholeheartedly creative until our work leaves the laptop, our food is tasted, the publish post button is pushed, the photo framed.  And then we wait.  Knowing that our inner critic will say something angsty like “It is not good enough, it is not perfect, I am not perfect, what will people say and think” because we have no guarantees that this thing that we have put our guts into is going to make any difference to anyone.  We must also be reminded that unless we share it, our creation will not make any difference to us.  If we hold onto our creations too long we will stop being creative.  It takes courage to create, every step of the way. 

Dr. Brene Brown is my virtual mentor in the courage department.  After twelve years of sociological research  her results boil down to this: As humans we are wired for connection, it is why we are here.  However, we can’t connect with others without being vulnerable. Vulnerability is not a weakness it is taking an emotional risk that requires great courage—it is the birthplace of creativity, change, and belonging.  Dr. Brown begins her book Daring Greatly with this quote from Teddy Roosevelt:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly . . .  

I hope you have enjoyed the January theme of Creativity.  Please stop by again next month to explore relationships in February.  Dare Greatly.

Creativity: Playing well with Others

Summer Retreat 2013

Tahlequah, Oklahoma is known for being the Capital of the Cherokee Nation, town of Northeastern State University, and home to Sam and Ella’s Chicken Palace where Carrie Underwood worked as a waitress . . . lesser known is that Tahlequah is a hot spot for creativity.  For me anyway- It is one of the places where I go for creative group play. 

This past weekend six of the nine members of my critique group (The Inklings) gathered to exchange manuscripts and encouragement. If true innovation is the combination of work and play that explains why our group gets so energized when we get together.  The Inklings are diverse in age, stage, background, and writing- AND we accept and enjoy each other.  If you were a chicken in the backyard (no exaggeration) peeking through the window you would have observed  us: reading silently with a critical/compassionate eye, laughing (a lot), giving feedback, taking notes, exchanging recipes and ideas, eating, drinking caffeinated drinks, and collaborating.  In a perfect world for me this would happen more often.  We actually meet once a month for regular critique but about two times a year we have this kind of magical-leisurely-productive-writerly jam session. 

If you are a writer and feeling a wee bit jealous about my weekend fun come join me in May when many of us writers leave our solitary writing cubicles to venture to the annual Oklahoma Writer’s Federation, Inc. (OWFI) conference in OKC.  This conference sparks incredible surges of group creativity, it is also where I met and joined the Inklings. Every year OWFI hosts fabulous author and agent speakers, from Oklahoma to New York City and many states in between- offering a range of genre, topics, perspective, and experience.  The extended time of a weekend allows people to leave their comfort zone and mix and mingle, exchanging ideas and business cards, and igniting that creative mojo. 

Whether you are interested in increasing your creativity in the kitchen, with your children, or at work- don’t skip the step about playing with others  . . . look for a class, conference, or PTO task force to meet people who  share your passion, and develop those relationships while you  nurture your creative spirit. 

Want to read more about creativity in Oklahoma? Please check out Oklahoma Women Bloggers.  This month they are all about "start" and I am one of the featured writers.  

Cultivating the Art of Moodling

 

"Dahlia" blown glass bowl by Lindsay Marotta 2013

Women create.  We can't help it. Given the right conditions we naturally bring a creative spirit to our families, our workplaces, our friendships, our homes.  If we could harness that power--our possiblities are limitless. So what nurtures or blocks our creativity?

 

Moodling

Back in the 1930s Brenda Ueland labeled the internal creative process as "moodling." Moodling is what happens when we take the time (when we are awake) to let our thoughts flow uncensored and unrushed.  Ueland was a freelance writer who credited her creativity to long walks, sometimes 7 or 8 miles a day.  (BTW she lived to age 93) 

Do you moodle? To the casual observer it looks a lot like day dreaming, puttering, and relaxing.  But insiders know it is a purposeful and important preliminary step to nurturing creativity.  Pump the well to tune into your truth.

 

Support
Surround yourself with positive people and positive things will happen.  Find a like minded group of people who understand your creative side. Tension and disapproval are more than just buzz killers, they suck the creative juices out of everything. If you are living or working in an environment that stresses productivity to the exclusion of all else, you will struggle with tapping into your creative spirit. Creativity takes time.

 

Poor support can also be found closer to home.  The critic in your head may not support your "idle time" and creative pursuits.  Dispute these self-defeating thoughts by putting less emphasis on achievement. You are a human being, not a human doing.  In the scope of the universe it isn't about success, it is about living an authentic life.  How can you be genuine if you don't spend time with your own thoughts?

 

BIC

I am not sure who coined the phrase "butt in chair" to refer to the time we need to set aside in order to express our creativity.  We won't be satisfied if our creativity dwells only in our heads.  It is meant to be shared and relational. 

 

In her bestseller The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron encourages us to write daily pages in a journal.  I tried, resisted, and tried again to follow her example over a thirty day period many years ago.  Although I did not complete her program, it planted the seed of self discipline that ultimately resulted in regular writing.  I am a happier person when I write. 

 

Mindset

Creativity is a mind set that can take many forms.  It is not limited to the traditional arts.  Flylady introduced the idea of creativity into my ho hum household chores.  She called it a "house blessing" which has made all the difference to me.  I have friends who express their creativity through cooking, exercise, math, fashion, gardening, childcare, etc.  It all counts! 

 

Clarissa Estes wrote the book Women Who Run with Wolves drawing on her biology background and female perspective to celebrate the power of "wild women." By her definition, "wild" is not a wacky thing, it is more of an integrity of spirit which frees us to become unstuck and express our unique point of view.

“...the best way to know the Truth or Beauty is to try to express it. And what is the purpose of existence Here or Yonder but to discover truth and beauty and express it, i.e., share it with others?”
                                                                                                                                    Brenda Ueland



I hope this post has encouraged you to tap into your creativity.  Go ahead- Moodle.  Be Wild.

 

Please comment- how do you express your creativity?

 

Identity Crisis Resolved

I have been working on this writing "gig" for about ten years now.  So far this has meant going to conferences, joining organizations and a writing group, Nanowrimo-ing, writing-editing-critiqueing-revising (repeat as often as necessary). blogging, and of course reading. 

Alot of "ing" action words.

Last weekend I sat still and reflected.

My critique group retreat provided the down time and inspiration to define myself as a writer. We had all heard reference to platform for awhile, but we determined to actually dig in and do the work of defining it for ourselves and giving feedback to eachother.

What a relief!  I want to thank you for your patience in following this blog as I struggled through a literary identity crisis. Clarity of my mission in writing (which matches my mission in life!) should provide some continuity in my posts.

Tune in next week for the beginning of a new and improved blog.  I think you will like it, I know I will.

OWFI = Oklahoma Writers (are) Friendly Individuals!

This past weekend was the Oklahoma Writers Federation Incorporated (OWFI) Conference. I am sleep deprived, well over my weight watchers extra points for the week, and unbelievably invigorated.  Although publishing is an intensely competitive business, most Oklahoma area writers are willing mentors to all levels of experience at their conference.

The 2012 conference was full of :

The Inklings at Famous Authors Banquet!

Surprises

• Workshops on social media (author Lela Davidson), pitch (agent Stephen Fraser), and platform (author C. Hope Clark) that encouraged but did not overwhelm me.  
•  Steven James, an award-winning author and storyteller, made us laugh until we cried- and inspired us with his rejection letter collection.
• Fillet Mignon for Saturday banquet dinner!

Delights

• The Inklings, my beloved critique group, did exceptionally well at Contest!  We were shaking the hallelujah basket all evening (our traditional joyful noise of bells, boas, and tiaras)
• Reconnecting with SCBWI friends (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and past OWFI conference buddies.
• Meeting and networking with new friends from Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas.
• An impromptu "buzz session/celebration" in our hotel room after hours.

Opportunities

• Appointments with fabulous agents that all went well for our group (will update when we know more!)
• Looks like I might add "ghost hunting" to my new experiences for nifty fifty adventures, got to know Wayne Harris-Wyrick better and apparently this is one of his many special interests.

 and Special Celebrations

• Congratulations to Anna Myers for her recent recognition : The Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Oklahoma's literary heritage
• Congratulations to Sonia Gensler (Inkling!) for The Oklahoma Book Award for Young Adult Fiction The Revenant
• Congratulations to Dee Dee Chumley (Inkling!) for OWFI Young Adult Book of the Year Beyond the Farthest Star

From Friday at 8:30 am through Sunday 10:00 am I was informed, entertained, wined & dined, enlightened, and encouraged.

To me and many others OWFI will always mean Oklahoma Writers (are) Friendly Individuals!

November Challenge

At 12:00 am on November 1^st, many writers will begin the word count for National Novel Writing Month (aka “Nanowrimo”).  Started by freelance writer Chris Baty in 1999, it is a competition of perseverance for all who dare.  The goal is to complete 50,000 words in thirty days.  Apparently this is the average word count of novels.  In the isolated world of words, it is a comfort to know there are many others simultaneously trying to create something meaningful in one month. 

I joined for the first time in 2006.  Being a goal oriented person it appealed to me to have a deadline.  I was very enthusiastic and also signed up online for a local Nanowrimo group that met in person once a week at Panera Bread (free wifi, and unlimited coffee for the sleep deprived).  For reasons I can’t remember I did not meet these fellow Nanos until the halfway mark.  By this point I was exhausted and exhilarated and couldn’t wait to hear what others were writing.  There were four of them at a round table with their laptops clacking away.  I didn’t bring mine.  It was a letdown to discover that the majority of them were writing things like “I am sitting in Panera drinking my fifth cup of coffee talking to a newbie Nano.  Her name is Lisa and she didn’t bring her laptop. Now I’m drinking a refill and soon I will go to the bathroom.” They were all about the word count, not about the content. 

After that meeting I tried being less rigid in my writing and threw in a free association or two along the way.  I didn’t stress about structure or grammar or where the story was going.  The neighborhood Nanos encouraged me to “let the characters take over the story.”  Unfortunately my characters were undisciplined and lost the plot completely. “Edit in December,” the Nanos advised.  By December I didn’t recognize my writing and I had no energy for revision.  I made it to 30,000 words though! 

Sara Gruen wrote “Water for Elephants” in Nanowrimo.  She is everyone’s Nano-hero. 

I have concluded that for now, Nanowrimo is not the right format for me to accomplish anything remotely useful. It may work for you, however, so check out www.nanowrimo.org if you are so inclined. 

The discipline and deadline were helpful to me so I have developed my own  2011 November challenge:

1. Spend time on writing every day.
2. Time writing.
3. Time editing.
4. Time researching.
5. Time revising.
6. Time agent hunting.
7.  Log B.I.C. ("Bottom in chair") time.  It is an essential element to success according to every conference I have attended.

My goal is 50 hours B.I.C.  in 30 days starting 11/01/11.  Want to join me? 

Novel News: An Inklings Update

The Inklings
Kelly Bristow, Karen Cooper, Dee Dee Chumley, Brandi Barnett, Martha Bryant
Shel Harrington, Sonia Gensler, Me (with the big flower!)

My writing journey is a long story with many chapters.  The key characters are my mentors, the Inklings.  We are nine women who write, encourage, edit, challenge, and celebrate like nobody's business! This past friday we had our first ever NOVEL IDEA.  It was an evening dedicated to the book launch of one of our own, Sonia Gensler.  If you haven't heard of her yet--you will.  Her debut novel The Revenant is a stunning read.

The Novel Idea was not an original one, but we put our own Inkling spin on things.  With Brandi and Martha attending to the historical and literary accuracies of invitations and swag, I focused in on food. Everyone read the final draft of the book and prepared questions for our celebrated author.   My favorite part of the evening was the intense discussion of Sonia's book and seeing the ease at which she answered questions and responded to our comments.

Review:
Willie is a "liar and a thief" by her own admission.  She adventures to a female seminary and poses as a teacher to avoid returning home to her family following her father's death.  In Willie's struggle we are treated to love, life lessons, grief, danger, and self discovery.

The Revenant is a mystery, a ghost story, and more.  I would recommend it for an eighth grade reader through adult.

A summer read with substance. 
(Shameless plug coming up)
Available at many bookstores beginning June 14th.  
***** 5 stars out of 5