Faces

faces, faces: faces walking by
empty eyes - some say hi.
faces walking by.

how many times do we look in their eyes?
don't look now - heavy sighs.
we don't hear what's in our ear.
turn away; what do we fear?

what's the problem? why should we care?
we walk on by - it's their despair.
don't even try to understand.
wander forever lost in our own private land.

faces, faces: faces walking by
catch their eye - I say hi.
faces walking by.

look up! see what you can see.
reach out - love can be.
listen closely to what they say.
expect a miracle - come what may.

take the time to believe.
they walk by - no longer grieve.
faces, faces: faces everywhere
look in their eyes - you'll find they care.

Image

Image
I smile.
She smiles.
I wave.
She waves.
I wink.
She winks.
She's not real.
Am I real?
She can't love.
Do I love?
I love.
She can't.
I'm real;
She's not.
We both turn and walk away.
She into oblivion;
I into life.

Filling in the sensory blanks.......

Describing my living room.....

SIGHT
Lively daffodils straining to reach the sun, clinging to life
Lost booty peeking from its hiding place under the table
Serenity pouring from pictures of tropical scenes

SOUND
Thumpity thump of the washing machine in the next room
The stark silence left after the children leave
The comforting hum of the heater

TOUCH
The smooth, hard, cool surface of the coffee table
Bumpy carpet massaging bare toes
The enveloping warmth of soft fluffy furniture
Or
Being ensconced by the warmth of soft fluffy furniture

SMELL
Occasional smell of gardenia
Smell of crisp rain rushing in with the quick opening of the door

Be a word finder......

Trade general words for more specific

bird......stork, phoenix
red..... scarlet, cherry
walk..... saunter, trudge
heavy......burdensome, ponderous
wildflower.....bleeding heart, dandelion
go up...... ascend, rise, climb, mount
cold......frigid, icy, cool, steely
building…..house, home, skyscraper, tenement
light…..pale, faint, airy, weightless, ethereal
go fast…..race, sprint, zip
boat…..ship, dingy, canoe, kayak
refreshing….invigorating, rejuvenating, uplifting
tall……towering, lofty, soaring
go forward….move on, proceed, advance, press on, hasten
fresh…new, novel, original, creative, unsullied, spanking new
uneven……rough, not level, bumpy, jagged, lopsided
street……road, lane, boulevard, parkway, highway
enjoy……like, love, adore, get a charge out of
blue……azure, cobalt, indigo, depressed, dejected, melancholy
look…..search, glance, gaze

okay....it's KILLING ME. Do have some writing in draft status though.

Day 5-- Ship Shape

The boat's sail....filled with a brisk wind and sent the Wind Gypsy gliding along the bay and the old sailor leaned back in contentment. He couldn't imagine a better day for his last sail in the Gypsy. She had served him well in his many adventures up and down the coast. Some of those adventures had been taken solo, others with seafaring buddies, and still others with his beloved wife who was now doing her own solo in other oceans beyond the horizon. Again he nodded with deep satisfaction enjoying his solitude on this last voyage. He had many wonderful and vivid memories of sailing with his comrades of ocean passion, but he had to admit, it was the solos that gave him the most gratification. The old boat seemed to respond with a heavy sigh as if in agreement and she leaned into the wind and sped across the bay, giving the old man exactly what he wanted. There was nothing like a day or two on the water alone to clear any barnacles from his brain and deliver peace to his soul, especially now when he felt the presence of the end of his personal voyage. He would love to go on, but his body could not; it had finally reached its own limits. Fortunately, he was gratified to feel few regrets and he was ready to cross the horizon into the unknown journey. He accepted that any unfinished business wouldl now have to take care of itself. He began now to think of his next great journey. Would he meet those who had gone before? Would they pick up where they had left off? There was no way for him to know, but he began to look forward with anticipation. Yes, he was happy to be on this last voyage with his beloved Wind Gypsy. He knew that she would carry him safely to his next destination; she always had. There was nothing to hold either of them back. Somewhere off in the distance he heard the call of the sailor "Sail on, Captain! Sail on!" As if one in spirit, they once again leaned into the wind and raced toward the horizon in the distance.

Written in memory of my step-father, Ron Speer. I hope one day I will find my own voice in writing like he did.

Part II: List four things you do when you need perking up. Next time you are lethargic in your writing, do one of these before you return to your writing.

Exercise
Go to the library or bookstore and wander
Nap
Play with my son

Day 4 -- Terrible Twos

In this exercise, I am 2 years old. Write from this perspective. Be childlike. Play!

Give myself a name with the initials C.A. T
COY ANGEL TODDLING

Eye color: blue
hiar color: blond
Favorite food: cheese sticks
sibling: George, 6yrs
How he treats me: he gives me cookies all the time
Thoughts on toilet training: why bother?

Begin with:

Here I am stuck in my crib.....I sposed to be asleep. It's nap time. I won't sleep though cause I was busy and I'm just going to scream until mommy comes back and gets me out. EEEEEEEh!!! Footsteps, here she comes. That didn't take as long as yesterday. Wait, the footsteps are gone! Turn it up a notch....eeeeeeh...ahhhhhhh. I not tired! I jus woke up!!! I want to play with my doctor kit!!!! oh? Footsteps again...coming to get me...yeah! Footsteps gone? (Big Yawn), I will rest a minute....then turn it up again.....ooooh my pillow is comfy....uhmmm ...maybe jus a minute...no must keep screa.....zzzZZZZZZZ....I'll try again later.....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

This needs work. This baby doesn't seem coy. Will come back later today.

Part II:

In what area of creativity are you stuck? Making time every day....I'm thinking this book will help. The exercises are fun. Now I have to complete my second assignment for the Children's Literature Institute. That will be a big hurdle. I'd really like to do it before my baby is delivered on Feb 7th (C-section).

Day 3 -- Far, Far Away

Step I:

Today I'm supposed to think of someone who really bugs and annoys me and then of a place I'd like to send them and mentally send them there.

The problem is...if you can believe this, no one really annoys me right now. It's not because I live on some sainted plain, I'm just a little isolated right now being in the final throws of pregnancy and I'm not really "out there" enough to be annoyed by much of anyone. I guess I'll just think of an annoying person in general and go from there!

The postcard arrived.....from Thelma. She had arrived in the midst of nowhere without incident (just like her...everything just perfect) and was happy to say that her accommodations were pleasing. Sparse and dull. She was actually looking forward to a week with nothing to do and nothing in particular to think about. You see how annoying she is, you can't even make her suffer in misery. She babbled on about the joy of looking into the horizon and seeing nothing but hundreds of miles of empty space, except for the odd tumbleweed blowing across the dusty expanse, and went on about having no responsibilities, no children pulling at her skirts, no guilt from people calling to ask her for things, and no "friends" trying to do her favors. She went on and on about nothing. by the time she was done, I WANTED TO BE THERE TOO. Damn her! She really annoys me.

Step II:

Describe the ideal place to write. Be very specific and detailed. Go there in your mind the next time you write. See how your writing changes.

It's a small office off the back end of my house that sits on a cliff in Eluethera, on the Caribbean side. There are large windows and its painted in soft, cool greens. The desk sits just under the large window and there are fluffy sofas on the other side of the room. Soft, instrumental music of varying kinds plays in the CD player, while fresh flowers fill the air with a constant sweet scent. I am completely relaxed. It is impossible to be upset or uptight here. Even the most complex and burdensome situation is clear here. I breathe and write easily.

Day 2-- Resolution Revolution

Letters spread on a page to be used ....as I get to them. I'll "guesstimate" the space. Beginning with .... New Year's resolutions make me....Not want to start a new year at all. They are made so carelessly and just about Everyone fails to follow through. What tripe they are! You would need a truck to haul away all the resolutions I have broken, Even though they were made with the best intentions. A smart person would have given them up years ago. Oh, I did! My favorite Resolution, that I was able to keep, was never to make anymore resolutionS. The New Year brings enough stRuggle of its own without Setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. Onward I go without fear, ready to deal with the next card that life has to deal to me. A new baby, a writing classthat I had previously dealt myself, trying to figure out what I want "to be" when I grow up, and finding a reaL God. All these things I already own. Why make Up more goals and resolutions just because we turned another page on the calendar? So now I just celebraTe, drink some champagne, and give my husband a big smooch. I control my destiny by the day, by the hour, by the minute, and by the second. Each of Our lives in inour own hands. Never give your destiny to fate.

Part 2 of this exercise is to make a resolution for the next 24 hours....I can handle that. I"m going to set up my writing notebook!

Next "resolution" -- find a new blog host. This one really stinks!

Day 1 -- Circle Game One

First from several lists, I chose three words: banister, harried, massage. Then I am instructed to use these three words in a story that begins with

Sometimes I feel just like a gerbil, running around and around on his wheel....

but today somehow I flew off of the wheel (guess i got to running too fast in my harried little world) and landed at the top of the banister to the lovely polished stairs in the house that I live. I sat and thought for quite a while. What an adventure it would be to just let myself slide down that banister and find out just what is at the bottom. I see a door. I came in it once, but have never been back out. I do know it leads to the wide, wide world and the thought, though tantalizing, is frightening. Do I have the courage to go? Sitting here at the top of the banister, I think no, I don't have enough courage. But maybe if I just go, it won't matter if I have the courage or not. I will be forced to respond to my decision. Perhaps that is all that courage is; a forced repsonse to what's happening around you. So I can sit here and massage my worries til they grow into a frenzied pitch or I can just go. Whao!!!! I sliiiiiiipped! Off I go; the choice is made; courage or not-- here I gooo and when I get to the bottom, I think I'll just stroll on out the door! I think this will be fun. I hated that damn wheel anyway.

One exercise down, 365 to go!

If it kills me, I'm going to follow this new book....

At least one exercise per day. It's called The Write Brain Workbook, by Bonnie Neubauer. I don't want to write in the book, so I've decided to post them here. If anyone ever stumbles upon my blog, comments are welcome.

The draft I sent in......

I finally got a draft in. Got it cut down to 748 words. I like the story in general, but I wish I could have worked more with it before sending it in. However, it was so late, it seemed to me that the best thing to do was get it in. I really didn't want to lose the momentum of having started. Besides it offers countless opportunities for criticism. The language is not that of a six year old. I think that's the most bothersome. I like the repetitive pattern of it, but wonder if that will turn out to be an error. I'll have to look for some picture books with repetitive pattern. Anyway, here it is in all its "glory". I also think the title itself is too preachy. The ending is too abrupt.

Bobby Bear’s Lie


Bobby Bear just had an accident. He broke his sister’s teacups and he felt awful because his sister was planning to use them the next day to have a tea party. So Bobby Bear was thinking and trying to come up with a plan to keep his sister from finding out that he broke her tea cups; he was thinking of a lie.

Bobby Bear had been sitting and feeling bad for a long time when his best friend Bennie Badger came by and asked him to play ball.

“Bobby Bear! Come play with me” Bennie called out. “I just got a brand new red rubber ball. Let’s bounce it high in the sky and kick it as far as it will go! I want a friend to play with!”

Bobby Bear jumped up and was going to play with his friend, but then he remembered his problem and sat back down. “I can’t” he said. “I have a big problem and I’m thinking of what to do.”

“What is the problem?” Bennie asked.

And Bobby Bear told him, “I broke my sister’s tea set and I am thinking of a story to tell so that she won’t know that I did it.”

Bennie looked at his friend and asked, “Why don’t you just tell the truth? I think she will be mad, but she will eventually forgive you”.

But Bobby Bear said he would not, so Bennie went to play without him. Bobby Bear sat down to think and he felt even worse. Not only did he break his sister’s tea set, but now Bennie was playing ball and having fun without him.

Some time later his best friend Patti Possum came by and asked him if he wanted to play follow the leader.

Again Bobby Bear jumped up because follow the leader was his favorite game, but then he remembered the tea set and he sat back down on his log with a hard thump and hung his head.

“I can’t,” he said sadly. “I broke my sister’s tea set and I am thinking of a story to tell so that she won’t know that I did it.”

Patti asked, “Why don’t you just tell the truth. I’m sure your sister will forgive you—even if she does get mad at first”.

But Bobby Bear said that he would not, so Patti went off to find someone else to play follow the leader with. Bobby Bear sadly watched her go. Not only did he break his sister’s tea set, but now Bennie was playing ball and having fun without him and Patti was playing follow the leader with someone else.

Some time later his friend Ollie Otter came by and asked him if he wanted to go swimming.

Again, Bobby Bear jumped up because it was a very hot day and he loved to swim more than anything, but then he remembered the tea set and he sat back down on his log with a hard thump and hung his head.

“I can’t,” he said sadly. “I broke my sister’s tea set and I am thinking of a story to tell so that she won’t know that I did it.”

“I think you should just tell her,” said Ollie. “She may be very mad, but eventually she will forgive you, and we can go swimming!”

But Bobby Bear said that he would not, so Ollie went off to swim in the cool river and left Bobby Bear. Bobby Bear sadly watched him go. Not only did he break his sister’s tea set, but now Bennie was playing ball and having fun without him and Patti was playing follow the leader with someone else and Ollie was swimming in the cool river without him.

Finally, Lily, Bobby Bear’s sister came skipping by. She stopped in front of him and said “Bobby Bear, you are my favorite brother. Will you come to my very special tea party tomorrow?”

Now Bobby Bear felt very badly but he decided to follow his friends’ advice. “I’m not a good brother at all! I broke your teacups and now you can’t drink tea at all,” he wailed.

At first Lily looked very sad and Bobby Bear thought she would cry, but then she said, “I know it was hard for you to tell me, but I forgive you because you did the right thing.”

Now Bobby Bear felt very good and he and his sister went to find their friends together.

Finally, the first draft. 92 words too long!

I finally came up with a story. Somewhere I have to pull out 92 words, but here it is in its roughest glory. Cutting and editing will come later. I came up with this one because I always used to break my brothers model ships and try to hide it from him. The feelings are very familiar to me! I wish I had learned this lesson and saved myself a lot of sleepless nights!

Little Bear just had an accident. He broke his sister’s teacups for her china tea set that her auntie gave her. Little Bear felt awful because his sister was planning to use them the next day to have a tea party for her auntie. So Little Bear was thinking. He was trying to come up with a plan to keep his sister from finding out that he broke her tea cups; he was thinking of a lie.

Little Bear had been sitting and feeling bad for a very long time when his best friend Skeeter the Badger came by and asked him to play ball.

“Little Bear! Come play with me” Skeeter called out. “I just got a brand new red rubber ball. Let’s bounce it high in the sky and kick it as far as it will go! Come on Little Bear, I need a friend to play with!”

Little Bear jumped up and was going to play with his friend, but then he remembered his problem and sat back down. “I can’t” he said. “I have a big problem and I’m thinking of what to do.”

“What is the problem?” Skeeter asked.

And Little Bear told him, “I broke my sister’s tea set and I am thinking of a story to tell so that she won’t know that I did it.”

Skeeter looked at his friend and asked, “Why don’t you just tell the truth? I think she will be mad, but she will eventually forgive you”.

But Little bear said he would not and had to think of a story, so Skeeter went to play without him. Little Bear sat down to think and he felt even worse. Not only did he break his sister’s special tea set, but now Skeeter was playing ball and having fun without him.

So Little Bear sat on his log and thought, feeling very bad.

Some time later Little Bear’s best friend Petie the Bunny came by and asked Little Bear if he wanted to play follow the leader.

Again Little Bear jumped up because follow the leader was his favorite game, but then he remembered the tea set and he sat back down on his log with a hard thump and hung his head.

“I can’t,” he said sadly. “I broke my sister’s tea set and I am thinking of a story to tell so that she won’t know that I did it.”

Petie asked, “Why don’t you just tell the truth. I’m sure your sister will forgive you—even if she does get mad at first”.

But Little Bear said that he would not and he had to think of a story, so Petie went off to find someone else to play follow the leader with. Little Bear sadly watched him go. Not only did he break his sister’s special tea set, but now Skeeter was playing ball and having fun without him and Petie was playing follow the leader with someone else.

So Little Bear sat on his log and thought, feeling very, very bad.

Some time later his friend Ollie the Otter came by and asked Little Bear if he wanted to go swimming.

Again, Little Bear jumped up because it was a very hot day and he loved to swim more than anything, but then he remembered the tea set and he sat back down on his log with a hard thump and hung his head.

“I can’t,” he said sadly. “I broke my sister’s tea set and I am thinking of a story to tell so that she won’t know that I did it.”

“I think you should just tell her,” said Ollie. “She may be very mad, but eventually she will forgive you, and we can go swimming!”

But Little Bear said that he would not and he had to think of a story, so Ollie went off to swim in the cool river and left Little Bear. Little Bear sadly watched him go. Not only did he break his sister’s special tea set, but now Skeeter was playing ball and having fun without him and Petie was playing follow the leader with someone else and Ollie was swimming in the cool river.

So Little Bear sat on his log and thought, feeling very, very, very bad.

Finally, Lily, Little Bear’s sister came skipping by. She stopped in front of Little Bear and said “Little Bear, you are my favorite brother. Will you come to my very special tea party tomorrow?”

Now Little Bear felt very, very, very, very bad but he decided to follow his friends’ advice. “I’m not a good brother at all! I broke your teacups and now you can’t drink tea at all,” he wailed.

At first Lily looked very sad and Little Bear thought she would cry, but then she said, “I know it was hard for you to tell me, and I forgive you because you did the right thing after all.”

Now Little Bear felt very good and he and his sister went off to find their friends together.

The Famous Writer's Block

Assignment number 1; part one: Write a letter to your instructor and introduce yourself. Wow, I find it difficult to write about myself. And, the assignment says not to worry about punctuation and grammar -- which makes me worry about it all the more! One more week and it's due -- with a short story. Whew! Better get cracking. I'll post when it's finished.

Let's Get Started!!!

Well, after thinking about it for almost a year, I signed up for a children's writer course through the Institute of Children's Literature. I researched around a bit and found many people on the Internet seem happy with it; I didn't find any negative feedback on it. One gentleman did put the "apptitude test" through the ringer and found that it may be legit. I seem to have lost the link though; I will post it when I find it. It's kind of amusing.

The Institute has been in business for 35 years and is registered with the BBB, so I decided to go for it. I look forward to the adventure! Maybe one day I will actually be a published writer of children's books. If not, I can only be better from the experience. That's all for now.........