Brain Storming

You know, when I started this challenge a week ago I thought, 'no problem', I can blog for 7 days straight. RIGHT! Well, that was a fool's thought, right? Seems that I forgot a crucial notion about life. The rampant desire to do things, or not do things. Here I am at 10:30 at night with nary a blog in site. It wasn't for lack of trying either. I even resorted to brian storming with Amanda and David over dinner that was a strange conversation.

See, I had a board meeting this morning; when I came home from that I worked on my daily sonnet. This time it was about 'Shriekers', those noisy creatures from "Tremors 2: Aftershocks". Quite a feat that was! Actually after I got the first stanza, it was really easy. By the time I was done with that I needed to do laundry, then before you knew it, it was time to meet Amanda and David for coffee and dinner and watching silly stuff via the internet. Now it's going on 11 pm and no blog. What the hey! I was all worked up to write a blog today. I even got some neat ideas for consideration.

So, why is that? I worked myself up to write and then nothing? How can I make it as a writer if I can't blog for a week straight? These are good questions. Do I have any answer? Not really! I won't lie. I was going to write a blog, and I was having trouble desiding what I should write about today, but I didn't want to not have something to write about. I was in a conundrum. So, what did I do?

Back to dinner, the conversation was the standard fair between David, Amanda, and I (or any of my theatre nerdy friends for that matter, you know who you are). There were books, movies, music, sometimes a battle of movie or music quotes (usually ghostbusters, Doctor Who of late, or The Monkees), and then the random. At one point we were discussing fantasy series and I mentioned Mercedes Lackey's "The Mage Wars" with Skandranon, the black gryphon and how when he leapt through a magical vortex he was bleached white. So, then David (I think) mentioned Gandalf and getting his greys to become white in the 'Clorox Portal'. These are just 2 of my friends. There were giggles, mostly from me. Needless to say I jotted it down in the notebook. Hey, it might come in handy.

So, what did I decide on for a topic tonight? Well, I have a number of neat ideas, but some involve watching movies that I haven't seen in a while or at all, in one case reading a book series over again, and still others that I need to think more on. Well? Do this mean I am going to post tonight? Well, yes! What you see before you is a preview of some of the up coming blogs that I am planning, because I realized that sometimes it's better to preview upcoming works than to try and force something that may not have worked out at the time.

I do not want to rush my writing. I want to think clearly and make sure want I put in this blog is not only worth MY time, but YOUR time as well. You are the one reading this, after all. If I don't have the time to write something cohesive at this moment, then I will still write it, but find something else to fill it's place in today's blog spot. It's good practice as a writer to have multiple projects/jobs/concepts going on at the same time, especially with a blog. I also want to stay true to this blog, if I say I am going to blog for 7 days, then I WILL blog for 7 days. What am I working on for future blogs this week?

- Eragon the Book Versus Eragon the Movie

-See above, but using Golden Compass (been meaning to read that book again)

-What is "The Dark is Rising" Sequence (and what happened to the movie?)
-Top 10 book series to read
-A Doctor Who inspired blog
-Great Big Sea blog about their 20th anniversary and my top            10 GBS songs
-10 books you should be reading
-An interview Blog TBD

So, some exciting stuff in the works. I am always looking for new things to write about. Never fear, a writer writes, so there will be new stuffs soon.

I feel renewed. To write makes me alive, therefore I write to live. It's part of me, it just took me a few years to figure that out. But, it's definitely what in want to do. Thanks for joining me on this journey. I write for you (not just me). Always, here will be a writer.

Thoughts on a Snowy Saturday

So, in the search for something interesting to write I have come up dry. It's not for lack of topics, but this week was a bit lacking in motivation. Some say it's the winter blues. I would tend to agree with that to a point. I really feel I am just in a slump, partly due to weather and partly because somewhere in my own head I don't think I'm good enough. That's not good!

You see, I know I have it in me to make this blog, writing, analyzing, and interpreting a ultimate career of. There are moments though when nothing makes sense in my head. For example, when I use a word incorrectly or say something like, "These ones" instead of "Those ones". Those are moments that make me feel like an utter failure as an English major. That put a bit of a block on me and I put off writing. Then I feel like I am a failure as a writer. It's a bad habit, very cyclical . How can I expect to get my name out there if I don't write?  But I'm not anyone, who would want to read my writing?

I suppose that if I was a failure, then this blog would have failed after only a month, or even after a week. But here I am, writing a blog about not writing (oxymoron?). I have proven that I can write. I have found plenty of interesting things to write about thus far, I can find more, right? So, why am I feeling like I cannot do this? The winter blues? A likely aid to the demons that run AMOK in my head?

AMOK AMOK AMOK

I chose to start a blog, because after the year of theatre (2012), I desperately wanted to write, to focus my energies in other ways, to use my flippin' degree that I am still paying for. Theatre is a passion, but I needed a break from it. I also needed some time to think about what I really wanted to do with my life. What I discovered was that I hadn't written a lot in the last few years, outside of some poetry here and there. When I was laid off in August 2011 to May 2012 I wrote a short story, a novel (through NaNoWriMo), a screenplay (Script Frenzy), and a short play (24 Hour Theatre), also a bunch of poetry. I realized how much I missed writing on a grand scale. I pledged that after my last show in 2012 that I would start writing again; on a bigger and more continuous scale. I started this blog about a week after my directorial debut of "Charlotte's Web". I still had the Hammondsport Xmas Show to do, but after directing a full musical I was burned and feeling mentally sore. I needed to healing, so that began the life of "Here, There be a Writer" my first blog and major attempt to make writing a lifestyle.

I still feel lacking, more now than ever. I know I can do better, so what then is keeping me down? That is very easy to answer. Me! I am keeping me down. That kind of makes me feel even stupider, but also I realized that only I can push past my own worries, fears, anxieties, and push towards my dreams and aspirations of being a writer.

How much do YOU want it?

I want it really bad. I want my words to inspire, to entertain, and provoke thought. But, how am I going to achieve this if I don't write? I have to go back to last year February 2012, I was rehearsing for a production of "A Midsummer's Night Dream". I downloaded a PDF version of a book that ultimately brought about this blog and helped push me further to write, write, and write some more....to grab the bull by the proverbial horns and ride him towards that dream.

 "Drawing out the Dragons" by James Owen, my life changed after I read that book. A story on mediation and the power of will to change your life for the better. It brought tears to my eyes. James' truths about life and art made me resolve to become the writer I always wanted to be. DoTD is the first book of three that are inspirational in every sense of the word. I don't talk about inspirational books often, as I really haven't run across too many that have left such a mark on me as DoTD has. I do not force books on anyone. I suggest books that I think people would enjoy from the books I have already read, but seldom share inspirational books (I don't really read inspirational books). In the case of DoTD I will make an exception. I recommend everyone read it. There are truths that I see everyone dealing with in their own lives.

"The Barbizon Dairies" is the second in the Meditation series (though you may want a box of tissues with that one) is no less in the writing quality and personal nature of the subject matter.

It's from these books that I am trying to "Build my own personal Mythology", as James explains about his work and writings and  more honest and humble writer I have never met before. The third in the series, "The Grand Design" is due out later this year (September 2013).

A blog by the very nature of itself is so much more than a journal. A journal is a personal account of stuff in your life, often as a means to help one sort thoughts and feelings out, a type of therapy even.  A blog is something more, something that offers more to the world. It allows me to showcase a glimpse of my world, experiences, books, music, and knowledge; and to share that world with a greater world. It's not just a rant, it's a research based, well thought out, medium to showcase my talents and maybe bring folks together. Sometimes I post poetry-after all I am a poet first and foremost-spotlight friends artistic and business endeavours, and explore things that which are nostalgic to me and others.

"If you want to do something, no one can stop you; but if you really don't want to do something, no one can help you."
       ~James A. Owen

A dear friend once told me that I should pay attention to everything in the world, that there a signals out there to help guild us to a better purpose. I do. I pay attention for that very reason. I think that part of the reason I found James' writing. James also points this out in his meditations, "Everything is Signal". That's part of way I will not give up on this blog, on my writing, because I see the potential there. I will seek to break through my own mental blocks. I have seen my potential and success in theatre. Now it's time to see and succeed in writing.

I see so much potential out there. I see people making it happen. If that a bit a validation, then so be it. What starts as a tiny seedling will grow into a mighty oak. It starts so simple, with 4 little words, "I believe in you." That's what started me on this path, and so shall I continue. And if along the way I spread a bit of love and faith than all the better.

~Cindy

Meditative Thoughts: just a little thought....

I have an idea....lets spread love this year, and next year, and the follow year. Let's not worry about the guns, but in turn focus on the people, ALL PEOPLE (not just those we consider weird, disabled, frightening, or just different), but ALL PEOPLE. It's a true task of anyone who is HUMAN to love and love unconditionally. I ask you, this year, and every year after this, to LOVE and be LOVED! I think that's better than worrying about guns, mental illness, and the like. The violence in Connecticut, at Sandy Hook, or the mall incident, these are things that have happened, but that's it, they happened, life is still going on. Love your neighbour, you fellow man, woman, and child. Everyone needs Love and Kindness. This time of year is no different than any other time. 

It was Jesus who said something like "Hey, yo my peeps! Let's love and treat ours as we would want to be treated." Okay, maybe not said it THAT way, but I think he had a point! 

Buddha also said,  "You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." - Buddha

 All 3 had really lovely and amazing messages. I hope that everyone can see that and learn from it. You don't have to be a Christian to believe that Jesus, or the Dalai Lama were a wise teachers. Now more than ever people need to really that it's more important to love, than to hate. Fear is only going to breed hate. The Dalai Lama also said, "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." --Dalai Lama

I understand the world is a messed up place, but at the end of the day, we are all still people, human, home sapiens, right? I am sick of the negative, the hate, the fear that is present in the world, but I for one refuse to fall to it's charisma. And that is what  is going on. People are falling into the fear and the hate. I know that bad stuff happens , but it doesn't mean that it has to rule your life. You are alive!!! Go out there and enjoy life! Go ice skating with your kids. Make snowman in your yard (if you have snow).  Tell someone you love them. Hug your kids. Hug your spouse. There are SO MANY beautiful things in this world. The bad will ALWAYS happen. It's the nature of the beast. The equilibrium of the universe. The important part is that whatever happens, you remain true to yourself and love, love unconditionally, because in the end that is really what's most important. John Lennon, said it best, "All you need is Love...." (ba ba bah bid da).

John Lennon Tumblr Quotes 

Merry Christmas and Blessed Yule to you and yours for I LOVE you all equally! And I BELIEVE in EACH and EVERY one of YOU!!!