I’m whispering to you now as I don’t want to scare her away.
She’s still a bit fragile and I had only catch a glimpse of her last week.
STOS # 4 is back with a new draft … ;)
STOS is a series of stories which based (loosely) on the same theme.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Hybrid Tangles
This all went back to the time when I was doing Wreck This Journal ...
It was at WTJ that I got to know Kim, to whom I first learn about Zentangle. Then, or now on hindsight, WTJ has steered me to further creative direction and fun. It was at the end of WTJ that I decided I'll give Zentangle a try.
I ordered the kit (the deep green box in the photo) and started to collect "patterns" (the green box file) early August. Since the tangle is drawn on 89cm (approx. 3") square tile, I got myself a small green box to store them. As you can see, part of the fun is about getting the tools. (I adore gadgets!) ;)
The first tangle (left) I did was a straight copy from the instruction booklet. I picked and mixed the patterns to work on subsequent ones. I'm still fairly new to this so I can't quite yet write about my tangles (tangled) experience. But I can share this with you.
1) I'm drawn to the abstract patterns as a re-presentation of the strageness I write about in my stories.
2) It scared the daylight out of me when I decided to post my tangles. But I said to myself: Remember the fearlessness you felt when you posted all those pages of WTJ. Nothing coul
d stop me!
3) I'm doing this for the pleasure of sharing ... and ... (oh, come on, crying out loud!) I'm also curious to know how fellow creatives find them. (Like this one on the right.)
4) I'm not promising (mostly to myself) anything, but maybe I could post 1 Hybrid Tangles a week? (See the bottom one with the blue background.) On Sundays?
What do you think? (I need some cheering here!)
Thank you and enjoy!
It was at WTJ that I got to know Kim, to whom I first learn about Zentangle. Then, or now on hindsight, WTJ has steered me to further creative direction and fun. It was at the end of WTJ that I decided I'll give Zentangle a try.
I ordered the kit (the deep green box in the photo) and started to collect "patterns" (the green box file) early August. Since the tangle is drawn on 89cm (approx. 3") square tile, I got myself a small green box to store them. As you can see, part of the fun is about getting the tools. (I adore gadgets!) ;)
The first tangle (left) I did was a straight copy from the instruction booklet. I picked and mixed the patterns to work on subsequent ones. I'm still fairly new to this so I can't quite yet write about my tangles (tangled) experience. But I can share this with you.1) I'm drawn to the abstract patterns as a re-presentation of the strageness I write about in my stories.
2) It scared the daylight out of me when I decided to post my tangles. But I said to myself: Remember the fearlessness you felt when you posted all those pages of WTJ. Nothing coul
d stop me!3) I'm doing this for the pleasure of sharing ... and ... (oh, come on, crying out loud!) I'm also curious to know how fellow creatives find them. (Like this one on the right.)
4) I'm not promising (mostly to myself) anything, but maybe I could post 1 Hybrid Tangles a week? (See the bottom one with the blue background.) On Sundays?
What do you think? (I need some cheering here!)
Thank you and enjoy!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
The MeME Award
What a great honor that I got awarded twice by Kim and Leone of the MeME Award!
The rules of the award are as follows:
1) Share 7 tidbits about yourself
2) Share the MeME blog award with 7 blogger friends
Here are my 7 tidbits:
1) I got a whole bookcase of books which needed my reading, but I kept stocking more and more books. (I'm hopeless!)
2) My weekend uniform: jeans, T-shirt and red Converse
3) I stop coloring my hair since Jan this year.
4) I collect a particular type of mug from "Country Road" (a fashion and home ware brand in Australia)
5) If ever I don't want to be a writer anymore, I'd like to be a mythologist.
6) I wear contact lenses.
7) I have a major crush to David Tenant (Dr Who).
And what better way to get to know fellow bloggers more by passing them this award. My list of 7 blogger are:
Veena
Grammy
Barbara
Chapter Forty
Alex
Kavindra
Lawendula
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Power of Words
From recalling my years of reading books on personal development as stated in my post on The Joy Diet and my take on Scott Ginsberg’s writing advice, I re-learn about The Power of Words.
How? Let me explain this to you.
One thing that I took to my heart from reading books on personal development was about the negative connotation associated with the words “should” and “shouldn’t”. The negativity was so powerful that I had developed an automatic tune off to these two words.
The benefit of not buying into the “should” and “shouldn’t” is that I feel freer and less constricted in pursuing the things I like. But on the same token, I had suspected that I might have taken it too seriously, hence I might have missed out on some really good advice and even good fun!
A light bulb shone through when I read this from one of Scott Ginsberg’s “15 things …”:
Every time you say no to something that’s wrong for you, you make room FOR and give yourself permission to say yes to something that’s right for you.
The words that jumped out to me were “no” and “yes”.
I took the cue and played with the words a bit. Some amazing thing happened.
Example:
“I should write and I shouldn’t watch the re-run of NCIS for the 3rd time.”
When the above popped up in my mind, I concentrated so much on debating why I should write and not watch TV or vice versa, I ended up doing nothing.
“Say yes to writing and say no to NCIS.”
The signal is so clear that I don’t have to waste time to make up my mind.
Of course I could also say to myself: “yes to NCIS and no to writing.”
But this is still fine as I got to enjoy a good TV programme. The yes and no become a time saver and help to get things done.
So there you go, “The Power of Words”.
How? Let me explain this to you.
One thing that I took to my heart from reading books on personal development was about the negative connotation associated with the words “should” and “shouldn’t”. The negativity was so powerful that I had developed an automatic tune off to these two words.
The benefit of not buying into the “should” and “shouldn’t” is that I feel freer and less constricted in pursuing the things I like. But on the same token, I had suspected that I might have taken it too seriously, hence I might have missed out on some really good advice and even good fun!
A light bulb shone through when I read this from one of Scott Ginsberg’s “15 things …”:
Every time you say no to something that’s wrong for you, you make room FOR and give yourself permission to say yes to something that’s right for you.
The words that jumped out to me were “no” and “yes”.
I took the cue and played with the words a bit. Some amazing thing happened.
Example:
“I should write and I shouldn’t watch the re-run of NCIS for the 3rd time.”
When the above popped up in my mind, I concentrated so much on debating why I should write and not watch TV or vice versa, I ended up doing nothing.
“Say yes to writing and say no to NCIS.”
The signal is so clear that I don’t have to waste time to make up my mind.
Of course I could also say to myself: “yes to NCIS and no to writing.”
But this is still fine as I got to enjoy a good TV programme. The yes and no become a time saver and help to get things done.
So there you go, “The Power of Words”.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Write Everything Down, I Mean It!
From Scott Ginsberg’s various articles on writing, I have re-discovered and re-engaged with a very basic writing tip – Writing Things Down.
Before I start talking more about this re-discovery, I want to give credit to Lisa of Wrightstuff who introduced me to Ginsberg a while back. And just like Lisa, though I nodded my head on quite a few of Ginsberg's advice, I find him, at times, repetitive.
Let me put it this way, how many time you get excited when you see article tilted: 32 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block? Personally, once or twice are enough. But Ginsberg is religious and totally loyal to his “9 ways”, “13 daily disciplines”and “26 essentials”.
O.K. back to the subject matter. Ginsberg is all about “capture”. It could be of writing things down, taking photos, tear-off magazines pages etc. But it all comes down to the basic: write everything down. Don’t let anything skip your mind. He had mentioned “capture” so many times in his various articles that I began to think about my own (to use his word) “capture”.
I did write things down.
(Ginsberg: Write everything down.)
I did.
(Ginsberg: Write everything down!)
I did!
(Ginsberg: Write EVERYTHING down!)
Oops!
That’s what I mean. Yes, I did write everything down but did I write down every idea, every odd phrase, every one-liner, and every quote that came to my mind? No, I didn’t!
What I did was to write down those which I believed was good. This meant that I have killed an idea before it even became an idea.
To make sure I fully understood the ramification of “capture”, I began an experiment. For 4-days, I wrote down (as much as I physically could) every idea, every odd phrase, every one-liner, every quote that came to my mind. And do you know what I find out?
1) The more I “captured” them, the more they came to me.
2) I had more story ideas in one day than I could possibly have in a month’s time!
3) At first glance, these “captives” had nothing in common, but when I deliberately mixed them together; they opened up to further new ideas and new solutions from each other.
4) But the most amazing thing I found about “writing everything down” was that I became alive again. All these ideas, phrases, one-liners and quotes awoke my curiosity to my surroundings, to my mind and to my creativity. They energised me and brought me heaps of laughter.
I’m now a total convert to writing EVERYTHING down. I urge you, fellow creatives (writers and non-writers alike) write (sketch, draw, record) everything down. It’s a real kick to creativity and you’ll be amazed what you pick up along the road.
Before I start talking more about this re-discovery, I want to give credit to Lisa of Wrightstuff who introduced me to Ginsberg a while back. And just like Lisa, though I nodded my head on quite a few of Ginsberg's advice, I find him, at times, repetitive.
Let me put it this way, how many time you get excited when you see article tilted: 32 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block? Personally, once or twice are enough. But Ginsberg is religious and totally loyal to his “9 ways”, “13 daily disciplines”and “26 essentials”.
O.K. back to the subject matter. Ginsberg is all about “capture”. It could be of writing things down, taking photos, tear-off magazines pages etc. But it all comes down to the basic: write everything down. Don’t let anything skip your mind. He had mentioned “capture” so many times in his various articles that I began to think about my own (to use his word) “capture”.
I did write things down.
(Ginsberg: Write everything down.)
I did.
(Ginsberg: Write everything down!)
I did!
(Ginsberg: Write EVERYTHING down!)
Oops!
That’s what I mean. Yes, I did write everything down but did I write down every idea, every odd phrase, every one-liner, and every quote that came to my mind? No, I didn’t!
What I did was to write down those which I believed was good. This meant that I have killed an idea before it even became an idea.
To make sure I fully understood the ramification of “capture”, I began an experiment. For 4-days, I wrote down (as much as I physically could) every idea, every odd phrase, every one-liner, every quote that came to my mind. And do you know what I find out?
1) The more I “captured” them, the more they came to me.
2) I had more story ideas in one day than I could possibly have in a month’s time!
3) At first glance, these “captives” had nothing in common, but when I deliberately mixed them together; they opened up to further new ideas and new solutions from each other.
4) But the most amazing thing I found about “writing everything down” was that I became alive again. All these ideas, phrases, one-liners and quotes awoke my curiosity to my surroundings, to my mind and to my creativity. They energised me and brought me heaps of laughter.
I’m now a total convert to writing EVERYTHING down. I urge you, fellow creatives (writers and non-writers alike) write (sketch, draw, record) everything down. It’s a real kick to creativity and you’ll be amazed what you pick up along the road.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Jamie's Next Chapter - The Joy Diet by Martha Beck
I finally decided that I am to join in Jamie’s Next Chapter Book Blogging Group for The Joy Diet by Martha Beck.
Why I said I “finally decided” to join the activity?
Well, personal development as a cultural movement has been going on for a very long time. And just like any other persons, who want to better oneself, I have been reading this type of books for years. Perhaps I’ve been reading too many of them, the appeal started to diminish over the years. Also, I have troubles of getting through and stick with the program, hence could never rip the benefits which the books offered.
When Jamie announced the book title for The Next Chapter after “Wreck This Journal”, my immediate reaction: Nope, I’m not gonna do this again. (I don’t mean this particular book. I’m referring to the personal development program.) However, after these last few weeks checking the names of fellow bloggers who registered for the program, I began to have second thoughts.
Firstly, lots of ex-wreck stars have signed up for this one. If I join up, I’ll be “connecting” with them again.
Secondly, I’ve never worked on personal development with a group before. And it might be one of the reasons why I can’t finish one. With a leader like Jamie and the group, I might be able to finish it this time.
Thirdly, the usual benefits of joining group activities – making new friends, more fun, more energy etc.
I’m beginning to look forward the start of the program on 18/09!
(Hope my book arrives on time!)
Why I said I “finally decided” to join the activity?
Well, personal development as a cultural movement has been going on for a very long time. And just like any other persons, who want to better oneself, I have been reading this type of books for years. Perhaps I’ve been reading too many of them, the appeal started to diminish over the years. Also, I have troubles of getting through and stick with the program, hence could never rip the benefits which the books offered.
When Jamie announced the book title for The Next Chapter after “Wreck This Journal”, my immediate reaction: Nope, I’m not gonna do this again. (I don’t mean this particular book. I’m referring to the personal development program.) However, after these last few weeks checking the names of fellow bloggers who registered for the program, I began to have second thoughts.
Firstly, lots of ex-wreck stars have signed up for this one. If I join up, I’ll be “connecting” with them again.
Secondly, I’ve never worked on personal development with a group before. And it might be one of the reasons why I can’t finish one. With a leader like Jamie and the group, I might be able to finish it this time.
Thirdly, the usual benefits of joining group activities – making new friends, more fun, more energy etc.
I’m beginning to look forward the start of the program on 18/09!
(Hope my book arrives on time!)
Monday, August 17, 2009
Post or Not Post My Stories In My Blog
I have wanted to ask these questions for some time but kept feeling embarrassed by it. But then the more I thought and researched about it, the more I was confused. So I’m giving it a go here.
As a writer, clearly, we are always on the look out for publishing opportunities. One of the venues is to post our writings in our blogs.
My questions are:
- Since a lot of publication requires the story never published before, is it better off if I don’t post my stories in my blog at all?
- And if I choose to post my stories in my blog, would I lose my publishing chances and would I be considered as an amateur?
- Are there any general guidelines?
Any comments and / or respond are welcomed.
As a writer, clearly, we are always on the look out for publishing opportunities. One of the venues is to post our writings in our blogs.
My questions are:
- Since a lot of publication requires the story never published before, is it better off if I don’t post my stories in my blog at all?
- And if I choose to post my stories in my blog, would I lose my publishing chances and would I be considered as an amateur?
- Are there any general guidelines?
Any comments and / or respond are welcomed.
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