Writing Wings For You

Marie Lukasik Wallace ~ # I LIVE Poetry – I'm passionate about life and writing and all things creative and poetic!


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I DID IT! – Camp NaNoWriMo

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There’s something to finishing a goal.I have never done anything like this before, so I have to CHEER  WOO WOO!

Thanks to Rhonda Blackhurst, I joined the July NaNoWriMo.  Our Writing Cabin had motivated AND motivating writers!  It was awesome to be able to put in my own word count goals and have a team to support me in attaining that goal.  Who would have thought having a word count would help out so much?  It made me put my seat in the chair and get those words down!  (I didn’t want to let my team down.) The words I write at that moment may not be the best words or the prettiest sounding words, but they are on the paper.  As the wonderful Bird by Bird author, Anne Lamott,  calls them Crappy First Drafts (but she uses a different word, same principal). The gist she says is that you have permission to write long, incoherent, hideous, self-indulgent, boring sentences.  It’s okay, you’re getting the words down.  You don’t know what you know or don’t know until you know it.    (That’s a hairy sentence!)

Writing helps me know what I know if  I let go of perfection or it having to look or sound a certain way. Essentially, I got out of my own way, and let the words fly. Now comes the beauty of crafting the words and honing them in on the juiciness of the story.

The other grand part?  It allowed me to make so many connections and figure things out of what I want to write and even some of the hows, which I didn’t have before.  There was some element of knowing my path a little better.  Had I just stared at the screen or better yet, avoid the screen with senseless other “have to” activities in the name of being busy, I would not have gotten more clarity.

If you ever get a chance, you have to read Bird by Bird.  She’ll not only make you feel like you’re a person, but you’ll also know that you’re a writer, faults and all.  Here’s to some wonderful cabin mates and fellow bloggers.  Check them out!

Rhonda Blackhurst

Shawn L. Bird

Pioneergirl08

Wolff1166

And JohnnaA


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I am a Pluviophile

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Sometimes we find new ways of defining ourselves.   Today, I discovered that my daughters and I are:

PLUVIOPHILES!  (which upon first impression sounds awful, right?)   –

Here’s what the Urban Dictionary says:

(n) a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days

My brother is a real pluviophile; the Seattle climate will suit him well.
You should share you Pluviophilic pictures with me.  Anyone dancing in the rain deserves to be posted out loud.   I like the part where it defines us as having “joy.”  My favorite word.
Have a most awesome day!  ~Nemaste, Marie


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wherever you go, go with all your heart. – confucius

Perfect words from mommy to mommy….

beth's avatarI didn't have my glasses on....

solarsystem.nasa.gov

by day’s end

my three daughters

will be

on three different continents

africa, australia, america (north)

and i

will be

like the moon

quietly

looking over

each of them

with light

and pride.

—

You teach your daughters the diameters of the planets

and wonder when you are done that they do not delight in your company.

– Samuel Johnson

—

image credit: nasa.gov

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Texture Tuesdays – Cool Artwork (Wednesday)

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My sister is an amazing texture artist.  I took this from a piece she gave me a couple of weeks ago.  She puts an incredible amount of hours (hundreds) into each piece.  Look how amazing the detail is!  I love FEELING texture…so sometimes I have to put the artwork somewhere I might not be apt to touch feely it all the time.  It took the picture from several angles so you could really see the depth of the texture.  You can click on each image to take a closer peak! I do not have this kind of diligence or patience.

It you’d like to see more of her artwork, it’s at http://www.ykacrylicartshop.com

And if you’d love more TEXTURE TUESDAY adventures, , be sure to pop on over and see what Narami and other TEXTURE COLLECTORS ARE FINDING!  (What a most beautiful world we are uncovering.)


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Random Acts of Kindness

So thankful for kind-hearted people!

huntmode's avatarChasing Rabbit Holes

Some days, you need a little sunshine. Here it comes:

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I LIVE POETRY – Do You See what I see? – Beauty All around

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I was just waking the Boise Green Belt, when a mom and her babies crossed in front. So sad that my zoom doesn’t  zoom as much…Mommy was very calm and didn’t panic. Bikers and walkers stopped in awe.  My day was blessed. Hmmmm have a story building in my brain… sweetness with mama and babies.

This is living poetry…seeing beauty all around.


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Funny Story – My 77 Year Old Dad got his first “Twitter” Account

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My dad is a Doctor Dolittle. He certainly has a way with animals. He interacts with them like people, mostly because he is a man who lives out in the country, and animals are the closest things to talk to. He has regular people conversations with animals; and like Dr. Dolittle, it is not limited to cats or dogs. Currently, he has 2 cats and 3 dogs and a frog that comes and sits.

One day when I visited dad, he surprised me by telling me the conversation he was having with a bird outside. Rarely does my dad get excited about things. Most of our conversations consist of the weather and typical daily chores. But on this day, my dad carried on about his interaction with the bird.

Dad continues, “Marie, the bird would make a sound ‘tweet, tweet’ and then I would echo back, ‘tweet, tweet.’ Then dad would start it, giving a new pattern, ‘tweet, tweet, tweet,’ and the bird would reply back, ‘tweet, tweet, tweet.’   The bird copied the pattern!

My dad carried on about their conversation, and his eyes lit up, and he was very animated, excited about this forged relationship with yet another animal. My favorite part however, was that my dad said, “Hey, now I’ve tweeted!”   My mouth dropped open in utter surprise. I didn’t even know he KNEW what tweeting was!

This interaction with my daddy got me curious about the origins of Twitter and just had to look it up. And though Wikipedia isn’t a formal, technical way of finding things out, it most certainly has a line or two that suggests how it came about.

Dorsey has explained the origin of the “Twitter” title:

…we came across the word ‘twitter’, and it was just perfect. The definition was ‘a short burst of inconsequential information,’ and ‘chirps from birds’. And that’s exactly what the product was.[

It was quite an interesting article. You can read more about it HERE.

Later that day, I heard the “twitter” of the birds and just smiled a sweet smile just thinking that maybe a man like my dad could have been an originator of the first tweets.

Another glorious day with my daddy.  :0)

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images from free Google images

 


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For Writers – Writing Resources

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BELOW YOU WILL FIND Recommendations & Links for :

Writer’s Conferences, Great Writing books & helpful Writing Sites

 

BOOKS THAT ARE INSPIRING FOR WRITERS:

BIRD BY BIRD – Anne Lamott – What I love about this book is that it gives the writer a “buddy,” a pal that can relate to your writing woes:  when you write like crap, when you can’t write at all, when you stay staring at a computer screen…she helps you to feel normal.  And then she gives you some great tips on how to solve these problems.  It’s a quick read, and it’s stock-piled with HUMOR!  This book has been giving writers great advice for over twenty years.

ON WRITING – Stephen King – This book not only gives great tools from a writer who’s obviously been very successful, but it’s laced with humor and how writing and living are closely connected.  It’s been around for over 10 years and still well loved.  That says a lot about this book.

WRITING DOWN THE BONES: by Natalie Goldberg – Natalie applauds the age old adage that if you want to improve your craft, you need time to practice and experience. Good tips on how to get the stream of consciousness going and leaving the editor behind. Though it was first published 20 years ago, there is still sound writerly advice.  (quick read)  She has several other books that are helpful to writers as well.  Other books:  One on secrets of writing Memoir – Old Friend from Afar ; and one related to her writing workshops – The True Secret of Writing Connecting Life

The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron– – Great way to start a wrtierly life -Morning Pages allow you to use your stream of consciousness writing and get rid of the editor.  There is no focus or judgement just a commitment to writing a certain amount of time every day.  You’ll be surprised what happens!  You get real gold nuggets!  (and lots of ideas too.)  

Word Arts Collage by Peggy Heller – Though this book was intended for the use of Poetry Therapists, it also has some great tips and tricks for put imagery and words together.

Writer’s Market 2014 – Guide to getting Published – This book has been very helpful in finding publishers and agents, getting published in magazines and writing contests.  It also has going rates for Publishing costs, Advertising & Public Relations, Business, etc.  so you can get a better picture of how much it will cost to run the business side of things.

MY PINTEREST – BOARD FOR INSPIRATION, QUOTES, STRATEGIES

 

WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES:

Here are a few events that I have attended this year  or will be attending that I know you will love.

 Inspired Legacy –  next Workshop November 13th-16th – Bridget is a New York Times Best Seller – I have been to three of Bridget’s retreats, and they are worth every penny.

Why:

*  Wicked tools to organize your research and your writing

*  Tips and tricks of the writing trade

*  DOs and DON’Ts of getting an Agent & Getting Published

* Special one on one with Bridget – brilliant, intuitive, relevant feedback

* Collaboration with peers – give and get feedback

(She holds one every three months or so.  There are also opportunities for yearlong coaching workshops.  AMAZING!)

Sun Valley Writer’s Conference – intimate setting in a beautiful resort in Sun Valley.  You can make connection and meet with awesome writers all over.  Next conference is July 2015.  TBA

 Destiny  & Legacy Workshops with Frank White & Sheli G–

Destiny -This workshop is more for the business aspect of your writing/author business.   What you will like is that they “get real” and they have a lot of business savvy.  You will learn what’s working and not working.   – This version is for women only.   DESTINY will probably come back around in 2015.  I will keep you posted.

Legacy 2014 – the men’s version of the above Destiny workshop is due to come out around October.  As soon as I hear something, I will let you know!

Diane McKinnon – Live to Write – RETREAT in NH – I don’t know Diane, but I do know she is passionate about writing; and when someone is passionate and on fire, they usually have some juicy good things to impart!

 

LINKS TO HELPFUL WRITING SITES:

Writers’ Digest – This is a magazine full of writing tips and tricks and advice on everything from writing to publishing and how to get an agent.  They have contests too.  Don’t want a magazine coming to your door?  Go to their web-site!

 

National Novel Writing Month – This is a tool for writers who have a difficult time being on one project and staying on one project.  It offers you a chance to be with cabin mates who can cheer you along, and there’s a way to watch your progress through word count.  How it helped me was to accept my writing as not having to be perfect every day.  Get it down, edit, craft, beautify later.  Get the bones built; put the skin on later.  November is the big month for writing 50,000 words toward your novel, but the have smaller camps too.

Writer’s Reference Guide – This web-site goes along with the book version to getting published.  Has the same information as above.

PINTEREST – BOARD FOR INSPIRATION, QUOTES, STRATEGIES

BLOGS I’VE WRITTEN ABOUT WRITING ARE  HERE. (link is temporarily broken)

VIDEOS COMING SOON!


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Oatmeal-whole wheat pizza crust with different toppings

I can’t wait to try this! Healthy. And it looks soooo yummy!

Chitra Jagadish's avatarChitra's Healthy Kitchen

Oats Pizza with Mushroom

About:

Oatmeal, whole wheat, flax seed pizza is a wholesome recipe and you will have no guilt of having a pizza again. This is a multigrain crust pizza with tomato basil homemade pizza sauce and topped with greens, sun-dried tomatoes, jalapenos, mushrooms.

Using dill leaves as a topping gave a very mild and warm flavour similar to that of anise.

Health Benefits:

Sun dried tomatoes are rich in nutrients, low in calorie, low in fat but high in sugar so despite of health benefits of eating sun dried tomatoes just the one with diabetes should be careful to budget this into their daily sugar intake before adding tomatoes to their diet.

So top with any toppings of your choice and enjoy with this wholesome pizza.

Yields: 2 medium Pizza
Preparation time: 20mins
Baking time: 13-15mins

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