Isabel Swift: Cherry Blossoms–what’s it to you?
April 24, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as cherry blossoms, christo, running fenceThe cherry blossoms around the tidal basin in Washington, D.C. were a gift from Japan. Cherry blossoms symbolize the beauty and the fragility of life. This shot combines a pine tree, which symbolizes long life, cherry and holly. Holly symbolizes protection, so it all kind of makes sense….?
Some romance novels that have characters tied up in knots and unable to break free often have a crisis that challenges them to rethink their priorities, to realize that life is too short to hold back. They, like the cherry blossoms, serve to remind us to remember to appreciate what we have before we lose it.
Some might feel that this should be contemplated solo, but really, it’s a valuable message for all, something worth sharing and appreciating with others.
Some said the blossoms were “past their prime” but that just meant we walked on a carpet of petals.
The tidal basin edge was quite amazing looking, like a work of modern art:
There were buds, blossoms and new shoots not just from the twigs and branches, but emerging from the gnarled trunks. Life popping out everywhere.
One of my favorite images–petals in the mud. With the right eyes, no matter where you looked, beauty was everywhere.
OK, yes, these are NOT cherry trees, though they are lovely. These formed the edge of the George Mason monument. Who knew he was such an amazing guy? Who knew he had a really lovely statue and garden? A treat. And an example of why D.C. is so lovely in the spring–so many flowering trees.
This is just a glimpse of the WWII Memorial, in case you haven’t seen. The Lincoln Monument you should be familiar with!
This was a special D.C. moment. Total logjam with both car and foot traffic confused us until we realized someone more important than us (I know, hard to believe) was passing by. Yes, that’s the presidentialmobil. Obama was coming back from NYC.
That same day we went to the Smithsonian museum of American Art and saw an amazing show of drawings from Christo’s running fence. Running fence existed for two weeks in September of 1975. As you may know, the pieces are only up briefly, though they have taken years and incredible effort and cost to make happen.
Christo’s work is truly a statement of how, despite–or even because of–the challenge of the effort, we must all make the time we have something to treasure.
Overly philosophical? Perhaps. But true….
Are we WRITERS? by Monica Stoner Member at (very) Large
April 19, 2010 by Marianne H. Donley in category Archives tagged as Member At Large, Monica StonerWhat defines us as writers? Some say the act of writing, of pulling words from our heads and putting them on pages, defines a writer. If that’s the case, when we don’t write, do we cease being writers?
We all agree publishing of any sort does not define us as writers. Publishing is the public acknowledgment of our writing. The same as hanging a painting in a gallery, or selling sculpture recognizes a large step in an artist’s life. However, creating that artwork has already identified that person as an artist. When asked, they can point to the sculpture, the hand thrown bowl, the oil painting, as an affirmation of their identity as an artist. When not currently producing, they still have that proof of their creative spark.
How long after we cease to torture our bodies by sitting for hours in front of our computer and cudgel our minds for just one viable idea can we continue to call ourselves writers? Is there a specific length of time, or maybe one day we just wake up and decide it’s time to move on to something else? If, after a span of time, we plan to take up the challenge once more will we be still writing, or writing once again? Do we call ourselves once and future writers?
Teachers and nurses retire; pilots retire; and certainly soldiers and policemen retire. Once they have made that change in their lives, they are former teachers, pilots, etc (except Marines – I understand once a Marine, Always a Marine). Do writers ever retire? Or do they plan to be found, pen in hand, yellow pad on their lap, jotting down one final thought? Maybe writers are the Marines of the cerebral world – once a Writers, always a Writer?
Where is this leading? I’m not really sure. I just know by the act of dragging these words out of my head and into my fingers, I’ve gone from not writing to writing. So I guess I’m still a writer. And next maybe I’ll discuss wonderful writing data bases and why they don’t work for everyone.
Monica Stoner
tsent@ix.netcom.com
We’re only given a little spark of madness; we mustn’t lose it.
e-maginings: Aries New Moon
April 16, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Aries, astrology, e-maginings, Linda McLaughlin, new moon, writng
Before I started writing, back in the Dark Ages (before the Internet), I used to study astrology and I still find it interesting. Wednesday April 14 was the Aries New Moon, the first one of the astrological year. (Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac and starts with the Vernal Equinox. It’s also my Sun Sign.)
A New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon line up astronomically so that the moon is between the Earth and the Sun, and thsu not visible anywhere on earth. In astrological terms, Moon and Sun are in conjunction. A new moon occurs at least once a month, and sometimes twice, known as a Blue Moon.
According to a recent email I received from Astrology.com, the Aries new moon is:
…the most vibrant and inspirational of all new Moons of the year… a time when it is vital to get your head (Sun) and your heart (Moon) — together. This is the only way you can get wholeheartedly behind whatever emotional changes or projects take root at this time.
New Moons are only slivers of light in the sky, so this will not be a spectacular even by any chance. But this is the time to sow the seeds, nurture them carefully and watch them grow. You need a vision — which is the idea; you need a plan — which is the realistic way of moving towards your cherished goal. Then you need patience — which isn’t the same as doing nothing — it is all about helping along what wants to happen…
Since this particular Aries New Moon is in easy aspect to Neptune, being creative or being spiritual will be all the more important. Listen to that inner voice, and you will know which dream is being awakened from its slumbers. And remember the old saying: ‘The dreamers of the day act with their eyes open and make it happen.’
Sounds good to me. I’ve been in a dry spell, writing-wise, but maybe this will be a good time to start a new project, something I’ve been taking baby steps toward doing. Now if I can just get some words on the page…
Wish me luck!
Linda McLaughlin
w/a Lyndi Lamont
5 Tips to Writing Fiction that I learned from writing kids’ cartoons for TV by Jina Bacarr
April 11, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as cartoons, Confessions of a Podcast Goddess, Inspirational fiction, TV, writing process
When I was preparing for a teleconference with author Heidi Richards for her publishing series about writing fiction, I thought about my early days in TV and the valuable lessons that I learned from writing scripts.
I discussed this topic in depth with Heidi in the teleconference, but I’ve included my 5 tips for writing fiction for you at the end of this blog. But first–
How did I start writing sexy fiction?
When I wrote a monthly column for a computer magazine called Sweet Savage Byte, who knew years later mainstream would meet bitstream, making e-books (including sexy fiction) available at the click of a mouse. The Internet’s easy access and anonymity made it all possible.
It also gave the opportunity for so many writers to bring out those stories from underneath their beds and see their works published.
My sexy coming-of-age story “The Blonde Geisha“ was published by Harlequin Spice during that time. That novel was followed by several other titles that I’ve written for Spice as well as a non-fiction book for Stone Bridge Press, “The Japanese Art of Sex: how to tease, seduce and pleasure the samurai in your bedroom.”
Here is the short version of my 5 Tips for writing fiction that I learned from writing kids’ cartoons for TV:
1. Beat It: know your story beats
2. You gotta have heart. What is your emotional theme?
3. Dialogue is king (or queen).
4. The white rabbit syndrome: getting into the scene as late as you can and out as quickly as you can.
5. Writing is rewriting.
So the next time you sit down to watch your favorite TV show, watch it with the eye of a television writer: note the story beats, boil down the emotional core of the story to one or two words, listen to the dialogue, watch how they get in and out of a scene, then press rewind and watch it again.
And don’t forget the most important tip of all when you write your story: let your imagination soar.
It’s the magic that makes the elephant fly.
The Blonde Samurai
“She embraced the way of the warrior. Two swords. Two loves.â€
Reading for a Road Trip
April 8, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category ArchivesI’m on the road (and occasionally in the air) with my family for almost a month, trailing my hubby around the USA as he works, plus taking some vacation time. Our journey includes 10 days meandering in the South. I’m hoping to have lots of lovely reading time…which means I need lots of lovely books!
It makes sense to read some Southern-themed novels, right? To get myself in the mood for the trip, I recently re-read To Kill a Mockingbird, which blew me away with its wonderfulness. Not one false note in that book. Somewhat more contemporary but equally Southern, I just finished Into the Corner, by Marisa Carroll, the latest in the Harlequin NASCAR series – I’m loving this series, and not just because I wrote for it!
I have In This Mountain, by Jan Karon in my suitcase…but I need more! I’m hoping to find The Goddess of Fried Okra, the new book by Jean Brashear, in a bookstore soon, plus the last two books in the current Harlequin NASCAR series, Raising the Stakes by Wendy Etherington, and Crossing the Line, by Jean Brashear, both April releases.
Anyone got any great ideas for other Southern-themed books to help me along my way?
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