Well, the last two days have been spent procrastinating. I've got lots to write but just couldn't get down to it. Then it dawned on me that I'm giving a workshop in two weeks called, "Don't Procrastinate...Produce," and it ironically occurred to me that I should put my own advice to good use. I was using every excuse in the book (and creating a few new ones for good measure). We had just gotten back from vacation so I certainly didn't need a rest - maybe a vacation from my vacation? The biggest reason I couldn't get at it was I just didn't "feel" like it. I guess it was just good old fashioned writer's block. Yeah, right! I sat and stared back and forth from the screen to the list of articles and blogs that were awaiting my attention. Then, bling! I couldn't help my eyes from straying to the bottom right of my computer screen to see who had just sent me an email or was trying to chat with me on FaceBook. Too many distractions! So, what's my advice for workshop participants? Get rid of them. Sometimes that's easier said than done and this week was a prime example. But, I sucked it up and draaaaagggggggedddddd my mouse to the sign out link on Facebook and then closed down my email. O.K. Now I was ready...or was I? The cat wandered in behind me and let out a forlorn cry. I had to stop what I was doing and give him a little pat...didn't I? O.K. Maybe a coffee would help. Half an hour later I'm back at the keyboard watching the flashing curser, willing it to start moving and spill out some scintillating prose. My fingers still remained motionless on the keyboard. This was actually getting painful. The last resort (even when on deadline) is to get away from the desk, out into the fresh air and (in my case) head to the beach. A total shift in place, time and energy always does the trick for me. So, why didn't I think of it before? After a couple of hours, I returned, sat down at the computer and my fingers started flying over the keyboard. Procrastination over...blog complete!
Paul tinkles the ivories with the Beatles 'Let it Be' Artists Inspire Artists I was at my brother's piano recital yesterday and had a very interesting conversation with his 92 year old piano teacher and one of her students. The student, who was an artist and had only started learning to play the piano, was talking about how she used sound to teach painting. A long stroke was a 'shoosh' and making short, staccato brush movements went 'bup, bup, bup'. I smiled and thought about how all creative types overlapped, embracing all elements of culture to enrich one's specific area of skill and passion. A sculptor or painter often creates to music and, as a writer, I definitely pull from my cultural experiences, whether it's a symphony or an art gallery, to help formulate descriptions of feelings and senses to lay out on a printed page. Nature Inspires Creative types see the world around them just a bit differently, which leads to the creation ...
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