100 Words – And Something Else
2011
Speaking of Challenges
I finally got a chance to drop into the art store yesterday and pick up some new pastels and watercolor pencils. I’m not particularly handy with them, but they are my favorite mediums other than my camera, and of course writing. In high school I had a bit of talent for sketching. My work was more than once put on display in the school’s art case. Funny, but I never shared this with my parents. I can’t remember why this might have been, other than I was as private a person back then as I am now.
No, the irony of being such a private person and running a blog is not lost on me. I’ve always been good at “hiding in plain sight”.
Once home I dumped my goods onto the table, cleared a space, and went upstairs to grab some art books for inspiration. Among those books I stumbled across my copy of The Artist’s Way
There are 12 weeks of exercises and tasks (I don’t think the “12 steps” are a coincidence since the author was an alcoholic who got sober at 30) that can be applied to any art, including writing. SO, if any of you would like to join me on this journey, I’ll figure out how we can go through the process on our blogs. I’ve skimmed the book and the exercises and tasks will take a significant commitment, but if you’re serious about your craft, of serious about evolving as a creative, it looks worth it. If you’re up for this, let me know in comments, pick up the book (if you order from the link above it helps to support this blog), and we’ll go from there.
As for the 100 word challenge, there were a lot of heart shredding pieces last week. Murder, looming death and loss, children in wheelchairs, chasms between lovers, and suicide. If you’ve been in need of a good cry, grab the Kleenex and go back through the entries. That should do the trick. I chose relative newcomer David of Puffery and Taradiddle. His was one of the most excruciatingly heartbreaking ones.
His death hit me harder than I’d expected. Never close, we hadn’t spoken in years. His inability to love could be summed up by any number of episodes from my childhood. But it wasn’t isolated incidents that drove us apart. His detachment had become a constant theme of growing up. Successful at everything he did, he bathed in his own self-importance rather than immerse himself in the duties of fatherhood.
That he had been found hanged, shocked me. That the note they found in his pocket spoke of his failure at the only thing he’d ever cared about, broke me.
Heavy.
National Poetry Month is officially over, so this week’s word is from The Artist’s Way (what else?).
FAMILY
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[...] is in response to Velvet Verbosity’s 100 Word Challenge. The prompt this week is FAMILY. Please be sure to ... -
A Family Day Out To The Zoo (100 Word Challenge) | Short Stories
[...] week’s 100 Word Challenge from ‘Velvet Verbosity’ had the theme ‘Family’. The story had to be exactly 100 [...]
great choice for pick of the week. David’s piece was poignant and heartbreaking.
So – I’m not an artist with colors – is your new challenge just for those kinds of artists? I wield a mean pen and camera, however. Just wondering.
Barbara recently posted..Annie Smiles
Barbara, the author’s primary art form is writing, and she initially started her course to help writers but realized it worked for every kind of creativity. This is not a how-to book on any particular art, it’s about going through exercises that will unhinge and unlock all the things that block you from your deepest creative self. I’ve not done it, but I know the book has received high praise from those that have.
books now ordered . . . grabs pen and waits . . .
Barbara recently posted..Annie Smiles
Did you see the new post?
This book was one I saw on my late father’s bookshelf years ago. I think he was a blocked fiction writer- always too busy with other commitments (read: me) to really pursue it. His birthday is in July which is *flips calendar pages* 12 weeks from now.
In other words, if I were any more in, I’d be behind you.
Book ordered, awaiting instructions, Oh Velvet One.
Michael recently posted..IndieInk Writing Challenge- No Remorse
Oh wow. So this book is completely calling you! Here’s what I’m thinking, I’m going to post the tasks from the first chapter so that those of you who are waiting to receive it can start right away. I’ll do this as soon as possible.
So glad you’re on board.
Yeah, super choice. David’s entry grabs you by the throat and the heart.
Lance recently posted..The Magna Carta of Music Snobbery
Just realized I didn’t link to David’s blog, but that’s fixed now.
I’ll get the book. Because … you know … Mistress, I hear and obey.
lceel recently posted..I would have liked to have known him
I’ve read the intro chapters, and the first “week” chapter, and I think you’re going to like it.
Also, I need to figure out how to bottle this “hear and obey” stuff.
damn. missed again. will post shortly!
Allison recently posted..Can I Make It
I didn’t make it around to that one, excellent choice!
upinthecosmos recently posted..Friends and Family
Excellent choice. Heartbreaking.
Tara R. recently posted..Never assume
Beautiful choice. My class is done next week. Just really need another commitment to fill my days, so I’m in! Already have a copy sitting on the shelf gathering 3 years of dust.
Ms. Marsha recently posted..How We Roll
Yay! Hope you saw the “Week One” post.
Sorry about the double post on this week’s linkylist. Blog was jacked and I had to delete and repost which changed the link. Didn’t know how to delete from the submissions.
Ms. Marsha recently posted..Birth Order
I can take care of it on the back-end.
Velvet Verbosity recently posted..The Artist’s Way – Week One