Mistakes

Mistakes ... you have to be willing to make them. I have to be willing to make them. I don't think I am willing enough. I think too carefully before beginning anything, and before saying anything. But they really are how we learn. My husband is always working to improve his French, and I think the reason he is so successful is his willingness to keep it up, and make tonnes of mistakes. If he isn't sure of a word or construction, he doesn't really slow down, he just picks one and says it to keep the sentence going. You can still understand what he's saying, and the conversation stays a conversation, rather than a lesson, or a patience test. 

Today, I plan on making some mistakes. 

Cleaning all day

ARGH! no inspiration so far today. I've been cleaning and driving people places for much of it. I actually don't mind cleaning, especially when I'm home alone, and it often DOES provide a chance for creative thinking. I listen to the radio, hear fascinating stuff, and get to move around a lot keeping the blood flowing. But so far, nothing NEW, and certainly no work on any of the ideas I've had this week. (not there have been many, but still. I know this blog counts to some extent, but I'm starting to feel I'm spinning my wheels even on this.



Book title: How the Light Gets In (from Leonard Cohen: There is a crack, a crack in everything/that's how the light gets in)

The real work

It's easy to sit here and muse, isn't it? But when does THE REAL WORK begin? I guess this blog is part of it, but really, I should push beyond.

I am still not 100 per cent certain about NaNoWriMo next month, although it seems a good idea. But I want a push, and I want to head in several directions. NaNo is more of a shove in one. We'll see.

If I'm honest, I have to admit that some of my hesitation is about finding "just the right thing" to begin. Something fulfilling to me, but interesting to others. Something that will be beautiful in some way, but (if I really look down deep) might actually pay off financially. If I could just let go of some of that, I think I will be able to start. I have started blogging, so there you go .

book title for today: Lifting the edge

Going out

I tend to be a stay-at-home type. Partly because that's my nature, but I'm also careful with my money, and my partner is a stay-at-home type, too. We figure we have wine and great food at home, so why go out?

But last night we were walking home from an errand, and decided to eat out at a local pub. The food was pretty good, but that wasn't the best thing. It was the conversation. Being in a different setting, one that forces us to sit face to face, with no choice of watching a movie, or doing laundry or anything else really gets us going, conversation-wise. This is not to say we don't talk when we're home. We do. A LOT. Because of my erratic work schedule, and the fact that he (mostly) works from home, we have much more time together than most couples do.

But something about moving that time together to a different setting seems to help turn the conversation to projects and plans. What kinds of ventures could we start together? What should his next book be about? Should I be writing a book of my own? (YES!) It's great, and very inspiring.

So that was my creative endeavor yesterday. We talked about a possible kids book podcast, and about how I could do more editing.

Goal for today is to put some element of that into action. Explore the possibilities.

Book title: Finding the Slope.

Book titles and first lines

I think about writing a lot -- way more than I ever actually do any.

My job does involve writing -- fact-based writing, but it allows for a bit of creative thinking, which I like.

But so often in the course of the day I hear someone say something, or I think of something myself and think "What a great book title!" or "What a great opening line!" And I try, for a moment, to think what that book might be about, or where that first line will lead. But it's rare I take it beyond that, even in my head.
I guess that is what this blog is going to be about as well -- the follow-through.

Yesterday, I got an idea for a novel. Not an idea exactly, more a setting. With NaNoWriMo coming up, I am thinking I should grab that setting, and actually try to develop it into a story of some sort. Stop worrying about the final result, and just go with it.

That's the plan.

BTW: Some real titles I love: Mourning Becomes Electra, The Watch that Ends the Night, Snow Falling on Cedars, The Once and Future King, Breathing Lessons.

Creativity

I think a lot of what I'm planning to do is trying to figure out whether I'm creative (I think most people are to some extent, but I don't believe the nonsense that we are all artistic geniuses waiting to be discovered.)

So, I would like to figure out if I am creative. Preferably with the written word, but I also like to think of entrepreneurial ideas, and wonder if i could actually get some sort of business off the ground.

Part of the issue for me is I have very little ambition. This doesn't mean I am lazy, or not good at what I do at my day job (which isn't every day). I think I work well there, and I work very hard to be a good parent. But, the kids are both teenagers; one is away at school. I should probably step up my game a bit in the "life outside home" department. Even if that means working from home, if you see what I mean.

Even though I have no followers yet (day two, after all), I am going to ask: How do you get your creative juices going? Your inspiration to do.... something. Anything really.

I'm going to think about that, and try to post my thoughts on that in the near future.

"See" you tomorrow.

Just starting out

I wonder how many people's first blog posts have that type of title: Just starting out. My first post. Hello world.

It is a bit intimidating to figure out what to say in an inaugural post.

I guess I should start with why I'm starting out.

My answer: I'm not sure. I've always wanted to be a writer, and the advice from all the best writers is: JUST WRITE. So that's part of it.

Also, I'd like to start using some creativity while I'm online.

Mainly, I plan to chart how I'm going to GET A LIFE. Or maybe a better phrase would be GET MORE LIFE. I have a wonderful life, husband, children, etc... My job is interesting, and not too onerous. We have a house, great family, etc. But I think most of us have a feeling that we could be more than we are. I'm going to use this blog to explore that a bit for me.

This will be a "one week at a time" strategy.

So, my first task I set myself is to commit to writing each day. I will file a blog post every day this week.

Let's see how it goes.