Write on Wednesday: Write on Schedule

Becca’s Write on Wednesday writing prompt is as follows:

How does writing fit into your daily life? What’s your ideal time to write, and why? Do you “write on schedule” or “when the spirit moves you”?

For me, that’s not a simple answer. As a working writer/editor, I live and die by deadlines every single day. I edit a monthly magazine and a weekly newsletter (and write any non-PBS-supplied copy) , along with quarterly newsletters, press releases, marketing plans and advertising copy writing.

Pretty much all of these come with pretty tight and regular deadlines. It doesn’t matter if my ideal time to write is morning or evening, I’m doing it all day.

But on my own stuff… well, often that means the blog. I’ll “think” it in the evening the night before I post and may indeed actually write it and e-mail it to myself, so I can post it the following day.

But, sometimes, that “think” carries on until after work or late in the day when I can jot it down and post then and there.

I build it into the schedule then, because I have to, not necessarily because I’m inspired! That’s why the better I “think” it, the easier it is to write.

Other things – poetry comes to mind as a key example, are written “when the spirit moves me.” Last night, for example, I jotted down six topics and for a couple of them, a few phrases I didn’t want to forget. I probably won’t work on those poems till about a week or two before they are “due” (as part of an annual gift, which includes writing and creating an art-book with the poems).

I guess I write best under pressure!

Rollin’ on the River

This week I did something new – took my first canoe trip down the Au Sable River, near Grayling, Michigan.

The day had a less than auspicious beginning, looking a tad gloomier than we had planned. This set our departure time back a bit.

But, with picnic in tow, we headed to the canoe livery. As we were leaving the parked car, I realized that my diamond necklace – which hasn’t been off my neck since Rick gave it to me for Christmas – was broken and the pendant part was missing.

Serious angst.

How we found it in white limestone parking gravel, I’ll never know. All I could say was “thank you” to the necklace gods.

After a brief moment of panic when I cut my toe open tripping on the steps, we were off!

I needed canoeing lessons from Rick!

I kept getting carried away by the scenery, none of which ever photographs as well as the original!

I was most grateful for our picnic, about a third of the way through the 17-mile course. Time for a rest.

Turkey sandwiches, ginger snaps and Tab. Does it get better?

The view from the picnic area was lovely.

The porta potties were definitely a welcome relief!

Then back on the water.

I almost ran us into a – well, it was bigger than a branch. More like a limb. Now I know why they call it “limbo” – I did a backbend on the canoe seat I never would have imagined I could do! (Steering is not something that is intuitive to me!) But there were so many pretty moments, I couldn't stop looking around (versus straight ahead).

Finally, we made it to the landing. I was actually sorry to see the time end.

While we waited for pick-up, two lost dogs hung out. They decided they wanted to take a nap in the pick-up van; it took food to coax them out.

The big one was especially sweet.

Then back to the house, where the Gypsy asked, “Where’ve you been?”

The Marmelade Gypsy Goes on Vacation

And, as you can see, he didn’t much like the ride north, though things leveled out pretty easily after a bit!

Here are a few “postcards” of some of my favorite moments – I’ll include more about some of these later in the week, but will be running to catch up at work!

The first sunset.

Sunset and twilight can also be lovely in the woods.

I was rather fond of the neighbor’s pink Adirondack chairs!

My duck family. This family we think nests near our cottage. We would see Mum and the ducks every day.

Often, they would sit on the same spot on the beach and take a nap in the sun. Mummy-duck would stand guard.

She was very gracious about letting me get rather close for photos!

But finally, she headed into the water…

… her babies close behind!

I was very fond of the fresh fruit, including the delicious Michigan sweet cherries! (This photo is a tribute to Robin Bird who really took the most splendid photo of her Washington cherries. Mine can’t compete!)

The last of the strawberries were unbelievably sweet.

I also enjoyed a visit to Stonehedge Fiber Farm for some yarn buying and a tour. More on this one later in the week.

And of course I had to make a stop at an antique shop -- no purchases, but lots of lovely things!

That road trip also included a stop at the herb farm, in full flower.

One of the highlights was our canoe trip down the Au Sable River. More on this one later, too!

And, I enjoyed a reunion with two cousins – Jack from Cadillac and David from Cleveland.

Rick made his unbelievable pasta with carmelized red onions, wine and fresh herbs, and we also enjoyed good grilling!

It was glorious to eat dinner on the porch, checking out the lake at twilight. (We ate late.) On the table are my scented geraniums, rosemary and basil from the herb farm.

Rick managed two very long (115 miles, 85 miles) bike rides, and if the weather hadn’t been a bit dicey Sunday would have added to that total. You can see the crystallized sweat on his face!
(Don't worry -- I won't post photos of my bloody foot during the canoe trip!)

And the Gypsy? Well, you can see, he was enjoying “The Somerset Life!” (See articles by and/or beautiful images from Sandra Everston, Karla’s Cottage and Karla from SugarBear Designs in the current issue.)

Re-entry is hard.

Write on Wednesday -- Jump Start

Today's Write on Wednesday topic is about writer's block and jump starting your writing. The prompt reads:

So, how about you? Do you ever feel the need to jump start your writing? What drains the energy from your “writing mind”? What do you do when your creative battery dies?

Can I relate? Oh, yeah! And it isn't just writing, either. I would say one of my greatest problems with my personal writing is that I "think" it all the time, but it seldom makes its way to the page. Or even the notebook. So, is it writing when you don't exactly "write it down?" I'm not so sure. Although, I will say that when I do get it down, it's probably better for all the pre-editing in my head! (Wasn't "The Music Man" all about "the think system?")

But perhaps even more than my writing, I feel that with my art. Sometimes it's just too much to pull the supplies out of the closet or baskets or off the shelves and just start. And sometimes when I do, I can't finish right away -- probably because when I began, I hadn't really thought it out in my head first.

Over the past weekend, I picked up some art projects that were partially done -- and I didn't like them. They looked routine or too dark or too -- well, just "wrong." And I worked them again. Editing, I suppose. A bit of a color change on this one, a new embellishment on that one. I wish I could post the photos, and I will at another time. The point is, I had the time and opportunity to muddle out what I wanted from those. And, they are far better for the wait.

Which leads me back to writing. What drains me? Too much stress, too little time and sometimes not enough commitment to my own stuff. The more I write at work, the less I want to write at home.

I've found that the blog is a good way to jump start my writing. At least I'm writing -- and for me, not for work. Even if I only get a few ideas down in a post, I've thought about the words as I've put them "out there" where anyone can see them. It may not be the great American novel, the finest feature article ever or something that would land me a regular column in a "real" publication, but that's not why I'm doing it. Maybe having the pressure off is a contributing factor to why the blog works for me.

And what do I do when my creative battery dies? I walk away from it for awhile. I'll cook. I'll read. I'll watch telly or a movie. I'll garden or hang with friends. I'll knit. Some of those things actually ARE creative in their own way. When I'm at the lake, I'll take a walk or sit on a beach. I'll absorb all that's around me and it brings me back into the world, which despite so many challenges and travesties really is a beautiful place.

I'll do all the nagging things I haven't done and about which I probably feel guilty (maintaining my space is one of them!) -- for sometimes those are the convenient excuse. And when in control, I'm more in control. When I'm in control, I can think more clearly -- and then I'm ready to create again.

And you? Share here, or if you want to write a post on it, be sure to leave your link here and especially on Write on Wednesday, where other writers will be tackling this question.

Heading North!

Hopefully tomorrow we will be off to the lake for a few days. Since I may not be able to post from there -- at least, not with photos, unless I can figure something else out -- I thought I'd share with you a few things I'll be seeing.

Gaylord, Michigan, has this thing going on with an Alpine theme. Even the Big Boy wears an Alpine hat. We'll miss the big festival that starts the following week. Beer tents, contests like the knobbiest knees, lots of leiderhosen and a relatively crappy art fair. (Or "crapht" fair, as Rick likes to say.

Back in the '60s, the town adopted a Swiss sister city (Say that fast three times!) called Pontresina and turned the architecture faux Swiss, too. Some is actually not bad (this block isn't too tacky). Others look like the builder took a couple of two-by-fours and nailed them into an A-frame peak, painted it some wild color and called it good!

Still, it's a nice little town -- not overly touristy (which is sort of too bad for them; town factories have closed recently and they can use the tourism dollars). The shops aren't fabulously trendy, but are just fine.

I prefer the farmer's market.

It should be getting a little bit better now that more produce is coming out.

I'm not sure what these bears are all about. Probably like the Chicago street bulls and other charity creations (someday I'll post the mermaids I photographed last year in Norfolk). But they are fun and a break in the action.

This is what I enjoy every evening.

We have a fairly large beach with not many neighbors. I plan to read lots, visit a fiber farm, knit a bit, maybe do some paper (I have a swap due!) and just relax.

So, I may or may not be posting for a few days. I'll do my best to check blogs, but might be out of commission for a few days.

Or maybe I'll surprise you. And me!

Patchwork

I've been thinking lately about the blog and the good support from my cyber-friends. As I was going through photos I'd taken a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but relate the blogosphere to my quilts.

I collect quilts. Mostly antique or at least "collectible," whatever that means these days. I actually use most of them, because isn't that the point? Wasn't that what someone made them for? Around the time I was taking off the heavier winter quilt and auditioning summer replacements, I shot these photos.

(The Marmelade Gypsy had to audition all quilts before we decided on one.)

What he picks, goes!

Most of my quilts came from auctions, antique markets, or were gifts from my friend Richard, who gets better deals than any human being I know!

This was one of the ones I bought early on. I liked the blue, which remains a favorite.

Some, I'm not sure where they came from, but I make up wonderful stories about the people who made them. And some, I have a bit of a provenance for.

The one under my tree (can you see it under Stimpy? It's mostly covered by presents!) was one my grandmother made. If you put it atop you, you wouldn't be able to turn over, it's so heavy! This is one of my favorite photos of all time because that was Stimpy's favorite spot.

The thing is, I look at these quilts, with finely crafted patchwork. And I look at the stitches. I have some that are machine stitched, but a number of them are by hand. How many million stitches are in this quilt.

I look at my blog friends and their blogs as quilts in themselves. Lots of patches of wonderful colors. Some are crazy quilts, all jumbled together with fascinating shapes and interesting stitches. Others are far more organized! Everything is neat and tidy, yet elegant and beautiful.

All have their own style, their own charm. They tell stories, and in reading your blogs, I learn more about you. I may not have to make up the stories, as I do with my quilts. But I know each one is as deeply textured, as colorful and as treasured as these quilts are to me.

I love this patchwork called "the blog." Everyday, something new. Someone special.