Writing Prompts and NaNoWriMo

     Well, well, well. I am rather failing at the 'blogging regularly' thing lately. But guess what month it is! November. Not only November, but National Novel Writing Month. *jazz hands* I am not participating, though I have promised myself that I will someday. For you NaNoers out there, -pause to glare at you all for not working on your novels- this post may be helpful. Hopefully reading this gives you a nice refreshing break so you can get back to the typewriter.

     This year is the closest I've come to actually signing up for NaNoWriMo. I had a story idea outlined at the beginning of October, my school has been much lighter that last year, and I even told a couple friends that I planned on doing it. I changed my mind, though.

     The main reason is that I'm just not a hardcore enough writer. On a good day, I can barely squeeze out 1000 words, much less approximately 2000. I work best in small doses, and that is perfectly fine. Completing NaNo is my heart's desire, though. I want to be able to put on that badge of success at the end of the month. But not this month. In order to be that epic, I have to train.

     I set up my own writing goals, suited to me, right now. I'm trying to get a 50,000 word novel in before December 31, which comes out to writing approximately 833 words a day. It takes my distracted little self up to almost 2 hours (give or take) to get all that done.

     That brings me to my title! Writing prompts. I decided that since I was going to be writing every day, there was no doubt that sometime I'd get stuck and burned out and agonize over every single word. The remedy: I wrote out 61 prompts for myself. They don't affect the plot very much; they're just filler things. So if I feel less than inspired, I go to my tin (it's very adorable, everyone should have one) and pull out a random slip of paper. Yesterday the prompt I got was "sickness" and it actually got me out of my stuck spot. The day before, the prompt helped me add depth to a character.

     I'm challenging you all to create your own writing prompt tin/jar/box/envelope. The plus side of writing your own prompts is that you can write them along the right lines to follow the mood and setting of your novel. It fits while still adding extra excitement to your writing progress. I find that the prompts I stumble across on Pinterest or wherever often require a very specific scene or even an entire story.

     Instructions: (Because what's a blog post without a list?)
-Find a small container. You may want two, so you can store used prompts in the second one. I'm not throwing mine away, but maybe you won't be that attached to yours.
-Get paper. You could start with strips to write each prompt on, or cut them up later.
-Think of/find suitable prompts. They can be as simple as one word. I used colors, random quotes from movies, a requirement for a scene such as "someone has to break something", and moods. I wrote one for every day I planned to write, but you can put however many you wish.
-Cut the prompts out individually and put them in your container.
-Every day, pull one out and use it!

     There you go. I hope you find it helpful! I'd love to hear how NaNo is going for everyone, or if you do try the prompt thing, how that works for you. :) I always love comments.

     P. S. I find I write better if I promise myself chocolate chips afterwards. Just an idea. :P 

To Be An Artist

     Art. It has a broad definition. Frankly, I don't know where to start, but here's my attempt at defining the type of art I'm talking about today: Something created that adds to the world beauty, meaning, or an expression of the artist. (Specifically, I'll be referring to visual art, but writing will fit into some of the things I say.)

     People are all so extremely unique, and everyone brings a different angle of thought on any given subject. I marvel at the array of art others are capable of. Some people are given lots of natural artistic talent. Some people have to work at it. But I think it's safe to say that those two categories of artists together are still in the minority of people.

     Artists are different from the majority. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, we're supposed to be different. No one ever commended anybody for being a copy. You won't be complimented for writing a quote. Deviating from the usual and the known takes work. You have to actively dig for creativity. You may need to look to others for inspiration or instruction, but in the end, being artistic is about making the art your own.

     Being truly different is hard, but it can have beautiful results. It takes time, and loads of practice.  People may laugh at you or judge you. If that happens, remember who we are doing art for. The praise goes to God. The closer we get to Him, the more our art will reflect his beauty. 

     God calls us to be different, not just as artists, but as people. (Just have a look at Romans 12:2.) We are to be renegades to the world. Take that with you in your life and in your art.

     As my friend likes to say, "Don't forget to be refreshingly different."

     Comment: What's your artistic area?

Invincible Summer

     Well. I thought I could keep up the blog thing while traveling, but it turns out that's a no. I just have a short little post today, since I'll also be away next Monday. 

     For the longest time, I couldn't choose a favorite quote. However, I recently discovered one which instantly became my favorite.

     "In the midst of winter, I found there was within me an Invincible Summer." ~Albert Camus

     During the school year, I tend to be despondent. Everything is meh, it's cold, I'm tired, school is hard, and I just want to sit and mope. But even in that ugly mood, I must remember that within my heart lies an Invincible Summer.

     Life is not going to all be flowers and laughter and free time. That has already been proven. But we also have the Joy of Christ which shall not fade. It's the same idea as an Invincible Summer. Because of it, I can look up when everyone else is looking down. I will hold tight to the Invincible Summer, and when I come to the depths of despair, it will be the rope that assures me I'm still all right. This summer is going to be over all too quickly. But I have my Invincible Summer that will stick with me always. No one can break it or steal it or tell it to go back to school. I hope it will rub off a little on everyone.

     I drew the title image you see,(featuring the OYAN compass, which reminds me of something else and is a different post for a different day) and I'm going to write the quote out so I can be reminded of the Invincible Summer when I see it. Growing up is scary, and it's going to be hard to keep hold of my Joy, but hopefully the reminders will help.

     Comment: What's your favorite quote? 
 

The Quest for Inspiration

     So I was inspired to write a blog post. Ironically enough, it was another blog post that inspired me. Just goes to show, inspiration can be found almost anywhere. Outside, in the grocery store, at the dinner table, youth group... The list goes on. Everywhere you look, there is a piece of dialogue, an object to describe, a plot point, a character. Inspiration should be easy. You only have to look for it. Searching for inspiration is a skill you develop.

     Sometimes the smallest things can lead to a burst of inspiration. A little spark can throw you into a dreamy, inspired mindset for a whole day. Inspiration can't be faked. You can force yourself to write a story or draw a picture. And that's great. But it isn't the same as writing or drawing under inspiration.

     Inspiration can't be faked, but it can be found. You can't decide when to be inspired, but it certainly helps to know where to look for inspiration.

     I have a list of things I do when I'm searching for inspiration. So here:
-Take pictures. Zoom in, look closer than usual and everyday things.
-Go watch a play. There's nothing better than seeing a well plotted story being acted out right before your eyes.
-Read a story. Analyze what bits are your favorite, and how you might implement them in your own writing.
-Go for a walk. Fresh air, flowers, trees, sky... Quite inspirational.
-Observe the people around you. Take time to wonder what really makes them tick. I guarantee you will at least get a character trait out of it.
-Scroll across Pinterest. Ok. This one's tricky, because Pinterest can also turn into "Oh, look at this hilarious cat meme." And that's not inspirational. (I mean, maybe it is to some people.) But I find that looking at writing boards or travel boards or character boards or art boards are most inspirational for me.
-Visit a few writing blogs. Some amazing ones are GoTeenWriters, StoryForger, and This Incandescent Life.
-Write a letter, or journal, or something that's not what you need inspiration for. (For some reason, writing in cursive makes me feel really fancy and that sometimes inspires me to continue along in my creative endeavors.)
-Do something new. Changing it up can get you out of your usual pattern of thinking.
-Play an instrument or listen to music. Unplugging and just immersing yourself in music can be a great way to get thoughts going.
-Organize something. This one's more of something I do, because organizing relaxes me. Also having a clear work space is important.

     A few months ago I did a post on artist's block that kind of builds on this topic.

     ...That's about all I have for today. Apologies for the late post. I haven't got an excuse for it, either. Although I did manage to type up 700 words in my WIP after having writer's block for a while!

     What inspires you? (Comments are great, and guess what? They inspire me to write more posts. <3 )

"I'm Fine"

     I have noticed lately that a lot of people, when asked "How are you?" answer with simply "Oh, I'm fine."

     Maybe most people are 'fine'. But really, 'fine' doesn't say much at all. Being a quiet person, I don't ask very many people how they are, so when I ask someone that, I actually want to know. I don't know what fine means. I want people to tell me what's going on in their lives. One word can answer the question, but it doesn't say anything. In the way of how life is going, 'fine' can mean a bajillion things. I often follow up "How are you?" with "What's the most exciting thing that happened this week?" since people don't take the question "How are you?" seriously anymore. We ask out of habit. Once I brushed past a lady in a grocery store and she said "Hey, how are you?" without even stopping to look at me.

     I see a lot of posts on various social media sites(I realize that made me sound all hip and stuff but I'm not that up-to-date. I just look at Pinterest and Instagram sometimes.) that are along the lines of "I say I'm fine, but my mind is breaking apart. I smile, but inside, I'm in tears." It has really made me second guess people when they say they're fine. What also bothers me about that sort of post is that it encourages lying a bit. It's not truthful to tell people you're fine when you are not. Seeing posts with that idea could cause people to think it's all right to lie about how you're doing, when it isn't.

     By no means am I saying I've never told someone I was fine when I wasn't. I know I have. And maybe it's because sometimes, we don't know how we are. That's how it is for me sometimes. It is, however, all right to simply say "I don't know". You aren't obligated to look 'put together' all the time. I guarantee you no one is as put together as they seem.

     It always encourages me when I ask someone how they're doing and they say "I am doing fantabulous!" or some such. It inspires me that they're doing great and they realize that they are allowed to be happy and excited about life. When I see people like that, it makes me want to be able to say that I'm doing awesome too. But in order to say you're doing awesome, it has to be true, like with saying "I'm fine". Don't tell people lies.

     Now, I don't mean you have to pour your heart out to random acquaintances who are just trying to make small talk. How will you build friendships with people though, if you can't even be frank with the way you feel at the moment? It's fairly hard to find words to say when you aren't fine and someone asks how you are. Perhaps brainstorm words that you can use instead. (because even if you are 'fine', it's a boring and undescriptive word.) If someone wants to know how I'm doing when I'm not doing so great, I usually just say I'm doing 'all right'. I know, it's not much different from fine. I'm working on that. But to me, 'all right' is 'could be better, but could be a lot worse'. And it's the only word that I can think of on the fly without sounding desperately sad. I'm going to figure out words to use in place of that too.

     We don't have to tell everyone about our inner struggles. But we do need to tell the truth. It's hard to know who you can talk to about hard things and who you can't. However, it's important to remember that everyone is created in the image of God, and is therefore worth your time.(There are also people who are bad influences, but that is another matter.) Maybe it's better to talk about things other than one's health. If you're having a conversation face to face, chances are, both of you are at least well enough to be out in public, and neither of you is hacking into the other's face. So why not figure out other things to talk about? Perhaps start asking peoples' opinions on things. (probably not controversial things, if it's a new acquaintance you're speaking to.) Go deeper in your conversations than "How are you?" "Fine." "How was your week?" "Good." Those conversations never dip further than the surface of what a person is actually thinking.

     I challenge you to find a new way to answer when someone says "How are you?", and also find a new way to ask. OR you can find something else to ask altogether. You get bonus points for that one.

     So, with that... How are you?

Of Adventures

   If you can't tell by the title, I'm about to explore the topic of adventures. First, let's start off with some definitions, courtesy of dictionary.com. I'm only using half of the ones listed in the article, if you want to see the rest, follow this link.

Adventure:

n. 1. an exciting or very unusual experience.

2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises:

the spirit of adventure.

3. a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.

v. 6. to risk or hazard.

7. to take the chance of; dare.

   I'm sure many of you wish your life was more exiting and adventurous, or have at one time. I tend to dream of an exciting life, full of adventure and new things, until something new or exciting happens and I am forced to be adventurous. When I actually experience an adventure, I agree with the words of Bilbo when answering Gandalf, in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.

"I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone."

"I should think so—in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!"

   Bilbo is quite right. I've had a few adventures in my life, and they aren't as fantastical and dreamy as the books make them out to be. Earlier this year, my family traveled for almost three months straight. That was an adventure. I started out somewhat excited, but by the second week, I simply wanted to go home. The truth of it is, adventures are often raw and dirty things that require sacrifice and perseverance. Even book characters experience the hardship of adventures.  
[spoiler alert, those who haven't read The Hobbit.] Going with the example of The Hobbit, Bilbo does get home, but he loses several friends along the way, and he continues to suffer the effects of the ring for the rest of his life.  
[you're safe to read on now.]

   New experiences are scary. It is very human to have a fear of the unknown. With God, we can face those fears.  I like to think of new experiences as adventures. That means most of this year shall be an adventure. A perilous realm, if you will. I have an entire new year to explore with Christ, and so do you. That is an exciting thought. We get to be adventurers for Christ. Take risks, be brave. God's got this.

   I have a challenge for you. Take an ongoing risk in some area of your life this year, whether it be in your writing, being more involved at your church, applying to a college, making a new friend... You get the idea. The adventure you choose should be geared to make you a better Christian.

   I've decided to be more intentional in who I talk to. I want to make more of an effort to reach out to quieter people, because I'm one of them and I know how it feels not to be listened to. I've also decided that I want the stories I write to have strong themes.

   What about you? What risk will you take? What adventure do you choose?

Battling Against Artist's Block

Artist's Block. Oh, the terror. You're in a happy, creative mood, but then, as soon as you open up your sketchbook, pencil in hand, your mind goes blank. No matter how hard you try, you can't come up with a single thing to draw. It happens to the best of us. Sometimes, it's not that you can't think of anything to draw. Every once in a while I fall into the "I want to have something new in my sketchbook, but I just don't feel like drawing" doldrums.

Well, I have come up with a list of things to do when evil Artist's Block strikes.

1- Look at other peoples' art. Art museums are a great place to do that.  My family went to a few the other day, and I have tons of new ideas. Pinterest is also full of art in various forms. It encourages and inspires me to see what others are capable of creating. If they can do it, how hard can it be? Eheh. Art takes effort. But seeing how other people have poured themselves into it can be quite refreshing. However, often I need to remember not to compare myself or my own art to others.

2- Take a walk or go somewhere new. Fresh air does wonderful things to you, as do new places and sights. Walks are good ways to unwind and have a time to just think. Seeing new things can spark your imagination and lead to lots of new ideas.

3- Ask people for ideas. Seriously. Walking into the next room and asking a family member isn’t so hard. You can ask your friends too. I recommend doing art swaps. Find a fellow artist, and each of you request a specific drawing from the other. Then you draw what the other requested. It’s quite simple, and a great way to encourage friends in art as well.

4- Do something abstract and scribble a bit. Just grab a paintbrush and spread color over a blank piece of paper. Take your pencil and drag it in random directions all across your page. For one, it’s therapeutic, and you might even get something cool looking out of it.

5- Take time to notice the colors, lines, and shapes of everyday life. Train your artist’s eye, observe things. Look closer at things than you normally do. Just enjoy the things you see.

If you have any more ideas on how to overcome Artist’s Block, please leave a comment! :)

~Alexandra S. Grey