I posted a video I made of a recent trip to Nimitz Cove, Oahu. Sunset on the water, the sound of waves and occasional wind.
You can enjoy it at my YouTube channel, @gnomenomad.
Category: inspiration
Your story, your art, your life
A quote from Dianna Wynne Jones, author of many, many well-loved books, such as the Howl’s Moving Castle trilogy:
…somewhere, somewhen, someone is going to read your book at a time when such things stick for life. And you have to make it the kind of book that is worth remembering that vividly for that long. You have to make it an experience in its own right.
Reflections On the Magic of Writing by Dianna Wynne Jones
Do it. You know you want to, because you know somewhere, somewhen in your life, someone wrote a story – or told you a story – that stuck with you. That changed you, changed what you wanted to do, changed who and how you wanted to be in your life.
Do it.
The myth of the “non-creative person” – Ozan Varol
https://ozanvarol.com/the-myth-of-the-non-creative-person/
Ozan Varol is so right about the school system and creativity.
Society and business are the same way. Neither wants creativity (making something new). They want “innovation” (smoothing the edges of what already exists).
So go be creative this year!
A short video I made from our Tuesday dash to catch the sunset at Nimitz Cove
One Minute of Sunset at Nimitz Cove, Oahu, Hawaii, November 1, 2022
https://youtu.be/iG7azFTyIlc
No sound, hope it adds a little peace to your day.
Something positive, with tips
You’re not a failure. How to get past a setback and move on.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90713451/youre-not-a-failure-how-to-get-past-setback-and-back-in-the-game
As Graham Nash once sang, “Be yourself”
Tweet from Maggie Stiefvater (@mstiefvater), at Nov 13, 13:57
ok ok remember your mantras you can do this I am complete I love the life I have my spirit is at peace I have retractable fangs I create my own path I surrender to the flow https://twitter.com/mstiefvater/status/1327371049583960064
A writer’s blessing
“May the words in your mind crystallize into magic on the page.” – Brian Rathbone.
This can teach us writers a thing or two
What rowing solo across the ocean teaches you about solitude
https://www.fastcompany.com/90494452/what-rowing-solo-across-the-ocean-can-teach-about-solitude
Read it. She has some good ideas on dealing with panic, stress, staying focused, and simply enjoying things.
As a longtime lover of books and bookshops…
I approve this message!
How Books and Bookshops Improve Our Mental Health – And Why We Must Protect Them | naked capitalism
If you wonder why I tagged it with “markets”, our local bookstores are markets for our books, too. Especially if you’re self-publishing!
Advice to storytellers from me
Tell the story that needs to be told, in the way it needs to be told, to the length it needs to be told.
Don’t poison a story by insisting it must be an apple when it’s really an orange.
Don’t stunt a story by forcing it beyond its natural growth nor by forcing it to grow in a box too small.
“Genres” and “standard story lenghs” are publisher’s artefacts, not part of storytelling.
Breakthroughs don’t come through abiding by conventions and working in boxes.
Dancing Treefrog 