IWSG! Post A-Z Goals

It's the first Wednesday of the month, so that means it's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group!  The IWSG is a place where we as writer's can express our joys, hopes, fears and most importantly lend encouragement to each other!  This great group was started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, come join us if you haven't already!


This month, I don't have too many insecurities.  The A-Z Challenge, though difficult, is always inspiring.  I've spent the month focused on writing and by the time "Z" rolls around I feel great!  The trick is to stay inspired the rest of the year and continue spending focused time on writing instead of letting too many other things get in the way!  

The A-Z Challenge for me is always a little bit like New Year's Resolutions.  It makes me think of what I want to accomplish in writing the rest of the year and encourages me to set new goals.  Every April, I learn that I really can spend time every day writing and not have my house fall apart, but by June somehow I seem to forget that!

So this year, I'm hoping to change that.  I've already taken some steps in the right direction.  This Monday, in the time I had been working on my Challenge posts, I took the final steps to send out one of my manuscripts.  And then...I actually hit "send"!  I don't know what will come of it, but at least I took the leap and I'm super excited about it! :)


Hope you all are having an inspired day!


Kathy :)

Sparkfest Day 4

Well, we are on Day 4 of Christine Tyler's wonderful creation, Sparkfest.   Yeah!  Thanks Christine!

A lot of us seem to get our inspiration from books, newspaper articles, and movies.  But often I find myself inspired by where I am.  Gazing over a rugged landscape vivid with greens, blues and crisp whites somehow flips a switch in my brain.  I sit staring at the scene reaching for my notebook. I am driven, like a moth to the light, to describe the profound sense of inferiority yet connection that enters my being.  I drive my husband crazy with my sappy poetic speech. But, I could sit there all day pondering life's meaning and writing about it.  Maybe a story would never come of those inspired scribbles, but my inner being feels the need to express itself through writing as if my ancient ancestors had programmed me to do so.


Are there any place which have inspired your writing?


Have a great weekend!

Kathy

Sparkfest III- The Power of the Written Word

Alyssa and Ryan enjoying their books together.

Thanks to Christine Tyler I've been thinking a lot about what has sparked my writing and what books have had an impact on me.  I enjoyed reminiscing about all the great stories I have read and reading what others have posted.  I wondered how my life would have been different if I had never been exposed to Dr. Seuss or even Disney fairy tales.  I'm sure I would have turned out fine and not known I had missed anything, but I can't help but think that reading those stories opened my mind to a whole realm of creative possibilities which has enriched my life.  I now see the power that we, as authors hold over young minds.  We can create a story and a world which can influence the way a person thinks for the rest of their lives.  That's quite a responsibility!

This is where I come to George Lucas.  I don't think any other creative mind has affected me as much.  I was 5 when Star Wars first appeared on the big screen.  I was lucky that my Dad was a big sci-fi guy so we went 5 times to see it in the theaters.  When it finally came out on video, my brothers and I watched it over and over, memorizing all the lines. I decided that we would shoot our own version.  So I wrote down all the lines on note cards and began to assemble props and costumes.  I got a little discouraged when I realized we didn't have enough people in our family to play all the parts.  I thought about my tall grandpa playing both Chewie and Darth Vader.  But I kept writing the lines. We never did film anything.

Then in 1980,  The Empire Strikes Back came out.  I cried when Han Solo was frozen in carbonite.  But I knew that Luke would become a Jedi and make everything right again.  In the meantime, I worked on my own Jedi Knight skills.  (Ok, I realize that this makes me look like a huge nerd, but it's true).  My brothers and I dressed in black and sneaked around the house, we focused on objects to make them move (well maybe I was the only one that tried that, but I was sure that if I just concentrated hard enough it would work....I still haven't gotten it.), and we practiced our fighting skills on each other.  But I believed in Yoda's teachings like he was my Master as well.  "Try not....do or do not."  His ancient words echoed in my mind and they gave me the extra incentive to  accomplish things.

By the time Return of the Jedi came out, I was totally immersed in the galaxy Lucas had created.  I can't say that I ever became a Jedi Knight, but I would like to believe that I still live by their ancient philosophy to "use their powers for the good of the galaxy" and "always seek self-improvement through knowledge and training".

I only hope that I can live up to Yoda's standards.


Kathy

Inspirations

Surrounded by Inspiration

I am surrounded by people who inspire me.
My mom and dad inspire with their never ending energy.
My in-laws inspire with their spirit of adventure.
My grandpa inspires with his refusal to acknowledge age.
My brothers inspire with their eternal humor.
My children inspire with their sense of wonder.
My sweetie inspires with his infinite quest for knowledge.

I can only hope that I will inspire others as much as they have inspired me.

I'd love to hear about the special people who inspire you.

Kathy

Gramps

Gramps

Taught me to fish.
Gave me my nickname.
Read dinosaur books to me.
Inspired my love of nature, art and music.
Taught me to build relationships, ideas, and things.
Continues to prove age does not matter.
Is a window to the past for my kids.
Teaches me to laugh at myself.
Always gives me love.

I'm endlessly grateful for my Gramps.


Kathy

Gramps taking me fishing