Showing posts with label writing exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing exercise. Show all posts
Think "Outside Inspiration" in your Writing this Week!!
I was INspired today to write about what is OUTside in our backyard. Please share your blog, post your take on everything glorious about the out-of-doors.
The backyard is alive. I am inspired with a newness brought on by springtime and the tsktsktsk of hummingbirds as they ward off enemies from the liquid sweetness in the feeder. Each evening, we head out after a day tied to emails, attending meetings, finalizing plans, to our glorious backyard here in the Sonora Desert. One would think springtime in Arizona would be a hop skip and a jump from a mildly chilly winter to a dreadful dry heat but oh, my friends it is glorious.
This is our entertainment this year and a cause for a writing prompt; “OUTside INspiration”. Our Arizona retreat is dappled with purple leaf plum, ficus trees, milkweed and Bermuda. In between all that is a pebble tec play pool with a rock waterfall. Surrounding the curved edges is a tropical array of palm trees in various sizes. In all its glory, this lends too much pruning and care tending by my wonderful husband but on evenings such as this, it is breathtaking and resort-like. We have been enjoying a family of red capped finches who after three years, have been first to take ownership of a Cub Scout constructed bird house by yours truly painted in an inviting emerald green and harvest red. A note on the sign welcomes them to their “home tweet home” and we have been pleasantly greeted by at least two babies if not more, chirping gaily from deep within. I am anticipating through my latest observations of both mum and dad the fledglings are about ready for their first solo flight.
As the Wallow Fire establishes its rightful passage in the northern part of the state and thousands of heroes battle the flames in an effort to chase it down, I am thankful at least that this fierce act of nature has not taken any lives and has limited its destruction of residential homesteads for those sharing just a piece of the glorious ponderosa pine area. I am saddened and tremendously heartbroken by all the wildlife left defeated in its path. The life so consumed with making its place here in my backyard, so intent on starting a new, are to only be silenced up north by yet another act of nature; fire.
So take in nature. Write about it. I will be travelling with my family beginning Sunday on a road trip to Colorado where with any luck I plan to take a hit at some travel writing. I will post our adventures, give my take on our experiences and try to put into words my soaking up of everything outside.
Step away from the computer, leave your pen and pad behind. Let your eyes and ears take it in, talk about it with your kids, watch the “show” and most of all, take care of it.
A Warm Up Writing Exercise! Get Ready for Submission!
In preparation for the contest or just an exercise in writing, a fun time-out or a chance to capture some observations; I took it upon myself to pen out a few pages in my journal yesterday. What a beautiful day and the setting was primed for people watching.
Reflections in a Park
Activity and conversations peppered the downtown city park today and offered rare encounters in "people study". On my trek to mark my territory, great book in hand, I passed by a photo shoot. An impressively pretty man in designer sweat pants, flip-flops and a peacock blue tee stood model still, being fondled over by a young female assistant. The photographer, in some hint of an accent I could not immediately identify, gave directions to two or three others from behind a high class lens longer than my arm. The bustling staff wrestled with two very large white boards and reflective photo gear designed to cast the most perfect light on his yes, freakishly handsome face.
I found my seat on a shady bench, uncomfortable as it was; hard metal with an unnatural curve but in a perfect location to catch whispers of a breeze and dappled sunlight. I sat facing an odd couple both in appearance and state of emotion. A rotund, gray haired man with a very mature beard, sat with legs splayed open, sobbing. He was clearly recounting some highly emotional, stressful event with brief breaks of face wiping and fist to open hand slapping designed to emphasize certain points in his monologue. I am a bit distracted even with this by the rather young (I'm talking 15-17 year old young) looking girl seated next to him making small comfort circles with her hand on his broad back. This activity is a carnival ride of back circles, wiping, sobbing, hand slapping then hugging. Repeat. I am only able to pick up bits and pieces of conversation and a few words here and there; "mother, Jewish, okay, problem, cigarette". Hey I'm trying to read here.
A guy then walked up to my bench from my left , a stack of pamphlets in hand,
"Read more about the bible today?"
"Uh, no." I said just before he got "bible" out. I honestly had no idea what he was hawking, I just knew my time in the shade was limited and I was not in the mood to be hit up to read something not selected by me.
As I watched him walk away I caught a glimpse of the back of his t-shirt:
"The End of the World is Coming Starting, May 21, 2011".
And surprisingly, there was a web-site, designed I assume to give you helpful details of how to prepare. I could not help but think as most would, "The end of the world is starting on May 21, but the Internet will be up and running!! Sweet!" So, you say.
Well, my preacher friend with a stack of pamphlets in hand, found a listener in the form of a severely toothless woman with an unlit cigarette hanging from her mouth. Her body language and brief conversation registered curiosity in what "pamphlet guy" had to say and the talk was on. She was joined by another rather unsightly fellow, clearly not coming from a recent photo shoot, to discuss this end of the world and now that it has an actual start date, what to do next and where can I sign?
What a beautiful day.
I surely hope the beautiful boy model had a great shoot. That his pictures render high sales for the Nike, Adidas or Hurley garb gracing his frame. To my odd couple across from me, who still are registering much shoulder slouching with face in hands and hugging, I hope it works out. And to my "pamphlet guy", how about some good news for a change? How about:
"Read about how you're positive spirit and good deeds are saving the world! And because of all you do, Armageddon is not upon us!"
Enjoy the day - and you in it
__________________________________
All in fun my friends. I figure any writing is a good exercise. Be it a journal entry with no point other than to plot observations of real life in your own words, a dream recounted in rhythmic prose or a memory of a wonderful time or place plotted on paper.
Just think, the "odd couple" could become a story. Why is he crying? Who is this girl? Is he about to cop a field? Do they know each other or did they just meet?
Oh you know I stayed to see what would happen. She finally left. She was college age but not a day over 19. He clearly did not want her to leave. She scribbled something on the inside flap of a book, tucked $30 inside and put it in his backpack. Then she stood up, pulled her shorts out of her "business" (they had crawled up her whoo-ha rather completely while she sat on the grass), then told him, "And you tell them to mind their fucking business!"
There is a story.. Fill in the blanks. Oh yea, she kissed him on the cheek too which kinda weirded me out.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
About Me
- http://themothercenturion.blogspot.com
- I figured things out late in life, like what I wanted to do, getting married (age 30), having kids, (36 and 38) and changing degrees about 3 times. Now as a cop of 19 years and in my mid 40's, I am finally figuring out some things. My first career or dream of becoming a writer is playing more in my head and daily life than ever. I love it. Thus the blog. It is all mine. I also love being a mother. They are all ours. I love my husband and as a cop, wow.. have I seen some things. Street degree. I got it. Let us learn together. I also am on She Writes.