News, Views & Inspiration
SO I’m taking his advice.
Here’s a photograph of my floor.
I was having fun.
“Explore what interests you,” says Mitchell in his course. You can find out more about it at:
https://www.masterclass.com/classes/tyler-mitchell-teaches-storytelling-through-portrait-photography
Can you tell I love abstract art?
A small heart stone lies within a flower of life mandala. I remember learning about this sacred geometry symbol and being told to look at it often.
Welcome to Day 19 of my One Hundred Hearts Project. These last three days I’ve been creating hearts using photography to capture a feeling rather than paintings — both methods I then edit with Photoshop to add interest.
Today’s heart reminded me how much fun it is to compose by placing objects on a scanner. It’s the closest I can get right now to making photograms – which are created in the darkroom by placing objects on photo sensitive paper that are then flashed with light under the enlarger. The outcome is a mystery until it is taken through the photo chemical process.
Day 19 Heart was completed in Photoshop using the solarization filter.
At the end of the gathering the host asked each of us to share one tip about something we’ve discovered.
One person demonstrated the Aeolian Harp App on his iPhone.
As soon as I got home I bought the app for $1.99.
Now a decade later, Aeolian Harp is still available, and getting favorable reviews!
From their website:
“Make music while you draw. It was developed by Uwe Oestermeier available for iPhone or iPad.
User defined parameter and color schemes can be used to explore the manifoldness of the underlying particle system.
The compass can be used to locate the following instruments in the four directions of the winds: Balalaika, Celtic Harp, Guitar, Gamelan, Guzheng, Kalimba, Koto, Marimba, Orchestral Harp, and Sitar. Each of these instruments can be assigned to a compass direction with a double tap on a cardinal point.”
Fill your heart with your own art and music.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aeolian-harp/id374133120
Day 17’s Heart is created with Aeolian Harp plus some Photoshop editing.
It’s gratifying to look at what I wrote a year ago and know that this year, my work reads better.
Last month = 37,217 words.
Two years ago I met up with a writer friend at a party and we agreed to touch base regularly to keep tabs on our progress.
That lasted a few months.
I had no problem being motivated to write each day. But I wasn’t ready to share it.
With anyone.
Over a dozen years ago I wrote a book for my master’s degree project.
I haven’t published it.
But I know I’ll publish several books.
In time.
It may not be the time line suggested in a course I’m taking on how to become a bestselling writer.
It may not be the timeline of notable inspirational writer/coach suggested in a consulation at a writer’s conference.
Even though I’ve had plenty of reasons to publish my essays, I haven’t . . . yet.
Sometimes I feel there must be something wrong because I write so many words each day. But I KNOW I will be publishing my books. I know.
My writing was first appeared in 1980 in the Dallas Morning News. I was working the Features Department and I got to write about upcoming events.
When I was 35 the Austin American-Statesman published a 2,000 word article I wrote for the cover of their Feature section.
Most recently, a few years ago I wrote features about local artists for the New Bernal Journal, then a local paper in San Francisco.
Today I found an essayist whose opinion resonated with me! And experience of being published “later” did too.
I didn’t pitch or publish my first piece online until I was 30 or 31.
I think it’s useful for everyone, no matter what stage of their career they’re at, to know it’s okay to write for yourself first—sometimes only for yourself. There are going to be things that you might need to work out on the page, alone, before you’re ready to share them more widely. I don’t think there’s always a rush. It’s okay to take the longer voyage.
– Nicole Chung
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/10/nicole-chung-e-b-white-and-writing-all-you-can-ever-know/571879/
Who’s to say what the “right” time is to put your work out there?
Friends can give you ideas of when.
Coaches can help you stay on course.
Writer’s groups can give you feedback.
But in the end . . .
You know when the time is right.