Writing a Picture: A Writer Reflects on the Art

Article first published as Writing a Picture: A Writer Reflects on the Art on Blogcritics.

A painter tells their story on a canvas, actors tell theirs on a stage, both of which, as with many others, induce different emotions depending on the audience.

When a story presents itself in the mind of a writer, all five senses engage so as to be in tune with the characters and their world. Colors come to life, so do the bumble bees as they dance on the head of a flower, a quiet spoken word from a passerby will whisper on the breeze, the grass will tickle between our toes with each step we take, and the bitter sweet taste of red wine will flow over our tongues.

We also feel the fear walking through the dark alley as someone follows, we feel the pain of a lover’s loss and the elation of a lover found – we as writers embark on a journey that is just as uncertain for us, as it will be for you when you turn the pages.

However, a writer doesn’t get the use of taste, touch, smell, visual or verbal to arouse those emotions in you. How do we show you what is embedded in our mind so as to bring you along with us on every twist and turn? How do we make you cry, laugh, giggle, hurt, love, lust, be afraid, when using those other senses is an impossibility to persuade you to follow?

Taking you on our journey is not an easy task. It all has to be presented in such a way that you feel as we feel, see what we see, including all the little details that explode on the scene to make it real… The beat of the heart as it pulses against our heroine’s ribs, the taste of salt in a tear as it slides down the hero’s face, as well as the ache that, at first, is a slow burn, only to explode into every crevasse of his body. However, when it comes to scenery, we can’t go on and on with so much detail that it becomes boring, leaving nothing to the imagination.

We’ve all seen pictures of famous paintings, people, and the like, none of which really trigger grandiose excitement. However, to stand in front of the original is a whole different story.

That’s one of the wonderful things about being a writer, we don’t depend on the five senses to spark self-indulgence, we have a fairly simple tool that is powerful enough to stimulate not only those senses, but every emotion there is under the sun – it’s called words. They bring our characters and their world to life in your mind, igniting the imagination.

Our words have the same effect whether they’re read on computer, Kindle or novel. They pack the same punch wherever they are, however they are read and you, the reader…always have an original in hand.

Have a great day.

A Younger Generation

In past blogs I have shared with you how my writing had inspired a few younger writers, which of course pleases me beyond belief and have wanted to take that to the next level. I had thought about how to approach it, such that, should I hold my own workshop (that would not be a pretty sight), maybe do something with the St. Albert Public Library (who by the way does have a copy of Absolute Obsession for your reading pleasure) or...well I didn't know.

However, I have set some wheels in motion. I've contacted both school boards in St. Albert and Edmonton and am on the path, fingers crossed, of perhaps encouraging some young minds to listen to their inner self.  This I am extremely excited about, because even if one finds that passion or maybe one discovers a dream they never knew they had, then me being a writer is exactly where I am supposed to be -- regardless of how I got here.

Have a great day and weekend.

What Simply comes to Mind

Yesterday I was struggling to find a quote to go at the beginning of a chapter.  The words had to be just right and I knew what I wanted it to say, or at least what the spirit of it was to be. However, nothing seemed to fit.

For me, quotes hold hidden meanings, a small treasure if you will. Now that hidden meaning will be something completely different for everyone. But don't you think that by finding that meaning, whatever it may be, finds the spirit in which those quotes are written and perhaps a glimpse into the writer's psyche.

My dilemma was such, that I wasn't able to find a quote with the proper hidden message, that would make you go "hmm, interesting" and eventually gave up to write my own.
A dream you once were, a dream of all my realities.
A dream that I can no longer strive for
In the wake of my manly betrayals

It's got ya thinkin, don't it?

Have a great day.

Where Does It Come From?

Inspiration.  I've touched on this before but never really delved into it. It's been asked of me on numerous occasions where my inspiration comes from and for the most part I don't have an answer.  There isn't one specific thing that inspires me, it's a world of little things. Such as, maybe a corny commercial or something someone says, it can be anything, anywhere. All I know is that whenever it happens, it makes what I write worthwhile. If it can happen to me with such little things, then it can happen to you too with whatever endeavour you may embark on.

It gives new meaning to the phrase "It's the little things in life that count."

Have a great day

Can Love Conquer All?

This is the question that I am asking right now. I find myself at a crossroads and this question keeps popping up.  Somehow I'm struggling with what Michael and Rose are telling me and the real world. For some strange reason it's got me over thinking it and has me perplexed.

We all know that there are some pretty wild stories of love out there, some that could be considered farfetched, but real nonetheless. I guess what I'm trying to figure out is if what Michael and Rose are telling me could happen in real life, even if it is way out there, in essence, questioning their realism.

Now in questioning the validity of such a notion, I have left Rose sitting on one end of the stage, Michael on the other, both tapping their foot on the ground waiting for me to give the cue for them to run into each other's arms and kiss.

Now this whole scenario propagatesa few other questions.  Who do I think I am? Where exactly do I fit in this situation? Whose story is it?

All right, fine! As the author I lose.  Go on, get it over with, kiss already!

Question answered.

Have a great day.
http://www.celizabeth.ca/

The Journey keeps getting better and better

This weekend my first article was pubished on Blogcritics. I am now a writer for an online magazine.  Please enjoy and don't forget to take a look at their site, there a lot of great reviews and articles to get your day started.  Go to this link and please feel free to leave a comment:

Find the Passion, and Put it on Paper
Have a great day.

Writing

Well folks, I have been accepted to write for an online magazine known as Blogcritics and am supposed to have an article posted with the editor within 72 hours of their acceptance, so they can get a taste of my writing ability.  Yikes!!!!!  Why do I do this to myself? Oh ya, I'm a glutton for punishment.

I'm working like crazy on the final of the Michael and Rose series, creating these wonderful inspirational blogs for you and in between that, I'm marketing Absolute. Then I apply with Blogcritics. What is wrong with me? What do I write?  It has to be something original, nothing that I've posted on my blog or anywhere else and they want my personality to shine through. Help! What do I write? Ideas anyone?

Have a great day and weekend.