Midnight Writing

Next week, on the 29th and 30th to be exact, I'm going to participate in an authors' bar camp held by the Dembelo team, which I am part of, at the Unperfekthaus in Essen, and I'm pretty excited about it. :D
So what is this authors' bar camp?
This event is about everything writing related. Authors from all around the area meet and attend workshops where they discuss different topics ranging from the very first idea for a story to publishing and marketing, and everything in between. The bar camp lasts all Saturday, and a particular dozen may stay the night and attend a writing workshop and work on their stories. Pretty exciting, isn't it?
I am one of those few, and I'm relly looking forward to meet other authors, talk to them and polish our stories together. I am really happy I joined the Dembelo team. Anyhow, I'm sure I will return with a lot of impressions from that bar camp! Maybe I'll even meet you there? ;)

On the move...

I'm pretty late for an update. The reason is: I'm moving. Very excited about that. :D

Today I transported a total of 40 boxes from my old flat to the new one. And all of them were books and manga. Too much, you think? On the contrary, one can never have too many stuff to read. :D
I don't remember who said it, but I second the statement: "Nothing is as sexy as a room filled with books."

Be that as it may, I don't know if I'm going to be able to update my writing exercise on time or if I'm going to have internet access next week, but I'll try. Because writers should be able to make time to write, right?
Even if everything is packed up in boxes, which pile up to the ceiling, even if you hardly take a break from moving stuff, even if you're almost out the door and still not at your new home yet. Inspiration can still happen in between. Take that break -- because you need it -- and just sit down and let it flow. You might be surprised what you can achieve. ;)

VIPs and WIPs

As I've mentioned in another blogpost, it is always good to have more than one work in progress (WIP), so you can switch to whichever work you feel you are able to continue best. Let your creativity tell you what to do!

Surely you will find that -- for a period of time -- you are most in the flow when writing one particular project. For the time being it becomes your very important project (VIP). Which is good. You focus on your VIP and spend a lot of time polishing your work, ideally until you finish it.

You may neglect your other WIPs during that time, but don't forget about them. They are waiting for you to return and spend some time with them, too. Your aim should be to finish what you started; not right now, not tomorrow, but in due time. And take that time. Remind yourself of all the good ideas you've had, and all the stories you want to tell. Can you really turn your back on them?
Surely you will find a new VIP amongst them...

Writing Exercise 063

Today is my birthday. :D
Terefore this week's writing exercise is a little birthday poem. Enjoy while I'm off celebrating. ;)

2017/02/24 – birthday poem

Once again a year has gone by, once again time was on the fly.

I am twenty-nine; no need to cry. It is time to stop being shy.

This year my ambitions are high and although you might wonder why,

My inspiration doesn't run dry. I sense my time is almost nigh;

My writing skills I will apply to achieve my goals – I will try!

Never too late

As I browsed through my pictures for some inspiration, I found something I drew for my good friend for Christmas, which I haven't shown you yet. But I figured it's never to late to do that, right?  ;)
The picture is some fanart of Shikamaru Nara, a character from the series Naruto. I used SAI for this. Any opinions? :D

Stay focussed!

Hopefully you had a nice fourth Sunday in Advent.

As the days rush by, tension and pressure usually rise during this time of the year.
Have you bought and packed all the presents yet? Is the Christmas tree set up? Have you shopped and prepared everything for the feast? Are you ready to meet the whole family? Is the house decorated properly?
Constantly you are reminded of what needs to be done. Often the spirit of Christmas is lost in the stress of preparation... or in a traffic jam of equally stressed Christmas shoppers, who are forced to listen to the same old Christmas songs every few hours, again and again.

So why don't you grab a cup of your favourite tea or coffee or cocoa, sit down on your sofa or armchair and just revel in the moment. Take that time and take a breather, calm down and think about what's really important. The spirit of Christmas; a message of love and hope, a light in the darkness. Draw strength from that, refocus and find the same love and hope inside you.

The next time you stand in a long line at the register or wait in a traffic jam by the nearest super market you might find more patience in you -- and the forgiveness which comes with the knowledge that the others blocking your path are just as eager to be done preparing and go home to be with their loved ones.

And maybe in between gifts and baubles and fairy lights there will be a flash of inspiration even? :o
So don't miss the next writing exercise. ;)

Writing Exercise 036

Today I have another short writing exercise for you. This week's drabble is about a sleepless night.
Here it is:

2016/08/15 – a sleepless night (Drabble)

I had just gone to bed. As I snuggled into my cushion and buried myself under two layers of blankets I prepared for sleep. Like every night I imagined a story that would accompany me to dreamland; I invented new characters then let them march into adventure. While making up the plot I suddenly realized: words were flowing in my head, sentences aligning and rearranging themselves. Wide awake and excited I bolted from my bed and scrambled to my computer, opened a document and hurried to type everything down – sensed it was a writing night. I would not sleep tonight.

Home, Sweet Home...

As much as I was enthused about the beauty of the Loreley and the landscape surrounding it, I also enjoy the place I call home.
Situated at a beautiful lake and surrounded by nature reserve my village is a place where others go on holidays. The beautiful views never cease to amaze me despite being surrounded by them every day.

As I watch the seasons come and go, nature itself paints the most amazing pictures. I just need to open my eyes and witness these moments of mesmerizing beauty. Be it the falling snow in winter that swallows everything and gently lays the world to sleep...

... a glimpse of the lake from the lush woods on the hills encompassing the lake during summer -- a place where silence reigns and you almost feel the earth breathing...

... the mysterious stillness of the lake in autumn, that makes you feel frozen in time...

...or a sunrise in the wee early hours of spring, that reflects on the surface of the lake and sets the sky ablaze.

These are things that inspire me; these are things that keep me thriving to become better at art and capture moments on canvas; these are things that make me want to write and conserve these moments in my memories. So I can share what I experience and enjoy day-to-day with you.