Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Beginning of June and Flowers are Everywhere

EVEN HERE . . . 


  

There are more flowers . . down the internet path -- on my illustration page


Flowers inspire me. They allow me to drift into their fragrance and beauty and dissolve into a dreamy escape. I paint them, sinking deep into the petals, imagining that if I lose myself they may whisper their secrets. A time for listening to quiet things. Nature and my inner nature. My inner voice. 








*I just learned that it's Allen Ginsberg's Birthday today -- as I was creating this post. 
Here's a poem I came across by Mr. Ginsberg. I thought it was a fitting accompaniment to my post.  



THE GARDEN OF LOVE
I went to the Garden of Love,
And saw what I never had seen;
A Chapel was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.
And the gates of this Chapel were shut,
And ‘Thou shalt not’ writ over the door;
So I turned to the Garden of Love
That so many sweet flowers bore.
And I saw it was filled with graves,
And tombstones where flowers should be;
And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars my joys and desires.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Now perhaps . . . you howl.

 
You howled. That is how I knew you. My neighbor, close, and far from eternity—spirit and souls. Our journey, our pace, quickened – and passed unnoticed, by you, I would guess.

A box of book left at the bottom of the steps, I was sure I found your fiction: your diction message from the Gods. Only a glimmer then, but I knew the future, past, and present, weaving into my life. I held firm to my creative path and muse so I could catch up.

We strive as poets to lift each other. Humanity and grace wraps her wings around in hints and quantum jumps, foreshadowing in flashes—nothing is trashed, all energy resuscitates. All energy is here, now.



A little dream -- only a whisper then, was an intellectual chord, nudging me, igniting the path that I must travel.

Today (June 3rd) is Allen Ginsberg's Birthday: 

 Brain Pickings blog link

"In December of 1969, Allen Ginsberg(June 3, 1926–April 5, 1997), one of the most beloved and influential poets of the twentieth century, recorded a strange and wonderful LP, setting William Blake’sSongs of Innocence "and of Experience to song." 

Monday, May 12, 2014

My Writing Process Blog Hop

Middle Grade writer Ronni Arno Blaisdell tagged me in this Writing Process Hop. Though I mentioned I was drowning in revisions and couldn't and wouldn't have the time--Ronni was very convincing.  She asked then sent me the link. Momma always told me--you have to make the time. Glad I did.  

What? You don't know Ronni Arno Blaisdell and about her book RENEE REINVENTED coming out by Aladdin, Simon & Schuster (Fall 2015)
 GoodReads When 12-year-old Renee learns that her supposed BFFs are only friends with her because her parents are famous celebrities, she finds a place as far from fake and phony Hollywood as she can get: a Maine boarding school.  I read an early draft. I loved it. LOVED it. It's a great story!



Interested in my writing process, are you?  

What am I working on?
Finishing up revision edits on a MG Light Sci-Fi/ Fantasy from last year's July CampNano. Working Title: Cltr+Alt+Delete: Boy genius, eleven-year-old Oznot, and his neighbor, nine-year-old, Theo, send ten kids into the world of FacePlace using the Top-Secret Polerizeroid machine. Theo must get everyone out, including his sister-- before they disappear, before they’re out of time. Then proceed with plan B. 
I can't wait to type up last year's NaNoWriMo YA Historical Suspense draft. It's still in still in comp books! ~ agh.  

How does my work differ from others of its genre? 

Well, my last MG, which was more teen, or Upper MG --I say was  because she is resting very comfortably nearby in a dark drawer. That manuscript is a realistic fantasy, or magical realism. I guess I like writing stories that blend the lines between what is real and something beyond us; unreal things, events, that might really happen. The possibilities. As far as this MG, I've never heard of a story about kids clamoring to get into an online social site and then clamoring to get out. 

Why do I write what I do?   
I've been writing since grade school. Then in my late teens and twenty's I wrote mostly poetry. ( A quick fix) I spent most of my time raising my teen boys, and spending much, too much time around kids. (I LOVED it--kids are the best. Ever!) I began with an image of deer in the woods calling to the MC. I wrote the story from the middle then backwards. Writer friends encouraged me to complete the manuscript. It became my longest commitment to paper at 80k words! 
My oldest son had dyslexia, so my husband or I, read to our boys every night.  A little sad when it stopped. I was thrilled this week, when son #1 asked me to read Macbeth to him for school. Ah, sweet bonding with my teen. It's been hard to come by lately. OK, next . . . 

How does your writing process work?  
I get up as early as I can, while the fog of sleep fools me that I'm still dreaming and write. When my boys were younger I brought my composition books around  to the pool or the playgrounds. Until I could revise on a computer and rest easy knowing the paperwork was safe. These days I run the family cafe, get in early, set up, and write. If it's not too busy, I can sling some words. I have an ideas folder for ideas that pop-up. I just tuck them away in a folder for later. I say "down girls (the muses)--let me finish what I'm working on first".
Sometimes I begin with a a scene, just to set the mood. Then I might list a few bullet point ideas, or a flexible outline. But so far, ever story I've written has had a little different process. I enjoy trying new POV structures, voices, and genres. In between beta reads I often enter short story contests to keep my mental muscle fluid. ~ Then I settle in. . . and write, and write. 







Let me welcome children's author Christina Daley. You can read all about her  Writing Process next Monday: here.

Christina Daley made her first book with neighborhood friends when she was four years old. They "wrote" out some semblance of lettering with crayons, cut up a cardboard box for the cover, and bound it all together with clear adhesive tape. It was brilliant.

Quite a few years later, Christina is trying her hand at writing "real" books. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with a pet plant named Herb.

And while I'm at it --Go and check out the writers of our group blog: The Kidliterati You will leave inspired and nourished, filled with ideas to get your kids writing and reading --along with helpful nudges to get yourself writing --even MORE.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

National Novel Writing Month.







I say, why the heck not?

I'm querying my tween magical adventure book and trying to figure out what to do with my YA thriller novella, while in the middle of revising my MG light Sci-Fi from #CampNano back in July.

So when my writing group said, hey we're getting busy with NaNoWriMo, I was like, gosh, I've got so much to work on already, but I can't miss out. (I said this in July, too.) I hate missing the party!

I'd plan to finish my Jazz Age Psych/Thriller (don't know if it's NA or YA, because I've only written about three chapters, and can figure that later--much later. Like, after my sloppy draft is planted in this 3rd dimension, or are we in the fourth? That's another topic.), at some point anyway. Why not get in on the action, even if I only get my usual ten handwritten pages a-day, or twenty, as I did in July. Anything is better than nothing. Right? 

Haven't made any notes. I barely have an outline. But I sing Jazz. I'm use to improvising. I dig it. Love it. I also have a mad show tonight. Tomorrow may be filled with eye pain and strain. But I'll come in swinging my pen, and try to figure out words counts along the way.


That's a whatta I'ma gonna do!  Hope you will too. It's my first time. If you're searching for writing buddies, you can find me at karen8Lee. I like writing buddies.



Here's to Halloween Eve and the madness that's sure to follow through November. Who's idea was it to begin the day after Halloween anyway? Ah, well. Let's ROCK IT!


Sunday, April 28, 2013

My Very Inspiring Blog Award. My First!

I was thrown off my heels hearing that I received this Very Inspiring Blog Award Nomination from fellow writer and blogger, you may have seen her name at the top of many recent posts--Rhainn Whynn-Nolet's  Blog  Go and read all about her. Her writing is amazing!

Isn't it pretty! -->

Now, I must come up with seven things that are interesting about me. Hm?  Let me think...dun, dun, dun. I have a semi frizzled brain this Sunday morning. But here goes.

1. I was born in Topeka, Kansas, and grew up believing I was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. But the only thing I know about Kansas is what I learned in a report I had to write in 5th grade.

2. I lived in the Northern most point of I-95:  Caribou, Maine at the age of 5 and Southern most point--Key West, Florida, at the age of 15.

You asked for interesting...
Um. This is hard.

3. I moved to NYC when I turned twenty-one with $400 dollars in my pocket--and many dreams. Drove up from Miami with two friends, who were sisters.

4. Kicked out of first NYC apt. unable to pay the rent. But the city was good to me, and created solutions. No street sleeping for us! But we were sitting on the curb with brown boxes.

5. Learned to longbord, and waterski after the age of forty. Yep. You're never to old to learn you can fall and not kill yourself. Of course, I really believe being a klutz all my life has helped me fall like a pro.

6. Used to work in fashion design. That was why I moved to NYC, or so I thought. I quit working in fashion, because I wanted to write poetry. All day long. So, I became a bartender. The bartender who's allergic to drinking. I made great cocktails. Used to have publishing friends come to me for the best martini's downtown. I wouldn't remember how to make a one now. But my Sea Dragon, wasabi martini is famous, it's in a book somewhere.

7. Before I gave birth to my first son, fifteen years ago, I read Tarot cards over the phone. (after years of self-study) I found it was really more of a counseling session. I had to keep all of the grief center hot lines up on the wall. I stopped when I found out I was pregnant.



Award Rules:
  1. Display the logo in your blog to show you’ve been nominated.
  2. Link back to your nominator.
  3. Share 7 things about yourself.
  4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.
  5. Notify your nominees
If I nominate you and you don’t want to play, no worries. If you do decide to play, please let me know so I can learn 7 interesting things about you!

In no particular order, here are my nominees:

1. Cassie Mae   because she was my first blog follower. EVER. She made this blog feel real for the first time.
2. Ella Schwartz  I just wouldn't know who else to turn to for my writing insecurities. Plus she's a Super cyber-cop, who wears a cape.

3. Becky Appleby-Sparrow: @Bec_AS  She reminds me when it's time for the kidlit chat or YA lit chat or MGlitchat. If I could stop falling asleep while reading and join her.

4. Melanie Conklin  Since she keeps her whip handy for slacking writers, and pushes us further.

5. Jen Malone If it wasn't for her in the beginning,  MG beta readers may have never taken flight. And she's a high flyer!

6. Jeff Chen for helping me get the MG beta readers started. A very funny guy, full of fourth grade fart jokes, AND he writes NYTimes cross word puzzles. 

6. Paula L. Harvey  because her last post in the Thursday's Children blog hop was spot on, inspiring and hit right to my heart. Go read it: Inspired By The Tenacity & Persistence of Actors

7. A.E. Welch  'cause she's got a story full of monsters. And they do good things. 


8   John Krissilas  just because--you know... 'So she seems'.  And because he's inspired by T-rex! And he supports writers, like nobody's business. Or like it should be everybody's business. 

9.  Ashley Keene  because that girl can edit! Yah, Thanks Ash! 

10. Ronni Arno Blaisdell  because she can stand on the sidewalk in crowded NYC holding Starbucks Frappucino and change from running shoes into heels. True super powers. 

11. Akossiwa Ketoglo she has a beautiful and informative blog and writes short stories for kids too! 

12. Jessika Fleck  because if it weren't for her following my blog, I'd of never found the Thursday's Children. What a great lot they are. Hop on board the #ThursdaysChildren blog hop. You can follow Rhainn at the above link for more info. 

13. Gail Nall  she's a singer and a writer, like someone else I know.

14.  Sydney Maag  she's an amazingly talented interior designer. And she's fun and awesome and our sons are buddies.

15. Ricki Schultz  who helped me create my first middle-grade query ever. That was nearly two years ago. And I'm still working on that project.


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Thursday's Children ~ Inspiration April 25th.

Where do I find inspiration? The weekly theme of Thursday's Children Hosted by: Rhiann Wynn-Nolet http://rhiannwynnnolet.com/ Join us!

From my beta readers/CP's!!
-because we're flexible like that.

Guess it was two years ago in July that I found Jeff and Jennifer on Krista Van Dolzer's blog, Mother Write Repeat. Krista wrote about beta readers and how many writers were having difficulty finding writer buddies in their own genres.

Being in this boat myself, with my writing friends not writing my genre--they were great and very encouraging--but not MG readers, not even YA. I even had trouble finding beta readers with the list SCBWI sent me. And I live in NYC! I finally realized, and it took awhile, sometimes you’ve just got to create what isn't there.

I snagged a couple forlorn writers within Krista’s comment stream, and we created the #MGbetareaders (look for us on twitter) Found a few more on twitter, and then a friend of a friend, and it snowballed. Now 24 members strong, they inspire me everyday.

Some have recently found agents. Some have sworn off writing, only to be on the road to an agent/publisher by the next email. Others get down, or overburdened and remind me we all feel this--not just me. I let the feeling sorry for myself bug vanish when I hear their stories. Or any writer’s story for that matter—We need stories! Damn they’re helpful.

Being 'sensitive' types, guided and sometimes driven by our emotions. It's great when they check in with their fears, hopes-- and contests to share!
Love each and every one of you: Akoss, Ella, Becky, Melanie, Jean, Jennifer, Annie, April, Ashley, Chris, Jeff, Devon, Dana, Jay, Heidi, Ki-wing, Paul, Gail, Rebecca, Rebekah, Rebecca, and Ronnie--an Awesome, Amazing, and Generous team. Go Team! Some are rocking the CampNaNo.
So, get down—in your seats--and keep writing! 
You sure inspire me to NEVER stop!  XO  


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Inspired By JaZZzz ...Thursday's Children March 28, 2013

Improvisation. Spur of the moment. Music and rhythm.

That's where I find inspiration. And the topic for this week's Thursday's Children Blog hop hosted by Rhiann Wynn-Nolet / http://rhiannwynnnolet.com/ and Kristina Perez http://www.kristinaperez.com/

Hop on. Take the tour and be inspired! Then get to work and write.

I host a weekly Open Vocal and Jam Session at Zinc Bar in NYC for the last two years. It started as a crawl and eventually grew into a very busy Thursday evening. I didn't know what I was getting into at the start, but to all of our delight it has grown into a invaluable source for Jazz vocalists to use for performance practice and get their voices out there. Or prepare for an upcoming gig, whether a seasoned singer or just stretching their wings.

And I created it. *pats back*

As a vocalist you must always find your own musicians and be prepared to pay them, either for rehearsals, or for gigs. Gigs are easier, since there's usually money to dole out. But not always, I know several singers and instrumentalists who still play for dinner and tips. Or dinner--or tips. Not an easy road for a musician after years and years of study.

I was happy to have a place to screw up my lyrics, a place to nurture others, and allow my own improvisational skills shine ...and this,  is a lot like writing.

Writers take prompts or cues, and inspiration and weave the threads into a narrative. A vocalist does this with music, on the spur of the moment with LOTS of people watching.

I feel this is very good preparation for my writing. Certainly for a rough draft--slinging it out there. Finding the rhythm--even in the revision process.

Rhythm is very important to me in books. Sometime I read a story out loud to my boys, and if the rhythm in the writing isn't there it glottises my throat. It almost closes up and I feel like I'm choking. Some books I read aloud flow, like cream over a dream, lulling me into a tapestry of sound and images. These are my favorites. This is why it's so important to read your work out loud. You'll know.
Humans are so clued into rhythm, it's older than history (unless you're on of those people who are always late).  o.^

Music and Rhythm...rhythm and life.  You might even check out an earlier post of mine HOWL, Ginsberg and Poetry. Mr. Ginsberg knew Jazz and writing went together. http://www.karenleehallam.com/2013/01/howl-ginsberg-poetry-and-me.html

If you'd like to hear me sing a tune:  The Man I Love.   Happy Thursday's Children to you all.


Spin around and visit the others in the Hop...and be inspired.
http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=190621&type=basic



Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Thursday's Children March 14, 2013


A weekly blog hop where writers come together to talk about whatever inspires them. Join us!



This blog hop is about how we find inspiration as writers. A special thanks, to Rhiann Wynn-Nolet http://rhiannwynnnolet.com/ and  Jessica Fleck http://jessikafleck.blogspot.com/ for Thursday’s Children Blog Hop. See the linkey below and hop on. Or take a tour of the other inspiring stories with Thursday’s Children bloggers.

Well, and this may sound a little perverse, but after coming down with a nasty bronchitis last week, I realized a VERY important inspiration --and that is BEING HEALTHY!  It’s always more apparent after being sick, unable to do ANYTHING except stare at the walls, to remind you of how much you value your health. 

Maybe it was a good thing that my usually over active mind was numbed down, because I had energy for nothing--barely able to visualize. It could have been extremely frustrating. So I used this time as a deep meditation. I did read one book at the onset, that I Loved: CODE NAME: VERITY (thought I’d read more). This incredible story gave me a lot to dream about before the malaise overwhelmed me. When I became the staring Zombie. 



Being Healthy after infirmary is inspiring, and for me, creates a frenzy of ambition. All the things neglected come to the forefront, and I want to accomplish them all in a hurry.  
I must pace myself though, or risk collapsing/stressing/suppressing my immune system again—did I not learn my lesson. 

As a dear old friend’s mother, who survived Auschwitz said to me, “if you have your health, you have everything.”

Words to live by.


To your health! 


I sure needed a brain. 
**Be sure to visit the blog hop participants Thursday's Children

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Inspiration from Mysterious places. 

First, I want to thank Rhiann Wynn-Nolet for organizing this weekly--yes, weekly blog hop. If you'd like to join us, head over to Nest Of Words for linky and information.

Two weeks ago, when I decided to hitch a ride and wrote my first blog hop post about where/how I find inspiration, I thought, inspiration can come from so many, many things, ideas, smells, emotions, and just anything that moves you or moves passed you.

So after posting about my first inspiration, which was characters, other ideas floated to the surface, I could see why Thursday's Children needed a weekly blog about inspiration.

We all know, the "flow" is unleashed in a myriad of ways. Here's my #2, although I don't think my inspiration is in any type of order. Muses live in another dimension after all.

I LOVE speculative fiction, especially when it crosses over into "news". Maybe some would call this conspiracy theory. So what.
I'm writing fiction.

Give me flying Blue Beam projects or lights caught in outer space via NASA, or something like this: Mysterious Purple Spheres Found in Desert.



It almost doesn't matter what these "really" are. I can conjecture them into my pages and take flight. I can make them anything my imagination might design.

Or try this one: Klerksdorp spheres  "Roelf Marx, curator of the museum of Klerksdorp, South Africa, where some of the spheres are housed, said: 'The spheres are a complete mystery. They look man-made, yet at the time in Earth's history when they came to rest in this rock no intelligent life existed."   

 Yeah, this is the stuff I drool over.  If you'd like to read more here's a link to get you started https://www.forbiddenhistory.info/?q=node/26  

There's even a Wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klerksdorp_sphere     
Come on. If Wikipedia lists it, it must be true. Right? Again, for my purposes, it's not necessary. I'll move the story into fiction and make sure my characters are real.



Klerksdorp Spheres

Maybe we could try a little writing prompt with one of these mysteries. I will. 

I keep an "X-file" for all of my speculations. When I need a CR-A-ZZzY idea, that's where you'll find me. 
Until the next Thursday's Children Hop.... 
Make sure to visit my writing buddies in the hop. They're pretty inspiring, too. 

Linky:


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Thursday's Children Blog Hop


How do I find inspiration? How do I not?         

I'm in constant flow of ideas, which are often met with the frustration of having my hands tied. Or my mind riddled with something else while the muse waits, and waits, until…

a) I write the notes in my notebook. b) I get right down to business. Or, c) I multi-task with projects spread around, carelessly completed.

Not always carelessly, but that's how it feels. I try and slow down, but time flies, and I have children! Not young children, worse--young teen-age boys! And they need more help than they must have needed as toddlers. I swear.

But what inspires me to write?  That is what this Blog Hop is about. I would say above all—it is PEOPLE! The Characters, shady ones, unusual traits, hidden kindness, overt cruelty, or Joe Shmo, who I turn into a Wizard on the page.

I played with Barbie’s well into the age of thirteen. Of course, I realize why, now. It was the dramatization of the characters I craved. When we moved from Cocoa Beach to Key West, I was only permitted to bring the most essential. I figured it was a good time to drop the Barbie dolls. I sure did miss them. But by writing fiction, I can still pretend and make-believe.

And having fun inspires me all the time.

A weekly blog hop where writers come together to talk about whatever inspires them. Join us!