My new year in writing

In the new year, I am increasing my focus on writing, but first I have had to embrace and accept the fact that I write within the horror genre. Reading the book On Writing Horror has helped quite a bit in that respect. Though I am not even half way through, I have encountered numerous entries from respected authors who also struggled with the stigma of writing something other than mainstream literary fiction. Apparently I am not alone! Now I vow to spend my time learning to be a writer and honing my craft. In addition to reading about not just writing horror, but also about writing in general, I will be continuing with my monthly writing group, and have made the decision to attend my first writer's conference this spring. I will include the details on this in a future post. Currently I have the novel I started for NaNo this past November (Plain Folk) that still needs my attention. I met the 50,000 word challenge, but did not reach a conclusion with my story, so I want to get back to it while the idea is still somewhat fresh. In addition to finishing the thought there, I have a short story (Bitter Pill) started and rewrites on my very first NaNo novel (The Gingerbread Lady) that I will be working on in the coming months. I have a good feeling about this and look forward to my journey into this relatively new endeavor.

I promise to not let my attention to my art lag while I spend more time writing however. In many ways I think that the art and the writing will prove to be good companions. I took some of the money I made this fall selling my painted softballs and bought a work light for my studio. (The overhead fixture just wasn't cutting it.) Though I have only been putzing down there, it has proven to be a good investment. Now that I am pretty well outfitted, I will continue with what I was working on prior to the holidays as well as beginning some new things that have been floating around in my head lately. I will be venturing into making pieces that combine my interests in sculpting and painting by fashioning dimensional wall hangings. I also would like to try out some hand painted banners this year. I am excited about all of the possibilities.

Update with Pics

It has taken me far too long to get back here, and for that I apologize. This NaNoWriMo thing coupled with the eight hours I spend on the computer at work have not inspired me to make time for a new post. Speaking of NaNo, I am well past the halfway point with my word count. Today's goal is 36,674 if I want to be finished by the 30th. I wanted to work ahead this weekend to give me some cushion, but I was not as motivated as I thought I would be. There is still time. Not sure whether I am coming up with anything that can really become anything with edits, but it feels like I might be surprised. Once it is finished, I will let it sit a while before I return for another look. I have a book that I introduced to my writer's group that I will probably do edits and rewrites on first.

As for my artwork, the Gift Bazaar at the beginning of the month went well. The response at seeing what I do with old softballs and bowling balls was very positive. People seemed interested in my inspiration and my process. I ended up selling half the items I brought with me. I am currently working on orders that I took that day and one since then along with a few Christmas and Winter themed pieces. I have included some pictures for you below of my art and my display the day of the bazaar. Sorry for the quality. I guess I need to work at my technique so that I am getting better shots.

We are just a few days away from "The Big Eat." Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope that you all have much to be thankful for this year. I know I do.

Happy Halloween!

Couldn't let the day go by without acknowledging my favorite holiday. The traditional "boo-chos" (nachos) on the menu for supper, then a spooky movie (The Eclipse), and taking turns answering the door. Will be taking the night off from time in the studio. Back at it tomorrow after work. Probably some late nights while I wrap up. In addition, it is the first day of NaNoWriMo on Monday, so I will try to get in my 1,667 words before everyone gets up for school and work. Gonna be a challenge to stay on track for the first week with still so much to do for Saturday's Gift Bazaar. I expect there may be some catch-up up to do starting next Sunday. Hope to have pics of my finished softballs in the next day or so, and more pics from Saturday's event next week.

Have an enjoyable Halloween. Back again around Wednesday.

Still here and covered in paint

Been a few weeks, so I feel I should make a brief appearance. With the fast (too fast) approaching Gift Gallery coming up, I am now in the thick of getting some things finished up while starting as many more as I have room for in my work space. Weather was nice when I got home from work, so I was able to get most of my sawing and drilling done in the driveway. Very wet and dreary here today, so much of it will be spent in the studio. Got up at the crack of stupid (for a weekend) and had a productive couple of hours already. It feels good!

Had the second of the three introductory writer's group meetings last Wednesday. Made myself step up and have the group critique my first page of "The Gingerbread Lady" novel. Was happily surprised at the comments, and the groups interest in reading more. When you write only for yourself, it is difficult to let others see your stuff. I worried, naturally I think, that I was deluding myself, that I had the chops to be a writer. Feeling a little more encouraged now. Once the bazaar is behind me, I will take a month off from the heavy duty painting and sculpting to focus on writing. Got an idea brewing for November's NaNoWriMo, and one writing buddy (Kathy Steffan, author and my writer's group facilitator). Even keeping an eye on the area writing get together's coming up for the Madison area NaNoers. With the MacBook, I can now writer places other than home, so it might be fun to check out at least one "write-in".

Well, that's where I'm at at present. I will post photos of my finished softballs, as well as my table at November 6's bazaar as soon as I am able.

Till then, enjoy the dwindling days of fall. Let's hope the snow here will hold off until after Thanksgiving at the earliest.

My favorite time of the year!

Well, it is now the end of August and only days away from Fall, my favorite time of the year. I know that fall doesn't officially begin till mid September, but as far as I am concerned, we are close enough. There is so much that I look forward to when the temps begin to drop and the green gives way to browns, reds, yellows and oranges. There is just something about the feel of the autumn months, the brings me to life. I feel much more energized and inspired once we get beyond the heat and humidity of June, July and August. Doesn't hurt that besides raking leaves, the outdoor tasks list begins to dwindle, and I feel like I can once again focus my efforts and energy elsewhere.

Got some fun Halloween themed art project formulating which I will post pics of as they begin to take shape. Now that I have discovered that there is a whole division in the art world dedicated to Halloween art and things of the macabre nature, I look forward to trying my hand at creating some pieces in that vein as well. I only hope that my work comes half as close to the awesome things I have seen on this blog network and elsewhere in my trips around the web.

In addition to the visual arts, I am still working on some writing projects. I am signed up for NaNoWriMo to take place in November, and I have joined a writers group to be held at the library in the coming months. At this point the group is just a short-term thing, but it sounds like the plan is to make it a regular event if the interest is there. I know I would welcome having a group of peers to work with. If things go as planned, (there I go planning again) I hope to be working regularly on my series of "midwestern gothic" novels, and featuring artwork described in the books on this blog. Think it could be a fun challenge to find a way to "marry" both my writing and my art. Will see how it comes together.

Well, that gets us somewhat up to date for now. Following is a picture of the laminated paper project that came out of a workshop I did back in June. Finally got around to the finishing touches. Liked the medium, and once I can get a hold of the gel used, I will try some more. I see a monkey in plaid pants in the future!

Any way, till my next entry, here's to living the creative life!

I'm back

I can't believe that once again, I have let this blog fall by the wayside. I did some redesigning a few weeks ago, and check in regularly to review post from the blogs I follow. Not very good about posting myself however. As I have stated before, it had always been difficult for me to give my creative life the time it deserves when I know that others and other things require my attention. Spring and summer and all the work around the house that those season bring, definitely got in the way. Not that I have kept up that well with the to-do list there.

Anyway, I am once again making an effort to commit at least a few hours a week to the creative pursuits. In addition to getting back into the studio, I have taken up my writing again. I have begun work on some short stories and have already signed up to do this year's National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). About 5 years ago I did my first NaNo when a friend who is a published author convinced me to give it a try. I successfully completely my 40,000 novel in 30 days both that year and the following year. (Those manuscripts now reside on this computer waiting for revision.) I tried for a third year, but doubt and frustration caused me to give up at about the halfway point. The past 2 years, I have been occupied with the Fall Gallery and Gift Event I started at work. Since I have now left the activities committee, and since no one else seems to want to take up the baton for the event, my Novembers are now free again. Because of that, and because I have been hearing the call to write, I signed up to participate again in a few months. Not really sure what I will be writing just yet, so we will see what develops on it's own.

In addition to the short stories and NaNo, I have been reading more about the art of writing, and have attended a seminar on writing mysteries. I don't believe that mystery is my genre, but I still came away with some good advice and recommendations. As a result of the seminar, I picked up Stephen King's book On Writing. It is a great book - part memoir and part guide to writing. I was encouraged to read that SK was once embarrassed about being a horror writer. He felt it when people questioned why he was wasting his talents on writing scary stuff. Aren't all writers supposed to aspire to writing literature? He eventually came to terms with what he is drawn to write. I can't tell you how encouraging to know that someone as successful as Stephen King once worried about what other people thought about the horror genre. Since I was a teen, I have enjoyed reading horror novels. Because that is what I like to read, it is also what I feel drawn to write. I can now say that I am OK with that. Rather that fight it, or not write at all, I shall write what comes to me and hopefully that will take me where I need to be creatively.

I am beginning to feel very much the same way about my painting, sculpting and assemblage artwork as well. I am drawn to the dark and somewhat gloomy subject matter. (With a bit of whimsey as well. Don't want you to think that I am this brooding and unhappy individual.) I am a story teller, and the stories I like to tell, aren't necessarily pretty or have a happy ending. With that realization, I have done a great deal of web surfing and research and have found this whole breed of artist I never knew existed, and many of them have a presence here on Blogger. I have found that their are painters, and sculptors who specialize in Halloween as their subject matter of choice, and I LOVE their work. I am really looking forward to exploring these same things in my own artwork, and daydream a little about joining their ranks some day.

I think that I just need to focus on combating the doubts that keep me from living the creative life I now know I am meant to live. When I do that, and begin to create the stories and art that I am naturally drawn to, I can find the fulfillment and success that I know is waiting out there for me.

Well, enough rambling for now. I will be posting more again soon. I promise myself that. I hope to include some snippet of my writing when I am more comfortable as a writer. In the mean time, I can include pictures of the things coming out of my studio.

Here's to a productive fall, full of all things dark, and spooky and just a little fun!