Secrets: by One Republic

Happy Monday and happy writing!

Enjoy the song ;-)

Inspirationless

Inspirationless: n. Lacking inspiration, drive, and creative spark.

It ain't in the dictionary but it should be. I've been going through a seriously lack of it lately. I sit down to write and don't. There is no fuel for the fire. It's depressing but it's my fault.
If I had a little more patience, maybe I could get the job done. A little less stress, a little more time... surely it could all work out. But I don't, so here I am---

---in a rut. Yes, the dreaded writer's rut. It's not my first time and it won't be the last. Still, it doesn't make it suck any less.

So I've scoured the internet looking for ways to inspire myself. It usually works like a charm. But it hasn't. Instead, I found the inspiration I need to pick myself up and climb out of this preverbial ditch though other means. Reading means.

I love to read but I'm picky when it comes to finding books that bring me to my knees. I like a lot of books, but they don't all speak to me. This one did. I didn't have to push myself forward into reading it-- the author did. I simply stepped on a literary flying carpet and the author made it move. I didn't have to make leaps of intuition or think "is that really logical?". She brought me from page to page seamlessly. And it made me realize the beauty that is writing. It made me want to write so that I could make magic. It's a challenge, but one that I enjoy. So thank you to author Rachel Vincent for getting me out of my rut and being a magician of her own.

So your inspirational clip of the day? Here you go! Yes, I may be dabbling in my post-apocalyptic book today...

Found on vi.sualize.us. Author unknown.

Who is you heroine?

I’ve been doing some character profiles lately for a new book and I got stuck on my FMC. I mean, I know WHO she is, but I can’t figure out what she looks like. So like all good liars—I mean writers—I went online and started looking through pictures. I love pictures (as you know) and thought these would be nice to add to the blog. Maybe you can suck some inspiration out of them and get back to writing

Ghost of You - My Chemical Romance

This is a phenomenal music video and an even better song. Perfect for writer inspiration..

Paramore: Brink by Boring Brink

Sia - Breathe Me

Creative People

"The creative person is both more primitive and more cultivated, more destructive, a lot madder and a lot saner, than the average person."

-Frank Barron

Think

all in your imagination

"Don't expect anything original from an echo."

-Author Unknown

"Sometimes imagination pounces; mostly it sleeps soundly in the corner, purring."
-Terri Guillemets

"There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds."
-G.K. Chesterton

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."
-Henry David Thoreau

Sit and Think

"Never be afraid to sit awhile and think."

-Lorraine Hansberry

A Raisin in the Sun

Dreams are illustrations...

"Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you."

-Marsha Norman

Solitude

"There are days when solitude is a heady wine that intoxicates you with freedom, others when it is a bitter tonic, and still others when it is a poison that makes you beat your head against the wall."

-Colette

deviantArt photo by: Kyokosphotos

"Boadicea" - by Enya

A look in the mirror

"This is what I believe:

That I am I.

That my soul is a dark forest.

That my known self will never be more than a little clearing in the forest.

That gods, strange gods, come forth from the forest into the clearing of my known self, and then go back.

That I must have the courage to let them come and go.

That I will never let mankind put anything over me, but that I will try always to recognize and submit to the gods in me and the gods in other men and women.

There is my creed."
- D. H. Lawrence

The Miracle of Love

"Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle."
-Amy Bloom

Keep Dreaming

"If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less but to dream more, to dream all the time."

-Marcel Proust

Photo by: Zevaazka (deviantArt)

"No World for Tomorrow" --Coheed and Cambria

Artists of the Week

Hello all ♥ Today I’m going to blog about some phenomenal artists I’ve ventured across while surfing the Web. Hope these pictures get your creative juices flowing—but if not, simply click on the artist’s link to see other amazing images. Here’s to a productive week ♥

 

 

 

 

“Dark Forest” by Katerina Belinskaya









“Feline Magic” by Mz-Kitts











“Ireland” by Jordan Fehr





 



“The Fantasy” by April182

"My Side of the Story"-- Hodges

"Say It"-- Blue October

Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

What do you see when you look at this picture? Could you write a scene from this? What does she see? Who is she?

(Picture by candymax)

 

What about this? Why is she hiding?
(Picture by sjfbetty)

And this one? Who is this girl? Is she lost? Is she alone? Where is she going?
(Picture by f-Stopped)

whale supports the fight against cancer

Minke Wales are pretty shy, and are hardly seen around Southern California, so when one not only appears near a surfer-turned-cancer-advocate, you know something's up. But when he proceeds to join the breast cancer advocate during her 9 hour, standing-paddle-boat trip, people started to wonder what was up. The whale, lovingly called Larry, swam side by side with the "boat" (which was actually a surf board) for two hours.

So--are the whales behind the fight against breast cancer? If this isn’t inspirational, I don’t know what is.

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/16812/california+surfer+receives+whale+of+an+escort+during+marathon+paddle/

Napoleon I on Time

Picture by: mhsahin
deviantART

"There is one kind of robber whom the law does not strike at, and who steals what is most precious to men: time."  

-Napoleon I, Maxims, 1815

Break Away

 

Picture by

witchlady750

diviantART

There is no reason to avoid the effort. Because once you get started, the effort will feel great. There is no need to fear what might happen. Because whatever happens, you'll be able to successfully deal with it. You may be nice and comfortable where you are. By all means enjoy the moment you're in, but don't become so comfortable that you keep yourself stuck there. Spreading out in all directions is a world full of possibilities. Get up, get out there, explore, achieve, fulfill, and experience. Put your awareness, care and attention into this now moment. Then step forward to experience the adventure of the next moment. Feel again, right now, all the joy you've ever known. With profound gratitude and the highest of expectations, get yourself making even more joyful experiences.

— Ralph Marston
www.greatday.com

Inky Girl Comic “Procrastination”

By: Inky Girl

Can’t find the book you want?

You must be at the wrong fucking bookstore!

 

 

"Birth and Death" by Bing Xiao

I'm a huge fan of art--particularly CG art. The CGsociety has a boatload of amazing artists portfolios to look through. This is one of my favorite pieces by an artist named Bing Xiao.

"Birth and Death" -- Bing Xiao

“Forever Can Be” - Ashes Divide

"The Stone" by Ashes Divide

Thanks Kristen Yard for bringing me to Ashes Divide. Great song-- wonderful for writing. Enjoy!

YouTube Video

I get my inspiration for writing from everywhere—and I do mean everywhere. I came across this video on YouTube and absolutely fell in love with the song (and promptly went to iTunes to download it to my computer for my Muse-Playlist…not that I have a Muse-Playlist…yet.) The clips from the show are excellent too.

For those of you that love Criminal Minds, you’ll love this video. If you don’t, you’ll love the song. Seriously, this is a great fan video by 0pureinnocence0 on YouTube.

The song is called Flowers for a Ghost by Thriving Ivory.

Warning: This video contains spoiler for Criminal Minds, season 5, Episode “100”.

pre-spring cleaning

I've been spending some time cleaning and organizing. Actually, let me try that again... So J has been cleaning and organizing the house, while I've been cleaning and organizing my current WIPs and a few other, potential book ideas.

It's kind of sad actually (my part, not his). I've had stack of ideas stockpiled, just waiting for a little TLC to really transform them into something special. But, after my little spurt of pre-spring-cleaning, my potential novel plots have withered away, leaving me with far less than I started with. Hmm...I feel a bit like these suckers...

“Hitting the Ground”- Ben Broussard

I’ve found some amazing songs lately and I’ll admit it, I’ve found my last two *posted* songs via a TV series that some people may find…stupid. Oh yes, I’m a closet Dog the Bounty Hunter fan. At least I was…until now. Now, I’m out. ;) But really, the songs kick ass!

“Bad Lands”- Zion I and the Grouch

Underground Hip-Hop song called "Bad Lands" by Zion I and the Grouch.

“Love Someone”- Dub FX

I’m usably not big on this kind of thing, but this guy is AMAZING and the song is catchy. If you like this song, check him out on youtube, or visit his website. You can even buy his CD.

Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day! Head on over to my writing blog to read through the Love at First Sight Blogfest entries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012 The End of Time (comic)

I couldn't help myself. I'm a fan of comics ;)

Thanks to Digg.com

“Love Story”- Taylor Swift

The seventh posting in the Love Poems & Other Romantic Paraphernalia Series comes with a bonus—The Love at First Sight Official Photo Album! Each of these beauties has been featured in the Love Poems & Other Romantic Paraphernalia posts. If you love hot and steamy as much as I do, you’ll be sweating when you’re done with these. Click through the album, find your inspiration, then go write your Love at First Sight Blogfest scene! Blogfest goes live on February 14th.

View Full Album

Taylor Swift’s Love Story

♥ follow your heart ♥

The sixth installment of the Love Poems & Other Romantic Paraphernalia Series, this picture is from Quotes Arcade. Get ready for Valentine's Day and the Love at First Sight Blogfest. 

Productivity Cartoon

Cartoon by: Inkygirl

God-Box 360 Controls (Cartoon)

I'm taking a break from the Love Poems and Other Romantic Paraphernalia Series and amusing myself with some cartoons. What cartoons do you like?

God-Box 360 Controls:

"To Earthward" by Robert Frost

 This poem is the fifth installment in the series Love Poems & Other Paraphernalia in honor of the Love at First Sight Blogfest, which will be held on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010.

"To Earthward" by Robert Frost

Love at the lips was touch
As sweet as I could bear;
And once that seemed too much;
I lived on air

That crossed me from sweet things, 
The flow of - was it musk
From hidden grapevine springs
Down hill at dusk?

I had the swirl and ache
From sprays of honeysuckle
That when they're gathered shake
Dew on the knuckle.

I craved strong sweets, but those 
Seemed strong when I was young;
The petal of the rose
It was that stung.

Now no joy but lacks salt
That is not dashed with pain
And weariness and fault;
I crave the stain

Of tears, the aftermark
Of almost too much love,
The sweet of bitter bark
And burning clove.

When stiff and sore and scarred
I take away my hand 
From leaning on it hard
In grass and sand,

The hurt is not enough:
I long for weight and strength
To feel the earth as rough
To all my length.

- Robert Frost