Morning Glory Studio

when I write by hand ...

 

Sunday 24 December 2017  7:20 am ~ sunrise

when I write by hand, I feel comfortable. I enjoy seeing the characters form, feeling the pen/pencil glide across the page ... 

when I write by hand, the table lamp casts a shadow on the paper, my hand and the pen's point, as I form words, make visible: thoughts, ideas, capture bits of information, tell a story ...

when I write by hand, I take in the sights and sounds of my surroundings ...

when I write by hand, I pause to sip my tea and stretch my fingers, exercise them a bit...

when I write by hand, memories flow forth; ideas  sprout; thoughts occur; feelings of contentment wash over me ...

when I write by hand, I fill pages of prose - the words just seem to flow even tho' I might not say a darn thing...

when I write by hand, I am safe, secure, comfortable, encouraged, alive, content, present.

I remember ...

 

 

I started a new book on memoir writing: Old Friend from Far Away by Natalie Goldberg this morning. I'm only on  section 1, page 4 ~  a 10 minutes' timed practice*. I am to write for ten minutes, beginning with the phrase "I Remember" and see where it takes me. So, with pen and paper and the timer on my phone, I'm  off! I'll be back after the ten minutes are up.

Back...and this is what I wrote:

        I remember the first time I sat at a computer; it was the late 80s. We were converting Talking Books ( a Library of Congress service for the Blind and Physically Disabled with talking (recorded)  books) customers' records to a computer driven data base. This data base enabled us to  track their books out, on reserve and reading interests so we could provide better and quicker service. The computer we had was an IBM.

In the early 90s, I went to Louisville for an adult literacy conference and there, I was introduced to the Apple Macintosh. Once I returned home, I decided I needed to buy my own computer - especially since we  (library) were establishing a computer-assisted literacy program for adults who were just learning to read. I remember the first computer I bought was the Commodore Amiga. My friend Adele had gone to Disney World (Orlando) and brought me a Mickey Mouse cap - which I still have.  I remember that as I was learning how to manipulate the mouse, I'd put on that hat every time I sat at the computer. I figured I had nothing to lose. 

I remember then that when the computer crashed, the screen turned a bright orange! The first time it happened, scared the daylight out of me. I was convinced I'd ruined my new computer - fortunately not. I remember I was in the middle of writing a grant proposal, it was  a Sunday afternoon and I lost all the data I'd written. 

Time's up! And that's a taste of this book! What do you remember about your first encounter with the computer?

Cheers~

 

 * I did two writing exercises this morning...the above text is in italics to signify handwriting.

me? a writer!

 

         No way! 

Not in the traditional sense that I want to be a published author.  Oh, I guess one could argue I am, via:

1. this blog and ...
2. in my former work life, wrote and submitted winning proposals for grant monies that funded library projects and ...
3. I write every day in my journal...

Currently, I am writing stories in response to the daily prompts from the book, Kicking in the Wall by Barbara Abercrombie. Today's prompt is the basis for this blogpost.  This is an interesting process: I find I almost have somethin' to say: Profound? Prosaic? Poetic? Dubios but clearly, there are words inside me, perhaps waiting to come out.

Over the years I've read many books on engaging in the practice and process of writing  and I know it is hard, butt-in-seat, demanding, exacting, unforgiving at times, work! But that's the way of creating...that's the way and one just keeps at it...keeps at it...

 Are you writing or engaged in some other creative undertaking on a daily basis?

 Cheers~

 

PS. And No, I'm not planning to participate  in NaNoWriMo next month but NaBloPoMo, Yes!