Writing Off the Edge: Blogspiration

Showing posts with label Blogspiration. Show all posts

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Blogspiration 39: Exploration

Blogspiration is a weekly meme hosted by GrowingUp YA & Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers & writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author’s choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation & just a little SOMETHING.

This is the last week for Blogspiration. Thanks to the awesome hosts who made this possible! I'd also like to thank everyone who got involved with this meme, because you all contributed something special.

Though this is the end of Blogspiration, I think I'll still try to post something inspiring each week, simply because it helps me to boost my own spirits when I begin to feel frustrated.

For this post, I wanted to address the topic of exploration. Humans are explorers by nature. The urge to explore and understand motivates scientists to do what they do. There's a sense of wonder in this process. I enjoy seeing the wonder of discovery in the eyes of my children when they see something for the first time. Even as adults, we need not lose that sense of wonder.

From Quasars to Quarks
Facebook page.

Scientists push toward new frontiers of understanding, but this is not the only way to gain new insights. As a writer, I feel I go through a similar process. Writing emboldens me to see things that I may never get the chance to see in real life. It allows me to experience things I'll never know. Through my writing, I get to ask questions and seek out the answer through word play.

From Fantasy and Sci-Fi Rocks My World
Facebook Page

I hope I never lose my thirst for exploration. Without that thirst to know and be more, we could never grow.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Blogspiration 38: Walk the Path

Too many narratives revolve around someone saving someone else from certain destruction. I'll never diminish the value of someone lending a helping hand to someone in a time of need. That act can make someone feel loved, and it can certainly play a role in motivating them to do better. However, in the end, we are each responsible for ourselves. We cannot rely on someone else to pick us up when we're down, because we must make the choice to get back up. The helping hand does no good if we don't move to get our feet back under us.

Background Image courtesy of arztsamui
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Blogspiration 37: Moving the World

I felt like celebrating what's possible. All we need is a little determination and we can do practically anything. Whatever your dream is, go out there and make it happen. Don't accept excuses from yourself, because you deserve better than that. And remember these words of wisdom.

Image courtesy of digitalart
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Blogspiration 36: Inner Peace

So many people try to achieve happiness in their lives by buying the latest tech gadgets. While there is nothing inherently wrong with consuming things, there is something wrong with the idea that you can fill the empty spaces in your life with more stuff that you don't need.

That's why the quote below resonates with me.

Image courtesy of Jennifer Ellison
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Contentment comes from being okay with who you are. Until you achieve that inner peace, you'll never feel satisfied.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Blogspiration 35: Hold On to One Another

Last week I asked the question about why we risk love. There are, of course, many kinds of love. Even if you are one of the people who has given up on romantic love, odds are you still feel plenty of love for certain people in your life.

The different kinds of love we feel for one another are valuable. People are valuable.

Objects are replaceable. People are not.

That's why I feel like the following quote is spot on.

Background Image courtesy of Stuart Miles
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have a great week, and make the best of your time with the people you love!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Blogspiration 34: Risking Love

No matter how you look at it, love is a powerful thing. It can inspire us to greater things, it fulfills our lives in ways that we could scarcely imagine without experiencing it firsthand.

Even so, taking the leap into love is risky. You never know for certain how long it will last or how it will end. I've been thinking about this a lot this week thanks to a story I'm writing.

What makes us take that leap? Will our risks make us believe in the beauty of love, or will we end up bitter? After all, nothing can both heal and wound as well as love can. Obviously, I'm happily married, so my risks worked out for me. Even so, I see how it goes the other way for some.

Anyway, while in the midst of these thoughts, I saw this quote, and I thought it offered a perspective of how much love can hurt when it goes awry.

This quote comes from The Sandman Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones.

So, what are your thoughts? Why do we risk going after love when it can end in this kind of pain? What makes it worth that risk? Do you ever write characters who take this view on love?

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Blogspiration 33: Lindsey Stirling

I don't know what to say about this, other than it's amazing. Insane musical talent, stunning visuals. I wish I could produce something on par with this, but alas, I cannot. Instead, I will admire it and share it with the rest of you.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Blogspiration 32: Drunk on Writing

In the course of this week's reading, I stumbled across a quote that stood up and slapped me in the face. The words fit perfectly with the way I feel about writing, so I had to share them with you.

Background Image courtesy of digitalart
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If I need to tackle a difficult issue, to make sense of something that seems utterly nonsensical, I write it. Sometimes it feels like my brain would explode if I wasn't "drunk on writing." Placed in the fictional world, my worst fears are just distant enough for me to get a good look at them. Spilled onto the page, I can manage that fear and use it to my advantage, not my detriment.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Blogspiration 31: Nothing Happened

So, the world didn't end. This fact in no way surprised me, though I'm sure a number of people were shocked by this. I often wonder, why do people listen when someone claims to know when the apocalypse will happen? So many people have been wrong before. It just seems like a bad bet to make. Here's a piece of advice. If someone bets you that the world will end on a certain date, you bet against them. No matter how certain they are, bet that the world will continue on as it always has. If they're right and everyone dies, they can't collect their winnings. And if you're right and you go about your daily business, you'll do so with a little extra something in your pocket. This is the best bet you can ever make.

Anyway, since I've been thinking along these lines all weekend, this quote seemed appropriate.

Background Image courtesy of Idea go
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is exactly how it felt as December 21st passed into the early hours of December 22nd without incident. I'm sure I'll see this happen a few more times in my life. After all, there's a lot of money to be made in the apocalypse business. People have books to sell, gimmicks to peddle. I see the motivation of the profiteers. It makes sense, even if it isn't entirely honest. What I don't understand is the people who honestly want the world to end. Some people genuinely want to speed along the end of mankind. They want to see it, to actually be there for it. Apocalyptic movies are fun to watch and all, but I like knowing I get to go home to my kids afterwards. I like waking up the next morning to a new day.

Oh well. They can be disappointed, and I'll try to make the best of the fact that the world is still spinning with nearly 7 billion inhabitants clinging to its surface.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Blogspiration 30: A Cosmic Perspective

I know I use science a lot in my inspirational posts, but that's because I find so much of the knowledge we garner through the scientific method to be absolutely amazing. The universe is the ultimate form of inspiration for me. It's where we live, it's the place from which we spring forth, and it's where we often look when we envision the future of humanity.

The video below nicely encapsulates the cosmic perspective and how we can simultaneously feel tiny and large when we look at the stars. We are far more connected to the universe as a whole than many of us realize.

Friday, December 14, 2012

The DejaVu Blogfest and a Blogfest Reminder

I just discovered the DejaVu blogfest a few hours ago. Having already gone through the process of resurrecting a post once this year, I knew there were other posts worth bringing to the surface. Thanks to DL Hammons for giving me the excuse to shine a light on another post that's been buried by the passage of time.

Now, before I post my actual entry for this blogfest, I wanted to mention another post that I seriously considered using in case any of you are curious about it. The runner up I considered using was a flash fiction piece called "A Complicated Suicide." This piece turned out to be funny in just the right way, and I enjoyed writing it. The inspiration for it also came quite suddenly, and this makes for some of the best writing. I ultimately decided it was a tad too long to put up here, but if you have the time, I'd love for you to take a look at that as well!

The following, my actual entry for this blogfest, was posted on Sunday, July 22, 2012. I chose this one in part because Saz101 later went on to use a quote from this post in a future blog post of her own. You can see the quote she used HERE. That was flattering enough to keep this post in mind over these last few months.

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Blogspiration is brought to you by Saz 101 and Growing Up YA. The goal is to inspire thought and dialogue by posting something that ignites that creative spark.

This week I bring you a quote that got me thinking.

Our waking hours form the text of our lives, our dreams, the commentary.
Anonymous

As someone who loves documentaries and listening to the commentary for beloved TV shows, this quote makes perfect sense to me. The commentary track gives you an insight into the dreams of others. The narrator of a story gives you access to the dreams of your characters.

When you sleep, your dreams can clue you in to the things that are bothering you.

Listen to your dreams. Whether they be the dreams that come when you sleep or the ones that tell you where you want to be, they have meaning. As the commentary track to your life, you can use those dreams to look at what you're doing, and you may even learn how to best pursue your goal.

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The entry stuck out for me because it meant something to someone else, and as a writer, that in turn means something to me. So there you go. Be sure to check out the other entries for this cool blogfest!

Also, one last note. I'm hosting the Beginnings Blogfest on January 9, 2013. If you'd like to check it out, click HERE. And to entice you, here are the buttons you can choose from to display on your blog!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Blogspiration 29: Euphemisms

This week's post is a tad on the silly side (or so far past the silly line that you can't see the line anymore), but that's okay. Silly can be inspiring too!

You ever hear those ridiculous euphemisms that make you laugh harder than the actual phrase the euphemism is meant to disguise? Well, if you enjoy this sort of thing, you're in luck! Thanks to the wonder that is Twitter, I discovered the epic awesomeness that is the Euphemism Generator! To check out the fun yourself, you can find the Euphemism Generator HERE.

These are a few of the results I got when I tried it out for myself. It's fun to think them over and figure out just what they might mean.

Oh, don't break anything!

Okay, what is "smurfing" and whose trap is it?

Don't you hate it when this happens?

Why don't you go try it out for yourself? It may inspire a silly piece of writing, and if nothing else, it should inspire a laugh or two!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Blogspiration 28: Learning and Questioning

I'm posting this a day early because I'll be posting for a couple of blogfests over the next couple of days. Check my sidebar for links if you're interested in joining in on some blogging fun!

Today I thought I'd share some good life advice.

Background image from http://www.public-domain-image.com/

I think this quote is absolutely right. Curiosity is expressed through the questions we ask, and that curiosity affords us the ability to learn and grow. Curiosity makes our present more rich and rewarding by allowing us to draw from the past and from the world around us. This is what also gives us hope for our future, because as long as we continue to ask questions and explore, there are no limits to the things we can accomplish.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Blogspiration 27: Comfort Vs. Growth

Sorry I'm so late in posting this. The Thanksgiving holiday has kept me far from my computer until now. The craziness is starting to die down, but it's hard getting back into a normal routine sometimes.

Anyway, as I've been off track for the last few days, I was thinking of how beneficial it can be to do something different for awhile.

Background Image courtesy of digitalart
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It's easy to get stuck in a routine that's comfortable and familiar, and while in that routine, you may find yourself dwelling among those who think in a similar way. After all, we tend to surround ourselves with people we can relate to. That's great, but we also need more than that. Breaking from your routine and trying something new, or meeting new people, can be a great growth experience. Not only does it bring you back to your daily life refreshed and energized to do more, it also gives you a new perspective, possibilities for new and richer understandings about the world and life.

We all need to be daring and curious, otherwise we'd never be able to grow.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Blogspiration 26: The Future

Sometimes it feels like our actions don't matter in the grand scheme of things, but they do. And sometimes it seems as if the mistakes we've made will continue to define us for the rest of our lives. When we find ourselves stuck with these less-than-constructive doubts, it helps to remember this.

Image courtesy of Victor Habbick
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The past may be unchangeable, but we go forward with endless possibilities. While it may seem overwhelming to think that all of our choices will reflect on who we are like footprints in the snow, knowing how much of an impact our choices can have is also inspiring. So get out there and do something amazing, because it really does matter!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Blogspiration 25: Enemies

A lot of the time, people worry themselves to death about what others think of them. I know I've fallen prey to that maddening tendency from time to time. If you're the type of person who regularly speaks their mind, or if you wish to speak your mind but fear retribution for your opinions, here's a quote you should bear in mind.

None of us can please anyone, but if we can make a difference by making our voices heard, it's worth a few enemies.

Sometimes, in order to be genuine, we need to be LOUD!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Blogsiration 24: Bad Communication

Communication binds us in good relationships worth preserving, and distorted, ineffective communication bind us in bad relationships. Misunderstandings lead to hate. Lack of a solid education leads to ignorance.

When our communications are poor, we are limited, because we cannot benefit from the wisdom and experience of those around us. As social beings, we learn from others. When we cut ourselves off from a segment of the population due to misinformation or prejudice (which in itself is often due to disinformation and ill-informed assumptions), we cut off that potential source of learning and experience.

We grow through our connections with others.

Background Image courtesy of happykanppy
/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have you ever made an assumption about someone you later learned to be wrong? Has a communication error contributed to a strained relationship in your life? I think it's happened to all of us in one way or another. Fortunately for us, awareness of the problem means we can work to remedy it.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Blogspiration 23:Writing As An Identity

Writing is a verb. It is an action that many of us engage in from time to time, some more often than others. As an action, we may stop and start. Sometimes we may not write for a long while. Yet, if you are a writer, then that is part of your identity. Being a writer is a way of life, and the act of writing is only a part of that. An important part, yes, but there is more to being a writer than simply writing.

Image courtesy of maple / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Writers see story potential in the everyday, mundane things. Writers create narratives surrounding people they don't know. Writers see the world through different eyes than others. We see the imaginary laid over the real world, enmeshing the two to create something new and bizarre. That's how we draw inspiration from all we see and experience. Our daily lives provide us with the thread from which we spin a new tale.

If you are a writer, that part doesn't ever really go away. When we write frequently, we become more efficient at generating new stories. However, even if we don't write for a long time, that doesn't mean that creative spark dies. It's always there, waiting to be rekindled into radiant new life.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Blogspiration 22: Genuis Is . . .

Blogspiration is a weekly meme hosted by GrowingUp YA& Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers & writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation & just a little SOMETHING.

We all need inspiration, though some days it seems as if the sources of inspiration may be lacking. This, however, is not the case. In order to find our own inner genius, we need to realize that inspiration can be found anywhere.

Background Image courtesy of Tanatat @ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I agree with this definition of genius. Being a genius doesn't mean knowing everything. It means knowing how to look at the world around you, and being open to what it has to offer you. Life is replete with resources that can fuel the fires of the imagination. Look at the world with wonder. See each day as an opportunity to experience the world anew, and take nothing for granted. This is the fertilizer that will grow great ideas.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Blogspiration 21: Grief

Blogspiration is normally meant for my Sundays, but sometimes circumstances compel you to do things sooner. I know I did a serious post last week, and it's going to be another serious one this week. That's just the way it is.

My good friend Chelsea Kelly is going through a tough time right now. I remember when she called me to share the happy news that she was pregnant with her second child. She sounded so excited to welcome a new addition to their little family.

There can't be a better mother out there in this world than she is. She's such a nurturing person, and she always has been. Now she's left to cope with the awful reality she hoped would never come to be: she lost her baby.

I've never been the best at saying the right thing at times like this. I know words alone can't make the pain go away. I won't say that everything happens for a reason, because I know how little that actually helps when you're coping with loss.

Instead, I'll share these wise words.

Backgroun Image courtesy of nuttakit @ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

These words can't take the pain away, or make any sense of the tragic things that happen, but they can at least give the pain itself some meaning. We hurt because we love. And that love is too precious to sacrifice in the hope of avoiding pain. Without it, life wouldn't be worth much of anything. Grief is a symptom of our humanity. It may come because we love, but that love is what will also get us through.

If you have any words to share, you can find Chelsea on her blog Sailing the Kiddie Pool. I know she can use all the support she can get right now.