Surfacing the Dream (guest post)

I'm taking a little summer beak through mid-July. During this time I'll be hosting some great guest bloggers and sharing some of my favorite posts from The Word Cellar archives.

Today's guest writer is Kelly Barton. In this post, Kelly shares a poem she wrote after attending an art retreat.

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surfacing the dream.

…there are days

where we are in the depths of the water.

above we can see that crisp warming light that dances on the surface.

there are days….
our weighted limbs carry us

as the lights path shines even closer

there are days…..
the burn of the day pushes

and then the breaking of the water

slides against our damp brow.

we gasp to find the breath, that one breath

that promises to put the center back in your day.

there are days….
that sweet center is found.

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Kelly Barton is a mixed media artist and graphic designer who brings sass to her home base of middle Indiana. Most days you will find her in the studio with music playing and colors flying. She is inspired by the inner-workings of a girl's nutty mind and believes that growing up girl is enough inspiration for any artist. Kelly's creations can bring out the joyful rebel in any person or space. She features her artwork in her eclectic mixed media art pieces, funky notecards, spunky jewelry baubles, and fun tee-shirts. Kelly created Kelly Barton Art +Design to remind people that we're all connected, and because she believes we all need a bit of happy. Find Kelly online here.

Ways to Enliven Your Writing (In The Word Cellar re-post)

I'm taking a little summer beak through mid-July. During this time I'll be hosting some great guest bloggers and sharing some of my favorite posts from The Word Cellar archives. The post below originally appeared on 9 June 2010.

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Carousel beneath Space Needle, Seattle (Diana+; Kodak GC400)

This week's nitty gritty writing tips are short and sweet, or maybe they're quick and dirty. (You decide which cliché you like better.)

How can you make your writing more lively? If you're bogged down in a section of writing that drags its feet and bores you, try a few of these tips to perk it up. In fact, they're good techniques to use all the time.

1. Avoid clichés. Wait, that tip itself is rather cliché, isn't it? Sometimes a cliché can be funny or drive home a point as a sort of cultural shorthand. But if you use one, be aware of it. Use it because it's the best way to say something, not because it's the easiest and quickest way to say it.
2. Use active voice. In active voice, the subject of the sentence does the action. In passive voice, the action of the sentence happens to the object. This is passive voice: The omelette was dropped on the floor by the chef. This is active voice: The chef dropped the omelette on the floor. Passive: The baseball was thrown by me. Active: I threw the baseball.
3. Use good verbs, not adverbs. Strong writing uses strong verbs, not weak verbs modified by adverbs. Don't run quickly out the door; sprint or dash out the door. Don't cry profusely; weep or wail. Don't call out angrily; shout or yell or scold. Some writers swear against adverbs at all costs. I'm not that strict, but I believe in the power of lively verbs to strengthen writing.
4. Use fewer "to be" verbs. To be verbs include the following: be, am is, are, was, and were. Sometimes you need to use a to be verb. But often you can find a much more interesting way to write the sentence.
5. Avoid word bloat. You probably need fewer words than you think you do. Remove unnecessary phrases or replace them with shorter, more direct phrases. Less is more. (Hey look, another cliché!)

Do you have any favorite tips for enlivening your writing? Any questions on how to handle specific sluggish sections? Share in the comments or email me: jennifer{at}thewordcellar{dot}com.

In The Word Cellar runs on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Read other posts in the series here.

Turn Envy into Inspiration (archive re-post)

I'm taking a little summer beak through mid-July. During this time I'll be hosting some great guest bloggers and sharing some of my favorite posts from The Word Cellar archives. The post below originally appeared on 15 August 2009.

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image from SleepingBear

Have you heard?

That e-course filled up in a day! He got a book deal! The online sale sold out in an hour! She's making enough money to support herself! He was invited to teach! She's getting national media coverage!

Gossip, gossip; murmur, murmur.

Here's the deal: The online community (and the rest of the world, for that matter) is made up of two kinds of people: the doers -- the movers and shakers -- who get all the attention and do all the cool projects; and the wannabes, who wish they could be like the doers.

Whoa. Do I really believe that? Not exactly. But here's what I do know to be true: There's an epidemic of envy in the online community. I'm not pointing fingers or throwing stones in a glass house here. I have been part of the epidemic. I speak of what I know.

You know who I mean when I say "the doers," right? Those folks who frolic among the clouds, slide down rainbows, and sleep on lavender scented moonbeams while money and high quality organic chocolate pour into their bank accounts. They're smart and beautiful; well connected and well loved; prolific and profitable. We each have our own private list of such people. Maybe it's filled with artists, writers, and photographers. Or maybe it includes entrepreneurs, tech gurus, and public speakers. Or food bloggers, craft bloggers, and mommy bloggers.

The online world is huge, but every list is extremely specific, isn't it? My list may be completely different from yours, but a lot of the accompanying thoughts and emotions are the same. The people on these lists are the ones we blog stalk, obsess over, and analyze. We feel like a loser when they announce yet another success. We get snarky and think, "Well, must be nice!" Then we feel uplifted and affirmed when they respond to one of our comments or emails. We're their biggest fans and their biggest critics. We've become the TMZ of blog celebrities, the British tabloids for online royalty.

Envy brings out the worst in us because we believe that envy is a "bad" emotion. As kids we're taught to share and to play nice. We know we're supposed to be generous and happy for others -- this is woven into the ethical fabric of our social consciousness. So when we feel envious, we often feel guilty and embarrassed. And from our shame can come a callousness designed to cover up the fact that we're feeling an emotion we've been taught is wrong.

We turn envy into anger because anger gives us a feeling of power.

But here's the thing: We envy what we covet. We covet what we love. And we love -- are you ready? here it comes! -- we love what we're meant for.

I'm going to repeat that, in a boldfaced, bulleted list kind of way, in case you're like me and tend to skim blog posts too quickly:

• We envy what we covet.
• We covet what we love.
• We love what we're meant for.

Jealousy is a compass. It points us to our true north, to what we value and long for the most. I learned this from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. (I know, I know. This book is quoted all the time in certain creative circles. But for good reason, I say.)

We need to stop reacting to jealousy with guilt and the subsequent mean-spiritedness. Now here's where I'm going to get all Zen on you. The next time someone on your list announces a fabulous new project, success, or accolade, just notice your jealously. Sit with it. Get curious about it (as this astute life coach would say). Look at it with a beginner's mind and wonder about it. What does it mean? Why do you feel this way?

What is it about that other person's situation that you want? Is it the recognition? The creative freedom? The money? Don't judge this. Just admit to yourself why you envy that other person. When you know the reasons for your envy, you'll see what you covet. When you see what you covet, you can discover what you love. And when you've discovered what you love, you'll know what you are meant for.

Then you can turn your envy into inspiration. (Which is sort of like turning that frown upside down, but not so rhyme-y.)

image from SleepingBear

In other words, unpacking our envy allows us to target our motivating factors. Then, instead of feeling sorry for ourselves about someone else's good fortune, we can start moving in the direction of our own. If you're a good-hearted person with a desire to live fully and authentically, I promise that this will feel so much better than kvetching about someone else's success.

And here's the shocking secret I've recently learned: Those doers -- the people we think have all their shit together, those amazingly creative and popular peeps -- they often feel like wannabes, too. They struggle and they fail and they feel lonely sometimes. Just like the rest of us wannabes!

Wait? Could it be? We're all wannabes? Maybe.

Or maybe we're all doers in different stages of doing.

I once read that experiencing a beautiful piece of art won't make the true artist jealous; rather, it will inspire her in her own art. I took that as truth for awhile, but it depressed and discouraged me because sometimes I see amazing things and I do feel jealous. Therefore, I came to believe that I wasn't a true artist.

But that axiom is an oversimplification of things. Envy is a naturally occurring reaction, but it doesn't have to turn ugly. We can choose whether or not to turn our envy into inspiration. Like all worthwhile commitments, it's one I have to choose again and again.

So, to sum it all up in a nicely alliterative, yet somewhat smarmy way: Inspiration can inoculate us against the envy epidemic.

What do you think?

Are You an Armchair Critic? (guest post)

I'm taking a little summer beak through mid-July. During this time I'll be hosting some great guest bloggers and sharing some of my favorite posts from The Word Cellar archives.

Today's guest writer is Rachelle Mee-Chapman. In this post she writes about "So You Think You Can Dance," the only competition reality show that I love and watch regularly. But more importantly, Rachelle shares some helpful ideas about the transcendent value of experiencing art rather than critiquing it.

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The intersection of Art and Spirituality is my favorite corner. I've been able to spend quite a bit of time there lately and my tired soul is getting filled back up, Up, UP.

Dance is the art form that’s feeding me the most — so much so that The Hubs just accused me of being a dance addict. (Guilty as charged.) So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) is back on which means I can watch Sonya Tayah choreograph, and Melanie Moore dance. The competition for "America's favorite dancer" has it's obvious shortcomings — dramatic announcements, choices based on "good television" rather than artistry, and worst of all, the hot tamale train. And yet, in the U.S. it has brought dance to our attention like nothing before. Before SYTYCD, America's dance vocabulary consisted of MTV hip-hop and the occasional trip to the ballet for The Nutcracker. Now millions of viewers are learning about ballroom, contemporary, jazz, broadway, and all kinds of street dancing ("whacking" anyone?). Not to mention the occasional foray into Bollywood, demonstrations of Thai dance, and even an ill-fated attempt at Russian folk dancing.Learning to appreciate different art forms expands the scope of our charts and the depth of our souls. Through SYTYCD we are indeed becoming more expansive. And because SYTYCD is a competition we are simultaneously learning to be an Armchair Critic.

Critique can be a valuable tool. It can hone your art and improve your skills. It can also take you out of an artistic moment and leave you sitting in the critic's Herman Miller.

(If the video isn't working for you, try clicking here.)

I recently watched this performance choreographed by Stacey Tookey. I thought it was lovely, and I watched each dancer with rapt attention. But when the judges spoke later about it’s depth and impact, I realized I had only seen it in critique-mode. Because this is a a competition I was watching each dancer, looking for good lines, impeccable timing, authentic emotion. The piece was designed to be seen as a whole, to be experienced as a moment – not as a tool for honing my dance critique skills.

By watching this piece in an analytical frame of mind, I traded true beauty for the fictional role of "Clever Critic." I left the corner of Art and Spirituality, and in doing so I missed what could have been a transcendent moment.

When we take on the role of The Critic, we remove ourselves from the position of Withmate. We are no longer journeying with someone, but instead we are directing their course. When critique is asked for explicitly, it is helpful. Indeed these dancers would not be at such a high skill level if they had not been offered critiques. But when The Critic is our default position it harms both ourselves and those whom we are picking apart.

As I approach dance in the coming weeks, I intend to do so with a wondering and learning heart. I intend to look at each piece as a whole. To engage in the story. And to spend as much time as possible sitting on the front stoop at Art and Spirituality.

What about you? What helps you quiet The Armchair Critic so you can "Be Here Now?"

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Rachelle Mee-Chapman, a.k.a. Magpie Girl, is a spiritual director specializing in "care for creative souls." She works with visual artists, writers, musicians, chefs, and other folks who are unlocking their creative core. She does this by being a writer, podcaster, and by serving as the hostess of  Flock: a nesting place for restless souls.

For the Love of a Toy Camera (guest post)

I'm taking a little summer beak through mid-July. During this time I'll be hosting some great guest bloggers and sharing some of my favorite posts from The Word Cellar archives.

Today's guest writer is Vivienne McMaster. Viv is a fabulous photographer who always has generous words of encouragement for me as a photography newbie. She knows how much I love my Diana F+ camera, so she wrote this fun post about toy cameras just for us! (All of the photos in this post are hers.)

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It is so lovely to be here at The Word Cellar while Jenna is away.

I thought that since Jenna takes such fabulous photos with her Diana camera that I would share a bit about toy cameras with you today.

When I got into photography years back, toy cameras were one of the first things I was drawn to. I loved how simple and unpredictable they were. While I was seeing so much fancy photography online, but not yet at a skill set where I could create it, this kind of photography where there was room for mistakes felt really appealing.

It was before the time of apps and iPhones, before you could mimic any toy camera with your phone. As much as I am a total iPhonography addict, there is something truly special about these cameras. There is nothing like getting a roll of film back and seeing what incredibly unique shots we can create with them!

You'd be shocked how much of the digital effects in apps these days are based directly on Toy Cameras.  

A few of my favourites include the Holga, Diana, Fisheye, and Lubitel, but there are also so many more types of toy cameras you can get creative with!

Let's go old school film style today and talk about the real deal.

Here are some of my favorite things about toy cameras:

They are Cheap
Okay, yes, when you go to Urban Outfitters they surely aren't cheap to buy. That is true. I encourage you to keep your eyes open for them in thrift stores. I have found a few that way!

They are actually really cheaply made. That is a part of their charm! So many of the things that are great about them exist because they are a piece of plastic. No glass, nothing fancy. I love how something really so simple can create such incredible images.

Some of them are more contemporary in their creation, but others are more historical. The present Diana cameras, for example, are based on a camera from the 1960s that companies gave out as a promotion or sold for very cheaply at carnivals. How fun is that!

Vignettes
Many toy cameras have a vignetting effect where there tends to be darkness emerging into the photo from the corners. This is something that folks often add to their digital photos, but this is the real deal!

Double Exposures
One of my favorite parts of Toy Cameras is that you have to wind them yourself, which means that often you forget to and you accidentally double expose your photo. Often these mistakes make the best images!

Of course you can also do it on purpose. Double exposing is another thing I love to do digitally, but even better to do it film style with your toy camera!

 
Light Leaks
Due to the fact that they are cheaply made, they often create light leaks. With cameras like the Holga you are recommended to put put tape around the edges to prevent light leaks. Or you can invite them in for some very cool effects!

Shooting from the Hip
Many of these cameras are not actually intended to be shot with you looking through the viewfinder. This puts a wide smile on my face. They are meant for you to "shoot from the hip" literally. They are great for taking photos where you don't want to be obvious about it. This makes them perfect for street photography and adds a really unpredictable element to them. I love that.

It's Unpredictable & Experimental
Toy cameras are perfect for perfectionist photographers in that they don't at all allow for perfectionism. Pick up a Toy Camera and you will be invited to step into the unexpected and unpredictable.

They are light, easy to tuck into your camera bag and a ridiculous amount of fun.

Lomography
When you hear about toy cameras, you often hear the term Lomo or Lomography along with it. It originates from a certain type of camera but has grown to be a term used for this genre of photography.

Lomo is all about experimentation, documentation, creativity, and playfulness. Doesn't that make you want to join in?

You don’t need to be a fancy photographer to use a toy camera. That is part of what drew me to it. Often one's mistakes make for the best photos, which makes it feel really accessible. All you need is a playful spirit to try a toy camera. Sure, you can do all of this with an app these days but I encourage you to put down your iPhone and give them a try.

If you'd like to know more about the cameras, here are a few resources I adore!

Lomography

Four Corners Dark

ToyCamera.com

Photojojo  

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Vivienne McMaster  is a photographer and leader of the You are Your Own Muse E-courses. At present she is running a brand new e-course called Light Hunters, which is a light, summery adventure that will surely make you fall in love with light. It starts this Friday, July 1st!

p.s. I'm so excited to be teaching online with Viv this August! We'll be joined by Liz Lamoreux for Emerge, the premier Live it to the Full class. I invite you to join us as we share stories and tips on navigating life's transitions using creativity (including photography, writing, and mindfulness practices). The course is designed to give you bite-sized pieces of inspiration that you can fit into your busy schedule. And it's just $49! (Sweet!)