Milestones trigger emotions, and this one is no exception. Today marks ten years blogging. My website and blog is mostly about the creative life (writing, publishing, media in general) and occasionally sports. I’ve experienced growth in all those areas, and I hope something I wrote added to your insight on a subject.
My very first post was about inspiration, specifically about shooing the Muse. You can read it here: http://www.silviaacevedo.com/a-writer-writes/muse-schmuse/ I feel pretty much the same way today. If I waited until I felt inspired, who knows when I’d ever get around to it? The funny thing is, once I start, it’s the writing itself that inspires me to write more. What inspires you? And what topics should I hit in the next ten years? 🙂
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/handsonkeyboard.jpg319550Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2017-08-20 11:30:432018-10-04 15:14:46Ten Years Blogging
My engines are really revving for the SCBWI-WI fall retreat. You should come. Really! You have just three short weeks to sign up, and I’ll tell you why you should (and then how to maybe get in for free!).
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is the premier association for creators of children’s lit (and one of the largest organizations for writers and illustrators in the world). If you want to learn more about writing or illustrating for kidlit, these are your people.
Wisconsin’s fall retreat is three days of amazing networking, creating, and communing. This year’s lineup is impressive as always: the society director, three editors/directors, an art director, an agent, two leading authors/illustrators/creators, along with 11 local presenters, myself included. My involvement isn’t why I write today; I’ve been praising the association for more than ten years. This is the place to go to build your craft.
I am proud, though, of the two presentations I’m doing. Both are collaborative.
Friday’s Intensive with Melissa Gorzelanczyk is four-fold: Honing in on images; Focusing on plot; Unreliable Narrators in your writing and illustrating; and Bringing Back the Thrill. Plus we’ll have a memento for attendees. The picture gives a hint. 🙂
My second presentation, with Valerie Biel, highlights how music, dance, theater, literature, and the visual arts can inspire your creations. And attendees get another memento.
So you’re convinced. I can tell! Sign up by August 31st here.
Aaaaand if you want a chance to get your registration fee reimbursed, apply for the DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP BY AUGUST 14. SCBWI is inclusive in what constitutes diversity, so you may well qualify. Find out and apply here.
If you’ve been dreaming about creating for children, this may be your moment. Hope to see you there! 🙂
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/fr_003.jpg7421600Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2017-08-10 16:45:272018-10-04 15:15:36Play Date! at the SCBWI Retreat
I recently bought a prompt journal (300 Writing Prompts by Piccadilly Inc.) to force really quick writing. Here’s my latest prompt:
Do you prefer to dance with no one watching, with a group of friends, or with one special partner?
All of the above. I just like to dance. I’m not particularly good or bad at it. I suspect I’m like most people, just shuffling or bouncing along to the beat of the music, but I like the freedom of dancing.
Why do so few people dance in public? Why is it so hard for me to coax (or pull) a friend onto the dance floor at a music festival or county fair? Do people seriously care that others watch? I don’t, but I know I’m in the minority there. :/
Bought myself a journal (300 Writing Prompts by Piccadilly Inc.) to force really quick writing. Here’s my latest prompt:
What is a personality trait do you admire in other people?
Patience, which often manifests itself in kindness.
Look, the world is a trying place. People and circumstances can frustrate us and lead us away from our daily (or lifelong) goals. It is so, so easy to take out a slew of perceived injustices on others because they’re not as “whatever” as we’d like them to be.
But we’re all unique individuals on highly personal journeys. We’re all of us more than we are at any given moment, and so exhibiting patience often provides the buffer that all sides in a situation need to save themselves from themselves.
I’m still working on this trait and suspect I always will be.
What personality trait do you admire? Tell me in the comments. 🙂
I recently decided to start writing in smaller chunks. I bought this journal: 300 Writing Prompts by Piccadilly Inc. The idea is to give quick answers without editing. Here’s the latest prompt.
Name three things you have in your bathroom right now.
I have a framed Monet print which brings a smile to my face. I’m not a huge Monet fan, but I like this piece. It’s of a woman and child in a field, which brings back memories of playing with the kids when they were little.
I also have a shower curtain which makes me laugh because of one of my kids’ surprised comment that we got a new shower curtain! – as if we needed her approval before purchase.
The last is a note dictating which closet shelf belongs to which kid. Because territoriality. Ha!
My fiction is usually long form, so I recently decided to change things up and start writing in smaller chunks. I bought this journal: 300 Writing Prompts by Piccadilly Inc. The idea is to give quick answers without a lot of humming and hawing. I’ll post my answers here occasionally.
If this week had a theme to it, what would yours be?
Motivation against all odds. I have a half dozen people around me lately who are suffering from malaise. I’ve been the opposite. I’m on a writing groove and have been tearing through all my work. It feels great, and it’s interesting that I can so easily fight the temptation to join them. I’m the model of independence right now. Yay, me! 🙂
http://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.png00Silviahttp://www.silviaacevedo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/logo_1024x156.pngSilvia2017-07-05 06:51:272017-07-05 07:59:10Writing Prompt – The Week’s Theme
Ten Years Blogging
/0 Comments/in A Writer Writes, In The News, Media / TV / Radio, News, Personal, Presenting the Prose, Running, Speedskating /by SilviaMilestones trigger emotions, and this one is no exception. Today marks ten years blogging. My website and blog is mostly about the creative life (writing, publishing, media in general) and occasionally sports. I’ve experienced growth in all those areas, and I hope something I wrote added to your insight on a subject.
My very first post was about inspiration, specifically about shooing the Muse. You can read it here: http://www.silviaacevedo.com/a-writer-writes/muse-schmuse/ I feel pretty much the same way today. If I waited until I felt inspired, who knows when I’d ever get around to it? The funny thing is, once I start, it’s the writing itself that inspires me to write more. What inspires you? And what topics should I hit in the next ten years? 🙂
Play Date! at the SCBWI Retreat
/0 Comments/in In The News, Presenting the Prose /by SilviaThe Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is the premier association for creators of children’s lit (and one of the largest organizations for writers and illustrators in the world). If you want to learn more about writing or illustrating for kidlit, these are your people.
Wisconsin’s fall retreat is three days of amazing networking, creating, and communing. This year’s lineup is impressive as always: the society director, three editors/directors, an art director, an agent, two leading authors/illustrators/creators, along with 11 local presenters, myself included. My involvement isn’t why I write today; I’ve been praising the association for more than ten years. This is the place to go to build your craft.
I am proud, though, of the two presentations I’m doing. Both are collaborative.
Friday’s Intensive with Melissa Gorzelanczyk is four-fold: Honing in on images; Focusing on plot; Unreliable Narrators in your writing and illustrating; and Bringing Back the Thrill. Plus we’ll have a memento for attendees. The picture gives a hint. 🙂
My second presentation, with Valerie Biel, highlights how music, dance, theater, literature, and the visual arts can inspire your creations. And attendees get another memento.
So you’re convinced. I can tell! Sign up by August 31st here.
Aaaaand if you want a chance to get your registration fee reimbursed, apply for the DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP BY AUGUST 14. SCBWI is inclusive in what constitutes diversity, so you may well qualify. Find out and apply here.
If you’ve been dreaming about creating for children, this may be your moment. Hope to see you there! 🙂
Writing Prompt – Dancing
/0 Comments/in A Writer Writes /by SilviaDo you prefer to dance with no one watching, with a group of friends, or with one special partner?
All of the above. I just like to dance. I’m not particularly good or bad at it. I suspect I’m like most people, just shuffling or bouncing along to the beat of the music, but I like the freedom of dancing.
Why do so few people dance in public? Why is it so hard for me to coax (or pull) a friend onto the dance floor at a music festival or county fair? Do people seriously care that others watch? I don’t, but I know I’m in the minority there. :/
Writing Prompt – Admired Personality Trait
/2 Comments/in A Writer Writes /by SilviaBought myself a journal (300 Writing Prompts by Piccadilly Inc.) to force really quick writing. Here’s my latest prompt:
What is a personality trait do you admire in other people?
Patience, which often manifests itself in kindness.
Look, the world is a trying place. People and circumstances can frustrate us and lead us away from our daily (or lifelong) goals. It is so, so easy to take out a slew of perceived injustices on others because they’re not as “whatever” as we’d like them to be.
But we’re all unique individuals on highly personal journeys. We’re all of us more than we are at any given moment, and so exhibiting patience often provides the buffer that all sides in a situation need to save themselves from themselves.
I’m still working on this trait and suspect I always will be.
What personality trait do you admire? Tell me in the comments. 🙂
Writing Prompt – Bathroom Paraphernalia
/0 Comments/in A Writer Writes /by SilviaName three things you have in your bathroom right now.
I have a framed Monet print which brings a smile to my face. I’m not a huge Monet fan, but I like this piece. It’s of a woman and child in a field, which brings back memories of playing with the kids when they were little.
I also have a shower curtain which makes me laugh because of one of my kids’ surprised comment that we got a new shower curtain! – as if we needed her approval before purchase.
The last is a note dictating which closet shelf belongs to which kid. Because territoriality. Ha!
Writing Prompt – The Week’s Theme
/0 Comments/in A Writer Writes /by SilviaIf this week had a theme to it, what would yours be?
Motivation against all odds. I have a half dozen people around me lately who are suffering from malaise. I’ve been the opposite. I’m on a writing groove and have been tearing through all my work. It feels great, and it’s interesting that I can so easily fight the temptation to join them. I’m the model of independence right now. Yay, me! 🙂