Some More Spice! - Post Ideas

For almost a year now I have been posting a monthly series called In My Backyard, where I pick out a creature or organism that I have had an encounter with during the past month and write about them. Its great for me because I have something scheduled whereas most of my other posts are not restricted to a certain time. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though the series has been very popular, whether its my writing or just the topic, I have no idea. My next one might just be my last. I haven't decided yet.

But I do have other ideas for periodical posts, some I hope that will be more popular. You might note that I have a drive to be "periodical" about things and the only explanation I can give is its in my nature. I like schedule and consistency. I will admit though that it can be a bit of a hazard for me since I tend to be too scheduled, a theme that reoccurs quite often in my posts.

Anyway, on with the post ideas.

Do you like water?

 When we were little we had a fascination with old swashbuckler movies. The sword-fighting, sailing ships, and all around adventurous plots got us everytime. Against All Flags (1952), The Spanish Main (1945), and The Crimson Pirate (1952) were among our favorites, and I guess I might as well say they still are. This diet of adventures fueled a love for maritime in me that still burns today. I started my own study of ships and their stories in highschool and have collected quite a few. I've read a good many of the nautical stories I could find at our public library and have wished I could find time to read the rest. I chose maritime archaeology for a science also in highschool and wrote some papers because of it. The initial theme of this blog was intended to be nautical until I decided over time to touch on something a little more earthy. And though I don't spend as much time reading and breathing maritime history as I used to I still love it. That and marine biology which I also chose as a science. In light of my watery-infatuation, I've decided to start a series of posts that will range from stories of the amazing sailing ships, modern archaeology's discoveries, and the overall history of life on the sea, to the creatures that live in the sea and all the things humans love to do in, on, and under it. I plan to delve into known and unknown facts of marine and maritime subjects. Sound interesting? Well, whether the series is liked or not, I'll still have to try my hand at it. After all, it is my blog.

Movie Night, anyone?

Less intellectual, maybe, my second idea is to review some of my favorite movies from the past. Those I choose will range from early 40's to late 60's, most likely, and eventually maybe some more modern ones, who knows. Reviewing movies is something that will come easy to me since I already have a definite opinion where they are concerned so in a way this will be a breeze but I have a feeling it will be more noticed and attractive than my other ideas. I haven't decided when to post them and how often. If you have read any of my posts from last year, you will see that I did this during the Christmas season with my favorite Christmas movies (see here for the whole list). I plan to stretch this series out a little more. And for those of you who kept up with the Christmas reviews I still plan to do one on It's a Wonderful Life this Christmas. So stay tuned.

To give you an idea of some of my favorites, here is a short list:

• Wallflower (1948), with Joyce Reynolds, Robert Hutton, Janis Page, and Edward Arnold. 

Joyce Reynolds

• Government Girl (1943), with Olivia de Havilland and Sonny Tufts.

• Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962), with Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, and Jimmy Durante.

I hope you're interested. Stick with me to see how it turns out. Until then...

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What I'm Doing and My Plans

My cutie-pie, Lizzie Beth. She was helping me take photos of my latest project.

Its sometimes difficult to find the right way to start a blog post. I've heard it said that the hardest thing for a writer is staring at that blank page. Though I can't say I always have that problem, its definitely something I can relate to. Sometimes its just a matter of getting your thoughts organized. I seem to have a time doing that lately.

At first it was blogging and my other writing that I tried to juggle, and its not like it was too much, though I may have made a harder process of it than it was. Now that I've become a writer at Crochet Spot I've been doing some adjusting: writing an original pattern once a week, understanding the HTML. Its been really good for me so far, having a deadline that's not just of my own making, and having incentive to create my own patterns. I'm really grateful for this chance. To tell you the truth, I never dreamed that I would be given the chance to do what I love for some place other than my own blog. It's also nice to have some extra money on hand, though living at home doesn't demand a lot of expenses. Plugging away at my writing is slow going and only now has my experiences offered a small financial benefit. I anticipate the day I can get my own stories published, it seems something so far away since I have been wanting this for so long.

But back to my latest. Since starting to work for Crochet Spot I've had to work with HTML, and though I have a nodding acquaintance with it, I've never had the chance to use it. I fear I'm becoming somewhat of a nuisance to Rachel, the founder of Crochet Spot, who has been so patient in assisting me with it. I've never considered myself a slow learner, but there's just so much about HTML I can't grasp.

Actually, I've been wondering some of these things before having to come upon them. What I want in a blog is something that reflects me in all my random-retro-colorful style, with buttons and pages that look like something right out of my scrapbook. And that's essentially it, I want to set up my blog like I would a scrapbook page. The only problem is, I don't really know where to start.

Not long ago I noticed the "Edit HTML" button in my template options and I realized that I could get more (how much, I don't know) out this blog/template than I thought available on Blogspot. But where do I find all this paraphernalia that describes me, and secondly, how do I get it into the HTML?! Questions, questions, questions! Sounds like hours of research. But that's what the internet is for, isn't it? I just so happens, there are a dozen other things demanding hours of research, not to mention the hours of research my story writing needs. This brings me to another question: how do you balance all the things you need to do? We have a horrible problem around here of having too much to do and no time to do it in.

As for my blog plans, I'll hopefully be able to figure it out soon. Maybe I'll spend a post detailing exactly what I want. Sound boring? Hmm...

Speaking of future posts, I still have two more "Culinary Chronicles" I've promised but haven't written yet. On Kale Chips and Ginger Tea. I've finally got the pictures so I'll try to do them soon. Until then, I hope you enjoy browsing the contents of my blog. Make sure and leave me a message on what you think about it. And if you can tell me anything regarding the subject I have been speaking of (HTML) then I would love for you to tell me.

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Resolution or Plain Resolve

In my last post called Getting it Straight -- Maybe I talked about finally coming to terms with what I wanted, building my own business or writing. I realized that I could not devote the proper amount of time necessary to each of the projects I had and that I must downsize. Well, I am finally at peace with leaving my business behind (for now) and heading full force into writing, since it is the love of my life. This brings me to my post for today.

The new year is here and many people are struggling to keep up with their New Year's resolutions. I have a theory for that. It is: if its not something you are successful at accomplishing during the rest of the year then don't think you can accomplish it at the start of a new one. So I don't make resolutions. But I do have hopes. And plans. Tentative plans.

Since the direction in my life is a little more focused, and clear, I have been able to lay some of the other things in my life aside. And I can't say how good it feels to have a clear goal to shoot for.

So, with renewed resolve, I started this month with set, and yet simple, plans. I didn't start the first week of the month, though. Since my mom and sister were still recovering from Bronchitis we took advantage of it to continue our holiday vacation. Then last week arrived. I caught up on my emails, cleared away all that had piled up over the holidays and prepared to plunge full force into my writing. As happens so often with the best of intentions, I didn't really get started on that "plunge" until Thursday. But I am pleased to say that in the days I have been able to write I have really moved along. I am learning to ignore those voices in my head that tell me this and that and frustrate my writing, and am beginning to learn to let myself enjoy it. I must admit, I've never understood those people that can just write a story beginning to end without any changes or reconfiguring. I reconfigure a little too much, but never reconfiguring on your first draft? Unbelievable. Then again maybe I am missing something. Yet they say write the way you feel comfortable and don't worry about the rules. So if that is true, I well on my way.

Anyhow, I have new resolve and a goal to shoot for. If its God's will like I think it is, then I should be able to stick to this new schedule I have made for myself. Time will tell.

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Getting it Straight -- Maybe

Its taken me years to come to the point where I can say I know what I want. I'm not sure its exactly slow-learning or preoccupied. I've said before how I've always wanted to do everything from crafting and writing, to medicine and history, and even astronomy. I have vast interests, yes, which have created a problem for me when it comes to settling down to working on one, or two. As I have grown, naturally my desires and interests have grown with me, but unfortunately I still have that intangible desire to do (almost) everything.

When I graduated I thought: "Great! Now I can spend all my free time writing. I'll just get a business going (selling my products) on the side and I'm "home free"." Right. I have the insane problem of wanting to do everthing right the first time, so when i don't, I pull my hair out. Yes, you guessed it, I'm bald.

The years passed, and yes, I managed to design a site, and have spent a considerable amount of time devoted to writing. But I still can't seem to get it all done. Besides (I'm ashamed to admit) as much writing as I like to do, I haven't published one story, or even finished a single novel. Sigh.

I put a lot of stress on myself by believing the lies the devil sends my way about my worth and ability. Making enough money to pay for myself instead of depending upon my parents is my drive. In a way its pride, for me at least. There's more than merely being self-sufficient here. But I make myself crazy trying to make it all happen.

I've asked God many times to clear up this mess of feelings and desires in me but just like God, it takes time. I have come to realize its a growth thing and not something you can solve immediately.

Well, He did fulfill my request. Gradually I have begun to evaluate just what it is I want to do, and how much time I want to give it. The idea of selling my products isn't quite as appealing as it used to be. Or rather, going into a full blown business. What I desire more than anything is to write. I want to finish my stories, I want to be published, and I want to spend more time getting to feel out who I am in the blogosphere. Randomly, it would be great to one day head up my own magazine. Wow! That's thinking big, of course. But its the direction I finally realize I want to go.

I'm still working on the specifics, but I think my Etsy shop is going to have to be put on hold. My WWII short is calling and I can't put it off any longer.

So yes, I have learned; God has shown me a little more of the direction I should go. Now if only I can refrain from allowing the frustrations to sink in and take me over. Patience... Relax... Go at it in your own time... Tips for the coming year.

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Change - Or Finding My Niche

Well, lets see. Let me get my thoughts un-befuddled. Its terrible how that happens sometimes, isn't it? First of all, I have now realized why I haven't received any comments, ever, on this blog. And everyone says that's strange. I think its strange because even on my old blog I received comments and it didn't have as big of a domain name as this one. Now this may sound a little juvenile to you, but it all had to do with my settings. Yep, I know I should have already checked it but I thought I did. Anyhow, I now have comments enabled so feel free to let me know your thoughts.

To get on to other things, last week I checked out the book Blogging for Bliss: Crafting your own Online Journal by Tara Frey at our local library. Sadly to say I haven't got very far, but some of what I have read has been really helpful to me. I wish I had had this before I started this blog, it would have been really helpful. But since I didn't I will just have to make amends along the way. One thing I know is that I need to open up a little more if I want it to be readable. Who's attracted to a random blog that doesn't seem to have a point or purpose? You might read one post but nothings predictable. There's really nothing to bring you back again. You never know what might be the topic of the day. Tara Frey has helped me to see that I need to hone in on specific topics, within reason, because I am not very specific with my topics I write about.

I've actually been thinking about this for a while, realizing that I need a little more life, a little more about me, if this is going to be my online journal. I have to admit to you, though, I'm not too keen on displaying my life on the internet even though I like the online journal idea. Safety and all that. But if you bear with me I will get organized and find my niche. I'm trying.

Actually, the past few years of my life, at least the last year, has been all about finding my niche. As an aspiring writer, I have really been trying to find the type of writing that is right for me. At first I wanted to move into the freelance writing scene, thinking that was the answer to my looking for work. And though I haven't changed my mind, right now its a little off base for me. Meaning, I have stories to finish, a blog to reform, my business to promote, crocheting, yada yada yada. (Okay, that was annoying). Plus I don't live alone which means I have responsibilities to others and not just myself. Being a part of my family is incredibly important, even if I am single and living at home. Some say this is the age of freedom but I like to think of it as the age of learning. You don't know what's next for you or how long this time in your life will last, so make the best of it, not by shurking your responsibilities but by learning to honor them.

Okay, I chased a little rabbit there. Sorry. I am now off the soap box.

During my freelance writing research I found out that not all writing is for me. Journalism, for instance, the reporting of news, is really not my thing. What is my thing is creative writing, which is, well, what I do. Basically what you will find here on my blog comes under the heading of creative writing. I write about anything that inspires me. And that can get a little random at times so you see what I mean about trying to pull it all together in a less random style. I guess this is just a blog about my passions. That's what it really should be anyway.

I have also learned that my blog template at the moment is a bit hampering. In fact what I really wanted in template design was a virtual scrapbook. Yes, I am a scrapbooker too. But as you might have read in a previous post, my scrapbooking is a bit unique in that I don't scrapbook about people but things. Its hard to explain really. Basically its like creating a theme on a page. And thats what I want for my site. Lets just say I am not the most tech savvy. That's why I am taking so long on getting it to the way I want, I have to do a lot of research. But I am getting there. Slowly.

For those who do read my blog, thanks for the patience. And I'll see you back here soon at Over the Horizon. This is GoldenSails signing off.

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