[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Turtle Rock & Links

While hiking in Ute Valley Park in April (know how you know it was April? BLUE SKIES), I took a picture of this rock. It looks like a cartoon turtle to me. Doesn't it have a cute face?

Link time! I am not endorsing any of these, merely passing them along. Always do your research before submitting.

Accepting Submissions:

Threepenny Review is accepting submissions. Pays $400 per short story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. Word count varies per type of writing. They do not take submissions July through December, so have them in by June 30.

Another Dimension Magazine is looking for horror and dark fantasy in the tone of Night Gallery and Twilight Zone. 1000 to 3000 words. Pays $.03/word. Deadline June 30.

Fey Publishing is putting together a Halloween horror anthology. Almost anything goes. Up to 10,000 words. Pays $5 per story. Deadline June 30.

Spectral Press is putting together the Spectral Book of Horror Stories II. 2000 to 8000 words. Pays £20 per 1000 words. Deadline June 30.

Bloodshot Books is looking for stories for their anthology Not Your Average Monster. 3000 to 20,000 words. Pays $.01/word, plus contributor copies. Deadline June 30.

Knightwatch Press is open for submissions to A Thousand Tiny Knives. This is a charity anthology intended to raise awareness of endometriosis (and if you've suffered from it, you understand the title.) I don't usually pass along publications that don't pay, but as someone who has experienced endo since middle school and had to explain to tons of people what it is, I get to change the rules when I want. :) Horror/body horror, diaries, memoir, poetry. 2000 to 6000 words. Pays a contributor's copy. Deadline June 30.

Strange Musings Press is seeking stories for Alternate Hilarities 4: Weirder Science. Science fiction and humor. Flash fiction 500 to 1500 words. Short fiction 1501 to 6000 words. Pays 1/2 cent per word, plus royalties and a contributor copy.  Deadline June 30.

Third Flatiron is looking for stories about superstition for their anthology entitled Ain't Superstitious. Science fiction, fantasy, horror, and anthropological fiction. Also take short humor. 1500 to 3000 words. Pays $.03/word. Deadline June 30.

Imaginate is accepting submissions for September issue with the theme of Music. Short stories, flash fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and photography. Short fiction is up to 2500 words. Pays $.05/word. Deadline July 1.

Mocha Memoirs Press is looking for short stories for An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Dark and paranormal fantasy. 3000 to 8000 words. Pays in royalties. Deadline July 1. They also have several imprints open to novellettes 10,000 to 50,000 words.

Any of these of interest? Anything to share? Do you see a turtle in the picture, something else, or just a rock. 

May you find your Muse.

Stumpy Stumperson & Links

It's been nice around here lately, so I've been hiking again. I took my camera out the last time and snapped a bunch of pictures. Signs of spring are starting to peek out here and there, birds nesting, trees budding, and a few flowers blossoming. But one of my fun discoveries was a tree stump that looked to be multiple trees that grew into each other. It's delightfully twisted and full of character. So meet Stumpy:

If you look closely, you can make out shapes, even faces. One of the gnarled branches looks kind of like a demonic puppy.

Without further ado, links:

Accepting Submissions:

Arcadian Media is seeking submissions for their Starbound anthology. Science fiction. Should have something to do with the stars. 2000-10,000 words. Pays $10 per story. No deadline, but it will close when full, and they're aiming for a publication of this summer.

World Weaver Press has an open call for their Frozen Fairy Tales anthology. Up to 10,000 words. Pays $20 and contributor copies. Deadline May 15.

Horrified Press has multiple anthologies open. The King of the Living Dead, 3000-5000 words, deadline May 16. The Fall of Cthulhu Vol. II, 3000-5000 words, deadline May 28. Both pay in royalties. There are also several open until filled, so it's worth perusing the page.

Wherever Magazine is open to narratives, journalistic pieces, and non-linear reflective works. Up to 3500 words. This is a paying publication, but pay is based on length and a discussion with the editor.

Home Business Magazine is looking for nonfiction articles on home businesses, including how-tos and work-from-home success stories. Pays for stories they have assigned, but not ones submitted blindly. No deadlines.

Grievous Angel is seeking poetry and flash fiction in speculative fiction genres. Poetry up to 36 lines, flash fiction up to 700 words. Pays $.01/line for poetry, $.06/word for flash. No deadlines.

Fantastic Stories of the Imagination is looking for fantasy and science fiction. Up to 3000 words. Pays $.15/word. No deadlines.

T. Gene Davis's Speculative Blog accepts speculative fiction stories to be published Mondays and in an annual anthology. This is not for kids, but should be family friendly. 250 to 6000 words. Pays $75 per story. No deadlines.

Number 13 Press is looking for pulp crime novellas. 20,000-35,000 words. Pays author royalties of 60%. No deadlines.

Triptych Tales is looking for mainstream, fantasy, and science fiction. They should be set in the here and now. 2000-6000 words. Pays $100 per story.

Any of these of interest? Ever seen a tree stump quite so gnarled? Do you see any shapes in the trunk? Anything to share? Publishing news?

May you find your Muse.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Wild Animal Sanctuary & Links

It's been awhile since I posted a [Mostly] Wordless Wednesday image with the links. I actually lost track of which I had posted and which I hadn't, and I haven't had the time to go through and figure out what treks I made that I didn't post yet. I've got some little treks planned soon, though, and expect to start having brand new photos again! In the meantime, I thought I'd re-post some photos I took at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, as they're in the news. They're going to be taking in 30 lions that have been liberated from circuses in which they were being mistreated, and are looking for financial assistance to get them settled and cared for in the next year. It's a wonderful place that I plan to visit again soon. Here are a couple of its tenants.

The first three photos are of a lioness chasing a bunny that hopped right up to her. The animals had just been fed, so she was just playing, and did not catch the rabbit. The fourth photo is one of her friends passed out cold. It was a hot day.

Posting these, I realize I had other photos from that day I intended to share. Now I at least know one of the places I left off!

Now for links:

Accepting Submissions:

Dead Guns Press is looking for crime fiction for Dead Guns Magazine. 1500-6000 words. Pays in contributor copies. Deadline April 20.

Lady Lit Publishing is seeking stories for their anthology edited by Cheyenne Blue. They want fictional stories of lesbian experiences tied in with various firsts.. 2500-5000 words. Pays $40 plus contributor copies. Deadline April 24.

Verto Publishing is taking submissions for Gothic Tales of Terror. Poetry up to 500 words, short stories between 3000 and 5000. Pays $.005/word. Deadline April 25.

Horrified Press is taking submissions for horror stories related to the theme of Growing Pains. 1000-4000 words. Pays in royalties. Deadline April 27. They also have several other anthologies open until full.

Spacesuits and Sixguns wants your contemporary pulp fiction. All genres accepted. About 4000 words. Pays $.04/word. No deadline.

Lakeside Circus is reading for their next issue. Speculative fiction, especially science fiction, urban fantasy, magic realism, mad science, and apocalypse tales. Flash up to 1000 words, short fiction between 1001 and 2500 words, and poetry of any length. They also accept short essays. Pays $.02/word. No deadline.

Novella T is looking for novellas to serialize. 13,000-40,000 words. They publish them 2000-5000 words at a time. Pays subscription royalties. No deadline.

Of Interest:

Freedom With Writing posted an article with 54 Websites That Pay Writers. Written by Kelley Schepper.

Writer's Digest published an article by Brian Klems about How to Write a Query Letter That Lands Freelance Assignments.

To add a little humidity, here's a post by Matthew Schuler on Why Creative People Sometimes Make No Sense.

Any of these of interest to you? Do you agree with the article on creative people? Know any other websites that pay you to write? Any publication news? Are you submitting?

May you find your Muse.

Glorious Sunsets & Links

We've had some lovely sunsets recently. Of course, I never seem to have my real camera when they hit, but I got a few decent ones with my cell phone. There was one that lit the entire sky deep orange, but I was driving at the time.

The first photo is November 25; the next three are last night.

Now for some links.

Accepting Submissions:

Bundoran Press is seeking science fiction stories for Second Contacts, an anthology. They want to hear what happens fifty years after first contact. 3500-6500 words preferred, but they'll take up to 10,000. Pays $.02/word. Deadline January 15.

Jamais Vu is currently open to short stories, poetry, nonfiction, book reviews, and film reviews. Short fiction should be 2000-4000 words. Pays $.05/word. This submission window closes January 15.

LampLight Quarterly is open for submissions. Flash fiction up to 1000 words or short fiction between 2000 and 7000 words. Pays $50 for flash, $150 for short. Deadline January 15.

It's Really 10 Months is seeking stories about pregnancy for an anthology. 1000-2000 words. Payment will be $100. Deadline January 15.

TTA Press has three publications seeking short stories. Interzone publishes science fiction and fantasy; Black Static publishes horror and dark fantasy; Crimewave publishes mystery and thriller. Up to 10,000 words. Pay unknown.

Dual Coast Magazine is taking submissions of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art, and photography. Up to 2000 words for fiction. Token payment.

Grand Magazine is taking submissions. Articles up to 450 words. Token payment.

Monster Hunter Quarterly is seeking novellas. Each story must feature a monster. 17,000-30,000 words. Royalties. 

Contests:

Sci-Fest is holding the Roswell Award for Short Fiction. Science fiction stories of up to 1500 words. First prize will receive $1000. Deadline is January 15.

Highlights Magazine for Kids is holding a fiction contest. They should be mysteries. Stories up to 750 words. Three prizes of $1000 will be awarded. Deadline January 31. 

Really Slow Motion: Of Mist and Magic is a contest that combines music and flash fiction. Brought to us by Samantha Redstreake Geary, Epic Music Vn, and Really Slow Motion. Listen to the song selection and write your own re-imagining of a classic fairy tale in 500 words or less. Deadline December 15. Winner will appear in the anthology. A variety of other prizes are being rewarded, as well.

Have you seen any glorious sunsets lately? Any of these publications or contests interest you? Anything to share? Publication news?

May you find your Muse.

There be Gold in Them Thar' Hills & Links

I posted some photos from our tree tour when the fall color change started hitting the aspens, but I don't think I posted pics of the mine outside Cripple Creek that we visited. This one just sits out in the open at the beginning of Shelf Road, so anyone can climb around on it. (We did not climb around in it, but did walk around it. Preserving history, yo.) Here are a couple pics.

That last photo is up behind the mine, looking toward Shelf Road (Canon City is on the other side of it; it's an old mining road between Cripple Creek and Canon City.)

Now for some links. Always do your due diligence before submitting to a publication. I have not researched these, so am not personally recommending them, just passing the news along.

Accepting Submissions:

Mslexia is looking for submissions for their 65th Issue, with the theme of Earth Songs. This is for one of their prose and poetry issues. Deadline December 9. Pay not specified. Check further below on their page for article submissions information.

Innsmouth Free Press is open for submissions for an all-woman Lovecraft anthology, She Walks in Shadows, from November 15 to December 15. Short stories inspired by Lovecraft and featuring females. Up to 4000 words. Pays $.06/word, Canadian.

Knock Your Socks Off Art & Literature is open for submissions for KYSO Flash Issue 2 through December 15. 751 to 1000 words. Pays $.10/word. They are also looking for poems, parables, and allegories. They want evocative works that balance music and meaning.

Freeze Frame Fiction is open for submissions of flash fiction in any genre through December 15. Pays $10/piece. 1000 words or less.

Sorcerous Signals is open for submissions through December 15. Fantasy. Short stories (up to 10,000 words), poems, and flash fiction (up to 1000 words). Pays $5 for short stories, $2 for flash and poetry.

Inkstained Succubus Press is seeking submissions for their Somewhere Out There anthology. Science fiction. Deadline December 15. 5000-10,000 words. Pays in royalties.

Contests:

Samantha Redstreake Geary brings us another opportunity to blend words with music. Of Mist and Magic asks for your freshly realized fairy tales, set to The Eternal Rest of Ronin. 500 words or less. Prize is publications in the anthology, digital copy of the album, and signed cover art. Deadline December 1.

Phoenix Photo & Fiction is holding a short story contest and a flash fiction contest. Deadline December 14. First prize is $50 CAD for short stories up to 1500 words and $20 CAD for flash fiction up to 300 words. Also see their page for guidelines for their regular submissions.

Of Interest:

For my fellow short story authors out there, here are 22 Common Problems Associated With Short Story Submissions, from Amanda Pillar, editor, posted on Alan Baxter's site.

If you want to use lyrics in your writing, Anne R. Allen has passed along tips to getting the rights in So You Want to Use Song Lyrics in Your Novel? 5 Steps to Getting Rights to Lyrics.

Any of these of interest to you? Did they miss anything in the short story article? Have you ever used lyrics in a story? Anything to share? Publication news? Ever visited an old mine?

May you find your Muse.

A Muddy Pig is a Happy Pig & Links

Further to the autumn season pictures, I've got pictures from a harvest festival we attended at Rockledge Ranch last week. This was just a piece of antique farming equipment in a field that I thought was cool.

The kids and I watched a pig meticulously digging a hold in the mud, much like a dog pawing at its bed to get it comfortable. In the end, the pig immersed itself in the mud and let out a contented sigh, again like you'd hear a dog make when it settles down for a nap.

Awwww, comfy.

Now for some links.

As always, please bear in mind that I'm not personally recommending any of these links. I am merely passing along information I've come across that I think might be helpful to others. Always do your due diligence before submitting to a publication or contest.

Accepting Submissions:

Everywhere Now Press is looking for your poems, creative non-fiction, memoirs, and essays on death for their anthology Death Where the Nights Are Long. Deadline November 1. Pays $250 on acceptance, another $250 at publication.

Unlikely Story is doing a bonus mini-edition in addition to it's usual three editions each year. This one is the Journal of Unlikely Coulrophobia. Don't know what that is? It's the fear of clowns! (I love clowns.) They're calling for flash fiction up to 1038 words. Reading period closes November 1. They pay $.06/word.

Ticonderoga Publications is seeking speculative fiction stories about kick-arse women for their anthology Hear Me Roar. 2500-7500 words. Deadline November 5. Pays AUS 2.5 cents/word, plus two contributor copies. Open world-wide.

Sky Warrior Books wants dragon stories The Dragon's Hoard anthology. Sci-fi or fantasy, as long as there's a dragon. Deadline November 15. Pays in author share. 

Ruminate Magazine is reading for their spring issue through November 15. They are only taking poetry, visual art, and reviews for this issue. Pays $15 for poetry and artwork, and $15 per 400 words for reviews.

Martinus Publishing is open for submissions to their We Were Heroes anthology. 1500-10,000 words. Pays in royalties. This anthology is open until filled.

Writers Weekly seeks articles on making money as a writer for WritersWeekly.com and The Write Markets Report. Approximately 600 words. Pays $60 per article.

Contests:

Bold New Worlds is a speculative fiction short story contest for high school students. 1000 words or less. Deadline November 10. Cash prizes.

The Lindenwood Review is holding a flash fiction contest. Deadline November 15. 50-750 words. Winner receives $50, publication, and contributor copies.

Blog Stuff:

The 2014 Realms Faire is coming up, and M. Pax needs your help. November 10-14. Various people are hosting parts of the Faire. It's meant to get you exposure/visibility. There's the Joust, the Soak-a-Bloke or Drench-a-Wench, the Stockade Brigade, Dueling Bards, Riddle Me This, Phasers, Dragon Hunt, and Wisdom of the Creative Realms.

Have you hit any harvest festivals? Have any good ones in your area? Any of these links of interest to you? Anything to share? Publishing news?

May you find your Muse.

IWSG, Night Visitors & Links

It's that time again. That time where all us insecure folks get together to discuss our insecurities in the Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Sit down, grab a cup of bitter coffee and a stale doughnut, and let's share a little about what ails us. Anyone can participate--just go to the link above and sign up!

The way I'm feeling right now, the better question would be: What am I feeling secure about? The answer is: Not much. But here's what I do know. I love writing. I'm happy when I'm writing. No matter what my publishing status, I will continue to write, even if it's just for me.

Isn't it ourselves we should be writing for in the first place? Publication is the bonus, sure, but the words we write are for ourselves. That's where the joy is. Everyone needs that pat on the back, in whatever way they desire it, but the real joy is taking those ideas that seed in our minds, planting them on the paper, and watching them bloom before us. I say hold onto that joy. Don't let it go, whether you're struggling to be published or already published and trying to market it. Don't let the business of writing keep you from the pleasure of writing.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday is a peek at a little peeping tom I had on the back porch last night, along with his little buddy.

These little guys moved furniture around on my porch, causing me to shut the lights out and check out the windows to see who was out there (it was around 1:30 in the morning). There was a squeak at the back door, and not seeing anything outside, I opened the shades (I have french doors) and bent down to look. Staring back at me were two curious raccoons. My poor puffed up cat and I sat there for a moment studying them while they did the same. Finally, I grabbed my camera and opened the door and they scurried over to the stairs, but one continued to watch me. That's his face there. He was also the one who kept standing up down in the lawn to look at me when I stood on my porch photographing them. The pictures suck because it was pitch black, but it was a kick to watch them frolicking in my backyard for at least thirty minutes. I can't believe I've lived here for so long and never run into raccoons before!

Now for some links.

Accepting Submissions:

The David Tyson Report is putting together an anthology on ghosts. Horror, but it can be mixed with other genres. 2000-5000 words. Pays $10 and a contributor copy. Deadline September 28.

Blue Skirt Press is putting together an anthology about the loss of parents. Poetry, stories, art, photography. Deadline September 30. Payment is a contributor copy.

Chicken Soup for the Soul is seeking stories along the lines of "Thanks to My Mom." Prose and poetry. 1200 words or less. Pays $200. Deadline September 30.

The third issue of Phobos Magazine is looking for entries with the theme "Troublemake." Short and flash weird fiction or poetry. Must have elements of the macabre. Deadline September 30. Limit 1000 for flash, 2500 for prose and poetry. Paying market.

Firbolg Publishing would like your stories for Enter At Your Own Risk: Dreamscapes Into Darkness. 3000-5000 words. Deadline September 30. Pays $50 and a contributor copy.

Crossed Genres current theme is "Indoctrinate." Deadline September 30. Must possess elements of sci-fi and/or fantasy. 1000-6000 words. Pays $.06/word.

Contests:

Book Trust and the Sunday Times are holding The Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award. Maximum of 6000 words. Must have been published in UK and Ireland. Deadline September 26. Cash prizes.

The Freeman Family and Drake University Department of English are holding the Payton James Freeman Essay Prize. Write an essay with the theme "After the Unhappy Ending." Up to 3500 words. Prize is $500, publication, and being brought out as a speaker. Deadline September 30.

The L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Award is open through September 30. First prize is $1000. Prose up to 17,000 words. For new writers of short fiction or novelettes in sci-fi or fantasy.

The University of Iowa Press is holding the Iowa Short Fiction Award and John Simmons Short Fiction Award. Must be a collection of short stories, at least 150 pages. Deadline September 30.

On a final note, A-to-Z co-hosts, past and present, have written a tribute to Tina Downey at the A-to-Z blog.

What are your insecurities? Do you still feel the joy of writing? Had any run-ins with raccoons? Any of these links of interest to you? Anything to share? Publishing news?

May you find your Muse.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Dusk at the Pond & Links

For today's [Mostly] Wordless Wednesday, the photo was taken with a cell phone, so pardon the quality. This is dusk over a pond near my house. I liked the reflection of the clouds in the water.

Now for some links (yes, I'm keeping it brief this week since last week was many words.) As always, please understand that I am not personally vetting any of the following, merely passing along information I've happened across. Always do your due diligence before submitting to a contest or publication.

Accepting Submissions:

Crossed Genres June theme--Robots, Androids & Cyborgs--closes June 30. Sci-fi and fantasy (or a combination of both). Pays $.06/word.

Darkhouse Books is doing an anthology of cozy noir. Closes June 30. Pays in royalties. 2500-7500 words.

Spellbound is looking for Middle Grade fantasy short stories. The current theme is Magical Cats. Deadline June 30. 2500 words or less. Pays 2.5 cents per word.

Columbus Creative Cooperative is seeking submissions for their anthology For the Road. The theme is Modern American Highways. Fiction and creative non-fiction. 1000-10,000 words. Payment will be a share of proceeds.

Harren Press is open to submissions through June 30. They are specifically looking for short stories that have been rejected by other publishers, to be featured in an anthology. (Yes, they want proof it's been rejected.) 2500-5500 words. They pay $5, plus an e-copy.

Fireside Fiction is open for submissions of flash and short fiction. Deadline June 30. Flash fiction up to 1000 words, short fiction from 1000 to 4000 words. Pays 12.5 cents per word.

Third Wednesday is looking for poetry and flash fiction (termed short fiction on their site, but only 1500 words or less.) No deadlines--open submissions. Pays $3-5, plus a contributor copy.

Contests:

Casey Shay Press is holding the Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook Prize. Deadline June 30. 20-40 pages of poetry. Prize is $500 and 25 printed copies of the chapbook.

Baen Books is holding a contest in conjunction with GenCon. The 2014 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award closes June 30. Short fantasy stories of no more than 8000 words. Grand prize winner will be paid industry-standard rates, and their story will be featured on the Baen Books website.

Glimmer Train's Fiction Open Contest is open this month through June 30. Fiction short stories between 2000 and 20,000 words. $20 entry fee. First prize is $2500 and publication.

Anything to share? Submission news? Any of these you're interested in? Have you taken in a sunset recently?

May you find your Muse.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Stormy Sunset & Links

That's Pikes Peak at sunset during an overcast evening. Still snowy up there! Probably worse today, considering the amount of hail we got this evening.

Now for some links. Please bear in mind that these are merely links I've run across; I have not vetted them. Always do your due diligence when considering submission to any publication.

Accepting Submissions:

ZYZZYVA accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, essays, and artwork during their open submission period, the current one ending May 31. Payment unknown. Submission by postal mail only.

Penumbra eMag is seeking submissions with the theme of "Pain" for their August issue. Window closes June 1. They pay $.05/word. The next theme will be Lewis Carroll.

Dream Monocle Publishing is accepting submissions through June 1. Fiction of varying lengths (flash fiction to novel), graphic novels, poetry, and artwork. Speculative fiction. Payment unknown.

Electric Literature's Recommended Reading is taking submissions through June 1. Pays $300. Only original fiction during their spring submission period.

SORMAG is seeking articles based on the theme "Creating the Book," with a deadline of June 1. They also accept short stories, devotionals, and fillers on writing tips and tricks, etc. Pays $25 for articles, and varying amounts for the other types.

The New Smut Project is looking for their publications with the working titles of "Character-Driven Smut" and "50 Shades of Negotiation." Both close June 1. Pays in royalties and contributor copies.

Jaym Gates is seeking stories based on the Spirit of Place. Deadline is June 1. Flash fiction and short stories. Pays $.07/word.

Contests:

The Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize closes May 31. It will be awarded to "the most promising and innovative literary nonfiction project by a writer not yet established in the genre." Prize is a $12,000 advance and publication.

Wielding Power is looking for essays on today's questions. Current contest entry theme is "Is Secession Legitimate?" Deadline June 1. First prize is $1000.

Issues in Science and Technology is holding a science fiction contest. Deadline June 1. There are five major themes you can write to. Winners get $1500 and publication.

Any of these interest you? Anything to share? Submission news? How has your spring been? Any big storms? 

May you find your Muse.

Multiple Artistic Urges, Teaser Tuesday & Award

Firstly, MizB at Should be Reading does Teaser Tuesdays, where you turn to a random page in the book you're currently reading and post a two sentence teaser. Click on "Should be Reading" above to find out more.

"They were family gone to ash, the bond between them as bloodless as time can make a thing. Maybe that's why I felt a kinship, why I thought of once precious bonds charred to light gray nothing."

-p. 174, Down River by John Hart

John Hart is an excellent author, by the way, and an all around nice guy.

Speaking of authors, I've found that artistic people tend to have interests in multiple areas, such as a writer who also does water paintings, or a composer who also does photography. For me, I used to do a little cartoon drawing and sketching, but my next true love in the artist's world is photography. I live in an area rife with natural beauty so there's always something to catch my eye, whether it's a mama bear and her cubs or a rock formation. I also have artistic urges that don't necessarily pan out, as much as I might want them to. For instance, I tried to teach myself to crochet, having been taught by my grandmother when I was in kindergarten, but not having practiced it over the years. I actually did just fine, but it is something that takes patience, which I didn't have in relation to crocheting. Thus, I have a half finished blanket in the closet in my office. I frequently have the desire to do all number of other things that could be considered artistic or creative in nature, but they just don't work. I love seeing people doing crafty things, but they are often something that takes patience, much like crocheting, or I have a great idea in my head that simply doesn't come to fruition when I make a go of it. I do scrapbook, but not to the extent I've seen other people do it, and I briefly attempted to do digital scrapbooking, which I just wasn't as fond of. I like pictures as they are, not digitally modified. I've also flirted with music and acting, which were fun, but not something I was able to get very serious about, though I did enjoy it.

I imagine this tendency to look at all things artistic/creative has to do with the dominant side of one's brain or something along those lines. If you're creative, you're using the right side of your brain more. In fact, your dominant brain hemisphere controls how you see the world, not just whether you like art versus math or logic versus imagination. Still, many people work a day job that might be considered very left brained, yet they come home to write, draw, compose, etc. I wonder if, now more than ever, people are more duel-minded, using both sides equally or near equally, than in the past. I remember having to take a test in high school, and I tested almost straight down the middle as concrete random and abstract sequential. I forget which one scored slightly higher, as it isn't anything I've had to use in life, but I find that sometimes I get stuck on one side and have to work to get back to the other. If I've been doing a bunch of accounting, taking care of matters and other logical processes, it is sometimes a challenge to switch around to more creative pursuits. In fact, I think I completely shut down that part of my brain for several years when there was just too much going on that I needed to deal with. All I can say is that I'm glad that half of me is back!

Lastly, Charmalot at And Then my Heart Smiled awarded me the Stylish Blog Award. Thanks a lot for thinking of me! Charmalot blogs about reading and writing, and is hoping to start up an online book club starting July 1, so check it out.

Do you live more in your right or left brain? If you're an artist, what other artistic pursuits do you enjoy?

Happy Writing!