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!

Hangin' With the Cool Kids

A friend of mine wants to set up a writer's/artist's group in his area, as the only one he could find around him has been inactive for awhile. I was asked what the writer's groups I belong to do so he could be sure to include things people would be interested in. Though he is a screenwriter, he is thinking of making it for all artistic types.

Rather than just sending a list of things we do in the local writer's groups, I thought it would be good to get a little feedback from those that read on here. What is it you enjoy about the writer's (or other artistic) groups you belong to? Do you just gather to talk about artistic things, do you have speakers come out, do you critique? What do you thing any group like this should have? Is there anything you don't like or you think is missing from those you have participated in?

For me, the biggest thing is probably the aspect of talking to like-minded people. It is so great to talk to someone who knows what problems you might face, someone who has been there in that very same place. I also enjoy the courses and educational programs, as well as the resources provided. In groups like these, you can be as weird as you like. You can talk about the issues of whether your zombie likes brains or other body parts, what you should name this character's 90 children, which man your romantic lead should go for, whether your vampire should be able to walk in daylight, what trophies your serial killer should keep and whether this weapon is realistic in your murder mystery. You can talk about those things without someone thinking you're nuts. That's the beauty of it. No little white padded wagons will drag you away when everyone else you're talking to sounds just as off as you do. (And if they try, you will surely outnumber them).

In my Pen Women group, we have artists and composers, in addition to writers, but the topics usually come back around to writing, as we make up the majority. It is fascinating, though, to hear about a little something different, yet related. One can empathize with the artist who is having an artistic block, the photographer who can't figure out just what angle she's going for, or the composer who is about to present their work in the hopes of making it big. They may be different forms of art, but they are all artistic expressions, which puts them in the same family.

I would love to be able to pass along advice from all of you concerning what you would be looking for were this group to be forming in your area. I have plenty of opinions, but they are just my opinions. A group is made up of so many different types of people.

Please feel free to share in the comments!

Happy Writing!