Fictional Tendencies

What does it take to write? What does it take to create? My answer to these questions is a moment, it takes a moment. For the last week or so I’ve had the thought in my head that I should drive down to the local Barnes & Noble during my lunch break and wander through the aisles and judge the books by their covers. Yes, I’m aware of the old adage “Never judge a book by its cover.” but that’s how you end up surprised, sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, I still gravitate towards my tried and true (read proven) authors, but there’s something exciting about not knowing what you’re getting yourself into. Before I go too far off on this tangent of book shopping habits let’s return to the beginning. That moment.

This morning I was expecting, hoping, for clouds but instead I was greeted with clear blue skies. Despite the disappointment in the beautiful clear weather I brought my camera long with me on my way to work. I didn’t notice anything on the drive in and certainly I was too busy working to pay any attention to my camera or possible photo opportunities but when lunch time came and I stepped outside I notice something. There was a chemtrail in the sky. It had been there some time and an atmospheric breeze had smeared it across the sky. And as my luck would have it, it was smeared right across the sun. Inspiration instantly struck me. In that moment I decided to take a few pictures. In my mind I was thinking this might not work being that I’m looking directly into the sun but what the hell, might as well. When the headache I earned from staring at the sun finally faded I looked at the results of my photography session in the camera and came away surprised. I was excited, almost giddy.

It takes that one moment of inspiration to create. Observe everything but make sure to take the time to also enjoy the quiet times.

For those of you interested while perusing the aisles of Barnes & Noble I picked up the following books:

• The Origins of Creativity by Edward O. Wilson – The title intrigued me. Being that when I’m not sharing prose or poems I blog about being creative I thought this would be informative.
• 1984 by George Orwell – I’ve never read this book. It’s a book that’s been on my radar for quite some time and since I recently finished The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (I didn’t like it too much) I should finally read 1984.
• No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy – The first book of McCarthy’s I read was The Road and it was haunting. It stuck with me. Within the last six months I came across more of his novels and recently read Child of God and Outer Dark, both books stuck with me.
• The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon – I picked up Gravity’s Rainbow years ago and couldn’t get through it. I then tried to read V. three separate times and couldn’t finish it. I was determined to get through a Pynchon book and luckily for me Inherent Vice came along and I loved it. Pynchon’s next book Bleeding Edge was another book I couldn’t put down. Sometimes I get stubborn and even if I don’t like some works I’m determined to read them all.

Thanks for reading. Get out there and create. Enjoy!

The tangled web

Abandoned,

Save the droplets of dew.

A home long

Forgotten,

With the thought of you.

A garden left

Unattended,

With each morning new.

When the sun rises,

Be ready.

The day isn’t promised.

You aren’t owed anything.

Go out and…

Earn it.

Live it.

Enjoy!

Today in Fictional Tendencies I wanted to highlight something non-fictional, Photographic Central.  Carl takes the classic Sunday drive, mixes in the old, adds some new and appreciates everything in between. He felt inspired and decided to meditate, reflect and create. Moments like these in today’s busy lifestyle are rare and it’s such a blessing to be able to get out and enjoy it. Thanks for sharing Carl.

To enjoy, and hopefully be inspired, click on the Sunday Drive link.

As always, thanks for reading, and get out and create. Enjoy!

I ran my fingers down your spine,

I knew you were mine.

Your name?

Didn’t matter,

I held onto your every word.

You’ve taken me places

I’ve never dreamed of

and I hold you in my arms

Embracing you as if this was our last goodbye.

I ran my fingers down your spine,

One last time.

Ten days into the new year and I have posted 7 pieces/articles, some poetry, one short story and I believe a book review/highlight. With the recent rain storm I was particularly inspired this week to capture some images and write accompanying prose. So far, this year I’ve been fairly productive, especially this week. But sometimes it’s not productive to be continually productive.

Earlier today I was thinking about what was I going to write, capture or create tonight, and the more I thought about it the less I wanted to do anything. But regardless of how I felt at that moment I would continue to think about it. While discussing creative endeavors with my friend Carl (who you can catch over at Photographic Central) I told him that I think I’m going to return to Chayse soon. He said cool.

Chayse is a character I created, and am currently creating, for a story currently titled Remedium. It’s a story I haven’t shared here let alone barely even mention. I’m keeping it close to the chest. The reason I told Carl that I would be returning to Chayse was because of the three or four people who have read about Chayse, Carl was one of them. He’s read the 4,000 plus words. I was writing around 400 words a week but then I stopped. Life happened. I needed to take a break. But Chayse, or the story of Chayse has continued to brew in my head.

Now Carl said something profound, and something I’ve thought of for quite some time, he said “I think in order to be successful at being productive, in whatever field, job or hobby you choose, you have to take a break every once in a while.” I couldn’t agree more. It was nice to take a break from writing about Chayse, even though Chayse never stopped in my head. And it was nice to admit that I didn’t need to create anything tonight. I could wait for inspiration.

Fictional Tendencies  will continue to be a creative outlet for me. I’ll continue to achieve the goals I set for myself in my Goals for 2018  post. I’ll post whatever images I capture or whatever poems or prose I write. And, if possible (I don’t want to give too much away) I’ll keep you informed on Chayse and Remedium as I progress with the story.

If you’re wondering why I chose the palm trees as my “Featured Image”, it’s because everyone always posts pictures about their beautiful sunsets. Don’t get me wrong, they are beautiful and breath-taking. But I wanted mine to be different, so I shot it in Black and White and chose to capture the most wide open and clear space available. Hence, “The Sky’s the Limit”. Don’t limit yourself or your potential.

If you’re still with me, thanks for reading. Get out and create.

Be on the look out for:

• Review on The Cure for Sleep
• More photographic images
• More poetry and prose
• Updates on Remedium and The Garden

Sometimes in the still of night
I sit awake,
Quietly
Contemplating the stillness,
The quiet stillness of
Solitude.
Some may call it loneliness,
Others, too afraid to name it.
But I sit amongst the stars
Lost in thought
And contemplation.
Floating in an undiscovered world
A state of undisputed freedom
And when my mind awakes
I realize I am home.

In the depths of night,
Along the roads that sleep
I came upon a house

Or should I say
It came upon me

Embracing me
With darkness, welcoming
Its touch ice cold

But when I look again
it shimmers, this is the story told