Prompts & Notes-A weekly Write

 I have so enjoyed the Natalie Goldberg workshops I attended in May and June and met some great people during the reading and writing sessions. Since then we formed a group: Writing Around the World and meet every Wednesday evening SA time and various other times as the group comprises people from around the world-France, SA, US and Canada so we have a wonderful and eclectic group of people.

Because (in a way) it is 'my' group I get to host the one hour sessions more often than not which was initially quote daunting, but (obviously) becomes easier the more often I do it. The session is an hour long and the 'host' generally has a quote and 2 prompts for each session with writing ideas for the week.

We don't discuss much, but do sit quietly for about 5minutes before we start the writing and then the 'host' leads the session keeping pace and time. So far it works extremely well and we all enjoy a quick 'hello' before we move into writing. What I do find is that the writing time stimulates my own writing and I really enjoy the variety and silent times.

Here is an example of tonight's session:

9 June Session:

Quote: Winter Solitude: In a world of one colour, the sound of the wind. Basho

Writing prompts:

10 minutes

1) A broken window

15 minutes:

2) The last autumn leaf on the tree

Writing prompts for the week:

1) A storm in a forest

2) A concert

3) A shooting star

4) Yellow lemons in a blue bowl

Quote: 'Each moment is a place you’ve never been’. Mark Strand

Take care all. It is very cold in SA at the moment (0 degrees early morning and night. COLD in the day). I hope you are all enjoying your summer.

By all means use the prompts and enjoy the quiet time. 

Looking to the Mountains

 It's been a day of reminiscing and remembering travels to Kashmir due to the fact that I have embarked on a journey to learn and write Sanskrit. 

I have a wonderful Sanskrit teacher who has been attempting to teach me to read and write in Sanskrit for a while. Gillian has a gift for teaching. She encourages, repeats and encourages again and I simply enjoy every moment of the time spent in lessons.

When we were visiting Leh in Kashmir we came upon some intriguing Gompas (monasteries) where we observed monks and participated in pujas and became immersed in the local culture. Such a privilege to experience the cracking silence of the Himalayas and the vast and never-ending icy crags. 

From the Bhagavad Gita

Carved stones in Kashmir

I am also working on poems for a journal of photographs which a woman has compiled over the past few years. We use her images as inspiration and it is another great initiative brought about by the pandemic. It is a wonderful creative initiative and I am in the process of working though some short poems, prose to describe some images. The photographs are taken along the Ou Kaapse Weg in Cape Town and are very beautiful.

Here are a few pieces written so far: 

So many blessings in the golden light of dawn.

Rainy day puddles dance differently in early morning light. No footprints to fill.

In the meantime I continue to work on calligraphy and Sanskrit and writing with a group from around the world every Wednesday evening. So satisfying as we are all so different in cultures and writing techniques. 

Just a little book, some palettes of paint a brush and a pen

Time to be Aware

 I don't know where I've been over the past years, but obviously very absent from this blog. 

I haven't been lolling in bed in a haze of 'not wanting to do anything'. In fact I've been extremely busy being busy. Teaching and staying at home mostly because of the COVID-19 pandemic but I think that too has become my excuse for not 'going out' as I used to. 

I've kept a diary, done many courses and created a calligraphy piece a day for over a year. Written poetry, gained 2 new grandchildren and quite frankly simply enjoyed my new contained studio space upstairs.

My visual diary has over 400 calligraphy pieces in it and I have written a few poems and prose pieces which I have worked on from time to time. 

A walk along the sea shore

I also started a correspondence with my friend Paddy in the deepest days of the first Lockdown which kept both of us sane over a few weeks and I need to relook at the writing to see if it worth keeping, or whether it was just something to do' in a crazy world. 

I still continue writing with prompts and with a friend. This time Sam. She and I Zoom almost weekly to chat about a writing group we've joined and how our personal writing continues as well as books to read. So we are busy and focussed. 

I'm also writing words for a project which a young girl has managed the past year. Photographs taken from a similar spot for two years. She's requested that various authors and poets write about the images. Which is a beautiful way to write - from images not words.

Now that I have re-discovered this page. I shall certainly keep it going. 

Time and Creativity

There is never 'no time' to add a colour or quote to a creative page. Sitting chatting to a friend [not face to face] but at home is a great way to 'doodle' a design. While you wait to have coffee with a friend, take out your note pad and scribble.

Just as many people I know have nut and sweet bowls scattered around the house, I have several 'creative stations'. One next to my bed, another in the studio, one more on my mother's desk and another in the computer room.

My absolute essential tools are: pencils, anything from HB to 4B, pencil crayons: GOOD pencil crayons, Karisma and Derwent are just two of my favorite colour pencil crayons sets. Black fine-liners and fountain pens I find are useful for out lining and creating lines on which to write, curl and flourish. At some of the 'creative stations' I have scissors, glue and beautiful scraps of paper, fabric and even felt. Watercolours also beckon, especially in my studio. I also have several rolls of pens, pencils and colors which I can pop into my handbag with a small notebook in case I need to write or draw a quick figure or highlight a colour. I discovered wonderful pen rolls at my local art store and I bought a number which had nasty paint brushes which are good for mixing colours and some even for glue. I turf out the brushes I don't need and use the rolls for my own bits creative bits and pieces.

My two granddaughters have no trouble finding paper, scissors and colour to create a card or simple concertina book. They simply gather up what they need, sit down and make.

So I really have no excuse for adding a quote or line to my creative diary. Why not set up your creative stations as soon as possible, you will find them much more useful than nuts and raisins. In fact they will become your essential 'nuts and raisin' necessity and help you become creative in both writing and drawing.

Happy creating.

A few 'nuts & raisins' for the girls

Creative Journals

Every year I create a journal/diary which is important for me to make notes on creative thoughts, ideas, colours, words and so on.

This year I was given a ready-made journal by my friend Sam who is also a writing partner. So instead of creating backgrounds with pages that need binding I had an 'almost complete' book.

The exciting thing is that now I don't have to do the 'heavy' work and simply need to create designs, add ideas and of course write.

I use many prompts for the 'muse to descend'. Oracle cards, poetry, Pinterest [of course] together with walks, found articles from nature and anything else that will help me start creating.

 Front Cover - altered to fit in with my personal likes

 Adding lines, writing and colour to the background

Some of the materials I use: watercolours, pencil crayons, prompt cards

These are the first few pages of this 2013 diary. I hope you start one too.

Authors and Book Signings

It is always a joy to meet authors, especially when they are South African and there is some connection however tenuous.

I have read and enjoyed Marguerite Poland's books for many years and when possible try to be at her book signings and talks.

Her newest book, 'Taken Captive by Birds' is a 'coffee table' book filled with reminisces of her childhood which includes tales of Port Elizabeth. With fine detailed drawings by Greg Ivor, the book is a delight of evocative memories which could be sentimental but are not.

She has also written several children's stories and adult novels. One of them 'The Boy in You', is about boys at St Andrew's College Grahamstown, the school that David went to. So you can see the connection developing.

While I was chatting to her during the book signing (David had me buy one for each child and one for ourselves - for Christmas, of course) she told me that for one miserable term she went to St Andrew's School in Bedfordview, the same school my sister and I went to. So now you can see we are nearly related.

A few years ago Marguerite wrote her doctorate on the Nguni herds and co-authored a book based on the subject 'The Abundant Herds: A Celebration of the Nguni Cattle of the Zulu People'. (Another 'coffee table' book and certainly worth owning).

I am reading 'Recessional for Grace' which is a riveting and rewarding read.I t allows insights into a world past and enjoyment of lyrical writing.

I enjoy following an author's progress. Marguerite Poland's stories allow the reader to delve into their own South African heritage and dredge up times of childhood and memories that should not be forgotten.

It's a treat to read such an author and a South African one at that.

Kaleidoscope

Writing is an exciting past time, especially when a writing partner is part of the journey.

My friend Sam and I write together over mail and occasional writing workshops.We share books, quotes and blogs. Writing sites, poems and mentors.

At the moment we are reading 'radical' stories of women mystics like Hildegaard and Julian of Norwich. Sam gave me the new Mary Sharatt novel Illuminations, which is historically accurate, well written and - dare I say this - illuminating.

Mixed into this pot-puorrie of stories are some tarot cards, David Whytte and of course John O'Donahue. To make our path more exciting we have drawings, meditations and rote learning to add spice to our work. All to open up our 'mystical' side, which in the modern world of iPhones and iPads is often well hidden.

Our time together is precious and we hold each other together through e-mail, an occasional coffee and even more occasional call.

This Saturday we work together with Dorian on a collage of intent. I look forward to the quiet and to seeing what we produce.

No doubt our journey will be long with a few lush oasis stops as a reward along the way which will be re-created in a kaleidoscope of words and images.