Splashing In ...

How to Make Time for Your Writing

Pardon the dust on the blog lately! The last month has been all about clearing the decks and savoring some creative projects. Hopefully you've been doing the same and maybe following my little micro bursts of bloggishness on Twitter (I'm @WriterSarah).

Anyway, the question at hand — how do you make time for that writing that is most important to you? Well, there's lots of theories on this. But, for me, a supportive group of people really helps me dust off those pages and show up. I often find good people and good energy like this when I take classes — online, in-person, or even over the phone, the connection and the commitment inspires me, grows my skills, and best of all gets stuff moving ...

So, if you're looking for a boost, you might consider my new and very cool nonfiction class —Ready, Aim, Sell: Time and Tools for Shaping Publishable Essays — starting next week at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Class runs Thursday nights from 5 to 7 p.m., June 18 to August 13 (no class week of June 28).

This class was inspired by requests from past writing students. They loved what they were learning, but life got busy those days between classes. And, they wanted more time to share and develop their writing during class — so, here's what I came up with ... a class with the perfect mix of time to write and tools to meet you where you are.

And, it will answer other questions students keep asking: How can I get started? I'm stuck — what will get my writing moving? How do I capture the energy of telling a story in words? Is this piece is finished — what else could I add? How do I move past doubt, fear, and all that other crap that stops me from approaching my dream markets and getting my writing to my right people?

There will be techniques, ideas, and inspiration. There will be time to write and tools to help you expand your skills, your writing, your writing, and your ideas. You will learn to notice which stories, moments, and ideas have captured you. Then work in a supportive, friendly environment to shape them into something cool and shareable. I've designed this class to meet you where you are with your writing and guide you into fun, movement, and flow. We'll take the steps together.

It starts in one week and I'm so excited! I love teaching and seeing the way students and writing blossom during a course. There's just a few seats left — register online or call 612-379-8999.

Questions about this workshop or if it might be right for you? Feel free to email me (sarah.tieck at gmail.com) or Tweet me (I'm @WriterSarah) ... I'm happy to hear from you.

How to Get Unstuck and Keep Moving

Yes, another Tulum post! Tulum really was rich with metaphors for me — with a name that means "wall," why not?

The city is full of staircases — most were bumpy, uneven and generally looked, well, like an ancient civilization had carved them out of stone by hand with primitive tools.

This made me think of the whole idea of “baby steps” as a way to get to dreams — this is good, in theory. But in practice, perfectionism often gets in the way.

It appears that the Mayans didn’t get too lost in the whole process of figuring out how to make gorgeous even staircases. They focused on the big picture — the getting it done. And, they built staircases that were sturdy and worked well for the purposes of getting people where they needed to go. Or,  in the case of the staircases with little covers, reminding people of important rules, like bowing before entering, etc. Check it out:

(Yeah, that's a staircase!)

(This one is, too!)

These staircases are solid and functional. But, far from perfect ... and, I'm going to metaphor on you right now ... like the way we reach our goals and our destinations ...

I've got the theory in my head. But, in my heart as I try to practice this I get stuck when I think about the idea of working toward big goals in imperfect, tiny steps, sometimes even as small as 5 minutes (yes, I said FIVE minutes). Even though FlyLady touts it as the path to your goals and even though I use it — and see results — with my students in classes, and I do the same thing — and see results — when I really don't have time to engage more deeply. 

But, there's a big part of me that says "Yeah, right" when I think about taking that idea of imperfect babysteps and following it all the way to a goal. There's a part of me that refuses to believe that it can work. For bigger projects, I still tend to set aside longer bits of time because I feel more effective that way. Even for exercise, I prefer to do an hour versus the 10 or 15 minutes three or four times a day experts say may benefit you even more. And, when I don't have an hour? Well, all work stops and pretty soon overwhelm sets in.

That idea is beginning to shift. I just finished a book called One Small Step Can Change Your Life by Robert Maurer. It is about the Japanese idea of Kaizen, where you take continuous steps towards improvement, making them so tiny that you never get scared and you can't fail. No step is too small. And, in that sense, no step you take is imperfect, as long as you are moving in the direction you intend to go. The goal is MOVEMENT.

More on this. But, for now consider the view from the top of that second staircase:

(Gorgeous, isn't it? And, from here, the staircase's appearance or imperfection isn't nearly so important as its function ... the thing that helped me get here.)

So, what I'm taking away: You can not only reach your destination, you can have wonderful, rich, and lasting results — and find some cool surprises like this view of the sea — even if the steps (or staircase) you use are far less than perfect, or really really tiny, or not really step-like at all.

For now, the question: What small step can I take today towards ______________? Is it small enough to keep me moving?

The Art of Packing

In Tulum, built on a rock wall overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the heat sunk in deeper with every step. And, we walked everywhere. I was amazed to see people with large backpacks, etc. One of my favorites was a tiny woman pulling a full-size suitcase  (larger than her) and carrying a backpack, kicking up hot dust as she went.

It was a moment that made me stop and scramble for my camera — I did capture her — and that moment seemed to crystallize one of my big “learnings” this year — you take yourself with you, yes, and many of us have all sorts of baggage, too, often more than we need. Doesn’t make for a fun journey. That woman did not look like she was enjoying her walk to the ruins. And, I knew that once she got there, she’d be hauling that huge and unruly suitcase up hills and stairs. I wondered why she had so much with her.

(Hopefully, despite my blurry, hurried photo you can see her — she's the one to the right, with the huge black suitcase trailing behind her!)

We paused for a few more minutes. In my notebook, I wrote a question: So, what sorts of “baggage” are you carrying — have you packed light and with intention, or are you pulling a full-size suitcase of stuff? Will this serve you on the journey you’re taking?

Any time there's travel, I plan carefully what to bring. My husband has no tolerance for open-toed shoes or hobbling along in high-heeled sandals. So, I’ve learned that when we are out on an adventure — be it the local mall or a Mayan ruin, I  must pack and dress for movement and ease.

And, often, in a deeper sense, I consider what other things am I pulling along with me. Are they useful and do they serve me? For Tulum, my concern was mostly physical comfort so we could enjoy the creative spark and discoveries the ruins had to offer. So, I brought tennis shoes, sunscreen, my notebook, my vacation hat, water, and sunglasses. Everything fit into one purse-sized backpack. My husband had his camera gear. Traveling light felt good during that mile-long walk from the bus drop-off to the actual ruins.

It is natural to take time to prep our physical and emotional "baggage" for a trip. But, I'm not so intentional about the day-to-day journeys and the journeys toward my goals. And, I'm reminded of the value of this simple bit of planning. And, I'm reminded as I set out toward a project, a goal, or start into the busy-ness of the week to come, to ask myself what am I packing for? And, does it match what I'm expecting to feel like, have, or be by the end?

Applause! Applause!

InventiveMedia Photography's Web site is up and operational! Looks gorgeous.

Check it out!

I'm baaaccckkk with this perfectly fine post

One of my Loft Literary Center students reminded me (like I tell them) to just get writing — she said it so well: "Remember a blog is just a blog. It's not supposed to be perfect. That's advice from one perfectionist to another"

So, here it is, an imperfect blog!

Today, I'm feeling like a rock star because I figured out how to add Twitter updates here at my Web site! WOO HOO! This means that the blog will have a lovely activity stream — since a Tweet is 140 words or less, and it takes about 15 seconds to write one. Those who don't yet follow me on Twitter can get a taste of that now, and follow the more-frequent updates ... I often share useful little tidbits or links I've found. If you do want to follow me on Twitter, I tweet as @WriterSarah ...

More to come.

Artist Date: Minnesota Zoo Adventure

In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron talks about artist dates — time set aside for nurturing creativity through solitary excursions or other fun — as a strategy to increase your capacity for "good creative work." The idea is to replenish and restore your inner creative well, which is a resource and a reservoir that artists draw on to write, to create, to make art. When we create and create and create without replenishing that resource, the well dries up or gets low. Cameron encourages artists to nourish themselves and fill the well. "In filling the well, think magic. Think delight. Think fun. Don not think duty. Do not do what you should do. ... Do what intrigues you, explore what interests you; think mystery, not mastery."

I broke the rules just slightly and did my Artist Date with my wonderful friend Barb along. But, I still feel like I got a tremendous benefit and really enjoyed capturing moments of inspiration with my trusty point-and-shoot. I don't consider myself a visual artist, but I do have a good eye for a beautifully framed photo and enjoy capturing moments of inspiration, or moments where I see a story!

This was the barn — it is early, early spring. The grass is just showing the beginnings of green. But, this shot was a feast of shape and color. I love the red branches and red barn with its green roof against that brilliant cornflower blue sky.

This baby goat had SUCH personality! Running back and forth along this bridge. Truly fearless and so playful. The makings of a children's book character, Barb told me.

Another barn shot — I love the shape and elegance of this silver thing. Is it a turret? A steeple? I also love the symmetry and lines of the green tiles. Beautiful, old-fashioned barn. Reminds me of the country roads and rustic scenery near my hometown in Iowa.

A chicken with pantaloons! What fun!

This baby goat had a goal — eat all I can — and positioned himself IN the feeding bin. What a hoot!

Such a pretty piglet — perfectly pink and sleeping. Just a moment before, his tail was a tiny curlicue!

Our very presence annoyed this bull (the photograph just doesn't do him justice — he was ENORMOUS!)

I moved, but he is still quite annoyed. You can't see it, but there is steam (yes, steam) coming out of his nostrils!

Doesn't this goat look like a wise old patriarch?

This woman seemed like an intriguing character to me — first thing I noticed was her unusual braid. I was also intrigued, because she seemed to have found the most peaceful spot at the zoo's farm exhibit — a little bench near the sheep and goats — and she was knitting. So, I'm saving this picture in my character file.

This is my favorite shot. These two white horses seem straight out of a historical romance novel to me. What a beautiful moment, with the horses and the trees and the sky!

 

All in all, an excellent artist adventure — my camera ran out of batteries before we made it to my favorite area, the Tropics Trail. But, it was just as well. The zoo closed while we were there, so it was silent in the tropics as we explored. Watching those fancy pink flamingos take their evening baths was absolute peace, and I reveled in the soundtrack of nature — splashing water, chirping birds, and a waterfall — after all the noise of the life at the zoo's farm.

All photos by Sarah Tieck. All rights reserved. Copyright 2009.

Finding Inspiration: Natasha Richardson's Life

I'm in the midst of teaching my Idea Intensive class at the Loft Literary Center. During our check in, several students mentioned how outside influences — specifically reading — could shape and inspire their writing style, their topics, and their tone. Excellent awareness, and valuable information. Some of the best creating happens when people notice something, they're drawn in, and then they respond. By pulling topics that naturally arise from their interests, students are building an organic and authentic creative practice.

Last night we were discussing layers and finding inspiration. One way of creating original, fresh ideas is to add a layer from our interests and responses. I saw this at work during my book club's discussion of Michael Greenberg's Hurry Down, Sunshine — the author's story of his daughter's mental illness inspired a rich discussion of our own views and experiences with mental illness. Last night's episode of South Park, which was all about superheroes, was clearly a reflection on the recently-released Watchmen movie ...

The news broke last night that actress Natasha Richardson has died. I didn't know her personally — and had only seen a few of her movies — but like many people, I couldn't turn my eyes away from the story of her skiing injury. It seemed so impossible that this vibrant woman, who was so magnetic in pictures that she seemed to glow, was lost so quickly, and so finally.

Something in her stories has touched me, though. There's something in the core of her life and experience, something universal in this that is pulling at people. And, for me, there's a deeper pull, because I see the value in following my attention and energy to explore the threads and seek to understand. I can use my fascination with this woman's compelling life and story to explore my own inspiration and my own stories — it is in these moments of focus and interest that you can ride a wave and find threads you weren't aware of.

To do this, I simply follow the sparks — I look and see what I've noticed ... pull each thread out and examine it for connections — what stories and ideas does she inspire?

• First I notice the photographs. In every single one, Natasha is a mixture of stunning and genuine. I could use this as a jumping off point to describe what it is about her style, her smile, and her mannerisms that seem to glow. By pausing in this way, I am honoring my own interest, and also creating a description that someday might provide a layer for a character in a story.
• Then, I'm drawn into her biography. The facts that are restated as journalists I could explore her life story — the threads that pull me most immediately are the story of her romance and devoted marriage to Liam Neeson, who at one time believed himself a confirmed bachelor. I could also explore her family background, with its generations of actors. Just these two veins — when you strip them down to their core elements — offer many possibilities that could inspire fictional characters, and a bevy of stories, scenes, and plots.
• I come back to that word, magnetic. Who in my life is "magnetic" — why?

And ... that's all I've done so far. But, look at the richness there. Organic material. Jumping off points to inspire my own creative process, simply by notice what I'm interested in.

Now, I challenge you notice what you're interested in abd to respond — to create some new layers for your creative projects by exploring the things that have your attention: What are you interested in?

Photo Inspiration: Mexico's Mayan Ruins

My husband, Michael Novak of InventiveMedia Photography, is one of the most creative people I know. He's always stretching his skills and trying on new techniques. This gorgeous photo, taken from a cliff in Tulum, is an example of creative process in action. He was playing with the camera, shooting for pleasure on this day.

Still, the result is a photo so beautiful that I'm tempted to step into the scene, and the moment he's captured ... of this serene beach, untouched because the waves are too playful and rambunctious for swimming. Such spirited turquoise water offers a seductive, inspiring vista for sure ... can you see the heat waves coming off that Mayan temple in the distance?

If you're interested in more of Michael's photography, check out InventiveMedia at Flickr.

Photo courtesy of InventiveMedia Photography. All rights reserved.

Time Management, Beach Style

A month ago at this time, my husband and I were in Mexico, savoring our last day in the Mayan Riviera. We'd booked the trip on a whim, and we wanted to see and do as much as possible in this new-to-us place. So, on our first full day there, we played in the waves; the next day, we rose early for a snorkeling excursion, and on our last full day, we toured the ruins of Tulum. Every moment in this gorgeous place brought adventure and discovery — how could it not in a beautiful, tropical beach setting?

One thing didn’t happen, though: the just-for-me writing I’d imagined doing. With daily maid service, all-inclusive buffets, and no deadlines, I figured that I’d have time to spare in Mexico, time that I could spend writing what I wanted to write because I’d be on a beach, on vacation, and free to play. Instead I took my busy self and her habit of not writing along with me. And, every day, the intention to write got pushed aside, or only happened during stolen moments between other fun activities. It wasn’t until the last day that I realized I was following my usual pattern and doing little bits at a time, recording thoughts and images I didn’t want to lose during quick moments.

I always think that there will be time to write and to do other things I want to do, when I’m not so busy. When this deadline is met, once the grocery shopping is done, etc., etc., etc. I was really surprised to realize that even when I supposedly *had* the time to write, I still felt as if I didn't have time to write because I didn’t make that time.

So, on that last day, I paused — before heading out for our last little bit of time in the ocean, and I wrote. I stood by the railing of our balcony and soaked in the moist heat and that moment, saying out loud, “I am here.” I memorized the smell of earth, the look of mosaic tile pathways lined with symmetrical, star-shaped guana leaves ... the delicate drops of water on the slim palm branch leaves just below our balcony ... and the 20 different greens in view ... I felt like I was in a symphony box, but, instead of music, I was bathed in a lovely cool breeze, blue skies, and sun. I was bathed in the feeling of being fully absorbed and present in that moment in that space.

Things have a way of clicking into place when you pause like this. And, that was when I realized if my writing was to be a priority — at home or on vacation — I needed to make time for it. It didn’t need to be first thing, but it did need to be part of my rhythms and routines. I also realized that sometimes, it is okay to just live and not write. Perhaps that little discovery of mine will help someone else ...

So now, I pause and ask myself: What activity, feeling, or experience best matches your vision? How can you make time for that?

How to Start an Interesting Blog

To be honest, I don't really know how to start an interesting blog. Step one probably has to do with posting more than once a month. But, don't worry, that's solved. Now that all the transition kinks appear to be resolved, I'll be here regularly. Hope you will, too!

There's that moment of breaking through too-long awkward silence. Of stepping back into the conversation and onto the page, of saying something — and not just something, but something meaningful. Not only do you have to start, but, when you finally do, you want to connect, to be human, to offer something useful and inspiring, and to do all this in such a way that you draw loyal readers and lots and lots of hits. And, you want to choose words that ensure your blog is optimized to catch the eye of Google and other roaming search engines, but still remains authentic, meaningful ... yours. Ack!

Too much to think about. So, I've decided to take the advice I give to my writing students: Just start. Write something like Anne Lamott's "shitty first drafts" or Natalie Goldberg's writing practice. Thinking of these two writers I love, and their encouragement towards baby steps reminds me that all I have to do is write as much as I can see in this little Typepad window. That's all I need to do for now. I can figure it out as I go!

For now, I'm just going to show up and share what's caught my eye and inspired my journey. So, bits of inspiration:

• One of my favorite places to go for a boost is the Disapproving Rabbits blog. Passionate entrepreneur Sharon Stiteler took a spark  and turned it into an inspiring business complete with radio appearances, a book, products, etc. Yes, sir, I DO approve of these delightful photos of the grumpy and the cute ... especially since our Californian, Lily, was the disapproving bunny of the day ... see, she's doing "the one-eye!"
• Closet Cooking, a food blog by Kevin from Canada, is food porn. I love Kevin's straightforward copy and his simple and focused mission of adding variety to his menus. His photos are beautifully styled, and his approach, both improvised and practical, is inviting. Makes me want to cook at home.
• Havi Brooks: Wonderful teacher, with a duck named Selma. She's teaching me so much about my relationship with my vision and myself, and biggifying (her word for marketing) and finding my right people.
• Jennifer Louden: Truly the Comfort Queen. I love her blogs and her gentle way of redirecting me back to my deepest desires and a place where long-held dreams feel do-able.
• Barbara Winter: Love Barbara's passion and how she encourages people to not only do work they love, but to charge for it.

More soon. But, this is enough for my gloppy first draft. Thanks for reading.