A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

I've heard that old saying so many times, but as a writer, it has a meaning much different from what the quote's author might have imagined. "A picture is worth a thousand words." One would think it means there are no words needed to describe what one is seeing.

To me it means so much more. A picture might be a snapshot in my mind of something I've seen in the past which made an impact and a vivid memory. Or it might be something I'm currently viewing through my window, or it could be an actual picture taken with a camera.

A writer brings all of these to life with words.  A writer's paintbrush is words.

In the hands of a writer, a snapshot becomes a scene, and a scene becomes a story.

Yes, it's true. A picture is worth a thousand words...or more.

That's the gift of a writer.

Make a Face to Chase Away the Blahs

What's on My Mind: Lunch today with my very best friend

What I'm Reading: Teacher's Plans by JoAnn Carter

Picture of the Day: Making faces with the grandkids

Don't you just love having fun with children? I love my grandkids, especially when they are young enough to want to act silly with me. On Mother's Day, I had so much fun playing with the kids. They can tire me out, especially the boys who want to wrestle with me like they do their dad. My poor body doesn't do well with rolling on the floor any longer.

I absolutely love being creatively silly. I remember having so much fun with my girls when they were growing up. And even after they were grown. A few years ago, my daughter (who has kids of her own) wanted to have a Build-a-Bear birthday. So, her friend, her sisters and I all went to Build-a-Bear after work. We had sooooo much fun and laughed so hard. I really thought we were going to be asked to leave and never come back.

My girls reminded me not long ago about the song I made up when they were complaining about an English teacher whose last name was Twynam. It went something like this:

Oh, twine 'em round your fingers, and twine 'em round your toes. Twine 'em round your shoulders and twine 'em up your nose!

Once when my youngest daughter was having a grumpy fit, I started singing the Star Spangled Banner and running around the kitchen opening and slamming the cabinet doors in time with the beats. Needless to say, she had to laugh.

Laughter is so good for the soul. It can chase away the blues, energize the system, and make the complexion glow. I don't plan to ever get to be a serious, frumpy old lady. I want to laugh and be silly and have fun until the day God calls me home.

I hope you take the chance to laugh whenever you can! Thanks for stopping by.

Stop Looking Over My Shoulder!!

Quote for the Day: You must be unintimidated by your own thoughts because if you write with someone looking over your shoulder, you'll never write. ~ Nikki Giovanni

What I'm Reading: The Inheritance by Pamela Thibodeaux

Picture for the Day:

My talented hubby built this wishing well for our church prayer garden in memory of one of our friends who passed away unexpectedly. My hubby does not use patterns. He designs in his head and then created with his hands. I do not look over his shoulder while he's working, but I check in on his progress which makes him very happy. He loves to explain and he can look at the unfinished work and visualize the wonderful finished product.

When I write, I don't like anyone checking in with me. It makes me uncomfortable. And interruptions pull me out of the story and it's hard to get back in. I need quiet and solitude to perfect my craft of writing. Sometimes my inner critic comes to call and if I allow that voice to continue whispering in my head, I'm apt to just walk away and give up. So, I've learned to push that voice out of the way and not allow it to take control. Some days that's harder than others!

Before my mother passed away, she would let me read my finished chapter to her aloud. She loved having someone read to her, and I've found reading aloud is the easiest way to spot problems with sentence structure, cadence, and dialogue believability. I miss her. Somehow reading aloud to myself just isn't the same.

So, how do you handle your inner critic looking over your shoulder? Do you have any unique ways of handling interruptions? Do you read your work aloud to anyone?

What's Not to Love About Rocks?

What's not to love about rocks?

Many people see shapes in clouds. Me? I see shapes in all kinds of things. For instance, I can stare at the marbled tile floor in our main bathroom and see all kinds of faces and shapes. They change daily.

And rocks! When I look at rocks I see all kinds of animals take shape. My fingers itch to paint the rocks into that image. The other day, I brought home a small rock that looks just like a fish. It is rounded in just the right places and thing and narrower where the tail should be. When I retire, I'm sure I'll find time to go back to my love of bringing rocks to life.

Take time to look around you at all the little things. You just might see something you've been missing. 

Have a wonderful day and I hope you find something to love!

Thanks for stopping by.