Scrapbooking Software Practice

Last night, my mother and I bought a digital scrapbooking software program, Scrabook Factory.

This is just a practice run with it. We wanted to see how it would look loaded on the ‘Net.

Filed under: not writing, photography, writing , freelance, Jen Nipps, jennipps, picture, scrapbooking software, writer

Intentions

I am on vacation this week. Well, since Wednesday, so it hasn’t been all week. Still, it counts.

I brought some writing-related things, intending to work on them and to work on Navajo Rose. So far, I haven’t.

I remind other people they need to refill their creative well, but lately, I haven’t been doing that myself. I’ve been working on day job stuff, sending out queries, and writing. The writing has been getting harder than necessary. I should have recognized that clue immediately that I needed to take some time to refill my well.

I’m at Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton, Oklahoma. It’s beautiful. My own intentions of writing aside, I’ve been swimming, hiking, taking pictures, and just observing.

It’s what I needed in so many ways.

I have a new 3-subject notebook. With as much writing as I have been doing lately, actually since last October, I think I’m going to try morning pages again. Previously I didn’t do them because if I wasn’t writing — and I wasn’t much — I felt like the three pages in the morning got my writing in for the day. I’ll see if it works better for me this time around.

(If you don’t know, “morning pages” is an exercise used and recommended by Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way to get the garbage out first thing in the morning so you’ll be open to creativity and inspiration throughout the day.)

At the very least, I understand better how I work now than I did then, so I won’t let myself use the “I already wrote today when I did morning pages” as an excuse.

So…

Excuse me while my subconscious asserts itself into the conscious world and takes me back out on its intentions to refill my creative well.

Filed under: not writing, photography, writing , creative, creativity, intentions, Jen Nipps, jennipps, Julia Cameron, morning pages, Navajo Rose, Oklahoma, refill the well, Robbers Cave, Robbers Cave State Park, subconscious, The Artist's Way, writing

Friends and Writing

Today wasn’t a big writing day.  Today was a day meant more for friends and refilling the well.

First there was lunch at the Magnetic Spring gazebo.  (How anyone can mold hedges/bushes into animal shapes is beyond me.)  According to the plaque by this spring, traditionally, people who put water on aches and pains, the water helped them, largely due to the mineral content.

Then there was the visit to Thorncrown Chapel.  I can’t really begin to describe it.  The picture here is a good one, but even it doesn’t come close to how it looks in person.  It blends perfectly with the surrounding trees, almost seeming to have naturally grown there if not for the glass and extremely straight lines and angles.  There was also a trip to East Mountain Lookout and the Carnegie Library, but I’ve probably shown you more than enough pictures with one post anyway.

This afternoon when I got back to my little apartment here, I wanted to take a nap.  I did lie down for a little while and listened to the radio through headphones, but after about 15 minutes, I decided that I should probably get up and work some on “Devon’s Wish” since that is what I’m here for.

I finished chapter 12 and will start chapter 13 tomorrow after I take a walk in the morning.

Filed under: photography, writing , Jen Nipps, jennipps, WCDH residency

My Pictures

So you know from a previous post that I have some pictures up on JPGmag.com. Now you don’t have to search for my pictures, though. (While you’re there, don’t forget to vote for “Rock Formation.”)

Filed under: not writing, photography , creative, creativity, Jen Nipps, jennipps

A Conversation with My Mother

I had lunch with my Mom today.  She was talking about how much work she had to do at the office and I commiserated since a lot of her work is a direct result of me.  My work is a direct result of her (and the doctors that work with her).  It’s a neverending circle.

On top of the transcription, we’re getting ready to move and I’m getting ready to go to the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow in Eureka Springs.  In addition to that, I’m still trying to get writing jobs/gigs and freelancing.  (Actually, that’s one reason why I posted that about voting for my picture.  It’s not a writing credit, but it would still be a print credit and a good thing as far as goals go.)

I made the comment that if I had known what all was going on this month, I probably would not have made the “Just Hit Send” commitment at the AW Water Cooler.

She said, “Yeah, but if you can do that with everything gong on this month, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t be able to do it any time.”

She’s right.  It could even translate to “just hitting send” with other deadlines and the like going on.

I’m not backing out, but it was a (fleeting) thought.

Filed under: photography, writing , Jen Nipps, jennipps, queries, WCDH residency

Do You Want to Vote for Me?

I submitted a picture both for the community and to be considered for publication in JPG Mag. It’s a rock formation in Sedona, AZ. To see it and vote (if you want) just go here. 

Filed under: photography , Jen Nipps, jennipps