And a very Happy Friday to all of you. What do you have going on this weekend? One thing I definitely won’t be doing is writing. This has been a full week and this boy needs to gear it down for a couple days…..now I wish I could just shut off my writing brain so all of me could relax. LOL
Summer comes and summer goes; ours is hanging on as long as possible here in Washington. The gorgeous weather arrived on June 6th and it hasn’t left yet, but there is a chill in the air now in the evenings and it won’t be long before the leaves change and fall.
Have you written about nature before? I just posted an article today about the Earth and our responsibility towards it. Read it if you have a couple minutes and let me know what you think, but more importantly, give some thought to the message in that article, that we all are responsible for protecting our planet. Here is the link to that article.
Anyway, this is a writing site so let’s talk about writing. Thanks to Sha for guest blogging on Wednesday and giving us great suggestions about subheaders. Now let’s move on to a new topic….nature writing.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug.”
Helen Keller
This coming from a woman who couldn’t see nature. Sheez! She does, however, point to our tip of the day regarding nature writing, and that is…..
TIP OF THE DAY
Write to all five senses of your readers. When you are writing about nature, engage sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste. All five senses are alive and well when we are out in nature, and those basic memories are what we want to attract when we write about the beautiful outdoors.
The second part of this tip is to grab a notebook, go outside, and write down random thoughts as you walk through the woods or by the shoreline. Remember the senses…what does the sand feel like between your toes? What do you smell in the forest?
And don’t forget to take a camera on your walk!
PROMPT OF THE DAY
Yep, nature, and if this doesn’t move you then you ain’t breathing. J
WRITER OF THE DAY
If you enjoy poetry then say hello to my Canadian friend Epi….you can find his site here. His real name is Colin but why be formal? J
CONTEST OF THE DAY
I had a surprisingly difficult time finding a nature writing contest, but I did run across something called the Earth Vision Writing Contest and you can read about it here.
MONEY OF THE DAY
Grants of between $500 and $15,000 are made available by the Furthermore Group, but they are for unpublished authors only. You can see the application process here.
AND THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY AND THIS WEEK
Enjoy your weekend, thank you for stopping by and remember to do all things with love.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
I am so ready for the weekend, because between writing and designing, I haven’t stopped yet. I promise to share though and will always take pictures. Have a great weekend now, Bill, too!! 🙂
Janine, when I first started taking weekends off, it was the hardest thing….I felt like I needed to be writing 24/7….now, though, when four o’clock comes on Friday I shut it down and breathe a sigh of relief. 🙂
Thank you my dear and have a wonderful weekend.
Bill, I loved your hub today. One thing I didn’t mention in my comment is how beautifully your words sparked the senses. I was aware throughout the article that you didn’t touch on concrete, steel, asphalt and tar – all those things that mar nature’s beauty. All those things that are depleting our beloved land and fresh air. Instead, you took me back to the scents and feel of walking through sun-streaked tree lined paths. The awesome feel of soft grass beneath my bare feet and the images the mind creates when watching the clouds billow through a bright blue sky.
Enjoy your weekend. I’m now off to check out the links you have provided above.
Before I leave: I’m constantly taking pictures to add to my library. I like to use my own photos whenever possible. Yesterday I took a photo of what I’ve deemed the Donald Duck Tree. There’s an oak across the street that has grown a fungus (mushroom) with a top and a bottom appearing through an aperture in the trunk. It looks like duck lips! I’ll have to come up with something to write so I can use it. Ok, now I’m off!
Thank you Sha! My camera is broken and it’s killing me not being able to take pictures. No money for extras, though, so such is life.
I appreciate your kind words about my hub. The site is down and nobody can read it, and I was really proud of it. LOL
love,
bill
It’ll be back up. Never fear! (Dont’ let the Bubblews folks hear you say that – you might get raspberries blown on your page!)
Screw them! LOL Debra can kiss my butt.
I’m glad you said that. I was afraid to, but you took the words right out of my head! Can you say, ‘barf’? 🙂
I just don’t have much tolerance for some people….negative all the time…argumentative all the time…life is too short to let them affect my life. 🙂
Bill, great post. As I read it, I was sitting at my local park during my lunch, eating my sandwich. And nature sure does move me! I enjoy watching the way the tips of tree branches sway with the breeze, at the time my hair rustles too. After all, we are all a part of nature.
Have a great weekend Bill – you deserve it.
Marissa 🙂
Hey Marissa! I always smile when I see you pop up. Thanks! I can picture you with your face tilted to the sky and the wind blowing your hair….lovely picture indeed. 🙂
Have a great time this weekend whatever you do.
bill
I am also looking forward to a long weekend! I wish I had a shore line to walk near!
There’s always the Mississippi, Kelly. 🙂 Have a great weekend and thank you!
Great post and a great article you wrote my friend. May your weekend be blessed.
Thank you Greg! Sending blessings to you and Maria!
Write to all 5 senses of your reader..
Thank you Bill. I will remember this advice today..
Have a great weekend, and TURN IT OFF! Sheesh..
lolxx
What, Leslie, you don’t like me turned on? LOL
I’ve shut it down for the week my dear. You do the same, if it’s possible to shut you down. 🙂
Thanks my friend.
bill
Hmmm…Bill, I think I need to do that soon. Spring is here at last and I am loving that idea of yours to grab a notebook and get into nature to jot down thoughts. Sometimes it gets claustrophobic and predictable sitting in front of a computer all day. Going to try that one for sure, thanks!