And a very Happy Tuesday to all my peeps. I hope you had a great weekend and a productive Monday. Shall we get this day started?
I published an article today about our loss of innocence with the signing of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964, effective giving the President the power to send troops into Vietnam without Congressional approval. You can see it here if you want.
But the reason I bring it up is because it is written in free-form, a stream of consciousness method where you just randomly toss out thoughts and brain messages without any concern for proper grammar or punctuation. The purpose is to see how many verbal images you can come up with about a significant event.
When you toss out the rules and just write, it is amazing how freeing it can be. Your imagination is given free rein and it is allowed to gallop across the page without restraints. I had a ball writing that article and I hope you give that technique a try as well.
By the way, on the subject of inspiration, the idea for that article came from the song “American Pie” by Don McLean, one of my favorites. Listen to it and you will get a better feeling for what I was trying to accomplish with my article. His song, as you may or may not know, is about the day the music died, or the day that Buddy Holly died in a plane crash, but it is also a nostalgic look back at the early 60’s, as is my article.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“All I’m writing is just what I feel, that’s all. I just keep it almost naked. And probably the words are so bland.”
Jimi Hendrix
Great quote by Hendrix, and although it is about songwriting I think you’ll agree that it applies to writing as well. Keep your writing naked if you want the feelings to shine through.
TIP OF THE DAY
Use the free form, shotgun method to write 300 words about an event in your life. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling or punctuation….just let it flow. This is a great exercise in developing voice.
CONTEST OF THE DAY
The first annual Wild Light Contest for poets, sponsored by the Los Angeles Review….cash prize and inclusion in the Los Angeles Review. Check it out here.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
All five senses…what do they say about this picture? Now, free form writing for 300 words about it.
MONEY OF THE DAY
The Artsmith Residencies are taking applications for those interested in staying at a writer’s colony for a week in January, 2014. The Residency is in the beautiful San Juan Islands of Washington State, so you might want to take a look at this offering. You can find them here.
AND THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY MY FRIENDS
But I’ll be back on Thursday with more things to consider. You can always check out my other blog, A Moment With Bill, on the days I don’t post this blog. You can find that blog here.
As always, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to visit with me. I hope you found something worth keeping.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Ok, first and foremost, I love Don McClean’s song (still one of my favorites) and loved the article you based on this. Funny, yesterday I wrote and article after an experience of dropping off Lily at pre-school and it was all just what I was feeling at that moment. Will most likely publish it soon on my blog, but you are right sometimes you just have to write exactly what you feel in the moment. You nailed it with this one and hoping you are having wonderful day still!!
Thanks Janine…one of my favorite songs too and that article just wrote itself once I gave myself permission to go for it. 🙂
I always write free style first, longhand, in a notebook. Then I type it out … My hand is an extension of my brain:). Oh I didn’t realize you had another blog Bill! I thought you’d changed the name! I better catch up!
Take your time catching up, Kelly….I’ll be here awhile. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I will try your tip. I have done it, but not with the consciousness you have inspired today. Thanks!
Maria, I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy hearing from you. Blessings my friend and thank you!
Great post Bill. Yes freestyle gives us more inspiration. There is always time to go back and “doctor” it, but that is normally how I write. Let the words roll. Have a great day my friend!
Thanks Greg! They were certainly rolling out of me on this latest hub. LOL
I’ll check out your article shortly. I’m getting a late start. Finally broke down and went to see a doctor about my ankle/foot, which has been messed up for a month. I’ll see you on the other side!
Okay…good luck at the doc’s.
I’m back. That’s why I’m so late in reading. My day’s all shot to hell, but oh well….
What a wonderful song to inspire so many memories, Bill, in so many of us.
Thanks for the link to your other blog…I am heading to check you out, my friend.
Love, Maria
You are a doll, Maria. Thank you so much!
love,
bill
That’s good advice, Bill. I tried it yesterday – wrote a blog post on my health blog all about not taking things for granted and celebrating the little things in life. Amazing how the words just poured out. I forgot what that was like for a while. Glad to know I still have it in me, LOL!
Mel, you are a writer and it will always be in you. So good to see you. I hope you are well my friend and thank you for taking the time to comment.