Beauty...on the weblog--Today's Selection

This morning, I found the following comment from Sheila Cason:

Michele,

As anspiring writer it's nice to have encouragement. You're my selection today for Beauty...on the weblog. You were nominated by a fellow blogger fan!

Thank you, Sheila, and "fellow blogger fan" that was kind enough to nominate me.

Between all the friendship, encouragement, and awards I'm all fueled up for writing the cyber highway!

My Beloved Armoire

Well, here she is... my beloved computer armoire. I cherish her to no end!

(Note the stuffed Ziggy and Woody Woodpecker perched atop my monitor and speaker). They're figures from my childhood and it just makes me happy to see them every day, ha ha!

I love this armoire. There's a big file drawer, smaller drawers, shelves for reference books and all kinds of nooks and crannies to store all my writer's goodies.

The smaller books I refer to often are lined up within reach. A pastel floral cup holds my highlighters and pens, and I even have space for a couple of photos and a beautiful writer's block my aunt gave me as a gift.

I love the pullout, too. Not only is there a place for my keyboard, but it's a double pullout (like a desktop!) with plenty of room for my weekly planner, the 3-ring binder I keep my log sheets and manuscripts in, and even a cup of coffee!

On the inside of both doors are cork panels for pinning up more goodies and photos and a handy calendar for easy deadline notes.

I never tire of this cozy writing space! She continues to bring inspiration for my writing and joy to my soul. I feel like my life is all tucked away into this armoire at times. It seems that way anyways.

And... Here I am typing away, writing the cyber highway!

Thoughtful Mary

Mary has presented me with the "Spirit of Christmas" award. She left me a surprise comment:

"Please drop by my blog and pick up the "Spirit of Christmas" Award. You are a caring person and are deserving. Have a Terrific Tuesday.
Mary"

A little later, I noticed another comment from Mary:

"Michele,

There is a little something waiting for you over at my blog. Thanks for being such an inspiration and for your regular visits to my blog.

Blessings,
Mary"

So I skipped the cyber highway over to Mary's blog and discovered this:

"...Michele has been a regular visitor to my blog since I started blogging here recently. Michele is another source of inspiration to me."

How blessed I am to have found a treasured friend like Mary! Thank you, Mary ;0)

Now I am inspired to write the cyber highway!

Where, oh where, did my muse go?

Julia, this post is dedicated to you!


You may have noticed in my recent comments, Julia said this:

"- my Muse was sighted impersonating Elvis at the Holiday Inn! There's hope!"

To which I replied, "You should be a comedian! ha!"

Upon further thought, I meandered along the cyber highway once again stopping at the free dictionary to get a feel for the word "muse."

As a verb, muse means:

To be absorbed in one's thoughts; engage in meditation.

To consider or say thoughtfully: mused that it might take longer to drive than walk.

As a noun:

A state of meditation.

According to the Thesaurus, as a noun,

muse is the source of an artist's inspiration; "Euterpe was his muse."

And, when used as a verb,

muse reflects deeply on a subject; "I mulled over the events of the afternoon"; "philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years"; "The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate."

Julia, you really got me to thinking. What exactly is my muse? Hmm.... Let's see.... Well.... Um.... I think I might have many muses. Why not? Can't we have many muses? Shouldn't we have many muses?

As a verb, I guess I could say my muse overwhelms me in the still of the night, when silence reigns and inspiration leads to many manuscripts ;0)

As a noun, I'd say my many muses are my parents, my grandparents (although deceased, my memories with them bring endless inspiration), friends, the sun, the sky, my thinking tree, Spring, Fall, (my two favorite seasons), extended family, perhaps even a stranger that says or does something to spark my thoughts, my second grade teacher for telling me, "Michele, when you grow up, you're going to be a writer!", my friend, Renie Burghardt, other freelance writers that have "made it", Maya Angelou, Becca, Rebecca, Amy, a "non blogger friend, Michelle," and yes, even you, Julia--you inspired this very post! I could go on, as I find inspiration for stories by just living and breathing and paying attention to what/who is around me.

There are days I wonder if my muse is on vacation, though. Sometimes, even as my favorite time for writing (late at night) envelops me with its peace, I stare at a blank computer screen simply too tired and uninspired to type a sentence. Not necessarily because I'm clueless about what to write because the possibilities are endless, sometimes the mind just needs a good rest. After all, it works awfully hard for us!

But, there is always hope. With each new day (or night), there is a new opportunity for us to steal away and create with our words and do something no one else can--leave a piece of our heart with our readers.

So, be encouraged, Julia. If you have to, kidnap your muse away from the Holiday Inn!

What do you think, folks? Do you only have one muse? Or do you totally feel uninspired?

Think about it, perhaps even leave a comment, and may you find your muse as you write the cyber highway!




Note, in the text, the reference to http://www.thefreedictionary.com/muse

Unplugged

Hello blogger buds! Sorry I missed a post today. I've been "unplugged." Well, not literally. I've unplugged myself.

I have "writer burnout", to say the least! I feel uninspired, for sure. Check out Amy Derby's post from yesterday: Freelance Writers - Where Do Your Ideas Come From?

Better yet, check out Amy's post today: Freelance Writing Burnout.


I have family from out of town coming in and I'm going to try to enjoy tomorrow away from the computer, writing, blogging, sitting (all the good stuff!). Is that possible? To enjoy being unplugged from my cyber neighbors and friends? Hmmm...

Hopefully, I'll get some good photos, and I might even sneak a notebook and pen so I can jot down interesting stories and/or inspiration, ideas, good quotes from wise elders....

Enjoy the weekend, I know I'll enjoy mine as I take a detour off the cyber highway and onto a real one to spend time with special family members I haven't seen in a couple of years. I look forward to writing the cyber highway Monday, refreshed and full of endless inspiration!

Walking Writer--Just sitting!

I received an email that I hadn't updated about my walking adventures. So, here it is:

Yesterday, I didn't walk because there just wasn't time (horrible excuse, I know), but there wasn't. I suppose I could have walked in the dark... Oh well...

Anyways, I'm not sure if I'll fit in walking today either. There's a lot going on around here. I'm trying to work on an article about a man and his business. I interviewed him and pretty much have all of my information, so I need to just finish up, polish, and get it sent off.

Also, the dryer is not doing such a great job of actually drying today. The towels are still damp, so.... I'm hoping it isn't breaking down on me!

Sadly, on this beautiful Saturday, this "walking writer" is just sitting (well, part of the time anyway).

I sit down and try to clear my head and find inspiration and then I have to get up and go tend to something that needs tending to. So, I'm up and down, zoned into writing and then zoned out...

That's my update ;)

Enjoy your weekend and hopefully you'll be speeding down the cyber highway!!

walking writer