Quote of the Week #21

Art is not a mirror to reflect the world, but a hammer with which to shape it.
- Vladimir Mayakovsky

Get Motivated!

So my post last week about feeling very unmotivated was kind of fun but not productive. And I didn't get any better the rest of the week. But this week I've been feeling the writing urge. I keep wanting to write something but haven't made the time to sit down and actually get it out. I think it's time for some serious motivation! I find that I always get excited about writing when I read about how others are doing it and they're words of advice. I've listed some links below to other articles and blog posts that got my heart racing. Hopefully something here will inspire you or at least light a fire hot enough to burn bright until you can get something out on paper/word processor.

Great post at ZenHabits.net about creativity that helped me feel confident and motivated. This is good not only for writing but any other creative endeavor you might be considering.

I tracked this one down to the original post because I thought it was quite good. Some tips from author C.M. Mayo via Work in Progress blog. Mayo gives 12 tips on how to hang in there and finish a novel and some are very helpful in getting started, too.

And sometimes the best way to start writing is just to start writing... deep, huh? But really, I have found that the best way to shake the dust off is to not try and write the next best-seller but to get the muscles working again. Give some of these a try and see if some inspiration hits.

Let me know if any of this is helpful and I'll post tomorrow about what I write today.

Quote of the Week #20

If you have not done things worthy of being written about, at least write things worthy of being read.
- Giacomo Casanova

Unmotivation

Feeling rather un-motivated today - just tired and bonty (yes, I know that's not a real word, but it has become one in the Woodbury household when my Dad used it to describe his tired, confused, unfocused, and general out-of-it-ness). So here are some links that might entertain if you are feeling similarly unmotivated...

One of my favorite days of the year is 'Talk Like a Pirate Day' and they have a whole website dedicated to it. Also, this translator to assist those of us that are more inclined to proper speaking.

I'm always looking for more books to read and Random House posted this list of 100 best novels that gives me a great place to start or continue.

Words I wish I could use in every day language - thanks AbeBooks for a great blog.

Some very very cool enhanced pictures of the sci-fi/fantasy type. Some of these are amazing and really spark the imagination. The second one is my favorite.

And you know you've either been one of these people in a bookstore... or at least laughed at one.

This compilation of pictures almost deserves it's own post. Some of these libraries give me chills. Anyone else want to go on a world library tour?

Tomorrow: MOTIVATION!

Quote of the Week #19

Were I called on to define, very briefly, the term Art, I should call it 'the reproduction of what the Senses perceive in Nature through the veil of the soul.' The mere imitation, however accurate, of what is in Nature, entitles no man to the sacred name of 'Artist.'
- Edgar Allen Poe

Quote of the Week #18

I've been collecting quotes from my iGoogle homepage and have decided to start the quote of the week again. I've got some good ones!

Writing well means never having to say, 'I guess you had to be there.'
- Jef Mallett

Book Awards

I love following the AbeBooks blog Reading Copy and they post a lot of book news and information. It seems like every day they are announcing another book or author that won another award. Maybe I'll get it someday in the future but I just can't keep up with all of them. Do there really need to be so many? And how is anyone supposed to keep up with all the names, what they're for, when they're awarded and who has won them all?

Do you think it takes away from the honor of winning an award when there are so many? 'Award-winning book' almost doesn't mean as much. Of course, I would most likely feel very differently were I ever to actually win an award...