Morning Muse - ANN EDALL-ROBSON

Morning Muse - 2 Writing Prompts

1/31/2017

We see things. We hear things. We read things. It all falls into the category of ideas we can write about.

Writing prompts come in all shapes, sizes and forms. One word, sentences, pictures or a combination of them all mixed together.

The ultimate goal, regardless of your preferred genre or style, is to let the words and your imagination run free.

Here area two prompts to get the writing juices flowing.

Vacation is a time to rest, relax and have fun. That is until you find an envelope has been slipped under your hotel room door. Was it meant for you? Do you open it? Do you throw it away?

AnnEdallRobson.com

The neighbours farm has strange lights coming from the hillside. They are not there all the time and there is no consistency of the hour they show up. Always accompanied by a slow screaming sound. Is it a person? Is it an animal? Is if from another world?

AnnEdallRobson.com

What gets your writing juices flowing? Share your stories with us.

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
"Capturing moments others may never get to experience."

Morning Muse - Grasp the Words

1/29/2017

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
"Capturing moments others may never get to experience."

Morning Muse - "Hell, Yes!"

1/27/2017

The knee jerk reaction to an offer that encompasses your passion is to yell out, “Hell, yes!” After all, doing what you love, makes it easy to love what you’re doing.

If you hesitate when an opportunity presents itself, even for a second, the analytical brain will start to process doubts that include the age old saying, “This is too good to be true.”

Sometimes the push to agree comes from a need from within to change, to go forward, or to just live the dream, even if it is for that given moment in time.

I have been visiting with Meagan Saam of Silver Valley Ranch for a few years. There are times, we wander all over a plethora of topics. Brainstorming, laughing, going for walks and (me) coming away with way more inspiration than the brain is worthy of.

On a recent beautiful winter day, I again had the pleasure of visiting with Meg. We bounced around ideas, had some serious moments and a good laugh. At the end of our time together, this lovely lady presented me with a fantastic gift to consider.

This was one of those “Hell, yes!” moments.

I am delighted to share with everyone, I have accepted Meg’s offer to become one of the Partnering Professionals at Silver Valley Ranch.

What will I be doing? Meg's words say it best. "Guiding groups on quiet, exploratory, nature based photography and intuitional writing sessions and workshops."

Workshop dates and times will be available soon. Please contact Ann or Meg for more information.

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
"Capturing moments others may never get to experience."

Morning Muse - InCoWriMo

1/25/2017

February is InCoWriMo month. What the heck is InCoWriMo? It is something I have long been an advocate of; yet, I myself seem to have let the concept slip through the cracks of day to day life. It is something that is fading away thanks to modern technology like e-mails and texting. Heck, even telephones play a big part in the demise of the once popular hand written letter.

International Correspondence Writing Month (InCoWriMo) is quite like NaNoWriMo in a writer’s world. In place of writing, writing, writing towards your end goal of 50,000 words and a book, the objective of InCoWriMo is to hand write a letter or notes. Sending them to someone, everyday, for the month of February.

Yes, hand writing anything takes time. Time you will make excuses you don’t have enough of. So to help you along, here are five thoughts on where you can ferret out some precious time to make this happen.

Do you spend more than a half hour surfing the internet every day? You have time to write a five line note.
Do you HAVE to watch your favourite hour long TV show EVERY week? Skip a week and write a letter.
Do you jump to see what or who is pinging your phone? UNPLUG for a few hours and write to your grandparents, aunts or uncles that might be in a senior home.
Do you HAVE to have your mocha, latte coffee from the local bistro? Don’t drive through. Go in, enjoy your coffee and write a two line note to your spouse.
Making an excuse in your mind why you can’t? Not an option! Think of the smile you will put on someone’s face when they pick up their mail. GET IT DONE.

What do you need to get started? - writing pad or paper, note cards, pen, envelope, stamps, names & addresses.

Download a FREE copy of your InCoWriMo Tracking Sheet.

Will you participate in InCoWriMo?

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
"Capturing moments others may never get to experience."

Morning Muse - By the Seat of Your Pants

1/20/2017

Writing classes help you learn:

Outline
How to do research
Knowing your topic
Structure
Schedules
Grammar do’s and don’ts
Spelling, punctuation and proper placement of nouns, verbs and adjectives
Write like other people

Writing by the seat of your pants, you:

Create your own voice
Write when the urge takes you
Write about what you know
Write from the heart
Research on the fly as you come across material in conversation or where ever
Keep note books in every nook and cranny, in vehicles, backpacks, purses and around the house
Write opening sentences and ideas on napkins, scraps of paper, old grocery lists and till tapes. They’re all fair game to record an idea or more.
Write chapters in the bathroom, on airplanes, watching the sunrise and driving through snow storms (I have a driver)
Original drafts aren’t pretty, but they are you

I started writing by the seat of my pants in grade school. The teachers were not impressed with my lackadaisical efforts and boisterous imagination. I tended to surprise them with my end result of any given English project. It wasn’t until the teen years that I realized I should really keep this stuff known as stories and poetry that had been born through creativity and living.

Several moves, and life interruptions, I still have some of the stuff from the olden days. As a matter of fact, some of that stuff made its way into the pages of Moon Rising.

I continue to write by the seat of my pants until I feel the need to make something out of what I have penned. That is when the teacher’s rules start to apply themselves.

It works for me, but it’s not for everyone. Don’t get me wrong, I like structure and I thrive on lists, but creating from within has to happen when I feel the urge, not at a designated time within the 24 hour clock.

I work on several projects at the same time. When I write, no matter where or on what, I start with the date, the main character’s name, and away I go. About every month or so, I take all my hand written notes from the last typed entry date and type them into the project’s file on the computer. Some are snippets, some are several chapters that flow together, others are chapters that will fit in later or earlier. This step is actually my first edit.

Inspired by life and all things that make me smile, the urge to write happens when I’m out for a walk, in bed and driving down the road. It happens anytime, but always from the heart.

Do you write with structure, or like me, by the seat of your pants?

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life

Morning Muse - Inspiration to Write

1/18/2017

Open your eyes and look around. The inspiration to write is there. Let your mind float to the clouds, read a book, watch people in a crowd.

For some, there is a need to be inspired by the thoughts of others. A sentence, a word, a conversation and writing prompts.

Where inspires your writing?

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life

Morning Muse - Mail Box Downsizing

1/15/2017

In search of information, signing up for news feeds, follows and other forms of social media to nourish our quest for new directions and opinions, may create chaos in our inbox.

Titles and subject matter hit the inbox as quickly as you provide your email address, and click on the sign me up button.

Are these information links helpful, or just a step to frustration?

No doubt there is material that can be gleaned from this inundation of free data. The daunting task of reading through, or at least a quick peruse can, is time consuming.

This morning, there were 27 new emails in my inbox. Not many in the broad scheme of things, but enough to have me un-subscribe to several.

My criteria for unsubscribe? If I haven't read the particular information from the provider, in the past two weeks, chances are, I have found their information to be repetitive and non-productive to my needs. Therefore, a prime candidate to unsubscribe.

Cleaning out subscriptions takes but a few seconds. There will always be an Unsubscribe link somewhere on the incoming email. You might need a magnifying glass to find it, but it is there. Look in the wee fine print at the bottom.

With the task complete, your influx of emails will diminish, for now. We are creatures of habit, therefore, it is a given, that signing up for more information will happen, and so will taking the time to unsubscribe to the mail we no longer read.

Do you just continue to delete unwanted information emails,or do you unsubscribe from them?

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life

Morning Muse - Superstition or Truth?

1/12/2017

Superstition or truth?

The old timers, where I grew up, will swear by the knowledge moss grows predominantly on the north side of a tree. In other areas of the world, this theory can be argued. Either way, knowing the signs that Mother Nature imparts on all who want to pay attention, may be a clue to finding your way.

Do you have a superstition that just might be a truth?

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life

Morning Muse - 10 Tips to Help Improve Your Writing

1/10/2017

The gift of writing comes from deep within where the words tumble freely from the heart. Unfortunately, sometimes, a comfort zone of genre and words becomes a stumbling block knocking our creativity up against a wall.

Step outside the box. Embrace a newness of how you write. If only for a short time, any or all of these ten tips may improve your writing.

Are you up for the challenge of trying something new?

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life

Morning Muse - Nurturing

1/8/2017

A new year, a new set of challenges. The beginning of a nurturing process.

An opening sentence like that conjures up all kinds of things that need to be overcome. It takes you to the tasks that have been ignored and promises to “Get ‘r Done!”

My though on all this? Don’t be foolish. Yes, it’s another year; and yes, it’s an opportunity to wipe the slate clean or complete what has been glossed over. The last day of December rolls into the first day of January. The mind moves forward with unified vision of challenges or goals, and how you have decided to take them on.

I am embracing some challenges that include only ME. These projects I welcome to my realm, will not only jump start the brain, there is also the chance to rest and relax. Oh, there is the everyday stuff that will continue to pop in and create a twist in my plans, but I see them as an opportunity to see who I am.

My new challenges include writing more, reading more, creating more. That’s nothing new, you might think, so what’s the big deal?

The new writing part involves a weekly task of penning a story from a provided prompt. The result can be no more and no less than 52 words. Imagine, a descriptive, any type of prose with a 52 word constraint attached? I am so up for this!

The reading side, while it is something I do when I feel the need, now comes with a codicil of finishing twelve books over the year and posting a review on Goodreads (where I am a member author). This, too might not seem like a heavy lift, but in all honesty, reading the books is not the challenge, it’s taking the time to write the reviews. From a published author’s point of view, I know it is one thing that readers seldom take the time to do, and it only takes but a few minutes.

Creating more? Like I need to add this to my repertoire! The creativity side always has plans to design, build and complete. It may be a simple as finishing a quilt, deciding which flowers to start in the greenhouse or taking more pictures. It’s an internal permission to let the imagination and soul wander to the places it has missed going to.

What are your plans for you, this year?

Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life

AnnEdallRobson.com (2020)