Voice and Vision 2016 is a production of visual artists and wordsmiths. An interpretation of work between artistic partners. Culminated into a Limited Edition, professionally published book. It has been a pleasure to be one of the twenty-four artisans involved in this project. Each page of this book is an appreciation of the visual artists on display combined with a translation of thought by the writers participating. As of December 30, 2016, we have twelve of these Limited Edition books available for purchase. |
In search of the definition of the word artist, I soon discovered the stereotypical thought process was not wrong. The majority of available online and in hand dictionaries, are blatantly biased in their first few descriptive lines of the word. They describe one who paints, sculpts and draws. I take little solace in these words as I see great discrepancies in the outcome of my search. I do give the producers defining the word, accolades for including the descriptive “a unique group of individuals.” The twenty-first century is more tolerant and less constricted when it comes to the word artist. The description is a tag line for bakers, jewellers, photographers, metal workers and writers. A community of people excelling in their field, showcasing their artistic ability in ways not thought possible. Blending, melding, interpreting what is seen and heard through the use of various mediums to profile intricate, imaginative results.
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For better or worse, in sickness and in health . . .
Marriage vows take on a whole new meaning when you are the chief cook and bottle washer of your own business. Brick and mortar storefronts requires constant attention to succeed. But, what happens if you ignore the status quo, taking a leap into the cyber world and thus become an e-commerce entrepreneur? The business side of either resembles the other by quite a bit. Due diligence, constant updates, interaction with clients, accounting, product trending and marketing. Business is business. Have you considered an online e-commerce busienss, or a physical storefront business? Both take a lot of work. Let’s have a look as some of the pros and cons.
Which is more to your liking?
Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life Merry Christmas to the First Responders who are away from their families while they give us the comforting thought they're available if we need them.
Merry Christmas to our Veterans and Armed Forces personnel who are a very important and appreciated part of our lives. Merry Christmas and hello to all of the shut-ins. Merry Christmas from our home to you.
Now it’s time to reminisce about the year I was nudged awake by my older brother. If memory serves me, it was sometime in the early morning hours when the wood stove that kept the house warm had started to cool down. Not too long before someone would be up to stoke it, and start the day. The stockings were investigated, cherished oranges eaten, and a bit of candy consumed. When the brain wave hit, how was I to know how much possible trouble we would be in. My brother is seven years older than me. He should’ve known. Right? “Let’s open all the presents for everyone and put them at the end of Mom & Dad’s bed.” He whispered. Sounded like a plan. After all, a five year old looks up to her big brother for guidance. The last parcels were unwrapped and quietly placed in the bedroom. We were leaving the room when Dad acknowledged we were there. “We’ll be up in a few minutes. Then you can open your gifts.” I didn’t know I should keep my mouth shut. For that matter, I guess it really didn’t matter. “We’ve opened them all. There right here. See. We thought it would save time.” My brother stood with his arm around my shoulder. “It was my idea.” He said quietly. She only helped when I asked her to. Always looking out for me, he was.
It was one tradition we didn’t keep, but it sure has had lots of miles and laughs in the re-telling. To all of our family, friends and far away neighbours, Merry Christmas. Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life 1. I am writing this sentence just so that you can see words that really don’t need to be included in your projects. 2. I write this sentence to illustrate words to leave out of you writing. One has you rambling and out of breath. The other is short, sweet and to the point. They both say the same thing. “And the point to this two sentence exercise, is?” It’s the intro to what made me aware of flabby sentences.
A week was a long time to create and submit, or so I thought. Faced with removing one-third of the story to meet the deadline and criteria, seven days is like one! The finish line loomed in my face, often resulting in submissions squeaking in under the wire.
It was obvious I needed a system of sorts to be on time. The rules were clear. The submissions requirements stated a back link to a blog or website, 99 words and completion within seven days. What keeps me focused and within the allotted time frame? I start with pairing a picture from my files with the prompt. This helps with the direction of my writing. Keeping the brain in line with the chosen thought strategy lets me meet the set goal. There are now times when I actually struggle to reach the 99 words. Panic is not an option. Here’s where I might throw in one or two of the trimmed words to get the job done. Eva Langston wrote an article for Beyond Your Blog explaining, “words can make your writing flabby”. I hadn’t considered what I wrote to be untoned, droopy or sagging; however, when I looked at her list, reviewed some of my earlier pieces, she was bang on! Do you write flabby sentences? ’Tis the time of year for small elves to appear on shelves of stores and homes everywhere. They are commonly referred to as the Elf on a Shelf. It should be noted that not all of these small red clad beings are what we have come to expect of them. Meet Wally . . . Wally was happy to have this new job. He’d been rescued from the dust bin to become the year-round Elf in the Grunch family home. It was his job to disrupt any, and all functions that took place within this families home. His season didn’t come only once a year, it was all year and Wally especially took pride in his job description during the winter holiday known as Christmas. The time when smiley faces and gifts were everywhere.
This job, he knew, was most certainly to his liking. It wasn’t seasonal and it was far above what he had been destined for. Not at all like the other cutesy, perky little Elves he had known on the factory assembly line. This was his calling, his destiny, his life! Do you have a cheeky elf at your home? Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
I like short stories. They’re fun and they keep the mind moving. They make you think about the beginning, middle, and end almost before you start to write them. There’s no room for a lot of fluff. If you have dialogue it gets to the point. If there is trauma, it might be a one liner that surprises us all (me included). Love scenes leave lots to the imagination. The story, in general, has to keep going. A chapters in a book is a short stories. Their difference is they are an introduction, or not, to the next phase in the book. Because of this theory, I continue to tout short story writing as a portal to expound on topics and characters, thus creating a book. Left as a stand alone and you have a short story. Through continued short story writing, I find the larger projects I work on don’t get blocked. These are stories not short stories, so there needs to be some fluff filler and meat added; but the rules of engagement I use writing short stories keeps the novel moving with a lot less problems. I have a beginning to my chapters, a middle, and an end. Oh, and let's not forget the hook to keep readers turning the pages. Alicia Rades wrote a recent piece for The Write Life dedicated to how writing short stories can make you a better writer. I have to say, I agree with the title of this piece 100%. Do you find short story writing helps you with other writing projects? Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life A lot of what we read tells us how we can become successful.
10 suggestions to get customers. 6 steps to sell your products. 8 examples to write a better letter. 3 options to post a top notch blog. All of these are made up by me. I’m just making a point. The truth is, each and every one of us is capable of getting any job done, and we have the ability to find the best way to do it. Focus on what’s important and take those almighty baby steps I have talked about before. All the numbers and How To’s in the world are not going to make success happen. Having said that, there is a single number that has the best chance for a favourable outcome in each path our lives take us. The number? It’s 1. The only reason, point, plan, suggestions that makes things in our lives occur is what we do as individuals to make it so. So, lets see if I can come up with some additional points. 1 way to find a smile. 1 way to keep that smile. 1 way to make the smile into a laugh. 1 way to laugh until you cry. OK, so the list is kind of cheesy. My point is, it’s up to YOU to find the system, plan, strategy to make anything work. No one else is responsible for your smile, your laugh, your tears, your life. You are that number. You are the ONE! What’s your #1 focus for success? Freezing cold, wintery weather and it’s still fall. Snow accumulates, crunching under each step. The days get shorter and shorter. Thoughts of the coming date recognized on the calendar as the start of winter, bring with it a silver lining. The passage of fall into the expected cold season of winter, the days start to get longer. Barely noticeable at first. Taking a month or so to realize breakfast and dinner are no longer eaten in the dark. In our part of the country, every so often a Chinook blast through a reprieve of warm westerly air. The Snow Eater winds raise the temperature from -30C to +10C. In a matter of hours, water is running, jackets are undone and toques and mitts are left at home. Don’t be fooled. As quickly as the Chinooks come, they leave. Days of basking in the sun return to shivering in the cold. Winter returns, and sometimes with a vengeance. Overpowering the expected spring months until it is ready to relinquish its hold. The seasons provide loving words, sporadic outbursts, conversation with strangers and something to talk about. Everyone has their favourite time of year, what’s yours? Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life |
October 2023
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