Of course it takes longer. What kind of dumkoff is she? She is the kind who even at 71 years wishes that creative projects Would happen more quickly and easily.
(In fact, I will leave this blog layout just as it decided to configure itself despite my most valiant efforts-- because this crazy mess will give you a taste of what I mean. Is this new Blogger program wacky or what? Maybe it's just the Universe trying to teach me some new lesson. Grrr... Do you ever feel this way? )
Often things take a long time. People shake their heads empathetically and say, "Yes things always take longer than you think they will." And of course it is the journey, not the goal they remind you. A saying that trips off the lips so nicely. "Just keep at it and enjoy the journey," my dear friend Frannie advised me the other day. I like enjoying the journey. Just that the glitches sometimes get in my way. She not only gave that good advice, but being a nurse, she surmised that part of my headache/muscle ache/fatigue problem might be a severe allergic reaction. She gave me some meds to take to see if she was right. She was! I feel much better--even though the glitches that insist on appearing on this blog are rather annoying. Being irritated must be part of the journey, hey?
Thank goodness for the support and caring of good friends, including Artist Conference Network, the motivational coaching community I belong to. And thank goodness for the garden, so full of beauty and nourishment.
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| Peonies are such glorious flowers. like right now, when the type decides to be the size of the caption rather than the general text. One has to be flexible, patient, and it also helps to have a sense of levity. My work right now involves rewriting the script for what I will say to introduce A New Wrinkle on our IndieGoGo fundraising video. I wasn't content with my presentation style or the overall length, so here I am back at work to edit it down and rehearse it so that it goes easily. Difficulty provides learning and motivation. It can be useful to take that up as part of the game plan. Meeting Malcolm King Fontana, the videographer we are working with, gives me hope for the future. He is such a great person--mature, professional, humorous, respectful, centered. I hope he achieves all of his life dreams and goals. I spend a lot of time thinking about social and political issues and topics about aging. Meeting Malcolm has made me realize that I want to spend more time around young people. The separation of the young and old is not good for any of us. I want to share the link to my monthly Sage's Play newsletter. I just published a great issue yesterday.Time for a Paradigm Shift on Aging! - http://eepurl.com/lKMJ9 |
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| Red mustard greens and chard |
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| This is the videographer Malcolm King Fontana |
It's wonderful to take a break from my work on A New Wrinkle and Sage's Play by playing out in the garden.
It's more reliable than this danged blog technology!
And so I bid you adieu for now, with the wish that your work and play flow ever so nicely. Or that you have a good sense of humor when the glitches tangle things up.
As for me, I am going to make some tea and rehearse my rewritten script.
P.S. I never can get the link to my monthly newsletter to work as I am a sincere Luddite. So please go to www.sagesplay.com to subscribe to it.
Ahhh-- blogspot can really test your wits. Your blog is set up VERY NICE and always easy to read. -- barbara
ReplyDeleteThanks Barbara,
DeleteGlad you find it easy to read. This entry was more challenging than others. The darn thing has a mind of its own. In my working version, the copy gets smaller. In a finished version that was emailed to me, the copy is the right size, though the formatting remained quite out of wack, centered on the space. However, be that as it may and apparently is, it is not the main focus of my effort.
From my own experience with creative endeavors, most recently trying to raise interest in my eBooks as well as to the blog about writing, it's a long slog. The books have had very limited support from friends or even family. I have a good friend who would love more support for her lengthy career of painting but hasn't had it. I don't know what the secret is to raising enthusiasm among friends or even finding the people who would be interested in our creative endeavors when they are not being supported by a corporate type of interest. Our world is not aimed toward supporting independents in any sense. It can be very depressing if you don't follow the drummer.
ReplyDeleteI think though working in the garden, taking other types of breaks, are probably all good ideas. I haven't blamed friends for not supporting my work because I understand, it's not their thing. The catch is finding those where it is their thing. For me, doing the work is the joy. Marketing it-- not so much.
Hi Rain,
DeleteThank you for your comment. Yes the life of the artist can feel isolated at times. I understand what you are sharing here. I try to look at marketing and promoting as its own kind of art form. It has its own challenges and rewards. It would be grand to have a marketing staff! Imagine that. It is rather dismal to live in a culture where everything is so commodified. Wishing you success in finding ways to share your writing with appreciative readers. Enjoy the journey.
The same to you, Gaea. Publicists would be good too ;) 'Experts' encourage writers to hire editors, graphic artists and publicists. Like with what money, people? I am not going to borrow for something that still might not work out. Doing the work though, that's what makes it all so rewarding. I have wondered if marketing skills are different than those many creative people have. That's where a marriage between the two would be perfect :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I've been a bit frustrated with Blogger, too. What I experience is that if I edit the correction often doesn't take effect -- very annoying and leaves the blog looking not very well put together.
ReplyDeleteClearly self-promotion, barring a rare wunderkind experience, is a time-consuming, work-intensive effort. Patience and perseverance is likely necessary -- believe in yourself and derive pleasure from your creation(s) so you benefit personally whatever may happen. Friends and family are sometimes the least likely to fully appreciate a person's creations. Need a like community of artists, I think, which I believe you've described having in Ashland -- maybe on your blog, too.