Vision Boards and Life Goals

This winter break has been very fun and productive. But now it's time to get back to work. Spring semester begins today. This means that I'll soon be grading lots of essays, which means I'll have a lot less time to work on creative projects. 

As always, I'll still do my best to keep making books (as well as marketing the latest releases). I got a little lazy during the fall. I mean, don't get me wrong, I was very busy at Moorpark College. But as far as artistic output, there just wasn't much energy. I am going to do my best to stay focused. To that end, I spent a good many hours this weekend cleaning my office,

(I should probably explain that this is my version of clean.)

I also posted vision boards on my office door. These are illustrations of my aspirations, a wide assortment of things I'd like to accomplish before I get too old (or too dead). I have already accomplished more than a few. Those completed tasks have been inked and colored. The ones that are yet to be finished are merely penciled in blue, waiting to be completed. 

On the right, you'll see an illustration of my ideal bookshelf, both of books I would like to read as well as novels, plays, and comics I hope to someday write. On the right, notice the globe, there's an assortment of travel destinations I'd love to visit. The upper right is a cartoon version of a DVD library, with movies I'm proud to own. (Spielberg and Star Wars). There are blank spaces awaiting Episode VIII and XI, not to mention Indiana Jones 5. 

In this photo, aside from my sand castle shovel (a present from my girls), and the theater photos, as well as the moon landing, you'll notice there are some pages with a long list on each one. That's a list of names... names of friends, family, and acquaintances, all of whom I care about. I've made an Appreciation List, and throughout 2017, I plan to find ways to show my gratitude and admiration for each person on that list. 

I'll probably post better (closer) images of the vision board illustrations in another blog post, and -- at least for my own sake -- write about the goals more extensively. But for now, I just wanted to provide an overview and get 2017 moving in the right direction. 

Well, wish me luck. Tomorrow I begin teaching a Creative Writing class for the first time since becoming an English professor! 

 

Sunday Funnies: Jan 7th, 2016

Take More Pictures

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to take more pictures. I am a rather lousy photographer, but that's okay. I'm planning to take more photographs simply because I realize how much they help us remember our past.

When the girls were little, my wife would always insist that we bring them to the photographers in the mall for just about every occasion: Christmas, Easter, Arbor Day, etc. At the time I thought it was excessive. "Why do you need so many pictures? Why can't we just remember these moments." Well, now that my eldest daughter is 18 I am so thankful for my wife's instinct... because there's a whole bunch of stuff I wouldn't remember without these visual triggers.

But in addition to remembering loved ones, I like the idea of remembering places. Especially places we used to call home.

This is a short video (and my first attempt at an animated gif) we took on Camano Island when it started to snow. I didn't grow up on Camano, but in the suburbs of Edmonds. Still, the combination of rain and snowflakes reminds me of my childhood.

Peace of Mind

I might have a problem... it seems I am only truly content when I'm working on a creative project. I get pretty grouchy with myself if I don't have something in the works. For example, yesterday I had an inkling of an idea for a new children's book, but there was no time to get started, no time to write. I felt irritable the whole day.

Today, I began writing the first 100 words, and even though I had stuff to do all afternoon (including sitting in the passenger seat while my eldest daughter practiced driving --eek!), I felt peaceful because I knew that I was in the middle of telling a story.

Tonight I've been able to spend the last three hours finishing the first draft, followed by tinkering and bits of revision here and there. Sometimes I wrote on my iPad sometimes I wrote in my fancy journal. I went back and forth, working digitally when the mood felt right, then working in pencil when I wanted to get unstuck.

I don't know what my agent will say about my latest manuscript, but right now I am enjoying the deep, calming sensation that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.

I wish that for all of us. Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 felt like this the whole year through?

In the Revision Cave (2017 Edition)

It was just 22 pages... why did it take all day to revise this stuff? I guess it was a RUFF-ROUGH draft.

But the good news is that those three chapters have been cleaned up nice and pretty and they've been sent through the interwebs to the inbox of my agent.

This current project, by the way, is intended to be a short middle grade novel (for 4th to 6th graders). The very funny premise was suggested by my agent, and I'm not sure if I am doing the project justice, so I'm very interested to see what Abigail thinks of it so far. If I receive her blessing and/or encouragement, I'll keep going...

Keep your fingers crossed.

Last Bit of Holiday

A good day with friends. We went to Orange County and exchanged gifts with the Eklunds and the Cunninghams. So, it felt the last bit of the holiday was concluded.

Right now, we're watching Sully -- a film about one man's dedication to his profession.

Afterwards, I'll be working in my office, brainstorming and developing new material.

I've got one week before the spring semester begins, so I am anxious to get something creative in the works before classes start.

Have a productive first week of 2017!

My Word of the Year

For the last six years my wife has developed a tradition. On New Year's Day, she waits for a word to come to her, a word that will serve as the theme for the st of the year. She says she can't just pick the word, the word picks her. Past words have included:

"Journey"

"Dream"

"Reach"

And

"Health"

These words give her a good sense of purpose and focus throughout the following 365 days, so I've decided to try it out myself.

A few days ago the word "persevere" popped into my head, so I thought that would be it. However, yesterday I realized that the word, which means to continue on despite adversity, was really ideal for this year that has just concluded: 2016.

So, today, another word has found me. My word for 2017 is "Listen."

Do you have a word of the year? Tell me about it. I'm all ears.

:)