Photography Challenge: Grayscale

For this week’s installment of the photography challenge, I experimented with the black and white setting on my camera.  As much as I love playing with color, the stark lines created by black and white photography stir my soul.  Three of the prompts on the challenge list fit my inspiration to view the world without color.

Prompt: Capture something in black and white

It’s been years since I’ve looked closely at a lantern I keep on my fireplace mantle.  Every evening this beautiful pattern illuminates when a flameless candle switches on for the night.

Photo by: c.b.w.

Prompt: Capture contrast

These trees are in my neighbor’s yard, but I never noticed the beautiful silhouette they create at sunset until I pointed my camera at them.

Photo by: c.b.w.

Prompt: Capture the light

For this shot I was inspired by how the shadows created by light looked like rays of sunshine.

Photo by: c.b.w.

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To see all the details of the photography challenge, go here.

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c.b.w. 2012

Photography Challenge: Insight

The prompts I ended up working with this week all seemed to ask for little insights into myself. Between old memories, self reflection, and a moment of peace, I continue to be amazed at how the practice of photography continues to revolutionize how I look at the world.

Prompt: Capture a quiet space where you feel at peace.

The calm before a storm is always a moment where I take a deep breath and absorb the stillness.  I took this shot twenty minutes before a huge dust storm exploded across the landscape.

Photo by: c.b.w.

Prompt: Record a smell that reminds you of a favorite memory.

The smell of green onions always takes me back to my grandparents’ house in the summer.  We’d spend all day swimming in the lake until Grandma called us in for dinner.  She used green onions in a lot of her recipes, including her delectable meatloaf. Whenever I catch a whiff of that scent I feel the cool lake water on my skin and I hear Tom Brokaw on the evening news while Grandma sings in the kitchen.

Photo by: c.b.w.

Prompt: Take a self-portrait to express your feelings today.

This prompt is a little tricky because I don’t post my face online.  My mother can vouch for the fact that I do not photograph well!  So, to cross this item off the list, I decided to draw a self-portrait and photograph the result.  If she looks a little familiar, its because I modeled my portrait after a character in one of my favorite books, Little Miss Sunshine, (by Roger Hargreaves). This is a nickname a few people have given me over the years as I am generally happy every day!

Photo and drawing by: c.b.w.

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To see all the details of the photography challenge, go here.

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c.b.w. 2012

Breaking The Stats Habit

It’s interesting how a number can influence so much.  For some, the number of birthdays they’ve had can lead to depression and for others the number on the inside of a waistband literally deflates all hope of retaining a drop of self-esteem.  The same is true for bloggers.  For the last few days my stats have been a little wonky and its driving my crazy.  This little bout of insanity has made me realize my confidence as a writer hinges entirely too much on one number.

The bar graph that threatens to define my worth.

I fully admit that I am a total stats addict.  The bar graph, sparkline, and full stats page are an intergral part of my life as I check them periodically throughout the day.  I make sure I have access to my stats via laptop, smartphone, and tablet, so no matter where I am I can check my numbers. Part of my obsession comes from pure habit, but the rest runs much deeper.  My inner critic likes to play with my confidence and she loves to cackle when the numbers are low.  The only relief I get from her is when the numbers are normal or keep climbing.

It’s ridiculous and I know it.

So, why do I allow one number to determine my worth?  Easy.  In this realm, higher numbers are equated with success. Interesting topics and high quality writing attract more readers, right?  More readers means I am a success.  This is the driving force behind checking those stats.  Like any writer, I crave the gratification that comes from knowing I’ve written something worthwhile.

As I said before, it’s ridiculous.

In order to put my focus back where it belongs – on writing and creating – I’m challenging myself to ignore my stats for a full week.  No numbers, charts, or averages are going to determine my level of success.  I am going to minimize the bar graph on my dashboard and abstain from visiting the full statistics page.  The sparkline is impossible to avoid, but luckily it doesn’t provide specific information.  In addition, I’ll be removing the WordPress app from my  Kindle Fire carousel. This week it’s all about writing and creating as well as I can without thinking about “the number.”

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If you’d like to join me on this challenge, sound off in the comments section!

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c.b.w.  2012

Photography Challenge: Experiments

The photography challenge I joined continues to be an amazing source of creative inspiration.  This week’s prompts drew me into the realm of experimentation in terms of perspective, color, and movement.

Prompt: Capture something from a different angle.

Photo by: c.b.w.

Prompt: Find something with primary colors.

Photo by: c.b.w.

Prompt: Take a photo of water.

Photo by: c.b.w.

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To see all the details of the photography challenge, go here.

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c.b.w. 2012

Celebrating A Win!

When I joined Rachael Harrie’s Fourth Writers’ Platform-Building Campaign, my goal was to network with other writers and hopefully learn a few things about establishing an online platform for my pen name.  The whole experience turned out to be incredible from both business and creative standpoints.  I found myself in the mix of some pretty incredible writers, which makes my next bit of news all that more amazing.

I am beyond thrilled to report than my piece entitled Fatespeak won the Second Campaign Challenge!  This was a difficult challenge not only because of the prompts involved, but due to some tough competition put forth by so many talented and creative writers. In all honesty, I felt totally out of my league!  It’s an honor to be in the same company of writers I’ve come to admire so much.

To see my name at the top of the list is surreal at best.  This is the first competition I’ve ever won, which makes this a pretty exciting milestone!

Congratulations to all the winners!

The prizes are pretty exciting, too!  With my deadline of sending query letters out by the end of April, a critique of the first 30 pages of my manuscript is going to be very helpful.  I can’t wait to have a neutral third party dig in and help me find the weaknesses!  In addition to a critique, I also won:

This is like winning the lottery!

Thanks so much to Rachael Harrie for running the campaign and all the judges for all their time and effort.  The prompts were inspiring and the challenges irresistible!  I’m already looking forward to the next campaign.

To celebrate, I thought it would be fitting to re-post Fatespeak.  Enjoy the read!

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Fatespeak

Activity #1 - Pitch/Logline

The Fates meet their match in one small girl.

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Activity #2 - 200 word flash fiction based on the prompts

Aria peered through the Oracle Eye and smiled at her victory.  Amanda and Ian were safe, hidden away from The Fates who had so cruelly decided they should die.   She was supposed to lead them to the moment of no return, but broke her oath instead.  Under Rosewood Bridge they would stay, until she found a way to spare their lives.

“You cannot save them.”

Aria jumped and spun towards the sound of her Elder’s voice. Mena’s deep violet eyes pooled with sympathy, but remained stern.

“Why not?” Aria asked, despite knowing the answer.

“Their fate has been written. Your interference has only delayed what will be.”

“It does not seem fair that beings with so much free will, should be so readily controlled.” Aria turned back to the Eye and watched Amanda bandage the gaping wound in Ian’s leg with what remained of his t-shirt.  “They have done nothing wrong and do not deserve this end. How can it be right?”

Mena gently squeezed Aria’s shoulders,  “She will drown and he must bleed,” the Elder replied. “Listen, my youngling.  As a Fatespeaker you must deliver what The Fates demand.”

“And if I refuse?”

“I cannot protect you.”

(199 words)

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Activities #3 and 4 (Combined) - Poem with a twist/Five sentences using each of the prompts.

The Fates sing in unison . . .

Young love perishes too soon,
never to age, always joined

The orb shall fall as must innocence,
ignorance cannot reign

A delicate balance struggles to thrive
on the brink of collapse

The meek suffer with dirty hands,
to humble those who refuse to see

 Natural order binds our will;
a ribbon between us,
no one is truly free

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Activity #5 – Flash Fiction about the water pear.

The Fates hovered in stasis overhead.  Hands joined, eyes closed, and oblivious to the small girl below.

Aria stood her ground with a wooden staff firmly in her hands.  One swing would destroy the only link between the human world and her own.  The Oracle Eye pulsed with warmth and light, just as it had for thousands of years.

“Show me Amanda and Ian” Aria whispered softly.

A dark-haired girl and a tall boy instantly materialized, both wounded and frightened.  In the back of a dark cave, they huddled together and shivered as their fire began to die. Once the link was broken, The Fates could no longer find them and they would be free.

She tightened her grip and arced the staff for a mighty swing . . .

“Stop!” Three voices cried.

“No!”

“You have no right to disrupt what has always been,” The Fates seethed with rage.

“You have no right to take what is not yours.”   Aria said and unleashed her will with all her strength.

One blow was all it took.  The glowing orb erupted into pulverized glints of light, all of which faded to nothing upon hitting the ground.

(195 words)

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To see the challenge prompts that inspired Fatespeak, go here.

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c.b. 2012