Jun 02
lauraballTidal Crafts Blog, Book, British, Contenplating, Creativity, Ideas, Inspiration, Ocean, Published, Reading, Sea, Seaside, Write, Writing
I have recently started writing a regular blog for Beside The Seaside (See http://www.besidetheseaholidays.com/blog/) and taking research from my BA Hons degree dissertation on The British Seaside I am writing a regular article to drum up support for a revival in all things from the sea. From Punch and Judy shows on the sands to that holiday feeling one gets when walking around the colourful seaside resorts. As a result of this blog I have had various compliments on my writing style and am building up quite a wide reader base. I have been considering making my 10,000 word dissertation into a book for a while now however, have never had the confidence to even begin thinking about a project of that magnitude! But after some wonderful comments I am beginning to grow as a writer and my confidence is flourishing. This is directly influencing all of my creative processes and the huge task of getting published now seems not quite as daunting as once thought.
My mind has been full to the brim of jewelry design ideas, writing ideas and blogging thoughts and this morning I got thinking about a particular comment from a regular reader who kindly said “You have a wonderful writing style Laura”. For years I have been trained in the fine arts, in particular painting and contemporary ceramics and have never studied English literature except during my GCSE school days. However, after many years of student life those days seem somewhat hazy. I was therefore both surprised and puzzled by this compliment, what is my writing style? Or more to the point what are writing styles? Until now I only knew of fiction and nonfiction writing but after punching the words into Google I quickly found the fairly recent genre of creative nonfiction…
I am by no means one to stereotype people and constrain myself to a certain box because that would, of course, dampen my creativity and restrict inspiration but after considering writing my book and approaching a few publishers this writing style seemed to pop out at me almost immediately. I say it is fairly recent in terms of being scrutinized by the critics the same as fiction and poetry but ultimately, the primary goal of the creative nonfiction writer is to communicate information just like a reporter, but to shape it in a way that it reads like fiction. This could include personal essays, memoirs, travel and food writing, biographies and/or literary journalism. Therefore, in the future if anyone asks what type of book I am writing I will say “a creative nonfiction about the British seaside”.
I am hoping to turn my knowledge of history and the seaside alongside personal experiences and family stories into a book. I will write about my great Grandfathers fishing boat that was lost at sea in 1957 with all of the crew members and want to use accounts from newspapers and my grandparents (his daughter) to make it a moving yet educational read about all things by the British coastline. I have the research and background knowledge and just need to get my pen and paper out and begin writing. Yes, I know what you are thinking… Pen and paper?! I much prefer actually feeling what I am writing and write outside most of the time so I guess the first thing I need to do it buy the biggest note book I can find and try to fill it with my passions and ramblings. I can only prey that someone likes it and wants to turn it into a book.
May 26
lauraballUncategorized Cope, Coping, crafts, Creativity, Depression, Emotions, Future, Help, Ideas, Inspiration, Life, Past, Present, Rut, Thinking, Time
Inspiration for my work, both painting and jewelry making, comes rather sporadically sometimes and is often in stops and starts. After a few troubles in my life recently this certainly has been the case. So after reading an article in the recent UK Coast Magazine I have been inspired to write about it and to try to live life in the present…
“As a culture we focus on long-term goals, when actually we can only realise them by concentrating on what can be achieved today” explains life coach Karen Morley, and what with todays modern technology we are always plugged into we are quite often detached from reality. This can effect our mental health and most importantly for us artists/crafters, our creativity. I feel that, and certainly in my case, emotional stress we feel is a result of getting stuck in an emotional rut. However, living in the present gives us a new focus. I believe that concentrating on the here and now, and accepting that we can only influence today makes us feel stronger and empowered. It is also supported in several studies that mindfullness-based therapies and living in the present can significantly reduce anxiety and relapses of depression.
It is because of this that I have decided to do exactly that… Live life in the present! This may be harder than I first imagined, considering my jewelry business relies 100% on the internet and modern technology such as the wonder that is Twitter. But since I am leaving the day job in no less than two weeks I have decided to take much more time for creating and for spontaneously living in the moment. I can’t tell you the amount of times I have had a radical idea for a new design or the sudden urge to paint something, but have simply scribbled it quickly on a scrap of paper only to forget about it later on. So from now on I will act on those impulses, I am going to train my mind to not focus on the future, the past or personal baggage (of which I am sure we have bucket loads of) and I really hope this helps my work.
Breaking away from your normal routine can reconnect you with the present and for me the coast has an important part in reflecting on life and inspiring my work. The wonderful sensations at the sea, from the smell of the sea, feel of the wind in your hair and sight of the crashing waves can make you intensely aware of being in your own body. Tonight I am going to break away from my daily routine by taking the dog on a long walk along the coastline, when I reach a point which takes my fancy after a few miles of walking I shall stop and just sit! I will turn my phone off, detaching myself from everyone and everything in my life and shall get out my pen and paper to, hopefully, sketch some new designs and perhaps write a poem of two. If you do not have all the time in the world because of children and/or day jobs I strongly advise you try to give yourself a daily three minute breathing space where you consciously focus on the present.
May 12
lauraballTidal Crafts arts, Capital, crafts, Crafts Council, Development, Funding, Funds, Ideas, Inspiration, Inspire, jewelry, New, Nostalgia, Romance, Thoughts, Work
Wowee what a hectic day! I have been trying to juggle my day job as well as organise myself with jewelry/artfire marlarky. I have a list of things to do longer than an A4 page…
I am on the hunt for a mac compatible bookeeping program. Inevitably, after posting this to my Twitter I have had numerous replies from Internet based companies wanting to steal a staggering $39 a month just to use a simple database. I am not happy with this, I merely need a new computer program, which brings me to my second key thing to do today… Funding applications, oh what joy!
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May 07
lauraballTidal Crafts Art, Artist, Artists, crafts, Creative, Creativity, Depression, Email, Etsy, handmade, Inspiration, Inspire, Making, Painting, Research, Twitter
I have so many things going around in my head at the moment that I seem to be having an inspiration overload! From browsing the Etsy forums seems to me that at this wonderful time where summer is approaching and the flowers are blooming people are considering what inspires them and what they make more and more. In this sudden season change people are working on more new ideas rather than staying indoors to concentrate on those hard sales and promotions. I have had several people contact me regarding interviews about my work and my Artfire shopand they all want to know what inspires me. All I can say is I have absolutely no idea! I have no set song, film, object or thing that gives me those sudden rush of ideas.
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