Journal: Tension II

Hey guys, I am writing as much a "Dear Diary" as for this "Tension Journal" this again comes back to learning to describe what I observe, especially in those moments of tension. My last entry sort of touched on an introspective angle, and like Jill says "Its all material." I agree so I am going to follow that angle for a little while.

Since my move I am living with my best friend and her boy friend. The boy friend "E." For the case of this Blog, wanted me to move, and my best friend "A." happily encouraged me with his support.

Three days after I arrive he is telling A. that he feels like a third wheel and she is just disgusted by it.

What I see is different, what I want to say is different.

In my introverted little world, he couldn't be more transparent.

And this is where it becomes apparent that I am a rare female, having grown up with more males than I can count on both hands... When A. told me about this, I understood completely, and this is the break down, its up to him to prove that I am wrong.

E. wanted me here, not so A. wouldn't be alone, and not because he likes me at all. He wanted me here for money, with me here he doesn't have to take care of A. who he won't let work, he knows that I'll buy her things, I'll take on half the apartment expenses, and help take some of the stress off her by doing chores and he'll get laid more often. He plans on guilt-ing her into not spending time with me, or specifically unsupervised time. E. tell's A. that he wants me to have the same days off that he does so we can "do things together on the weekends." I hear "I don't like you being alone with her." He is muscling in on my time with her so that she won't have any freedom, so A. won't have any friends outside his little domain. But I see, I can call it what it is, sabotage, abuse and jealousy.

The Tension is thick enough around him that I can cut it with a knife.

Journal: Tension

As a lot of you already know I just moved from Utah to Pennsylvania because I'll be working in Maryland.

Well my Flight was Saturday the 22nd of September at 9:55 AM MDT (Utah Local Time) from Salt Lake City International Airport to Arrive in Baltimore Maryland at 4:10 PM EDT (Maryland Local Time).

My Day started and I was already behind, I didn't get everything packed (I'll have to have things shipped to me). I Had to Shower, forgot to pack my make-up. Was traveling with my Cat and he had to be sedated, my luggage was too heavy... The list goes on.

Now observing tension and putting myself in other peoples shoes is really hard for me, I'm a pretty unflappable person. I chat with people, I smile or I sit back and read, I'm low key.

But at the airport I really paid attention, I looked for those moments. Now my attention was split, I was watching my carry-on and Titan, my cat was my personal item, not as much flexibility as when I usually travel. But in soul searching and combing through the people and setting I observed I realized that my own was most prevalent.

And while being able to write what you see is important, its also important to be able to put what you are or what you have experienced into words.

Arrived!

Hey people.

As of yesterday afternoon I am on the East Coast, I was going to type up something yesterday but things just got way to hectic setting up house, and today was almost as bad, I'll put something together about what I saw in a couple days when things slow down. For now I just wanted to give the shout out and let everyone know that Titan (my cat) and I are getting settled.

I wish I could say that it was the nicest place I have ever been, but that would be lying.

More for you soon.

Learning from what you Read: II

Hey Guys; thought I would get in one more entry before I leave.

This one I may focus on a bit more while I'm traveling; in Writing as a Sacred Path, on July 23rd Jill wrote about observing and handling tension in writing and real life. Writing her observations as a peer was ignored during a recital before the rest of the class, by her professor. She brought up a few interesting questions.

When observing something like this we ask "What is he doing?" or "What do I do?" There is confusion, doubt and so much more!

Jill suggested Homework:

Try this: spend at least a week keeping a journal of small moments of tension. Train yourself to become aware of them and jot them down when you experience them or witness them in others. Then work on creating scenes around those moments. What gave rise to the miscommunication or discomfort? How did you and others feels when it happened? What do people's reactions to the small moments tell us about them?

So I'm going to do it; at worst it will help me improve how I communicate and since I am starting my job on the 1st of October I'll have a lot to observe. At the least I'll post that sort of exercise entry as "Journal: Tension." If I post it here, I'll likely scribble it out long hand.

Getting ready...

Spent the weekend packing, and still have things that will need to be sent to me. 

Okay so my life is a little chaotic, I am getting ready to move across the country and I am excited for the same reasons that I really don't want to go.

Family.

I have a huge family, that I have never been more than an hour away from. I am excited to have this chance to break the mold I have become so comfortable with but it terrifies me, once I move my nearest relative will be my cousin in the DC area.

But primarily I am thrilled to be getting out of Utah. The separation anxiety I can handle, and it won't even be all that bad once I'm actually on the east coast.

But for now...

Deep breaths. I leave Saturday.

Learning from what you Read: I

This is my experiment in writing, a few days ago I said that I was playing with the idea of writing responses to one of the blogs I follow. See the title, this will be a series, like my other serial bits I may interrupt myself, but that's okay because as long as I am writing we have forward momentum.The Blog's name spoke to me and is why I began reading her work. Writing as a Sacred Path (the Blog), The Web Site, and while I haven't read it, I plan on reading Writing as a Sacred Path: A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose Jill has completely won me over; as such I want to share that part of me with you. I have mentioned numerous times that I am a spiritual person and I have endeavored to share that with you. While I have focused on writing as myself, of myself and for myself... I am not a selfish person, having someone or something else to focus on helps me to become better, and I want to help you.

I think that I want to discuss the name of her blog in terms of the importance that is placed in a Title. The cover of a book catches our eye, the Title has us picking it up. Now in a guide to getting published I read that where it really counts is that first sentence, if a person doesn't like the first sentence they won't read the first page, if they don't read the first page they won't read the first chapter.. and if you can't hold your audience that long then they definitely won't finish the book. But you have to convey that to your reader in a sharp intriguing and eye catching Title. Lets examine the Title of my blog, "Summoning Genesis" What does that mean? Its a bit more esoteric than you want a Title to be under normal circumstances but for me and the other options I was looking at (most of which were already in use) "Summoning" is calling on something outside of yourself, its that spiritual connection and "Genesis" is simply Creation, and creation is writing. I know I'm really vague but since I am writing for myself and my topic will shift quite a bit, I am the only one I need to please.

If I am in a book store or shopping the long academic titles usually blur one into the next, I want short and strong. In a Romance Novel I might single out authors like Amanda Quick with her subtle covers and Succinct Titles like Desire. Or in Fantasy reading which I do quite a bit of Mercedes Lackey with her finely done art covers and Descriptive Titles such as Magic's Price.

Food for thought on naming a story.

Running out of steam.

Hey guys. I'm tired today but I had a good idea.

I've been following another writers Blog for about the last three months, her posts have been going to my email. I think I am going to start writing replies to some of her posts. I think it will be fun to find out who and where I am psychologically. What do you think?

9/11 - Also a minute of silence for our everyday heroes who gave so much of themselves 11 years ago today...

The mind to write? III

Okay so section two carried on a little long too. *grin* Maybe I just like to write?

I was talking about Props and why you want to take care with what is on your desk. What brought that to mind was another favorite hobby of mine, Roleplaying. Yup, like Dungeons & Dragons (and all other Wizards of the Coast games) and Vampire the Masquerade (and all other White Wolf games), GURPS and Paladium... You get the idea. I'm a Geek.

Props though, are what make the game, you get excited you look and examine and ask questions... Its in those questions that your character develops, and as the character grows so does the story.

Suggested Desktop Props for Fantasy Authors

• Runes
• Crystals
• A Dagger
• A Dragon or Forest Print
• A Chain-Mail sample
• Heavy ornamental rings and jewelry
• Parchment Scroll and Quill

 You see how that works? Physical objects that can help you focus on what your characters are doing,seeing and experiencing. And effectively aid you in changing your mind set.

Distractions

I've been put in charge of my team's Sale's goals and targets and incentives at work and it has me really distracted. I am working on net letting it intrude on my personal time but I am a very focused person (when it comes to helping others) I'll admit I get distracted from things I am doing for myself like writing; however I am putting a lot of focus into this Blog.

My writing partner has asked me to track down our notes for a story we came up with years ago and get them typed up so she can have access (they were written long hand and are in a box somewhere). I have to get around to doing that. I have to straighten out my own plans and writing and of course I have you guys plus my day job and trying to get that transfer across the country.

I'm not busy at all!

So much to do and so little time, things might slow down around here.. I hate that because for me if I slow down every grinds to a stop. I still have a few posts scheduled and I'll try to keep a few entries logged in draft even though I have no set number or schedule for my writing here I like to do it, its cathartic and helps clear my mind to get me writing.

The mind to write? II

Okay so I was talking about mindset's. I cut myself short because my last entry was getting a little wordy, but also because I was going to change directions within the same topic.

As I was saying, your state of mind can be impacted by your environment. But you have some control over that.

(Yes this is going to get on a bit of New-Age stuff.) I don't like the term New-Age, I prefer old-world approach. In the last two decades the use of Feng Shui has become familiar to many of us. The term many people already understand refers to reorganizing your physical possessions to affect the energy of your area by directing flow. Now the funny thing is, psychologists do something very similar when they look into you in your home, they look at the state of things, in your organization and clutter, lack of clutter etc. To determine your state of mind and how well adjusted you are. (Yes I know it sounds hokey, but it works.)

My focus is on your work area. To make certain that you are in the best state of mind to write.

• When starting something new, start clean. Not just new paper, clean room, desk, organize your drawers. So you start knowing where everything is.

This helps to keep you from getting distracted to soon after you start. But it also clears any energy that might slow you down.The effect of clutter on your health, your energy levels and the overall quality of your life is obvious - clutter drains your energy and dampens your very best intentions whether or not you call it Feng Shui this is true. Even though we all agree about the feng shui effects of clutter, starting to clear your clutter is never easy. One look at the stuff piled on bookcases is enough to make you urgently find something very important to do. But, open a window, bust out your favorite play list or album, sing along and clear the clutter. Anything that you don't need anymore is clutter and as painful as that is to admit, you may want to box up books and take them to your local library or donate them to the Salvation Army.

• With your blank slate, start setting the scene at your desk, you don't want too much that can distract you, so avoid toys, but having something you can look at and rest your eyes is important. Think about what you are writing about and get yourself some props.

 Props let you bring in the energy and flow that you want, not what the world throws at you, you can stick with the Feng Shui approach and try to use your Bagua Map to incorporate your elements or you can take a step back and make it pleasing to you. The things on your desk should allow you to immerse yourself in the world you are manipulation (Fiction) or inspire you (Non-Fiction.)