Finding Something Friday on Austin Kleon and Stealing Like an Artist

November 18, 2011 by Cathy C. Hall

So, I’ve been busy this month, working on the middle grade novel, catching up on serious reading, and (still) researching agents. But I’ve also been working on the Picture Book Idea Month and enjoying the daily blog posts going on over there. This week, amongst the posts, I came across a link to artist Austin Kleon (and thank you, Liz Garton Scanlon for pointing me in his direction).

Austin Kleon has a book coming out (March, 2012) called Steal Like an Artist. And if you zip over and read this WHOLE post on “How to Steal Like an Artist (and 9 Other Things Nobody Told Me)”, you, the writer, will read something and think, Wow. That’s exactly what I needed to read today.

Or maybe you’ll be like me and find lots of somethings you needed to read. And when you read the last something, “Creativity is subtraction,” you will sigh and think, Oh, yes, that’s it exactly.

Letter to a New Writer

September 1, 2011 by Cathy C. Hall

Dear New Writer,

I was so excited when I saw you at the writer’s group today! I know you were probably a little nervous, and I know how hard it was for you to read aloud what you’d written. But you took that first step, and good for you! You’re on your way! I’m feeling downright Seussical!

Look at you go! Off to start your journey–and you’re just about to bust with all the excitement of this new passion for writing! You have so much to say, and you can’t wait to get all your words out there! Right now, you’re busy creating and imagining and the ideas flow so fast, you can barely get them all on the paper. That’s a great beginning!

I want you to remember that joy. I want you to grab hold to all those wonderful feelings and store them away. I wish you could have heard yourself gushing when you talked about what you’re working on. Or seen your face lighting up as you jumped from one thought to the next!

I was so glad I was there, to see your bright, shining face, to hear the excitement in your voice as you shared your writing dreams. Because in those few moments, I remembered. That’s why I love writing.

Thank you, thank you, dear new writer.

On Being All Right On This, My First Post in May

May 2, 2011 by Cathy C. Hall

This is my first post in May, and generally, what with May being all about Spring, and school days winding down, and my bare little toesies poking out of flip-flops, my thoughts turn to merriment and such.

However, I would be remiss if I did not address certain events which have recently transpired, namely the (sorta) sudden demise of Osama bin Laden.

Frankly, I’m not sure when the man died, as news reports vary on that fact. And if I’m being perfectly honest, I’m a tad confused as to why most networks spell it “Osama” and yet another network spells it “Usama.” What I am certain about is that the person who orchestrated a heinous terrorist attack upon thousands of innocent American people has been stopped. And for that, I’m grateful. In fact, I’d like to thank every courageous man and woman in our military and varied services who show up for work each day to fight the good fight.

I show up for work almost every day, and I fight, too, if you count arguing with Sally the Crazy Dog. Somehow, it doesn’t seem quite as…well, courageous. But still, I get to sit here at my desk, with my bare toesies wiggling, and laughing at Steve Martin’s hilarious essay “Writing is Easy!” (from his book, Pure Drivel) until the Beneficent Mr. Hall comes upstairs to find out if I’m all right.

Yes, Mr. Hall, I’m all right. I’m better than all right on this, my first post in May. Because I live in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.

(Thanks to isafmedia for the photo!)