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Writing UpdateA few posts back I mentioned writing song lyrics for the first time in sooooooooo long and sending them to a co-writer. He emailed me a "work tape" which in today's world isn't a tape at all! He has a melody going with some of my lyrics and some of his added...now it's my turn again. Songwriting is a lot like tennis ... you just bat the ideas back and forth. What most people don't realize is after the initial rush of getting the idea, sometimes the rest is WORK!
The Jessie book? I haven't worked on it lately. That's my project for spring break...which is in about 2 1/2 weeks!!
I know some people are wondering why I keep coming back to it if I don't seem to be able to finish it. The answer? I still believe in it.
I finished recording my grades tonight. Monday is the beginning of a new session which is like fruit basket turnover. My currents students will be gone...new ones will take their places. OF course, I may teach some of the same ones. This has been such a great session that I really hate to see this bunch move on.
That's my update for tonight. Still making progressI am moving into the 7th week of The Artist Way. Five more weeks to go... This week's focus was Abundance. Before you GET, you have to get rid of. I am on the right track there. I got rid of "stuff" during Christmas break, and here I am doing it again. Today was drawer and cabinet day.
So far I've held on to my new habits. I am hardly at the computer. All I do in the morning is check email, news, and weather. I don't even read email then unless it's important. Same thing at night...but I read email. This is the first time I've spent much time online. At school I do school realated surfing. I am still going to the Y, especially yoga and loving it. I didn't think I'd like the weights but I do.
Have you ever thought of the doubt that "so far" implies? I say it all the time when I'm doing really well, as if I don't expect it to last. I guess it is the "too good to be true" mindset. I am working on overcoming that. I want to enjoy "feel good - everything is in harmony" and not be convinced it's just a matter of time before the pendulum will swing to the other side.
My students are wonderful this session....no problems at all. One student told me he was amazed that I had the same beliefs he did but I was American. He's Hindu.
So far so good...and expecting more of the same...or better.
Productive WeekI made it though reading depravation week. I strongly recommend it for every one....in fact, I recommend the book THE Artist's Way - just in case you have not noticed. I did not follow every letter of the law this time. I read school stuff and I wrote. I was supposed to write daily pages. That's a must when making the journey through the book. I guess technically if you write new stuff, especially on a book or lyrics or something, you read.
I worked on the Jessie book for the first time in months. More about that later. And yes...my muse spoke to me loud and clear. I wrote the first song lyrics I have written in...I don't even know how long....maybe 6 or 7 years. I sent them to one of my "old' co-writers who said he heard the music when he read them. As most of you know I was stuck somewhere inbetween. I didn't quit writing. I just would not structure into song lyrics form so I called what I wrote "lyrical lines." Sometimes someone tells me that one of my "poems" would make a great song, but I know better. Song lyrics are structured totally differently. They are not free form. I also know exactly how to do it. The inspiration is the same, but song lyrics take longer...you have to sit still longer and allow them to roll around in your head until the pieces all fit together. For me to allow SONG lyrics to come through is a major breakthrough.
I guess the above makes no sense to anyone who doesn't know my history, which is much too long to go into. Just trust me. For me to write song lyrics is a big deal.
I joined the Y...I quilted...I cleaned house. I think the whole point of the week is it's hard to shut down when you have NOTHING to obsess with or escape with. I am very aware now that I teach intensely; I come home tired; I escape into the computer or reading. Then the next day the cycle begins again. Or at least that's how it has been. I've known this...given lip service to it, but after spending a week in other ways I don't want to go back to the old ways. The best I can describe it is - I've been cutting the motor off and coasting through frozen slushy waters. That's not like taking a break that refreshes.
So here I am back again...renewed and ready to go!!
Artist's Way - Reading Depravation WeekFor a brief explanation, The Artist's Way is a book written to help creative people get in touch with their creativity. I have gone through the book many times in the last 15 years. I hesitate to explain this week because if I had known about it I'm not sure I would have started the first time. READING DEPRAVATION. What is that you may ask. For a week I am not supposed to read ANYTHING. I tried to do that the first few times. This time I am settling for finishing grading papers and making plans for next week. Other than that NO reading. So this is the last entry you will see from me for a week. What is the purpose you might ask. Think about it...how much time do you spend at the computer? How much time in front of the TV? I'm not sure what TV has to do with reading but it is included too. The purpose is to stop the flood of other people's words and ideas to find you own and to be "open" enough to listen to what you really enjoy and want to do. That has always happened for me during reading depravation week. I always find a project...something I would not have done if I could have surfed the web or read. So...until next Saturday...I won't be blogging or checking. Have a great week!
SketchThanks to The Artist's Way I took the time yesterday to sketch...and use pastels and some oil. Here's the result...for some reason when I was at the beach in Nov. I did a rough sketch of these three girls. It 's still pretty rough...but here it is.
PS: This is why I blog... so I can share this creative "stuff"! The Artist's WayAre any of your familiar with Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way? I very strongly, very highly recommend it. My daughter gave it to me probably 15 years ago. Since then I have had several copies and given several away. It is probably the most influential book in my life. It is sorta like the 12 step program but very different. I have gone through the 12 weeks at least five times and each time I dig a little deeper and come out a little freer. The chapters are (each one begins with RECOVERING) A sense of safety, a sense of Identity, a sense of power, a sense of integrity, a sense of possiblity, a sense of abundance, a sense of connection, a sense of strength, a sense of compassion, a sense of self-protection, a sense of autonomy, a sense of faith. The front of the book shows a mountain with cranes flying around it. To me the book is about spiraling up that mountain. I am going into my third week now...a sense of power. When you begin the course, you commit to daily morning pages - every day, an artist date (with the artist inside of you), and reading the chapter and completing some of the "tasks" at the end of the chapter. Try it...you'll like it!
No great news in my life. I am still well and happy and taking care of myself. I begin yoga classes on the 28th and I'm very happy about it. When I was in Nashville I went and I miss it.
My work situation is improving (if you have been reading long, you know how bad it has been). The vice-president who was our boss is gone. Two academic deans are over us now. We have a new director who is over the teaching part and the business part. The business part no longer is over us. We are each "equal" and report to the same boss. This means the classroom will no longer be driven by the business. VERY good change.
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