several years to finally take the plunge into blogging. For me, writing is a slow process, and so during the time of writing entries for the Encyclopedias (Encyclopedia of Anthropology; Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity and Society; Encyclopedia of Time) I had opted to postpone blogging. In this day and age it is practically a given, that if you are a writer, then you should have a blog to keep the buzz going about your work. I've visited various blogs by authors. A really famous author like Stephen King can write about whatever, and whenever he likes. The ones on the rise are more market oriented, and strive to keep in the public's notice. Sadly, my blogs are far from regular, and certainly not marketing magnets.Jobs, "life partners", children, community commitments have ever been an author's aberration. This modern world affords many distractions for a writer: TV, Movies, on-line searching, e-mails, on-line community, cell phone, twitter, texting etc, etc, etc. Is there a way a writer can divide the time in able to meet writing commitments while trying to stay abreast of all of the extra curricular writing? This is the quest, to stay balanced in an ever diverting world.
Jane Austen - led a non-eventful life (is the famous quote). Yet, in the biography "Jane Austen, A Life" by Claire Tomalin, it is clear to see that Jane led a Very eventful life. Living within a very active family unit, and caring for aging parents, traveling to distant family, balls and parties, and frequent visits from friends and family (both near and far), can be trying on a writer. It is not as easy to get back into the "zone" when the usual routine is upset. Jane's neice Fanny noted how her aunt would laugh and jot something down, then get back to her work (it is surmised to be needlework). This rings an accord with a practice of mine; I am a great buyer of notebooks, I'll come across these notebooks from years gone by and see a story idea started, writing or art project listed out, and book ideas scribbled here and there. There will be dialogs, or brief outlines, parts of poems, brief descriptions. Sometimes I'll come across large envelopes filled with jotted notes, ready to be started, as well as other info that will help with the story. It was noted that after Jane moved from Bath to the Chawton house that she started writing again (after a near decade of apparent abstaining from writing). It just may be that Jane had been keeping notes for her books, little ideas here and there, so that when she finally had the time to write, there was a bountiful resource to work from.
I've had to make a recommitment to my writing. It can be difficult at times, when there are a plethora diversions and disctractions, that writing can continually put aside; to the point where one might realize "I used to be a writer." Now I too, have had to put something aside in order to be more focused. I had joined a Native dance group Kuteeyaa; and had even gone to a performance (In this picture, we are preparing for a performance at a Salmon Festival). But the realization that "X" amount of hours would be taken from me, not only for performances, but the practices, and personal practices to memorize the songs, really hit hard. There is a part of me that looked forward to once again be a part of my culture in this experession, for the drum calls to me; and there has always been a secret desire to dance with a mask (oops, it's not a secret anymore :^). Well, perhaps in the future.So, it's back to writing... And Gunulsh-Cheesh Ho-ho to the Kuteeyaa dance group, for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of your magnificent dance group, I miss you guys already!!!
Hu-Haa,
Pamela
