tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post5740537203104439227..comments2023-11-30T11:52:25.056+00:00Comments on From High In The Sky: It's Thursday..Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01764280029794453933noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-76159283449075255392012-09-05T12:24:28.648+01:002012-09-05T12:24:28.648+01:00I'm in the process of catching up with all you...I'm in the process of catching up with all your blog posts I missed while I was away. This one pulled me right in, and I had to just stop and soak it all up; the comments as well as your inspiring post. I do read books about writing, but here's my problem: I do not practice enough. I'm struggling now to find a new rhythm to my days and to be able to find the time for some new projects, some learning about subjects I'm already deep into, volunteering, and crafting. Now I think I need to add writing practice into the mix! STS has always seemed overwhelming to me although I have loved reading the stories others write. Thanks for such a thought-provoking post.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05510788797735066383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-90316799966117374452012-09-02T22:20:51.194+01:002012-09-02T22:20:51.194+01:00For me the start of a story, whether for blogging ...For me the start of a story, whether for blogging or scrapping, is usually the title. It's almost as if the few words of the title become a touchstone for the rest of the piece. As I write and edit and then write some more, I remind myself of the title to ensure I don't go too far off target. Of course, there have been times when pages and posts have taken a completely different direction than I originally intended and I've had to change the title to account for that, but the title of a story is definitely the starting place for me. Wandahttp://tidbitsandtreasures2011.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-54680381825498974512012-09-01T15:28:10.787+01:002012-09-01T15:28:10.787+01:00I write fiction differently than I write my blog p...I write fiction differently than I write my blog posts because as others have said, blogs are much more of a visual medium. <br />Also my blog posts are in my own voice so I use frequent new lines and ellipses and bullet points to visually illustrate that voice, things I would never do when writing my fiction stories. Those conform to the writing standards I was taught in lit class.<br />And the transition between the two styles is challenging some days.<br />I loved Ali's 31 Things class. I wrote so much that month and it was such a joy to do it, finding things buried in my mind and surprising myself with how I ended up focusing on the word in ways I hadn't intended when I began. ComfyMom~Staceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15645425225886356909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-36969130917451892022012-09-01T12:16:24.726+01:002012-09-01T12:16:24.726+01:00Oh, I knew there was something else..Amy, one of m...Oh, I knew there was something else..Amy, one of my greatest pleasures in STS is to encourage everyone like me who has no actual writing experience (unless you count editing the school magazine many years ago!) to get stuck in and let the words flow. That's partly why I throw out book ideas and thoughts in case they grab anyone else tooSianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01764280029794453933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-32384147300410806142012-09-01T12:09:17.183+01:002012-09-01T12:09:17.183+01:00Abi - that makes perfect sense! yes, I think you a...Abi - that makes perfect sense! yes, I think you and I are looking at it in the same way :)<br /><br />I guess the next obvious place to go is to challenge everyone to write a short, snappy bulleted blog post and see how their readers take to it, even see how you like the look of it on your blog. No harm in experimenting!Sianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01764280029794453933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-25527733350311985622012-09-01T07:44:18.013+01:002012-09-01T07:44:18.013+01:00Your thinking out loud posts are the only time I r...Your thinking out loud posts are the only time I read everyone's comments. It is fascinating to read everyones thoughts which in turn gets my brain ticking over.<br /><br />If you have ever met me you would call me a chatterbox ... I am always telling stories and trying to draw stories out of my friends. Writing down my stories is a natural extension of this and as a teenager I wrote short story fiction for fun, just for myself (and occasionally for a school assignment). I loved it ... until the Christmas my ever loving, school teacher Aunt bought me a tome about writing. It was confusing, terrifying, and made me fearful of writing and so I stopped. Immediately.<br /><br />I started writing 'stories' again when I started scrapbooking. They began as 'who', 'what', 'why', 'where', and 'when' lists and slowly progressed from there. I feel that I am finally now back to being 'me' when it comes to writing. I would love to know how to improve my writing but have been too afraid to consider another book. When I am stuck somewhere like a doctors office I will mentally write snippets of a story. Scenes full of description just for entertainment. I know, I'm a bit weird :-) I write too much and my stories could probably do with being shorter (along with this comment!) but I enjoy the process so much I just keep going.<br /><br />I didn't know that blog posts were supposed to be short/bulleted either. I must have missed that memo somewhere along the way. I say what I want, when I want, and to please myself. As far as I am concerned, only I have to like it! So, that's my two bits worth to add into the mix :-)<br /><br />ChipperAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06893669562473986542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-62178572321452084102012-09-01T01:05:28.116+01:002012-09-01T01:05:28.116+01:00So many thought provoking points in your post and ...So many thought provoking points in your post and comments, Sian. <br /><br />Practice does help with any skill. Writing features heavily in my professional work and I have been writing a daily journal page for the past 2 months. These, with story telling and blogging have very different styles of writing and I agree, little details creative a bigger picture. Sometimes less is more. And sometimes more gives just that bit extra. Like good discussion and ideas to think about. Well done Sian. A great post!Sandiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12558786621283350776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-53479929602326228922012-08-31T23:35:37.374+01:002012-08-31T23:35:37.374+01:00I had to come back after reading so many wonderful...I had to come back after reading so many wonderful comments. I particularly agree with S about blog posts needing to be visual and well written to be engaging. I read a couple of blogs where they do not post a photo or picture and I find I skim read those more despite their excellent content.<br /><br />What I have really enjoyed is seeing how many here treat blogging and StS so differently, many are quite different to me. I read blog posts thoroughly, well, I'll qualify that, if I come and comment on your post I will have read it thoroughly - so, I read quite a few blogs thoroughly. Many participants of StS are blogs I read regularly and I enjoy their posts because I know their style of writing - I suppose I have an expectation of how their story will be presented. It actually makes the reading more enjoyable because I start to understand the stories within the stories and a relationship builds.<br /><br />I do find I can tell if a blogger has some writing background and/or has read a lot about blog writing - sometimes it is an advantage and sometimes I find it becomes too prescriptive. It can be less engaging on a personal level but easier to read and more visually pleasing. <br /><br />In a way, it is a little like friendships, you connect with some people more than others - blogging is no different.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04009119301336136337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-11745491003227492722012-08-31T22:19:16.512+01:002012-08-31T22:19:16.512+01:00Sorry more thoughts coming to me! I think the diff...Sorry more thoughts coming to me! I think the difference with STS is that we all go into those blog posts knowing what to expect. We all come ready to read a chapter as it were. Very much like picking up a book. I certainly don't go into STS and skim through because I know that each word in that post will be making up a story. We can get away with the long paragraphs and the essay (in my case) like structure! <br /><br />I think in every day blog posts, although every word is written with care and love, as a reader we aren't anticipating an ending (or middle or beginning) for that matter. We look for the inspiration, the things that stand out, the interesting comments etc. Therefore it is easier to write in short sentences, bullet points etc because our readers our clicking onto our pages for those smidges of insight- not necessarily a whole story. <br /><br />That said though I love the idea of breaking out of blog boundaries! Very exciting! <br /><br />(Sorry, extra long winded waffling post which made sense in my head but didn't quite come down on paper so well!) xxxAbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05040262335558353614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-52062433095863755732012-08-31T22:12:38.236+01:002012-08-31T22:12:38.236+01:00Oh my, such great discussions! I agree with the be...Oh my, such great discussions! I agree with the beginning, middle and end. I love pushing the boundaries of what is a story and like you sian often find that the end is a good place to start! I also agree on stories bringing people in. As a reader we want to know how the story finishes or what the conclusion is so we read word for word. On a typical blog post we may just skim for a paragraph or a sentence that jumps up and grabs. It's interesting. <br /><br />I do think though that our photos on posts do much of the storytelling. I can often say things far better through photos than I can through words. <br /><br />An interesting topic as always Sian! xxAbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05040262335558353614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-73279523145996502642012-08-31T22:00:54.356+01:002012-08-31T22:00:54.356+01:00I'm another one who seems to have missed the g...I'm another one who seems to have missed the guidance about keeping blog posts short! I haven't read anything about blogging (despite having both of Shimelle's classes at my disposal) but I am in the process of returning to creative writing with the Open University so I will be reading about writing, if that makes sense! One thing I did notice from my Writing Forum magazine was that the current trend is not to write with a beginning, middle and then the end, but to mix up the time frames. Indeed one author who went back to the BME style was advised against it but she stuck to her guns because she felt it was right for the story and it was. I love the opportunity to tell a story, be it mine or one from my head, or a bit of both!Lisa-Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150130990478203351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-14003849418757161902012-08-31T20:44:55.748+01:002012-08-31T20:44:55.748+01:00I read that advice on bullet points and short blog...I read that advice on bullet points and short blog posts and ignored it - for me my blog is a record for me, I love sharing it and seeing replies. Always nice to have someone comment on a page other than 'yeah that's nice Mom' or similar. Enjoy the memes which encourage me to include other bits as well - such as STS plus my two weekly versions. <br /><br />But definitely work on them being a memoir for me and mine, whilst being careful of what I share as I know Wookie's viewpoint of sharing too much on-line.<br /><br />I think the pairing of a story and image/photo is what makes scrapbooking so unique in memory keeping. The amount the story is expanded - think Project Life via longer stories can vary but it is all memory keeping.Missus Wookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08137463465514115553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-5761411690096248062012-08-31T15:51:47.480+01:002012-08-31T15:51:47.480+01:00Ifa, I think that's an excellent point - a gre...Ifa, I think that's an excellent point - a great title can say so much.<br /><br />Sandie, if you wrote a novel, I'd buy it!<br /><br />s, yes I agree that a picture can be what draws us into a blog post. I think maybe that's one of the differences between a blog post and a story? Lots of fabulous stories have no picture at allSianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01764280029794453933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-75873821887579841842012-08-31T14:38:39.686+01:002012-08-31T14:38:39.686+01:00Like Rinda, I had obviously missed the advice on k...Like Rinda, I had obviously missed the advice on keeping blogposts short and bullet-pointed!Another though-provoking post Sian<br />Alison xxAlisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08085826005055196079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-48347018654710731102012-08-31T02:23:53.734+01:002012-08-31T02:23:53.734+01:00Oh you've got my mind going again on this one....Oh you've got my mind going again on this one. I do not read books about writing, but I can tell you that as I read more and more books and stories that it's the middle that I care about. Writers are taught to grab us with the beginning and of course we all want to know how a story ends. But, to me, the truly great writers make me appreciate the middle of the story, where things unfold. And, now, of course, I've made myself paranoid about how I've told my story for Sunday. Yikes!! I might have to make it shorter just for insurance.<br /><br />And as far as not skimming, for blog posts - I am 100 times more likely to read if there is an interesting picture. So in the blogosphere, it's not all just about the words. It's much more like skimming magazines than reading books to me.Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01769556455551856486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-20544511629461253282012-08-30T22:21:02.030+01:002012-08-30T22:21:02.030+01:00I have had to read books on reflecting in nursing ...I have had to read books on reflecting in nursing practice and I have to say they were quite helpful in making me think about the events which happen to you as a health professional and picking it out to find the positives and negatives and then moving forward and how u learned something from it. I think my stories are influence quite alot by those things as well. Much of my blogging is full of emotion and my thought processes commonly just spew out, but I then reflect back on what I have said and how it has been put across. I have read a couple of blogging books and take from them things I feel fit with my style rather than what is right or wrong about blogging. I feel that otherwise I wouldn't be true to myself. I am definately not a short sentences or bullett points person, even when teaching my points went on for a lot of pages :).<br />I have written and then re-written this Storytelling Sunday because I wanted to get it right, it has flaws still but I love the way it has grown and developed.<br />Gr8 discussion again Sian. And I'm with Maria, please can we see the High Sky craft room?<br />Jo xxxJO SOWERBYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13971265183462096123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-8796058433090270552012-08-30T21:53:41.981+01:002012-08-30T21:53:41.981+01:00hmmmm! I've never read books on how to write -...hmmmm! I've never read books on how to write - and i know i could do with the help lol! Lots here to think about as i think about a story for STS xLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01258116584432205229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-4714852528973067392012-08-30T20:44:44.346+01:002012-08-30T20:44:44.346+01:00What a thoughtful post Sian. I always love coming ...What a thoughtful post Sian. I always love coming here & getting my thinking juices going! In fact, I've just finished putting the finishing touches on my post for STS & the Too Cool for School theme, with a little bit different twist. I have found that I am telling so many more of my stories now that I blog them, and I'm telling them in a variety of ways: sometimes theres a beginning, middle, and end . . . and sometimes there just my random recollections all strewn together.<br /><br />I agree that STS causes us to pause & really read the blog posts!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04650193963974000786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-86312044169391793642012-08-30T20:14:20.565+01:002012-08-30T20:14:20.565+01:00I love both reading & writing stories. I am pr...I love both reading & writing stories. I am probably guilty of starting with a beginning before moving onto a middle & an end, preferably with good punchline!! But, that said, I do enjoy a book/movie that gets your brain working by presenting scenes in random order (Seven Pounds with Will Smith is the perfect example) & it all still fits together at the end. I also like my LO's to tell astory & they will sometimes have oodles of journalling & other times just a title or maybe a few journaling strips to highlight small details. I have had an ambition to to write a novel for years, have books on how to do it & yet still have just a notebook of scribbled ideas!! Maybe one day?!! For now I'm happy to join in with STS & just tell my family stories through scrapbooking! :DScrappi Sandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02159167213416342930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-61268110314231840532012-08-30T19:55:11.805+01:002012-08-30T19:55:11.805+01:00Loving these Thursday posts of yours, Sian, but wo...Loving these Thursday posts of yours, Sian, but work means that I rarely have time to do anything but skim and then run from blog posts, unfortunately. I find myself with so many thoughts in my mind, having read this post, that a considered, intelligent, reply could take me all afternoon to compose........so I'll opt for the quick, but heartfelt, compliment, that I adore your LOs - always have - but have especially loved seeing how your style has developed.....it, you, are an inspiration.........thank you xxxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-70454210850680291422012-08-30T18:32:29.039+01:002012-08-30T18:32:29.039+01:00Gosh, too many things in here to respond to in a s...Gosh, too many things in here to respond to in a single comment! And your pages are rich in colour and layers too - just like your thinking. :)alexahttp://simplyalexa.typepad.com/trimmingthesailsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-28578868443218675682012-08-30T17:26:23.773+01:002012-08-30T17:26:23.773+01:00Thoughtful! I agree that a good LO starts with a ...Thoughtful! I agree that a good LO starts with a good story but a good story needn't start as a good story...you can definitely work it! A scrapbooker needs to stay away from layouts titled Dream, smile and as such for a start.Ifahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747222238567068345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-26646711508128343952012-08-30T17:00:07.736+01:002012-08-30T17:00:07.736+01:00Back for one last, last time (LOL):
The Shimelle c...Back for one last, last time (LOL):<br />The Shimelle class was True Stories. The thing I would like is to see your studio "high in the sky." Have you ever shared pictures of your workspace? If so, I don't remember.<br />RindaMaria Ontiveroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00120998825608732473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-50993293369409761492012-08-30T16:48:50.513+01:002012-08-30T16:48:50.513+01:00Back again now that I've read the other commen...Back again now that I've read the other comments. I didn't realize that blog posts were supposed to be short and bullet-pointed! I guess I'm glad I haven't read that advice (LOL!).<br />Also, one of the best journaling classes ever was one that Shimelle did (was it "A Thousand Words" maybe?). Really great prompts, and I think I did some of my best story writing in response to that class.<br />RindaMaria Ontiveroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00120998825608732473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328228070357271563.post-61765942376393195922012-08-30T16:43:54.164+01:002012-08-30T16:43:54.164+01:00I love telling and writing stories. For me, I thin...I love telling and writing stories. For me, I think it's all about cadence. Because I think that's the best way for me to create an emotional connection. And that cadence is most important in the beginning and ending of a story. But also in the middle. I'm never satisfied with my storytelling sunday posts until I feel like I have the beginning and ending "right." And most of the times I feel pretty good about the middle, too.<br />RindaMaria Ontiveroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00120998825608732473noreply@blogger.com