Sometimes You Need to Look at the Fish

Sometimes artistic productivity needs a break.  Sometimes the wheel you are running on needs some oil, and you need to sit in the car dealership waiting room with an instant coffee and a good book.  Better yet, sometimes you need to look at the fish.

After a week of writing four more poems for my new poetry collection, written especially for children, (this will probably take me a year to finish) and after designing three new necklaces to restock the local gallery that sells my work, I did exactly this – stare at some fish, some ducks with their ducklings and some floating lily pads.  It was a delicious two hours, well spent. 

It was the second to last day of school, and I wanted to treat my sons to a scoop of gelato after a blazing hot afternoon at Games Day.  After having our refreshing, creamy cups of pure indulgence, I asked the boys to sit with me under the gazebo.  The boardwalk proved more interesting, so we walked out onto the dock and looked in the water for any swimming creatures.  We found fish!  In fact we found many, many fish of all sizes swimming alone and in schools.  We followed them along the dock, found more fish and kept walking together to the very end, where the warping planks of wood were in danger of being completely submerged by water. 

We came across a family of ducks - two parents and two ducklings.  My youngest said, “they are just like us – a family of four.”  He kept repeating this statement in amazement, and when he saw one of the ducklings swimming too far away from its mother to eat some algae, he said, “swim back to your mommy, little ducky.”  He held my hand when he said this, then promptly jumped on top of a big rock at the edge of the water, his sneakers teetering.  I raised my eyebrows.

On the slow walk back, we saw a small, green fish with a long, flat snout that would rise slowly and then jump out of the water to eat a bug on the surface.  My older son declared a finding, and asked if he could name this new species.  He wanted to claim it as his own, if it was indeed a brand new kind of fish.  Is there anything new in this world anymore?  Looking into the eyes of my eager son told me that there are still new things to be found, if we choose to believe.

In the coming weeks, I intend to use the word “vacation” as an action verb and do it with gusto.  I intend to embark on and enjoy little adventures every day with my two young sons, now that school is out for the summer.  I intend to make every day count and not fret over whether I am producing enough new writing, because the productivity frenzy of energy that often comes over me will return in the quiet moments in between our grand adventures.

Sometimes you just need to look at the fish.  Inspiration comes from everywhere and from nowhere.  Never underestimate the white space.  Keep looking at the fish.

Cristina M. R. Norcross

A Reminder for Writers to be in the Flow

There is no greater feeling as a writer than to be in the flow of the creative process. It is that time when the clock on the wall (or the digital time in the upper right hand corner of your computer) no longer exists. You are so focused on your passionate journey through the worlds of fiction, that it is as if you are swimming underwater for miles and miles without ever needing to come up for air.

Sometimes, we need to warm up our brains and hearts to get to this desired entry to the flow of writing, but once we are there nothing short of being short-listed for the Orange Prize for Fiction will cause us to take our eyes off the page. What takes the writer’s intensity away from the act of writing after a project is complete, and necessarily so, is the need to market, publicize and sell the book that took two years to write. Finding balance between selling books and writing books can be quite frustrating, and it can cause a certain literary malaise to fall like a curtain.

I have yet to find the balance between promoting books and the process of writing a new poetry collection. To be honest, I find it difficult to find the juggler’s balance between being a writer, mother, wife, chauffeur, cleaner, cook, folder of laundry, events organizer, editor, and daydreamer. What makes me think I can fulfill the roles within the scope of being an author too?

While it may take me the rest of my life to figure out this question that many women writers before me have faced and which all writers endure, one thing remains certain – with an eye for creation, a vision firmly set on the new world created through the interplay of words, I can help others heal, find joy, and reflect on this wondrous life. This is the reason why I write – to be a light for my own dreams and to shine a halo of inspiration over the many journeys my readers take every day. If I can stay true to this purpose, I will never lose sight of why I write in the first place – not to sell books, but to create them. (Of course, feel free to buy my books, like The Red Drum that just came out in November!!! Excuse the plug – it was a moment of weakness.) I write because I cannot imagine a life without writing and the surprise of the discovered, beautiful expression that ensues from playing with the roll of words on the tongue.

Keep writing and reading. Stay in the flow and your heart will lead you to yet another undiscovered land, where life holds truth in the center of an outstretched palm.

Peace & Poetry,
Cristina M. R. Norcross
www.FirkinFiction.com
Author of: Land & Sea (2007) AND The Red Drum (2008)

The Secrets of Dawn

The Breeze at Dawn Has Something to Tell You

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.

Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill,

where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.

Don’t go back to sleep.

~Rumi - Sufi, Mystic Poet (1207-73)


I heard this poem spoken to me in thought and images, but I only recognized it when doing a search for poems by my favorite mystic poet, Rumi, this evening. I woke up with my 2-year-old son at 6am, and the view from the bedroom window caused me to stop breathing – stop thinking, until I could take in the full beauty of the sunrise. A salmon pink, with hues of peach at the center, painted the sky in a wide ribbon. My mind wanted so much to label this, to intellectualize the experience. My spirit would not let this happen. I simply gazed at the emerging light at the horizon and allowed all other thoughts to evaporate into the quiet calmness of the room. Outside that window was the sound of stillness – the grace with which we are born and the dignity with which we cross over. It is the pure beauty of nature’s humble grandeur. No other sight can make us feel as complete as the majesty of this earth and the heavenly glimpses we are gifted with at dawn.

I hope that you create with this same sense of awe today, when you raise your pen to write or bring your strong fingers to the keyboard. I hope your heart sings with the spirit of truth with each word on the page, so that your readers may experience the joy of first light and the brightness of being we are all capable of shining.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008
www.FirkinFiction.com

Honoring Wholeness

“Whatever ceases to honor the wholeness of your spirit ~ release it to the wind.”

~Cristina M. R. Norcross


Try saying these words either aloud or quietly within. Now choose a clean, white page in your journal and write this mantra at the very top, before you begin your writing session for the day. The world will open up inside of you, as you realize that anything is possible on the page.

You are whole. Breathe this mantra into your lungs and exhale the exquisite thoughts that come sweeping into your mind like a tornado. Let them have life. Set your spirit free and see where the wind takes you. If your words find a home in a poem or a story, then the world will be that much more glorious for your gift of sharing.

Write something wonderfully open, honest, engaging, fearless … and then share it with other readers and writers.

Now go ~ write!

Cristina M. R. Norcross
www.firkinfiction.com

(Just in case you need a cheering section for motivational purposes today, before you take that leap onto the page, these words should be a literary rocket booster. Happy Writing.)

A Magical Evening of Music with David Francey and Craig Werth at the Wil Mar Center / Madison,WI

Storytelling brings the audience back to the beginning of love and renews memory, so that the girl in that song getting married is you. The father going off on a trip who misses his 5-year-old son is you. The 80-year-old mother who hears a bird singing and knows that this is the spirit of her dear departed husband is your mother.

I had the great pleasure last night of hearing David Francey and Craig Werth perform at the Wil Mar Center in Madison, WI. Sponsored by the Madison Folk Music Society, the intimate setting of the concert provided the perfect backdrop to an evening of beautifully written and superbly performed songs. The very talented Craig Werth opened the show with a few samples from his new instrumental album, SIDEVIEW. “Slow River” was a particularly engaging piece that brought me into the dream world rhythm and flow of water. I first met Craig while attending the Poets and Songwriters Retreat on Star Island off of Rye, NH last September. Star Island is a magical place to create and meet other like-minded souls. At the group share sessions we had late at night in one of the cottages on the island, I was mesmerized by Craig’s soulful melodies and the warm, dulcet tones of his voice. His vocal/guitar album LOOSE GEMS is a collection that I highly recommend to any avid folk listener and the title song itself "Loose Gems" is one of my favorites! I play this song when I'm missing the ocean and all of the precious friends I met while living in New Hampshire.

David Francey's songwriting is richly layered and affecting. It was truly a blessing to have the opportunity to hear David’s beautiful Scottish accent permeate every note. His stories of living in both Scotland and Canada were steeped in the loves and losses of life itself. I picked up a copy of his latest CD, RITE OF PASSAGE, from which he played songs at the concert. We played the CD on the way home as a way of revisiting our moving, musical evening. As a writer, what I enjoyed most was hearing David tell the story behind the songs before performing each of them. While listening to one of David’s songs,"Their Wedding Day," which he wrote for friends, my husband and I held hands and gazed at each other in remembrance of our own September wedding day. David’s song brought me back in time to my own celebration. Another song that touched my husband’s heart quite deeply was "Ballad of Bowser MacRae", as he reflected on hearing our own son ask the question, “when are you coming home, Dad” (from one of his business trips). From a writer’s perspective, I wholeheartedly identified with a song David wrote about sitting in his friend’s backyard in Portland, Oregon called "Under the Portland Weather". He shared with the audience that this spot is where he always has success writing songs. I find this to be true when writing poetry on Martha’s Vineyard, sitting at one of the beaches near the ferry landing in Vineyard Haven. Hearing David speak of places that foster creativity caused me to reflect on the spark of the muses in art, and how messages are often whispered to us to share with others. The whole evening was a musical journey of spirit that I felt quite honored to attend.

For more information on both David Franey and Craig Werth and to hear samples of their music please visit:

David Francey – www.davidfrancey.com

Craig Werth – www.craigwerth.com

I only recommend artists who hold a candle in my heart. Check out these amazing songwriters and enter their worlds of enchantment.


~Cristina M. R. Norcross

Comfort for the Writer's Soul

Who wouldn't want some comfort along the way on the soul's journey? When that warmth and encouragement comes from the thoughts and experiences of other writers, there is no resisting for the avid scribbler. In this short blog entry, I wanted to recommend my latest late night read and the anthology that I often dip into before a writing session. A Cup of Comfort for Writers is a wonderful collection of personal essays written by established writers who entertain us and inform us about: the inner workings of the rough draft stage, the compulsion and addiction that submitting work to magazines and publishers becomes, favorite teachers who recognize the talent of an early student writer, the characters who beat a path to your door until you write down their story, and the always enthralling - sometimes frustrating - process that writing can be.

If you are looking for inspiration, a welcome break from a paragraph, or the kind words of a fellow writer who understands your world like no other, then this is a book you should pick up!

A Cup of Comfort for Writers: Inspirational Stories That Celebrate the Literary Life
by Colleen Sell

The Dream Editor

We've all heard of sleep walking and sleep talking, but have you ever heard of "sleep writing"? Whenever I finish writing a poem or a story, the first thing I do before editing my work is to sleep on it. That's right, the first arduous task after completing a masterpiece is to catch some zzzz's. The reason for this is that you might be tempted to submit that jewel of literature right then and there with an impulsive click of the submit button on a literary magazine's website, because you truly believe that this is the very best thing you've ever written. If this were Mrs. McClusky's 8th Grade Language Arts class, you would get an A+ for sure. In the hard, early morning light of day you will realize that this isn't the best piece of writing in your portfolio, but it has potential if tweaked and prodded a bit. Also, your level headed daytime self will notice the need for deleting all of those extra exclamation points and words translated into French for effect. Everything starts and ends as a great idea. It's all good; don't worry. Just sleep on it first, and your subconscious mind will make it better for you.

That's right, inside every writer there is a dreamland editor just waiting to get out and into your computer files. As luck would have it, your mind has all of those chapters and stanzas filed away in brain cells, so that when you sleep, you are actually working very hard at your writing. It almost justifies having a cat nap during the day, doesn't it? Or perhaps just a daydream for inspiration. I should have a poster made for my office door that reads: "Caution: Writer at Work - Do Not Startle if in a Trance or Awaken if in a Sleeping Position on the Couch".

As silly as this theory might sound, I find it to hold true in most writer's block situations. I am currently working on a new poem for my latest writing project. Just 2 more poems, and I will have half of a completed manuscript, so the pressure is on my dreamtime self to be in top form. I wrote this poem a week ago, but I am not satisfied enough to call it done. I am just not happy with the last two lines. The message is right, but the lines don't fit the mood or style of the rest of the poem. I have slept on this poem for a number of nights and it is still not coming together. My experiment tonight, after doing more editing, will be to read through the entire poem one more time before my head hits the pillow. I will program myself to dream about a resolution for the poem. With the muses and my subconscious on my side, the answer to my poetic puzzle will present itself by the morning (if I can get to my computer before my 4-year-old demands Cheerios). Wish me luck. Also, if anyone happens to cross creative wires with me and receives the answer to my poem's ending (it's about a marshland in New England - that's all I'm revealing), then feel free to e-mail me your words of editorial wisdom.

Funny stories aside, I do believe in allowing ideas for writing projects to percolate and then allowing the creative subconscious to work out what the waking mind often makes too complicated. Our dreams can be amazing teachers. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back, because it's all you! You are both the talented writer and the skillful editor wrapped up into one, literary powerhouse package.

Write to dream - then dream about writing, so that the words come to life on the page for all to be inspired!


CMRN

More Thoughts on the Muse ...

MUSES

An image appears after staring out the window for too long, and I scramble to catch it in my wordsmith's net. I write it down like a kite that has been brought back in from the clutches of a fierce wind.

Whispered words sometimes form next to my waiting, patient ear. I am enthralled with the idea of writing dialogue from the ethers. A whole poem has not shown itself yet to be a fully formed gift, but perhaps that would be asking too much of my muses. The first stanza sometimes comes to me swiftly and this is the greatest, beribboned present, as if I am being given spoken pearls, dreamtime treasures, or open palms ready to embrace my eager brain with a healing touch.

An artist's muse can be a frequent visitor or the spirit of a land you visit just once. A muse may walk beside you unannounced or uninvited. If you welcome this creative guest into your house of words, there will be fresh surprises, probing questions, new roads and in roads to the soul that you must seek to understand for yourself, regardless of how pleasant the company may be.

A muse may inspire, but the writer must do the hard slog of getting it all down on paper and making it shine. Three cheers for the company we have along the way, helping us to make those words and images shimmer in the light!

You Have to Live First, if You Want to Write

When you are feeling blocked, empty, or frustrated with your writing ... in other words things just aren't flowing, you need to do what writer Anne Lamott refers to as "filling up". In Lamott's very helpful, enlightening and just plain funny book on writing called Bird by Bird, she discusses in one of her chapters the need for writers to fill up their cup with life experiences.

By this I don't mean that you should necessarily take up sky diving, because you think your life is boring. Whatever you do, don't walk down Main Street in your town naked, just because you need something juicy or daring to write about. Just live as if this present moment is a gift. Live as if the corny hand towels with that quote, "live every day as if it were your last," were true. You will find that your mind will be much more attentive to every detail in your life - every buttercup that you see on your lawn.

Yesterday I saw a very rare and captivating bird, the Baltimore Oriole. I was intoxicated by the orange, red and yellow colors that lit up this bird's feathered wings like a majestic flag. It was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen - apart from my own children - and it was only two feet away from me outside my friend's kitchen window. When it flew off, I initially felt bereft. "Take me with you," I thought. "Don't go. Let me paint a picture of you in my mind." So that is what I am doing here in this blog entry. I am capturing the splendor and beauty of that moment when I let everything else in my life stand still, including the blank page of my journal, so that I could live a shared moment with this Baltimore Oriole.

You have to live before you can write. When you do write for great lengths of time, give yourself permission and time to live in the present. Take a breather. Your writing will flow again like never before.


CMRN
MAy 20, 2007

I Am Having a Love Affair ... with WORDS!

After reading Natalie Goldberg’s essay “How Poetry Saved My Life”, in which she reveals her first flush of love with words and the art of poetry, I realized that I too have been having a clandestine romance with the English language (shhhhh … don’t tell my husband ;-D ). It has left me breathless many a night over a blank journal.

I hear words or phrases in my head. Sometimes, if I am lucky, a whole first stanza will appear. Who knows what gracious muse bestows this gift to me on these nights, but I am thankful nonetheless. After writing and re-writing a passage, typing it in and making “each word shine” (Emily Dickinson’s choice words, not mine – isn’t she brilliant?!), I will read the poem, short story, or chapter from a novel out loud. I let each word fall from my mouth and take up the whole room, so that the rhythm brushes my skin with heat and the chiming of syllables falls like rain all around me. I close my eyes sometimes to see, really see, where my characters live. Some live in a one-bedroom apartment where the grotty linoleum needs a good scrubbing. Others don’t seem to live anywhere – they walk the streets for the duration of the story. Their history takes up the space that a home normally would ~ great, big spaces of melancholy and grace.

Words are like music when you listen attentively. They can lull you to sleep on a restless night. Phrases can soothe you with their surprising tenderness like a warm bath doused with lavender and bergamot oils. Whole paragraphs that move in a single motion like a smooth flowing river can be so soft. You will want to wrap them around your shoulders, your knees, and your gorgeous toes that get cold at night. The warmth will energize and inspire you to write more, so that an entire afghan blanket appears to shelter your dreams.

So dream about words, bathe yourself in syllables, let each image that takes shape lead you down the literary path. May you have many sweet dreams filled with words.


CMRN
3/21/07