Writing Prompt 60: Creating Art

Prompt: Is creating "beautiful art" more important than the process of creating?

I've heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I believe that art should be genuine. The process of art is more important than art trying too hard to be beautiful. 

Art itself, especially in writing is a process, and this process is unpredictable and can only be improved over time and with practice. If a writer doesn't go through the process of creating, learn from their mistakes and view their work objectivity as a rough draft, the story won't have an opportunity to grow.  

Criticism, for example, is very important. It may not stroke your ego, but it will help you step back and view your story as a work in progress instead of a final product. Another part of the writing process is brainstorming, outlining and of course writing daily. 

Many obstacles can get in the way of this. Writer's block is the main obstacle, and in some cases it can only be conquered by putting the work away for awhile. Some writer's take a walk, go shopping or even take a nap before picking up the story again. 

If you try to force your work to be great, it won't be genuine, and in some cases, your audience will be able to see right through you.

Some of the best advice from writers: don't write about anything you don't care about. It will come through in your writing. In fact, it will be obvious, and you won't have a single excuse when it's time for people to review it. 

If you don't care about your work, how can it be beautiful? And if you don't go through the process and brush up on your writing skills, how much does your writing mean to you? 

This is true for any artist. How many famous artists paint over their canvas works? How many song writers throw away songs? You'd be surprised to know that every artist you admire cannot just create perfect art in one try. They fail, and try again, and sometimes fail again. But through their process of failure, they get a new idea, or start writing a different song, painting a different picture and end up surprising themselves. 

Art, like life, is a process. And if the artist does not dedicate time, thought and a bit of their soul into their work, it won't be the best it can be. 

Creating art is more important than making your art beautiful. Everyone had different ideas and standards for beauty, and you can't please everyone. Art is something you create for yourself to share your dreams with the world. If you don't polish your dreams, work to improve them and view your art as a process, it will be difficult for anyone to see your art as beautiful. Never expect your art to be perfect, but do expect it to be the best you can make it.  

New Daily Prompt ideas "Story Inspiration"

It all starts with a pinterest board that I created called Story Inspiration. On it I post pictures that inspire me to write. Since I have run out of prompts, and my goal is to write everyday, I've decided to turn my pinterest board into a prompt machine. 

Now I am inviting all my readers, fellow writers and artists to post a picture on it that inspires them. Starting from the first picture, I will write about the photo or work of art in the order posted on my board. 

You can visit the board here: 

http://pinterest.com/sarahbelle624/story-inspiration/

The necklace stared at me from the glass case. The art museum was crowded, and a strange chill enveloped the room despite the limited space I had to manuaver around the people. It was almost a hum, so soft you could barely hear it, that echoed in the back of my mind. 

Was the necklace glowing? I couldn't be sure as I stood there, waiting for someone else to notice. 

"Angela!"

I looked around, but I couldn't see anyone calling my name. I turned back to the case. The necklace was gone! I waited for someone to say something, or freak out, but nothing happened. I took a step toward the next display, and that's when I saw him, a boy, around ten or twelve wearing a soft linen outfit straight out of the hieroglyphics next to the door. 

"Angela!"

The boy beckoned toward the door, and I watched a strange man, wearing another Egyptian costume, walk through it, the necklace in his hand. Before I could think, I ran toward the door, and an emense heat blasted through me. I squinted through the brightness, and tried to touch the wall. I reached out, then fell. To my surprise, there was no wall, and my hands grasped shifting sand. I looked back. There was no door, and no one around for miles. I blinked, and nothing changed. I was still in sand, on my knees, and I had no idea where I was. I started to walk, watching my every step sink in the unstable sand. 

Finally, a pyramid appeared on the horizon. As I ran toward it, only two questions came to mind. Who was that boy? And, how did I end up  in Egypt?

30 day challenge day 15: Order

Prompt:

Everything has to be in order
If not, everything is chaos
Unpredictable and Uncontrollable
Everything must be logical
Reasonable and Just.
I must be in control
And understand the reason things happen
Always
Not sometimes

Even my emotions must be organized
Reasonable
Rational
Logical
Perfect
If not
I fail
And failure isn't order
It's chaos
And confusion
Threatening my armor
My strength
My self
I must keep it in order
I must gain control of myself
And understand my surroundings
If not, confusion, weakness and
Failure haunts me
Until things go back in order
My emotions
My actions
My reactions
And my self

Writing Prompt 31: My Dream House/ Room

 (The Beast's Library in Disneyland)

Prompt located here: http://writeonrightnow.blogspot.com/2006/12/writing-prompt-your-dream-houseroom.html

My dream house would have a water garden and a library.  It would be a light blue with brown trim, similar to the house I grew up in. It would probably be two stories with a small balcony, or a nice patio. A porch swing would be a must. The living room would be a soft green, very light with a few nice paintings and an indoor water fountain or water fall and aquarium. The stairs would be a soft blue with cherry wood railings. The kitchen would have a strawberry theme with frog salt and pepper shakers on lily pad shaped dinner mats. And yes, I would own a Mrs. Potts and chip teaset, along with a homemade tea set based off of Skin Deep.  It would be a simple place with a wood floor and small roses in the window. The must have room for my dream house would be a library with a Beauty and the Beast theme. Stained glass windows, if possible with the pictures from the movie, and "an enchanted rose" on a table by a nice arm chair and a globe. If possible, there would be a rolling ladder, and the walls would be covered with books and fairy tale paintings. The books would be organized and arranged artistically around my Beauty and the Beast collection.
The backyard and front yard would have gardens. The front yard would be relatively simple and feature a few roses and daisies. The backyard would have a koi fish pond with a small bridge going over it. I would love a Cherry Blossom tree and a willow tree, along with a small zen garden with sand and a rake. My kids would have a playhouse outside with a swing set and a slide, similar to one I had in my childhood. The dogs would have a little doghouse and play pen outside, and the cats would have a scratching post. And yes I will have wind chimes. My bedroom and kids bedrooms would probably have a theme, mine most likely Beauty and the Beast, and the guest room would have a story book or fairytale theme as well. The bathrooms would have a frog and waterlily theme, with a fish theme for the kids. If there was a basement, It would have a secret passage and an entertainment room for special events.
In short, my dream house would be based on the three things I love most, Beauty and the Beast, Fairy Tales and Asian Culture.

Photographer: Samantha Decker

(Picture from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sammers05/4755548594/in/photolist-iHJh39-eTJMLK-iwJK3E-kyTrod-8feqV9-eiZzx4-9FH2oh-fKdfcR-efA2j9-eeHZxA-eE4GDH-e9zsfy-jqGDpL-eS72Rg-9Kjntc-8KNBJA-mfXp2F-eAHoJd-7JCT3j-ed6xrV-7AMhCW-7ytRWU-6sCyEx)