I feel like I have been pushing the envelope on some of these little scenic things I am doing. If you’ve paid attention to the word count you will see that it dwindles as I press on. Most of this drop off is a reflection of my poor ability to lock in a time of day to write the remainder stems from the medium I am using for inspiration on a lot of these: other peoples photos. Such reliance does a number of good things and some bad things for my productivity.
Using external prompts like photos allows me to write about unexpected events or things–things not sitting on my desk. Photos transport me to a world I might not have otherwise considered or to a view of the world within my considerations in a way I might not have possessed without the photo. While some folks might find this method too much like trying on someone else jeans. Initially similar but increasingly foreign as you attempt to button them up. I am OK with that (but not for pants). A writer needs to take someone else’s approach from time to time. Doing so is like having an editor for your inspiration.
Easter egg hunting holds no appeal for me. Searching out muse photography holds little more. Long range and regular it ain’t.
I think I had the most fun with the piece of artwork I had seen several months back and can no longer dredge up from the Internet. That one brief image spawned three perspectives and four characters so far. It also felt more like my own, yet new.
What all this means I am not sure. Perhaps I will return to ‘Shanty‘. Perhaps I’ll just apply the same technique to another inspiration experience. Both are attractive. Older posts call out to me to be edited and expand as well. I may heed those sirens.
The immediate next step is going to be nothing so emotional or creative. It’s time to increase the word count to something substantial.
Word count: 335