Surprise! I’m a bee!

So, I did a thing.

And now I have many feelings about it and I’ll write it out for you.

So, several months ago, I decided that I wanted to take my creative endeavors to the next level. For over a decade, I knew what I truly wanted to pursue. I dreamed of having a creative career that could bring me joy, wonder, an added sense of purpose, and enough income so that I could live my best life. For many years, people would tell me to reconsider, or may even joke about my dreams.

So I decided to study healthcare… specifically dental health, and it really wasn’t for me. At that time, I put others’ needs and desires before my own, because I thought that if other people around me were happy (and happy about what I was doing) then I would also, in turn, be happy. I was wrong.

Earlier this year, in January, I met up with one of my fabulous mentors (she basically runs a very impressive design firm, no big deal) and I let her know where I was in life, and that I still missed the creative process and cultivating the artist within (okay, so I didn’t say it like that, but you get the point). She told me that I needed to get back into taking art classes and basically to not let anything stop me from achieving my dreams.

A few months later, in the spring, I decided to do my research on some of the best art schools in the nation. I was so over listening to everyone else’s critiques and dismissive comments because it was doing nothing but holding me back. And besides, I know I can do it, I just have to make it happen! So, I applied for several art schools, but there was one that I really had my eye on… and, can you guess which one it was?

SCAD.

SCAD, aka The Savannah College of Art and Design, is the king of art schools, and their student work is absolutely phenomenal. I really desired to get in, and there were more obstacles in my way, it seemed. I had to get all the paperwork together, write letters, fill out financial aid, the list goes on. Although I had a lot to do, I did not complain because this is where I knew I had to be. I chose the e-learning option, since I also work full-time, so this would give me greater flexibility.

More weeks went by, and I was honestly at the edge of my seat constantly, wondering if I had been accepted or not. I really tried not to be too anxious about it, and had a ‘Let It Be’ mindset about it. What’s meant for me will come to me, and that’s exactly what happened. I got into SCAD (Woooo-hooooooo! *shimmies*) and on top of that, I also received additional financial assistance to help ease the cost of attending.

If you happen to read my other blogs, you’ll realize that I am really all about everyone going for their dreams. Going for your dreams sometimes isn’t easy, people may make fun of it or try to talk you out of it, but in the end, you still have the power to make the choice of whether you actually decide to pursue your dreams or not.

You have the power to make your dreams happen. So, what are you waiting for?

Write and Wrong

So, if you don’t know, I really love wordplay. I love a good pun and I love how you can liven up a story with some good word usage. I did say that I would write every day, or at least definitely try to, so here I am (whether you like it or not)!

Today’s topic is Write and Wrong, and how to be a more effective writer. I am still a rookie in the blogosphere, but I have many years of writing articles, essays, speeches, and more that have helped me to communicate my point very clearly. So today, I’ll share a few tips with you, dear readers, on how to communicate a bit better through your writing and to have a more receptive audience of whatever it is you choose to write about.

THE WRITE THING TO DO

  1. It’s great to speak aloud as you write, and not just stay in your own head. Although it is fine to be a quiet writer, it does help when you read what you write aloud, or have someone else do that for you. You will have a far better time conveying your message and you will hear what simply doesn’t sound right. If something is too word-y, too technical, or just off-putting, you’ll hear it when you (or someone else) says it out loud. You’ll also hear what parts can be confusing to whoever may be reading your work.
  2. I really hope you have a good understanding of whatever it is you choose to write about, otherwise, you run the risk of losing credibility. Credibility will help you stand out in your field, in your work, and your audience (notably, your beloved readers) will trust and like you even more. We all have wisdom in certain topics, and it’s great to share that knowledge with others (especially when you have years of experience and expertise).
  3. It is better to write because you want to make someone smile, share some wisdom, have people consider your point of view, BUT please be wary of writing for the sake of attention. This honestly brings the value of your work down and can make you look desperate, and no one wants to look desperate. Great work does come with time and patience, and you will be able to make people smile, share your wisdom, and have them consider your point of view.

THE WRONG THING TO DO

  1. Please don’t take yourself too too seriously and stifle all the fun and joy that writing can give you. Please don’t be so harsh on yourself that you can’t even bring yourself to writing the first chapter of your novel or book. We can be our own worst critics sometimes, and instead, we just need to realize that we are all learning and growing, and the world (although it is very big) does need your special insight that only you can deliver.
  2. Following all the rules ain’t fun. It’s good to learn the rules, y’all, but it’s also good to know which ones can be broken. You’ll likely find that it’s so much more fun to write this way, when you’re not afraid of the grammar grunts, the colloquialism kooks, the punctuation police, or whatever else.
  3. Don’t stifle your own creative spirit by neglecting it because you’re worried/afraid/frightened or whatever else. Your DREAMS ARE BIG, and if writing is what speaks to you, DO IT!

Thank you to all who have read this, and Happy Sunday! I myself am working on a book (you heard it here first, folks) and I hope that whenever I am finished with it, it will bring not only myself joy, strength, and happiness, but also to my readers as well.

A verse for you… Psalms 28:7 🙂

Create Every Day

It’s so easy to be creative, but it’s so hard sometimes to just create, especially when you consider that others may see it later on. However, when you truly think about it, no matter how private or personal a piece you do might seem to you at the moment, there is no telling where that piece will be 50, 100, or even 1,000 years from now. Will it be in a museum? Will students be engulfed in what you do, deciphering what your work ‘truly means’?

The term ‘art for arts’ sake’ truly comes to mind in this. Think far less about your audience, because you will never truly know who your audience will be, at least in the long run. Sure, right now, you may only have a few followers and feel like you’re just shouting into the void, but that may soon change. Do art because you want to, because you enjoy it, and share it, even if you feel like no one’s listening or paying attention (because one day, you might have hordes of people sending you fan mail, hoping you can write back to them someday).

I will make every effort to write every day, even if I don’t feel like writing (okay, maybe if I don’t feel like writing, I won’t write). I won’t get so caught up in the metrics, the numbers, the figures, or the charts. What matters more to me is that I simply write, because I enjoy doing it, and who knows, maybe that will give me a much more rewarding life. Actually, I know it will give me a rewarding life.

Also, I won’t just create through writing. I also enjoy playing instruments, drawing, sketching, and painting. There are countless ways to create and enjoy art, and I will make a point of it to not just absorb and take in other’s work, but to also create work of my own.

I know I haven’t been on WordPress in eons, but I am back now and I will continue writing. Many thanks to those who are still following me even though I took a very long hiatus. Have a great weekend 🙂