The Importance of daydreams

I cant write when there's noise. Clutter of the airways, that barrage the senses and stifles deep thought.
Loud music, people talking, dishes clanging, there's all sorts of noise.
But when I press my hands to my ears, and block the noise with streams of Claude Debussy piping through my ear phones everything stills. I have stepped through the veil from the physical world and am now floating through the imaginary creative world.
This is my ideal place, the place where dreams are tangible and the world that I dream of can be reached.
The place that everything is possible. Nothing is withheld from me, a place where I can flit with fairies and fight alongside king Arthur atop Glastonbury tore our swords matching the blows of our adversaries.
A place that;  every place, every bit of green every stirring of breeze holds magic that I can touch and experience.
But what about when I'm not alone, with just the wind and chirping bird to inspire and stimulate my creative side. What about when I'm barraged with the noises of a family, with the noises of human existence. I have learn'ed to block out the sounds of cars and clatter of people at will. I live each day telling myself to look at beauty, to find that one thing that can get the creativity and inspiration flowing.
The azure sky like a beautiful gem that hardly gets noticed at all by people unawares of the heavenly show placed right above our heads a picture pregnant with creativity and beauty just waiting to be seen and felt in our souls.
I close my eyes and a wave of longing washes over me, to play among the white fluff of clouds, and bounce upon beams of liquid light would be heavenly. But seeing with my eyes is touching it in a way, and that scene is captured within and treasured for some day when the sun does not shine and the clouds are a frightful grey.
When I'm hurtling about on paved roads and the foliage is whipping past me with no definite shape or form, its the idea, there colors   there blurry shapes that impress me with a terrifying beauty. I close my eyes in the same afore mentioned state, and the experience changes, everything is solely the feeling sense; The wind kissing my cheeks the sun hot and bright upon my skin and eyelids. There is a faint aroma of wild flours on the wind that mingles with a yet softer aroma of fire somewhere burning bright. The wind encapsulates me, no longer am I just in a car on an obscure road, no longer can I hear radio noise or car horns. I'm flying among the realms of imagination. Past impossible dreams that only need be touched to spark to life. Every moment a training within to see, taste, touch, beauty and inspiration for any aspect of creativity, not just for writing inspiration alone.

I got caught in a thinking that I needed time alone, time spent quiet and hidden away by my self to cultivate any idea of novels and writing. Yes I do need time alone to write, but to be honest thats just not really realistic in my life. I share a room with two of my siblings and when were not living in eternal sleep over mode there is still just noise. Thats life, and for a long time I made excuses that I couldn't write, it didn't work because I wasn't inspired when I did get that precious rare quiet time alone, And when things were loud and hectic or when I was making dinner something would come to me that drove me nuts because I couldn't just drop everything and write.
But in time I learned.
Every moment must be utilized otherwise nothing would ever get done.
And I hate nothing more than waisted time. I find there is nothing more annoying for my personality than time with nothing to fill it, inactivity frustrates me with a stronger vengeance than I care to admit I posses. So I have learned to fill every moment. It keeps a person out of trouble and one can really come up with some very interesting stuff in that time.
I have discovered for me that every moment there must be a watering of my soul through music through books through beauty to ignite the creative flow.
I'm not sure about you dearest reader but if it weren't for these such things I would have nothing to feed off of. And a state of a starved creative spirit is so tragic. Trust me I know that tragedy well.
But this has gradually become such a usual thing that it can be an inconvenience, I find that I day dream at the most inopportune times. And often times cause problems such as absent minded messes. What my family doesn't know is that my aggrievances are often due to some new found way to torture or make blessed my most recent character. Its a distracting past time but a productive pastime.
I wish very ardently to express how much this has helped me creatively. No moment is lost to the out lands of waisted time or lost opportunities.
I don't feel empty when I find myself alone, but also I have cultivated a sense to block out inconvenient noise that cant be obliterated.
Perhaps if you have some spare time try and dream, it will do wonders for everything.

Your imagination is a garden CULTIVATE it !





















Photos via pinterest

Hello Old Friend

I haven't had much time to write anything lately, with summer comes many duties. But I'm never far from writing in my mind. I thought I would post about what I do in the times I'm far from paper and pen. When I finely sit down to write, its like the meeting of old friends. I miss my characters more than I would have imagined.
Its as though I finely get to converse with someone, or someones who have a mutual mind. every second spent with these non existent beings our relationship grows stronger and stronger. deeper and deeper. I would have never imagined growing so attached with figments of my imagination.
I never thought that building characters was much like building relationships, with real people. The more you spent time with them, the more you know them at there essence. quarks, style, ticks everything that makes them them. and this is easier now because I can meet them in the doorway of my imagination at any time. morn or eventide. There are some you just click with and others who are a bit more elusive, I have learned this and its added a deeper growth to my writing than I could have imagined. I know lots of people stress the character thing, and I was one of those people who `nods head´ Yes yes I agree, I get it its important, but then never gave it much time or thought to deepen the idea.
I always thought that this meant writing, but I was wrong. Lately being far from anything that writes even a pen I have been dreaming all sorts of things in my mind. what would happen if, or what if that. I have been doing an extensive research of my characters far down to small details like there favourite colours. Its been wonderful.
Thankfully this is the first novel I have really stuck to. And I have spent so much time with, three years writing a novel is a long time, and there are more reasons why its not finished apart from the I'm terrible at just getting to it than can be written here.
That the characters are more and more like old friends than just narrators whispering in my ear.
now instead of a cold face to face factual interview, we chat at our leaser on sofas and have bergamot and french vanilla scented tea. And we stray to many things apart from there past. I do need to spend some more time with the rest of this cast, but hey the the two main protagonist is a good start. I'm just imagining a friendly interview with a sputtery cold old antagonist, and its very hilarious. Well see.
I just thought I would encourage you to spend a little more time with your cast, and give it a try. Close your eyes picture your characters give yourself time to dream all sorts of scenario's. Even ones that stray far from your plot. you'll be pleasantly surprised with what you discover. I know I have.

What about you, What do you do to understand your characters ?





Pictures from pinterest

Cyber Monday Deals !

Its Cyber Monday !
And we at Bishops Artisan Goods would like to announce a 20% off all our shop goods.
Now good till January using the code Bag2012 
The code is good for all items so please take a look at the shop, there might be something that catches your eye.
We specialize in cozy winter hats, so if your planing on giving a hat or scarf for Christmas, you might just find one to fit the bill so to speak at our shop.
Also we have a huge Jewelry upload coming tomorrow so if you want to give a special handmade piece to someone in your life, check back at the shop tomorrow, we may have just what your looking for.
Here's just some of what you'll find.
     Bishops Artisan Goods
Have a happy monday !

Words to be read words to be written

I just need to read ! I have lamented to my self at least twice today. Its been sometime since I have cracked a page of anything. And I have started to notice. My mind craves the food for the soul, more than my body craves sustenance. Dramatic yes an overstatement no. Its unfortunate that I don't have a library, I do so want a library. And I think I know of at least two girls who share everything with me and I with them, that would be happy to wile away hours with me within those hallowed walls.
Pictures help, but there's something about stories that just stay with you, there was one such that I read in may that I still haven't forgotten. A certain Ted Dekker book that my sister and I have mutually become an ultimate fan of. Even my younger brother read it, or more I should say devoured in a day, something I have never seen, Respectively.
Books have that power, that's why I love them so much.
There movies without the theatrics there ancient and modern and I would be so bored without them.
Which reminds me of my quest to re read every book I have at my disposal. A certain Charles Dickens novel about two cities siting alone and without a companion comes to mind. I need to find some time to finish that one. And now I find my self rambling.

But with November here, and every young writer getting ready for the national novel writing month, starting today, I feel a bit lonesome. You see I'm not joining, and probably will never join.
 I can hear the appalled sighs from all you young dreamers who shan't have scarce enough time to lift your heads from your writing and shoot me a shocked glare.
For two reasons I will probably never join, I say probably because, well,  never say never. I have no idea why I heard that in a french accent.  
My life is hectic as can be, I know who's isn't.
 I seem to have some issues with "getting to it" the it being  certain story that has been collecting dust this past summer.So you'd think that something that would force me would be beneficial, but that's not how I'm wired, when I'm pressured I give up. But I will say that I have pledged to not be a snobbish smug writer, and join in my own way. I see my need to finish some story, and I hope that will be my yet to be titled, medieval novel. So my future of book reading will have to wait, its a small sacrifice, not reading to finish a goal. I will try and write as much as I can this month, and I cant wait to read who wins this years National Novel Writing Month.
Pens at the ready, See you all in December.
Oh and that doesn't mean that I won't be here typing away on this Blog when I can.
I haven't the foggiest idea if this post made an ounce of sense.

Photos via pinterest 

Fog and Oceanic Rambles

Its quit foggy out today, I can hardly see the lovely beach from my window, just a hazy white.
I love the idea that I am in a cloud, it is quite a strange phenomena.
It makes me think of all sorts of enchanting pictures, and want to write all sorts of poems and thoughts but  I cant find the words to capture them. I have the feeling this will be a lovely day, though some would call the outlook of a day where one is forced indoors dismal.
Right now I am dreaming about woodland creatures that have run to their homes and are cozied away till the sun wants to awaken, and the fairies that danced upon the sand all last eve, amidst the salty ocean breezes.
What a place, bubbling with inspiration. Have you ever written to the siren song of the crashing waves ? It has to be said there is something magical about it.
I have a confession to make I have an obsession with sea treasures. There I said it, and it didn't hurt too much, though I will write it and not say it aloud.
 Thought there is much work, this is not a vacation, I feel as though it might be for my creative mind. The words just seem to flow when I am looking out upon sunlit waters, or feeling like I am living on some foreign fen or moor. Even if I haven't the time to write them down I seem to be okay with it.
But I shall now stop my constant rambling about the seaside. for as I said there is much work to be done.
Have a lovely day, I hope you too are being creatively inspired by where ever you are today.

Beautiful People

I am now about to tread unknown waters of the creative verity, By this I mean, I am joining the one year edition of Beautiful People.  I have heard about and read a lot of other blogging writers answers and have only now decided to join. Call it a lack of courage, I can be a bit shy even with my own story characters. 
I will be answering these questions for the yet-to-be-named short becoming long story 
I wrote about it Here. 
This months subject is Beautiful People: couples edition


The two main characters who I shall be spotlighting are
Mr Jack Rodham 

Miss Sophia Granor 

Here goes 

1. Do they believe in anything that most people think is impossible? 
Firstly, both Jack and Sophia believe, though sometimes waver in that belief, in undying lasting love. 
Love that, though ran through the washer and put in the fire will not, no, refuses to be extinguished.
And secondly they believe that, the outward appearance, such as social satis and or looks have nothing to do with a persons heart. 

2. Are they strong, or the "damsel/knight in distress" sort? 
This question may take some thought, Both characters are strong.
Sophia because she believes that the injustices of ill bred men are too cruel to be left where they lie, and should be fought, especially when the thing being come against is something she believes in, particularly Love.
Jack on the other-hand has that inner strength which comes from hardships of a heavy burdened childhood, that inner strength that has now become in invariable part of his character. and he's quite the knight, though not in distress. 


3. Do they have a special place? (e.g. a corner in his/her bedroom, under a tree...)
Its funny this question should befall me, when I started this story I quite unconsciously gave both of them a shared favorite place, Its an old half falling down antique house, forgotten by everyone but time and age. to these two its a retreat where they can be who they are without being tolled that their social statuses are not to be entwined.


4. What occupation do they have, or plan on having? 
Jack is a do it all, have tried it all, handyman sort, soldier that became a gentleman. 
Sophia is a lady of fortune, always having wealth, though willing  has never needed an occupation. 
The time in which this story takes place would never permit such a thing.


5. Describe their current place of residence. 
Jack's life has been spent within the hallowed lands of England and their he will stay forever. His heart has grown those ties to the land that can not be described but if you have ever felt, you would understand. Though he has traveled extensively and seen many other lands mostly from the trenches of war, loves his bonny england like no other. His home is a very special home that though ghosted with the past loves it for that reason alone. He lives with his ward a sub-plot and a elderly housekeeper.
Sophia lives in her great Grandmothers home a little east of the Italian coast, though once and always an English lady has been whisked away by her great Grandmother to those ancient halls known and loved only by old aristocratic Italians, who's lives and ideals are set firmly in the past. At least that is her opinion. Sophia feels her "home" is more of a prison, than anything else.


6. Explain their last crisis. How had they changed when they came out of it? 
Jack finds him self falling from the belief that true love really lasts forever. That would be the wavering {see question one} Though its not his love that is in question, merely Sophia's As of this time I am very unsure how he fares in this dessert of doubt, that is not yet been written. 
Sophia on the other hand is a caged bird longing to yet again be free, her great Grandmother is a prison keeper, who keeps all the keys to Sophia's freedom very near her person at all times. She bears this trying time though it lasts years because her great Grandmother is her only living relative and. She comes to learn that through patience and good faith her own heart becomes stronger, even if the prison was to break her spirit. Though not in the haughty way it may seem, she becomes a person with the kind of heart that could only grow from high hopes, struggles and a genuine want to love that which she hates. 

7. If they could drive any kind of car they wanted, what would it be? 
Well I must say that at the time of this story, their were no cars not even to the wealthy so it is a strange question. Though one I am happy to answer. 
Jack would most definitely drive a jaguar like this one he's very vintage-y. 

As for Sophia I really can't imagine her driving a car but I could see her in a vintage Mercedes like this one. 

8. How do they deal with change? 
Good and bad, its hard for anyone to see change when its a hard pill to swallow. But when its the kind of welcomed change which must come at will is embraced. Both characters feel this way 


9. If they had to amputate one body part, which one would they choose? 
Ok this one is really weird, um Jack having seen war would definitely say any body part lost fighting for king and country would bee worth it. But that doesn't answer the question does it ? 
Jack would be fine with any' as I have said. He's the sort of man to take what comes with dignity.
Sophia would be equally fine with losing something, also being the strong sort. But I do believe she is telling me that she could very much live with out a hand or finger quite naturally, specifically her right, She is left handed.


10. What would their favorite be at the local coffee shop? 
Jack is the sort of man to take his beverages dark, wether its brewed coffee or ale. so a simple dark roast coffee would suit him.
Sophia is more a tea drinker, I believe if she lived in modern time she would quite like chi latté 


1. How did they meet? 
Ah the meeting. This one started one rainy day, Jack was working as the grounds keepers apprentice, at the time of Sophia's parents death. Struck with loneliness the two become fast friends and over time the truest lovers that ever were. I really cant say any more, I am unpermitted. 


2. How do these two deal with conflict? 
Both deal differently. Jack has learned to choose his battles wisely, having fought in war he seen no need for extra conflict, though is unafraid to stand when he needs to.
Sophia is quite the fighter, she has had some wild ones with her great Grandmother, an is not withheld by propriety when it comes to conflict, unabashedly relishing in it really. 


3. Do they have a special song, phrase, item, or place? 
As of this time no, if so I have yet to be informed. 


4. What kind of things do they like to do together?
well when I entered the scene they were in the throws of romance, so theirs that. and they really are first and foremost besties if that term applies. They love to talk about there future dreams, and sneaking about into opera shows, purely for the purpose of having a good laugh, is a thing they have done. they try to steer clear of high society where Jack would not be allowed so they do poor things like swimming in a favorite river in mis summer when the heat is high.


5. Describe their relationship as a whole in 3 words, or less. 
unbending sweet and never-fading.


I had a time with this post, and I am really excited to nearing completion with story. To finish this a story is my goal, which means overcoming a weakness to start and never finish.
This story has written its self really, I hardly have had to put thought into it, its as if the characters are whispering there story to me. I would love to know what you think. 




Photos via Pinterest 
Copyright. Rachel Hope 2012 all rights reserved. Please do not copy or share without permission please. 

Book Love

I bet you can guess the nature of this post by the title.
I do so love books, old and new alike classics and contemporary and probably every genre.
From the first memory I have to now I have always loved books. Picture a small brunet girl with big dreaming eyes holding a large old book with a stagecoach on the front of the cloth bound volume, she would look at each word wondering what each word meant while thinking how impossible it seemed to a small child's mind that she would ever learn this strange writing. Preferring large picture less volumes, to the pictured ones she would stare at those words dreaming of the stories and adventures within the pages.
This little girl was me, and I haven't lost that love of books, as you can tell by the title.

I adore the library for that reason, I could spend all day every day there.
Its from these books that my inspiration is drawn, and of corse from all of you whose lovely blogs inspire me daily. But there's something about a book hand held that has a special quality, I prefer to read words from a page than from a screen, just personal preference.






 



One of my favorite pastimes is spent with a book always at my side, I have a real problem when it come to reading at the most inopportune times, like when I should be helping with supper :)
But there's something about getting lost within those pages, that enthralls me. I feel like a time traveler when ever I scan those pages, what fun it is to lose all sense of reality and of who you are and become that character within those pages. When it comes to reading the possibilities are endless, the world is all your own. I spent this past week in the lovely france, battling alongside joan of arc and a vary old magician, fighting a very ancient monster who was full bent on destroying the city of paris. See what I mean ?

CONFESSION: I really have an obsession when it comes to books.
What is your preference for books and your favorite genres ? I'd love to hear from you.

Exciting Blog Events !!!

I'm sitting here and my mind is drawing a blank, staring at the computer screen working my brain to remember the things I thought of posting here, why is it all the great ideas are easily forgotten ? Does anyone else have this problem ? and if you do, what do you do to remember the things you come up with in the middle of the night when your too tired or half asleep to turn on a light and write yourself a note, sometimes I think I forget to remember or maybe all those stories are filling my brain and leaving scant room for other things, who knows but dear memory please do try a bit harder wont you ? for me for you for some semblance of sanity in the free moments that I'm not trying to remember something that seems erased from my memory. Enough of that, sorry about the slight rant next time I'll keep the words between my brain and I to myself,  moving on,
I am very happy to tell you about two lovely blog events happening this month
I have been meaning to post about the first one for some time, this one having to do with valentines day or unvalentines day, Miss Rachel from the inkpen authoress is hosting heigh ho for a husband event with some lovely giveaways click here  to read the rules if your interested and you can write really fast the contest ends february fourteenth so head on over and check it out, I might be joining if I can finish a story before then. Please do give her blog a look.















Also Miss Grace from Graces Garden Walk is hosting a month long event that I am excitd about,  the Jane Austen Literary garden party, this one should be lovely you can check it out by clicking here

Miss Grace has lots and lots planned for this gathering so check back at her garden all this month to join in the fun, that is if you love Jane austen and literature.
I hope you all do join in or give these lovely blogs a look, there some of my favorite visiting places.
I'm off to write a short story, lets hope I can think of something.
have a wonderful mid week.

Fireside Knitting

  Winter is a wonderful time for peaceful evenings by the hearth, I love to sit by mine and day dream, as the flames glow there Bright orange hue, by its side I muse all sorts of things personal and non, also I have  whilst enjoying its warmth been knitting. This hearth is of corse imaginary, how I wish My family had a hearth, we do have a lovely stove that throw's delicious heat on a cold winters eve. But thats not why I started writing this.  I have though been musing over lots of things and I have really been knitting, my first hat, I have formerly been a crocheter alone the only other article knitted by my hand was a scarf which was never finished due to a shortage of yarn, but that too, isn't why I started to write this post. Any way, I have found that whilst knitting there is a wonderful time to muse over all sorts of things, and day dream, these are two of my most loved pastimes, while clicking my needles rhythmically and fingers working tirelessly, this thought floated into my head, life is a lot like a work of knitting, How do i mean ? Only that as we tirelessly weave this masterpiece, We fall short we lose heart we "drop stitches", we grow weary and feel that nothing will ever come of our effort, but I feel this is because "WE" feel we must be the ones to knit our life story and we aren't the ones to. I believe if we let the Master knit and weave our life he makes our tapestry more colorful, more original, more pure to who we are as individuals than even we know, more beautiful and full of interest than we could have imagined. We don't have to work tirelessly to make our lives beautiful, it is His presence that will, let us invite Him to hold the knitting needles and knit us a story the world has never seen before, a breathtaking story surprising to even us living it. How beautiful will it be when we put our life in those hands, I promise you he will make it special.

The dry spell

I have been as of late in a dry spell creatively speaking, I have to say at the start that this is very rare for me the girl with constant stories floating around her head and being driven to utter madness due to the lack of time in a day. So lately I seem to be unlike my self, the river of creativity seems to have been dammed up somewhere, but where I ask my self, my self does not answer. I sit down to write and every word seems forced every thought I scorn as unusable every dialogue is dry even the dialogue in my head has no deeper thought, this cant be writers block because even drawing and sketching seems dull and I listlessly throw every project aside, this will go away right ? again my self does not answer. Its been so long sense I have picked up a pen and wrote something I actually liked or wrote for that matter.
I can't seem to set sail on creativity have I lost it all ? Surely not, but still did I miss the boat to a creative shore ? perhaps

  Lately in these dry spells I have been picking up my bible, what a treasure trove of ideas I have found there even for imaginative stimulation, yes my imagination is even having issues, I am so surprised by the many interesting details that I find my self asking why have I never seen this before, it must just be me because I shared the particular verse in genesis that was making me dream of eden and ancient bible days and seeing how strange the earth must have been, and my brother didn't say anything thats right I there I sat going on and on like a crazed girl and he just looked at me like I was crazy. I am always amazed by the beauty of Gods word and the power it holds against any dry spell even creative one's. I also find that reading helps, what do you my dear readers do to beat the dry      spells ? I'll just be here looking at the sky waiting for a sign of a cloud and maybe rain,

So I can be soaked with creativity.