Last night I was rereading Anne Lamott’s book Bird by Bird when I came across something that annoyed me. Anne says everyone will be stricken by writer’s block at some point in their creative pursuits. I choose to call it what it is: Writer’s Laziness, Writer’s Procrastination, Writer’s Emptiness, or sometimes, Writer’s Raging Case of …
More Thoughts About My Calling
As soon as I published my last post, I started thinking different thoughts about my search for my calling. My mind started with its usual bullshit. Who do I think I am to undertake something as grandiose as finding my calling, when I don’t even have a job that will last past September? My job will …
Thinking About My Calling
I have been thinking a lot about finding my calling. That “one” thing I was put on earth to do. Part of me says there is no cosmic chalkboard anywhere saying Kimberly VanNostrand, crazy cat lady who takes pretty photos, and that my calling is whatever I say it is. The rest of me says …
Criticism
To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.
-Aristotle
I don’t know an artist of any kind who hasn’t received criticism for something. Sometimes it’s constructive, but more often it isn’t.
Which leads me to today’s two-for-one special on quotes:
It’s easy to attack and destroy an act of creation. It’s a lot more difficult to perform one.
-Chuck Palahniuk
Prints of my photos are available in my gallery on Fine Art America!
Pick a Project
When I’m lucky, I can settle down with my laptop and dive into writing, accomplish what needs to be done, and then move on to any copyediting work I happen to have, after which I can sort and catalog some photos. On a really good day, I even take some more photos. Today is not …
My Why
I’ve been asking a few people to take a look at my website, mostly my family, friends, and random coworkers (and I appreciate that you took the time to do so!). Because you looked, I’ve been asked why I started this website. There are a few reasons. First, I want accountability. This is a self-imposed …
Just a Thought
Don’t worry about writing a book or getting famous or making money. Just lead an interesting life.
-Micheal Morpurgo
I’ve been collecting quotes that I like for years. I’m hoping to make quotes a regular part of Salmon Apple Pie. Feel free to share your favorites in the comments section, below.
Prints of my photos are available on Fine Art America!
Art vs. Craft
I know a few people from my previous years of blogging who get pissed off if you refer to them as practicing a craft. From Dictionary.com: Craft means “an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, especially manual skill.” That’s not bad, right? It doesn’t indicate you’re doing something important with colored paper and paste …
Fear of Failure
I wrote for years without showing my work to anyone because I was afraid of the reaction I would get. I wasn’t prepared to hear that my work needed work. And I really wasn’t prepared to hear that my work was good, that I should publish it. When I did start sharing my work, I …
Yes, You Can Create
Now that I’ve gone off about making art versus making excuses and told the world why I create, I heard from a friend who basically said that while it’s fine for me to take time to work on my art, she can’t, because she has a family and she works too much and…and…and… I stopped …