Aquarian creativity at boiling point

I don't know what it is... but I'm burning up with a creative fever.

This past week I wrote several thousand words on the novel I started in NaNo 2004... and tried to continue in NaNo 2006. Now suddenly it's firing me up and luring me to the computer to type away... first thing in the morning, get that. Oh, what's NaNo? National Novel Writing Month - it happens every November, where participants challenge themselves to write 50,000 words in that month.

I have signed up for Fawm 2007. Fawm is February Album Writing Month, where participants challenge themselves to write 14 songs in 28 days... an album... it can be lyrics, songs, instrumentals, anything, as long as you start it in February. I have a theme.... so I'm just waiting for February.

In the meantime, I've been reading the lyrics for one hit song a day... looking at structure and imagery and craft. That's inspired me to write some lyrics of my own... so every day I'm trying to write at least a line or two... or a verse... or a chorus... or a whole song. It's gettin' my creative song-writing muscle in shape for February.

This month I was priviledged to begin working with several new students, and my studio is very full... and I have a waiting list of about 10 or 12.

And I am now in the throes of choosing the computer... the one that's going to properly run my recording software & orchestra program. I'm going Monday to talk to some folks who build systems, to see what they'll quote me for what I want. Hopefully not too much...

Thankfully our freaky weather has calmed for a moment, the white stuff it deposited on the ground has gone... the sun was out today, I bought some daffodils from the store... and I saw a hummingbird in my garden this week.

Other than that, I've been contemplating a new painting... but haven't gone so far as to set up the easel or find my paints.

I've been practicing the guitar - my new country stum, and my new folk pick are coming along.

That's it for now. It's wayyyy too late and I should be in bed. Famous last words!

Ciao.

looking forward to new system

Yeah! This week I get paid for all the hours I worked on a big project in December... and that means I can buy the hard drive I've been dreaming of.... and will finally be able to produce music effectively.

I have so many sketches and drafts of songs, and worktapes of songs, and ideas for songs, and collaborations to finish - I'll be busy for the next six months!! Hopefully there will be an album at the end of it. A mystical, magical, fantasy-based electronic folk album with dreamy, ethereal vocals and great harmonies.

I've also been trying to write at least 700 words a day on my novel. It's hard going. It's amazing how, when you sit down to write, suddenly all these things you would never do start appearing in your mind... "gee, I think I should clean the closet", "I should tidy the sock drawer", maybe I should check my email".

I find myself looking for little tidbits that might inspire me... like trivia or wierd news or just observations... and then start there and talk about them through the eyes of my character... her perspective on the world and the strange things that inhabit it. Sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get even a few words out of my brain... other times it seems to flow and I get to 900 words without even thinking.

The freak weather here - yet another snow storm where normally we get a dusting one afternoon which then turns to rain - has been keeping me inside, so I haven't done as much walking as I'd like. My mind turns to mush if I don't walk everyday. I discovered, though, if I can make it the half block to the parking lot, and then over the parking lot, I can walk around the park - which is grass, so if I slip, it would be softer. So I've had a turn or two around there.

Been playing the guitar everyday, and looking at my schedule to see where I could fit in some more lessons. That's the trouble with being a teacher - other teachers tend to teach at the same time as you, lol.

Had the first rehearsal of the new year with my trio yesterday. Felt good to be back together!!

Back to the salt minds tomorrow. Not. I love my work. It's a good thing I have something to do or I would just fritter away my time...

I always liked recess.

Goals for 2007?

I have some goals for 2007, I don't really think of them as New Year's resolutions, but just something I plan to do -- pay down debts, eat healthy, exercise daily, write prose more often, play with music a lot, be a good teacher, write a creatively inspired album. How about you?