New Things Ahead for Water & Pen

Intentional. Being a writer takes being intentional. This is something I'm not very good at all the time. It's easier not to write and to fill my time with less meaningful things although I know I'm called to write.

But now that I have more time than ever, I am choosing to be intentional with my writing! (yay!) This means there are some new things ahead for Water & Pen. I plan to have a schedule for posting each week and will follow this schedule as faithfully as I can instead of staring at a blank, white screen watching the cursor bounce in waiting for keys to be tapped.

This is what my mind has come up with:

Mondays: Reflection -- these posts won't be so writing related but more of my thoughts and what has been on my heart lately. To read some examples, go here: On How Life Relates to a Cage

Wednesdays: Writing -- these posts will be related to writing! Whether tips or tricks or ideas or whatnot. To find some examples of what that might look like, go here: How College Makes You a Better Writer

Thursdays: Living -- these posts will be more about life and adventures. I'm not exactly sure what this will look like yet, but it will be fun!

Fridays: Fun -- Anything from music to character interviews to reviews to videos. Fridays are reserved for having fun!

I'm looking forward to becoming more involved with my blog, your blog, me, and you! If you have any ideas for me, wish to guest post, or want to say hello, drop a comment below!

On the Shore

            I don’t think people understand the power of words—the impact that words can have on a life. There are so many people in this generation that strive for complete authenticity and yearn to go “deeper” with everybody they meet. There are pictures that say things like: “Instead of asking this, ask this instead.” And on one of these lists, instead of asking somebody about their family, it says to ask about what one usually gets from the ice cream truck.

            What people don’t understand is the importance of these “don’t ask this” questions. We despise small talk because we want to go deeper but we forget that the shore leads to the ocean. We forget that the mundane, every day, shallow questions are also so necessary to life.

On How Life Relates to a Cage

                From the moment we are conceived, we are encased. The womb is like a nest—it keeps us safe as we grow and become. But there is nowhere that we can go but within the womb. We are trapped. Yet it is a good sort of trapped. Like when you haven’t seen a best friend who’s really touchy for a long time and when you do, they won’t let go. You are held within a warm embrace that is perhaps a bit uncomfortable, but you know you can relax and still be protected. And although this is wonderful, there is still an itch trembling along your body to be free and move and let the wind ripple through your hair once again.

                It is like this in the womb. A baby is fed, protected, and can grow and be nurtured for nine months. It’s as if they’re suspended in space, connected by a single lifeline, and just waiting for the day they will land. The cares of the world pass them by. But this isn’t enough. They must feel freedom soon. So they begin kicking—yearning for a way to breathe air and feel the grass and see their mother’s face.

Sunshine Blogger Award

   

            In which I began saying ‘in which’ to follow Hannah Heath’s example. I woke up one morning, looked at twitter and had my heart warmed by a blog post that told me I was nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award. As it was the day I was heading back to college, I decided I would have to get to it at a later date. Uh...and now I'm writing it the second day of being back. Does this make sense? Maybe not, but homework hasn't really happened yet as Wednesdays are my easy days. But I couldn't wait to get to this!

             I also noticed that Hannah uses Dragon Dictation for blog posts, so I decided I would have to give it a try as well. And, honestly, I feel straight out of Star Trek or some other science fiction movie. If y’all have never heard of Dragon Dictation you should go try it out because it’s really fun. I’m actually using it right now and I’m still trying to get used to all the features, so it’s interesting and kind of difficult but it’s really cool.

            Anyway, this post is to address the Sunshine Blogger Award, in which I act all sunshiney. Just kidding, I think I’m actually supposed to give seven random facts about myself. I’m really horrible at coming up with random facts about myself, but we’ll give this a try.

            Thank you so much, Hannah, for nominating me for this award! I am feeling the sunshine. :D

7 Things You Should Say to Your Writer

Merry day-after-Christmas! If that isn't a thing, it shall be now. I hope all of you have been enjoying a restful time with family and friends, and that you writers have been reaching your word count each day (which I have not been doing, due to spending time with family and such).

Being surrounded by family means said family will, at some point, inquire after my writings. As a writer, there are many things I do not want people to ask or say to me. These things are often funny, but true. But this is and has been covered by others quite often...