Metamorphosis

Happy Summer!  I have to admit summer is not my favorite month (I LOVE fall--autumn), but this year has been tough, and summer feels like what we need.

The title of this post is " Metamorphosis" for several reasons.  One is because since summer means I have a break from my day job, it is always a time of change for me.  The other is because I have recently discovered a great artist, Leah Piken Kolidas.  Please check out her website and her art work, and while you're there, read her blog.  She has a challenge on her site called Creative Every Day and I've signed up.  Read more about it at her site, and maybe you will, too.  Anyway, the theme for this month as we create every day is, right, you guessed it, METAMORPHOSIS.  It's not a theme everyone has to follow, but with how I've been feeling for the last few months, it seemed like a good one to use.

So, today I finished my next to the last paper for a grad class that goes along with my day job and I painted and wrote.  The beginning of my novel has changed and today a new scene popped up which introduces a couple of characters I hadn't thought we'd meet until later.  It's pretty exciting, but it means there will be more changes than I'd expected as I'm working back through it.  I'm excited about it, and I hope others will be, too.

It is storming outside, so I'm going to watch the storm!  What changes are you thinking about undertaking in the next week or month?

Social media?

I've spent the week working on writing, but most of the time I haven't been writing!  Based on everything I've learned at conferences, I've known that I needed to update my social media connections, but I just hadn't taken time to do it.  Well, this past week I did just that.  


I bought my domain name, lilliankeenan.com, updated my twitter account, lillianwrites, and revised my facebook, linkedin, and blog information.  Yes, I've been busy.


So, now you can follow me on twitter and all the other avenues as well.  I have plans to change around my blog, so stay tuned for that.

Also, Lisa Robinson came to do research for her book at my day job on Friday.  It was cool to show her around and I think she got some great information to help her with her novel.  I know I'm excited to read it!

New Beginnings

In April I attended the Western Pennsylvania Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (WPASCBWI) Spring Retreat at Bethany College in West Virginia.  It was amazing!  The other participants and the two editors, Kate Sullivan and Connie Hsu, were encouraging and insightful.  I've been able to go to this event for several years and have learned so much each time.  I returned home determined to work on my writing and integrate what I learned.

And, so far, I have.  The Monday after the retreat, things at my day job heated up and have been steadily boiling ever since, but I've been writing.  So, a gold star for me in that department.  I have not kept in contact with my fellow writers from the retreat, so in that department, I'm a "bad webbis" (Shirley Jackson--Life Among the Savages--if you haven't read it, go NOW and get a copy!).

One thing that impressed me at the retreat was how much I enjoyed--craved the contact with other writers.  I do not belong to a writing group, not because I don't want to be in one, but because I haven't found one in my area.  I know there are on-line groups, and I may look into one of those.  As writers, we work in isolation, and we need to do that to achieve our writing goals.  But. . .we are also social creatures and contact with other writers can help us become better.

So, my question for today is how do you keep in touch with other writers, other artists?

Winter's Evening

I'm re-reading THE WAR OF ART by Steven Pressfield. I find it a great resource when I've gotten off-course with my writing. He encourages me to get back on track, and makes me believe I can.

"There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second, we can turn the tables on Resistance. This second, we can sit down and do our work." Steven Pressfield

That's all for now. I must go "sit down and do" my work!

Welcome to my blog!
Anyone interested in writing or reading may find something to consider.

This is the beginning.

"There are two ways of spreading light;
To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."
Edith Wharton

Which one am I? Which one are you?