Tag: writing

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il Dolce Far Niente

The Sweetness of Doing Nothing

a woman's feet propped on a table facing the sunset. The sweetness of doing nothing

It’s that time of year in Arizona. Triple-digit temperatures force me to take my walks at a ridiculously early hour and schedule errands for the morning. I slather on sunscreen, wear a hat, guzzle water. The ‘dog days of summer’ drain my energy and force me inside for a good part of the day. I feel like doing nothing. Blah.

This goes against my nature. I like to stay busy. I’m a ‘producer’, one who makes things…you know: sew a garment, write a story, create a blog post. I’m schedule and routine oriented and not particularly good at “doing nothing.” So now what? The weather is out of my control. Maybe I need to change my attitude. The Italians have a saying:

il dolce far niente

In English it means “the sweetness of doing nothing,” but it sounds way better when you say it in Italian. Try it: eel dough-chay far nee-in-tay. Isn’t that beautiful?! Now say it with an Italian flair. Bonus points if you come up with hand gestures to go with it.

Il dolce far niente isn’t about laziness, but rather it refers to enjoying relaxing moments without a specific purpose or goal, finding contentment in simple activities, slowing down to appreciate the small joys in life. Though not a new idea, the term has been popular in social media circles lately, perhaps as a result of our increasingly fast-paced, crisis-mode-world we find ourselves in these days.

Benefits of il dolce far niente include:

  • reduced stress and anxiety
  • enhanced creativity
  • improved mental clarity
  • deeper self-awareness
  • new perspectives

Who wouldn’t want this,

But how?

The planner in me wants to immediately make a list, schedule times to relax, research activities (actually, that’s what I did when composing this post). But stop! Doesn’t doing something so I can start doing nothing kinda go against the philosophy here?

Maybe the place for me to start is to shift my mindset around productivity, taking moments in my day to daydream, breathe, pick up the guitar I haven’t used in decades and strum a few chords, enjoy that cup of tea without rushing on to the next item on my “to do” list.

And as for my writing life:

I’m working on finishing the rough draft of my next story and, of course the producer in me wants to see this through the editing, revisions, formatting, publishing. It’s a lot. Yet perhaps, the best thing I can do for my writing is to step away from it from time to time for some dolce far niente moments.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to click “publish” and and do nothing, nothing at all. Sweet.

Threads of thought icon

Threads of Thought

Your turn! Stop, step away from your computer or phone.

Now do nothing…. ahhhh….

By the way, reading is a great way to have a dolce far niente moment. Try one of these! Available in paperback, eBook, and Kindle Unlimited.

2 Books, Out of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life...and Until Italy: A traveler's memoir
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The 52 Hike Challenge Begins

holding a patch that reads :52 Hike Challenge

January 1, 2024. Christmas was over, the kids and granddaughters were on their way home. Post-holiday lethargy had set in and I was mindlessly scrolling through my phone when an ad for the 52 Hike Challenge caught my attention. I thought it might be a fun way for my husband and I to get out of our routine, get some fresh air and exercise, and spend time together.

“Hey, would you like for me to sign us up for this?” I showed the ad to Ed.

“Sure, why not?”

The 52 Hike Challenge

Why not?! One hike a week for 52 weeks. The “Official rules” state that your hike should be at least a mile outdoors. You may start the challenge anytime during the year. My personal goal is to seek new adventures and try to do 52 unique hikes, although there will most likely be repeats. So far we’ve hiked in nearby state and national parks, a Sandhill Crane observatory, a reclaimed wetlands preserve, and a converted railroad trail. All have been 1.5-2.5 miles with easy terrain. 

Note: If you’re interested, there’s a link in the “Threads of Thought” section at the end of this post. I am not affiliated or sponsored by the 52 Hike Challenge. The site will direct you to several “Packages”, that include various perks, but I signed up for the free version that included a free hike tracker. I purchased a 52 Hike Challenge patch separately. (Because who doesn’t love an official patch?)

Going the Distance

To log the milage of each hike, my son helped me download the Strava app on my phone. This is an excellent resource , but it took a hike or two to figure it out. Looking back over one of my first hikes, I noticed that I’d neglected to turn the app off and it continued to track me walking around my house and running errands for many days. (weeks?) It recorded the hike as 135.52 miles with a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour. I should delete it, but it looks rather impressive. I’m keeping it up for a while. Actually, my mph is very slow, much to the annoyance of others we sometimes hike with. Blame it on the fact that while hiking I’m stopping to take pictures and… 

Write the Hikes

So here’s how my brain works: I’m a writer, can I write the hikes? Yes, of course! I try to take a journal, or record some impressions once I get home. I record the date and distance, and who we hiked with. A recent hike inspired a poem. The world is full of stories and poems if you know how to look for them! 

 And then, my brain said…I’m a sewist, so what if could…

Quilt the Hikes

I dashed off to the quilt shop to buy bits and pieces of fabric, then a friend helped me cut out lots of triangles. I’m not a quilter, but I had so much fun with my friend’s rotary cutter and she helped me figure it all out mathematically. The plan is to earn a triangle for each hike. I’ll sew these together into squares, then fashion a wall hanging at the completion of the challenge. Sounds ambitious, but this keeps me motivated to see how the quilt grows.

Patchwork quilt

We’re two months and eight hikes into the Challenge. So far, so good, but the year is young. Will we complete the challenge? Stay tuned!

Threads of thought icon

Threads of Thought

Live creatively! “There’s a time for certain ideas to arrive, and they find a way to express themselves through us.” (Rick Rubin)

Are you inspired by nature? Go for a hike!

http://www.52hikechallenge.com

BIG NEWS! Out of the Crayon Box is going to the 2024 Tucson Festival of Books! Look for me at the Indie Author’s Pavilion on Saturday, March 9, 1:30-4:30! or get your copy here: http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer

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Writing and Sewing

A Creative Partnership

As the weather turns cooler, even in Arizona, I think about layers of soft fabric.

“The experience of creative living argures that hobbies are in fact essential to the joyful life. There is the hidden benefit that they are also creatively useful. Many hobbies involve a form of artist-brain mulling that leads to enormous creative breakthroughs. …Sewing has a nice way of mending up plots.” -Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way

SEAMS Like a Story

My sewing/writing studio is designed to accomodate my creative impulses when they strike.

If you’re new to my blog, you might be wondering about the name. Why “seams”? Shouldn’t it be “seems?” In fact, when my son-in-law helped me secure the domain, he suggested I acquire both names.

When I first retired from teaching, I wanted to pursue my two passions/hobbies: sewing and writing, and my blog Seams Like a Story was born. I find my two passions to be compatable, both contributing to my creative process.

(take a peek at my sewing/writing studio)

http://seamslikeastory.com/creating-a-space-to-sew-and-write/

Start With a Plan

For this project I chose a pumpkin-colored flannel fabric to make up the simple Dress #2 from 100 Acts of Sewing

Both writing and sewing begin with a plan, an idea, a spark of inspiration. Where writing pieces together words to create stories, the act of sewing involves the extra senses of touch and sight, colors, and textures as I piece together a garment.

Problem Solving

Rushed through this seam on the neck facing. Sewed it at 1/2 inch instead of 1/4 inch. Fortunately, I caught it in time. Thank goodness for seam rippers!

I’m halfway through a story or a sewing project and something’s not working. Time to rip out seams, sentences, words. Edit, revise. Take time to make it better. Try it on for size.

Unblock Your Creativity

It happens. Somedays the words don’t flow or I just can’t face the blank page. The act of sewing activates a different part of my brain and gives me a fresh perspective. Often, getting the creative juices flowing while sewing will jump start my writing. “Creative breakthroughs” Julia Cameron calls them. (for more ideas on overcoming writer’s block see http://seamslikeastory.com/4-ways-to-move-through-writers-block )

My new flannel dress is comfy and cozy , perfect for a writing day, critique group meeting, or lunch out with friends.
Threads of thought icon

Threads of Thought

Activities like sewing, painting, gardening, quilting, woodworking, writing, photography, interior decorating, cooking,….. contribute to living a joyful, creative life.

What hobbies do you enjoy?

See more from Debra at http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer

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Book Signing 101

Tips From a Lesser Known Author

I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Society of Southwest Authors book signing event in Green Valley AZ. Maybe you have attend such events as an author or as a customer. This is only my second book signing, so I’m still a novice but here are my tips from the SSA event this year:

Why Book Signings are Important for Authors

Whether you are a traditionally published author or self-published like me, this is your chance to meet your audience (readers) face to face. You get to make contacts with fellow authors, see what they are writing, and how they are marketing their books. For me, it is a way to become part of the literary community of writers and readers. Plus…you might sell some books!

How to Prepare for a Book Signing

Here are some basic items you will need:

  •  Copies of your book (obviously)
  • Printed description of your book and a few published reviews
  • A sign that gives the price of your book.
  • Bookmarks or business cards to giveaway.
  • Square device? (for accepting credit cards)
  • Pens for signing (I forgot to bring these…)
  • Cash to make change
  • Candy bowl?
  • Tablecloth for the table
  • Book stand

How to Set up Your Table

Continue reading “Book Signing 101” …

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4 Ways to Move Through Writer’s Block

…and Embrace the Seasons of your Creative LIfe

Color Schemes

by Debra VanDeventer

 (sometimes)
I am turquoise
confident, creative 
shining brilliant,
reflecting
sonoran sky
caribbean sea

(sometimes)
I am gray
silent, solitary
suspended in space
between
black and white
gathering thoughts
for turquoise days

What is Writer’s Block

Some call it “writers block,” for me it’s more of a lack of inspiration, low energy, self-doubts I call them my gray days. Whatever it is, these dry spells are concerning for me. Negative thoughts creep in and that internal nagging voice seizes the opportunity to taunt me: you are a bad speller, no one will think your writing is interesting, there are better uses for your time, it’s too much work…

Moving Through Writer’s Block

What do you do when you experience a block to your creativity? First of all, don’t panic. It happens to all writers and other artists. Here are 4 things I’ve found to be helpful during gray days.

Continue reading “4 Ways to Move Through Writer’s Block” …

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