Let me say first off, I don’t have a creative bone in my body. I
can’t sketch or paint or sew...though I can do a fair job of writing. So keep that
in mind as I instruct you on creating a craft.
I write most every day. Some days the prose flows like the Hamilton Pool falls (Google it), and some days I have to pry those words out with bottlenose pliers. Either way, I always feel good after a productive day.
But unless I print out what I’ve written, I just see words
on a screen, nothing tangible. That’s why I've started this experiment. I call it a Writing Wreath. Right now it looks like this.
 | |
| Snapped by amateur photographer |
Yeah, I know, it’s just a stretched out coat hanger and some bits of ribbon. But at the end of each writing day, I'll attach another snippet, then another
and another until eventually they're all scrunched together, nice and fluffy.
 |
| Needs manicure |
Then I can
trim and edge it and make it look more like an actual wreath.
Like I said, it's an experiment. I have no idea if it'll represent a completed novel or just many months of writing. But when I can’t squeeze another ribbon onto it, I'll have it figured out. Until then, I’ll occasionally
report the progress.
Okay, so I do have a little creativity. But you, my faithful
followers, probably have a lot. Suggestions?
That's super awesome. I wouldn't worry about trimming it. The "ragged" edge ties into the ragged edge in your manuscript. When it is done you won't notice it as much because it is full. It will look like texture more than uneven.
ReplyDeleteBy trim, I mean angle. It'll look too straight across if I don't.
DeleteLove, Love, LOVE this idea!!!!
ReplyDeleteDotti, what a fun idea!
ReplyDeleteLooks pretty creative to me, Dotti! I love the idea of having a visual representation of your writing progress, however you decide to measure it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really cool idea. I love it. I want to do one now.
ReplyDeleteDang, I've tried leaving a comment several times, keep booting me off saying "I don't own that identity" Who am I anyway?
ReplyDeleteDottie, I love this idea! Looking forward to seeing your wreath grow.
How are you attaching the ribbons to the wire?
I loop them on. Fold the ribbon in half, place the top loop against the front of the wire, then pull the bottom around and through the loop.
ReplyDeleteLove it, Dotti! You could use pieces of paper, too, and write stuff on them---like, 200 words today even though the cat threw up on the computer. Ya know, stuff like that. To amuse yourself on the bad days. :-D Happy trails! bobbi c.
ReplyDeleteI love that idea.
DeleteHow cool is that, a writing wreath! I do like Bobbi's suggestion of putting writing on some of your ribbons. It could be therapeutic.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Anna Church
http://www.hugabugtravels.com
I love the idea Dotti, and I especially love seeing that autism awareness puzzle pattern ribbon that you are using!
ReplyDeleteThat's what that is? I thought it was just a cool jigsaw pattern. I was going to use pink ribbon, but that's highly associated with breast cancer awareness, and I wanted my wreath to represent my writing, not a cause. Not that I don't promote autism awareness.
DeleteReal cool, mate. Tangible, colorful, and a work progress report all in one.
ReplyDeleteMargot
What a wonderful incentive for those of us who struggle with glue ourselves down long enough to write...Tangible Progress for what seem an insurmountably task (at least in the beginning.) Running with that suggestion here's another simple one that might work: Remember the chewing gum wrapper, friendship changes we made as kids. Adding a link each day would be pretty cool. You fold your gum wrap in half then in half again the long way. Then bring the skinny ends together folding it in half the other way. Open the new fold, tuck one side into the middle and the other side into the middle forming two pockets or slots. As you make these, you tuck the ends through the slots of the previous one. Okay so the way I describe it, it sounds complicated. But after you do it for a bazillion friends, it's relatively easy. I'm surprised that I remember how after all these years.
ReplyDeleteMy problem is that as an avid crafter I'd eventually abandon the writing one afternoon to finish the wreath.
ReplyDeleteBut I could sooo see myself doing this with a paper chain and decorating the home office with it. Each link in the chain could have a few words written on it. THAT would motivate me to write every day. Thank you for the inspiration.
Now all I need is a home office. ;)
With a paper chain, you could write down the date and word count.
DeleteWonderful idea, Dotti. I keep an Excel spread sheet of my daily totals with my 100 word group. This idea is much more visual and satisfying (although it makes my bookkeeping heart glow when I open that spread sheet and see how many words I have in my current WIP. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou go, girl! We'll want to see it progress.
Well, I think this is very creative, Dotti. I am about to celebrate my 1,000th straight day of writing at least 100 words on Friday...And I don't have a wreath to show for it. Wahhh!
ReplyDelete*hugs*
~J
How about a pat on the back? :)
DeleteDotti, do you have a certain word count you shoot for? Love the visual progress!
ReplyDeleteLaurie, I've heard that Jerry Seinfeld has a calendar where he X's out each day that he writes, and the Xs form a kind of visual chain. His personal mantra: "DON"T BREAK THE CHAIN." But I love the paper chain idea -- it would give the office a nice festive feel by the time you finish a book!
I don't set a limit on word count. But I rarely write below 500.
DeleteI also read about Jerry's method. Sound advice.
What a creative and concrete idea! I also love the other ideas your wreath has prompted here. Certainly beats the black ribbon I sometimes feel like wearing!
ReplyDeleteYou obviously have MANY creative bones in your body, Dotti! Thanks for laying them bare for us..... c:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link back to the beginning, Dotti! I may have to try a variant of this. One of my goals next year is more consistent writing -- something I am NOT good at. This would be a big help!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rie! It helps to see more than just words on paper.
ReplyDeletenice article great post comment information thanks for sharing
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