Welcome all to my blog. It’s for anyone interested in writing and photography.
Our cherry tree had masses of blossom this year; bees were very active collecting as much pollen as they could.
Camellia
I took this photograph in March in our garden, when the weather was mild and the camellia was in full flower. Shortly afterwards winter returned with a vengeance and the flowers turned brown and unattractive. That’s nature for you.
Photography group meeting
The topic for the first half of our meeting last Tuesday was white balance and colour temperature. After the break we had a guest speaker who told us about Forensic photography. Not all about bodies and crime (guess who’s been watching too much Silent Witness?) Very interesting and informative.
This photo was one of 3 we were asked to bring to the meeting on the subject of moving water. It was taken in Norway in 2009.
Being published
Once, I was advised by a writing tutor not to be too precious about my writing. I was told, if you submit something to a magazine for publication, the editor has the right to change or delete items. This came home to me this week when a letter was published in a weekly magazine. There is to be a payment, quite a generous one, but the letter bears little resemblance to the one I wrote. The facts are there, but written in a way I’d not have written them.I shouldn’t complain of course, after all the money will put food on the table, but it would be good to feel really proud of my own words. It’s something to bear in mind if you are a beginner especially.
This colourful character was on display at Bridport market one Saturday in March. The market is very popular and there are street musicians, plenty of antique stalls, and interesting people to view.
Rejection slips
As writers we all receive rejection slips. It’s how we deal with them that makes the difference between a writer and somebody who simply dreams of writing. We have to develop a thick skin, and realise that it is not a personal criticism we’ve received. There may be all sorts of reasons a story, article, poem or even a book does not become accepted the first time out.
This week has been a mixed one from that point of view. Tuesday brought a rejection slip and a poem returned. Wednesday brought a magazine with a letter of mine in, but no payment made. Thursday brought yet another rejection slip, this time for an article I’d written. At least that has been returned fairly promptly, which I’m grateful for, as it is time sensitive, and I still have the time to send out to another magazine, and maybe a third if that doesn’t get accepted.
So, I’d say to somebody starting out on the road to becoming a writer, don’t give up at the first hint of rejection. That way you will surely lose. Continue to write, try to make your work even better and simply keep at it. Every artist, not just a writer, has to go through this. Many very good musical artists have gone on to much better things after their first rejections. Painters too, in fact, anyone who is creative in any way. If you put your work out for anyone to see it, you will receive praise and criticism. Don’t stop.
The photograph of a drystone wall was taken on a lovely winter’s day at Spyway, Purbeck. It is published in the March edition of the Purbeck Gazette.
Prior to joining the photography group, I wouldn’t have even looked at a wall like this with a view to taking photos, but I’m learning to look at things differently, and can see beauty and design where I never thought to look.
Small success for my photography
A beautiful day at Spyway, Purbeck
Writing and photography groups
Our writing group reconvened last week, and we read out our ‘homework’, which involved the seven deadly sins. I have to admit to a little cheating, as I’d already had an article on this very subject published a few years back, so I read this out. It had been published in Writers’ Forum, and encouraged all writers to allow their characters to sin, as this is what makes for a compelling story. The other members of the group had various takes on the subject of these sins, so it was an interesting afternoon.
As for the photography group, this morning was a little disappointing. The group had been meaning to reconvene after the Christmas break a fortnight ago, but that meeting was cancelled due to the pressure of work on our leader. This morning I was geared up to go and make a presentation on macro photography, and this meeting was cancelled due to a problem with the key-holder of the hall where we meet. I was a bit miffed, but disappointments are yet another part of life, and after all, it wasn’t serious. Hoping now that the next meeting will go ahead and it will be third time lucky.
