On Distractions: The Love and Lure of Social Media and the Interwebz

Hi, friends!

I probably shouldn't be blogging right now because of NaNoWriMo (updates to come), but yo, I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS. Ironically, they are on social media and the internet, the two things that probably have the most potential to derail my NaNo process this November.

Actual Footage of My Writing Process:

7:03 a.m. Hmm, I should write. I should just get my thoughts out in the open before any other distractions hit me today.

7:06 a.m. *sits down at computer* Look at me, I'm a writer. I'M WRITING

7:08 a.m. Ooh, just a quick internet search for Research Purposes Only. *checks Twitter*

7:11 a.m. Okay, okay, back to writing.

7:12 a.m. *checks blog* *scans Pinterest*

10:00 pm. *cries*

Yo, the internet can be a real temptation. But it's not just that social media and the interwebz are a distraction to my writing (and probably a lot of yours as well), but it's also the fact that they can become such easy ways for me to entertain myself when I don't have anything else to do.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I've been thinking about how much time I spend blogging, writing my next post, posting on Instagram, creating an aesthetic, using social media to its Full Potential, etc., etc. It's exhausting.

And that's not even to speak about the comparison issues that can come along with social media or updating your life on the internet.

I just want to be in the mountains, the woods.

For me, one great way to remedy internet overkill is TO GO OUTSIDE. I know it seems like a simple and obvious solution, but there is so much richness to be found in the physical world. The earth, the trees, the sun, the sky. The stars! All of it. I want to stand in awe of God and His creation more than I contemplate myself and social media.

I was going to pepper this post with tips and how-to's,
but yo, I don't have it all figured out.

I am still learning what unplugging and taking time away from the computer, the internet, social media and even my novel looks like. What a slow-living, park-walking, Bible-reading Erin looks like, and how she can better serve others around her.

What about you?

Do you ever get tired of technology? I'm there, my friends. I HAVE HIT MAXIMUM INTERNET CAPACITY. Any tips for unplugging? Thanks for reading!

The Creatives Project #1: Julia Ryan

Hello, friends!!

Today is a really exciting day on the blog - it's the official launch of the Creatives Project! I've been so pleased and encouraged by everyone who has reached out in an email or left a sweet comment about this project, and I can't wait to kick it off TODAY! Now, without further ado, please give a big warm welcome to our first creative, Julia Ryan of the barefoot gal and Twilight to Dawn!

What made you want to start blogging?

"I love words and books and pictures and storytelling and friends so basically, I fell in love with it before I knew what blogging was! When I started on this journey, there were not too many lifestyle or writer teen bloggers out there yet. I totally am excited with the large community now." 

What are your favorite topics to blog about?

"Passionate stuff. They are the posts I pour myself into. I know a lot of times that it's something that I need to hear and so I hope it will help someone else as well. And I love how open my readers are to my spontaneous topics! Because I get to be 100% goofy in one post, while the next is all-out serious."

How do you balance art, blogging, work/school and life in general?

"For the past almost two years, I publish a new post on the barefoot gal every 4-5 days. There were a few times where that wasn't consistent (i.e. vacation and grad trip) but overall, it's been a refreshing pattern to keep! The balance was hard during my junior year, but since I broke free of the stress of it, I've found I have to make time for my creative [pursuits] otherwise I'll dry up in every other space of my life. I've worked two jobs since May of this year...it hasn't always been easy, but I can 100% say it's worth it for me!"

If you were an instrument, which would you be and why?

"To be honest, I love the fiddle, so I'll say that."

If you could only pursue one creative project or medium for the rest of your life, one and only one, which would it be and why?

  "Writing. I can answer that without hesitation. It is my greatest joy to spill words onto paper (or type them, hehe) because WOW, words mean so many different things to different people. I love love love perspective."

Who or what inspires you to create?

"For my poetry, it is generally a thought or a few words that a friend/sister/human says to me, or what I see in life around me. But most of the time, it's the sky. I cannot get over how many times I look up and get this overwhelming urge of inspiration."

What art of your own are you most proud of and why?

"Though sometimes I look at that even and think it's lame! But...the reason why is, I didn't KNOW I could write poetry. I thought I knew all of my creative angles. I was wrong."

Julia's Advice for Creatives:

"Don't stick with what you know. My first novel was a western because that's what I mainly read. My second was a contemporary (which I hardly read!) and I feel so much more love for that book. Creatives are supposed to be that - creative! The "box" isn't meant for us....[You can] give up on feeling like you've got to be perfect on your first try. And give up your worries about failing. I like to say it's good to fail, because in the end, you'll have grown way more than if you got it right on the first attempt."

Thank you so much Julia for being the very first blogger in the Creatives Project! I loved reading your answers and adored these gorgeous photos. Y'all, give Julia's blogs some love here and here!

Want to be the next blogger featured on the Creatives Project? Find out more information here! What inspires YOU to create? I have to second Julia on the sky. Breathtaking sunsets have my heart. ♥

NaNoWriMo is Here: What Are You Writing?

YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS

October is over and NaNoWriMo is here! I must admit that I was a little bit nervous to start writing a story for this year's National Novel Writing Month, but after a little planning and a whole lot of Pinterest, I am #ReadyForThis. Well, maybe. In an effort to actually make myself follow through and write this book, I thought I'd share a little bit about my novel-to-be with you guys. And I want to hear about yours, too! ♥

The Novel: "Dreamland"

Okay, so I didn't realize I was actually going to feel really self-conscious telling you guys about my novel? Who knew! Dreamland is about family, forgiveness and, of course, pink. At least, that is the color the novel is presenting itself to me in - an aesthetic of crackly clouds, bitten, bleeding lips and soft mornings. A little grunge, a little cotton candy, and a whole lot of nostalgia. Pink.

The Plot

Dreamland is the story of Irene, a 20-something librarian who can make herself disappear. When a familiar face shows up on her door step one winter's evening, she is forced to confront her past and the family she left behind. There also might be a little bit of fantasy thrown in here? *Cue me blushing* *The cheese* *Oh my word*

Not Enjoying This

One thing I really hope to explore in this novel is magic realism, which is basically inserting magical and fantastical elements into a story's otherwise ordinary, every day events. I LOVE MAGIC REALISM. ♥ It's quirky and haunting, which is the vibe I'm after with Dreamland. We'll see what happens!

 Soundtrack

I have been listening to so many albums in preparation for writing this novel, it's insane. One thing I hope to do either in or after November is sync up certain albums and songs to be the "themes" of different characters. (I'll keep you posted on that.) Right now, a lot of the inspiration for Dreamland in general has come from music by Beach House, Soko, Max Richter, etc.

Characters

  

Irene is on the left, Law (Lawrence) on the right. Still figuring these dudes out, but what I know for sure is that Law is super snarky and Irene is obsessed with nubby, over-sized Goodwill sweaters. I will discover them as I write, I promise there's more, but this is all I want to say for now.

What about you?

Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? What kind of story are you writing? I want to hear all of y'all's wonderful ideas! Not writing this year? Tell me how your Halloween went! Or what excites you about November!