writing | Uniquely Yours Craft Journal

Creative Writing Journal

08 Jul 2020 Comments Off on Creative Writing Journal

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Creative Writing Tags: writing

Dear Fellow Journalers,

As most readers to this blog can attest, I was a tomboy growing up. I climbed trees, rode horses, played baseball, watched tv westerners (Bonanza, being my favorite show), and had a newspaper route each summer. I also read and dabbled in crafts.While most of my girlfriends were learning the latest dance moves, I was learning Irish Step Dancing.

Recently, while cleaning out a drawer I found my creative writing journal from college.There were sections for descriptive writings, poetry, Story starters, and quotes from books.

About a year and a half ago, I discovered a tv show called Laramie. It had originally aired 1959-1963 but I had never seen it. Well , being that I was retired, I soon started watching it every day. I was drawn to the characters and plots. While surfing the internet for more information on the show, I found a site called fan fiction, which I never knew existed. The writers, people just like us, write “missing scenes” or entirely new stories about tv shows, books, movies, cartoons, plays or movies.

Back in January of 2020, an idea began to take hold and I bought a 5 subject notebook to write out my “Story”. I started by dividing my sections into character development, New characters, main and sub plots, snippets of conversation and finally research. I wrote out the first draft and then let it alone for awhile as I contemplated whether or not to submit it.I am not a professional writer; I write a blog. Doubts followed me around for a few weeks. Then I ‘re-wrote the first chapter and got stuck.

I needed to write an outline and stick to it. The last time I wrote a timeline was in college!
How would I advance the story?
What was the best way to describe a scene?
How much emotion to write?
If I submitted it, how would I react to negative comments?

And on and on…

In the following weeks I will share my progress and maybe you can start your own creative writing journal too.

~Sallie

Word Ghosts tackle writing

25 Nov 2016 Comments Off on Word Ghosts tackle writing

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Word Ghosts Tags: writing

” I keep two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.”

Robert Louis Stevenson

” You write your first draft with your heart and you re-write with your head. The first key to writing is to write, not to think.”

Sean Connery

” Words are editable in written format!” unknown

Putting Creativity to work

20 Jul 2016 Comments Off on Putting Creativity to work

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Creativity Journal Tags: enthusiasm, writing

Dear Fellow Journalers,

It took me several days to organize all the items I needed to make Anniversary cards (the first category). Opening my Creativity Journal, I started listing all the resources (die cuts, embossing folders, rubber stamps, craft magazines, Pinterest boards, Sizzix and Spellbinders newsletters, Facebook Groups saved messages, and card sketches.)

I only needed to make 6 cards and I had a dozen ideas for twice that many! Finally I chose the ideas that best suited the dies/stamps/papers I had on hand. I took the first idea and sketched it on a blank page. I took a scrap of each paper and glued it with the sketch. Then armed with all my ideas I set to work. Half way through the creative process, I had to stop for a family commitment. Several days went by and I had time to craft again and discovered that I’d lost my enthusiasm. Gee Whiz! – Just when I had everything all together! Back to my journal I went. I’d come across a quote from Walt Disney that is suitable for Word Ghosts: ” If you can dream it, you can do it.” My finished cards, complete with sentiments and hallmarks came out pretty awesome My consultant panel agreed.

What did I learn? You can have all the intentions in the world, all the supplies, but if you don’t have a plan and a way of executing your dream nothing will ever be accomplished. (I think I just wrote a Ghost Word!)

‘Til next time,

~Sallie

Wrapping myself in a book

24 Sep 2014 Comments Off on Wrapping myself in a book

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Paper Daydreams Tags: book, Iran, Journal, Lewis and Clark, writing

Dear Fellow Journalers,

Wrapping myself in a book

Let’s face it, over the course of your reading career, you’ve been devoured by a book. You plucked it off a library or bookstore shelf and the title or brief description caused you to exclaim “I have to read this!” You sat down with your beverage and immediately were drawn into the characters, the plot, the time frame and time literally slipped away.

When I was a youngster, my favorite thing to do was to curl up in a tree in our backyard and read Nancy Drew books. I remember reading The Wind in the Willows under the bed covers with a flashlight one summer night when I was on vacation in North Carolina.

Some books you have to read slowly. Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose is a book that I am reading now. It is about the adventures of Lewis and Clark. It is fascinating. I find myself drawn into the lives of those explorers and the sights and experiences they had for the first time.

Argo, How the CIA and Hollywood pulled off the most audacious rescue in history by Antonio Mendez is about the Iranian Hostage Crisis. This is another type of slow-read book. “365 Journal Writing Ideas” by Rossi Fox begins with a quote from Maud Hart Lovelace. “Isn’t it mysterious to begin a new journal? I can run my fingers through the fresh clean pages but I cannot guess what the writing on them will be.” I’ve used this book all year and savored it.

Words on a page, no matter how written, can inspire you to action. The words you write in your journal are for the most part, only for you. They are your life and history.

Have you ever gone back to an older journal and wondered if you should re-write passages? Personally, I don’t think this is a good idea.No matter how long its been since you wrote in that journal, you’ve grown and your perspective has changed. Your NEW words reflect that so when you wrap yourself in that book or journal, remember to savor the moments.

~Sallie