Sunday, January 2, 2011

TSS: 1.2.11

It is incredibly hard to believe that the holidays have come and gone and tomorrow begins a new semester.  It seems like the first week of Christmas break is spent preparing for Christmas, and the last week of break is spent cleaning it up.  While second semester is about three weeks longer in terms of classroom hours, it is somehow broken into more manageable timeframes.  We ease into the semester by having teachers report tomorrow for an in-service day, but students not returning to the classrooms until Wednesday.  After a week and a half we will celebrate MLK Jr on Monday, January 17.  A month later we will celebrate President's Day on Monday, February 21, and then less than a month after that will be spring break.  Can you tell that I am already counting down until Summer Vacation???

I have spent the better part of this week reflecting on the past year.  I decided that I want to live 2011 with purpose and attempted to develop a schedule that would help me to accomplish that goal; and I reviewed my love/hate relationship with challenges and decided to secretly participate in a few challenges of my own design.  I had one follower comment that she was tired of reflecting and ready to delve into the New Year.  I am ready as well --- but I have one more thought on the past before I fling myself into the future.

While my track record for 2010 reading challenges was abysmal (I only completed one and several I did not read a single book), I did actually read a LOT - probably more than I have read in several years.  The problem was that I had a significant shift in interest - from predominantly fiction literature (contemporary fiction and mysteries) to predominantly non-fiction and literature within the genre of my writing.  I had NO idea that 2010 would be the year that I discovered a love for writing.  It just rather evolved - a large part in thanks to the Bread Loaf School of English course I took the summer of 2009, but also due in part to the inspirational reading on J.Kaye's writing blog.

By mid spring my reading focus had shifted and I found myself reading a number of non-fiction books related to art, and Impressionism in particular.  This was due to the fact that I was inspired to write an historical fiction novel (a genre that I have never read) that encompasses the art scene of Paris in the late 1870s.  I love research and allowed myself to delve knee deep into this subject matter.  I read countless books and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  The storyline is coming along and I hope that it will be my NaNoWriMo piece for 2011.  There is still a lot of research that needs to be done, not to mention a major conflict that needs to be developed, which I will probably focus on during the summer break.

About this same time I also began to develop an interest in photography - not as a memory keeping device (which I have always done) but as an artistic expression.  This led me to research many, many books on photographic composition as well as lighting and exposure.  I reviewed a few of these books, but I have probably read close to thirty on the subject and purchased about ten.  This will continue to be a focus in 2011.  I hope to participate in the 365 project (a photo a day to chronicle my life) --- but knowing me, I will adapt this to a 52 project (a minimum of a photo a week).  I hope to become well acquainted with PhotoShop Elements 9 and begin to manipulate digital photos into works of personal art.  This will be ongoing, but it is an interest that I am anxious to pursue.

By late summer I knew that I was going to be teaching a creative writing course (it was originally supposed to be a team teaching experience, but since the other teacher moved away, I was going to teach it solo) as well as attempting to write my novel in a month.  This led me to read several books on creative writing - everything from travel writing, to authors' memoirs, to the craft of writing.  I became almost obsessed with the concept of reading about writing.  I have now acquired quite a number of books on this topic in my personal library and hope to organize the prompts in such a way that I can find inspiration to write on some topic every day of the year.  I want to try to focus my attention on the act of writing, and worry less about the quantity or quality.  Hopefully that will come with time.

So as I am ready to delve into the New Year - I must consider my past and realize that my reading life will follow its own course and will bring me pleasure.  I hope that 2011 can be a year of reading balance between fun fictional reads, as well as informative non-fiction ones.

16 comments:

  1. I didn't do so hot on my challenges either, but that's okay - they're just for fun anyway. Happy New Year, Molly!

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  2. I finished most of my challenges, but I placed each of them on different blogs (big mistake, since I have so many!), and by the time I needed to do wrap-ups, some of those blogs I had deleted. Yeah, without saving everything.

    Live and learn. This year, all challenges will be on one blog!

    I like the way you've read to inform yourself on your interests and pursuits. Your photography is amazing! I also enjoy reading about how you're preparing for your 2011 NaNo project.

    I also enjoy how you've documented the holidays coming up, like little hurdles to cross before summer. I think like that, too.

    Enjoy your first two days back without the kids!

    Here's my salon:

    (click on my name)

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  3. It sounds as if you have created excellent and attainable goals (with backup goals if the original goals are too strenuous). Excellent.

    I am taking a photography class at the community college in the spring with my daughter-in-law (and, in tandem with my sister, though she is taking the same class in the day and we are taking it at night). I cannot wait! I also want to post a number of photographs each week at my blog....at a minimum, I hope to participate in Wordless Wednesday each week.

    Good luck on your goals!

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  4. No challenges me. I read at my own pace!

    Wish you a very Hapyy New Year. May 2011 be very fruitful for you!

    Here is my Sunday Salon post!

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  5. I don't blame you for counting down the days until summer vacation. Haha! I would too if I were in your shoes. I didn't take any time off for the holidays but will have a four day weekend come MLK Day. I'm looking forward to that.

    It's really interesting to see how our reading evolves over time, isn't it? I wish I was more cognizant of those types of changes in my reading. I think they're a little to subtle in my case, however.

    I hope you have a wonderful New Year in books and in life, Molly.

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  6. Happy new year, Molly! I love your clarity about your intentions for the new year. I hope to do the same, and am envisioning a year filled with more creativity.

    The photography sounds so interesting. I have been thinking about learning more in this field too.

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  7. I didn't do well with my challenges either, but I had fun reading the books that I did get in.

    Happy New Year! Happy reading and writing!

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  8. I think that having 2011 be the year of reading balance would be a worthy goal for each of us - balance in our own special way. Happy New Year, Molly!

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  9. I love your goals for 2011. You are really coming into yourself regarding full, artistic self expression. It will be such a journey for you! I look forward to reading about it as the days and weeks roll on.

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  10. I'm doing the 365 project too. Good luck on all of your goals.Happy New year.

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  11. Your writing is wonderful and I loved reading this post. Balance..what a great word and one that I need to have in my life too!!

    Happy New Year!

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  12. I managed to keep my 365 project going until the first week of November. By then I got tired and I just quit...

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  13. I think it's great that you've been diving into your writing and photography! I hope that your year is wonderful in all aspects, including your hobbies and teaching.

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  14. I can't wait to see what you have in store for 2011, Molly. I find your Sunday posts incredibly inspirational and absolutely love the idea of living and acting with purpose. This is something I'm trying to consciously do this year but also I'm trying to be a calmer person (high strung no good for coming baby!). ;)

    Your writing sounds really interesting! This sounds different from the project you mentioned a few months ago--I was under the impression that you were focusing more on chick lit rather than historical fiction? Anyway, I hope that this year is a great year of discoveries.

    I'll have to scour through your 2010 posts for your photog reviews--maybe I missed some during my blogging breaks.

    Best wishes, Molly.

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  15. I still can't get over the fact that we did NaNoWriMo and finished. I had no planning whatsoever. What a rush!

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  16. I am also teaching a writing course second semester. I'd love to hear about any resources/books you've found particularly useful.
    -Christie

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