Sherwood Salutation

Once upon a time, many books ago, I read some extremely helpful advice about what to do when you have writer's block. I believe the suggestion came from Mr. S. (otherwise known as Daniel Schwabauer of OYAN fame) When the creative part of your brain feels like a dried-up pea, take in some other artwork and take a break from putting out artwork. Can't figure out where your plot is going? Read someone else's book. Watch a movie. Listen to music, or look at paintings. I've always found it extremely helpful. Be aware that this can turn into procrastination if you're not careful, but you have to get your creativity from somewhere. Art is one of the many things that fuels imagination. Last semester, my creative writing professor sent us on a field trip to the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. Our assignment was to choose two paintings, and write a poem about each of them. I found enough inspiration that day to fill a lifetime of stories. As I was wandering through the confusing conglomeration of rooms and hallways, I came across a massive painting by one of my favorite artists, N.C. Wyeth. Apparently, it was one of the paintings he did as illustrations for Robin Hood. I scoured the internet, but unfortunately I couldn't find a digital copy of it to share with you, but this painting, also by Wyeth, will give you some idea of what it was like:

It was startlingly bright and vivid, so big that it seemed more like a doorway into Robin Hood's world than a painting. I was alone, and a little lonely, so the sudden appearance of Robin Hood in that quiet world of stiff Renaissance nobles and tortured modern shapes felt like the appearance of a long-lost friend. I adored the Robin Hood stories as a child, and still love them to this day.
I tried to capture a little of the joy of the painting and my own joy in the poem:

Sherwood Salutation

by Olivia Taylor

They told me you were dead--

 My old friend Robin Hood

When I came to the end of the story

They told me you were dead.

But the news-- like everything else about you--

Must be greatly exaggerated, for

I ran into you yesterday

Not quite as I remembered, but it was

You all the same.

Launching sporting arrows

Into the warm rich world of summer afternoon sun

That divine jewel-bright workmanship of light

Lending a bit of heaven’s color to

Our Sherwood:

Verdant greenwood splashed with

Cerulean blue under twisting pillars of

Smooth rough towering oaks

You and the Merry Men

Take the forest as your style

In the green of leafy shadows,

Dull grey of ancient forbidden wood

Calmly glowing

 Brown of

A smile always in your eyes 

With laughter quick to follow.

  

Experiments in Poetry

I know I haven't posted in ages... College has taken up most of my creative writing time, but now it's summer!

 Last semester, I was fortunate enough to be able to take an excellent creative writing class. It was wonderful to be able to count creative writing as homework, and I immensely enjoyed being able to re-enter the magical world of imagination. One of the main purposes of the class was to help us explore different types of creative writing, including poetry, drama, and stories, my personal favorite. 

Poetry was definitely the most challenging--I tend to go big when I'm writing, which is partly how I ended up with four books to my name. In poetry, everything is generally much smaller and more concentrated. Like story-writing, it's challenging, and while you always want to revise and do your best, you'll lose your mind if you obsess over the imperfections too much. It's a great way to practice writing creatively when you don't have much time to spare, and the tighter focus will help your prose stories be more vivid. Trying out different styles of writing gives me better perspective on all areas of writing, and I encourage you to do the same!

I thought I would share one of the poems I wrote for creative writing class as a way to begin the summer. 

"Pro" Tip: If you're feeling stuck with your current project, take it outside if you can! There's something about being outside that's extremely stimulating to creativity. I was completely at a loss for a topic until I went outside and looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful day, and it reminded me of my undying love for the color blue, so I wrote this poem:     

Blue Happy

by Olivia Taylor

Blue like fish-sparkling ocean tide swirling cold

Against my bare ankles

Ringed in salty impossible lace

Dissolving in the wind

The infinite taste of summers gone by and returning

Blue like infinite canvas of sky with new eyes spreading end of night

Music of the spheres opera notes flying

Blue like moody star-flung twilight roaming into cloth of memories 

Familiar metal dull sheen of everyday miracles

Turrets of Cinderella Castle reminding the sky

Blue like a stuffed kangaroo from a misty bedtime story

Mismatched china plates telling stories

Indigo’s name and Errol’s eyes

America trying to keep its color

The hottest of fires and icicle lights

Blue staining raspberry slushies on Yellowstone roads.  

**Indigo and Errol are two of my characters, Errol being my favorite**

Best of luck on your next writing adventure! 

--Jodi