About the Blogfest
Time for our Imagination Sparks Blogfest! It's not to late, you can still sign up and join in - the link's below. What is the Imagination Sparks Blogfest? Simply share with us a creative writing prompt, or suggest a way to warm up your imagination before you sit down to write - it's really up to you. Then pop around and see what other bloggers suggest, try out one or two activities (or all of them if you're really keen for a creative week), then on, or around, the 8th of August, do a post to let us know how you went. Did you learn something, find a new story idea, discover a favourite writing prompt? Let your imagination go wild.
My Creative Spark
I must admit, this is not something I usually do to spark creativity, but I decided to try something a bit different for this blogfest. Today I'm using music to prompt my writing. I first discovered the power of music for story writing when I was eight. It was 1977, and my mother took me to the cinema (a very special treat back then) to the see the magnificent Fantasia. I will never forget the amusement of the dancing hippos, the wonderment of the frolicking cupids, and, the concern when Micky's brooms just wouldn't stop marching! But most of all, I remember that terrifying finale, with the huge devil letting souls slip between his claws to the soundtrack of Night on Bald Mountain and Ava Maria.
Years later I enjoyed the spectacular release of Fantasia 2000 with my girls, and it was an instant win for them too (aww, that sweet little whale getting separated from his mother).
Today I've included two classical masterpieces for you to write to. Choose your favourite, or try both. Both have a good mix of emotion and rise and fall in the tempo. Try to write a story, or whatever comes to mind as you listen. Here's hoping you get something surprising!
I'll be checking in with all the other participants and trying the writing prompts/exercises. Hope we get lots of sparks this week!
I'd like to just give a little shout out to a couple of musical friends this week. Perhaps they'll inspire something creative in you!
I don't watch much television and never reality competition shows, so I got a pleasant surprise to learn one of my students from my old school (which I do miss a lot!) was an entrant on X-Factor. Not only that, but she made it through! Please check out Veanka Howard, she has an amazing talent...
And I also discovered one of our writing group buddies plays around with producing electronic music with his band. I think this could inspire a sci-fi story...
That's all from me today, now, I've got a few blogs to visit and a hankering to watch Fantasia over and over.
PS: for those following my website design journey - I'll post the first few steps in my progress after the blogfest is over.
Hi Charmaine!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post! Thanks for sharing!
Looking forward to reading all the posts in the blogfest.
Nas
Thanks Nas!
DeleteThat's cool that one of your students was on the X-factor. I like writing to music too, especially most of the music they play in cafes. They often sell CDs at Starbucks, but I think they should sell a compilation CD of all the songs they play instead.
ReplyDeleteLots of great stuff here Charmaine. Love that your student got through. I didn't see her, but will start watching as soon as they finish the eliminations. Great shout out for Dean.
ReplyDeleteI will try to get back to have a go at your prompt, but don't promise anything. Insanely busy at the mo' with my new blog etc.
I didn't discover music as such a powerful writing tool until the Writing Class at QWC, when Meg played two different tunes which we wrote to. I found my story's tone was completely different with the various tunes. Reminds me to try it again -- may be more inspirational than listening to 24-hour news to write by, lol!
Music is so powerful!
ReplyDeleteI often listen to music when working on my own projects. What a great selection of songs to choose from!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy writing to music. Your songs were cool.
ReplyDelete.......dhole
That's an interesting prompt. I've never been able to write to music so far - for me it's like being pulled in different directions by two of my favorite activities. But I'm going to give it a try specifically for this blogfest. Who knows, it might work this time! And if it does, what fun!
ReplyDeleteI've dedicated tomorrow to writing my own prompt, as well as visiting everyone else's. Great initiative, Charmaine.
*Love* the electronic music. Groups like ES Posthumous are a big part of making Magic in my writerly life.
ReplyDeletethank you for having me in the blogfest :D Donna Hole, Swati and Huntress, aka CD Coffelt are the new cool bloggers I found :)
ReplyDelete