The Journey - virtual journeys

Here are some links to virtual journeys.

If you could see a virtual journey on the Web, what journey would it be?

Imagine your journey and write about it.

Spain
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/ontheline/explore/journey/spain/spindex.htm
France
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/ontheline/explore/journey/france/frindex.htm
San Francisco ChinaTown
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/chinatown/intro.html

Finding your inspiration: the notebook

Every writer, journaller or scrapbooker should always carry a small notebook and a pen or pencil with you. We have those big handbags (purses for you Americans) yes? It doesn't have to be a big notebook.

If you take a photo, you can quickly note down where, when, why, what... the details that you'll quickly forget.



If the weather is interesting describe it - it could come in useful in a story sometime.



If you have a brilliant idea - jot it down - a scrapbook layout, an idea for a plot, a memory that's fleeting.



I have a notebook by my bed as well - vital for captuiring those middle of the night or just-dropping-off-to-sleep thoughts - otherwise you NEVER remember them in the morning!

So it's not so much a writing or scrapbooking journalling prompt today as a task - get yourself a notebook. If you're really creative, make or alter one...



For some inspiration check out Clareyfairy's notebook on Flickr. She includes ribbon strings to use as page markers so I know where to find all my important information. What a brilliant idea!

Photo by Dano on Flickr

Art - experiment

Art

Play with the word art in a creative way – cut out letters, use stamps. Create an ATC (Artist Trading Card). Use altered alphabets, mixed alpha stickers. Play with a word as a title… Just experiment!

To write, free associate starting with “art”.

Art inspiration: online gallery

Go to an art site and find a picture that inspires you.

Try:

The National Gallery
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/collection/default_online.htm

The Saatchi Gallery

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

http://www.metmuseum.org/

The Louvre

http://www.louvre.fr/

Now start journalling - either about why you like it or what you think it means, or about what is in the photo - if people, what are they doing? If a place, how does it feel to be there?

About me: nobody told me...

Nobody Told Me:

What did nobody tell you that you wished you had known?

What would you like to pass on to other people – your friends, your children, particularly - to save them grief?

Start with the prompt:

I wish someone had told me that ...

My favourite music makes me feel...

Listen to your favourite music with your eyes shut.

• How does it make you feel?
• What does it remind you of?

When the music stops, open your eyes and write or type for 5 minutes (you could set a timer or alarm or just check your computer’s clock).

Writing for a fixed length of time like this is called freewriting and it’s a very useful journalling exercise. The rules are: start with the prompt, don’t stop and keep your fingers/pen moving for the full 5 minutes.

You can carry on after 5 minutes if you have found your flow!

For scrapbookers, this can be a useful exercise if there was a soundtrack to the photo you are scrapping - if it was an occasion with a special song, such as a wedding, or a particular time. If you have a photo from 1983, for example, try to listen to pop music from that era and see if it helps you put the photo in context...

The song that's stuck in your head...

Sometimes, when I find a new song, I play it again and again. I just can’t get enough of it.

And you know when a song gets stuck in your head? Those lyrics just dominate your thoughts! When something affects you as strongly as this, write those lyrics down.

• Think about what the lyrics are saying and why they mean something to you
• Write another verse for the song
• Take the title of the song and just freewrite – see what other thoughts, emotions and phrases come out when you think about just that title

Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it

from "Losing my religion" by REM

Journalling: I do try to keep up with myself a lot. I don't need anyone to keep up with, there's no "keeping up with the Joneses". I drive myself, sometimes past my strength and past the sensible point. I work too hard, and try to fit too much in, and to be a great wife and mother, and I'm always trying to be a better person... Just now I am suffering the consequences of this. Driving myself to work so hard - and I've been ill for over a month. I didn't spend enough time on myself keeping fit and healthy. I hope I've learned my lesson and I won't do it again...

Music as a theme tune

Two prompts today:

What's your favourite theme tune from a TV programme or film?

If your life was a television show, what would your theme song be and why?

Mine changes frequently ... I still love the song by Annie Lennox at the end of Lord of the Rings: Into the West - it makes shivers go down my spine. And it has an ethereal quality that might be appropriate - and it is about sleep! Sleep now and have wonderful dreams ...

My favourite music

Simple one today:

• What is your favourite piece of music? Why?

Your scrapbook layout or sketchbook journal could feature a photo of the musician, or a scan of the lyrics or music or CD/album cover. Or you could write or print out the lyrics in an attractive font.

Writing and journalling about music

Who is your favourite band?

Collect as many titles of their singles, albums and album tracks as you can and create a piece of writing using them.

Writing or journalling about music - send a letter

Today's music-related prompt:

Write a letter to your favourite band or musician and thank them for their music (don’t be too soppy – treat them as real people) or suggest some songs which you would like to hear them cover!

Writing and journalling about music - acrostic poem

Still being inspired by the name of your favourite band or musician or even composer, why not write an acrostic poem to accompany a photo of them?

Don't worry if you've never written a poem before: an acrostic poem DOES NOT have to rhyme :) It's simple - you take the word and use each letter as the first letter of a line of a poem.

So Green Day would come out:

G ...
R ...
E ...
E ...
N ...
D ...
A ...
Y ...

The obvious subject for your acrostic would be music or why you like this person/band.

Good Riddance they sing
Remembering the "Time of Your Life"
Even I can relate to that
Especially when September Ends
Normally my favourite month
Dreaming I hear them singing it
At the front of the concert audience
Yelling in delight