Words Within Worlds Within Words

June 6, 2017June 6, 2017 / Penny L Howe / 6 Comments

~ Well written words reveal themselves to be branches spiraling ever outward; releasing and igniting an ever changing spectrum of emotions ripe with potential for the emergence of new thoughts and ideas from those readers/speakers of our verbal creations.

~ Whether fiction, nonfiction, prose, scripts, lyrics or other, writers do much more in our crafting of words than just informing or entertaining.

~ Perhaps we may view each of our written endeavors as not just creative methods of communication and/or expression, but more aptly as inventions of innovative and thoughtful imagination, serving up potent catalysts of change involved with the evolution of who (as human beings) we are or in an even more expansive view ~ of who we’ve yet to become. ~Plh, 2017
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I hope this new week is being good for you. Take care . . . I wish you well.

With great affection,

Penny

She Plays So Well – Friday Fictioneers

January 20, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 31 Comments

A new week brings a new “flash fiction” writers challenge from Friday Fictioneers. Thank you to the always gracious and talented, Rochelle. To be a part of this wonderful writers weekly challenge or read some of the awesome other entries click HERE!

My entry (for those who follow my blog) is unlike those I generally write which tends to be positive, loving and upbeat. Still I hope all you creative types out there enjoy this very temporary change of pace from me:

PHOTO PROMPT © Jan W. Fields

She Plays So Well

“She plays so well,” he thought with undying admiration.

A virtuoso, her long slender fingers drifting delicately over keys with expertise rarely seen. He was only one of many applauding her amazing performance, but he was the lucky one asked to attend her in her dressing room after.

Happily sharing his love fully and completely, too late realizing he was also the one selected to replace depleted creative energy, he felt her demonic fingers drifting delicately over his body draining him of life.

“Ah, but she plays so well,” he thought even as his beating heart stopped in dying admiration.

Thanks for your visit, I hope you enjoyed this playful rendition of life not going the way you thought it should. A good idea to remember sometimes things aren’t what they seem.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend to come. May your days be filled with only good and positive things!

With much affection,

~ Penny

Progress Never Sleeps ~ Haibun for Yesterday!

February 23, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 4 Comments

The Oil Lamp …

standing upright much as a soldier on parade. The base, cleaned and refilled, silver burner polished to gleaming brightness. The wick trimmed, now standing in attention. Glass chimney thoroughly scrubbed so not one single speck of soot mars the surface.

The oil lamp stands on the table in a modest home. Now to be found in many homes. At the ready for the approaching night when once again it will light the way from darkness to light for those to appreciate man’s great progress.

yesterday’s progress

most wondrous thing to behold

now it never sleeps

“Sometimes progress moves too fast for us mere mortals to keep pace in the endless nights of change.” Penny L Howe

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Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have an excellent week. Try not to burn too much midnight oil, my friends … and remember to take care of you!

With affection,

~ Penny

The Value of Imagination – Your Creativity and the Written Word.

February 16, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 7 Comments

In the sky of spiral clouds

the dragons made their lair

in peace they lived for all of time

without a single care

Albert Einstein said “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” And he should know, being one of the most intelligent scientists in our last century.

When we allow our imagination free rein to explore the unknown, we think thoughts and create ideas that may not have come to mind in an orderly “seeing is believing” mentality. All of us need to function on a daily basis, but how much more wonderful to be able to go beyond the average “every day of things” to see what might lay just beyond …

Creativity functions best when there are no limits imposed on what may or may not be possible. Think on this. Einstein also said “Imagination is more important that knowledge.” And once again, he should know based on his own amazing scientific discoveries.

With all this in mind, allow your inner thoughts some roaming power, jot down creative thoughts and ideas as they come to mind. In fact it’s a great time to explore your own imagination … just imagine what you may find there!

Have a great week ahead and remember to always take care of you. You can’t be there for others if you haven’t taken care of your own needs first!

With affection,

~ Penny

INK – and Global Scribes.org

February 9, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 16 Comments

INK

When I think of ink, scribes come to mind. Industrious, hardworking individuals who over the millennium painstakingly wrote down historical happenings for the preservation of events and beliefs of the time. Even today if one thinks about ink (unless you’re a printer) you associate it with the writer and his or her written words.

Originally, every written word laid down by a scribe was a work of art, not just the words themselves but also the beauty of their hand written script and scholarly works of art referred to as illuminated manuscripts.

Ink is life’s blood or liquid essence to writer/artisans. It always has been and always will be. Where would Shakespeare or Mozart have been without ink? Yes ink, containing within its elements the amazing magic to convert creative thoughts and ideas into physical reality. And that’s pretty darn awesome, if you ask me. (writer and an artist)

Recently I was contacted by Global Scribes™ (A nonprofit organization which fosters global unity by connecting youth to build cultural understanding and worldwide community through the beauty and the power of the written word). As a result, I have participated in a few creative writing projects for them. Including the short piece you just read “INK”.

If, like myself you are interesting in helping a nonprofit group that fosters and actively encourages creativity in our youth around this amazing planet of ours, I strongly recommend you become involved as well. Contact them at Global Scribes™ . You won’t regret it. Global Scribes is new, young, flexible and appreciating all of the help they can get growing Awareness and Participation.

Most sincerely,

Penny L Howe

Here’s to Love

February 8, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 26 Comments

This is February. My favorite month of the year. Valentines Day comes to mind. A day of love (In my humble opinion, every day is a day of love) but commercially speaking we have an official day of celebrating love.

Then two of the most famous presidents in the United States have their birthdays in this month. I refer of course to Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. and I’m an Aquarius (for whatever that’s worth, lol). So there you go. I love February. And it’s a good reason to be more poetic.

So here’s to LOVE:

Embedded image permalink

I Shall …

carry the sun

on a tray just for you.

And if you wish,

bring the moon too.

But should the moon

disappear from above,

Even still I will fetch,

bring to you with my love.

Penny L Howe, 2015

Embedded image permalink

Hope you enjoyed, thank you for stopping by,

~ Penny

The Written Word

January 29, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 8 Comments

Did I get your attention?

How about YOUR written word?

Okay, NOW that I have your attention, let’s spend just a few minutes there. Why do you write? You’re thinking to yourself well that’s a simple question but … in the marketing business one of the first questions you ask a new small business owner is why they’re doing what they’re doing (besides wanting to make money, that is, lol). You would be surprised at how many cannot answer that question very clearly, first time out.

So, here’s the question again. Why do your write? Well: 1) You enjoy writing creatively. 2)You have a message to pass on 3) You love to read a certain genre of book and now wish to try your hand at writing and publishing same. 4) You want to be published and make money.

Okay let’s assume that number 4 is a given (unless you’re independently wealthy in which case please contact me.)

Seriously, depending on how you answer that question really dictates the manner in which you should continue with your “finished” work. (Have a “pro” edit it first, please – worth the fee.) If you’re an independent sort, becoming an Indy Author could be a good thing. More research to learn how to self publish is needed, as well as more research on how to self market (once self-published) also will be needed. No pain, no gain (an old saying but true). Your self published book will not sell itself (sadly) unless you’re already a known and popular Indy author. And even they know they have to stay “out there” and market.

If you really don’t wish to do the extra work as an Indy Author then the traditional method of finding a Publishing firm who will do all the above, is the way to go. Again the saying “no pain, no gain” enters the picture because there is an incredible amount of individuals vying for the same thing you want. To be previewed and accepted by a Publishing house. This takes time and persistence as well. In the process you will learn more than you wished to know about policies and procedures as well as who to and how to submit your work.

Either route is time consuming and a serious commitment. It just isn’t going to happen overnight. You have huge volumes of competition (lots of other ‘would be” authors).

If you have the passion to not give up, to keep pursuing and you believe in your “written word”, you will achieve. Don’t forget failure is just another step on your way to success.

Key words to remember: Passion, Persistence, Determination. A sincere never give up attitude. And I’ll add one more thing … Get help. Don’t be shy, ask others (who are published) how they did what they did. Some of these published authors will take the time to answer you because they remember being there too.

I hope my words have been of value to you.

Have a great weekend coming up and as always take care of you.

With affection,

~ Penny

Haibun of Spring – To Lay in the Meadow

January 3, 2015January 3, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

To lay down in the meadow is to recall youthful days running wild and free throughout the countryside. Surrounded by mountains, the valley where I lived as a child is uniquely nestled in a protected area where the weather (for the most part) is mild and residents are blessed with four distinct seasons, each a favorite of mine. About the time I’d tire of one season the next would arrive in all its glory.

In late spring, early summer wildflowers are in full bloom, grassy meadows soft to lay on and I … I lay midst blooming sweet clover, limbs spread wide contemplating absolutely nothing at all, except perhaps blue sky over head and a few puffy white clouds floating by.

Did you know if you take the little purplish colored clover buds and pull them away from the base of the flower putting them on your tongue, there is a sweet nectar taste to them. Fun.

Bird song is everywhere with croaking little mint green frogs from a nearby stream adding to the melody of life. It is heaven to me, all is right and as I recall this today, it is still a truth. To lay down in the meadow embracing life and nature, in that moment … all is right with the world.

nectar so sweet

a meadow land of wonder

the rightness of life

Thanks for stopping by, I hope your enjoyed my haibun. For those of you who would like to try your hand at writing ‘haibun style’ check out Alastair’s Haibun Thinking, a weekly haibun writing challenge. Click here for more information.

Have a great weekend and take care of you.

with affection,

~ Penny

Mondays Finish the Story – They say Life is a Game of Chess!

December 19, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

The Photo and Sentence Prompt: “They say that life is a game of chess…”

They say that life is a game of chess. Okay, I’m good with that, after spending (in my previous post – the story for Sunday Photo Fiction) a cold, drafty hungry weekend at a castle, I’m really into the whole game of chess thing. Just one question – who made the queen so powerful?

Could we have a little more sharing of powers going on here. I mean the king can barely take a step in any direction without getting stomped on, and he’s the king. You know, head honcho, main dude, Number Ono, and the big prize on the board, still he’s pretty much powerless. But perhaps there’s a truth in this.

Maybe it’s true for everyone. Perhaps the meaning of life is that the king’s not much different than the lowly pawn. Well, except the king has people wait on him and wears groovy clothes and things, but other than that, oh and he probably eats really well and has people (probably the pawn) help him find his way around drafty castles”… no wait this isn’t working out the way I thought …

I guess life is like a game of chess because they both confuse the heck out of a person.

For more information about Mondays Finish The Story (flash fiction) Writers Challenge, where the writer uses both a photo and an opening sentence for the prompt: click HERE. Barb will guide you through the process, be sure and read some of the other well written entries while you’re there.

Thanks for stopping by and reading,

~ Penny

Mondays Finish the Story – This is as Deep as it Gets!

December 11, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

The Photo and Sentence Prompt: “Donning her fins and snorkel, she headed out into the deep water.”

My Entry:

Donning her fins and snorkel, she headed out into the deep water. She knew deep water well. At the moment in her personal life she was over her head in deep waters. Deep troubles, deep problems, deep,deep deep!

Here, in the ocean she could let it all go, for at least a short period of time. Forget about her cheating husband, her loss of her job this week, all the ever increasing bills, and the amazing fact that she really didn’t care all that much about any of it.

The deepness felt because of great weariness, an exhaustion from trying to do so much for so many.

However with each stroke, as she swam through the waters, she felt an increasing sense of freedom for the first time in a very long time. Yes she thought, it’s my turn now. Her strokes became fuller and stronger as she swam. I believe the only deep thing I’m going to let myself get into going forward is this big, beautiful ocean. With a quick kick off and a few more strokes she headed for shore.

Yes, she thought, finally time for me to live my life – for me.

*****

Thanks for stopping by, have an excellent weekend, and if you live here on the West Coast of America, be careful, a lot of rain and wind going on … take care of you!

With affection,

~ Penny