Knowledge Aflame

I'M A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE KNOWLEDGE EXPLORER'S GUILD!

I love unearthing gems of information through talking to people, reading, attending conferences, joining museum tours, and on and on and on.

Here's the scene of the last treasure hunt I went on.
   — Actual rooms at LTUE where I found an immense stash of knowledge!

Doesn't it just give you thrills? 

To think of the vast store of knowledge just out there waiting for us to discover it—now that's a thrilling adventure. — And one of the reasons I love LTUE so much. Such a variety and depth of classes, you can't help but learn scads! 

Among my favorites are the student presentations on papers they've written, and classes that are worlds away from what I write. I find the best sparks there! —Here's a great example— 

Last year at LTUE, at the last class of the day, there wasn't a class I was especially interested in, so I attended one titled Lovecraft. I figured even though I didn't write romance, I could learn something. 

   I settled in, the presenters spoke, and WHAT DID THEY JUST SAY?! Lovecraft is a horror writer?! Seriously? Lovecraft?! Unbelievable! 

   I almost left the class since I don't write or read horror, but I stayed for that spark, remember. And I'm so glad I did. The panel wasn't anything like I thought it would be, and I took a page and a half of notes. AND—I used a spark of an idea from the class in my current novel! Yes! 

So in your knowledge expeditions, don't push away the places that look odd, despicable, boring—dig for the sparks! 

Oh, and I have to tell you— 

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PRESENTERS IS CLINT JOHNSON. 

He's brilliant! If you ever get a chance to attend one of his classes, run! And be ready to catch all the sparks. At his presentation on Voice & Style last year at the League of Utah Writers Conference, he urged us to do something we'd never done before, something we'd never had any desire to do. 

Like say, you've never had an inkling to watch a demolition derby—GO DO IT! It'll enrich your life, your writing, and your understanding and enjoyment of the people around you. 

Here's Clint's website—jump on over and say hey!

And go do something, read something, listen to something you've never thought of before.

AND WATCH THE SPARKS FLY!

The Writing Truck

I FELL OFF THE WAGON.

Or, more precisely, the back of the truck.

Look at this truck! Isn't it incredible? It's the great old farm truck that's been keeping me company at my summer writing spot. It sits there all friendly-like just letting me do my writing thing. 


I haven't been there for about three weeks. I slacked off on my writing stuff to go on vacation and enjoy the rest of summer break. And it was good, so good, to have a little vacation from my head. 


But I do miss my truck friend in the grassy field by the tree by the pond. Hey, that reminds me of that song I used to sing when I was a kid - 
        And on that eye there was an eyelash, the prettiest little eyelash you ever did see. Oh, the eye on the bird and the bird in the nest and the nest on the branch and the branch on the tree and the tree in hole and the hole in the ground and the green grass growin' all around, all around, and the green grass growin' all around.


Whoa, what a marvelous tangent! 


So what I've been trying to tell you is that I fell off the writing truck for a while, but I'm back! Yesterday I worked on my daily writing goal in my YA Fantasy book- my goal for Mon thru Fri that is. Saturdays are for skipping ideas through my head, researching, and absorbing the fascinating stuff all around me to use in my story while I hang out with my family. 

SO WELCOME ME BACK, YOU GREAT RED TRUCK, CUZ I’M READY TO WRITE AND ROLL!

Hey, that gets me thinking. That red truck could be used in a thousand great tales. I could fall off in another dimension or maybe while I'm snoring in the back, the truck suddenly takes off and I find myself in the middle of a helicopter police chase (I don't snore by the way, just so you know), or there's some message hidden in the truck that's been there for 70 years. What do you think? Shoot me your ideas for how the red truck could infiltrate a book. 

START YOUR BRAIN ENGINES!

REV ‘EM UP!

AND YOU’RE OFF!