Although my sense of wellbeing can be found on top of a cliff over head watching white water and listening to waves hitting the rocks and sandy coastline, fresh sea foamed air inhaled and clearing, my heart sings and makes the sound of pitter patter when I am amongst the wooded forest, upon a deep indigo blue lake, an opening sky, sitting on a flat, angled, huge boulder where I rest and watch the big round moon made visible as dusk settles in.

Surfaces plain, pristine and grey can activate, engage and inspire us to create passionate, inner expression onto a serene, blank canvas.

I lack discipline, that’s for sure. I am more of a passionate all day writer, painter, gardener, cook in spurts like a sprinter. But one thing is for sure, I know how to study, research and read everything there is about a subject. Learning it – is another thing.

There are five steps on how to learn anything.

1. Immersion
2. Guidance
3. Practice
4. Experience
5. Teach it

And then when you learn and know more about what you teach, you can write a story about what you know.

Over the summer, I seem to read even less than you would think a bookaphile would during the hot, muggy, no school atmosphere. Maybe, that is precisely why I read less.

Ever since I can remember, June through August means vacation, wake up late time. September through Thanksgiving you give it all you got and then you slide right into holiday mode. Every new year, it takes me till February to get moving and focused once again and that probably lasts till end of April, middle of May.

So, approximately half the year, I feel productive. Or at least that is the way it feels.

This summer, I tackled and read a few fine books. I am about ten pages away from finishing Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg. It is even better than her famous Writing Down the Bones, her first published book, that projected her into national fame. I can’t wait to curl up tonight and finish it. I will return to all my flagged pages right after and practice all her prompts.

I am two thirds through the inspirational book, 100 Ways to Simplify your Life by Joyce Meyer. I found this gem while browsing the Christian section of B and N. I was looking for a gift for a religious mom/friend. I found a  humorous book written by two Christian women on being overworked raising kids. I knew she would relish commiserating. I never look in this section for myself. The spine or something caught my attention and I originally was going to give it away but as I started perusing through the pages, I fell in love. It is truly a simple book and I need simple. It may not be easy, but I can keep it simple. Lots of handy advice in this fine, simple read.

I started reading another, two, new additional women authors: Melissa Michaels and Heather Sellers. Melissa, the decorator, has a blog named “The Inspired Room” and the book I am currently in the middle of is titled, Love the Home you Have, Simple Ways to Embrace your style, get organized and delight in where you are. The word, simple, seems to be a theme this season for me. It isn’t just a practical book, it is personal and wise, as well. I loved it so much, I bought two more of her books. I tend to get hooked on a writer and then proceed to march through everything they have ever written and their autobiography – never mind nowadays, I can like their FB page and follow them, if I knew how to use my Twitter account.

Heather, on the other hand, is a writer’s friend and teacher. She gracefully pushes you to write and how. Her book Chapter by Chapter came out after Page by Page but the Chapter book arrived at my doorstep first, so of course I dived right in, right away. I am working through her many exercises and flagging almost every page. I will be traversing kind of backwards when I jump into Page by Page but it is all good stuff to fill my insatiable desire and quest for academic nonfiction.

Whenever my computer is slow or I have to wait for something to pop up, I read On Writing Well by William Zinger. This is a classic, a must read on every writer’s blog list of the top ten and quite entertaining. I keep it in my office, not by my bed like most books I’m reading and so far I haven’t even made it past the Introduction. That is okay. I notice time and again, if I pick it up during a slow computer transition, the computer gets jealous and suddenly decides to upload whatever it is, that much quicker. William’s guide to writing nonfiction is clear, warm and dare I say it – SIMPLE!

How do I write? – One page at a time and in complete silence.

When do I write? – One day at a time.

Where do I write? – Anywhere I’m comfortable or if inspired, I just need a scrap of paper and writing tool or recorder. I also find myself writing in my bed, at a desk in my office, the dining table, on a lounge chair and sometimes in the car.

Why do I write? – Because I have a unexplainable need to express myself in words and know myself. I write to explore, document, share, record events and for memories’ sake.

What do I write? – Mystery, story, memoir, reviews, musings, blog, articles, poetry, personal essay, fiction, non-fiction, journaling, free write, prompts, letters, emails, thank you’s, gratitudes, yoga lesson plans, dialog, character sketches, descriptive, funny, sad, tragic and dramatic. And so it is.

Who do I write for? – Initially me, but in rewrites, revisions and editing, probably looking to share the human experience.

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence. – Henry David Thoreau

Bottom Line: I don’t know if I am happy and so I write or if writing makes me happy. Either way, I am happy, I am writing and I am happy writing.