Savannah Hendricks's Blog, page 28

The 7 Day Poetry Challenge

I have been really getting into poetry more and more over the years. Free verse to be exact. (There are 33 types/forms of poetry). So I thought with my current schedule, since I have very limited time to work on a full manuscript, that this would be a great idea.

The 7 Day Poetry Challenge

DAY 1

How it will work, starting today I encourage all my readers to write one poem a day in any style you wish. What is great about this is that poetry works well for writers of all genres and age groups. For children’s writers you can create an outline for a future children’s manuscript. For adult writers you can create poetry for the adult market. The best is that you can even use it to assist in the development of your characters. (Your character could write the poem). The requirements for this poetry challenge are that it be something new (not a piece you have shoved in a drawer or saved on a file) and at least four lines long. Essentially you must write at least four sentences each day for 7 days. Easy!!!

To help, I will post a photo prompt each day from today (Wednesday) through Tuesday (September 2nd) on both my Twitter and Instagram accounts. Please find today’s DAY 1 photo here as well to help you get started, then join me for the rest of the days on either:

authorsavannahhendricks – Instagram

authorsavannah – Twitter

On Wednesday of next week I will provide you with the stats on how I did, and I hope to hear how others did. I hope you all join me :)

 

 

Appreciation Monday

Mail.

I love, love, love going to my mailbox and getting mail! I love being spammed by magazines and ads.

I love getting cards and letters.

The mail is not always filled with fun things (bills), but even as a child I have loved to go and get the mail.

That has never died off. Even now I will hear the mailman and rush out once he leaves.

The days when  I don’t get any mail I actually make a slightly saddened face. Almost feeling like the mailman must have made a mistake that day. I love to see character’s on TV walk into their home with a stack of mail as they throw it down on the entry table. (I always think, look through it! Don’t just walk away!)

I am appreciative for my mail.

Healthy Tip for the Weekend

Try substitute your vegetable oil for olive oil. (This worked with two different brownie recipes I tried, couldn’t tell a difference).

Try substitute your butter for olive oil. (I use this when the recipe calls for me to butter a pot or pan before adding main ingredient, or when requesting a small amount of butter such as a few tablespoons).

What a Writer Can Learn from LOST

I admit, I’m 10 years behind. LOST first aired in 2004, ending in 2010. (Do I get an award for not catching a single episode in the 6 years it aired?!?!?) However Netflix provides the entire series for new viewers to get wrapped in, such as myself.

And regardless of how many hours I have lost (haha) from writing to this show I have gained 5 tips.

1. Outline, outline, outline.

Lost proves that a multidimensional story, comes from a great outline. It almost seems as though it was originally written backwards to develop all the different angles without missing a beat. Every action has a purpose, every line a reason.

2. Great characters come from great back stories.

Of course the constant flashbacks in Lost would prove rather overwhelming in book form, but it works for TV. We see how powerful they can be. Learn to incorporate great character’s past and present life.

3. Environment always plays a role.

Think about how your personal landscape and environment plays a role in your everyday life. Remember to carry that into your story. Remember how the simple things can cause stress and set backs.

4. Surprise your audience.

Just when one twist comes to an end another twist starts. Leave them guessing, but not at something pointless, at something important. Let your reader start to think one way, and then pull them another. Make them go “oh!” aloud. Put the least likely characters into those spots that pay off. Lost did a good job of this with its female characters.

5. Take time off!

Lost should remind you that you need other outlets to get lost (haha) in so that you can rest your creative mind and come back to your story(s) fresh. Engross yourself in a book, watch a movie, nap, cook, create a piece of art.

 

 

Appreciation Monday – Zoo Edition

This weekend I was able to spend time with my friend at the Wildlife Zoo & Aquarium. The main reason for going was to get some author head-shots taken. Besides “getting business done” it was nice to be able to spend time with a friend. And get out of the everyday/weekend routine and see some new stuff. (Even if it was super humid and hot out!!! It is Phoenix after all).

Here are some photos of the animals. I am appreciative for good friends and the ability to hang out with them someplace new!

© Savannah Hendricks 2014

Healthy Tip for the Weekend

I’ve recently jumped on the coconut  oil bandwagon to replace all butter. Yet not all coconut oils are the same.

A few things to keep in mind that I have realized.

Some coconut oil is not the best over other coconut oil because the coconut flavor is too strong.

I find Spectrum Coconut Oil is the best for adding to baked potatoes and other food items you would normally top with butter. Nature’s Way Coconut Oil has a mild coconut flavor and works better for baked goods and for those that use it to soak their damaged hair in.

If you are not thinking you cannot handle the switch from butter to coconut oil try removing butter from your cooking. Most recipes with the exception of baked goods work just as well without butter. *I have a cheese enchilada recipe that calls for 1/4 cup of butter, and I started to omit it from the recipe over 2 years ago and never noticed a taste difference.

I know that coconut oil is slightly more money than butter so stock up (store in your frig) when you see a sale.

No Advice, No Wisdom…No 800 Numbers

I was nine years old when my father dragged me to see “Dead Poets Society.” I hated it. I fell asleep several times too.

I don’t remember my age, but my mom let me watch parts of “Good Morning Vietnam.” I didn’t understand the movie, yet I know that it made my mom laugh so hard she cried.​

When the news broke on Monday evening those were my first thoughts. I had a nice rambling post planned but after reading over it decided who was I to speak of all of this. I don’t know any more than most when it comes to mental illness. I will say that in our society things only become flooded into social media (suddenly we all become experts giving out hotline numbers and symptom lists) when it happens to something cute, someone popular, someone rich or super poor, or involves racism. Mental health issues take people’s lives daily. (I had a cousin that committed suicide.) I am sure we can all name someone we know.

I don’t have any solid words of advice, or words of wisdom. I did want to share a recent article from The Atlantic about the connection between creative people and mental health. Which, although long, I found to be rather interesting.

“He could make everybody happy but himself.” – Garry Marshall on Robin Williams

Appreciation Monday

Pizza, good GREAT pizza.

Not frozen.

Not chain take out.

Pizza that makes your mouth water as you drive to get a slice.

Mom and Pop restaurant pizza!

Pizza that you can’t make at home and that no matter how many different pizza places you go to no one can compare to.

Healthy Tip for the Weekend

I love fresh herbs! And I enjoy fresh basil on many dishes. But unless I buy it right before I cook dinner it would always go bad (what a money waster!).

The frig is too cold (large brown/black spots) and the house is too hot (shrivels up). So….

I discovered that if I wrapped the basil package (and other fresh herb packages) up in a dish towel and put it in the frig it would keep it the perfect temperature.Making it last for 3-4 days, instead of 1.

Stop by next Friday for another healthy tip! :)

 

What Are You Eating?

I’m obsessed with reading labels. I learned about it in 4th grade. I was hooked. I would read the cereal box ingredient label each morning at breakfast.

This last week there was an uproar over non-melting ice cream sandwiches from Wal-Mart’s store brand.While the blame is on Wal-Mart, it shouldn’t be. It should be on us, the consumers.

The LA Times ran an ice cream melting test regarding the recent uproar. The LA Times tested Wal-Mart’s Great Value ice cream sandwich, Klondike Bar, and a cup of Haagen-Dazs. The results showed that the Haagen-Dazs melted as ice cream should because it was without stabilizers. They found in the Great Value and Klondike Bars that stabilizers caused slower melting or none at all.

This is such an important wake up call for all people. What are you eating? It doesn’t matter if you are skinny or overweight. You can be unhealthy at any size.  Take 30 seconds and question what you are feeding yourself and your family. Ask yourself why is the product “FAT FREE”? What chemicals did they add to make it fat-free or lower cholesterol? Does less sugar mean more salt or fat added?

In the weeks to follow I will be posting a healthy, obtainable and easy tip for an overall healthier life every Friday. While there are continued talks and information about how poorly Americans eat  (movies like Fed Up) the solutions given to fix the problem are not realistic for several reasons. I hope others will find my tips useful and actually follow through with them because they are obtainable.