writing

April 29, 2013 by Tara 16 Comments

So peeps, the book is now published! It’s been a long and twisty road for sure. Like anything you do for love, it’s had its ups and downs. But now, if you pop over to Amazon, you can see it in its full glory, take a look inside {love that feature!}, and even purchase it if you feel so inclined. It’s available on all the Amazons {.com, .co.uk, .fr etc} so you don’t have to have it sent half way across the world at great expense.

In honour of this exciting and strange and frankly quite scary moment in my life, I’d like to give away a free copy of the book to someone lovely.

All I ask is that you help me to spread the word about my little art and life manual to your peeps, especially those you think might benefit from a creative nudge. If you use Facebook, Twitter, or have a blog or newsletter, or can think of any other ways to get the word out, please share the link and then leave a comment here.

I’m not going to check or ask you to tell me how you’ve done it; as you probably know I’m not too keen on the whole ‘earn it and prove yourself’ method of entering giveaways. Besides the idea is to get this baby far and wide, not limit its journey by making annoying and restrictive rules.

Entries will close on Monday 6th May.

Thank you so so much from the bottom of my heart for all the support and encouragement you have sent my way up to this point. In particular to dear Pauline, without whom this book would NOT be so pretty or so beautifully laid out inside. Fact. I cannot recommend her highly enough if you are thinking of writing a book yourself.

And also to you for reading, for taking the time to come by and say nice things.

Let’s get this show on the road!

Filed Under: competition, creative spark book, giveaway, ventures, writing Tagged With: book giveaway, creative spark by tara leaver, creative spark giveaway, creativity book

April 4, 2013 by Tara 3 Comments

It seems most of us harbour secret, or not so secret, dreams of writing a book in our lives.

Some of us go a little crazy and actually write one. {I’m speaking of myself; I’m sure most writers are totally sane.}

I LOVED writing my book. Just the process of writing, as I’m sure many of you will appreciate, has a quality to it the same as the one I get when in the depths of painting, or baking, or wave watching; I was in the ZONE.

I do also love to research, so working out who to use for publishing the book, since I knew I was going for the DIY option, was also pretty fun, up to a point. As with many things, the more you look, the more you find, and there’s a tipping point into overwhelm that needs to be managed.

I went with CreateSpace in the end; it’s owned by Amazon so your book can potentially be sold through all the Amazon websites {as well as other channels like shops}, and it’s cheaper than say Lulu or Blurb. {I think. Don’t quote me on that; I’ve become rather confused from all the reading, and the variables.}

To say there have been forks ~ and boulders, and the odd fallen tree trunk ~ in the road from writing to printing is like saying the sky is pretty big.

So if you are considering writing a book of any kind and self publishing, you may like to scan my learnings and apprise yourself of what’s in store. You may find you stop after the most fun part; the writing. Sometimes I think maybe it’s just about the joy of writing. I wrote because I had things to say; I published because I wanted to help people. That sounds very worthy but it’s the truth.

Ten Things I Learned About Self Publishing

It takes a lot longer than you imagine. And even when you think you’re there…. there’s more.
The words ‘edit’ and ‘proof’ become the equivalent to dirty words and may elicit enormous bouts of procrastination. Why I ever considered a career in proofreading is beyond me.
You canNOT do this half assed. Unless you want to cry a lot and end up drinking a lot of wine.
Without either the knowledge yourself or the help of someone who has the knowledge in terms of design, your book will not look good, professional or worthy of the effort you put into it.
In fact, some outside help and support in the form of someone loving but straight talking is invaluable. {This may be true of life in general.} {And also, thank you Pauline. }
The way they work out the pricing means you either have to charge stupid amounts or make no money. At least if your book is in colour.
It’s very very complicated in some areas, such as costs and shipping, and royalty options, especially if you are not based in the country where they print it.
You will need many hours at your disposal to trawl through the forum or help sections of the publishing website to find a tiny sliver of information that may or may not be helpful.
You will have to make choices you never imagined having to make, with no idea how or with any real understanding of possible outcomes. If you are a stranger to trust and using your intuition this is a great place to practise it.
When you get the physical copy of your book ~ your baby, that you wrote and sweated over ~ in your hands, you will probably freak out. Part disbelief that you actually did it, part excitement, and part sheer unmitigated terror that it’s shit and no one will like it or find it at all useful, AND that you will get bad reviews and complaints about the price.

You might assume that I am very proud that I wrote and published a book. I wouldn’t say proud, but I am glad that I wrote it, glad that I went through the self-publishing mill, unendingly grateful for all the support and enthusiasm I’ve received just for doing it, and I really just hope that it helps to encourage or inspire at least one person!

And if you are harbouring secret desires to write a book, I really encourage you to just start! Publish, don’t publish, just do the writing part because that’s where the real joy is.

I am currently proofing my physical copy of the book. There may be changes necessary, so I’m not going to even suggest a date for sending links out into the world, but a} it will be soon and b} you will be informed.

Filed Under: creative spark book, writing Tagged With: creative spark, on self publishing a book

March 28, 2013 by Tara 6 Comments

Um, so this would be the cover of my {first} book! Isn’t it gorgeous? {I can say that because I didn’t design it. }

It is soon to be available on both Kindle and as real live copies you can hold in your hands! Fear not, I will be letting you know about that as soon as I have links!

If you’re drooling over the cover design, it’s because I had some design and artistic help from the very talented Pauline Leger, who some of you will know and love already from her blog, Journal Illustrations. Pauline is a graphic designer AND an artist, so she’s got the whole left brain/right brain thing really working for her. It transpires that she also LOVES to design books of any kind ~ ‘real’ ones, ebooks, you name it ~ and I highly HIGHLY recommend her services if you are in the market for such a thing. She’s speedy, talented, creative, efficient, and bloody funny, which always helps get through the more uncertain moments I find.

If you’d like an actual copy for yourself, stay tuned; in the meantime you can see here for more info about what the book is about and who it’s for.

AND! There’s more! Anyone who signs up for the monthly Aquamarine Artnotes {near the top of the sidebar over there on the right, or below this post} will receive a free chapter from the book as well as the current little book of some of my poems and paintings. Yay! If you’ve already signed up {thanks!} but would like to see the sample chapter, drop me a line via the contact page and I’ll ping it over to you.

Filed Under: creative spark sessions, creativity, ventures, writing Tagged With: book, book cover, creative spark, pauline leger

January 9, 2013 by Tara 16 Comments

If you missed part one of this riveting story, you can get clued up here.

This is the part of the fairytale where the book fell out of ~~the beautiful princess~~ me.

When I say ‘fell out of me’, I’m not really joking. I sat down one day, knowing I had Stuff To Say, I opened 750words.com and for the next ten days the words just poured out.

I have alluded to it in a couple of previous posts, but I was waiting til it was finished to do a big announcement. Then I realised that I didn’t know when it would be finished {editing takes time, people!} and I want to talk about it NOW! The writing is more or less done. I have one more image to add. I think I mentioned it’ll be a self publishing adventure, possibly as an ebook/kindle arrangement/a small quantity of actual copies.

I have wanted to write a book since I was very small. Up until recently I never felt I knew enough about anything to fill one, but then ‘suddenly’ {after years of accumulating experience and even some wisdom} I found I did. I initally wrote it because I just really really wanted to; now it’s around 18,000 words across ten chapters, and I genuinely believe it DOES offer something of value.

So I know you’re gagging to ask me questions! Here are some I’ve anticipated {aren’t I kind}:

So Tara, what’s this book called?

Creative Spark: {Re}Igniting Your Innate Creativity With Everyday Wisdom

What’s it about?

It’s about the connection between creativity and the lessons we learn in day to day life. It will help you uncover and express your true self through the joyful and fulfilling experience of creating art of all kinds.

What inspired it?

I have been working with my teacher for nearly three years now, and I began to notice that the things I was learning from her, as well as from reading and personal experiences, were also applicable to the creative process. I started to develop an approach to painting, and my creativity in general, that reflected the lessons I was learning in my life. I know from my own experience that integrating creativity into our lives is essential for feeling more fulfilled, more confident and more joyful in ourselves. Creativity is, I believe, one of the most important forms of self love.

Who’s it for?

Mainly it’s for people just starting out, especially if they are not sure or confident about how and where to begin. It’s also for those who repeatedly find themselves stumbling over the same hurdles, creatively or in their day to day lives. These ‘lessons’ apply across the board. The life lessons {or life ‘sparks’} that I have chosen to illustrate various ways to be creative are grounded in practical, day to day wisdom, but there is also a more ‘woo woo’ leaning to it, which will suit those with an interest in a more spiritual approach to life. There are two ways to read it really: as an artist on a path of self discovery, or as a person seeking their own personal truth with a desire to find or develop their creativity.

Because so many of us lead such busy lives, I have included plenty of ways to include creativity into a busy lifestyle. Having a full life should not mean having no time to do what makes your heart sing.

Can you tell me a little bit more?

I can, my friend, I can! Thank you so much for asking!

Each chapter covers a different area of creativity, from topics such as how to use your intuition and noticing skills to what to do when fear comes up. After a little discussion about a particular topic, I talk about how it can be applied in both everyday living and when we are making art, whether that’s painting, cooking, knitting, photography or whatever your chosen area{s}.

There are lots of ideas for igniting your own creative spark, chapter summaries for a quick reminder of key points covered, and at the back you will find several pages of resources and inspiration to take you forward. Everything included I have found useful and supportive on my own creative journey.

It’s the kind of book you can open at any point and find a spark of inspiration; perfect when you don’t have much time, or are looking for a bit of creative support, or just some pretty images! It gives me pleasure to imagine myself as your creative guide within the pages, cheering you on and lighting the way during moments of uncertainty or confusion.

That’s enough for today methinks. Thank you so much if you got this far! I hope to get it published in some form by the end of the month; I’ll keep you posted.

Filed Under: creativity, healing, journey, writing Tagged With: book, creative spark

January 6, 2013 by Tara 4 Comments

I wrote this poem after I made this in my sketchbook, but only finished it last night:

Peace Underneath

On the surface of things

Droplets bounce on the water’s skin

Rain drums on skylights

The yang drowns out the yin.

***

But deep deep down

Where the soul’s hum

Vibrates the cells

And the deep dark

Holds the inner secret light

That’s where the treasure lies

In the peace underneath.

***

Inside is where the jewels are

It’s where the dance begins.

Filed Under: poetry, writing Tagged With: peace underneath, poem, sketchbook

November 29, 2012 by Tara 6 Comments

Once upon a time there was a little girl with blonde hair and a growing love for words who wanted only to write stories and paint pictures. She wrote and wrote, and drew and painted, and was very happy.

But They told her that although she was good at those things, and even though they often rewarded her for them, she must know she could never do them for real when she grew up. She must do something that was sensible, acceptable to Them and preferably the same as everyone else.

She lost faith in her spark, so she put it all to one side for many years, and the creative light inside her grew very dim.

Without her light, the girl’s world grew very dark for quite some time. Everyone was rather worried. But little by little and slowly slowly, she saw that listening to Them had shrunk her and she wasn’t living her own life, and she stood up, and began to walk away from the dark. She was very wobbly on her brave new legs at first, but she found help and support, and she moved away to live by the sea.

With each step she took, the spark inside her grew larger, until it ignited into a tiny flickering flame that lit her up a little and made her glow. She found a wise teacher who helped her to cultivate her light into a steadily burning flame, that grew and grew until it shone out of her for all to see. She picked up her pen and her brush once again, and cast her light further by creating things that gave pleasure to people who saw them.

Then one day she realised that inside her was a big treasure chest full of Wonders, and that sharing them helped others to remember that they had a spark inside them too. She saw that there were lots of people just like her, who had sparks inside that had almost been put out a long time ago by Them.

She set about finding ways to help more people to find their inner sparks, using her own to show her the way.

She made many many paintings, and wrote many many words, and she found a special place to live where she could share what she knew with people who were looking for their sparks too, and where she could show them how to find them. It was a very exciting time. She wrote a book for the spark hunters. She shared her words and pictures with kindred spirits around the world, and her special space with those closer to home.

She had found her creative spark, and, in the process, herself.

And she lived happily ever after. {Mostly.}

*******************

Yeah, she’s me. Obvs. But I’m guessing at least some of her story is also your story, give or take a few details. Stay tuned for part two, where we will learn what came of discovering the spark, and how we can all do it, with a bit of support and encouragement.

Filed Under: creativity, healing, journey, writing Tagged With: book, creative spark, fairytale, story, writing

November 20, 2012 by Tara 8 Comments

The Real You

The Real You

Is not what you think.

The Real You is huge, for one thing.

Endlessly expansive and pulsing with light.

The Real You

dances barefoot

sings loudly

laughs vibrantly into the sky

and delights in small things, like a child.

The Real You

is a firefly, a lighthouse, a sunray.

Rests in peace and lives in freedom.

The only reason

You don’t know the truth of this

is because you have been putting coats on

all your life.

It’s time to take the coats off now.

With this much sunshine, even one is too many.

You are the lightworker

the wayshower

the one the world needs.

Show the world your light

and dazzle us all with the real reason you are here.

The Real You

reminds us how to shine.

**********************************************

I wrote this poem for me, although after it was done I realised it’s actually for all of us.

And I’m really pleased that Jodi at Where The Spirited Women Gather is sharing it today on her website. Thank you Jodi!

Filed Under: blog feature, poetry, writing Tagged With: jodi lebrun, lightworker poem, poetry, the real you poem, where the spirited women gather

September 13, 2012 by Tara 3 Comments

Today when I woke up, I didn’t have the knot of anxiety in my solar plexus or the spinning vortex of thoughts in my brain that are usually there the instant I become conscious.

The sun shone all day, and as I type I am looking at the most beautiful sunset, or rather, the effect of the sunset on the clouds outside my window.

I ate my lunch on the beach.

My lunch consisted of sandwiches filled with chicken and homemade guacamole, including tomatoes I grew myself, followed by pistachio nuts, a banana and two dark chocolate covered ginger biscuits.

I sat for around four hours soaking up the sound of the waves, enjoying the sun, watching people and scribbling notes about my planned projects, breaking only to stretch my legs walking along the seafront to see the ~~flat~~ home I’ll soon be moving into.

I spent some time with a supportive and fun friend.

I received a text message from D filled with kisses and complimenting the “amazing” flapjacks I made yesterday. {There are none left.}

My mum texted to set up a day for us to spend together having lunch and doing some shopping.

LoveFilm have sent me the next dvd in the series of Charmed.

I have everything I need to feel loved, safe, and comfortable and plenty to make me feel excited, brave and capable.

I don’t always appreciate my blessings; I often think about them but I don’t always feel my gratitude for them right down to my bones. So today I’m just taking a moment to say to the universe,

“Thank you, more of the same please.”

Filed Under: healing, journey, writing Tagged With: appreciation, clouds, gratitude, thank you

May 7, 2012 by Tara 3 Comments

There is no art and no inclination to do any. Actually that’s not strictly true; there’s a faint yearning and a half finished painting, but the feeling of creative deadness is bigger. That’s ok, I know how it goes. I started this painting below and have stalled; I know what I want to do but the feeling of unreadiness to do it overwhelms me just now.

But I have been feeling so disconnected from the {my?} light recently, and last week felt like it was taking huge chunks out of me {in retrospect it probably was and I’m hoping they were chunks I simply no longer need}, you would think some creative activity might be quite healing. I know that for some of us, difficult times are good opportunities to express ourselves creatively; for me I find it just dies away.

Mind you, I have been cooking quite a bit {and now there is banana and walnut loaf to cheer me up}, spending time squishing my little niece

and nephew,

reading, thinking, journalling, so I guess Ariadne’s thread is still running through, helping me find my way back. Sometimes you just have to do what comes up in the moment to survive to the next moment.

I’ve noticed there’s a lot of talk on blogs lately about showing more of our dark sides, that some people feel it’s inauthentic {an overused word if ever there was one} to only put happy things on your blog and therefore must redress the balance by revealing some of their less joyful things; I understand that some people’s lives look almost unreal-ly perfect if their blogs are anything to go by, but your blog is your own space to do what you please with, no? If I find you annoying because your life looks so perfect, doesn’t that say more about me than it does about you? And things are pretty much never what they seem. It kind of cracks me up actually that there should be any kind of rule about what is and is not ok regarding self expression.

I tend to keep stuff back because I don’t feel it’s relevant or it’s just too private to share, and I generally like my blog to be a place that both I and others can come to and find something sunshiney. That doesn’t mean I don’t have shitty times that I don’t tell you about. Sometimes though I know that I am not alone in going through something, and I also know the comfort that can be derived from another’s experience.

I wrote the following the other day; I was in a bad place and needed comfort. It served as a reminder to myself, but quite clearly it’s for all of us. It’s nothing new but perhaps it will be useful for you today.

When we think we don’t know what to do about something, the answers ARE there, within us. There is no need to search, to ask others, or to look anywhere outside of ourselves, because all we need is already within us. How could it not be, when all is one and spirit is everywhere? We ARE spirit. We only think we don’t know because our minds tell us so. Our minds tell us stories about who we are and are not, what we can and can’t do, be or have. In truth, it is all there already. We don’t even need to get caught up in the ‘how’. Ask and it is given. Just ask and listen, and you WILL be guided. You cannot make a mistake for there are no mistakes. Sit in faith. Let go of why and how. Follow the path of what feels good in the moment, and you will ‘reach’ where you have been all along, you just didn’t see it. Trust yourself; you have the answers. Even if you mind struggles to believe that, it is still true.

Like Rumi says “Do not feel lonely; the entire universe is inside you.” It’s all in there. You are ALREADY the things you seek.

PS. I feel almost certain I’ve written a post identical to this before; either an extreme case of deja vu or I’m getting repetitive in my old age. I can’t be arsed to go back through the archives and check, so I’m going with the deja vu theory. Besides which, you can never over-repeat wisdom, right?

Filed Under: journey, musings, Uncategorized, work in progress, writing Tagged With: authenticity, family, journey, thoughts

January 13, 2012 by Tara 8 Comments

Oh my god you guys! I went to my first Nia class this morning, and I am an instant convert!

It was just awesome, and I don’t use that word lightly. If I could invent a dance class to suit me perfectly that was it. Not too many people {around ten of us I think}, a very friendly and welcoming group of women, really lovely inspiring teacher, fabulous loud tribal type music with those beats that get right inside you, bright studio, and no difficult routines to learn, just continuous movement for one hour. I built up quite a sweat, but the pace alters perfectly between fast and slow so you never feel exhausted.

I’ve been wanting to get back into my body for some time now; I’m such a ‘brain’ person and although I used to dance and do yoga, I’d really lost touch with myself in that way. It was like coming home. My body just woke up! Magical.

Enough with the gushing!

The side effects were that I’ve been buzzing all day, and am consequently very much in flow {which is good ’cause I have a commission to work on that’s been resisting me}. Small Stones poured out of me on the beach, as well as a sketch for a painting I want to do which will be called Ocean Goddess. A friend called me that the other day {the ultimate compliment!} and of course I immediately wanted to make a painting of it. D the Artist Friend is also going to do a painting by the same name {at least that’s the plan, he’s leaving the country for flipping ages soon so we’ll see!}; it would be interesting to see how we both interpret it. I may never use the sketch I made, but it’s a step in the right direction.

So here are the visuals {and the orals?!}…

no waves today

only wrinkles

furrowing the water skin

*****

the water, contained by stones and wall

breathes itself in and out

like a mercury jellyfish

undulating

*****

the sea strokes the stones.

it loves them.

in its wake they tumble in delight

*****

looking up at the sound of crunching, I am amused to confront a tiny blonde Crusader

marching sturdily across the stones.

a miniature warrior, complete with chain mail headgear

and a most determined expression.

Whatever her crusade is, it mostly involves marching.

*****

Filed Under: sketchbook, sketches, the beach, writing Tagged With: dance, Nia, ocean goddess, sketch, sketchbook, small stones, the beach