Reading Aloud

 by Rain Trueax

 

We took down the last of Christmas-- the tree-- on Epiphany, which seemed an appropriate time given the story of the Wise Men. Who knew it'd all prove such an upsetting time in the US. Because I wasn't watching TV, I didn't see the actual footage of the mob. Later I got clips and read about it. I am attempting to stay informed but have no interest in writing about something when the facts often change depending on the source.

At first our home seemed incredibly sparse without all the greens, but I've settled back into it. I love this simple little house and feel grateful many times just walking into a room that is so us. It is full of art and furniture collected over many years with no idea it'd end up here when it was purchased. It's not finished as in changes may come, but that's the beauty of life. We can change.

Earlier this week, I got curious regarding how many books we had together read in 2020, our way to escape into other worlds. We began reading aloud, taking turns, last January and it has proven a good experience. Previously, Ranch Boss (need a new name for him that relates to the desert since our son is running the ranch) had done very little reading aloud; so it was a new experience for him, which he came to like. We often talk over what we read when we are finished with the snippets. People did this for many centuries, once books were available (before that maybe they related myths), but then other entertainments became more appealing. I think this is one that bears a new look as a way to share.

 

Our choices were all nonfiction, some originally published as articles in literary or nature magazines. Many were kind of memoirs-- sharing a small part of the authors' lives. They are set in the Southwest with a couple of exceptions. Most we had already owned. A few led us to buy a book that carried on a theme. A couple I had to buy that I knew I owned in Oregon, but a used version was cheaper than asking our son to find them and mail them down here. I didn't think to write titles down as we finished them last year but we searched them out. They are not in order. Two of them we mailed to our son for him to read (the first two below).

The Happiness Equation

The Dude and the Zen Master

The Desert Year

The Hidden West

Chulo

Taos Memory

Home is the Desert

One Life at a time, Please

Book of the Hopi

Pumpkin Seed Point

The Desert Smells like Rain

The Dancing Healers

The Theft of the Spirit

Kindling Spirit.

I was surprised to find we had read 14 with one more that we started in December but didn't finish until the new year. I might write more about it-- unless something else comes up for next Saturday.

sharing or not

by Rain Trueax

Writing about writing is one of those things I only began to do in what could be called my elder years. Heck, I didn't even talk about my writing much to anybody for many years. A few friends knew I wrote, but sharing my work was even rarer. To be honest, I didn't think most of my friends would have had any interest in it. 

Because I will be joining a new group blog, which requires writing some sort of introduction for those there who don't know me, and because recently I was asked to do an interview about my writing, I've been thinking about questions I rarely do-- who am I? From where did I come? How can I describe myself to others? What parts of my life are important and which are things maybe I should have already discarded? 

Pretty much, I am a live in the moment kind of person and generally spend little time considering those kinds of questions. I am sure I did more of that when younger or maybe just off and on. It's not part of my average day. I don't often stop to think-- am I happy? What if I didn't like the answer!

Fiona Mcvie, the interviewer, surprised me with some author questions. It took some thinking to come up with answers. I have no idea how many people read her blog, but I do know Rainy Day had more hits after that piece ran-- which may or may not be related. As with sales of my books, I mostly have no idea what causes people to come here or stay to read more posts. I write about what interests me and just hope it interests others. Here by the way is that interview:

Interview for Rain Trueax

One thing I took away from these questions was that I am a more private person than I had been thinking. Some of my long time friends said they learned things they hadn't known about me.

If you do a blog for over ten years, you'd think you'd be out there-- and in a way, I am. But not much about my private life. I don't use this blog as a personal journal. While, I always have known that I am a good secret keeper, I hadn't thought all that meant in regards my own secrets. 

If you and I were having coffee somewhere, and you asked me a question about myself, I'd tell you the truth or smile and change the subject. I don't have time for game playing. If it was a question about someone else, expressing something negative, unless the two of us were part of the solution or problem, I would smile and change the subject. I am not into gossip. Fortunately, I don't have friends into it either.

If you didn't ask me a question about me, I'd be unlikely to offer much. I would be way more interested in your life, your motivations for your work-- if you were into sharing that. If two of us got together, who weren't much for sharing our personal lives, there might not be much conversation happening beyond the shallow-- my gosh, can you believe the abundance/lack of rain.

Despite the risks of talking politics, I am pretty well versed on many issues and might talk that with trusted friends. These days, I don't share it here. Despite enjoying a good debate, I don't like getting mad or making someone else angry. Once in a while, a political idea, appropriate to its times, makes it into my books. It can be fun for the hero and heroine to argue about it as they learn more about each other. This works better for historical books than contemporary where views can prove more hot button than funny. 

Another thing I don't think I've ever shared here is-- I am a repository of silly and unneeded information on celebrities. I grew up on movie star magazines that my aunt would pass down to our family. I'm not fond of the mean stuff but like seeing their homes, vacations, who they are dating, who broke up with whom, what they wore to a big party. I like learning about people from all walks of life, which leads to watching documentaries about creative people of different sorts.

Does any of that seem important enough to put in a bio? If it doesn't, what does? Although the interview is now done, I still have that introductory thing for the new blog (I'll share its link before it goes up November 12th).

Before I close this down, what do you like to read in a blog? I'd love hearing from you in a comment or email as to subjects you'd like to see here. I am open to having a place where others can give opinions on issues they find important, you know over that cup of coffee...
 

All images from Stencil

making a video

One of the things about the internet is how it brings us in touch with so many people, from all around the world, those we'd likely never meet any other way. It seems relatively safe too-- other than insults being easier to throw around. The thing is the anonymity has a price attached-- lack of real connection. 

Oh, we can choose to meet in a real place, those we only knew through typed words and a few shared pictures. I've done that now with maybe 20 or so. Some came off meeting first in chat rooms. Some came later through Facebook connections. But many 'friends' remain typed words and a photograph (which might not even be them). 

For someone like me, who lives in a community where there aren't many like-minded folks nearby, the internet has become a way to connect with others, who are more like-minded. They can feel like friends, but we can't say-- hey, let's visit some antique stores today. Or how about lunch? The internet becomes a place to interact but yet... are we?

One way I tried to get past the feeling of unreality was to set up a blog I called Videos and Discussions. My idea was I'd create short blogs where I talked about my writing-- or whatever topic came to mind. Others would give me their links about their creative work and I'd post them as a place to get a little more real, to hear each other's voices, see how we look when talking, and then share those ideas that we would share over coffee if we lived closer. While I've done quite a few short talks there, it didn't end up having others want to share theirs-- or hasn't yet.

Videos and Discussions

Then, I forgot about making the videos until last week-end when I thought it must have been a while. A while turned out to have been since 2015. On the weekend, I decided to do one regarding my recent work. I'd learned a thing or two about what makes a paranormal and that gave me a theme.

Back when I first began making videos, I knew I wanted them to feel like talking with a friend-- the thing I wasn't getting much of. Still, I wanted them to have some cohesion. With a friend, I could drift off this way or that, as could they. With a video, I have only four minutes (about the longest I expect people to stay with it). 

To get my cohesion, I don't do an outline or write down key points. I turn on the webcam and just start talking. I turn it off, watch it, and try it again-- with no intention of keeping these. Eventually, after a couple dry runs, I have a good idea of where I am going and what will best illustrate my points.

Then is when I look to room lighting. I tape these in a corner of the living room where my desk and webcam set. I turn off some lights and put on others as I like a visual with more light on one side and limited light behind. Since I don't cut and splice, the final video will be one take-- which means phone calls, husband walking through room, all can lead to a-- start over. 

I'll admit it. I want to look as good as possible for a video; so I put on the kind of makeup I only wear when heading to town. I also choose a top that doesn't change the lighting. I notice I have a lot of tan t-shirts, and they show up often in the videos I've done. 

When I sit back down, I start talking with the points in my head, which means if I do it more than once, it will vary. I haven't ever spliced one; but if I did any outside, that would likely have to happen.

If when I watch, it doesn't work, I try again-- although I don't keep doing and doing it as that seems to me it'd get stale. Monday, with two interruptions, the one below was the third try. I'd done the dry runs the day before as I fleshed out my ideas. Outlines might be more effective, but for me, this works best to stay loose.  I have no idea where the 15 came from on the video but it wasn't the takes this time. They all got erased except the final one.

Next step is post it to YouTube on my channel, which also has book trailers and nature videos that we've made. YouTube's computer chooses the thumbprint, with three options-- never good ones when I'm talking. Vimeo, which I have also used, lets the creator choose the thumbprint. Nice Vimeo. But I have to say YouTube is so easy to use that I generally go for it. 

So take a look at the one I made Monday, then come back for why I am posting this topic.

 

What I am hoping is my original idea for the link above could still happen-- not just with other writers, but photographers, painters, sculptors, cooks, quilters, etc. etc. I still think this is a way to make ourselves more real to each other when we don't have an opportunity to meet for real. And if we someday do, then that's still nice to share our creative work with others, those from around the world. 

There is another plus to making these. I think it can help us focus on what we are trying to accomplish when we talk about our work, when we make ourselves become cohesive in what we hope to accomplish. 

If you give it a try, get me the link. I'd love for Videos and Discussions to fulfill the purpose for which I had originally hoped-- a nest of creativity where the work is shared and encouraged. Besides bringing us together, the internet can do that.