Drama is poison to the creative. It spoils the writer’s emotional landscape instantly. In seconds, we’re off the page and into the heat of drama happening outside of our inner worlds. I know. I am knee deep in drama this week. Life, it happens. What are your choices? Get sucked in or stay focused on the page?
My drama swirled round and round me. It pulled me away from my desk, my pages, and my commitment to write. I felt myself slipping, giving in to the need to right side my upside down world. Your writing, a voice in my head said, can wait. Fix it. Huh? No way, did I just say that to myself?
Truthfully, there was nothing for me to fix. My drama isn’t apocalyptic. It’s big, uncontrollable, often unyielding, but always and ever beautiful, Technicolor, life. Instead of giving into it, I tore a page out of Julia Cameron’s book, The Right to Write, and made a list of one hundred things I love. At the end of an hour, my focus returned and my head was back in the game. My drama, it’s still there swirling around. I closed the door on it and went back to work. 
One hundred things I personally love:
- Tulips
- Willie Nelson’s rendition of “Always On My Mind”
- The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
- The color pink – all varieties
- Bookstores
- My IPod – and the 7,000 songs on it
- Edna St. Vincent Millay
- The night before a vacation starts
- Watching the endings of my favorite movies – just so I can cry
- “Anna and The King” – at the very end when the son watches his father dance with Anna and realizing his father has fallen in love for the last time, but also understanding, it’s a love he can never have.
- An email from an editor telling me my submission has been accepted for publication
- My functionally insane, but loveable, family
- Comments on a blog posting
- The perfect opening sentence
- Scented lotions
- An unexpected gift from the Universe
- Gardenias
- Kindness
- Cold Pizza for breakfast
- The sound of children laughing
- The whisper of possibility
- Hellos and sometimes, but not often, goodbyes
- The three paintings hanging on the walls in my bedroom
- My friend Stuart
- Roasted vegetables
- My Parker Starlight Fountain pen
- Brandi Carlile’s song, “Looking Out”
- Sitting in backyard of my Mom’s house drinking wine and listening to music
- Full fat cheeses generously spread atop crusty bread
- Crisp apples and Oranges, fat, juicy ones
- Full bodied Chardonnay
- The line from “The Last Samurai” when Tom Cruise’s character says, “Ask me how he lived…”
- The fog rolling into or out of the San Francisco Bay
- Me
- The way he made my heart soar
- Rainy afternoons
- My sister’s cooking
- The lines across my face
- My own company
- Avila Beach
- The worlds I create on the page
- Live renditions of a studio produced song
- The first page of a new journal
- Guitar rifts that lead into a favorite song
- “Shrek and Monsters, Inc.”, equally
- Patsy Cline any time of the day
- Liner notes
- The scent of honeysuckle
- The Hollywood Sign
- New beginnings
- Pirates of the Caribbean – the ride
- My MacBook Air
- Spell check
- Sephora
- The way my body feels after working out
- Love and heartache, equally
- Driving down Highway One – California
- “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by the Eagles
- The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
- Come-hither, expression and experience, equally
- Going to the movies – watching movies at home, equally
- Breathing
- My freedom
- His kiss
- Individuality
- The Right to Write by Julia Cameron
- Stationary
- Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn
- Reading and listening to music, equally and individually
- Reckless abandonment (heat of the moment and no turning back)
- Taking chances even when the odds are stacked against me
- Crying for all reasons
- Friends for all seasons
- A spring fling
- The wine bar by Charring Cross Station
- The Monterey Bay Aquarium
- James Bond, all editions
- Both action and chick flicks, equally and individually
- SciFi/Fantasy
- Brilliant remarks
- Wit
- Honesty
- WiFI
- Room service
- My past
- The Thesaurus
- Barcelona
- The sunsets over the Pacific
- Cover songs
- The drive from San Francisco to Santa Fe, NM
- Green Chili Stew
- Passionate Pursuits
- Meeting other writers – and finding out being weird is acceptable behavior
- Rendezvous with mysterious characters
- My bedroom
- Walking barefoot at the edge of any ocean
- The full moon
- Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies
- Music, for all occasions
100. But mostly what I love, is the mystery of life and they way she continues to enthrall me. I never know what’s around the next corner. How about you, what do you love?
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Brenda the entire list reflects how spirited and full of life you are! And ignoring all the drama to continue writing shows how focused and dedicated a writer you are! Always a pleasure reading your posts, my friend.
Rimly, I am no so sure about that, like most I have my moments. Thank you for always coming by and sharing.
Drama also gives you good material for writing.
I completely agree with you, Brenda. Life is a mystery and that’s a good thing. It would be really boring to know what’s going to happen all the time. Oh, and so many things on your list are on mine, too. We definitely need to meet up for a glass of wine one day.
Kelly Hashway recently posted….Bathrooms Make Great Settings
Kelly – mystery is what pushes us forwards, yes. I am looking forward to the day we share a bottle of wine and talk for hours.
A gorgeous list. I want to be best friends. Your life is full of passionate pursuits. I am so glad you included yourself on that list. We are soul sister by many of the things on list, my dear! It is uplifting my spirit just to think of good things out there and how many there are!
It is a great excersize!
Thanks, Jodi. It’s a life in motion ever changing. I sometimes love it, embrace it, and other times I wonder if maybe I should be some place other than where I am or if I took a wrong turn. The conflict keeps me moving forward, so not a bad thing.
I love your list. I read your guitar rifts part and Guns and Roses played Sweet Child O Mine in my head.
AdrianaIris recently posted….Where Everything Is Music…
Adriana – you sent me to itunes to down that song! Yes, it’s perfect. I’ve been listening to it all week.
Love this post! Makes me crave some crackers with cheese and wine. Even if it’s alone in my backyard!
I veer too much towards the dramatic. I let everything suck me in. Easily distracted and all that. Maintaining focus has always been one of my biggest issues. I have a million half unfinished projects I can’t seem to get myself to finish.
It’s the whole boundary issue. I let issues and other people throw me out of my groove. Trying to get better at it!
I have a J. Cameron book but haven’t yet read it. Funny enough, was thinking about using her stuff as a writing motivator. Lord knows right now I need it!
Jennifer – your Latin, as I am, it’s in our nature to flourish in the drama, which for me is counterproductive as a writer. Since taking up the craft I am highly protective of my writing and space. It helps that I am comfortable being on my own.. not quite an introvert, but close enough. Given the changes in your life right now, I recommend Cameron. She’s the queen of discipline.
I love falling in love – with a painting, a brilliant author, with a restaurant, with a park, with a movie or TV show. And oh, yes, with a man. Yes, yes, yesss!
I love curling up in a warm afghan, watching the rain and eating cinnamon toast.
I love getting really sweaty and dirty – on a hike, on a clean-up project – and then taking a long, cleansing shower, the incredible feeling of being CLEAN.
I love when a man brushes my hair.
I love the homecoming feeling of seeing good friends again after life kept getting in the way of getting together.
Oh, and I love reading your blog.
Beverly Diehl recently posted….Purging the Dreaded File Cabinet
Bev – there isn’t anything quite like falling in love. I’d like to hunker down and stay there for almost ever, but it’s not the way love works, still it’s the best ever state of being and mind. You and Astra gave me the lift I needed. It’s been a long haul. Thanks kindly, always. xxoo
I loved your list, Brenda, and that it was borne of a need to put focus back where it has derailed. Sometimes, like Kelly, I write quickly about the ‘drama’ to get it out of my head and stored somewhere else.
I love <3 those soothing few moments just before you fall asleep but you haven't quite yet … and you're fully conscious of your body winding down faster than perhaps your mind.
I love <3 folding baby clothes (but not teenagers' clothes).
I love <3 reading … and like Beverly … I love <3 reading your work
Astra recently posted….My Weekend Warrior Recovery: Plan B
Astra, you flatter me and I LOVE IT. Thanks much. Baby clothes, oh yes, teenagers, not so much. I am too easily wooed by my drama so writing about isn’t a cure all. We all have our best practices.
Your list is a sneak inside of you, what makes you tick, inspires and motivates. Wonderful read. I think this is a great exercise, maybe especially because amidst drama, chaos, turmoil, or despair, writing down the 100 things you love has got to make you smile—with anticipation, with nostalgia, with pride, with contentment.
I write longhand. I love opening up a brand new, cheap ass, black and white composition book from Rite Aid for $1.99.
Thanks, Brenda! I’m off to write my other 99 loves.
Kat Ward recently posted….NW by Zadie Smith
Kat, I suppose it is. My inner self is not revealed. I like the idea of writing long hang but since my writing sucks I rarely as in almost never go that route. I do make list and notes when I am writing a story but that about it. Thanks for stopping by.
Oh, I love your list of loves, Brenda! You have inspired me to do the same exercise – such a list also reminds of how much we are to be thankful for. And, I especially liked #100 – ah! The mystery of life and how it unfolds most unexpectedly and joyfully!
Blessings, my friend!
Martha Orlando recently posted….“Go Down, Moses!”
Martha – I hope you got around to writing your list. It’s such a treat to write freely and without an agenda.
What a lovely list – so fun and sensual to read through. I’ve been listing 5 things every day that I’m grateful for – I know, it’s so common these days – probably since Oprah started and touted keeping gratitude journals – but it’s been a good exercise for me as I’ve been struggling lately with some personal issues, to remind myself of all that I have to be grateful for.
Just reading your list was uplifting. As was the reminder of how easy it is to be pulled away from our writing.
Barbara recently posted….Your Aging Voice
Barbara – smiles! I’ve heard from others who compose this list. It doesn’t matter if it’s common so long as it makes you stop to think. I urge you to continue writing.. you will work through it.
Brenda, I find drama inspires me. I don’t see it as a detractor, but instead, I see it as propulsive. Sometimes it helps me embellish, elaborate, and create stories around it, about it, or what I call “in spite of.” That said, I know that for many people drama can get in the way of the creative process. I loved that you found a way to leash it and divert your thought process to something positive!
So glad, Bella. It’s a wonderful exercise and surprisingly easy to do, but once you reach 100 your think .. wait I have more to add.
Brenda, what a fun post/challenge. You had me thinking of my 100, though I’m not sure I could top this list. I found myself agreeing with much of it, including bookstores, Cary Grant, my iPhone playlist, pink…I could go on!
monicastangledweb recently posted….The Egg and I
Monica, try it anyway. In my mind I am continually adding and saying, OH NO, what about this or that..
LOoooooooooooVE your entire list, Brenda.
—number 9 and 34, especially.
When you say WIT…Are you talking about the book?
Xxx KIsses from MN.
My Inner Chick recently posted….I Rise I Rise I Rise
Kim, WIP is a work in progress, and yes, I am working on a second book. Glad you enjoyed.
I’m certain I don’t have enough drama in my life!
I’m so writing out a list like yours, Brenda.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted….100 Words on Saturday 3
Corinne – count yourself luck.. and please do write the list, it’s amazing.
Fantastic list, Brenda. This seems a great exercise to realize the worth of life and the things about it we love. Thanks for this.
Adriene – You are welcome.. it was fun and thought provoking. Try it.
I love so many things on your list….I would add digging in my garden, the sind swirling before a storm, snow falling outside the window, kidding my children while they sleep, chocolate, Chopin, and going somewhere I’ve never been before.
Jennifer Wolfe recently posted….Walk With Me: Happiness in the Moment
Jen – I have no love of gardening but I respect those who do. Me, too, going places I have never been.
B., I understand how real-life drama can tear us from our writing. An advice from your Julia Cameron that I always keep in mind is to ‘leave the drama on the page.’ Truthfully, I’ve been kept away from my WIP lately, too. And the guilt of it is dragging me further down. Time to leave the drama on the page. Love your list of 100 things.
Claudine G. recently posted….A Bookish Kind of Brightness
C-I like that I found this book at this time. I wasn’t lost and I have been writing, but something wasn’t connecting. In the end it wasn’t anything other than reading her words that reaffirmed what I already new. It’s always a treat stumbling on something unexpected, as I did with this book.
Oh I love it. I have been recently assigned to write a gratitude list in the mornings for this very reason. out of the muck and mire and remember the gifts.
Thanks,Jan. I’ve read a lot of writes are keeping a gratitude list. It helps us to remember.
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