It’s a thousand pages, give or take a few I’ll be writing more in a week or two I can make it longer if you like the style I can change it ‘round and I want to be a paperback writer. Paperback writer."      These few lines in the Beatles’ “Paperback Writer” stood out to me. It isn’t just because I relate to the song, but because there is a lesson to be learned here. Upon a single listen, it is clear that the narrator is desperate to be an author. Besides the fact that he nee

Similar to other seasonal posts, I have another blog tag challenge for this winter/Christmas time! I'm super excited to share this, and I hope you enjoy reading it just as much as I enjoyed thinking about the answers and filling them out. You can read my summer blog tag here , my autumn one here and last Christmas's blog tag here! Thank you so much for tagging me, Julie . Rules (because you can't Participate without Them) Acknowledge who tagged you ✅ Answer the questio

Today, I'm very happy to be featuring a poem by a fellow blogger (who also happens to be my aunt!) I've been wanting to do a Thanksgiving post, but search my brain as I might, I couldn't think of anything. Then, when Carolyn Joy posted this poem the other day, I knew I'd found what I was looking for! If you enjoy poetry , hers is definitely a good blog to check out. She also critiques the times and does Bible studies, but my favourite are her poems. The reason tha

Quite recently, I have opened up my old notebooks and begun reliving the stories that haunted my life four years ago. I was an aspiring author (you can read about how I started writing here ), and I was in that infamous stage of "You don't know you don't know." My stories were fraught with random emotional outbursts (probably a result of something that had just happened during my day.) Plot twists were unforeseeable at best, unbelievable at worst. Dark and light clashed in pa

I like to draw.       I like to play piano.       I like to write.       And I like to share that with people. A lot of times, this is what I hear: “You’re so good at it! I could never  do that.” I’ve heard this far too often, and usually, I just take it as a nice compliment. People like what I’m able to do, and in trying to make me feel better about myself, they unintentionally put themselves down.      Not even getting into the topic of putting yourself down to make someone

🍁 A bucket full of autumn questions...🍁 So many of the people I know enjoy both blog challenges, and the autumn! Why not...

Over the past year, I have come to know and love a very dear family that resides in Virginia in a lovely place called Weeping Willow...

I know it was forever ago that I wrote the blog post When my Writing Exploded , but when I did, I promised that I would have a part two:...

I obviously missed most of summer, so pardon the suddenly summery-themed blog posts, while the weather is growing cooler, and everyone's...

Badminton with my siblings... Wild roses... Thunderstorms... And the window pane after... Freshly cut grass... Wild roses and gates......

The pianist, George Winston, and his method of performing serve as an excellent example to us who struggle with enjoying each moment that...

If you follow my blog, chances are you're a creator. You might be a writer, a musician, or an aspiring film director. You might have...

Earlier mornings... Splashes of color... Growing trees... Blue skies... Pink sunrises... Spring rains and rose petals... New buds... This...

Photo Credit to Tara Tarr This week, I am pleased to introduce you to one of my friends, Tara. She came to me with this post idea, and...

Two of my blogger friends, Cecelia of Craft, Coffee and Cake and Lizzie Hexam of Starlight and Saucepans , tagged me for the Sunshine...

Welcome, Armatrod. We're so glad to have you on Shades of Art for this interview. Thank you for coming! You're welcome, Autumn. Thank...

All of my family (except my mom) enjoy watching the first three  Pirates of the Caribbean movies. They are funny, action-packed stories...

Since it's been almost a month since I last posted on my blog, I figured you deserved an explanation. A glance at the cover photo for...

What a day to call my Blog Anniversary: Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the Inauguration of President Donald J. Trump. 😅 In the midst of...

Last week, I published my deep, thoughtful take on the Christmas season ( here ) . This week, I'm happy to do a fun, easy, cozy book...