REVISE
Welcome to Day 24 of #write31days. Revise is the prompt word for the Five Minute Friday Free Writes. Usually when I think of that word it is in relation to writing. We have a first draft, then edit and revise until it seems right.
When I write a haiku, the first words I put down may not be the ones I end with.
I like to simply describe what I see using whatever words come to mind. Then I look for synonyms that will help readers to better imagine the picture I want to convey. Sometimes I use the new word, but other times I don’t.
For instance, here are the first words that came to mind for my first haiku today: I could have left it at that, but I wanted to get across something of the Fall colors not being very prevalent this year.
Vines along the fence
Woods behind still full of leaves
Trees are standing tall
Then I tried this:
Vines along the fence
Trees behind still full of leaves
Where are Fall colors
After thinking on it a bit longer I had the final. I still wanted to use the word colors somewhere but couldn’t seem to make it fit. Although, I do think its meaning is clear.
Likewise, when I take a photograph I try to get the best angle.
Sometimes I take a few and then compare. When I decide on one it still sometimes needs revising. Often it needs a little cropping. I don’t use a filter unless I find one that improves the photo in a way to enhance the subject. On the photo below I cropped a little from the bottom that seemed to detract from the overall picture.
If I am going to put a poem on the photo I have to experiment with different fonts and colors. Sometimes it takes quite a bit of revising before I am satisfied.
This October day
Bright sun sends its rays to earth
Sky is ever blue
Mostly it is an enjoyable process, and I like to see it take shape. It’s exciting to me to take photos of nature and write haiku. It helps me focus on my Creator and the beautiful things He has given us to enjoy.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
To find other posts in this series click HERE.
I’m linking up with: #TrekkingThru, #LMMLinkup, #TellHisStory
It’s interesting how just 1 or 2 word changes can change everything.
Yes, and sometimes it’s hard to find just the right word. Other times it comes right away.
Blessings to you and thanks for stopping by!
My process is much like yours, Gayl! 🙂
It’s fun, isn’t it, Bette? 🙂 Glad to know we work similarly. Wish we could have met up last month, but maybe there will be another time.
Blessings to you!
Fun to read about your process.
Thanks, Tara! Blessings to you!
Thanks for sharing your process. Very interesting! Love how it has given you a consistent platform.
Thanks, Karen, I’m glad you found it interesting. 🙂 I really enjoy the process.
Blessings to you!
If I was still teaching, I would use this post to help my students see the importance of revising! We need to let God work to revise our lives too. He crops a little, adds some poetry, and makes us better.
Wow, thanks, Debbie. And yes, you’re right. We do need to let God do the work of revising our lives. I love how you described it with God cropping, adding poetry, etc. What a creative way to look at it! We may not always understand what He is doing, but He is making us better through it.
Blessings to you! Thanks for visiting!
Dear Gayl,
Thanks for sharing a little of your process of creating. It felt like we were right there with you, working on it as well! I wonder if God enjoys watching us in the creative process also? What a sweet thought, as you said, to know that He has put creativity inside of us too! Love and Hugs to you my Poet/Sister/Friend! xoxo
Oh, Bettie, wouldn’t it be fun if we could create something side by side? Maybe one day. 🙂 I think God does enjoy watching us use the gifts He has given us.
Love, hugs and blessings to you my Poet/Sister/Friend! xoxo
Dear Gayl, it fascinates me to hear how others create, because each person’s process will differ from others. Thank you for this intriguing peek behind the scenes at the sweet heart of your work and the way you shape haiku poetry and photographs. Mine is more of an intuitive leap forward in response to words that seem to jump out at me. I rarely deviate from my first thoughts, maybe altering a word now and then if I feel it has better resonance or gets the reader closer to the essence of what I want to get across. With photography, half the fun for me is in the editing process itself. I love to get creative with an image and maybe make something new out of it. Like painting with pixels, if you like! Though I use a free app instead of Photoshop. I think God smiles at us as we work, however we go about things, happy to see us exercising the creative spirit He places inside each one of us. The results will vary greatly but the most important thing is to be willing to try and to enjoy what we do. That comes across so clearly in your creativity, my friend. Beautiful words as always. Blessings and hugs! xoxo 😊💜
Joy, thank you so much for your response. I enjoy reading about your process, too. 🙂 Sometimes mine is intuitive and I don’t change anything. Other times I change it several times. But whatever the process, I enjoy very much. I love what you do with your photographs! I agree that God must “,..smile at us as we work happy to see us exercising the creative spirit He places inside each one of us.” Yes, our willingness to try is the first step and it helps when we really enjoy it. Thanks for your continued encouragement, Joy! Blessings and hugs to you, too, my sweet friend! xoxo
I love how you shared your process with us. As always, your haiku’s are so sweet and beautiful.
Thank you so much, Mary! I’m glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for visiting. You know, we need to get together again IRL soon. 🙂
Blessings to you! xo