Self teaching is something I'm all about! I love to learn at my own pace, whether it be fast or slow. I like to learn in the comfort of my own home. I've taught myself how to cook, bake, crochet, cross stitch, scrapbook, zentangle (I'm still learning this skill), use any new camera, use Excel and so on!
So with that attitude I'm self teaching how to use Photoshop AND to improve my writing skills. Being the good self teacher, I put a bunch of books on hold at the library. Going to the library is like Christmas morning, only less messy. It's always an adventure to see what's waiting on the shelf. I just love the library, the muffled sounds, the old book smell, the oversized chairs by the window to sit and sample what's behind the cover of a selected book.
Why December seemed like a good month to start these projects I'm not sure, but I'm going with it while I have the desire and motivation!
These are the Photoshop books from the library...
I have not had time to get going yet, but I have scanned through a couple of them. I might need to actually take a class, but we'll see.
The pile of books about writing is less daunting.
The Anne Lamott book is wonderful. It reads like a novel and is filled with the best advice and encouragement and it's funny, in an Anne Lamott way!
The Writer's Book of Wisdom is a small pocket sized book, easily carried around. It has 101 "rules" for writers and I've marked many pages (with Harry Potter Uno cards, don't ask) to go back and read again. I might have to purchase this book to have handy.
The Writer's Path is an instruction book with exercises. I've done a few of them starting with writing about my earliest memories, which Anne Lamott suggests too. I'm having some fun doing it, but also some uncomfortable moments as I relive some of those memories. There was another exercise where you start with a simple sentence, change nouns and verbs, add adverbs and adjectives, take some away. I loved doing this! I'm not going to show you how the sentence evolved over nine different steps, but show you the beginning sentence and where it ended up.
A cat walked into the kitchen.
Evolved to...
The extremely talented boys sang beautifully at the music studio.
Fun and simple stuff!!
My goal is to spend each Wednesday showing you what I'm up to with writing, Photoshop or other projects I'm working on.
(To see my photo of the day go here.)
you are very energetic today! these are a lot of projects to begin in December and I admire you 100%.
Posted by: deb | December 16, 2009 at 06:34 AM
I did not know Lamott's "Bird by Bird" reads like a novel. I'll have to read it, then. Because I've loved so many of her books.
Posted by: phd in yogurtry | December 16, 2009 at 07:22 AM
I have that CS3 for Dummies ... and am overwhelmed by it! I'm sure you'll have better luck because you've already shown incredibly envious photo skills.
And you'll love Bird by Bird. Anytime I got a new writer on staff (when I was an editor) I would give her a printed copy of the passage relating to working through things "bird by bird." And when we'd become a stressed-out staff, I'd remind them to take things bird by bird. It's a lovely passage and oh-so helpful in the craziness of life. I even printed out copies of that chapter for my daughters. You'll love it ... and turn to it when life overwhelms.
Enjoy your learning time!
Posted by: Lisa | December 16, 2009 at 09:40 AM
I am impressed! i have that Anne Lamont book, and I'm going to get it off the shelf!
Posted by: Mental P Mama | December 16, 2009 at 01:07 PM
I 'd love to take a photo shop class. It's so hit and miss when learning through practiacal experience. There are so many tricks. You are bound to learn something if you just go through all the steps one by one.
Posted by: Sukhmandir Kaur | December 16, 2009 at 03:36 PM