writing

The feeling of my chest folding in on itself is familiar in a haunting way. It clenches the way that muscles flinch when something comes to close to your face—except it stays that way. There’s no immediate relief after you don’t get hit. There’s no sigh to release the tension.

The creature sneaks its way down the center of my body, spreading through my stomach. The roots seem to grab hold of whatever organ they can, squeezing as if I’m trying to rip it from my body. But the only violent one here is it. If you tug, it clings harder. Like Devil’s Snare, the more you fight, the worse it gets. Continue reading “How to write yourself down from a panic attack in six paragraphs” →

On Writing, Thoughts

How do you write?

January 23, 2017January 23, 2017 H.R. Gordon

I bet you didn’t know today was National Handwriting Day—and to be fair, I didn’t either until I stumbled upon the Twitter hashtag.

Although I do a plethora of writing by hand—journaling, letter-writing, list-making, scheduling—it struck me that I don’t write most of my prose by hand anymore. I believe the last story I wrote completely by hand was five years ago. Technology has consumed that part of my life. I used to carry a notebook for ideas; now I simply jot them in the “notes” section of my iPhone. When I’m interviewing someone for an article, my laptop comes along. While I usually still have a notebook and pen on me, what could be deemed my most important writing is almost exclusively written and saved electronically.

According to Forbes, National Handwriting Day was established in 1977 by Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA). Forbes quotes WIMA saying, “Handwriting allows us to be artists and individuals during a time when we often use computers, faxes and email to communicate. Fonts are the same no matter what computer you use or how you use it and they lack a personal touch. Handwriting can add intimacy to a letter and reveal details about the writer’s personality. Throughout history, handwritten documents have sparked love affairs, started wars, established peace, freed slaves, created movements and declared independence.”

Perhaps the next time I write a story, I’ll sit down with a pen and paper. Hopefully by the the time it’s complete, I’ll be able to decipher my chicken scratch and find the words in the scribbles.

What’s your favorite way to write? Leave a note in the comments below. Let’s discuss!

-hrg

On Writing, Thoughts

Word Wednesday: Revitalize

January 4, 2017January 1, 2017 H.R. Gordon

word-wednesday1

This Wednesday’s word is: revitalize (verb): to imbue (something) with new life and vitality. The challenge? Use this in some form of your writing this week. Whether it’s a poem, short story, a chapter, or an article, slip this word in, and then send your piece to me. I’d love to read what you come up with!

On Writing, Thoughts

New year, new focus

January 2, 2017January 2, 2017 H.R. Gordon

Hello dear readers,

First off, thanks for following Sitting in Spilt Ink. I started this blog some time in 2012 with no real focus or goal in mind. There have been times when I don’t post an update for months, yet Sitting in Spilt Ink rarely looses followers. So, thanks for sticking around, and I promise this year will be better.

There are a few things I’m excited to begin work on this year. One (which I’ve already begun) is the Emerging Revolutionary War book series. I’m the managing editor of the series, which is composed of entry-level, 192-page books on battles, people, and important events during the war. I design (and sometimes edit) books for the Emerging Civil War series, so if history is your thing, please check them out. Emerging Civil War will also have a book on Civil War pop culture coming out in 2017 (if I’m not mistaken), in which I’ve written two chapters. But I’ll post that when it comes time. Continue reading “New year, new focus” →

Poetry

A Pause in Thought

April 14, 2015 H.R. Gordon

I’ve hit a bump in the road
A brick in the wall
A fork in the path,
If you will.
I’ve sacrificed my creative tongue
For an early nights sleep
Maybe I’m finally just too happy.
My words are accustomed to
A cynical tone, sometimes defensive,
Often in pain.
But I’m happy now,
And I can’t seem to channel
The way I used to feel into
Words worth reading
And now I’m stuck.
I will not pen poems of roses and rainbows—
No. that is not who I am. That is not my poetry.
My voice pulls out the harsh reality.
But somewhere between falling in love and moving to a beautiful place,
I have lost my sight, my vision so clear of the pain and suffering so many endure—what I used to feel daily.
So I write.
I write now in hopes of bringing a voice back.
In hopes of channeling my inner monologue to say something profound…
Or worth reading at the very least.

-HRG

Poetry, Thoughts

NaPoWriMo

April 5, 2015January 11, 2016 H.R. Gordon

So I just found out about NaPoWriMo, and I’m wondering how I came this far in life without knowing it.

I know I’m five days late, but I think I’m going to participate. I’ll try to step up my game and double up on five days so I end up with 30 poems at the end of the month.

So follow for some intense poetry this month!

HRG

Thoughts

An evening of writing

November 14, 2014January 11, 2016 H.R. Gordon

I’ve made a mug of coffee and brought my computer to the lounge, where I’m using dry-erase markers on a board to set up character outlines. It’s snowing outside, but I have fuzzy socks on. I’ll probably order a gluten-free pizza later, with barbecue sauce not tomato sauce, and of course chicken, double cheese, onions and pineapple.

I’m falling in love with the first line of my novel, and my characters are showing me how awesome they really are.

Such is the life of a writer.

-HRG

Thoughts

Tolkien

November 13, 2014January 11, 2016 H.R. Gordon

If I say I want to be a Tolkien scholar, and you say, “What’s Tolkien?” Our friendship is over.

-HRG

Thoughts

NaNooooooWriMo

November 2, 2014January 11, 2016 H.R. Gordon

So I’ve done just a phenomenal job at NaNoWriMo so far, and by that I mean I haven’t started yet. OH JOY. I have my ideas down, I just haven’t sat down to write yet, which is weird for me because I procrastinate by writing. So now I’m actually doing work and stressing out because I haven’t started my novel yet! AHHH!

Anyone else having this problem? Other NaNoWriMo problems? Let’s chat, novelists!

-HRG