written word

Be An Artist with Your Words!

Is writing overwhelming?

It doesn’t need to be. If, for example you’re writing Haibun, decide what you wish to write about or when prompted for a writing exercise using a photo (like the one on the right), a word or a phrase. Perhaps a thought you’ve been dwelling on, or an experience.

Okay next,

take a few minutes to think about what you’d like to say. What does the prompt you’ve chosen mean to you? Decide how you feel about it. What thoughts, memories, experiences come to mind as you ponder? How do you want to present this?

Writing can be powerful if the author exudes his or her own personality in a style of their own emotional expression and flow of words.

With this in mind, begin!

Write a few paragraphs (one or more). Use “word power” and “word placement” to sharpen emphasis. You may think of this as an art form. (Like picking a certain type of instrument to produce a specific effect in a musical score, or a certain kind of brushstroke for a painting.)
If your writing Haibun style, include one or more haiku (a form of Japanese poetry), either as a closing to your piece or in-between the paragraph(s) to add emphasis. (sample below)

artistic essence

balancing of style and words

creativity flows

And there you go. You’re writing haibun style. Publish your written piece on your blog for others to read and enjoy.

The following is a sample haibun from a quote by e.e. cummings:

The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful

– e.e. cummings

One of those days. Overcast skies and wet, everything so wet. Restless children kept inside during never-ending showers. Of a sudden, a break appears in the clouds and sunshine peaks through. Children’s faces pressed tightly against window panes, a longing look outdoors. I know this feeling.

Dressing quickly in rain gear they hurry outside; running around everywhere, feeling free again. No longer caged indoors. I know this feeling also. Feet pad over spongy soaked ground, rich with brownness of expression. Liquid cocoa rivulets flow into muddy puddles adorning pathways.

Playful children. They’ve discovered their own sense of freedom, also brown in expression, jumping into muddy puddles. A joyful abandon, splashing about. Completely carefree of thought and action. This feeling I’ve known too. Where has it gone?

longing for freedom

lost innocence remembered

expressions in brown

I hope you enjoyed the process. May your days ahead be filled with your own artistic word stylings.

Thanks for stopping by.

~ Penny

The Seekers of Haibun …

… for the essence of the written word!

Those Who Seek

One might refer to the writing of haibun as creating prose-like philosophy or perhaps the creation of beautiful thoughts transformed/crafted into beautiful words. The meaning unfolds slowly, somewhere between carefully chosen words, their placement, and of course, the haiku, embedded with richness culled from the prose.

Meaningful words (the essence of) in a written haibun assist both the writer and the reader in the ability to increase not only their depth of understanding, but to also expand introspective curiosity regarding exploration of the world (from without and within) – the nature of the nature of things.

Those who write are lovers of language and the written word. Those who craft haibun are, in addition, seekers of life’s mysteries; delving further into the unknown and beauty of life through personal and thoughtful experiences which culminate in the formation of their expressive words.

“Finely composed haibun, is delicate, yet as strongly hued as the silken thread of the silk worm and as revealing as … life being fully lived.”

the haiku of haibun
amidst word and meaning
awakens the seeker

Thank you,

~ Penny

ON ASSIGNMENT FROM THE HAVEN – Entry #1

Have you noticed that whenever you set out to write something regardless of when or where – there is one thing that’s never different? It’s you – of course! You are always the one writing your words. It is my belief that when one writes in a haibun style it does not have to be written in first person, even though I also believe that most haibun are personal.

A reflection of who you are. A poetic expression of how you view things. A thought, an experience, or a memory. That’s the nature of it. And because it is usually personal, this can be difficult for some. Writing in the first person about thoughts and feelings, memories and adventures can be hard.

But what if you were someone else? What if you put “you the writer” (that you are) into a character mode and then wrote from his or her perspective?

Want to give it a try? Write in the first person, except remember you’re in character!

Here goes:

The Setting: You’ve been out on special assignment for a month. The jungle is hot, and humid. Your guide has gotten you lost twice and you have concerns about the natives in the area. But you’re close to reaching your goal. It’s evening now … you’re exhausted and yet you’re preoccupied, the jungle fauna beautiful, the animals exotic but dangerous, what are your thoughts … don’t forget you’re writing as someone else but it’s still personal.

Take out your travel journal and write. Take along your sketchpad or camera, if you’re so inclined and write one or two (at the most three) paragraphs (your written prose) with your haiku included in the mix (if you have questions about writing a haibun click here )

When your finished and you’ve added (at your choice) any illustrations or photographs (not necessary), if you like, publish your haibun on your blog.

Good writing be with you,

Penny

A Writer's Styling of Words

the written expression of being