Vision Boards

I haven't come up with a title to book 2 of the Meridienne Drake series, but I am in it about 15K words, and that's almost a quarter into it. Being a cheerleader coach, I have less time to write. I usually get to write around the clock starting in March, so I think I'm on top of things for the time being.
Yesterday, another author posted in her blog about having pictures to help see what you want to write. This technique really does work. Let's  face it, we all need to be visual at times! So I finally put together my Vision Board to inspire me to write more when I'm at my computer in hopes to stop any and all distractions. A vision board is a collaboration of pretty much anything. If you have a goal, you would like to achieve such as traveling. You would put pictures of all the places you want to go so that everyday it is a constant reminder of what you are working towards.
My vision board is for the Meridienne Drake Series. Back during Book 1, I collaborated from all over the internet pictures of people, places, and things that inspire my book. The trouble is having to pull up pictures for one takes time and second pulls you away from the screen where you are writing. Yeah, yeah. I know with Windows 7 you can split your screen. But I like a full screen with my writing program open. Even my task bar goes into hiding. I was definitely the kid that saw pretty buttons and wanted to push them. So, having my vision board is wonderful because now I just need to slightly turn my head and can see every picture. :o) It helped me so much yesterday that I sat down and wrote almost 4k words. No lie! That's right I was at 11K words before yesterday.
So, how do you make a Vision Board?

• You can use anything as your actual board: Cardboard, cork board, metal sheet (Because I know we all have that lying around the house), fabric board, canvas, even a wall will work. Mine is a fabric board with Ribbons stapled at every intersection and a button glued over it. It used to be in the kitchen to hold Christmas cards and lists, invitations, etc. If you look closely at the pic below, you'll see two buttons missing. :o)
• After you find your pictures, print them out. Your pictures can be about absolutely anything. I have clothing styles, rooms, landscape, different people to use features I like about some to make up one complete person, houses, cars. Anything.
• Then, you just use push pins, magnets, tape or whatever you need to hold the pics. I used tape to help hold in some places that I didn't think the ribbon would suffice.
• I also left room to grow as the book progresses. I'm thinking when the series ends though. I may have many more or possibly an entire room.

And, Voila! You made a vision board and can start your path of focus. Simple, right!

Lots of <3,
Jess

P.S. Get more on how seeing the picture can help bring your characters to life by visiting "This Writer's Life..."

Do you YuDu?

Okay, so a few days ago, I ventured out on a new craft. Those of you who know me are thinking, OMG ANOTHER ONE! Yep, I can't help. It is in my genetic make-up. My grandmother had a craft room that most people would drool over. She could make anything and always had every tool available. I think she hand-made everything she owned. But, the funny part was that every tool seemed to come from this small closet in the room. I used to think of it like Mary Poppins' bag. Even her sewing machine would disappear and become a table (After she passed, I got the sewing machine, and I felt like I had won the lottery. It is older than dinosaurs, but still functional.).
Anyway, so I had gotten the YuDu a little more than a year ago. I had intended to make some t-shirts for my cheerleading team, but with chaos and packed schedules, it didn't happen this way. But, Sunday, I was in a crafty mood and pulled it out. In case you're saying, "YuDu? Did she mean Voodoo?" A YuDu is a screen printing machine, and you can screenprint anything, even your wallpaper (probably, and before you put it up, of course).
So, I watched the video and then ventured on my craft magic. I'm trying to mimic the DVD, and I ruined the first emulsion sheet that came with the machine. I looked at my hubby, who somewhat took an interest in this project (most likely thinking he could get some cool SAINTS gear from it.), and said the other sheet has to work. Well, it didn't. I was bummed and projectless, so I turned to YouTube to get the answers to the lack of answers in the manual. YouTube has a howto video on everything. Come to find out, many people had the same gripes; thus it left me trying to find another way. Instead of emulsion sheets, I found liquid emulsion. Wanting to run immediately to Michael's to get some, I looked at the clock. Darn! 9pm. Michael's closes at 6 on Sundays down here. Looking at the product, I thought how familiar the box looked. I ventured to my craft closet, which is bigger than my grandmother's was, but much less filled. When I opened the door to the closet, staring right back at me, front and center on the shelf, was the box of liquid emulsion. I don't remember ever getting it, but I have a horrible memory. Nevertheless, I saw it as a gift from my grandmother and went to town with the liquid emulsion. Emulsion is light sensitive. I wanted this to work so badly and the instructions called for this process to be done in a darkroom. Well, I didn't have the proper bulbs, so I said, "No problem, I can do it in the dark. I have night vision eyes." Surprisingly, I did do it, but I put too much emulsion on my screen and the screen took the entire rest of the night to dry. At about 2am, I threw in the towel and went to bed.
The next morning, I put the screen to dry for another hour and finally got it dry. I did a little happy dance and finished the rest of the project. After the emulsion, it was a breeze to make the shirt. My result was a t-shirt for the cheerleading camp we are hosting after Thanksgiving.

My poor YuDu, however, did not have such a good result. When I tried to dry the screen after I cleaned it, it sounds like YuDu came down with laryngitis. I overworked the fans, I guess.
Lots of <3,
Jess