Writing Lesson in Music Class

As mentioned in my last post, I’m taking piano lessons. With five kids, my immigrant parents couldn’t afford them. Now that I have lots of time on my hands, I’m treating myself to something I’ve always wanted to do.

In the last while, I’ve attended quite a few musical performances. Some of astonishing virtuosity. Others…not so much.

One virtuoso we were privileged to hear is Thomas Pandolfi. Totally blew me away. Between pieces, Thomas chatted about his work with Chopin’s études.

An etude is a study, or exercise, composed to develop a particular  technical skill like moving one hand over the other. Thomas also mentioned studies by Hanon. In 1873, Charles Louis Hanon wrote a book of finger exercises for beginners like me.

Recently, my piano teacher assigned me some studies written by  Carl Czerny (1791 – 1857). Beethoven was Czerny’s teacher. Czerny in turn taught Franz Liszt who went on the write some real finger-twisting studies.

The music I’m using now has been studied by countless students before me and will likely be played by countless more after me. Though Thomas is a genius, he likely played them, too. The continuity is awe-inspiring and comforting.

Everybody starts in the same place.

So what’s all this got to do with writing?

Jane Austen, Bram Stoker, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are familiar names to writers of romance, paranormal and mystery genres.

It doesn’t matter if a book is issued in vellum, parchment, paper, or bytes, all writers are part of the continuity of the story.

And whether that story is told in music or words, we all start in the same place–with a wish in our hearts to entertain.

© Joan Leacott 2012, x-posted at Voices from the Heart

Goals-Biters or Boosters

While paging through the family album recently, I came across a photo of myself circa 1985 and wondered. What did I dream of, what were my goals?

All during my working life, my goals were set by my boss—complete this report now. My personal life was pretty much take what comes.

I left the workforce some time ago—the best bad thing that ever happened to me—and became an aspiring author a romance writer, student of the piano, and occasional artist.

I set goals for my writing after I drafted my first novel, but life bit hard with two family deaths in two consecutive summers. My muse went dormant during those years.

The next summer, I set a goal to write 1,000 words a day—and gave myself a dose of carpal tunnel syndrome. Boy, did that bite! Thanks to speech recognition software, I completed the book and healed my wrists.

In more recent goals, I’ve deliberately included free time when my fingers are not on any keys, laptop or piano. I’ve scheduled two days off per week for fun stuff with my dear husband and my good friends, and a full month after I’ve drafted my third novel.

Why? If I know an off-day is near, I’ll be more focused during my on-days. Hopefully, this will save my sanity and my wrists.

I’ve also re-allotted time for a special project that didn’t quite get off the ground last year. I’ll re-purpose my sewing-room into an office, starting with a thorough clear-out and ending with re-decorating. I view the process as a re-commitment to my writing. Stay tuned for before and after photos.

Instead of goals that wear me down and bite my butt, I’ve created goals to boost my creativity and still let me enjoy my beautiful life.

Do your goals bite you or boost you?

© Joan Leacott 2012