Month: June 2019

Writing Space

/ rainbowbutterflycreative07 / Leave a comment

And How To Set One Up

June 12

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

I read a question that was asked on Quora earlier, about how to make a writing space. It got me thinking. There are so many different kinds and variations of writing space, which all depend totally on the individual’s personal tastes.

Some people like a very empty, clear and minimalist desk, with just their computer on it. Some can only write long hand. Some use a mixture of the two, and some like a very busy, almost cluttered work space.

I think I probably fall somewhere near the last category here. My writing space is in my bedroom. My bedroom takes up the entire top floor of the house. I have it partitioned, so that I have a craft room and a dressing room on one side, and then my bed, and writing space on the other.

So, my writing space, basically consists of a square of tables, with a small gap so that I can get into the middle, where my chair is. I have multiple screens, so that I can have all the things pertaining to my current wip visible whenever I want it.

I also have a number of books. Many are on book shelves, which surround my writing space, but I also have several piles on the tables, and these are the ones, which I tend to refer to while I am working. I also have a number of notebooks, and any number of pens and pencils lurking on my desk.

The thing is that sometimes, I like to work on a screen, and sometimes, I like to go a bit more old school, preferring to use pen and paper.

I strongly believe that there is room for both, and I generally just try and see where my mood is leaning. The only thing, in my mind, which is non-negotiable, is that I must show up.

We can spend as long as we want creating the perfect space to write, but if we don’t actually show up and get the work done, then really there’s no point in any of it.

I guess I’m not really answering that question very well, but I don’t think that there’s any kind of magic formula for a writing space. As writers, we’re all so individual, and it is only through some level of experimentation that we will find what works for us.

But really, when it comes down to it, all we really need is ourselves, a willing mind, persistence, dedication, and something with which to capture the words dancing within us.

What do your writing spaces look like? Let me know in the comments.

If you’d like to get updates from me once a week, you can click here… 🙂

Li Carter is a writer, artist and crafter. She lives in South Wales, UK, with her family, and five rescue dogs. She’s on Twitter @rbcreativeli , Facebook: Rainbow Butterfly Creative, and Instagram @rainbowbutterflycreative and is the author of My Only True Friend: The Beginning. She is currently working on a new series titled The QuickSilver Chronicles. She is the original Rainbow Butterfly, and wants to fill an ever darkening world with a little bit of beauty and creativity.

Advertisement

Chronic Illness

/ rainbowbutterflycreative07 / Leave a comment

And Why Flares Are A Pain In The A**

Photo by Mitchell Hollander on Unsplash

Anyone with a chronic illness will say that they live with a certain level of that illness every single day. They could live with pain, overwhelming exhaustion, brain fog, migraines, and any number of other things.

The thing is that there are times when these illnesses flare up, and these are the times when the symptoms of these illnesses seem to double, both in intensity and in frequency.

As I have said before, I suffer with TMJD (Temporo Mandibular Joint Dysfunction). Lately, I have been going through a flare. For me, this looks like:

· Extremely limited opening

· Cracking jaw

· Severe pain

· Mouth ulcers

· Migraines

· Neck Ache

· Tooth Ache

· Ear Ache

· Dizziness

· Disturbed sleep

The thing is that a lot of these symptoms sound fairly minor, and if it were one thing on its own, then it would be manageable, but when all of these things happen at the same time, it makes life pretty much unbearable.

Most of these symptoms are not necessarily visible, which can make it even more difficult, as people may tend to think that I’m overreacting, or being a drama queen, but I challenge them to live a day in my life when I’m going through a flare.

So, what is a flare?

Basically, a flare is a time when all of these symptoms are further intensified, and often occur simultaneously. This, coupled with the pressure that I often put on myself to try and push through, can leave me feeling despair. A flair means that doing ordinary activities, and basically living my life can become an almost impossible task. To put it bluntly, a flare is a big pain. We don’t want to be dealing with this, but the fact is that we are, and we have very little choice in the matter.

I know many people with other chronic conditions, for whom this is also true.

The thing is that when going through a flare, the best thing we can do for ourselves, is to try and practice self care. We need to listen to our bodies, regardless of others’ opinions that we might be ‘malingering’, ‘a drama queen’, or ‘lazy’.

If you are going through a flare, remember to try and be kind to yourself. If you need to take a duvet day, then it’s okay to do just that. If you need to just be by yourself, and sleep all day, then that’s okay too. Basically, the best thing that you can do if you’re having a flare is to listen to your body and give it what it needs.

So, be kind to yourself. Listen to your body, and give it what it needs, because, remember, no one else can do it for you and it is okay to give yourself permission to practice self care, even though the flare you’re going through might feel like a big pain in the a**!

If you’d like to get updates from me once a week, you can click here… 🙂

Li Carter is a writer, artist and crafter. She lives in South Wales, UK, with her family, and five rescue dogs. She’s on Twitter @rbcreativeli , Facebook: Rainbow Butterfly Creative, and Instagram @rainbowbutterflycreative and is the author of My Only True Friend: The Beginning. She is currently working on a new series titled The QuickSilver Chronicles. She is the original Rainbow Butterfly, and wants to fill an ever darkening world with a little bit of beauty and creativity.

Keeping A Journal

/ rainbowbutterflycreative07 / Leave a comment

A Practice

June 3

Photo by Hannah Olinger on Unsplash

I’ve written before on keeping a journal. Probably more than once, and I highly doubt that this will be the last time that I do.

To me, journaling is such an important practice. It gives you a space to spill out your thoughts on to the page. It doesn’t answer back, or judge you.

If you’ve read my past posts, you will know that I have kept a journal since I was about eleven. I don’t think I could cope without it now.

The thing is that when you start, it can seem like a bit of a chore, but as you persevere with the practice of writing every day without fail, you will build a habit, that will, given time, become essential to your mental wellbeing.

I am not going to say that I don’t miss days sometimes, I do, but at the same time, the days that I do write are more than the days where I don’t.

There are so many ways in which you can journal, and I try to incorporate these into the pages of my journal. I thought I’d list some of them here:

· Prayer

· Gratitude

· Reading Log

· Writing Log

· Lists

· Emotions Chart

· Habits

There are so many more than this, but you get my drift. The thing is that you can bend and shape a journal to be exactly what you want it to be. You can mould it to fit your life, and really, when it comes down to it, anything goes.

So, whether you already journal, or if you’re a complete newbie, just make sure that your journal works for you, because at the end of the day, that’s the whole point, and that’s the way to make sure that you stick to it.

If you’d like to get updates from me once a week, you can click here… 🙂

Li Carter is a writer, artist and crafter. She lives in South Wales, UK, with her family, and five rescue dogs. She’s on Twitter @rbcreativeli , Facebook: Rainbow Butterfly Creative, and Instagram @rainbowbutterflycreative and is the author of My Only True Friend: The Beginning. She is currently working on a new series titled The QuickSilver Chronicles. She is the original Rainbow Butterfly, and wants to fill an ever darkening world with a little bit of beauty and creativity.


Invisible

/ rainbowbutterflycreative07 / Leave a comment

A Poem

June 2

Photo by Rúben Marques on Unsplash

Would you even notice?
 Would you even care?
 Would you even wonder,
 If she wasn’t there?

That girl in the background,
 On whom you depend.
 The girl hiding behind,
 Just looking for an end.

You’re surrounded by people,
 You don’t even look round,
 Will you even see her,
 When she hits the ground.

I know you don’t care,
 No, not deep down,
 You just leave her sitting there,
 With her worried frown.

***

If you’d like to get updates from me once a week, you can click here… 🙂

Li Carter is a writer, artist and crafter. She lives in South Wales, UK, with her family, and five rescue dogs. She’s on Twitter @rbcreativeli , Facebook: Rainbow Butterfly Creative, and Instagram @rainbowbutterflycreative and is the author of My Only True Friend: The Beginning. She is currently working on a new series titled The QuickSilver Chronicles. She is the original Rainbow Butterfly, and wants to fill an ever darkening world with a little bit of beauty and creativity.

Happy Birthday To My Nan

/ rainbowbutterflycreative07 / Leave a comment

She Would Have Been 91

June 1st

Today is my Nan’s Birthday. She would have been 91. Ten years ago in April, she passed away, and sometimes it feels like it was only yesterday. She always said that she was going to live to 100, but she was 18 years short of this.

Her Birthday was always sunny. It was strange… even though the weather got more and more temperamental, the sun always seemed to put his hat on for her Birthday.

We’d wake up and take her a cup of her favourite milky coffee, and sing Happy Birthday. Then, she’d have her presents and cards. Then there would be cake, and it became a tradition that we would have strawberries and meringues after dinner.

My Nan was the best! I know pretty much everyone thinks this about their grandparents, but to me, my Nan was (and still is) one of my heroes. She was my rock. She was always in my corner, and she always believed in me.

When I told her that I wanted to be a writer, she simply accepted that. She never said that I should give up and go for something more reliable. She fostered my interest by making sure that I had access to as many books as possible.

She always had my back. She was generous, and kind, and fiercely loyal. To say she had strong opinions would be a complete understatement. She was unshakeable in her opinions, and you would not have wanted to be caught in an argument with her.

She had a wicked sense of humour, and she could drink anyone under the table, and never have a hangover. She would get herself into some unbelievable scrapes, but somehow, always ended up laughing about it.

She used to keep, breed, judge, and show goats, and was very highly thought of in the British Goat Society circles. She won countless rosettes, especially with her prize winning goat, Hebe.

She was a child of the war, and as a result, all things came in two or threes. She could never just buy one of anything.

She was the best! She was amazing, and my inspiration. I miss her everyday, but there are times when that pain is just that little bit more…

Today is one of those days. I wish that she was here to celebrate with us. I wish that I could bring her strawberries and meringues like we always did.

I love you Nanny. I hope that you’re up there, the centre of attention at a party with Grandad, Hayden, Rosemary, Kiri, and all of your friends, and I hope that they’re spoiling you rotten. Don’t go too wild!

Love you always~

If you’d like to get updates from me once a week, you can click here… 🙂

Li Carter is a writer, artist and crafter. She lives in South Wales, UK, with her family, and five rescue dogs. She’s on Twitter @rbcreativeli , Facebook: Rainbow Butterfly Creative, and Instagram @rainbowbutterflycreative and is the author of My Only True Friend: The Beginning. She is currently working on a new series titled The QuickSilver Chronicles. She is the original Rainbow Butterfly, and wants to fill an ever darkening world with a little bit of beauty and creativity.