Sunday, January 5, 2025

A Painting (short memoir) by Leanne Dyck

When did I fall in love with the idea of creating stories? What made me want to write? Tips on how to remain inspired.

One of my earliest inspirations to write came from a painting.

photo by ldyck

My paternal grandmother owned a painting called "The Open Window," created by Frank Moss Bennett. The painting is of a small room surrounded by stained-glass windows. In the room is a bench and a table. A cat sits on that table looking through a window to a green meadow. One of the side windows is open. From childhood on the painting has mesmerized me. Did the cat jump into the room? Who lives in the house? Will they find the cat? What will happen then? Or does the cat live in the house? Is it contemplating escaping into the meadow? What will the cat find in the meadow? Will the cat return to the house once it has explored the meadow? I told myself a new story about the painting each time I visited my grandmother. And yet, my pen never captured any of them. That pool of inspiration may have been too deep. Unable to capture the cat stories, I was inspired to cast my net and capture others. 

(Much thanks to Angie and others on Facebook who helped me discover the artist of this painting.)

What stories does 2025 hold?

Wishing you the best of 2025.


7 Science-backed Ways to Channel Creativity by Amanda Lieber

Boosting Creativity: 8 ways to instantly unlock your creative flow by Alexandra Tudor

17 Ways to Find Inspiration and Spark Creativity by Nikki Carter

photo by Byron Dyck
1/6/2025


January on this blog


Sunday, January 12
Book Review: Poems by Maya Angelou
 I've been doing a lot of reading but not for pleasure. And I've missed it. I felt the key to returning would be finding something undemanding. Maya Angelou took me by the hand and brought me back.

Sunday, January 19
Studying Poetry (a poem)
I was introduced to poetry, as many of you were, in grade school. Later, I matriculated and a professor furthered my studying on the subject. Those two experiences were remarkably different. How? Well...

Sunday, January 26
Making Giant Snowballs (children's story)
Making Giant Snowballs encourages children to show acceptance and kindness--especially to people who are different from themselves.

Sunday, December 29, 2024

Holiday Office Party (short story) by Leanne Dyck

photo by ldyck

Attending a holiday office party can be challenging if you are viewed as, or self-identify as an outsider.

Holiday Office Party


I sat uncomfortably on the padded chair. The banquet hall was full of well-dressed people. I barely knew anyone; they barely knew me. I was just the spouse.

"Wow, that was good." My husband finished his slice of cheesecake. "It calls for seconds."

"I agree." The guy across the table--a co-worker--joined my husband in his hunt for more.

I tried not to stare at the woman who'd been left with me. Her makeup was flawless, and she was dressed like a fashion model. I, on the other hand, wore an outfit scored from my local thrift shop. Had I remembered eyeshadow? Lipstick? Foundation? Nope. My skin can't breathe under all those layers of goop. And besides that goop is expensive. I'd rather spend my money on books.

The fashion model across from me used her napkin to wipe off a non-existent crumb. "You live on some small island?"

"Mayne Island."

"Mayne, that's right. It's so remote. I'd feel trapped. Do you enjoy living there?"

I smiled, nodded, and prepared for the inevitable next question.

"Why?"

Yes, that was it. I racked my brain trying to come up with something to say, some way to explain. She already thought I was odd. Answers ran through my mind. I need to live where there are more trees than people... I need peace and quiet... I... "Beyond the breathtaking scenery, beyond the peace and quiet, beyond everything. I enjoy living on Mayne Island because I've found a special place where I belong. The superficial things don't ma--."

Our husbands came back.

"That looks good. I think I'll have some dessert." And she left me in mid-sentence.

How would this story change if I rewrote it to focus on the commonalities between the two women? Do you need to share the same neighbourhood, style of dress, and beliefs to socialize?

2024 in review...

How many manuscripts did I send to publishing houses in 2024? What did I write in 2024? What was my most popular book review? What was my most popular story? What do I plan to write in 2025?