Textures and Texts. Write and Link #7

 

This dress could be prescribed by doctors as color therapy, which I need in winter due to lack of sun. It is so easy to style - take it into neutral palette if you wish, or into reds, or purples, or dramatic black - so many options here. At first, I picked orange. Then I started second-guessing myself and asked Justin's opinion between two coats - he voted for the orange one. I was slightly concerned that it would feel a little too much, but it ended up being just right for me.

Write and Link #6: Do You Believe in Magic?

It's been a while. I wish I could tell you fun stories of great adventures which kept me from blogging, but the simple truth is I was sick and stuck at home for two weeks. The first thing I did once my energy level got better? You got it! I dressed up and bought tickets to theater. Oh, you know me so well!

Snow and Vintage + Write and Link

Snow makes a rare appearance here by the Sound, so rare that every time it's a festive event on its own. I can't say I miss seeing snow (especially having snowy mountains as a magnificent backdrop year round), but whenever I see it, it brings my inner child out to play.

Write and Link #5: As Leaves Turned Yellow

Rowan Leaves and Hole by Andy Goldsworthy (born 1956) (source)

Hello everybody and welcome to the 5th monthly creative writing link-up!

If you are new to my blog, here is what this is all about. 

This is a unique link-up on the web - a celebration of creative writing for everyone who loves it, writers and readers alike. 

Every month, we are given a phrase that participating writers are free to interpret and incorporate in a short story (1000 words or so). The phrase for September is "As leaves turned yellow...". After the writing is completed, at the end of the month, we share our stories with each other and readers who are interested. Anyone is welcome to join in. You can find all writers participants and their stories under the label WRITE AND LINK. I usually open the link-up on the 26th of every month and close on the 1st of the following month, when it's time to start working on the next month's story, the phrase for which I provide at the end of the same post. If you have not had a chance to write a story in September yet, then you still have time till October 1st - so do write and link your story here! I hope that we all have more energy as Autumn begins for both creating stories and supporting each other with a kind word. Here is to a new dynamic Write and Link #5!

Sincerely,

Natalia

The phrase for October writing:

"Do you believe in magic?"

Write and Link #4: Because Everyone Knows...

Cows over Vitebsk by Marc Chagall. 1966 (source)

Hello dear friends and readers,

I'm inviting you to join our 4th WRITE AND LINK, the unique link-up party for creative writers. If you're a writer, feel free to write a story (1000 words is only a guideline, it can be shorter or longer) in which you incorporate the phrase of the month. For our August stories, it is "...Because everyone knows..." Let your imagination go wild, unleash your creativity, write from your very heart - then post it in your blog and link back to this post. WRITE AND LINK is a once a month link up and stays open for about a week, till September 1st, so you still have time to write your story. If you're a reader, you have a truly unique chance to see how stories are born, literally from nothingness, into a complete piece of art, in only about a month. You have a unique chance to see how different writers interpret the same phrase and what it brings out of them. Please support your friends and fellow bloggers by reading and leaving a comment, we all feel a bit wobbly in the beginning of a new creative journey and we do appreciate your support very much!

As I mentioned last month, I separated my creative writing from my style/travel/life impressions/thoughts blog, and am happy that I did so. So you will find my story in the link below, along with other writers' links. A few bloggers also created special blogs for their creative writing, because our creativity deserves a special place, in the world or in our virtual home. If you're new to In the Writer's Closet, or somehow missed when I announced the launch of my daily prompts, please make sure to check out Rise and Write which is a daily writing sketches link-up on my creativity blog - Out of the Writer's Closet. We're completing our first month of daily writings now. I'm pondering new ideas for writing challenges, but we'll see what the future brings.

Happy writing and reading everyone!

A phrase for September stories:

"As leaves turned yellow..."

Write and Link #3: It Was One of Those Endless Summer Days

Bathing of a Red Horse by K. Petrov-Vodkin (1878-1939). 1912 (source)

It's time for Write and Link again! This link-up is all about creative writing, short fiction in particular, and is open to anyone who is a writer, loves to write and wants to get their creative juices going. The rules are very simple - please incorporate the offered opening phrase into your story, keep the story on the short side (1000 words is only a guideline, your story can be shorter or longer...as long as it's not a novel) and link back to this post. Сlick on the tab at the left top of the page to read all the creative stories we wrote in the past couple of months. We appreciate readers and comments very much!

UPDATE: I've decided to post all of my fiction (in both English and Russian) on my other blog, Out of the Writer's Closet - and posted my new story, The Essence, HERE. I cannot, unfortunately, redo my previous Write and Link stories simply because those link-ups are closed by now, but this is how I will do things in the future, so my stories will appear as links to this post, with all the other stories and writers. I think this is a more straightforward way to go for this link-up. My story is on the longer side this time (it is in two parts, all together about 2600 words), but I think it is worth it. I can't wait to see what you want to share. Happy writing and reading everyone! 

Oh, and let me know if you'd like to support our little writing group by adding the WRITE AND LINK badge to your blog - I can email you the badge and instructions how to add it to your Blogger site. 

The opening phrase for August stories:
"...Because everyone knows..."

  

Write and Link #2: When Suddenly I Saw

Gypsy by Konstantin Makovsky (1839-1915). Oil, date unknown (source)

It's Write and Link time! I chose a painting to go with my story - it does not illustrate characters or anything like it, but I thought it would go well with the mood. About 1100 words this time. The link to join in is at the very end of the post. I can't wait to read your stories!

Click here to read

The Gypsy

Story by Natalia Lialina

The opening phrase for the July stories:

"It was one of those endless Summer days..."

Write and Link #1: I Opened My Eyes. It Was Pitch Dark Around Me

Book Illustration by Nikolai Kochergin, 1974 (source)

WRITE and LINK 

is a new link-up party here, on In The Writer's Closet, and it is all about writing short stories. 

It is not a fashion/style link-up! It is up to you whether you post text only or illustrate your text with images of your choice. 

I invite you to create a short work of fiction (1000 words or so) in the genre of your choice. 

I do encourage you to write fiction, but if you are inspired to write a personal essay (non-fiction), I won't mind. The most important is to have fun writing - play with it! The button for reading other stories and adding yours can be found at the end of my story. My story came to me in the form of flash drama - about 1500 words. Enjoy reading, and I am really looking forward to reading your stories!

Click here to read

FISH WISH

Flash drama by Natalia Lialina

The next link up will start on June 26, 2015.

Use the June's opening phrase as an inspiration for your story 

(you may change it to fit your story better, just make sure that you keep the essence):

"...When suddenly I saw..."

Wabisabi, and Writer's Link Up Details

I'm in the zone with blogging now - it's that feeling you get when whatever you do brings you enormous joy and feels very rewarding. 

I want to thank fabulous Dana of Dana Loves Fashion and Music for inviting me to participate in her beautiful project called Wabisabi - you can read about the project and why it has such an unusual name, and also see my feature HERE. It's such a wonderful chance to be introduced to a wider circle of bloggers and readers and make new friends. Dana is very kind, and makes everyone feel welcomed and appreciated. I learned about many wonderful new-to-me bloggers through Wabisabi, as well as enjoyed my dear blogging friends warmhearted features. Wabisabi is easy to join at any time, please visit Dana - she is looking for you! 

Crazy Just Might Work: I AM A WRITER

Happy May!

I love May. May is one of the most cheerful months for me. Nature is going wild - flowers, trees are in bloom, air is getting warmer and days are getting longer. End of school year. Long Summer ahead. At times, it feels like Summer already! I was born in May too. I believe it somehow makes my personality - cheerful, optimistic, enthusiastic dreamer who just loves life and many different aspects of it. May can be stormy though. It brings not just showers, but thunderstorms. Not only in Mother Nature, but in people's nature. If there is one weather comparison to my personality, it probably is a thunderstorm. Can be big and loud, but does not stay for too long - it passes, and then it's bright sun, birds chirping and flowers blooming again. Crazy!