Photography – August Writing Challenge

OOPS, I missed a few days there, didn’t I? 

Quick catch up:

1. The MagicalYA has a title! A Spark of Magic will be out 11/9/2021
2. The Advanced Reader campaign for A Spark of Magic is underway! Copies have been flying out to early readers. Hopefully they’ll hit a blog near you soon!
3. A Spark of Magic is also Goodreads official. Add it to your WANT TO READ list https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58738790-a-spark-of-magic 
4. Somehow 80 of you are now following this blog and have signed up for newsletters. WOW, you’re amazing and thank you!
5. OK this is an exclusive catch up point that only readers of this blog will know about … The GhostlyYA editing is DONE. As in, I finished all my little add in bullet points for myself and added all the scenes I needed to add! This is a first round edit, so it still needs a grammar pass. But it’s one step closer and that’s always cool. 

Anyway, back to the August writing challenge. 

As a reminder, there are 3 sources I’m drawing prompts from in August:

1. Single word creative prompts from https://www.writerswrite.co.za/31-writing-prompts-for-august-2021/ 
2. Journaling nonfiction prompts from https://natashalh.com/august-journal-prompts-for-adults/ 
3. Poetry prompts from https://www.instagram.com/fallspoetry/ 

Today I decided to go with the nonfiction prompt. 

It’s World Photo Day. Do you enjoy taking pictures?

I do enjoy taking pictures. They are one of the (many) ways I express my creativity. People who know me in real life can attest to this — I’m not a very emotional person. I’m very stoic and I’m a big “rule follower” in my real life. Photography, writing, poetry … these have always been the ways in which I can express myself. 

Although most people in my life would probably tell you writing is my most important creative outlet, photography also has a special place. Writing is a way for me to create worlds and characters. To let those characters express emotions I have felt in ways I never could. A way to force myself to examine what those emotions felt like and put it on paper in a way that other people will relate to. 

Photography is different. 

Photography is a way for me to say YES I see those things in the world I live in every day. I didn’t miss it.

I saw the resilient beauty of that flower petal that refused to die after the monsoon storm. 

I recognized the pain of a moment of true fear followed by the comfort of a family member.

I recognized the consistency of nature, showing off its beauty day after day no matter what challenges came our way.

I recognized unfettered joy in children given a chance to prove they deserve the stage and the audience. 

For me, that’s photography. More than a way to say “I was there” photographs are a way to say “I recognized beauty and greatness.”

So, yes, I love photography. I think a part of me always will. 

How do you feel about photography? Drop a comment and let me know!

P.S. All the photographs here belong to me. I was the photographer for every one. Don’t borrow or steal one without reaching out to ask for permission to use them. Thanks!