October was amazing in Albuquerque. The weather was at its best, and the month was filled with celebrations. Each year, Balloon Fiesta occurs around the beginning of October, releasing my inner child. For ten days, weather and winds permitting, the sky was decorated with bright ornamentation. Going to the park to watch the balloons inflating and then taking off in a mass ascent was an extra delight.
This year during the Fiesta we had the added treat of a solar eclipse. Albuquerque was in the path of prime viewing of the Annular Solar Eclipse. I joined some neighbors who are eclipse chasers–yes, apparently that’s a thing. They had a complete setup for watching the event including viewing glasses and homemade solar binoculars. Their enthusiasm made the event memorable.
I found a special delight in observing the eclipse through the leaves of a tree, its light and dark shapes interlacing together and continually changing. The experience caused me to explore the interplay of extremes and the depth created by shadow in art and how this could be integrated into my writing. I wrote about this in Embracing Light, Shadow, and Darkness to Create Interesting Stories.
October ends in New Mexico with Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos. The abundance of horror movies inspired me to write and submit a short story, The Monsters Within, to a publication contest. Contest rules prevent me from sharing now, but I will once the results are released at the end of next month.
May you find inspiration in the world around you and embrace your shadow side.
Cheers,
Julie Hartig
What I’m reading:
The Anatomy of Story, John Truby – I’m re-reading this as I delve further into character development. His Four Corner Opposition method is one of the best I’ve found for defining and developing characters in a way that amplifies conflict and context in stories.
I’ve not read as much this month, instead concentrating on writing, craft classwork, and listening to many hours of Story Grid podcasts for a second time. I do want to send a shout-out to one of my cohort members, Sarah Soon, who just released Christmas at Sonshine Barn
