What I Saw

During a hike about a week ago, I was sad to see that most of the vegetation was dying off with the approach of winter. But, as always, the desert did not disappoint in its ability to produce life amid the most difficult of circumstances (We’ve had no rain, and the unseasonably warm weather – still in the 80s and 90s – has confused many of our dormant bushes into flowering again).

I came across this Western White Virgin’s Bower vine during a hike down a nearby wash recently. Its snowy blooms remind me of hair you'd see sewn to one of Jim Henson's Muppets. Click to enlarge. Scroll for additional photo.

To my surprise, we were greeted by a green vine that produced fuzzy, hairy seed balls. Unlike any plant I’ve ever seen, they sparkled like snowflakes, their billowy tufts dancing in the wind. Maybe I drew this comparison because the sun actually didn’t come out that day, and the clouds drooping so low above us were reminiscent of the Pennsylvania snow clouds of my youth?

For the longest time, I didn’t know what the vine was, but stumbled upon it in my Audubon book. I felt I had to share the stark beauty of the Western White Virgin’s Bower, which produces a lovely white flower before showing off its Muppet Hair.

For Writers: Do you think writers see the world differently? It struck me that maybe we do, because my immediate response, when I saw the hairy vines, was, “Muppet Hair!” Who knows why things fly out of my mouth as quickly as they do, but it just happens. Frequently and without warning.

And I think, maybe, this is part of being a creative writer. We see things and immediately draw connections, make associations and envision parallels that others might not? That ‘unique’ insight is part of what allows us to paint realistic sensory descriptions with our words. It’s part of what allows us to transport our readers to different worlds.

What do you think? Do we writers see the world through different-colored lenses? Where I saw snowflakes and Muppet hair, did you see something else in the photos? Can you think of times when you experienced or saw something differently than the person next to you? Please share!

This seeding Western White Virgin’s Bower reminds me of the light-falling snow of my youth - a stark contrast in an otherwise yellow-brown and dry winter environment. Click to enlarge.

I love discovering new things. So, when the striped wings of an unidentifiable insect caught my eye in the dirt yesterday, I ran for the camera. That’s probably of no surprise to anyone who knows me or reads my blog.

But what may surprise you, as it did me (once I figured out what the insect was), is the adaptive nature of this Creosote Bush katydid.

This Creosote Bush Katydid was resting in the dirt by my home. What a cool, adaptive insect. Click to enlarge.

Apparently this species of Katydid is a recent evolutionary wonder, having been prompted by the arrival of the Creosote Bush in the Sonoran Desert some 11,000 years ago. When the Creosote Bush spread, it became a viable meal for lots of herbivores. But it does offer some challenges: high resin concentrations, anti-feeding phytochemicals, low-moisture, leathery leaves, and unique colors and textures.

This means some feeders have not only had to adapt to eat the Creosote Bush, but also have adapted their colors and patterns to match. This katydid is one such adaptive grazer!

For Writers: Adaptation is an interesting concept for writers, as I think we are constantly adapting and evolving in our craft at both a macro and micro level. We’re constantly adapting to macro-level market changes – i.e. these days, we’re not just writers; we’re also expected to be marketers of our work. That means we are generally expected to participate in social media, write blogs and understand general business principles that will help drive sales. And we’re supposed to be thinking creatively about how we can adopt new technology (think iPad) and add it to our arsenal of storytelling skills.

But in addition to that, I think we adapt at a micro level, daily, finding the right schedule/routine that works best for our writing. What tweaks and adaptations have you made to your writing life that make you more productive?

Have you found that your creative juices flow more in the morning, afternoon or the evening? Is it easier to write your blogs over the weekend so you aren’t pulled from your novel writing during the week? Do you only schedule blog-surfing once a week? Do you limit your Twitter and Facebook time? How do you juggle your paying work (or full-time job) with your creative work? Half day creative/half day paid? Or every other day? Have you discovered inspirational triggers that allow you to dig right in to your writing? What works for you? Or … are you continually adapting?

To be honest, I’m still trying to figure out what works best for me. What I have learned is that morning outdoor exercise is hugely inspirational for my writing. And I’ve learned that blogging, while also inspirational, is best done over the weekend so that I’m not waylaid from my novel writing. The rest – best time of day, how much time to spend on the various parts of a writer’s life, and how best to juggle the paid and creative work – I’m still adapting to. What about you?

Thanks to go to www.arizonesis.org for the Creosote Bush Katydid information!