The Writing Life...

As a student and teacher, I cannot escape (not that I would want to) all the writing I must do. I write evaluations. I write academic papers and presentations. I teach about writing. I write fanfiction for the fun of it. I explore the fin of writing with fountain pens. On occasion, I write poetry.

An average week looks like this for me:
- teaching and hosting discussions or rituals on the weekend
- crafting in preparation for a kids fun learning and writing program
- takes a class on Material Culture in Religion
- writing weekly papers for that class
- researching and writing a larger paper for that class
- working on lesson plans and evaluating corporate executives to whom I teach ESL (English as a Second Language)
- writing about 2-5k words in various novels and fanfiction stories I am working on
- practicing with my fountain pens to improve my penmanship... and because it is fun
- TAing (being a Teaching Assistant) a course on Cults & NRMs (New Religious Movements)

This particular week is full of all sorts of things:
- Writing a presentation on Sand Mandalas as Material Culture in Tibetan Buddhism
- Correcting exams for the ESL class
- Correcting essays for Cults & NRMs class
- planning a discussion about religious inclusion for Sunday
- transcribing 3 handwritten chapters for one novel
- hopefully writing a chapter for a neglected novel

In all of this, I am enjoying teaching my daughter to love writing with a fountain pen as well. Below are the pictures of my daughter (2 1/2 years old with a quill) and her little art work, some poetry or affirmations, and an example of the MANY pages handwritten of a chapter that needs transcribing.

InCoWriMo Sample

InCoWriMo

https://incowrimo-2018.org/

This is a little like NaNoWriMo and was inspired by it. This happens in February and is a perfect way to beat the winter blues. Celebrate the old tradition of handwriting and write a letter each day of the month of February. It can be to anyone. Or to any of those helpfully on the InCoWriMo address book.

Not sure what to write or how? Visit the website for advice. Or visit Goulet Pens' blog for a list of ideas. It can be a formal letter, a note, a car, or a postcard. For extra fun, try writing with a fountain pen! Or even more exciting... go seriously olde skool... write by candlelight with a quill.

I promise to post a photo of my first letter on February 1st. See you then!!

Exploring Material Culture

So much of what we consider research and writing is based on written texts, literature, and written literature. When someone consiuders the visual aspect of research, they refer often to statues, paintings, and those sort of permanent visual images (or pictures of them) in conjunction to text-based research.

But there is a HUGE world of other forms of research that can enrich anyone's writing and research.

Ethnogtraphy is vital to get the oral aspect, listen to the stories and witness the practices. Go there; speak to the people, do the activities. This includes the art forms of stroytelling, music, and dance.

Material culture is a study of EVERYTHING ELSE!

It touches all the other senses! Being able to include this in researching a religion or culture expands our knowledge and understanding. If you are writing fictional work, including these details will greatly enrich what you are writing, bring it more to life, and engage your readers... captivate them even!

Material culture includes not just sight and sound, but also includes: smell, taste, and especially touch. Another aspect is that almost visceral emotional sense of having been touched internally, in your soul/spirit, making you feel moved in some way (changed by the experience).

Let's consider SIX categories (because as Westerners, we value labeling things and catergorizing them).

Architechture

• temples
• shrines
• walls
• floors

Ritual Objects

• items used on altars and in shrines
• statuary and venerated objects
• ritual tools
• relics

Images

• statues
• paintings
• mosaics
• frescos
• wooden carvings
• furniture
• sculptures
• objects in stone or metal

Books & Manuscripts
This is not at all even considering the content of the text.

• covers
• paper
• binding
• ink
• writing tools
• writing styles
• interior illustrations
• wrapping

Cosmetic Realm

• textiles / fabric
• tapestries
• embroidery
• jewelry
• body art (painting, henna, tattoos, piercing, body modifications)
• window art & stained glass
• ornamentation of statues
• trinkets & decor 
• make-up
• perfumes
• musical instruments
• instrument storage

Food & Beverages

• cooking tools
• ingredients
• eating tools
• place setting styles
• food
• alcohol
• tea
• coffee
• other beverages
• beverage preparation
• drinking vessels
• storage containers