Anya BalenLook Closer: Curious Trees (4)In my creativity course, I used to tell my students that observation is crucial. It is like having an in-built camera and taking photos…2 min read·Jan 30, 2024----
Anya BalenLook Closer: Curious Trees (3)The two paintings we saw in the previous post (which you can find here) showed the same image: a plum tree garden.3 min read·Jan 29, 2024----
Anya BalenLook Closer: Curious Trees (2)We have seen that trees, especially in Romantic painters, seem to have their personality, which often sets the tone of the painting.2 min read·Jan 28, 2024----
Anya BalenLook Closer: Curious TreesI came across this painting yesterday, and it really struck me. It was inspired by a poem by Ljermontov, In the Wild North (1841).3 min read·Jan 27, 2024----
Anya BalenScreenwriting CollaborationsAs you might know, writing a screenplay is rather different to writing a novel. Screenwriting has a certain set of rules: strictly…2 min read·Jan 25, 2024----
Anya BalenMe and ChatGPTI was chatting with ChatGPT the other day (no pun intended), testing its creative speed, and it gave me a fairly decent number of ideas in…2 min read·Jan 22, 2024----
Anya BalenDealing With Grief: A Five-Stage Process? Maybe.I’m often amazed at how popular culture serves us pre-confectioned recipes for all sorts of things, giving advice that ranges from being…2 min read·Jan 21, 2024--1--1
Anya BalenOther Interesting PodcastsI know, there aren’t enough hours in a day. There’s something wrong with time anyway. But that’s another story for another time. Exactly.2 min read·Jan 20, 2024----
Anya BalenHave you ever listened to these podcasts? If not, give them a tryI’m a big podcast fan. You can get informed, entertained, and learn a lot, and you can do it anytime and anywhere. Listening to podcasts is…2 min read·Jan 19, 2024----
Anya BalenSecond Language Acquisition MusingsFor me, languages were love at first sight. At first listening, to be precise. All those strange sounds that carry echoes of faraway…2 min read·Jan 17, 2024----
Anya BalenSome Thoughts About Writing in EnglishWriting a 250-word article every day may not seem too daunting.1 min read·Jan 15, 2024----
Anya BalenWhy Are Certain People To Be AdmiredIt’s great to have people to look up to. They can provide inspiration, spur you on your choices, or just be a role model. This is…2 min read·Jan 14, 2024----
Anya BalenGrowing Up in a Communist CountryI grew up in a sort of communist country. Sort of, because it wasn’t exactly behind the Iron Curtain. Life was pretty good. At least for me…2 min read·Jan 12, 2024----
Anya BalenWhy these books are an important read (2)Fresh water for flowers by Valerie Perrin: Violette Toussaint is the caretaker at a cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne, France. She…3 min read·Jan 11, 2024----
Anya BalenWhy these books are an important read (1)Some books just stick to you, and you carry them around for a long time. Sometimes for decades. Not literally, of course, but mentally or…2 min read·Jan 10, 2024----
Anya BalenSomething About Writers’ DreamsThe biggest dream of every author is, first and foremost, to be read. It is as simple as that. Knowing that there are people you can convey…2 min read·Jan 9, 2024----
Anya BalenFive Things I Learned From 2023.I can’t say that I learned all these things from 2023, but I have started or continued the process of implementing them into my life.2 min read·Jan 8, 2024----
Anya BalenA Book of Wonder — Fairies, Elves and other Magical CreaturesI read this book as a child. I remember being astonished, completely and utterly mesmerised, and engrossed in the world of Ivana…2 min read·Jan 8, 2024----
Anya BalenMy Story — Bits and PiecesI’m a storyteller, essentially. And a teacher. I remember standing in the hall, in front of the opened built-in cupboard and writing on…1 min read·Jan 3, 2024----
