Hey, everyone. It’s Friday and I’m glad to be wrapping up the week with you.
A few years ago, I was in one of those, “I want to write but the words won’t come,” stages. Getting away from the house often helps, so I decided to take a Saturday morning drive and ended up at one of the numerous nearby country cemeteries.
Naturally, I snapped a few photos. Nothing particularly spooky about this one. Even with the unmarked graves that lie beneath piles of rocks. Or the old, rusting fence that surrounds another one. It was a bright, clear morning when everything in the world seemed cheerful.
But a few adjustments to the color and the shading makes the atmosphere completely different.
Same photo. Different mood. You can almost imagine being in the cemetery at night by the light of the moon. Sort of creepy, isn’t it?
And now, to round out this first Friday of October, here are this week’s links:
On this blog:
- The Lost Colony of Roanoke: Mystery Monday
- Book Review: Death Among Us
- Macabre Sanctuary: WIP Wednesday
- Tell Me What You See: Thursday Thoughts
On Story Empire:
- WordPress Reader Lists – Me
- Something to Think About – C. S. Boyack
- Preparing to Crush NaNoWriMo! – Mae Clair
Other Writing Sites:
- The Crucial Set Up Scene in Your Novel – Live Write Thrive
- 3 Book Marketing Ideas – A Writer’s Path
- How to Be a Good Content Marketer – Nicholas C. Rossis
- Why Your Character (and you) Should Be An Expert in Something – Fiction University
- Writers Conferences, Festivals, and Workshops – Kobo Writing Life
- Top 8 Marketing Strategies Writers Can Use – Nicholas C. Rossis
- Rookie Mistakes Indie Writers Make – The Kill Zone
- Why We Should Dare to Write Terribly – A Writer’s Path
- Check for Cardboard Conflict – Fiction University
- Get a Clue: You’ve Got to Stop Overusing This Word – Writers in The Storm
- Give Your Readers Someone to Hate – Fiction University
- Why We Should Dare to Write Terribly – A Writer’s Path
- 10 Character Traits of an Espionage Hero – Writer’s in The Storm
- Tips to Boost Your Creativity – Fiction University
- 3 Ways to Get Your Dream Endorsement – The Book Designer
- Narrative Drive: Do You Have It? – The Kill Zone
- Author Origin Stories That Are Sure to Inspire You – Kobo Writing Life
- How to Write a Query Letter That Makes Agents and Editors Swoon – A Writer’s Path
Just Because:
- Out of Darkness Poetry – Anita Dawes/Jaye Marie
- Giving Her the Heebie-Jebbies – Facets of a Muse
- What Happens in Maine – Mae Clair
- Lucy and Twiggy Promote War of Nitefall – John Howell
- Lisa Burton Interviews a Handbag – Entertaining Stories
39 Responses
It’s amazing what a bit of darkness can do to a picture. We have several unmarked graves outside of our cemetery. I’ve made one walkthrough and took some pictures, but the feeling was so heavy there I never went back and deleted those pictures…
Exploring old cemeteries is something I enjoy. I decided to play around with this photo to see how the mood would change. It is amazing. Of course, black and white always seems to add an element of mystery to photos.
Reblogged this on Nicholas C. Rossis and commented:
Joan’s writing links of the week… and graveyard photography tips!
Thanks for sharing, Nicholas.
🙂
I love how the darkness changes that picture and all that it conjures in the imagination. Thanks for the links, Joan. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Thank you, Harmony! I liked the “finished” result of the changed photo. Hope you enjoy your weekend.
It’s always how you look at things that makes the difference, isn’t it? LOVELY photo made even better with different lighting.
And you’ve outdone yourself with the great links this week! Thanks as always. I’m breaking my vow to avoid blogging this week as I finish my WIP in order to share this. It’s too good not to pass along! 🙂 <3
Thanks, Marcia. Amazing what difference a little tweaking does.
Reblogged this on The Write Stuff and commented:
No, I’m not back to my normal blogging routine, folks, but I had to share this great weekly round up from Joan Hall. Check it out! So many great links you’ll want to visit and pass along to others. Enjoy! And thanks, Joan, for ending the week with another super photo and fantastic list of goodies! 🙂 <3
Thanks for stopping by and for sharing. Hoping all is well with you finishing your novel.
Thanks, Joan! On the last chapter, scene two. Hope to finish that today, and then it’s just the epilogue, tying up a couple of loose ends and setting up any possible future stories. 😀
Way to go!
Wow, amazing list, Joan. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Gwen!
Thanks for the links. I love old cemetery photos. Don’t know why, maybe it’s because I crave the quiet at times, and there are no crowds, selfie sticks, or automobiles there.
I cringe every time I see a selfie stick. I hate to have my picture made anyway. Why on earth would I want to take one of myself? Cemeteries are peaceful.
The news today has a bot that roams shopping areas and offers to take pictures for you. How did we live without that?
Beats me. LOL But IMO we were better off.
What a difference shading makes in an ordinary setting! I too love exploring old cemeteries. It’s a great place to find character names. Thanks for sharing, Joan!
Oh yes! Character names. Especially if looking for something historic.
Thank you for the link to Charles’ promo post, Joan.
You are most welcome!
Wow, I love how you changed that photo, Joan! Exploring old cemeteries is something I really enjoy doing…imaging the lives of the people who lived during other times. Cemeteries can be quiet, restful, sad, and also creepy at the right time—or as you showed, with the right filter!
Thanks for including my links this week, too. Happy Friday!
Converting to black and white and darkening the exposure really made a difference. Wish you and I could go cemetery exploring together.
That would be so much fun, Joan. We need to hope it will happen someday.
And your love of photography is motivating me to be on the look out for photo ops. You really rock it!
Let’s make it happen.
I don’t take as many photos as I used to. Used my digital SLR camera for the first time in two years this summer.
I love old cemeteries. Great filter on the photo!
Sure made a difference. Why doesn’t it surprise me that we both like old cemeteries.
I used to go to our local cemeteries to just hang out and think. I found them very restful. (And I got to visit family, so it was a win-win for me.)
Nope; no surprise that we both enjoy them. 🙂
You can learn a lot from an old cemetery.
Yes you can. I love to explore them.
A super post, Joan. Thanks for the links.
Thanks for visiting, Robbie! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks, Joan, you too.
Like Craig, I find old cemeteries to be quiet and peaceful. And what a difference the filter makes. Thanks for the links, Joan!
Glad you found the links useful. I love exploring cemeteries and yes, they are quiet and peaceful.
Getting out of the house is a great way to refresh the mind. Excellent pictures. Thanks!!!
Glad you liked the photos. I agree, it’s good to get outside to refresh our minds.