Observations on Deck
By Kathleen Bolton | May 12, 2008 |
I admit it, I’m a big fan of gimmicky presents for writers: the latest craft book, a coffee cup that says “Writers Do It With Words” or a brand-new Moleskin journal. My friends and family know this and my work space is loaded with them. Many of these items are cute and useless. Some of the craft books, too, sad to say.
But the one item I use regularly is called the Observation Deck by Naomi Epel. This handy little book and card deck is full of gems from great writers and artists on everything from editing to finding inspiration in a color. You pluck a card from the deck, and look up what the card means in the book. There are quotes from writers such as Hemingway and LeCarre about the grit of writing, Plath and Ginsberg on the fickleness of creativity. There’s something comforting in knowing these great writers struggled, and empowering in reading how they overcame the hurdle.
I think of it as a tarot deck for writers. It’s uncanny how the card pulled usually will either address a problem I’m having with my writing immediately or get my mind working on a new creative path that will eventually solve the problem in the end.
In fact, I pulled a card to inspire me for this day’s post (Set Limits, it said). Then I realized that I should be talking about the deck itself. It’s a terrific tool when one is blocked.
Sometimes I bring the deck to the writer’s group I belong to. We pull a card and discuss it. It’s amusing to see how many interpretations of something like “Watch for Gesture” a group of writers will have. Inevitably we’ll go off in a tangent, inspired by the card.
Bottom line: The Observation Deck is a worthy “gimmick” to add in a writer’s arsenal. Plus it’s fun and spooky and inexpensive. I love that bit the best, cheapo that I am. :0
Kathleen Bolton is co-founder of Writer Unboxed. She writes under a variety of pseudonyms, including Ani Bolton.
She has written two novels as Cassidy Calloway: Confessions of a First Daughter, and Secrets of a First Daughter–both books in a YA series about the misadventures of the U.S. President’s teen-aged daughter, published by HarperCollins, and Tamara Blake, for the novel Slumber.
I have a weakness for things like that, too, and I really love cards. Tarot and animal cards and angel cards, just to get my imagination moving. I’ll have to go find this one!
I love love love love this deck. It is so much fun. I love it because you can pull the card and just go with it or you can look it up in the book if you need more help. I have this for years and completely forgot to comment about it this Thursday when I really should have. It is currently at my neighbor’s house with about 9 other writing books that she borrowed from me. I miss them. They need to come home.
I am happy you posted about this because sometimes I felt like “cheating” having the cards. Like I couldn’t do it on my own. But recently I have decided I don’t care if I can’t do it on my own. I love to write. And the craziest things has happened lately, stories are just exploding out of me. I am seeing story ideas everywhere when usually I only write a story when someone else has forced me to.
I’ve really enjoyed the few times we’ve played with the Observation Deck. Lots of food for thought. Thanks for the post, Kath!
It makes a great gift, too. The packaging is so clever.