Keep your eyes, ears, mouth, fingers and nose open. Observe one thing carefully. Write it down in your notebook or online. Polish it up a bit. Ta da!
You don't have to think of yourself as a writer to write small stones. The most important thing is to practice being open to the world - to be curious, to truly notice what is other.
During July '11 lots of people across the world will be writing a small stone every day and posting them on their blogs, on Twitter and through their neighbour's letter boxes. Join us.
Different ways to connect with the river:
* If you'd like to go onto our mailing list (so we can keep you in the loop) click here to subscribe.
* We have two different places you can join a blogroll. Pay attention...
One is a brand new space called The River which is for blogs that only contain small stones. The most recent small stones from your blog will appear here with everyone else's. (If you have a Wordpress feed which will filter your small stones from your usual blog, feel free to send us this url too.)
The other is a blogroll which will appear here on this blog, and is for anyone who's planning on taking part in the July challenge, regardless of what else you might post in your blog. Both spaces are open for business as soon as you're writing small stones. If you'd like to join them:
Email fiona@writingourwayhome.com with your blog address and whether you're posting just small stones (in which case you'll be added to The River and the blogroll here) or other things too (in which case you'll just be added to the blogroll here).
* Read more about the concept of writing small stones in Fiona's free e-book, How to Write Your Way Home or visit our main site and get to know us a bit better at Writing Our Way Home.
* Read more about the concept of writing small stones in Fiona's free e-book, How to Write Your Way Home or visit our main site and get to know us a bit better at Writing Our Way Home.
* Come and say hello on Facebook.
* People are tweeting their small stones on Twitter using the #aros hash-tag. You can also follow @ariverofstones.
* Do help yourself to our beautiful badges - you don't have to let us know if you're using them.
Phew, that's enough links now. Oh, just one more. You can read fine examples of small stones at our sister blogzine, a handful of stones.
We look forward to seeing you in the river.
*
Here are some of Fiona's small stones to give you a quick idea....
*
11 month old Florence says look!
every ten minutes there is something new to fill her up with awe
*
today I saved the life of a pocket-sized mouse -
he had twitching whiskers and trembled in my hand
*
the moon is so transparent you could slip a thumb-nail under the edge and peel it from the sky
*
Three days later the sleeping fox is still stretched out on the same patch of grassy verge. The wind makes waves in his pale biscuit fur.
*
The buds on the magnolia trees are pink-tinted and fat. Pull up a chair; wait for them to go bang.
*
Here are some of Fiona's small stones to give you a quick idea....
*
11 month old Florence says look!
every ten minutes there is something new to fill her up with awe
*
today I saved the life of a pocket-sized mouse -
he had twitching whiskers and trembled in my hand
*
the moon is so transparent you could slip a thumb-nail under the edge and peel it from the sky
*
Three days later the sleeping fox is still stretched out on the same patch of grassy verge. The wind makes waves in his pale biscuit fur.
*
The buds on the magnolia trees are pink-tinted and fat. Pull up a chair; wait for them to go bang.
