Promoting Passion Week 82: Collaboration Week 2

Promoting Passion Week 82: Collaboration Week 2

Last week I asked this amazing community to join in a collaboration that we could all be inspired by. The theme was storytelling, and I went through a few storytelling techniques to get us started. I asked everyone to share a story of their own creation, fiction or non-fiction, and roughly one paragraph long. Fifty people posted stories in the comments and I was so thrilled reading them. Even in the tiniest descriptions I found inspiration, and I am so pleased to start Week 2 of the collaboration.

This week, I have chosen one story for us to be inspired by. That story was written by Barbara Simmons, and I believe it embodied many elements of storytelling that make a story relatable and inspiring. It had three distinct parts, from a more general beginning that many people can connect to, to details that make a story worth investing in, to a resolution that provides some form of closure. I believe that any of us will be able to see a part of ourselves in the story she wrote, and for those reasons I chose her vision to represent our inspiration for Week 2.

This week, read Barbara’s story and find inspiration within it. From the theme of fear to the way she describes it, to the dusty attic location and the emotions the character goes through, there are near endless ways of becoming inspired. Once you have figured out which part of the story inspires you most, create a piece of art based on your inspiration. Post a link to your artwork in the comments, and optionally, you can add commentary about the piece and how you were inspired if you like. 

Next week I will be choosing a winner and honorable mentions from the artwork provided, and I will be sending along a personalized package to whomever is chosen (as well as to Barbara for her amazing contribution!). Happy creating!

Barbara’s Story:

“Oh Daddy; how will I ever do anything or be anybody if I’m always scared.

She was fearful…as far back as she could remember. Afraid to walk to school alone, of failing a test, of not being good enough; afraid of going to Hell if she committed a ‘sin’. Even her dreams were scary, filled with darkness and monsters. So many fears for such a little girl.

The little girl’s father took her by the hand and together they went to the attic. He dusted off a big wooden box and slowly opened the lid. The box was empty except for what looked like an old piece of cloth. Her daddy removed the cloth to reveal a beautiful shiny sword. Whenever you feel afraid; all you have to do is touch this sword and you will have the courage to do anything.

One by one she conquered her fears with the help of the shiny sword. As the years passed she grew into a confident courageous woman. Yesterday her Daddy died and as she lay the shiny sword beside him, I heard her say ‘Thank you, Daddy, but I won’t need this anymore. I realize now that the courage was within me the whole time!'”

Honorable Mentions:

Kisa Kavass
Michael
Hanna
Sydney Paige Richardson
Naiya
Lea M. Callais
Marcy Criner
Danielle Anderson

Read all the stories here!

Model: Garrett Liggett
Model: Garrett Liggett

61 thoughts on “Promoting Passion Week 82: Collaboration Week 2

  1. awww 🙂 i feel like i missed out on it….i was so busy making my video LOL!!!!! anyways!!!
    i’ll be watching how everyone’s stuff turns out!!! <3

  2. Hi Brooke,
    i was wondering how i get the image to you and what type of image works best. Thanks,
    Atlantis

    1. You can post it anywhere online (flickr, 500px, your blog, facebook, etc) and then put a link here in the comments 🙂

  3. I have been working a ton lately at work, so I don’t know if I will get the time to do anything. But I will try!
    I am looking forward to seeing every ones ideas on how to go about this, I can’t wait! 🙂

  4. Beautiful and touching story! Will definetely try to create an image inspired from this:)
    Excited to see what everybody comes up with :))

  5. It would be lovely for those of us who contribute to the storytelling if we/I could get some feedback…so I’m better prepared the next time. Just a passing thought…

  6. Hi Brooke!
    After seeing your video I was very excited to get out there with my camera and capture something fuelled by this story. Instantly I had a concept that spoke straight to me after reading Barbara’s amazing piece – so please find attached below, my link and submission for your promoting passion collaboration 🙂

    A self portrait manipulation entitled ‘Into the Unknown’

    http://www.laurenvontrapp.com/blog/promoting-passion-collaboration

  7. Brooke, thank you for the honorable mention <3! I love the story that you chose. I just got home after vacation but I hope I can create an image and submi it although I am a little short on time :).

  8. i hope the link works as it is my first time using flickr.
    i created this image to represent reaching for the stars and the moon even though everything seems to be against you. because with hope and perserverance, we all can achieve our dreams.
    and don’t be afraid of the height!

  9. My story! 🙂

    “Iridiscente soul”

    I was tired of running, the last thing i remember was falling apart on the ground in a very rude way, but that does not matter in that moment, after a minutes i opened my eyes and i saw the sky, it was incredible glowing, it was a sky full of stars. In that moment i have never felt more thankful. I had no idea if my trip was over so i stand up and with my last forces and i keep walking, the bad guys stoped following me so it was safe now.

    I keep walking trough the forest hoping to see her, but i didn’t. When my legs told me that i had to stop i made them case, and an just sit there, i was sorrounder by a lot of being alives, but i have never felt so alone, so small.
    Suddenly when the cold couldnt be more cold, a spark of heat was coming to me, i look up and my eyes were blindend.

    It took me a seconds to get use to the golden light, and then i saw her. She wasnt less of how i imagined her, white big dress, very long hair, and that glowing all around her, actually she was pure light. She helped me to stand up and gave me a hug, it was a soft one but i felt how the hope was coming back to me.
    she dosn’t speak, she couldnt, stars dosent speak, but i could understeand what she wanted to say, so she touched my face with one hand and i closed my eyes, when i felt that the warm wasnt there anymore i opened them, i took a long breath and i go on, i just go on… this wasnt the end…

  10. Great story. I was was inspired by the young girl’s fear, but I felt almost that it wasn’t fear, but self doubt, especially when she realized that she had her courage the entire time. I cared this image with that thought it mind, that our self doubt keeps us from soaring. I hope the link works!!

    https://flic.kr/p/xiW6DP

  11. Hi Brooke and hi to all the amazing people that contributes in this amazing promoting passion week. I’ve been very busy lately and I was worried I didn’t get the time to make this art, but I took every extra second that I have to make it. I’m still busy but this story was worth of delaying myself. http://jalejandro.com/whitecanvas?image#0 I hope you like it and thank you so so much for everything! 🙂

    1. This story is really inspiring. Thanks for the great collaboration idea. The image shows the fight against our own fears and based on the story, with the help of the father’s sword.
      Here is my link:
      https://flic.kr/p/wrYhfM

  12. This story got me thinking about a lot of things relating to fear and courage. I wanted to create something that portrayed the strengths we quietly carry within us- not just courage but hope, determination, curiosity, passion, imagination and all the things that challenge us to push through fear and become a better person. These qualities may not be as bold or epic as a sword- they may just be just a small voice telling us we can make it, but if we choose to follow them they can be a light in the darkest times. https://www.flickr.com/photos/luna-8/19969054694/in/dateposted/

  13. Hi Brooke,

    I have just finished my piece for the collab! I have been really ill as of late and been unable to create for a while and it feels like forever. After a lot of stress and failure from this week I have a final photograph. I am unsure where to share it as I can’t on this post. Do I upload to another site then upload the link?

    I look forward to viewing everyones work! I hope where ever you are you are having a great day. It is saturday night here in the UK and I couldn’t be happier editing photos.

    1. Hi Julie 🙂 Yes please upload it to a photo sharing site and then leave a link here in the comments 🙂 XO!

  14. This story is really inspiring. Thanks for the great collaboration idea. The image shows the fight against our own fears and, based on the story, with the help of the father’s sword.
    Here is my link:
    https://flic.kr/p/wrYhfM

  15. Ok so this piece was inspired by the end of the story. I was inspired by the thought that fear lived inside of her, the fact that she had to discover that, and that she was confident then in every circumstance. She had found her courage! And it was inside of her all along! I tried to capture the courage in a mysterious and unknown location that is terrifying to me. I often find that I feel like I lack courage because I let circumstances control me, but honestly courage is still in me. I no longer need my fathers sword now, I already have courage! Here is my image! I hope it gives you courage as well! https://www.flickr.com/photos/129806645@N02/20446683748/in/dateposted-public/

  16. Great story Barbara! Excellent selection, Brooke. So many ideas popped into my head – but the one that stuck is the following: The Gift in the Attic https://www.flickr.com/photos/133770164@N07/20451238219/in/dateposted-public/
    I am fortunate to have a husband and daughter willing to pose – and a nice little sword – the big ones were mounted in a wooden case – I couldn’t access them! The attic is up there, just waiting around, too! This has been a great endeavor! Thanks for the challenge, Brooke!

  17. I was really inspired by the scene of the attic and the theme of courage. I have been especially interested in things that symbolize the things we seek in life, so I used the attic as a symbol of courage and the venture up into the attic as a sign of being courageous in our life. This little project was definitely the push I needed to get creative again!
    https://goo.gl/photos/TYGukTj3E58QACSH8

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