Cheryl Wright - Perspectives on Writing

New posts

2009-09-09T18:56:00.000-04:00

I have several new posts on my new blog Cheryl Wright Perspectives.

Blog Merger

2009-08-21T22:45:00.002-04:00

The post I wrote earlier and scheduled for Saturday 22nd August, disappeared.

In essence, I explained my absence and what I've been doing since my last post.

I'm taking care of myself - getting up at 4.00AM for some quiet devotional time, getting to my writing at about 4.30AM and stopping at 6.00AM to begin my daily chores and other tasks. I am trying to be mindful during the day, grabbing every free moment to sit and breath, to jot down ideas for my weekly column, or just to return to my center and be calm.

I didn't intend to stop blogging. One day, two days and well, here I am today.

I've been thinking of merging my blogs and I did it. Just about an hour ago, I did all the technical stuff and Cheryl Wright - Perspectives was created. I imported all my posts from my other blogs.

Boy do I feel Internet savvy!

I needed some simplicity with this or overwhelm will be the order of the day where blogging is concerned. Cheryl Wright - Perspectives will be a one-stop shop for sharing my perspectives on my passions: life (self-improvement/inspiration for lifestyle choices/ finding and pursuing our dreams), writing, home and design (creating spaces to reflect our personalities and lifestyles and to nurture us on every level), and spiritual reflections.

I hope your will visit, follow and subscribe.

Saturday Soirée - AAARRRHHHGGG!

2009-08-08T08:34:00.007-04:00

I try not to let them, but some little things (and they are little things in the grand scheme of my life) frustrate me. Like sharp little knives they poke and jab.

AAARRRHHHGGG!

But the things that twist in my side and hurt the most are those things: chores, interruptions, people, un-intentioned procrastinations and crazy unproductive thoughts that run rampant over my best well-laid plans, my writing time and even the very motivation to write.

Don't you just hate when that happens?

The worst part is that some days, my attempts (to calm my scattered thoughts, smooth out my frayed emotional anxieties and soothe the cry in my heart for silence and solitude) go awry. Then by the time the busy day is over, I am so mentally drained, physically spent and emotionally whip-lashed that I stare at the computer screen or a blank page in my journal with a mind that is just as blank.

Contrary to how my days end, my mornings are usually relaxed, contemplative, mindful. In the blissful pre-dawn moments I pray, I read, I meditate and most mornings, I write in my journal. Oh joy!

However, from the moment, I switch to daily-duties-mode, it is an all-day struggle to remember and maintain the essence of the early morning ritual. In fact that essence fades the further I venture into the realities of my day.

By noon I'm into ARRRHHHHGGGG-mode and it doesn't let up until the sun goes down around 6PM. By that time of course, I'm too tired to appreciate the gift of silence and solitude that darkness brings.

I have been building a new practice of writing at night. It was going so well and I was so proud of my progress but it is waning. These days, my life resembles the days when I was a fulltime frustrated, overwhelmed, disillusioned, depressed and stressed employee (it was so bad that each of those words, though similar in meaning, deserve to be individually noted). I didn't have time for much else and my tired mind shut down from the moment I left the office at 5PM.

Like my friend Jan at Awake is Good and so many others, I have a bedtime ritual. However, mine runs a three - five day dash and frizzles out into a few mindless activities before crashing into bed. Somehow in the first few days after my bedtime ritual crashes and falls into a neglected heap, I still manage to sleep. It is not the most restful sleep but enough so that the next morning, I awake bright-eyed and bushy-tail. Eventually, my nighttime sleep (if you can call it that), begins to mirror the mental anxieties of my day - busy, conflicting and converging thoughts jostling for attention and action.

In between tossing and turn, when I am aware of what's happening, I groan,

"AAARRRHHHGGG"

Maybe I am not mining my morning moments for enough of its sustaining properties. Maybe I need to get up earlier, dig deeper and see what I can find. Yes. That's what I'll do beginning Monday morning. I'll let you know how that goes.

How do you cope with the realities of your day which may run contrary to your ideas, your efforts, your dream? Do you scream or groan "ARRRHHHHHGGGGG! " like I do? If you could begin a new practice or shift to a new mindset to improve your day, your life, your writing, what would it be? When will you begin? Would you be willing to share your progress with us?

Saturday Soirée - Let's toot our horns

2009-07-24T19:26:00.002-04:00

Writers often encourage other writers and especially beginning writers to not shy away from tooting their own horns. Still sometimes it is hard to do that. An alternative is to use other people's compliments about our writing to sound that horn.

Since we are all friends here, let's set modesty aside and share some of the "nice" comments people have made about our writing.

Saturday Soirée - Our lives are compost heaps of writing material

2009-07-18T10:12:00.005-04:00

Natalie Goldberg said,

"Our bodies are garbage heaps: we collect experience, and from the decomposition of the thrown-out eggshells, spinach leaves, coffee grinds, and old steak bones out of our minds, come nitrogen, heat, and very fertile soil. Out of this fertile soil bloom our poems and stories. But this does not come all at once. It takes time. Continue to turn over and over the organic details of your life until some of them fall through the garbage of discursive thoughts to the solid ground of black soil."

When we think we can find nothing to write about, we have only to look at our life experiences, fluff it up a bit and we are sure to find something to craft into an essay, an article, a story or a journal entry.

Many of the articles I've written over the past eleven years were sparked from and garnished with scraps from the compost heap of my life.

Tell me, what kinds of garbage have you found in your life compost to ignite a writing session, jumpstart an article or story or garnish a piece for presentation?

Saturday Soirée - Where is it?

2009-07-14T10:15:00.003-04:00

Saturday Soirée and I got lost in the unexpected swirl of life. I expect that we'll make our way to shore by weekend.

Blessings to you and blessed writing time too..

Saturday Soirée - Writing Matters by Rob Parnell

2009-07-04T08:00:00.002-04:00

I've been a subscriber to Rob Parnell's Easy Way to Write for quite some time and Rob never fails to catch my undivided attention with his informative and inspiring articles on writing and the writing life. I've taken up many of his free offers and benefitted from the guarantees he has made about his gifts.

Once again he delivered a timely dose of encouragement to writers at every stage of the writing journey.

I am so happy to share his latest article with you.

Writing Matters

by Rob Parnell

People take writing for granted nowadays. It's everywhere: the Net, newspapers, magazines, books, novels. You can't go anywhere or do anything without coming across words - and the images, even industries they spawn. It's easy to forget that everything starts with a writer.

Writers are often taken for granted too. The news is apparently more important than the journalist who records it. Movies are often regarded as more important than the screenwriters who craft them. Publishers frequently bemoan authors for being the most irritating aspect of their jobs. Even some websites today become far more influential than the scribes who put them together.

But without writers, nothing much out there would exist!

Everything starts with writing - and a writer, just like you.

You Gotta Start Somewhere

I've been helping writers online for about seven years now - and one thing I've noticed is that at various stages of their careers, all writers beat themselves up. They're plagued with self doubt and often lack confidence in their work.

This is bad news if you want to be productive and successful - in many cases it can even stop you from writing at all.

But the good news - if you like to call it that - is that self doubt never quite goes away. No matter how good you get, or how long you write for, you never lose that side of yourself that questions your ability, or your talent - even your sanity sometimes.

Why is this good, you ask?

Well, it's good because it's your self doubt that actually makes you better at what you do. You internal commentator - you know that guy? - is the critical faculty in your brain that forces you to perfect every word, every line, every piece until it's as effective as it should be.

To me, there's nothing worse than a writer who are totally satisfied with the first thing he puts down - and will not change it! No, it's writers who are obsessed with perfection that impress me - and whose careers inevitably transcend all the others.

Flexibility is Control

It's hard sometimes, I know, to murder your darlings, those pieces of prose you love so much.

It's hard to change characters because they're not working in your story.

It's hard to incorporate publisher's suggestions into your work.

But in all these situations, you have to.

You need the strength of character to understand that your writing lives on the outside of you, not just on the inside.

When your writing is on paper, it's fair game, so the thinking goes.

That's why the journalist is forgotten, that's why the screenwriter is used only as a starting block in Hollywood. That's why publishers tend to treat newbie authors with such contempt. And it's why websites take on a significance way beyond their creator's copy.

But this too is good. It's part of the process. Writing creates 'things'. The writing is the piece of clay that creates an idea or an object that editors, publishers and producers want to mold and shape into something everyone can use and enjoy.

Your own writing has the power to inspire.

Don't be afraid of changing your writing, honing and perfecting your skill, to make your writing better. Over and over if necessary.

There's no shame in that - quite the opposite is true.

A Writer's Time is Never Wasted

Being a writer is about having a certain mindset - a different way of looking at the world. Where a normal person sees life and and accepts it with fatalism, a writer sees the world as a place filled with opportunities to create and improve on reality.

That's why the world needs writers so much - to offer escapism or solutions, to make sense of everything and make life more meaningful.

Writing is a noble profession. We are creators.

It doesn't matter how long we take to get things on paper - or perfect what we do. A writer's life is organic, it feeds off experience and we improve, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, depending on our needs and our desire to learn.

Even when not writing, the true writer is gathering information, sensations and stimuli that will eventually find their way into the writing. It's all good. It's all purposeful.

Writing matters too much to let our self doubt get the better of us.

Don't let your inner demon grind you down.

Don't ignore the voice that makes you doubt yourself.

Make friends with your inner commentator.

Be buddies.

The two of you have important work to do.

Keep Writing!

Now, let's get to our writing because with Rob dishing out information and inspiration like this, it is easy to write.

Fourth of July Greetings

2009-07-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

Have a wonderful

Independence Day

my American friends who write.

Saturday Soirée - Let's give thanks

2009-06-26T17:30:00.001-04:00

We've all heard that it is important to always take a moment to say "Thanks" to the people who have helped us.

Today, will you join me in saying thanks to those who have encouraged us by their inspiring words and/or by their example, to improve our writing (style, voice, practice, process etc.), in some way.

If you think your list is too long for the comments section, share a few and post the rest on your blog, with a link back to Perspectives on Writing.

Your dream book

2009-06-22T19:27:00.002-04:00

Maybe you have a published book or two or several under your belt. Maybe you have even done the whole "book tour and book signing" thing too. Yet your have not yet written your deep-down-in -your-heart book and it is niggling at you.

- a comic take on a serious issue, a pet topic, a classic romance, your personal story or someone else's -

Write a short (up to 250 words) description of your dream book and share it in the comments.

Thank you

2009-06-20T18:47:00.002-04:00

I used to believe that I couldn’t possibly write about writing. Although I had pieces published at Absolute Write, Writing Corner and other writing sites, I still felt I could never consistently write about writing as eloquently as the other writers did. No way could I ever invoke such passion in myself or worse, in others, especially writers. Nah, I’d stick to my decorating pieces.

Yet here I am embroiled in this blog and connecting with some wonderful bloggers: passionate, creative, joyful, inspiring writers - identifying with their stories, and they identifying with mine.

It's not about writing eloquently but truthfully, authentically and passionately.

Thank you for following and subscribing to Perspectives on Writing. You are the ones who are fueling my passion and sprinkling petals of inspiration on my journey.

Saturday Soirée - The writing connection

2009-06-20T06:00:00.001-04:00

Like many dreams, mine got lost in the melee of living until my heart could no longer bear the thirst for something more. Of course at the time I did not know not what would quench the thirst, except that my heart yearned for something creative.

Pursuing one path, led me to another. For all the adventure and thrill interior design provided, it was simply a means to an end. Of course I did not know that at the time, but as I moved effortlessly and excitedly among floor plans, decorating styles, color, furniture placement, fabrics, lighting and all the other elements that make up the sum of the field, I gravitated to writing about interiors as opposed to creating them.

Rooted in my children, my dream to write never quite left me. It resurfaced, dressed in different clothes and stayed in the shadows. In time, it threw off its disguise and stepped into the light. No one was more surprised than I to discover my latent dream was alive and well and ready to take me on the adventure of a lifetime.

To cut a long story short, I found myself, my voice, my purpose, my passion.

What is your writing story? How did you connect or re-connect with your writing dream? When did the dream first tickle your heart? Were you like me, on a different life path when writing re-entered your life? What was the reunion like? How are you faring today with your writing?

Change can be fun

2009-06-19T10:11:00.000-04:00

Aqua Poppy Designs drew me in and catered to my preference for elegant designs, subdued colors and simple, classic, understated patterns. I decided to change the backgrounds on all my blogs.

My previous post was meant to simply let you know about Chelsea's blog and free backgrounds. It was a spur-of-the-moment impulse that I asked you to comment on what you thought the new look said about me.

I'm so glad I did because it was interesting to read your observations and insights.

Thank you.

One minute the design seems cluttered because I am used to the solid-colored backgrounds I've been using. Then after I look at it for a second or two, it is a nice change, a fun change and a definite reflection of my love of country cottage style - notice the tiny checked (gingham) pattern on the bows. Another aspect in the new background is the overall pattern. It features curves in the leaf and petal shapes and swirls - so me.

And the prominence of green, my all-time favorite color. No more solid green, but accents against a pale neutral color.Ivory, cream, tan and sand will always get my vote. Did you see the pops of black?

I'm not a lover of blue but those soft blue lines and swirls are pretty. I like it.

This background will change in the future, I'm sure but I'm really liking this new change. It's fun. Change can be that way sometimes, especially when you have darling friends like you to share it with. Thanks again for making it so much fun.

Free Blog Backgrounds

2009-06-18T12:07:00.003-04:00

Chelsea at Aqua Poppy Designs has some cool blog backgrounds to share and they are free too. The one I downloaded tells a little about me.

What do you think it says?

Saturday Soirée - Of trees and forests and your writing dream

2009-06-13T15:06:00.004-04:00

Are you focused on your ultimate writing dream? I hope so. Keeping your eye on the prize you want to snag is a good and commendable thing. However, there could be a problem. With eyes trained on the future you could be missing the benefits of the of the day-to-day joys and struggles to get there.

Have you heard the saying about missing the forest for the trees? I think many writers; particularly aspiring writers are often guilty of missing the trees for the forest.

As you keep your eyes on the forest - your writing dream – notice the following trees and make use of what they offer.

Tried and true and innovative steps you need to take to keep moving forward and achieving one goal at a time.
Writing rules that ensure good writing and professional dealings with editors and other writers.
A writing process that not only feeds off your inspiration but inspires you.
Writing and life practices that encourage and promote efficient and productivity.
Advice and information from other writers.

Each symbolic tree that makes up the forest of your dream is a vital part of the writing journey.

Have you been staring at the glory of being the writer you have always wanted to be? Good. That’s your forest. A more important question is, are you taking notice of the trees on your way there? Are you making use of their offerings?

Saturday Soirée - Writing spaces, rituals and treasures

2009-06-06T17:18:00.000-04:00

Oodles of stories are told about the writing spaces, sacred rituals and cherished objects some writers cannot function without. They write their stories and do your best work when the writing spaces, sacred rituals and special treasures help to entice the muse, usher them into their writing zone and inspire them.

Where do you write? Do you have the enviable writing room, a designated corner in your bedroom, kitchen or some other room? Do you have a favorite chair? Or maybe sunlight, fresh air, fragrant flowers and singing birds rouse your passion and generate ideas. Do you prefer the golden silence and book-stuffed aisles of the library, the coffee-shop with whispers of conversations in the background or the intermittent distraction of customers in a book store?

What rituals do you perform to tickle your muse into spewing inspiration your way? Do you pray, meditate, journal, read, shower, dance, sing, exercise, freewrite?

What item or items sit on your desk, hang on the wall or feature as your computer background to draw you into your writing zone? Do you wear a special item of clothing or a cherished piece of jewelry. Maybe you have a magic pen. How about family photos, a collage of writing quotes, a picture of your favorite writer?

Awww, come on, share your secrets.

My life in one word Meme

2009-06-04T07:59:00.002-04:00

I found this Meme at Writer at Random and it was just so much fun to do.

1. Where is your cell phone? desk

2. Your hair? black

3. Your significant other? Stanley

4. Your mother? deceased

5. Your father? deceased

6. Your favorite thing? teapots

7. Your dream last night? rain

8. Your favorite drink? coffee

9. Your dream/goal? Spain

10. The room you’re in? bedroom

11. Your ex? none

12. Your fear? fire

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? writing

14. Where were you last night? home

15. What you’re not? outgoing

16. Muffins? bran

17. One of your wish list items? dryer

18. Where you grew up? Trinidad

19. The last thing you did? post

20. What are you wearing? pyjamas

21. Your TV? on

22. Your pets? cat
23. Your computer? notebook

24. Your life? creative

25. Your mood? pensive

26. Missing someone? mother

27. Your car? Kia

28. Something you’re not wearing? watch

29. Favorite store? Payless

30. Your summer? beach

31. Like(love) someone? granddaughter

32. Your favorite color? green

33. Last time you laughed? today

34. Last time you cried? funeral

35. Who will re-post this? Sita

I invite you to participate and pass it on.

REMEMBER, ANSWERS MUST BE ONE WORD ONLY!

I'm in the throes of a new change

2009-06-01T20:08:00.002-04:00

It is official. I’m babysitting my granddaughter and I’m asking myself, how did I get here? It seems as if just the other day, I resigned from my job to spend my days writing. It seems as if just the other day, I was reveling in living my dream, writing fulltime. It seems as if just the other day… Well, those days are gone and here I am.

Whenever I am on the brink of a major life change, I usually step back from my accustomed activities. It is almost as if I am stuck in a holding pattern. That is what happened last week - no writing in my journal, no blogging, minimal commenting on my favorite blogs. Last week I felt disconnected and lost. I was standing still and waiting for the train of change to stop by my door.

Babysitting Sian is more or less a three-year commitment. She should be going to kindergarten at 3 - 3 1/2 years. Of course, as she gets older my daily routines will change and many days I will depart from how I function the day before. Nevertheless, it is a commitment I embrace joyfully.

These are the promises I’ve made to myself :

1. I will write in my journal daily, regardless of the composition of my day. I figure, I must go to bed so at least I can journal before I slide under the covers and switch off the bedside lamp.

2. I will honor my writing obligations - column, blogs, assignments, deadlines etc. My column and other miscellaneous assignments are the bread and butter and meat and potatoes of my writing life. My blogs are just as significant because they keep me on my writing toes, allows me to share my experiences, my thoughts and my feelings about life and writing. The ones I read religiously and comment at and my wonderful, creative, inspiring, caring and supportive blogging friends are the delicious, decadent desserts I need to have a balanced, informed, inspiring and creative life.

3. I will schedule personal time to nurture and nourish myself physically, mentally and spiritually by engaging in activities, I enjoy- napping on the couch, sitting on the porch, reading, writing in my journal, writing letters, drawing and photography.

Today wasn’t too bad. I managed to write a few blog posts and scheduled them for publication, finished the final read-through of the article for my column and sent it off. I identified the topic for the next installment and wrote a detailed outline. I prepared and emailed my invoices for work published last month. I backed-up my files and copied them to the notebook computer my husband gave me. It is so much more convenient to use anywhere. It’s smaller and lighter than my laptop.

I’ve always boasted that I am a lark (a morning person) - more inspired, more creative, more productive and all that good stuff between dawn and noon. I’ve been practicing to be an owl (a night person) and I’m not too bad at it either. Talk about change.

Until next time.

Saturday Soirée - Writing between the Sparks

2009-05-22T16:21:00.008-04:00

This week I wrote about inspiration for my weekly column and wanted to stay with that theme here as well.

Inspiration sits at the foundation of our writing and it rises and falls as we follow the path along which our writing takes us. Sometimes though, or maybe I should say very often, inspiration seems to have a mind of her own and we become slaves to her whims and fancies.

In order to explore every nook and cranny and mountain and valley of our writing, we must learn to write between the sparks of inspiration.

When inspiration dances into our days, with her handful of delicacies, we must be quick to grab hold of her, dance along and sample her inspiring fare. Our daily commitments may not allow us to sit long with inspiration, move in sync with her rhythm and eat from her tempting menu. So we must be prepared to chip along for the brief moment we have, sniff the aromas and pinch a taste or two of her dishes without missing a beat of the rhythm of our day.

Then, there are times when we have the time or schedule time to write and inspiration does not come dancing and serving up her juicy goodies.

The place between inspiration’s appearances - between one jubilant spark and another - is where we discover our true writing mettle. It is there we learn to dig for treasure in our own backyards, as it were.

These are two popular methods of lighting a fire under our writing when inspiration doesn’t come calling.

Use prompts. They are short pieces designed to give us a creative jolt. Not every prompt will hit your bulls-eye. Keep searching until you find one with a sharp point that lands on target and you’re off.

Use timed writing. You don’t have to depend on someone else’s prompts. Set a timer for a short time, say 10, 20, no more than 30 minutes. Then write whatever comes to your mind. Treat it like toxic material - get it out of your head, fast. If it makes sense in the end, fix it and use it. If you write gibberish, as you surely will sometimes, don’t throw it away just yet. Shuffle through for any potential properties to explore. You may choose to keep all your timed gibberish in a folder. If that’s your fancy then do it.

How do you write between the sparks of inspiration?

Saturday Soirée - Bonnie Neubauer's Writing Basics

2009-05-16T06:00:00.001-04:00

We've spoken/written about writing rules before. I have my basic writing rules that I believe in and follow and as some of you commented here, and here, you have yours. Plus there are the other rules we hold to be must-haves or rather must-do’s of the writing life.

Still in the spirit or staying open (my watchwords), learning and improving, it is a good practice to seek out other writers in person if possible, by reading their personal essays and biographies or on the Internet (websites and blogs), to see how they write and understand the rules their follow.

While surfing writing sites, I found Bonnie Neubauer who shares these basics on her website.

Basic Rules to Keep in Mind While You Are Writing (or to rebel against if that's more to your liking).

Keep Writing:

Don't stop. If you hit a block, write the last word over and over until something new starts flowing from your pen. Usually it's the word "and". Write "and and and and and and and and" and soon you will be writing "and I am sick of writing the word and. I am also sick of ... " and you're off and writing again!

Don't Edit:

Editing is left-brained work, and these exercises are right-brained fun. So don't go back and cross out or change words. Keep moving forward. And don't worry about spelling or grammar. There's plenty of time for that later. Just make sure you can read it!

Let Yourself Go:

Don't worry about the end result. Give yourself permission to write junk. Don't hold back. Don't filter. Go on an adventure.

Be Specific:

Use all your senses to describe things. Use your sense of smell to describe a cab, your sense of taste to describe a computer. The best way for readers to recall what you've written is to be specific: Not "toy", but "plastic Batman figure missing an arm".

Don't Negate Your Work:

Be proud of what you write. Know that the only rule is to fill the page, usually in 10 minutes ... and you will have accomplished that!

Have Fun:

Or maybe it's time to get a new hobby!

NOW LET'S WRITE!!

I'm always inspired when I come across another writer whose writing rules, practices and process mirror my own. Additionally, the writer who writes with rules I've never heard of before, adheres to the most unconventional practices and finds success with an interesting or even wacky process, pushes me to be a little more adventurous with my own writing.

Do you enjoy reading about writers who buck the writing or publishing system, works/writes against the grain of convention and who no matter what happens, they seem to be having a whale of a time?

Do any of Bonnie's rules resonate with you because you follow the same? Did you find one here or elsewhere that made you go "Huh!" but woke up your adventurous spirit and made you think that it might be worth a try?

Saturday Soirée – Go to your writing. Write your story

2009-05-09T08:00:00.002-04:00

This past week, I gave some advice to a friend. She's an aspiring writer with stories to tell. She has a God-given gift for words, keen observation and childlike wonder at the beauty that surrounds her. Yet her fear of people's reaction to her life stories keeps her in wishing mode instead of writing.

I've been encouraging her to begin writing her stories and last week when she brought up the subject again, I replied with the following advice. I hope you too will be encouraged to write your story or stories, whatever they may be.

1. Validation from others is good and inspiring but the truest validation is the one we give ourselves. Validate yourself as a writer with significant stories to tell and let other people's validation act as a booster to your own.

2. Commit to telling your stories from your heart. There is really no other way. Other people's perceptions, prejudices and reactions will be varied. Unless you can be proven wrong in your recollection, stick with your story.

3. Write as if your life depends upon it. You will know it, if your story is rising and bubbling in your heart and the passion to record it is burning a hole in your soul. When everywhere you look, everywhere you go and every thought and dream puts you into some aspect of your story, you know you must write it.

4. Writing precedes publication and there is a long and winding road between the two. Devote yourself to the first things first. Write your story. Then begin to work your way along the path to wherever your writing leads you.

So go to your writing with conviction, with passion, with singleness of purpose and write your story.

The Uplifting Blogger Award

2009-05-05T20:38:00.004-04:00

Jan Lundy from Awake is Good gave me this award. As I accept it with gratitude and humility, I am just as happy to pass it on to 6 bloggers who inspire me every single day with their beautifully written posts that drip with the essence of their creative passions and their joy in sharing their lives with the people who read and follow their blogs.

Jan Lundy - Awake is Good (I don't know if I am allowed to send the award to the blogger who sent it to me but how can I not present it to Jan who has had such an impact on my life and my writing?)

Joanne DeMaio - Whole Latte Life

Terri Tiffany - Terri Tiffany Inspirational Writer

Janice Hunter - Sharing the Journey

BJ Keltz - Enriched by Words

Dr. MaryAnn Diorio - The Write Power

Visit these blogs and partake in the beauty and inspiration they lay out for the taking, everyday.

Saturday Soirée - A journal entry

2009-05-02T19:00:00.002-04:00

Paging through an old journal I stopped at this entry dated 15th August, 2003.

I share it with you below.

It is so difficult to sit at the computer and write. Some nights, the most awesome feeling of exhaustion overwhelms me. My bed calls; a Harrison Ford movie beckons; a newly purchased book summons. Do I listen? Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. I know that regardless how tired and uninspired I feel, I should be faithful to my writing schedule to be successful.

I drag myself to my computer, face the blank screen for a while, and begin dabbling with some writing prompts. Sometimes I simply let my fingers dance across the keyboard producing words, phrases, sentences or just plane gibberish.

It amazes me every time, how the scales of tiredness slowly fall from my eyes; my mind awakens and is rearing to go. Ideas begin to flow and words begin to appear on the screen via my fingertips. Suddenly I can’t type fast enough to keep up with the speed at which my brain is working. Before I know it, I have an article ready to be edited and submitted. That’s how it is sometimes.

Then again, there are the dry times. The infamous and dreaded “writer’s block” manifests itself with no thoughts, no ideas, and no words. Not even writing prompts seem to help. At those times I feel justified to have a cup of coffee and page through a magazine or watch a movie. When I return to my computer an hour or so later, my mind tends to be in a different mode and I begin to write.

Sometimes I ignore my writing routine and succumb to the temptation to watch television instead. Of course, I sit there with a weight of guilt on my shoulders. When I feel guilty for not writing when I know that I should, I am convinced that I am a writer.

Like all writers, I often allow doubt and fear to pervade my thoughts and deprive me of the satisfaction of doing what brings me great joy. I allow them to rob me of the drive to ‘just write.’ I know that it is psychologically destructive to be paralyzed by doubts and fears. But I subject myself to the paralysis until I make a conscious effort to confront them, deal with them and write.

I find though, that the more committed I remain to my scheduled writing time, the less I procrastinate. The more disciplined I am about writing every day, the less often I experience writer’s block. The moment I begin to skip those appointments my rhythm falls apart and it takes me one or two days and sometimes a whole week to get back in writing form.

Do you ever re-visit old journals and come upon an entry that makes you stop and ponder about your writing journey? Do the same struggles and practices of yesterday still feature in your todays or have you discovered new ways to keep your writing alive and yourself in top writing form?

As always, you're welcome to share - share your journal entry (or a portion of it), what thoughts it triggered and any other insights you choose.

You can listen to my blog posts

2009-04-28T09:13:00.004-04:00

I've added a new feature to this blog. Beneath each post title you'll see a button that allows you to listen to the post while at your computer, in the room or subscribe to listen on the go. Cool huh?

So far Odiogo only offers a male voice but I expect that in time they will bring a female voice on board.

Enjoy.

Saturday Soirée - How is your (writing) health?

2009-04-25T09:10:00.010-04:00

How’s your writing life, is it healthy?

Are you exhibiting the following symptoms?

Sluggishness, severe idea loss, excessive procrastination, lame excuses for not writing, prolonged writer’s block ....

DIAGNOSIS:

EWDS – Extreme Write-A-Min Deficiency Syndrome

RECOMMENDED MEDICATION:

Write-A-Mins A, B, C, D, & E

Write-A-Min A – Attitude. The right attitude, a positive attitude puts you in a position of strength regardless of any situation that may threaten to stall your writing or hinder the accomplishment of your dream. A positive attitude increases your self-confidence and helps you to manage the dry days. Think and believe that you can achieve all you envision for your writing and for yourself as a writer.

Write-A-Min B – Balance. To be a “successful” writer you need to have a life. It doesn’t have to be a grand life but one lived with gratitude and contentment, full of love and fun and an eye towards capitalizing on simple pleasures and inopportune adventures.

Write-A-Min C – Commitment. Wishy-washy thoughts will not cut it if you harbour dreams of being a writer. A clear vision, an articulate plan and a resolute heart puts you on the path to achieving your writing goals.

Write-A-Min D – Discipline. Whether for pleasure or profit your work/writing schedule (daily, weekly, etc) should be fitted with structure and boundaries to ensure consistency and a sense of fulfilment.

Write-A-Min E – Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the fire that lights up your days, energies and motivates you to engage with your writing with an insatiable passion.

Sources:

Books and articles by writers about writing and the writing life.
Blogs that cater to writers helping them to navigate the path to their dreams.
Friends who are writers themselves who will lock arms with you so that you can buffer your internal and external enemies together.
Mentors who will encourage and inspire you and celebrate with you one hard-earned success at a time.

Have you had your Write-A-Mins?

Saturday Soirée - Listen for your voice

2009-04-19T20:04:00.003-04:00

It isn't necessary only to find and nurture your voice but also to listen for it. For then you will be able to detect subtle or nor so subtle changes that may indicate a deviation from the truth and individuality of the story you want to tell. Listen also for hints of the fear of negative responses, doubts about your ability and even unintended compromise that dilutes your writing.

I offer three suggestions to help you maintain your authenticity and recognize when or where you may have strayed from your true voice.

1. Journal often and freely not only about the facts, feelings and dreams of your life, but about the things you want to write about. Journaling (minus editing) puts you in touch with your purest emotions and helps you to speak authentically and passionately on the page, with words that come easily and naturally. When you move from your journal to writing that first draft, you bring with you a fuller understanding of the topic. More important, you also bring the clarity and passion of a writer who knows her heart and is able to tell her story in her unique voice and without contamination.

2. Write without inhibitions and leave editing for later. When you edit while writing your first draft, you shush your voice. You may unknowingly direct it to speak a different truth and your inner editor may suggest words and emotions from a place other than your heart and convince you that they are yours.

3. Read your written work not only for visible errors in structure, grammar, vocabulary and spelling. Instead, read as if you have a magnified ear, seeking and ensuring that the piece resonates with your voice, speaking your truth and telling your story, in your words.

When you re-read your work, do you hear your voice?

Sunday Scribblings - What scares you?

2009-04-13T20:39:00.004-04:00

Sunday Scribblings ask the question, What scares you?

What scares me? Three things scare the living daylights out of me:

1. Not being able to write due to some physical ailment. Although I'm sure I will find a way because I must write. I must, I must, I must. Even when I procrastinate and stall and get stuck, I know that I must write and somehow, I find my way to the page and to the screen and I write.

2. Public speaking scares me like nothing else. But I feel the pull to speak to women, inspiring them to break the chains of other people's expections, identify and honour their true selves, identify and pursue their dreams and live life authentically, fully and passionately.

3. Being trapped in a situation that doesn't allow me to have moments of silence and solitude in my day.

Saturday Soirée - Write your way through any storm

2009-04-13T11:02:00.004-04:00

The following piece was first pubished on February 10th 2008 in my weekly column. I decided to share it here to encourage you to not forsake writing when your world crumbles around you.

This could be the year that you’ll sail on calm seas and reel in the best that life has to offer. For some of us though, turbulence maybe waiting just beyond today’s calm waters. For some of us, our worlds will explode and everything we hold dear will fall in fragments around us. It’s easy then to let the emotional devastation overwhelm us, cause us to lose our sense of direction and sink into the dark, murky waters of despair.

Journaling is an easy and effective way to deal with the pounding waves and battering winds. It can help us to understand the storm’s true impact on our lives and to regain the will, power and strength to gather the shattered pieces, apply the appropriate glue to mend them and move on with the business of living.

Certain events can easily throw us overboard, disrupt our normal lives, shatter our emotions and leave us struggling and sinking out at sea. Periodically we surface just long enough to see that we have drifted far from the familiar shores of our lives and have instead settled into a strange treading pattern, breathless and disoriented. Parents often insist that they have to stay strong and survive for their children. But we have to survive for our own sakes as well.

Here are two things to keep in mind as you consider using a journal to stay afloat in the ocean of your crisis.

Start early.
As early as possible after the storm hits, reach for your journal or any notebook and start writing. Forget eloquence, flawless prose, accurate sentence structure and precise grammar. Instead, focus on writing out your disappointment, your pain, your anger etc. But don’t let your preconceived ideas or my advice hem you into writing certain things and in a particular way. Write your way, whatever it may be; individual words, stream of thoughts like a prayer, a letter to the person who has hurt you, or to someone who might be going through the same torment.

Visualize land.
As in most instances in life, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled on the horizon -- the life to which you hope to return or your dream destination. In the grand scheme of things, it might only be a hazy strip in the far distance but keep paddling by writing as often as possible.

Journaling provides a way to ground yourself, at least for little snatches of time. It is a safe, private haven where you pour out your confusion and sorrow and still maintain the composure and grace to carry out your daily functions.

When our hearts are broken, seemingly beyond repair and the pain feels so real, we clutch whatever we can to keep ourselves afloat. Reaching for your journal is far better than launching an attack or “spilling the beans” inappropriately.

The record you keep now for your sanity can one day be the catalyst for initiating a positive turnaround for you or for someone else going through his or her own crisis. Library shelves and the Internet are loaded with stories written by survivors of some of life’s most devastating incidents and many of them started with journal entries as memory aids and therapy. And they provide a clear record of their struggles, hopes, deliverance and triumphs.

Your circumstances are no less worthy of pen and paper. The account of your turmoil and how you survived will live on in your journal long after the event and serve as a reference for lighting the way for you in some other unfortunate situation or furnish you with just the right words to comfort and encourage someone else.

Keeping a journal helped me to brave the fear of my deepest feelings, bring them to the fore and engage with them to understand my reactions to the storms in my life. The practice also taught me how to gain a different perspective on life’s events based on my spiritual beliefs.

Only when I forced myself to reread my journals did I discover how a particular period of my life appeared to me. My written record read like the delirious mumblings of someone in the throes of an insane fever. The handwriting was almost illegible. But the pain, was so evident right there in black and white, sprawled across the pages. Naturally it evoked some red hot tears of remembrance. But between the lines, in the midst of the obvious anguish, it was evident that I was hopeful when despair and mental exhaustion diluted my emotions.

As a writer, I have found value in my journal not only for myself. But I hope, words of comfort, advice and encouragement that will help turn today’s victims into tomorrow’s survivors. Often I unearth something that strikes at the core of a topic I am researching or the pain I hear in someone’s voice or see in their eyes. That something, that experience, that truth, my truth inspires me to look at life, my life from a different perspective and provides me with globs of soothing balm to help ease someone else’s pain, clarify their confusion and revive their hope.

When you find yourself sinking in the current of an agonizing, confusing time of your life, take your journal and write your pain, grief, loss and prayers of hope in it. The practice will help you brave the storm and reach land once more.

Ouch, I've been tagged!

2009-04-10T10:40:00.002-04:00

I’m not a fan of memes but tried it a few times and discovered a strange kind of freedom that came with sharing snippets of myself. Still I don't respond to every tag that comes my way. This time my friend Jan Lundy over at Awake is Good tagged me. I had so much fun reading her responses that I thought I'd give it a try.

7 things you may not know about me:

1. From the moment I envisioned my dream to be a writer, whenever my mother scolded me i would respond with a letter explaining and apologizing for whatever I had done. Only when I became an adult did she tell me that she enjoyed reading my letters because in them she could trace my maturity.

2. My father died on October 25th 2007 and even now the pain is so fresh, so raw and so deep, that I still can’t talk about it or him without emotional blood flooding my heart.

3. I am an avid collector of kitchen gadgets, pens, teapots, journals and baskets.

4. I dream of the day when I could live alone, completely alone. As a teenager I used to insist that I will not get married until I had a chance to live by myself. It didn’t happen and the dream is still alive.

5. I am a silent rebel. My husband was the first person to see it, say it and feel the effects of my silent rebellion.

6. I was a real push over until I reached my mid-thirties. That’s when I began drilling in my own head that when I reach forty I will no longer take crap from anybody. The drilling worked too. Silent rebellion coupled with taking-no-crap helped me to stand, fight and defeat efforts by family members and friends to make me conform to their version of who I should be, control and limit me and stifle my dreams.

7. I want to be a speaker. Sure I’m scared like hell even to admit it. But I read a post recently at Good Life Zen that inspired me to speak it out loud. This meme gives me the chance to own it and share it.

Who did I tag?

Sita Henderson at Sita’s Sanctum
Joanne deMaio at Whole Latte Life
Terri Tiffany at Terri Tifanny Inspirational Writer
Hope Wilbanks at Hope Writes
Magnolia Miller at Magnolia Diaries Vol II
Brenda Friedrich at Enroute 365
MaryAnn Diorio at The Write power

The rules…

Link to your original tagger and list these rules in your post.
Share 7 facts about yourself in the post.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names and links to their blogs.
Let them know they’ve been tagged.

Monday Day Off

2009-04-08T11:28:00.004-04:00

Guess what I discovered? I can't write on Mondays. Well, except for in my journal. I can'texplain it but I simply can't hunker down to any serious writing.

Sure I go to my writing space with my morning coffee (a must have) and sit. I can't write. Nothing comes out, literally nothing, not even gibberish. BLANK screen, BLANK mind.

I check and respond to email, read my favorite blogs and a few that are not on my list of favorites. I save stuff to folders to read later. I still can't write.

Instead of beating up myself about it, I've decided to label Monday my official personal writer's day off or is the correct term writing day off? Any thoughts?

Freedom! I don't have to force myself to write a piece or two for my column or posts for my blog.

Maybe, just maybe, with no pressure, I may write next Monday. I may just write up a storm and dash off two advance articles for the column and schedule a few posts for my blogs.

Anyway, until that happens, I'll enjoy my Monday day off.

Is there a day in the week when, no matter how you try, you just can't generate words for serious writing. Do you have a writer's/writing day off? What do you spend time doing on your day off?

Sunday Scribblings - Celebrate

2009-04-05T13:58:00.004-04:00

I joined Sunday Scribblings. Here's my contribution to today's prompt - "Celebrate"

What am I celebrating? Uuuuummm, let me see...

The freedom to write fulltime.
The blessing of my first grandchild, a girl, Sian, who is six weeks old.
Sunday, the Lord's Day, the Lord's Sabbath, blessed quiet time, worship and communion service this morning and fellowship-time with brethren after.
The ease and speed of cooking with a pressure cooker.
The re-instatement of my column, Wright Words of Wisdom in the Womanwise magazine with the new article featured from today.

Saturday Soirée - 8 Writing Don'ts and Do's

2009-04-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

I'm always happy to be reminded of some of the simpler rules that foster a healthy writing life.
So I share eight that always come in handy when I find myself slipping.

1. Don’t waste time gripping
Do acknowledge that distractions and interruptions are a part of the writing life. Unless you live you would find it difficult to write. So attend to your life, whatever it may consist of then scrape up whatever time is left, go to your writing space and write.

2. Don’t wallow in negative thinking
Do count your blessings and multiply your efforts chasing your writing dreams. Hasten to develop your own personal strategies for coping with and managing the people and circumstances that muddle up your writing routine as well as your own internal saboteurs.

3. Don’t be afraid to break the rules, sometimes
Do listen and practice sage advice from other writers, especially when they can prove that their advice worked for them.

4. Don’t submit sloppy work
Do check for correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, concise sentences, sentence structure and word count. Re-read, re-write, edit, let your work sit for a few hours, a day or two before another round of re-reading, re-writing and editing. Then submit a polished and professional piece on or before the requested deadline.

5. Don’t play loose with deadlines
Do insist that the people around you respect your schedule, particularly when you have a deadline looming. If you will be late, contact your editor to explain and request an extension.

6. Don’t miss opportunities
Do try new things. If you skip over work that appears to be beyond your ability or experience, you could be stunting your growth as a writer. Try something new for yourself, just to see if you can handle it. Then, the next time you come across an out-of-your-comfort zone job or assignment, you won’t be so intimidated but a little bit more daring, adventurous and confident.

7. Don’t be a hermit
Do get out and about in person or online. Create a blog, comment on posts, join social networks, participate in online forums, start or join a writing group. Share your thoughts, your writing, your writing process, your goals and your experiences. Give advice. Tout your own horn with humility, grace and style.

8. Don’t give up
Do hang in there. It’s a long road to your writing dreams and it is neither smooth nor straight but you are not alone. Whether you find it at home, in your community, among relatives or friends (online or in person) you are not without support.

What do's and don'ts you use to help foster a healthy writing life?

Here I go again

2009-04-02T20:11:00.005-04:00

What a way to begin a month! My column Wright Words of Wisdom is being re-instated in the Womanwise magazine. The editor is swinging it as a fortnightly colum in the short term with the option to run it weekly as before.

I've already submitted one piece but will be reviewing a few others from my FOR SUBMISSIOM folder. Yes, you guessed it, I stock-pile pieces on topics I'm passionate about. Sometimes I send out some to appropriate publications and others might be on target for a request from an editor.

So here I go again.

Saturday Soirée - Getting back on track with a writing buddy

2009-03-27T22:00:00.000-04:00

My discipline has been flagging lately because the joys of life (my grand-daughter)have been getting in the way of scheduled writing. I am writing everyday but not as much as I want to or should. I guess you could say that I am off track or fallen of my writing wagon.

So what did I do to ensure I get back on track?

I made myself accountable to a friend who is also a writer and fighting her own writing battles.

She works fulltime and doesn't live nearby. So we have promised to keep tabs on each other. We will talk on the phone on Sunday nights sharing an brief outline of our week's agenda, three tasks we want to complete each day and two others we will tackle if time allows.

Wednesday nights will be our check-in time by email, sharing what we've done (outlines, first drafts, final edits, etc. and eliciting feedback from each other.

This is new to me - having a writing buddy. While I have many writing friends, I've never had a writing buddy.

Have you? How did it feel to be accountable to someone for your daily writing productivity and to have that responsibility to him or her?

I am looking forward to it actually - a like-minded writer to encourage me to get back on track with my writing, to stimulate my idea muscle, to give feedback on projects I am working on and to inspire me to focus on writing rather than my distractions.

This coming week, I'll be pulling up my socks and planting my butt in my chair every day at scheduled times to get back on track with my writing and I won't have to do it all alone.

Have you ever used a writing buddy to help you be more productive with your writing? What was the experience like for you?