This is a fantastic quote when it comes to writing a novel: "Starting a novel isn't so different from starting a marriage. The dreams you put on these people are enormous." - Ann Patchett Have you ever thought of the novel your writing as a marriage partnership? That you and your novel, for a time, become one as you sit down and write out all the details that will make it complete one day? I hadn't until I read what she wrote for today. It is a partnership of sorts. We will spend many hours … [Read more...]
Day 141: Poetry for Your Table
Sometimes the words we speak or see can be that old saying, "Poetry to our ears." It's not so much the words that are spoken as much as the meaning behind them. I think that has become more evident for me now than any other time in my past. When I'd read a book, it was just that, a book. Don't get me wrong. If I read a book it's because I enjoyed it. However, now, those same words take on a different meaning for me. When put together just right, they can seem like they are poetry to our … [Read more...]
Dedicating this to My Daughter in Heaven
I think most people who visit this site and read what I write know that this site was started as a dedication website in honor of my daughter who left this earth for heaven on July 16, 2008. I've been so blessed as a result of this decision. When I go to write something for on here, it almost always ends up being about my daughter somehow, the tragedy, or how I've been doing along the way. I've been very open about my journey over the past five years. I want to be true to who I am and that … [Read more...]
Joining the Army in High School
When I was 17 and a Junior in high school, an announcement during my 2nd period class one day said that a U.S. Army recruiter would be in the counseling area at lunch if anyone was interested in talking to him. For some, reason it did. Now you might be asking why. I have no earthly idea. Had I ever thought about joining the army before that day? Not once. Never crossed my mind. So at lunchtime I went and talked to the guy. Within a couple of weeks I had signed up on April 19, 1991. That day … [Read more...]
“Just Because”
The "Just Because" gift. I love giving these kind of gift to someone else. Maybe I see something in the store I know they will like or that reminds me of that person. Or maybe I know the person needs some help with something so I try to either help them or find something I can give them that might help. When I hear, "Thank you, but you didn't have to." I just reply, "No I didn't but I wanted to." Isn't that what giving is supposed to be about. How many times out there today that someone gives a … [Read more...]
Feeling Un-hopeless
Un-hopeless. Nope. Not a word. However, I think it's obvious what it mean. In life we have those times where it seems like whatever is going on we feel hopeless or we can't control what's going on around us. But when we think about it do we really ever control anything? On the surface, it may appear that we are in control. But what if our carefully laid plans all of a sudden take an unexpected turn. Do we feel hopeless? Is all lost because it didn't go the way we wanted? The answer is no. When … [Read more...]
Should I get paid?
That's a good question. I love to do things on the computer, especially website design and creating graphics. When someone reaches out and asks for help, I love to say I can help because I have the experience behind me. Never is there a thought of, "Well, I should get paid for this." To me, that would be the wrong reason to do this to begin with. And it's not that I don't need the money. It just that I'd rather know that I'm helping a friend or fellow writer out to where they couldn't have done … [Read more...]
Volunteering
There are so many things we can volunteer for in our life. There are outreach programs, programs for boys or girls or both, church related things, good causes, at a hospital, and the list goes on. When I believe in whatever I'm volunteering for it can make you feel good. I think most people when they volunteer they do it for selfless reasons. They want to help whether it's the needy, the poor, or maybe a group you're apart of. But are their some that do it just for selfish reasons? I have no … [Read more...]
Day 140: Making Soup
I love this quote: Stories are what show up on the page once you start hitting the keys. —LARRY MCMURTRY Isn't that the truth? Whether it's nonfiction or fiction, the stories we decide to write about won't happen unless we take that first step to get them written down. And when we do this it's like we're making our own little soup story. I think back to the day when this website was born. I'd been told by my mom for a while to write down my thoughts and share them. It's good for you. I didn't … [Read more...]
Day 136: Another View of Mentors
A mentor is someone who pushes you in a way that you endeavor to improve whatever it is you are working on. Some mentors are calm and sweet and help you in a more positive way, whereas other might yell at you and tell you to do specific things. However, if the first just doesn’t get you motivated to do what you need to do whereas the second one does, then go find yourself a mentor who does just that. Those are the kinds that can push you in way you never knew they could. And if you ended up … [Read more...]
