My Christmas Greeting

Somehow it is the festive time of year once more, and I want to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.  I also want to thank you for all the support you have shown me and this blog.

In this season of love and good will, it is, I believe, important to pause a moment and reflect on our blessings and the important people in our lives.  I am so very grateful for my husband, and sons and their families, and faithful friends, and good health.  And the list could go on.

It is my hope that everyone who reads these words may do the same in his or her own way.  Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate the holiday.  The sentiment applies to those of you who do not.

I wish the very best wishes to you all during this time of renewal, rebirth, and rejoicing.  A Happy Holiday to you all!

U is for Utopia (for Writers)

I was at a writers conferencre this past Saturday.  Several of us were talking about how we began our day of writing.  It started me thinking about what's the very best way for me to begin a productive day, and why it is so beneficial.  So what makes a Utopian writing day for me?

The first thing is an early morning.  I need to be at my computer, coffee in hand no later than 6:15.  I love it.  Still dark. The city lights of Tampa continue to wink at me as they did the night before. Everything quiet except my coffee maker finishing its sputtering from producing the delectable brew.

Ah, the computer awaits.  Again, quiet in my sun room.  Jeeves, my cat, has been fed and sits on my computer ready to be part of Utopia.  I move him to my side in the hopes he'll stay awhile before insisting my lap is more comfortable.

On to email, facebook and blog stats for just a little while.  Need to get to serious work.  Sometimes, if Utopia is in full swing, I don't notice it's become light outside, and inside lamps need darkening.

As the day progresses, my manuscript takes such good form.  Everything simply falls into place.  No words that won't come.  No block.  No realizing I must go back and rewrite this or that.  Yep. Utopia in action.

By the time late afternoon sneaks up, I've happily finished a large section of my latest manuscript, I've marketed my latest book with great success, and I've been asked to conduct an intensive for a large conference.  (Remember, it's my Utopia.)

What's yours? 

Bah Humbug to Blogging? Not So Fast

I wasn’t going to do it.  Nobody was going to make me do it.  What was “it?”  Blogging, that’s what.  I absolutely railed against it.  Well, you get the picture. 

The Future World Order
Or is it Here?

But, because many people, including my publisher, said I must, I began the blog.  No, actually, the truth is, I began learning about blogging.  My poor husband sat next to me many evenings trying to give as much help as he could, which turned out to be quite a bit.

A vocabulary had to be unlearned and a new one learned with words such as, widget, gadget and attribution.  I had to trust that one could move pieces around the site as if I were putting together a puzzle, and they would stay.  I have to admit it, but one evening I sat far too long a time trying to figure how to embed (another new’ish term for me then) a video into my lily-livered blog.

Bit by bit, though, like a creeping vine, I was taken in by technology.  First I hated it.  Then it was okay.  Then it was bearable.  Then I couldn’t live without it!  How’s that for being seduced by a new world order.

Now it is a part of my everyday life, and I can talk widgets with the best of them, and I do.  Have to admit, though, it did take me longer than I thought it would to feel comfortable with tech talk.
 

And what about today?  Even after an entry is posted, I’ll pour over it from every angle, perhaps move a photo a centimeter or two, recheck links to be sure they’re working, read my witty words for the zillionth time and be, well, blogging addicted. 

 

This post, then, is a cautionary tale of what can happen to one if s/he lets the guard down concerning blogging.  It’s habit forming and quite impossible to give up.  Take it from me, a used to be, non-wanna be, habit formed, blogger.

A Big Thank You on Thank-You Day, 2011!

This is just a quick post to say thank you to all who follow this blog!  I am so very appreciative of your support and want to say so publicly on this national day of thanks!

This blog has been up and running since December, 2010.  From the beginning, when it was not very well known, there was still a small group of supporters.  For you especially, I am so grateful.

For me, the written word is powerful and a fantastic part of the human experience.  The world can change for the better through it.  Of that I am convinced.

Again, thank you all for your ongoing support.  And the blog continues.