Here we are at that crossroads of our lives once more. An event called New Year's. The time for reflection, for taking care of regrets, for looking forward in a positive way. All this can be hard to achieve, as alas, the passing of time trumps our wishes of holding onto cherished memories and people, too.
A beginning of sorts, the holiday may as well have fledgling birds and apple blossoms, so full of renewal it can and should be. We wish for an array of changes, don't we? Loss of weight. Readjustment of attitudes. New goals. Happier of times. And on and on it goes.
But what really matters in this exercise? For me, it speaks to growth. Very much like a chrysalis, we long to shed our skin and begin anew. And we have the opportunity to do so, spurred on by the Season and our own expectations.
My own wishes for the coming year are, of course, for continued good health, and the same happy relationship with my family and friends. But I'm also looking forward to successful and rewarding writing, to fulfilling work with my two writing critique groups, for a richness in my blogging life.
What about you? The hour for introspection is here. Do you have many wishes? Or one that you're hoping against hope will be fulfilled? This ritual is part of what makes us human. I look forward to performing it each year, and this one is no exception. You?
I am sitting in my sun room, which seems an obvious place in Florida, where the outside temperature is 84 degrees, and I'm wearing shorts and flip-flops.
As a replaced northerner, the traditional trappings of the holiday still seem foreign to me. Palm tree trunks wrapped in white lights. Oh, yes, beautiful--but palm trees? Friends chatting about jumping into their pools after turkey and dressing. Waiting on pumpkin pie so they can trek to the beach.
And yet there is such familiarity. People are in a lighter mood, and there is an air of expectation riding on the air. Holiday homes are the same as in northern climes. One would be hard-pressed walking into a greenery-draped, twinkly-treed home, to tell the difference. Perhaps there isn't one, after all.
During this season of high expectations and happy wishes, we humans who celebrate this particular holiday, appear of one mind wherever we may be. We long for a perfect celebration, all the while remembering nostalgic Christmases long gone but somehow very much alive and active in our memories.
Certain smells, sounds, conversations bring those old days streaming into our consciousness in great detail. We find ourselves trying, with every fiber of nostalgia in us, to recreate them perhaps a little more for ourselves than for our loved ones.
So I look out my window at palm trees and lush plantings, at folks strolling by in all manner of tropical dress, at kids not in snowsuits but shorts and tees, at convertibles with their tops down, letting in the glorious sunshine. And I am certain most of these people are trying to find holiday cheer, longing for this Christmas to be as fun-filled as in Christmases past. Doing exactly the same things with the same thoughts as I had in my winter-chilled home of yesterday.
Have a wonderful and peaceful and joyous Christmas wherever you may be. I wish that for you and for us all.
Most of us who are not just fond of, but are compelled to put pen to paper (virtual, or otherwise), find a routine of sorts that works. Below are a few tip from what I require to get the most out of my creative time
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Write at least two hours a day--
It’s a goal that many of us have, and it’s a worthy one: make writing a part of your daily routine. If you can do more than two hours, that’s wonderful, if you can only do less, that’s okay too. The trick is to write for the same amount of time every single day, and try your best to be consistent about it.
Write when you’re in the flow--
It is amazing how much this phenomenon happens with an author. Write when you’re ready to pour whole chapters/stories/volumes out onto the page. And since the flow is rather magical, try not to let much of anything interrupt you. (Those of you with small children are exempt from this. I've been there!)
Keep a notebook or put notes on your phone or iPad--
This is a good option for those on the move and for those who write best in short, quick bursts. I constantly text myself ideas and other thoughts about the book I am currently writing. It is a great help, and I wonder now how I did without such a tool before.
Live the life of the mind as an author--
I find myself dwelling in my head about the latest book I'm writing. It is so helpful to keep it tucked somewhere close by and dredge it up frequently. It's amazing how many scenes I've written in my head while driving or taking a walk. Try it!
Wake up early / Stay up late--
In other words, carve out a quiet time for yourself. It does wonders for your concentration, and the quiet helps to get sentences, scenes, and chapters to make sense in an orderly fashion. Early morning (I'm at my computer at six) is the best time for me. A cup of coffee steaming next to me on the table, my laptop working away, and I'm in Heaven.
Read, read, read...for ideas, inspiration, and voice---
It is important for me to read other authors' works. Sometimes, when I cannot find my voice, a quick perusal of a favorite book will do the trick. Suddenly all is clear, the voice turns to perfection, and you're off and running.
I hope this helped those of you struggling to find the time to practice your craft. Although it can be difficult, certainly it is not impossible. Try some of these tips. Happy writing!
Here is some news that will warm the hearts of you authors of Young Adult novels. It certainly did mine!
The majority of (62 percent) of 16-to-24 year-olds in the UK prefer print books to eBooks, according to a new report from Voxburner.The report included responses from 1,420 participants who were surveyed them between September 25th and October 18th 2013.
The main reasons that the respondents prefer print are that print books are a good value, and that readers have an emotional connection to books.
Fifty-one percent of participants said that they liked to hold the product. Twenty percent said that they are not restricted to a particular device. Ten percent responded that print is easier to share. Six percent said that they can sell a print book when they are done with it.
Interestingly, respondents picked books as the media they most prefer in print. Forty-percent of respondents said that they prefer physical copies of movies, 47 percent prefer print newspapers and magazines to digital, 32 percent prefer CDs to MP3s, and 31 percent of these young people prefer physical video games to digital ones. (The Guardian via Dianna Dilworth.
Though to this author finds the report not too surprising, what does the future hold for the youngest of children today and those not yet born? That may very well be a different story. As eBooks become more available and accepted by a majority of people, there may be a shift downward from the UK numbers. Only time and human experience can answer this question.
In the meantime, let's enjoy this time when print books rule and look forward to the time when ebooks may be the vehicle of choice for words, thoughts, and ideas. And if so, we can and will live with it.
What do you think. I would love to hear from you, dear reader, about your thoughts and wishes on this topic. Please let us know!
Mary Elizabeth the Spotless Cow is a girl with a difference. In her new pasture live a lot of cows--all with spots. Enter Mary Elizabeth, and the cow conundrum begins!
A book with a heart, Mary Elizabeth the Spotless Cow by Salvatore Barbera tells the age-old but important tale of discrimination. But this time it can be found among the bovine set.
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| Sal Barbara |
Published by Sweetles Press, Mary Elizabeth is a charming story of life amidst the clover, a clever but spotless cow, and a herd of spotted cows who need a paradigm shift.
A nice addition to anyone's holiday gift list, Mary Elizabeth the Spotless Cow could fill the bill. In fact, if you buy the book through Sweetles Press, the cost for the hardcover is greatly reduced. In addition, 50 % of net proceeds benefit the Phoenix Children's Hospital Child Life Program.
