Writers - Especially Women Writers

Yesterday was a fabulous writerly day for me. In fact, I'm still awake at 1:00 am Thursday, still at my laptop after quite a few hours of memoir writing, and taking a bit of a break to write my blog post. 

I  hadn't worked on my book in quite a few days, because of being a little down and out with the beginnings of a cold. (I'm all better now. Thanks for all your well-wishes and kind words!) I was a bit worried, though, that my muse would be hiding, and that my momentum would've stalled. But that was not the case, thank goodness! At this point I'm mostly editing; adding some sentences here and there, and deleting others. And adding a comma and then taking it out again! I'm still confident it will be ready to send to my editor in just a few more days. 

Enough about me. 

~~~~~

This post is for Women Writers!

Thanks to an e-newsletter I received today from Mary Kay Shanley, I found out about a Call for Submissions at Tending Your Inner Garden. 

I browsed through the website of these two lovely women, Deb Engle & Diane Glass, and was very impressed. Here is a sentence from their Home page:

 "As women, we all have stories that matter. And when we share them with one another, we expand and deepen a sacred circle of women and support one another on the spiritual path."

So, go through all those little notes you've jotted down, thinking that some day you'll have somewhere to submit your writing!

One of the points in their guidelines:

"We want writing that’s honest and heartfelt, whether it’s a poem, a humorous story or a poignant essay. We’ll also select material that provides a wide spectrum of inspiration, ideas and points of view within each book."

And here's something I thought was really unique:

Q. I don’t consider myself a writer and have never been published. Can I still submit work?

A. Absolutely. We’re looking for fresh, honest, compelling material. Our only requirement is that you write from the heart

So, it's time to get started, in spite of what my clock says! 

They are accepting submissions for both their spring and fall books, both with a deadline of November 30, 2012.

"If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud." -- Emile Zola

* Gotta Love Steven Wright *

Steven Wright always cracks me up!

Hope you enjoy the following as much as I do.

Imagine if birds were tickled by feathers.

I remember when the candle shop burned down. Everyone stood around singing "Happy Birthday".

I accidentally installed the deer whistles on my car backwards. Now everywhere I go, I'm chased by a herd of deer.

I got stopped by a cop the other day. He said, "Why'd you run that stop sign?" I said, "Because I don't believe everything I read."

Yesterday, my eyeglass prescription ran out.

I make my own water - two glasses of H, one glass of O.

Ballerinas are always on their toes. Why don't they just get taller ballerinas?

The other day, I went to a tourist information booth and asked, "Tell me about some of the people who were here last year."

Why in a country of free speech, are there phone bills? 

What's another word for "thesaurus"?

When I get real bored, I like to drive downtown and get a great parking spot, then sit in my car and count how many people ask if I'm leaving.

For my birthday I got a humidifier and a dehumidifier. I put them in the same room and let them fight it out.

I have a switch in my apartment that doesn't do anything. Every once in a while I turn it on and off. One day I got a call from a guy in France who said, "Cut it out!"

Now, a word from Becky: I firmly believe in the saying "Laughter is the Best Medicine." After reading all of the above funny lines, I'm all better today! Thanks so much for all the well wishes!

Rainy Days and Mondays....

I'm kind of down and out today. 

I caught a cold over the weekend and although I managed to write quite a bit, I also slept a lot, too. 

Hopefully I'll be more like my old, sweet self tomorrow. 

Please send some "Get Up 'n Go" to me! 


*P.S. Blogger, Laura Barnes did a critique of my blog today, per my request. Why not stop by and see her suggestions? She's got some good ones! And because of those suggestions, I've already changed the easier ones.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/ 

"My life style? Let me put it this way. I have this uncanny ability to answer the question, "Where were you on the night of...?" -- Robert Brault http://www.robertbrault.com/ 

Out of the Mouths of Babes

The Ronald and I stopped by to see some of our grand-kiddos early yesterday evening. They wanted to show off their Halloween costumes before they went out Trick-or-Treating.

One of the youngest guys gave me lots of attention and hugs, which I of course accepted with glee, and gave back to him in return. As I leaned down toward his cute crew cut hair, I inhaled a lovely smelling shampoo.

I told him how wonderful his hair smelled and asked what kind of shampoo did his mom use on it? Since he's a little guy, I couldn't quite understand him the first time, and I thought he said, "Cake shampoo!"

So, I teased him a little and said, "Cake shampoo?? Your mom uses cake shampoo on your hair??" And he just fell over giggling. I said, "Oh, it's not called that? Please tell me again what you said."

Still giggling, he managed to look back up at me and said, "Pink shampoo!"

"Oh, pink shampoo," I said as I laughed along with him.

Cake, Pink....they both sounded a lot alike coming from his angelic little mouth.

I think that'll be one of those little stories I remember for a long time, and maybe, hopefully he will, too.

* A Leap of Faith, Again *

I went through some of  my older blog posts yesterday, searching for just the right information to share...once again.  When I came upon this one, I decided to post it again. (It was an "I Wonder" post on March 9, 2012.) It was very meaningful to me then, as were all the wonderful comments I received, and it's very meaningful to me now as well, for very different and new reasons. (If anyone would like to read the comments on that original post, just click here)

Lately I've been thinking and wondering about Leaps of Faith. Don't you just love that phrase? Such thoughts and images come to my mind. But there is a group of images that is unsurpassed...

 

(all images courtesy Google)

I'll never forget the first time I watched Indiana Jones in The Lost Crusade take that "Leap of Faith." I held my breath, and then when I saw the "bridge" he walked across, my stomach got weak and I almost passed out because of my fear of heights! And no matter how many times I watch that scene, it effects me the same way -- -- emotionally and physically. My heart palpitates, I don't breath, my stomach does flips, and then BOOM...Indy accomplished the impossible. He believed. He HAD TO believe...and I cheer, usually out loud!

Anyone trying to achieve something of importance in their life has opportunities to take that "leap of faith," but how many of us actually do it?? Looking back, I know I've made a few of them, but they were more like "small steps of faith." (Every step in the right direction counts, though, right?) 

I'm working on the sequel to my memoir now, and will most likely need a few "leaps" along the way! 😀

 “Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.” -Margaret Shepherd

In the Zone

Good Monday Morning! I've been in my writer's zone for quite a few days now. That's why no recent posts.  

This morning, though, I'm meeting with my friend, Tara (above) to go over a speaking engagement for a writer's workshop she is in charge of. Tara and I met in April 2009 at a Habitat for Humanity event, and later I wrote  her story about losing everything in Hurricane Katrina. It was published in an anthology "Thin Threads; More Real Stories of Life Changing Moments" in 2010. (I'm also including it in my memoir.)

Until I'm back.... 

Enjoy your week! 

Take time for yourself. 

Delight in the beauty around you.

And Laugh....often!

"Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons." -- Ruth Ann Schabacker

Autumn Bliss - Part 2

Hello Everyone!

As I wrote on Monday's post, I'm sharing some photos taken during our walk.....Vern and I. 

I started taking them as soon as we left our house. Some of them aren't very good, but I'm surprised they're not all one big blur! I managed to get Vern to stop for a second or two when I wanted to take a picture. The two of him in front of me with the outstretched leash were taken while we walked. That was  a bit hard to do! Sometimes he's on a real mission to get to where we're going, and other times he zigzags, stops and sniffs. (I also want to point out that I always carry a little Doggy Do-Do baggie. We don't leave anything behind to show that we were there!)

A couple of the pictures had to be cropped a little more than I really wanted to do, but I also wanted to get rid of street names.

As you can see, we live in a newer neighborhood, where some of the trees are quite small. Everywhere I drive, though, is prettier than the next. I could practically run off the road just looking from tree to tree! (Don't worry, I'm kidding, but I do take in as much of their beauty as I can!)

This last picture is of our neighbor's tree which is right next to our driveway. Our garage is there on the left. When the wind blows, the leaves just flutter down from it and it's like a dream world. I just have to get a picture of that!

* The photos will enlarge if you click on them.*

"Listen to the trees as they sway in the wind. Their leaves are telling secrets...." -- Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

Autumn Bliss

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a beautiful, blissful weekend. 

Mine was really nice. The weather was perfectly autumn-like.

Vern and I were able to get out and have our routine walks, during which I marveled at the gorgeous colors of the trees.

I also decided that I must remember to take my camera on our walk today. I think the leaves must be at their peak and I don't want to miss taking some pictures. 

Speaking of Vern.....Here he is visiting his back-fence-neighbor! Although we've had Vern for a year and a half, we hadn't been letting him run around without being hooked to his chain. But...when he'd be out on the deck with us this summer, and notice that "Max" was out in his yard, he cried to go see him. The first couple of times, The Ronald took him on a leash to the fence. After that, Vern was allowed to run up to it on his own.

Max on left. Vern on right.

The two of them are so cute. Neither barks; they both run right to the fence, look and wag their tales, and do some sniffing. Then they walk away to take care of their business, and after a few minutes we call Vern back to our deck. It's just adorable.

Lastly, what better way to end this post than with a picture of a cute pooch enjoying himself amid falling leaves, and a beautiful quote for the season.