The end of the this blog.

Hello to all.

My life has taken a turn in a different direction.  I am still interested in writing however I am not writing Fantasy Fiction at the time, I am mostly journaling my spiritual experience. 

This blog will be deleted by the end of June, since I have not blogged in many a days.

I wish all love, grace and that your fondest wishes come true.  Whatever you want may they be grand.

Take care.

RJ Marsh

Moving Part 3

Next day the last part of the move.  We were both tired, achy, and a little bit moody.  My friend had been quiet all morning and during breakfast.  We briefly talked.  To be honest I was preoccupied by the big pieces of furniture that was to be moved.  We were expecting my friend’s male friend to help us.  That help would make a big difference in how this last leg of the move goes. 

After breakfast we drove the Uhaul truck to the old apartment.  Old since I slept in my new apartment last night.  We arrived at the place.  It looked forlorn.  I’m glad I’m moving. I have never liked this place and even though moving is difficult, in the end I know it will be for the best.

We walked in and saw all the stuff that still needed to be gathered and placed in the truck.  The last being the large pieces in which my friend’s friend will help.  I immediately started in the kitchen gathering all the last minute things.  I heard my friend talking and realized he was on his cell.  Apparently he was talking to his friend.  Oh Good soon this will be all over.

My friend said he was going to meet his friend at the bus stop and bring him back.  “Okay” I said.  Then I had a premonition.  “Are you coming back?”  I asked. 
“Oh yeah,” My friend said as he walk out. 

I kept busy cleaning and getting all the stuff into a corner.  Then I started to load some of the stuff in the truck, what I could at least.  My body was so sore.  I called my friend and left a message.  It had been more than an hour.  I was getting worried.

Another hour later my friend called and said he would be there shortly, they were on their way.  “Thank you.”  I told him and hung up.  I continued to load what I could.  More than an hour later I realized the truth.  My friend wasn’t coming back.  Something must have happened with his friend.  My friend got scared and decided he had enough.  This was very scary for me to realize. 

Once I faced the truth, I tried not to hate my friend. At that point I was glad that the bulk of my stuff was in my new place. The truck was due back in a few hours, and I was really worried.  Just to be sure I called Uhaul and told them what happened, they gave me a few hours more and wouldn’t charge me.  Once again I prayed for strength. 

I loaded up what I could, physically, and let me tell you it was heart breaking to leave a lot of my stuff in that old apartment.  My hands were tied, not having the help I needed.    I was still was looking at taking what I did haul in the truck to my new place and up those wonderful 20 steps. 

Then I had to return the Uhaul truck and walk home.  Not fun prospects.  I started back to the new place and parked out in front…
Until next time. 

Moving Part 2

The saying goes “You know who your friends are when you have to move.”  This was the case when it came to my move day.  Everything was all set to go.  One of the friends had another friend with a truck that was going to help.  I just had to pay the gas. 

The night before the move, I get a text.  “Sorry can’t help you move.” 
WHAT!  I called my girlfriend in a panic.  She didn’t answer, so I left a voice message.  Then I got to thinking maybe I should text her since she text me.  I got another text back stating “I’m throwing up blood.” 
I text back, “What about friend with truck?”  No response.   

I didn’t know what to think.  I went to bed that night with a heavy heart.  I prayed all would be well.  The next day, at the appointed hour, NO one showed up. Not one person who said they would help called or anything.  I was left with no help and a ton of stuff to move.  Even thought I got rid of a lot there was still enough. 

Knowing full well I was in deep poop I devised a half crazed plan.  I called the local Uhaul truck company and managed to rent a truck for 24 hours. *Wiping forehead*  I just had to pick it up, then see if I can find a few homeless guys that wanted to earn some money. They hang out at local churches sometimes.  Maybe a few will be there, I hope. 

 I walked to the bus stop and what a long walk it was. I sat down and I couldn’t help it, started crying my eyes out.  I haven’t cried that hard in a while.  The person waiting at the stop asked what was the matter.  I couldn’t stop crying.  Then I heard my name.  I looked up and one of the guys who was going to help but didn’t show up, was standing there, at the bus stop.  When I explained what happened, between wet eyes and sniffles, he agreed to help me move. 

We took the bus together and picked up the Uhaul truck then proceeded to my apartment and packed up what we could.  You should have seen all those boxes stacked up among other things.  Some of the furniture was to be given to the guys and gal who help me move, that was part of the bargain.  Now the furniture was thrown away.  What else could I do?  I certainly couldn’t take it with me.  My new apartment was too small.  What a waste, perfectly good furniture someone could have used. 

Still some of the pieces were going but they were too big and one man couldn’t move it by himself.  He needed help so he made some calls and finally located someone who agreed, his friend was going to meet up with us the next day. 

After hours of lifting and going up and down 20 steps, we finally unloaded all the stuff.  My back and legs were mush.  My friend seemed fine.  (I hate that)  He just shrugged and smiled.  " I do this kind of work everyday."  he said. 

Anyway my friend stayed with me in the new apartment.  It seemed harsh to make him take the bus home then come back the next day.  I had big pillows he laid on the floor and I had my new twin bed.

It's always hard to sleep in a new place.  We both got SOME sleep but he even complained the next morning.   By the way he was a complete gentleman.  Not only that, he paid for breakfast the next day. 

Now to just get the rest of the stuff.  Man we really need this other person that's coming.   

Until Next Time. 

Moving part 1

One of the things I had been thinking about doing was simplifying my life. My children are gone and I’m older.  I don’t really need the burden of having all that stuff.  Things have to be maintained. One way to simplify is to downsize.

Now when it comes to simplifying, one of the things I had and didn’t want to get rid of was my car.  It broke down and the cost to have it fixed was beyond my means at the time.  I was faced with the daunting task of public transportation.   How was I going to get groceries, do my errands.  It was heart breaking.  I figured it out but it wasn’t easy. 

So back to the moving:
As everyone knows, one of the hardest things is packing all the stuff you’ve accumulated over the years.  At no other time do we have a glimpse of how much useless stuff we have until we have to pack it up in neat boxes.

The Simplifying thing:
Looking around, what to do first? I currently have a 2 bedroom apartment.  I was going to move into a very small 1 bedroom apartment.  I mean one room holds the living room and kitchen.  There is a small bathroom on one side and a really small bedroom on the other side, about half the size of my current bedroom.  So what to do? You do the obvious, decide what to keep and what to throw away. 

I walked into each room and began to decide what to get rid of.  Some of it was easy. My life took different turns and some things I meant to do didn’t happen, so those got tossed right away.  After that I had to take stock of what I really needed and used.  Some things I had were really old such as makeup and toiletries those were tossed over the shoulders. 

As I was packing boxes, even more was tossed.  Then something occurred to me.  A lot of the stuff I had was given to me by close friends, family members, during special dark times in my life.  Lots of that stuff was tossed over that shoulder.  Man I was throwing away a lot.  

Then I realized there was a lot of stuff I hadn’t used in a lonnnnng time. Why am I keeping it?  I easily filled up the big huge trashcan that the city provides.  My normal trash is one small bag every two weeks.   Each week I had them filled to capacity.  Each week that I unloaded a portion of my old life, I felt lighter, uplifted, it was very liberating. I also started to give things away, that was fun.

Next thing, what to do about most of my furniture…

Until next time. 

This Year's Theme Will Be "Facing My Fears. "

Facing your fears takes courage.   This week or rather this year, I will be facing my fear of writing. 

Even if what I write is not good.  The only way I’m going to progress is if I write.  That’s a cliché I know.  But it’s also the truth, one that I am willing to face now. 

Every time I sit to write, even if it’s to journal, my writing improves. The other thing that helps is reading.  Every time I read, I see how authors use different techniques. How they describe things, and set up plots and much more.  My writing is not as amateurish. But it’s not publishable yet either.     

The other thing is to face my fears of feedback.  The critiquing group members put themselves on the line by submitting their work for our inspection.  We have had some really good discussions about how to make the pieces work.  Our writing has grown by facing this fear.  It does get easier the more we do it.    

 The last time the critiquing group gathered, I finally read some of my own work. Until then I did a good job of letting others read and received the feedback, however I wouldn’t read.  I found every excuse not to. They told me I had to read and that I better have something prepared.  I did, and I learned it really wasn’t that bad. This next year there will be no more excuses.  *Fingers crossed*  (Hopefully I'll keep this resolution.)

The hardest part of writing is learning how to revise.  The group is realizing that truth as we go along, and as time goes, the writing process will get easier.  In the mean time we are navigating the novel writing process together.  

I just read a great article from Writers Digest.  10-ways-to-harness-fear-and-fuel-your-writing

I'm going to use this article to help me face my fears of writing and learn to recognize when I'm doing it, and how to get myself out of it.  It should be an interesting year.   

This is what I tell the writers of my critiquing group.  Write because you love it.  If what you are writing is fun it won't be so hard to write.   

Are you scare to write?  Do you have trouble facing your fears.  Are you afraid of success or failure?  Read the article and then keep track of your progress as I am.  We can face our fears together. 

Until next time. 

Have You Ever Felt the Earth Move?

Yesterday on my way to The Small Writers Critiquing Group, while waiting for the Rapid train, or Trolly, something really phenomenal happened.  It was wonderful.  After taking the bus and arriving too late to catch the train I settled in for the fifteen or twenty minutes wait.

There was a few of us waiting on the platform.  I talked briefly to one of the men.  Then I found about six pennies, picked them up and put them in my pocket, which is something I always do when I find any money. I heard birds squawking and looked up into the rafters to see their nest.  But the most significant thing I did was look straight up past the glass roof into the beautiful sky with pretty cottony clouds gently drifting by.

Marveling at how the sky was so blue and the sun was out on a January day such as this, especially in Cleveland Ohio, one of the snowiest cities in the entire USA.  Then for some reason, I don’t know how, I shifted.  I mean my perception shifted.  I was looking at the clouds, and then my focus point became fixed.  I let the clouds float by as I kept the same point.  But then I noticed I was no longer focusing on the point.  I became aware of my position on the ground.  I don’t know if I’m saying this correctly but I felt my body on the ground, and at the same time of the position at which I was looking in the sky, and at the same moment I was aware of the earth moving. 

I felt the earth move on its axis.  When not really paying attention we, the people of Earth, feel that the clouds are moving in the sky.  Actually the clouds are stationary; it is the earth that really moves. 

It was such an incredible feeling, so excited was I that I immediately turned to the man to whom I talked briefly with before.  “If you look at the sky and focus your eyes in one spot you can feel the earth move.” I said.

He just looked at me strangely.  I tried again.  “Look at a point in the sky, now center your focus on your body.  Can you feel the earth movement?” He looked up briefly then back at me with a very curious look. I’m pretty sure he thought I was just out of a mental hospital.  No matter.  I got it and at that moment it was a precious gift.  Still, the wonders of actually feeling the earth move. I was in awe and still am as I’m writing it. 

Try it one day.   Stay completely still in a sitting or lying position, then look at the sky, holding your focus, not on the clouds but in one spot.  Center the point on your body and then transform your perception, by feeling the fantastic movement of the earth.  Then you know how wondrous everything is around you.

Did you look into the sky and feel it?  If you didn’t keep trying until it happens.  If you did, congratulations.  What was it like to transform yourself?

Until next time. 

2012 New Years Resolutions

Now that the New Year is here, what resolutions have you decided on?

Did you decide to lose weight, exercise more, save more or pay on your bills?  These resolutions are wonderful, but have you planned out how you will tackle them?

Why haven’t you achieved your resolutions before?  Was the goal too big or did life just get in the way?

This year my resolutions will be tackled one day at a time.  One thing that I’ve noticed while journalizing was that something happens before, during and after a major decision in my life.  It was during the journal writing that I discovered this.  In retrospect it has happened all, I just wasn’t aware of it.  Now I can go back and read what I was feeling, what I did, and how I came up with the new part of me.  It’s really fascinating. 

Break down your resolutions into short term, or daily goals. Check every few months on your progress and make adjustments.  Then continue on the daily goals.  In this way it’s easier to see the actual progress and at the end of this year, the growth or weakness will be glaring.  Later we can discuss ways to address the weaknesses. 

Did you stick with your resolutions? Perhaps you decided on something completely different. Anything can happen that can make that resolution not a priority at the time.  What happen and how did you compensate for it.  Understanding the reasons for it will help in the long run.  Was it something that was completely out of your control? Or was it something such as fear or you want to do something but don’t know how. So the best route would be to research how to accomplish what it is you want.  Again breaking it down on a daily basis or short term goal will help you. 

One of my goals is to do more writing.  I know that I am doing a good job of journalizing so I want to concentrate on my storytelling and writing of my manuscript.   So I will have daily, weekly and monthly goals.  This way I can chart my progress.  If something comes up, I won’t chastise myself.  I will simply start again where I left off. 

For my first writing goal.  My critiquing group has told me that the next time we get together I was to read first, so I better have something prepared.  I also realized something else.  Like most writers, we think our work is boring or well mainly bad.  The critiquing group tells me they are very much interested in reading more of my work, but I am unsatisfied with it.  I realized I was comparing my work to my favorite published writers.  Writers that I love reading and have been writing for numerous years.  It’s wrong for me to compare my writing from them.  I realized I needed the feedback and that I should face what they had to say about my story.  I cannot grow as a writer without it.  Our meeting is five days away so I better get to writing. 

So for my first weekly goal.  Continue to journal.  Tackle one chapter at a time on my manuscript. Then after the next meeting plan how I will tackle the revision of the feedback and tackle the next chapter. 

Oh and one last goal for the week, another blog post.  I have struggled to find a voice for this blog, it’s a work in progress. I’m sure it will go through more changes but it is all in the learning. 

I will be charting my progress on the New Years Writing Resolution much as I did last year on my book reading challenge.  My book reading challenge will not be as much because this year it is mostly about the writing.  But check on my progress from time to time and see how I do.  At the same time keep track of your own resolutions and see how you do.  Then we can compare notes. 

Take the challenge with me.  What is your weekly challenge, then chart it, and at the end of the year, you can be proud of what you do.  Or realize what needs to be done for the next year.  Either way it will be a good look at you.

Until next time. 

2011 Resolution Challenge

I hope everyone had a good holiday. I read over last year’s resolutions and realized a few things.  I’ve drastically changed since then.  I have completely new ideas and feeling about almost everything, even writing. In other words I’ve grown.

I’m not going to post my resolutions this year, what I’m going to do is post about my journey through them.  Every change, disappointment, realization, expectation and success, and what happen to cause me to change. 

Since this blog is a journal about my writing journey, my first post this new year, and yes I’m starting a little early is about my decision to start using a writing book called The Weekend Novelist by Robert J. Ray and Bret Norris. 

Now I just have to decide on which project to work on.  I have one manuscript I started last year when I did the NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, in November of 2010.  I didn’t participate this year, 2011.   I started the revisions but had many questions.  Lets just say the revisions didn’t go well. I was not satisfied at all with the manuscript or the revisions and felt a complete failure as a writer. So I started purchasing and reading how to writing book.  I learned a lot, just not how to write a novel. 

One of the books I bought was about plot and structure.  This is what I thought was lacking in my manuscript. So I started a new project based on the info in the book.  The ideas were flowing and it was going good until I ran into a wall. Which is what happens to most novice writers.

How do I proceed?  It was frustrating.  I was in my bedroom sitting on my bed, almost ready to cry.  Looking around my room and that’s when it happened.  Right next to the bed is a small bookshelf where I keep the how to write books.  It was like a light shinning from heaven shown right on a book.  The Weekend Novelist, by Robert J. Ray and Bret Norris.  There it was, the answer I was looking for.

My newest decision.  Go through the book one weekend at a time and apply what I learn to my newest project.  It’s in the idea stage, so that’s perfect. 

I might be incorporating more but it depends on how much time I have writing. 

What new resolutions have you decided to do this year.  

Last Years New Year’s Resolutions.

Did you put down your new years resolutions yet?  I had a good look at my new year’s resolutions from last year.  I had different dreams back then.  My intention was to work on my writing platform.  I was to do this in several ways. 
 I started a Blogstory line.  Then posted my short stories in a few places trying to get my name out there.  But I came to the realization that my strengths in writing wasn’t strong enough to continue. 

My blogstory line, while some people read, there wasn’t much feedback  if they liked it or not.  One of my friends loved it and wanted me to continue.  I had others tell me they read and liked it.  I was happy with this, but then ran into a snag.  My conclusion was it wasn’t good enough to spark interest and continue.  I put it on hold until I understand the writing process better.

I took off all the short stories I had in different places.  I did revisions on them and plan to improve them more.  So I put on hold for a while.

Where I improved. 
What I did do was reach my 2011 Book Challenge.  This challenge I didn’t have too much trouble with because I love to read.  My challenge was to read 50 books throughout the year.  My final count was 68. 
(See 2011 Book Challenge - as I progressed through the year.) 

I did continue to study the writing process and have greatly improved, not only in my writing but in my critiquing. This was good for my Diligent Writes Group that I founded. 

The diligent Writers Critiquing Group is strong.  We don’t have a lot of people but we have a few committed individuals.  We are all progressing one step at a time.  Each writer is talented and adds a lot to each critique.  It has been my pleasure to start and work with this group.  I intend to continue it with the hope that other committed writers will come.  

I have started a project of 'The Fiction Writers Workshop.'   This class is doing one chapter once a month.  We tackle a different aspect of writing each month, and then do the writing exercises.  We get together and discuss them and then cover the next month’s topic. 

New Year's Resolution for 2012. I’m going to continue the book challenge and keep track of what I read during the year.  But this year I’m also going to keep track of my writing, how many words and minutes I write.  My intention is to learn discipline.  I stopped watching most TV shows, and other diversions that keep me from writing.  So my goal will be discipline in this next year.  I have other resolutions of a personal nature but won’t bore you with them. 

What New Year’s resolutions did you pass from last year?  How have you grown from last January to this December? What will you do to continue that growth.  Much came be accomplished in one year, don’t waste it on trivial matters.  Choose wisely. 

Until Next time. 
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Christmas Miracle.

Have you ever had a Christmas Miracle?  I did but at the time I didn’t know it.

I was in College at the time. I worked at a local hospital on a work study program at night.  I worked then every six months I wrote up a report and received credits.  My position was a ward clerk floater. When one of the permanent ward clerks called off, I worked in their place.  If everyone showed up then they placed me in another area.  I worked all over the hospital and met many people. 

The day was Christmas Eve.  Usually my shift was 6:00pm – 10:00pm but I was able to talk my supervisor into allowing me to go home early.  I explained I hadn’t been able to shop for holiday meal yet and was hoping to go before the grocery store closed.  He agreed and allowed me to use some of my vacation pay to cover the time.  It was a slow evening in the hospital.   

So at seven I left the hospital and caught the bus to my little apartment.  It took about an hour because I had to connect with another bus in downtown Cleveland.  As soon as I arrived home, even though I was tired, I grabbed my reusable grocery bags and practically ran to the grocery store. My apartment was in a very ideal location.  I lived just off a main street, a few houses down from the corner and the grocery store was on another main street a few blocks down in the opposite direction.

As I was speed walking to the grocery store I couldn’t tell if it was closed or not. “Please let it be open” was my mantra.  But it was not to be.  When I turned the corner to the parking lot and main entrance.  The entire parking lot was empty and a large Closed sinn hung on the door.  At that moment my heart was empty. 

I hung my head and cried all the way home.  My speed walking was now a slow crawl. I was alone already and it was hard enough, now this.  Of course all the restaurants, and grocery stores will be closed on Christmas Day, so there was no way I could get any type of food. Christmas dinner was a no go and any kind of holiday for me was gone.  It was a very bitter pill to swallow.  I went to bed with prayers of love and devotion to the person who’s birthday it was. I was still grateful that I had a place to live, having been homeless a few years before. 

The next morning it was a beautiful sunny day, even here in Cleveland Ohio.  I watched the parade on TV and just did the best I could.   I had a bowl of cereal for breakfast, what else could I do?

Later when hunger finally caught up with me, I went scrounging in the refrigerator.  Leftovers it would be.  Strangely I found a few things and ended up having one of the best meals I can remember.  Sure it was leftovers but it tasted delicious. I remember praying and being grateful for everything that I had. I was happy to be alive.  The Christmas spirit came into this lonely heart of mine and I was filled with sweetness and joy.  Even years later I remember this Christmas above all others.  Of course I call my family and we talk and share, but I am still alone, or so I thought. 

It was some time later that I realized something extraordinary happened. I remembered that the day before I hardly had any food in that refrigerator.  I desperately needed to buy food not only for the holiday, but for the entire week.  Yet, on Christmas I had a lot of food in there.  Food I’m not sure where it came from.  And it was some of the best tasting food I can remember.  I also remember finally feeling the Christmas spirit. 

Every year since, I’ve had food in my refrigerator and the Christmas spirit in my heart. But still, I remember that holiday miracle even more. 

So the next time Christmas doesn’t quite go as you had planned for whatever reason, the holiday spirit is more important, and of course giving thanks and praise.  May your Holiday be blessed with the spirit within, and joy to you and yours always.

Until next time. 

Picture by picture.com

Stranger than Fiction. Part 2

This post is another strange thing that happened to me while I was in Sweden.  I had been living on a farm in the small town of Holmestad, near a little bit larger town called Gëtene.  Every day I would ride my bike into the town, crossing a main highway with two way traffic, and attend the language school.  The school consisted of many people from all over the world who didn’t speak Swedish.  But that is another story. 

This particular day, I went to school as usual.  After school, I don’t remember why but I needed to get back to the house quickly.  I started on my bike, and when I got to the main highway I stopped until traffic cleared, then proceeded on.  The first thing I noticed upon crossing that main highway was a deer on the other side of the road in a field.  He was eating grass when he looked up at me.  He was big and beautiful, but seeing a deer is not uncommon in the area.  The road leading to the farm is a two way road and the cars are driving on the opposite side of the road.  I was on the right going against traffic.  The farm itself was situated on the right side of the road. 

I have my books tied to the back of the bike and I was speeding along, the wind in my hair and my legs pumping.  I was admiring the surrounding area with its amazing simplistic beauty, the green grass, and yellow mustard flower fields, the small farms here and there. 

I looked down for a moment and when I looked back up, my head jerked to the left.  There was a deer, the same one that I saw earlier.  He was running along side me, but not on the road, on the grass.  He had his eyes on me as a rival for speed. We were running together neck and neck.  Why he was following me I cannot say.  But what happened next was unexpected.  Somehow the deer tried to cross onto the road.  I’m not sure what he was doing, but he moved towards me, like he was going to run with me.  Just as he was about to cross, a car was in his way and he swerved.  The deer turned towards me in an effort to avoid it but the deer didn’t realize its consequences.  The deer slammed into me at a great speed.   Me, the deer and the bike went airborne.  A small yelp was all I was able to get out.  We landed in the ditch in a great big heap. 

This all happened in a split second. 

The bike was on top of me and the deer on top of the bike.  The buck quickly got up and took off unhurt.  But my right leg and knee hurt.  Pain filled my body, but I was too stunned to do anything. 

The driver of the car was out in a flash and at my side.  He spoke quickly, his face concerned as he lifted the bike off me.  In those moments I was unable to form anything coherent.  It registered that I better say something. “I’m okay.” I said. 

He stopped for a moment then switched to English.  He gave me a barrage of questions.  I shook my head.  “No don’t call for an ambulance, I live up the street.  I’m sure I can get there in a few moments.”  The man waited until I was able to get on the bike and was peddling away before he left. 

Back at the farm I told my friend who invited me to Sweden what happened.  He looked at me stunned, and then he started laughing.  I could have killed him.  Here I was hurt and beat up, bruised and still in shock, and he was laughing.  I had a big black and blue mark on my right knee and surrounding area.  No broken bones, thank God. 

My friend had a good time telling all of his friend and anyone who would listen about my little bout with a deer.  I think him laughing hurt more than the bruise.  What Americans think is funny is different from the Swedish people. 

Until next time. 

Stranger than Fiction.

I thought I would write something funny today. 

You’ve heard the adage, life is stranger than fiction.  A few weeks back I saw one that I thought was strange.  Well, not really, but it was cute.

I’m taking the bus now since my car broke down about a month ago and the amount to fix it is beyond me at the moment.  So I’m walking home from the bus stop down an ally to get to my house on the cul-de-sac.  When I first entered the ally I heard dogs barking, easy since the sound is echoed throughout the entire ally.  I’m minding my own business, watching my step, because if I didn’t I would trip and fall.  I was thinking about all I had to do that night when I arrived upon the loud barking.  Mind you this was before the time changed and it was still light out.

That’s when I noticed a rooster walking along the rooftop of a building in the back of a yard.  the  dog that was barking at it was the one I heard upon entering the ally.  The rooster went from one side of the roof to the other and the dog was keeping pace with it.  I started laughing.  Know why?  Because the poor rooster just wanted to get back to his home, the chicken coop, and be with his hens, and the dog wouldn’t allow him to do that.

One thing about chickens and roosters, they do get out once in a while.  But the easiest way to get them back in is to leave the door open.  How do I know this? Well I had the opportunity to spend some time in Sweden back in 1994.  While I was there I took care of chickens and sold the eggs.  I also taught line dancing.  The Swedish people loved it. Well my students did.  Anyway I gained first hand knowledge about chickens and a rooster getting out of the coop. 

One of my roosters got out of the coop.  Not knowing what to do, I went chasing after it. 

That thing was fast. Those little legs can move and boy did it ever, clucking the whole time.  I chased the darn thing while it ran -- well, like a chicken with its head cut off.  After a while I finally sat down, too tired and defeated.  I’ll be darned that darn rooster after a few minutes strolled back into the coop and cozied up to his hens.  I could have killed it.  But he was in, and I could then get to my day.  So never again will I chase a rooster or chicken. 

All you have to do is open the door.   

Oh and another funny thing happened while I was there. Well, that’s for another day.  

Until next time. 

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Inspiration. What Inspires You to Keep Writing?

Today I received My Writers Digest Monthly Magazine and saw an article on James Lee Burke.  Reading the article, he had so many really good things that can inspire writers to keep on. 

What I love about James Lee Burke is his no nonsense approach to writing.  He just does it everyday, no matter what.  He doesn’t accept any kind of rejection other than how it can help him become better.

James had three books published then went thirteen years of nothing.  That had to have been hard.  However he kept writing.  He developed a system and stuck to it. He said he  keep submitting to agents. 

James said. “Don’t compromise your work.  Submit your work anyway and go onto the next project.  Suddenly you find that you’re not interested in the fame, applause or silence.  You don’t hear any of them.  Never listen to the naysayers.  If you do, you will stop.  Don’t ever stop.” 

Work at it everyday, seven days a week.  No days off.  Keep perfecting your weaknesses. 

James says his nemesis is fatigue.  I can understand that.  What is your nemesis? What keeps you from writing?  Keep writing no matter what. Do it because you love it.  Find something or someone that inspires you and then write some more.  I will also.

On a side note:  JR.Ward author said in her Black Dagger Brotherhood Guide book, when her writing dried up she went in a whole other direction.  That was the best thing she could have ever done. 

Until next time.

All pictures from Pictures.com.   

She’s a Little Older and Wiser

I just published one of my short stories. This is a short story about an older women. She has a dilemma. Let me know if you like it. Just remember I'm still learning to write.


She’s a Little Older and Wiser

I think they call it Scatterbrained.

Being a writer I’ve always been a dreamer.   Now I have a new name to call myself.  Scatterbrained.  That’s what I feel like lately.  I had a few errands to run before I went to work, but I just drove by the place I needed to stop.  When I got to work I was so upset.  Now I have to wait one more day.  Darn. 

Writing a list so I can stop off after work, but what I was going to do after work now is not going to happen.   Double darn.  

What has me so scatterbrained.  Health issues.  I mean major health issues.   I ignored the thing, thinking that it would go away.  It’s been three years and it’s not going away.  Plus it’s getting worse.  It’s time I faced the fact and find out what it is.

It started with just a small itch.  But the itch persisted.  I tried many ways to stop it.  Sometimes it would almost go away only to flare up again.  Day after day, year after year.  It still itches, but now there is pain.  When I bump it or rub against it.  Ouch.

A few weeks ago I was watching Dr. Oz the TV show.  There was a panel of doctors as guest.  One of the female doctors said something that stunned me.  She said there is a not very widely know type of breast cancer called Inflammatory Breast Cancer.  She said it was where the breast would itch and would not go away.

I did some research, looking at photos and reading the internet. Finally I went to the Cleveland Clinic emergency room.  I was seen by a doctor practitioner but there is just no way to know.  I need further testing.  Another reason I’m scatterbrained. I forgot the phone number to the follow up doctor.  That’s the most important thing of all of the things I forgot.  Drat, Drat, Drat.

Well I will try again in the morning and will update on my health issue.  It may be absolutely nothing…

Until next time.  

The Diligent Writers Critiquing Group, September 2011 meetings.

I founded The Diligent Writes Critiquing Group because I couldn't find one.  After 7 months of groups and some success I'm having a problem. 

I’m trying to figure out a way to motive the writers of my critiquing group.  I have 32 members but only about 15 have shown up to a meeting at least once or more. 

There are a few who are consistent and committed, of which I am grateful. 

I thought of sending surveys to the group by email, but wonder what kinds of questions to ask.  I typed up two surveys but each time I chicken out and deleted it.  I kind of feel that if the person was motivated they would do what needs to be done.  Then again, I can remember a time when I had dreams and didn’t do anything about it.   

You may ask in what ways I have catered to the groups needs.  Well we have a main critiquing group that meets on Saturdays once a month.  I just added an evening time for the individuals who cannot make the weekend meeting. We have a smaller group for writers who have a finished draft and working on revisions, we meet twice a month.  Then we have a Fiction Writers Workshop.  We do a chapter each month during which we do 15 to 20 writing exercises to boost our writing techniques and knowledge.

In answer to this dilemma: I’m not going to try and motive the members who haven’t taken the time to come.  I’ve decided to promote the group to find other committed writers. 

Members will come and go, it’s the ones that stay that are the ones I’m interested in.   

I did a little bit of research and will start to pass out flyers and contact other writing group on line and off.  And I will ask the members who are active to spread the word.

This is just the beginning stages.  I’m stepping way out of my comfort zone but I’m willing to do it to help other writers and get the group off the ground.  

Update to come up soon.  Until next time. 

The Diligent Writers Critiquing Group.

I have to admit this particular meeting was a bit nerve wrecking for me. I was to give a critique on one of the member’s novel.  After one month of having it in my possession I was now going to give him both good news and bad news. 

The good news: for a first draft it was quite good. My immediate concern was, was this a first draft? If it wasn’t then I had bad news to convey. 

Upon asking him, this wasn’t the first draft and he did a considerable amount of revisions on it.

Drat, I said under my breath. 

The bad news: “The manuscript was not written with the reader in mind.” I said. 
Explaining what I mean to someone who doesn’t understand writing techniques was very difficult. 

I told him, “as I read, I couldn’t get close to the characters, to know what was going on, what they were seeing, feeling or thinking.  It didn’t make any sense to me.  I was hovering over the situation not in it, and it was so annoying.” I couldn’t even get through the Prologue, and it was the beginning. Of course I didn’t tell him that.  

I tried to explain a few more things about writing techniques and possible better ways to write it but he just looked at me. I could feel his confusion and disappointment. 

Oh gosh, the last thing I wanted to do was critiquing his novel under the table so much that he would stop writing all together.  Honestly his writing wasn’t bad.  It had great ideas and his tone was extremely well done.  However the execution of the writing was lacking.

How do I proceed here? I asked my friend if he had taken any writing classes.  He shook his head.  That explained a lot.  In order to understand how to make the most of your writing you/ the writer, need to understand how to write.  And believe me its not just putting pretty words on a page.  It involved technique.   

My first manuscript I didn’t have any clue how to write.  And it shows.  I read it to my girlfriend, who is a writer and a good one, and got some feedback that baffled me.  I tried to explain my thinking and she just told me it didn’t work.  I was so perplexed at the whole thing I just didn’t know what to do.

“Start reading books on writing.”  She said. Like that was the answer to all.  I was so overwhelmed I didn’t even know where to start. 

“I started with The Fiction Writers Workshop book.” She said.  We were talking over the phone.  The name of the book was familiar to me.  I looked on my bookshelf and guess what I saw.  The Fiction Writer Workshop book.  It was one of the first books I bought on writing.  In reality I thought I didn’t need it.  But being so overwhelmed I decided to go through the books and do the exercises. 

So back to my friend: I explained to him, when I started writing I had no clue either.  But the more I read books on writing techniques the better I understood what I was doing wrong.
So my advice to him was to start classes or reading books on how to write.

To be honest I’m not sure how he took my critique or my advice.  My only hope is that he doesn’t stop writing because of it.  He did tell me that he sent out seventeen query letters to agents and received nothing back, just rejection letter. 

If there was any kind of potential on the manuscript he would have received some kind of hand written message on the rejection letter.  He didn’t. 

I told him if he kept writing the way he was without knowing how to write it would take three times as long to get his writing where he wanted it to be.

If writing is your passion, please get some kind of education on it.  Either by taking classes or reading books on the art of writing.  There are many really good ones out there. Please remember that to achieve something takes time, passion, talent and practice.  Do you think a violist, or athletes or anyone achieves success without blood, sweat and tears.  It is the same with writing.   So write and do it because you love it. 

Until next time. 

Outlines and why they are so important.

As a writer I knew in my heart I didn’t want anything to get in the way of my creativity.  It seemed to me that an outline would do just that.  But it was the opposite.

Here is why:  When I started writing I had an idea and I let my fingers do the walking.  I had to admit when my fingers flew across the keyboard it was thrilling.  But then something happened.

The idea I had wasn’t well thought out.  Had I taken the time to outline my idea in a form that would allow me to add to it then ask those important questions, such as, why, when, where, what if and so forth.  I would never have gotten a block, so the idea ran out.

Ideas need to be well thought out and explored.  The more explored they are the more organic, or original the story is.

The way to organize those ideas is through outline.   I know most people don’t believe that.  But having a clear picture of where your story goes and all the nuances makes a big difference in how the story turns out.

When I started my manuscript I had an idea.  And as I proceeded I continued until the logical conclusions.  The ending was good and I am proud of it.  But there were some threads that I found later as I re-read my manuscript that were untouched.  Once found I realized those thread would make the story fuller and more three dimensional, adding tension, suspense and conflict plus more not only to the characters but to the story also.

So I am outlining the story now and will continue those thread, adding to the dimension of the characters and what happening in the story.  Outlining has allowed me to place each point in an order and move them around to better place them when they would fit.

I’m on my second reading of my story.  It needs a lot of work, but then again that’s what writing is all about isn’t it.  I learned a valuable lesson in Outlines.  I will keep you posted on the outcome of this.

If you have a similar problem or found a better way to solve it, please feel free to post a comment.  It would be great appreciated not only by me but others as well.

Happy writing,  until next time.  

A Lesson Learned on Warning Labels

A group of writers were meeting and critiquing their work.  When the first reader, after reading his piece stopped and looked around expectantly, waiting for feedback.

And feedback he got.  “Your book contains foul language, sexually explicit scenes and mythical creatures?”  A women looked at him incredulously.

The writer said.  “It contains Vampires, blood sucking, highly sexual, cussing swear words, and gory details.” He smiled proudly.

“But that is not good writing.”  She said.  In her life, back in the day, people didn’t talk like that and there was no reason for it, her mouth remained open.

The writer said, “This is the way it is and this is the way that my characters talk and live.  They are trying to eradicate a populous that is going to kill humans, their life is dangerous and they are raw to the core.”  He smiled sincerely.

“Wow.”  Said the older women.  She never heard anything so bad in all her life, stunned beyond words she was.  “If I had known before you read those words I would have left, I don’t care to hear them and I don’t care to be here.” Then she walked out of the room talking her things with her, never to be seen again. 

The rest of us just looked at each other and shrugged.  It didn’t offend us.  

Lesson learned.  Warn people before reading your work that there is sexual content and bad language in your writing. So that they may decide to listen or read it.

Until next time.

Little Fingers in My Coffee: Part 10

I have a surprise for you, I told the little Gnome.  I brought out a bag of  full coffee beans, roasted.  from Starbucks.  The ones he wants and the ones his village lost. 

“It’s a bag of coffee beans for you to take back to the village and grow more trees.”

His eyes popped out and he stood there for a moment.  Then he jumped into the air about six inches.  Which is a lot considering his small size.  Then he started saying a word I didn’t recognize in his native language.

“Excuse me what does that word mean?  The one you are saying over and over.”

He stopped, “Means, many thanks.”  Then he started dancing again.

He took more sips of the frappuccino and after a while he disappeared.

The next day he was on my desk just as I came to the office.  I poured his shot glass of frappuccino and he drank it.  I drank mine.

“I have something for you...”

“Mikos has present for you.” He blurted out, then took out of his pocket a small item and placed it on the floor.  Which was my desk.

I looked at it in confusion.  “What is it?”

Mikos took his hand and ran it over the item and it turned into a gold coin.  “Mikos gives to you.  For help to village.”

Inhaling I looked at the shiny coin.  Beautiful. “That is very generous.”  I took the coin and looked at it.  The coin was shiny gold and real smooth but I knew that I could not use it as currency in my world, but the coin was given in friendship.  “Thank you Mikos, I will treasure it always.”

Mikos looked down and did his foot in circles again.

“Now it’s my turn to give you something.”  I placed on the desk near him a small pin, it was a fake diamond earring, just one, with the post in the back, and a tiny barrette I had laying around the house. “For your girl.”  I told him.

He picked up both.

I explained, “The diamond earring can be used as a pin on one of her outfits, and the barrette is for her hair.  Do you think she'll like it?”

I will never forget the way he looked at me.  He didn’t say anything for a moment.  His emotions to much for him to speak. Mine also. The moment bonded us.

“Come on, now, don’t get mushy.  As long as you don’t steal my frappuccino we can be friends.”  I chided him.

Mikos smiled.  “Promise I.”  He said putting his hand over is heart.

I poured him some frappuccino in his little shot glass and he took a big swill.  We talked and drank until it was time for him to go.

“Will you come back often?”

Mikos made a slight bow and then disappeared taking the coffee beans and the trinkets for his girl.

Prologue: 
Mikos comes by often and we share a drink of our favorite coffee flavor.  I give him cute human trinkets to sell to his village.  And of course he will tell me stories of his travels in the human realm and his life in the village.  It’s a match made in Gnomes.

The end.

P.S.  Shall I repeat his stories and travels he tells me?