The Greater Cleveland Writers Group.

I’m a member of The Cleveland Writers Group and last night was our monthly meeting.

This is a place where writers of all levels and any genre can get together and discuss what they are working on, get critiques, network, socialize and learn. 

I always have a great time.  The Group is full of very interesting writers in the area and when we get together it is a leaning experience.  

I’m working on my manuscript right now and don’t read anything in front of the group, but as I hear other people read their work I see what they are doing, either right or wrong, and I learn from it.   The feedback they received from some of our veteran writers is priceless.  It is great being around professionals. 

This meeting we didn’t have a large group.  Apparently there was a sports event that kept a lot of writers away and I also suspect the weather and life, being right after the holidays.   The meeting only had about twenty members show up but the group has over two hundred members.  

The discussion was lively and filled with really good information.  The professional writers explained how the business changes and lets us know how to make the best of our time.  What’s important for our careers and why, such as platform and to blog or not to blog.  Some of us like me enjoy blogging. 

The feedback part of the discussion was quite interesting.  Six people read to the group their work.   We had a very shy poet finally get up and read after a lot of coaxing.  What she read was so good, but in her nervousness she read it almost too fast.  We tried to get her to re-read it slower but she was just too shy.  As a person who doesn’t get poetry.  I totally understood her poem and was really surprised at the depth of it.  

We had another poet who got up and read two things.  I didn’t like either.  They sounded so cliché. 

When it came to the feedback, the professionals were trying to get her to understand something and the poet was resisting and defending her work.  With a few changes her poem could jump out, and really make a statement but she just didn’t want to hear it. 

Hearing feedback is difficult.  Listening to the professionals in the group and what they are trying to explain, if you think about it they are right, can make a difference in the quality of your work.   Some basic changes will tell your message in a better way and will be appreciated much more. 

Also learn humility.  We all want everyone to love our work.  Sometime a little humility and re working the piece will make the best changes and make your work stand out.  

One thing we all have is a blind eye.  The professionals can see things that we can’t.   Let them teach us to be the best we can be.

After the meeting we all got up and started networking.  The discussion went over the time limit so we didn’t get out until late.  

Walking to the car was once again freezing, being right near the lake.  I came home and spent some time with my kitties.  I haven’t seen them all day so I spent an hour petting and smooching on them.  

I said it before and will stress it again.  If you have a hobby, find a group within your area and meet, network and socialize with them.   If you can’t find one then start one.   It will make the difference in your success or happiness and will greatly enrich your life.   Until Next time. 

Have you found peace yet?

I want to start something new on the blog.  My blog is about woman’s issues.  Sometimes I stray from that and put some of the things that happen in my life. I don’t want to put only bad things for women to watch out for.  This posting is about meditation and finding that inner peace.  Helping women take control of their lives.  

Finding peace in a world like ours is tough.  Think about what may make you happy.   Is it money, things, people, places, traveling, your job, your children, your pets or anything else? 

Out of everything that we have to do, such as keeping our bodies well, working to shelter us, keeping the house clean, paying bills, caring for our children or older generation, etc…

Are you happy?  I’m sure most of the time you are, especially if you found your passion as I have in writing.  But there are times when the unhappiness evades into our lives.   What do we do in times like these?  In looking everywhere else for happiness the best place to look in within.  Look within.  How will I find happiness there? 

Have you ever tired to meditate, to calm those thoughts of restlessness, to connect to the inner quietness? 

There is great peace in calming those thoughts.  Have you ever tired to stop those thoughts that spiral within your mind?  It’s those spiraling thought that can be devastating.  Are you award that you don’t have control over those thoughts?  Did you know that those thoughts have a mind of their own and those thoughts actually attack your body? 

Here is an experiment.  When something is bothering you, try to take control of those thoughts and stop them.  Say to yourself thank you but no thank you.  I don’t want to think about it for now.  Were you able to stop those thoughts or did you keep thinking about them, feeling terrible, your heart hurts, your body cramping up in turmoil.  You may have to tell yourself several times to stop thinking those terrible thoughts.  Do it until you stop and move onto something different.  Something that makes you feels good. 

Here is the hard part.  Don’t under any circumstances go eat.  Bad.  Using food to fill an emotion is not good.  This is something that I have to work at everyday.  Sing, dance, watch a funny movie, read a good book, look at some baby animals, do anything that will change what you were thinking and feeling.

Believe it or not, as a person who meditates regularly and feels the inner calmness I have found peace during those times.  Calming those thoughts is very difficult; it takes diligent practice and patience. 

Here is another experiment.  Try to meditate for a moment.  Breathe, calm yourself and just breathe.  Take a breath, a large breath, hold it in your chest for a count of five then breathe out slowly.  Do that several times.  How do you feel?  Did you get the first glimpse of peace? 

Do that everyday as much as you can and as often as you can and the peace that is within will make a great difference in your life. 

What have I learned while meditating? I’ve learned to have better control over my mind and the spiraling thoughts that float around.   I learned how to stop that incessant chatter that tells me I’m no good, that I heard for years from others, and to change my thoughts in new directions.  It has made a difference in my life.  No longer am I plagued with re-living hurtful times or arguments, trauma that happened to me long ago.  I live for today and in the present.  I continuously try to keep my mind clear of all garbage from outside and inside forces to undermine my happiness.  It is something I work at everyday. 

 Sometimes the inner thoughts can be worse that anything anyone else says about you.  You are loved and are perfect.  Love yourself first, and then you can love others.  More to come on this subject soon, there is much to cover.  Until next time

Photos by pictures.com. If a photo on the site is your and you do not wish me to use it tell me and it will be removed immediately.  

New Years Resolutions goals for 2011

Like a lot of other bloggers I decided to post my New Years Eve resolutions.   Of course those are the writing one.  I have personal goals also but not listed here.  

such as lose weight, save money, etc...

1. Edit my manuscript.  I have two but I want to start with the NaNoWriMo manuscript since it is where I want to start in the story.  
2. Put more time into writing.  Chart your discipline.

3. Exercise:  Start back up with Zumba, twice a week. 

4. Read and go over each of the writing books and apply the info to my manuscript.

5. Do more blogging. 

6. Write more short stories and try for contests if you can afford them.

7. Continue with the blog storyline.  Three ordinary lives. 

8. Continue the Diligent Writers Group. 

9. Organize my office. 

10. More research into your platform, 

11. Connect with more writers.

May your goals be grand and your new year better than the last.  
Until next time. 

Book Review: The Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

The Vampire Academy Series of books by Richele Mead, the Last Sacrifice is the sixth and last book of the series, regarding Rose Hathaway, Vasilisa Dragonmir and Dimitry Belikov.  I’m sad to see the end of the books and the story line.  I love these characters.  In the same respect the story is not really over, because the author has a spin off of the world with new characters.  For anyone who loves fantasy fiction and vampires this is a good series, however this series tackles more than just the gory of a bite from a vampire. 

From the first book of Vampire Academy the characters are unforgettable.  Vasilisa Dragomir a royal princess and the last of her line, her family dies in a car crash.  Rosemarie Hathaway, the best friend and upcoming guardian for Vasilisa, they share a bond that goes beyond the physical.  Demitry Belikov, the teacher who trains Rose to become one of the best guardians, only to rival himself, and help with the incoming war between the living vampires and the dead vampires. 

Vampire Academy has followers the world over and with good reason.  The stories are fantastic.   My suggestion is read them and be entertained. 

Richele Mead not only had the Vampire Academy she has other books out.  To find out more about Richele Mead and her books click here for her website.  Until next time.   

The Diligent Writers Critiquing Group.

Those of you who follow my blog regularly know that I founded a critiquing group called The Diligent Writers Critiquing Group.  Last Saturday we had our third meeting. Only 3 people showed up out of the seven that RSVP.

A good friend, who originally was going to do the group with me stopped by, she got side tracked by taking college classes.  It had been years since she attended classes and was overwhelmed with the work involved so she opted out of the group for now.  It was good to see her and have her come.  I started the group without her because I needed feedback for my work.   I’m glad I did and she is always welcome to be apart of it. 

A new writer came to the meeting, it was nice having him and he had much to contribute in critiquing.  However he became entranced with my girlfriend and manipulated her time and did most of the talking.  I was getting quite annoyed. 

As the host it is my job to keep us on track.  I had to put a stop to it and allow everyone a chance to speak.  I tried not to let it bother me that he was taking my girlfriends time because I don’t get to see her that much.  She is a very good writer and extremely knowledgeable, not to mention a great person.  

I will have to have lunch with her another time just the two of us.  I decided.  

With only the four of us, the group was cozy and gave us a chance to really discuss our works in progress.  The restaurant also had a good atmosphere and food.  Everyone had a chance to read and get feedback.  We even had time to do a writing prompt, which was great fun. 

Surveys went to the group for the group feedback.  Hopefully the changes will make the difference in whether the group stays great or become a group of Famous Writers, and every one of them published.   (Here’s to wishing.)

Once again the group was great.  I learned a lot and received good critiquing on a short story I did.  Thanks to all who came and look forward to the next session.  Until next time. 

Vitamin Deficiencies Could Be the Cause of Your Ails.

Did you know most of your common ails are vitamin deficiencies?  It’s a known fact that the type of food that Americans eat is not latent with vitamins and minerals. Most of our food is fat.

I am not an expert in this field.  I do know that our food is being tampered with.   There was a show on PBS on Soil, called Dirt the Movie.  (To watch the full episode click here.) The show says that the richness of the soil is what gives the best yields to the crops.  But the soil in this country is being rendered sterile.  The best way to get the soil back to top shape is to compost.  (The erosion of our soil is a whole other topic, which the movie covers a little of. ) 

In order to fix this problem many things need to be in place, soil, crops with high yielding vitamins and nutrients.  Correct information on the true nature of food verses drugs. Etc… etc… See Dirt the Movie. 

Even if we eat the best organic products we can find the amount of vitamins and nutrients in our food is 50% below even 60 years ago.  Look at our population, we are getting bigger.  By bigger I’m talking about fatter.  The reason is not because we are lazy.  It’s because our food is latent with fat and no nutrients.  Our body is compensating for it by having our fat cells puff up to protect us. 

The interesting thing is every time I think we gain in our knowledge of something such as vitamins, gains, or maybe antioxidants foods, our government is debunking them with so called studies, and in lots of cases preventing the food to come into the country for consumption.  We are having our rights taking away from us by the so called government that wants us to continue to have healthcare problems and pay for it with our lives.  Why? Greed.  What else.  (More explanation on this subject in later posts.) 

The population needs to understand that preventative medicine is better than seeing a doctor after the fact.  Preventative is eating the correct foods with vitamins and nutrients, lots of clean pure water, plenty of exercise and sleep.    

Dr Tenpenny has a Newsletter regarding the vitamin D in which she explains more on the topic.  (Click here)

Read the article called Vitamin D Recommendations a Blow back to the IOM.   and then subscribe to her newsletter.  For your heath and  well being become more aware of what you are eating and make sure you get the preventative information that will make your life worth living. 

More posts to follow on this subject. Getting back to woman’s issues is part of this posting.  Heath is both men and woman’s issues but a lot of the medical profession doesn’t understand woman’s health so it if up to us women to make sure we get the nutrition and knowledge we need.  It is vital for humanity and for Planet Earth.   Until next time.   

Braveheart the Warrior.

As some of you may know.  I rescued a kitten when he was a few weeks old just before I made the move to my new place.  I call him Braveheart the Warrior.  He is so cut and has grown into a loving addition in my cat family. 

Later after tender loving care.

Before when I first found him. 

I had intended another picture however blogspot will not allow me to browse my computer for pictures, which I find unusual and very upset about.  I have a wonderful picture I wanted to show you.   Sorry but this is blogspot. 

The pictures show the before and after.  The other picture had Braveheart looking directly at the camera.  So he still has the eye problem, but can see quite well.  He runs around the house at top speed jumping on couches, chairs, coffee tables, bookshelves, anything in the way including me.  He’s been known to ricochets off my chest as I’m reading.  He does this so fast all I can do is moan a loud OUCH as he passes by and kicks off my body.  He is too fast for me to stop him.   

This next picture is of Braveheart with Little One. 

Little One lost an eye.  He became like a surrogate mother to Braveheart.  He cleans Braveheart and those two race around the house together and see what they can get into.   It’s very cute.

I love him, and all my cats very much.   Braveheart shows me great affection and trust.  The others do also but Little One, mostly shows me affection only when I have food.   Ha Ha. 

I hug him daily with lots of kisses.  I call this beating him up, Beating him up with affection.  I use to do this to my kids all the time.  They thought I was crazy, but at least I got affection from them.   I made it fun.

Anyway this is a short posting today.  Hope you're getting ready for the holiday and making the best of it.  Until next time.  Share, love, laugh, cry and bond with other women.