You might be a writer if you write even though no one wants to read your writing projects.
You might be a writer if you write even though you know that no one else will understand your story.
You might be a writer if your soul aches when you don't put pen to paper, words to a page.
You might be a writer if you continue to write all hours of the day and night on the same draft even though you received the tenth rejections letter in the mail that day.
On the other hand, you might be a writer if you cry and pout in frustration when no one wants to read your stories.
You might be a writer if you get frustrated enough not to write anything for a month.
You might be a writer if you don't miss writing one bit during those thirty days.
You might be a writer if you hit the delete key erasing many months of hard work on a story you received the tenth rejection on that day.
Any more to add?? Feel free to add your own!!
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Saturday, September 24, 2005
The Voice Within-
Walking down the narrow, dimly lit hallway, Missy suddenly stopped. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead as she pushed strands of long, black hair behind her ears. Her eyes darted back and forth while she waited and listened. Listened for the voice. She whipped around as she heard it again. Her eyes skimmed the still life paintings bursting of colors of greens and yellows lining the walls next to her until she paused in front of the oval mirror.
Oh man, I’m really losing it now, she thought. I’m not only hearing voices, but now I’m seeing things, too. She turned toward the distorted shape. Within a split second the wavy object transformed into a face. Missy stepped back, shaking with hands clenched.
A muffled cry came from the entity, “Help me.” The image couldn’t escape the grasp of the glass as if trapped in a cage.
Silence.
Again, the voice said, “Help me.”
She swallowed hard and whispered, “Who are you?”
“I’m not sure. But I think you know.”
“How would I know?”
The face distorted into a scowl. “I don’t know-just a feeling I have. “You can help me.”
“Help you how?”
“Make it stop.”
“Make what stop?”
“My existence. I say and do bad things. I don’t mean to.”
Her pulse racing, Missy eyed the face with sudden derision. “How do you hurt people, and how can I end your existence if I don’t know what or who you are.” The whole conversation begged for her sanity.
“You know who I am.”
Missy looked at the freakish, hazy thing staring back at her. She felt drawn to it. Slowly, ever so slowly, she reached through the glass. With light, sweeping strokes, she touched the distortion, and it molded into her hand as if a part of her.
“You still don’t know who I am?”
She looked into the mist and replied, “Yes, I suppose I do. I need to let go and forgive you, don’t I?”
“And, do you?”
Closing her eyes with head down, she whispered, “Yes.” Tears streamed down her face. “Yes, yes, yes, I forgive you.”
The eerie apparition whispered, “thank you,” and slowly evaporated.
Missy eased down to the floor and cried. She allowed herself to feel pain, anger and sadness for her past mistakes. And, as she wiped her tears away, she wiped away her shame and pain.
###
Oh man, I’m really losing it now, she thought. I’m not only hearing voices, but now I’m seeing things, too. She turned toward the distorted shape. Within a split second the wavy object transformed into a face. Missy stepped back, shaking with hands clenched.
A muffled cry came from the entity, “Help me.” The image couldn’t escape the grasp of the glass as if trapped in a cage.
Silence.
Again, the voice said, “Help me.”
She swallowed hard and whispered, “Who are you?”
“I’m not sure. But I think you know.”
“How would I know?”
The face distorted into a scowl. “I don’t know-just a feeling I have. “You can help me.”
“Help you how?”
“Make it stop.”
“Make what stop?”
“My existence. I say and do bad things. I don’t mean to.”
Her pulse racing, Missy eyed the face with sudden derision. “How do you hurt people, and how can I end your existence if I don’t know what or who you are.” The whole conversation begged for her sanity.
“You know who I am.”
Missy looked at the freakish, hazy thing staring back at her. She felt drawn to it. Slowly, ever so slowly, she reached through the glass. With light, sweeping strokes, she touched the distortion, and it molded into her hand as if a part of her.
“You still don’t know who I am?”
She looked into the mist and replied, “Yes, I suppose I do. I need to let go and forgive you, don’t I?”
“And, do you?”
Closing her eyes with head down, she whispered, “Yes.” Tears streamed down her face. “Yes, yes, yes, I forgive you.”
The eerie apparition whispered, “thank you,” and slowly evaporated.
Missy eased down to the floor and cried. She allowed herself to feel pain, anger and sadness for her past mistakes. And, as she wiped her tears away, she wiped away her shame and pain.
###
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
DaVinci Code-
I just got done reading, "The DaVinci Code," by Dan Brown. And, I have mixed feelings about the book.
For starters, I applaud the hard work and research that must have gone into the writing of this book. But, in the beginning, it was slow going for me. If I hadn't heard good things about the book from others and the fact that it has been on the bestseller list for a long time, I might have put the book down. It is definitely worth reading because the last chapters are very engaging. I found the writing to be challenging and stimulating in most parts, but again, there were some chapters where this was not the case.
Most importantly, I'm a little concerned that people will think this is non-fiction because it is based on a small amount of factual information. It made me wonder what parts of the book Mr. Brown thought were based on fact and what parts weren't. Hidden agenda? Maybe.
This book is all right for those grounded in their spiritual beliefs, but for those who aren't, I wonder if it might not lead them astray with incorrect information regarding various religious facts/beliefs. Maybe, I'm exaggerating. If you read the entire book, you'll know what I mean.
So, as a fictional book, it was pretty engaging, but remember, it is only fiction.
Check out these sites for examples of what I mean: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/facts/fm0035.html
http://answers.org/issues/davincicode.html
http://www.ignatius.com/books/davincihoax/thefacts/
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/newsletter/2003/nov7.html
http://www.lisashea.com/hobbies/art/general.html
*Throw "The DaVinci Code" into Google and you'll find so much more!
If you've read the book, I'd love to get your thoughts on the subject.
Remember: Enjoy the Journey!
For starters, I applaud the hard work and research that must have gone into the writing of this book. But, in the beginning, it was slow going for me. If I hadn't heard good things about the book from others and the fact that it has been on the bestseller list for a long time, I might have put the book down. It is definitely worth reading because the last chapters are very engaging. I found the writing to be challenging and stimulating in most parts, but again, there were some chapters where this was not the case.
Most importantly, I'm a little concerned that people will think this is non-fiction because it is based on a small amount of factual information. It made me wonder what parts of the book Mr. Brown thought were based on fact and what parts weren't. Hidden agenda? Maybe.
This book is all right for those grounded in their spiritual beliefs, but for those who aren't, I wonder if it might not lead them astray with incorrect information regarding various religious facts/beliefs. Maybe, I'm exaggerating. If you read the entire book, you'll know what I mean.
So, as a fictional book, it was pretty engaging, but remember, it is only fiction.
Check out these sites for examples of what I mean: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/facts/fm0035.html
http://answers.org/issues/davincicode.html
http://www.ignatius.com/books/davincihoax/thefacts/
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/newsletter/2003/nov7.html
http://www.lisashea.com/hobbies/art/general.html
*Throw "The DaVinci Code" into Google and you'll find so much more!
If you've read the book, I'd love to get your thoughts on the subject.
Remember: Enjoy the Journey!
September Contest Winner!
CheezWeezil is the winner this month. I will be sending out his book shortly!!
Stay tuned for posting of October contest giveaway!
Congrats to Dave!
Stay tuned for posting of October contest giveaway!
Congrats to Dave!
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Book still up for grabs! Contest Update
No one has won this month's contest yet! The first person who comments on one of my posts AND links back to my site will get book listed in previous blog on this month's contest!
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Time is too short-
Time is too short, some say, to just sit still but help us Lord to be still and know your will.
Time is too short, some say, to know your ways, but help us Lord to quiet the mind to understand your ways and forget the worries that bind.
Time is too short, some say, to love and help those in need, but help us Lord to live each day to love, help and pray for those who bleed.
Time is too short, some say, to praise your name but help us Lord to remember you and help us out of the devil’s foolish game and face our shame.
Time is too short, I say, not to know your peace and your forgiveness, and that we are in your care, but help us Lord to remember our many blessings and your very special gifts of peace and forgiveness, especially when life is too much to bear.
Time is too short, some say, to know your ways, but help us Lord to quiet the mind to understand your ways and forget the worries that bind.
Time is too short, some say, to love and help those in need, but help us Lord to live each day to love, help and pray for those who bleed.
Time is too short, some say, to praise your name but help us Lord to remember you and help us out of the devil’s foolish game and face our shame.
Time is too short, I say, not to know your peace and your forgiveness, and that we are in your care, but help us Lord to remember our many blessings and your very special gifts of peace and forgiveness, especially when life is too much to bear.
September Contest! Free Book!
This month's contest winner will receive the book, "78 Reasons why your book may never be published and 14 why it just might," by Pat Walsh.
All you need to do is be the first to post a comment and link to my blog this month, and you'll receive the above listed book! If you've won previously, "keep on commenting" because if no one else comments, you can still win! Just ask Dana!!
Enjoy the journey!
All you need to do is be the first to post a comment and link to my blog this month, and you'll receive the above listed book! If you've won previously, "keep on commenting" because if no one else comments, you can still win! Just ask Dana!!
Enjoy the journey!
Where have the answers gone?
Where have the answers gone?
When I was a young girl in my teens, I was smart. I had some of the answers to life’s problems. I lived.
When I was a young woman in my twenties, I was intelligent. I had most of the answers to life’s problems. I lived.
When I was a woman in my prime (thirties and forties), I was wise. I had the answers to life’s problems. I lived.
When I was a mature woman in my fifties and sixties, I realized I didn’t have all of the answers to life’s problems as I once had. I lived.
When I was an older woman in my seventies and eighties, I couldn’t understand why I thought I had the answers to life’s problems all of those years. I lived.
When I was an old woman of 90, I finally realized that I hadn't ever known the answers at all. I had simply lived.
Written by Lisa Braendle
******* My response to frustrations of aging and realizing that at almost age 40, I somehow know less and less how to solve the problems life throws my way. The good news? I also realize that I don't need all of the answers. All I need is faith! And, lots of it!
(and no, I'm not really 90 :) YET!
When I was a young girl in my teens, I was smart. I had some of the answers to life’s problems. I lived.
When I was a young woman in my twenties, I was intelligent. I had most of the answers to life’s problems. I lived.
When I was a woman in my prime (thirties and forties), I was wise. I had the answers to life’s problems. I lived.
When I was a mature woman in my fifties and sixties, I realized I didn’t have all of the answers to life’s problems as I once had. I lived.
When I was an older woman in my seventies and eighties, I couldn’t understand why I thought I had the answers to life’s problems all of those years. I lived.
When I was an old woman of 90, I finally realized that I hadn't ever known the answers at all. I had simply lived.
Written by Lisa Braendle
******* My response to frustrations of aging and realizing that at almost age 40, I somehow know less and less how to solve the problems life throws my way. The good news? I also realize that I don't need all of the answers. All I need is faith! And, lots of it!
(and no, I'm not really 90 :) YET!
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Critique Groups-
Hello fellow bloggers!
I'm looking for input on a good critique group (web site) to review and give input on my short stories, articles etc. I'm looking for somewhat relaxed group with honest feedback.
Any suggestions?? I'd really appreciate the help. I want to join a group by late fall.
Thanks in advance!!
-Lisa
I'm looking for input on a good critique group (web site) to review and give input on my short stories, articles etc. I'm looking for somewhat relaxed group with honest feedback.
Any suggestions?? I'd really appreciate the help. I want to join a group by late fall.
Thanks in advance!!
-Lisa
Hurricane Katrina-
My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Katrina. Anyone with any specific prayer requests, please feel free to post for others to see!
Also, I've been watching and reading a lot of negative things that people are doing in the areas hit by "Katrina", but I'd like to hear about some of the positive things/stories that people are doing to help those in need! Please post positive stories here also. I'd really appreciate it!
Also, I've been watching and reading a lot of negative things that people are doing in the areas hit by "Katrina", but I'd like to hear about some of the positive things/stories that people are doing to help those in need! Please post positive stories here also. I'd really appreciate it!
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