Back to School... Yes Please!

For some, it has already started. For others, it's not for another week or so. However for me, today was the first day back to school for my daughter Amber! She was excited but I was ecstatic! As a writer, time alone to get work done is so important! And now I get to partake in the joys of quiet and uninterrupted time once again. Thank you Jesus! Not that I did not enjoy every moment of summertime with my young one but ahh.... do you hear that?

(insert long pause here)

Exactly! Enjoy the silence! Of course that doesn't mean I won't be blaring some of that Depeche Mode or Foster the People or Aretha Franklin or Luke Bryan as I write on (I enjoy a wide variety of music). For all my parents out there who have passed GO, collected $200 and sent their precious bundle(s) of joy off to school, give a shout out! 

I love to think of back-to-school time as a time to start a few new things of my own. I reflect on the year thus far, and bring things into perspective moving forward. It gives me some much needed clarity of mind before we get lost in the whirlwind of the holidays and end of year hurrahs. One of the things I like to do is make some writing goals for myself.

My writing goals for this fall are:

• Finish my current fiction novel and begin the submission process.
• Attend at least two writer's conferences.
• Organize my stockpile of poetry (wouldn't mind submitting that either :P).
• Networking with more great authors and writers. (I have met so many talented and wonderful folks so far!).

 If you have any new writing goals of your own, share below!

A Dose of Hope When You've Been Handed a Tough Day

Have you ever had one of those days where you don't want to get out of bed because you know something crazy is going to happen? You might blame it on lack of coffee at first, or that crick in your neck because you didn't sleep just right, or perhaps it's Monday (which explains away everything). Regardless of why, there's a strange stirring in the air and your body knows when something is off. Today was just such a day for me. In fact today was a rather tough day for me.

It began with beautiful sunny skies, me waking earlier than usual and cooking my 9 year old a nice breakfast. I even walked her to the bus stop, where we didn't even have to sprint for time's sake (waiting to the last minute is a skill of mine). I strolled into work, ready for the day. Still something felt off kilter. 

Later, I was standing in line at the bank, only to discover an issue with the check I had. I wound up going back to the office to correct it and on my second trip out, it started pouring down rain. Furthermore I made some awful decisions in traffic and chose the slowest lanes to be in and missed every light. I thought of calling the office to tell them I'd be delayed but then I remembered my phone was currently off. Frustrated, I reached for my green tea, had a slip of the hand and spilled the hot, honey infused beverage into my lap.

Sticky, angry and over it, I stood in line at the bank, again. Check situation finally resolved, I was heading back to the office, having totally forgotten about the lunch I was supposed to take, I sat at yet another red light, watching my lopsided windshield wiper drag haphazardly across my windshield because it had broken off and I couldn't afford to buy new ones at the time so my husband used a jumbo paperclip to secure the wiper to the rod. Just then my oil light began blinking. At that moment I threw my hands up and shrieked. What more could go wrong I asked myself.

The answers that came to me had be pausing. A lot more things could go wrong. I could be without a car completely, or not even have a job to return to. I could be homeless, I could be starving ( for real), I could be on my death bed. In that moment I realized I had lost touch with what really mattered. I was focusing on what I didn't have instead of being grateful for what I did have. 

I had to rearrange my thinking and cut the negativity. So I did. It continued to rain, the windshield wiper continued to drag along pathetically but I smiled knowing at least I had one. The moral of my story? Remember what you have and know you are blessed. No matter how many tough days are doled out to you, there is a brighter tomorrow and hope for tomorrow always renews. 

Oh, and I was rather pleased to hear that tomorrow's forecast was for clearer skies all day long. :)

Carolyn

Expressing Yourself is Healthy... Period.

Recently, I was asked: “Why do you Write?” It’s a simple enough question but the answer is where it becomes complicated. Asking a writer why they like to write is like asking a doctor why they cure or help or heal. The reply will most likely not be: “Well, just because.”

The truth of the matter is that if you are doing something you are passionate about, you often might find it hard to put into words how important that passion is to you. Ironically, I found myself at a shortage of words. As a writer, this was a concern. This concern led me to ponder on why people write in the first place. Surely, there are the common reasons like:


·   To make a point

·   To tell a story

·   To communicate or convey

·   To entertain

·   To express


To express. Now that is worth looking into. As we can see, there is far more to writing than just words. A work of art can be nearly anything, such a painting, a song, even a tattoo. Each of these things can be considered ways in which we may express ourselves. Writing is no different. We write because for us, this is often the most efficient, relevant or personable way we can best express ourselves. For writers, words are our own language of art, beauty, and life.


Lord Byron once said that if he didn't write to empty his mind, he would go mad. I wonder how many artists, sculptors, teachers, and all other creative individuals have felt this way. Perhaps the real question is: Why do we express ourselves? The short answer: because we must. We live to express since that’s our chief way of communicating and we express to live. Writers are not the only ones who do this. I believe everyone does this in one way or another. Expressing one's self is what defines us. Whether it is writing or some other sort of medium, it is necessary. I also believe this is healthy.

So why do I write? Well I suppose I do it for my health! Now that is something we can all appreciate.

Carolyn