I had started beating myself up if I was reading instead of writing, but then I remembered to be a great writer I have to be a great reader. As long as I read, write, or edit I am making gains in my writing career, I just have to remind myself of that. It honestly makes life easier if I accept where I am and what I am doing at that moment in time. I wrote 2 chapters on a new story this weekend and I edited one of my manuscripts. It felt really good to make the time for myself. Life doesn't stop or slow down for anyone, I do need to remind myself to embrace those little 5 minutes treasures of writing with a good cup of coffee every now and then before life and time completely flies by leaving me behind.
2015 seems to be flying by. It has been a busy and amazing year with work, softball, powwows, and of course writing. I attended an online workshop for 21 days back in Sept; it was created to get authors and writers to believe in themselves and simply write. It was a great refresher and reminder to write at any opportunity possible, regardless if it is for 5 minutes or an hour. It also reminded me to be my own cheerleader and not beat myself up all the time.
I had started beating myself up if I was reading instead of writing, but then I remembered to be a great writer I have to be a great reader. As long as I read, write, or edit I am making gains in my writing career, I just have to remind myself of that. It honestly makes life easier if I accept where I am and what I am doing at that moment in time. I wrote 2 chapters on a new story this weekend and I edited one of my manuscripts. It felt really good to make the time for myself. Life doesn't stop or slow down for anyone, I do need to remind myself to embrace those little 5 minutes treasures of writing with a good cup of coffee every now and then before life and time completely flies by leaving me behind.
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On June 4-5, 2015, the 11th Annual Clarksville Writers Conference took place. It was an amazing conference with some really good presenters. What I love most about the conference isn't just listening to the writing styles of published authors and learning new techniques for myself. It is actually seeing familiar faces and networking with all the wonderful talent that is at the conference.
Thursday evening at the Meet the Author banquet the keynote speaker was Sharyn McCrumb and I want to say she is the most interesting and captivating speaker I have had the pleasure of meeting in a very long time. Sad to say that I haven't read her books, but I now have several of her books on my to read list. If you get the opportunity to meet her, I promise you will enjoy every second of it. The research that she does to write all of her books is absolutely incredible. Ms. McCrumb is an absolute joy and inspiration to me as a writer. Thank you to the committee who planned this annual Clarksville Writers Conference. Every year seems to get better and better. The expression when life throws you lemons make lemonade; it is a constant reminder that life is ever changing. Every day that my son doesn't have a seizure is a blessing and when he does have a seizure I am constantly reminded to try to see the brighter side of the situation. It is gut wrenching to see my son's body betray him and to watch him lose complete control. I beg and pray that he will come back to us and when the seizure finally ends I am flooded with tons of emotions that are normally overwhelming and I try so hard to keep it together so that my son won't see my tears. As he gets older the seizures have become more violent and here lately it seems like the medication is not working. I read an article about a mother who used writing as a way to cope with her son's accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. I cried all the way through the article and then I went back and read poems that I have written over the years and I see the transition in my work especially in regards to my son. Looking back, I can tell by my writing style when he had a seizure. My words are frantic or sloppy and very raw with emotion, but they speak volumes to what was going on in our life at that time. My son was diagnosed with epilepsy over 12 years ago and I will tell you time does not heal all things, however my writing has helped me heal and accept. Everyday is a blessing and I just have to continue to believe that one day the right medicine will control my son's seizures or that he will out grow them, until then I am going to creatively try to make something with those lemons and it probably won't be lemonade, maybe a nice pie that is so tart it makes me cry but beg for more.
I recently read an article that was titled "10 Books that have never left you-- what are your 10? I would like to take it a step further for those that don't like to read books and list 10 movies that have never left you.
I am going to list the 10 books that have had a lasting impression on me (a few are a complete series, but I loved the whole series): 1. Bury My Hear at Wounded Knee by: Dee Brown 2. The Sweet Pickles Series by: Richard Hefter 3. Harry Potter Series by: J. k. Rowling 4. Witch Child by: Celia Rees 5. The Witch's Daughter by: Paula Brackson 6. All Souls Trilogy (A Discovery of Witches Trilogy) by: Deborah Harkness 7. Bag of Bones by: Stephen King 8. Trail of Tears by: John Ehle 9. Geronimo by: Mike Leach & Buddy Levy 10. The Diary of Anne Frank I can only think of 5 movies at the moment: 1. Top Gun 2. Good Morning Vietnam 3. The Bird Cage 4. The Last Dragon 5. Ninja Assassian This year I promised myself that I would read more and I have kept true to my promise. I am going to try to summarize things that I have accomplished this year.
Oct 3 from 4-7p.m. at Erin United Methodist Church Ms. Ann Hagler is having a booksigning for her new book "The Settling Place." Please come out and support this local author with her first book. She is an amazing author and educator.
Houston County youth in grades 2nd-12th, it is time for the second annual creative writing contest and this year we are partnering with the Houston County Arts Council for an art contest as well. The deadline to enter both contests is Sept 26. All winners (1st - Honorable Mention) in all categories will be published in the Creative Minds LIterary Journal. The reception for all students who enter and their families will be held on Oct. 21, 2014 at City Hall from 6-8 p.m. Happy Writing and Drawing! I can't wait to read all the wonderful poems, prose, and stories as well as see all the beautiful artwork from the students of Houston County. There is such amazing talent in our town. These contests are to encourage creative thought and expression. Have fun and be creative.
Everyday is a new day and a new journey in life. As a writer I can honestly say that there are days that I just want to climb back in the bed with the covers over my head and hope that the next great idea will float under the covers, but those days are few and far between. Any time I attend a writers' conference or workshop I am immediately inspired and I am so thankful for that. I love the networking and sitting with like minds, the creative juices just start flowing. As a writer I have learned that inspiration is everywhere and where the networking is nice, it is also nice to step back in life and to write about the little steps along the journey as well as the really big ones.
Every step in the journey of life is special. I am so thankful to my children who encourage me everyday to tell them a story or help them write their own story. My daughter wrote a poem about a rusty old nail and I had discouraged her not to enter it in a contest, but she did anyway and she won with that poem. That was huge life lesson for me that I should never discourage my children if they are being creative and expressive with the their writing I should let them be free. As a writer I don't want to be stiffled, so I vowed to give them the same freedom that I request. Children show us and teach us so many things. My son teaches me everyday to love life, because we don't know what tomorrow will be. Thank you both so much. The Clarksville Writers' Conference was wonderful this year. I think it was almost better, because I didn't know most of the presenters. At first, I had reservations because I didn't know the presenters, but I am really glad that I decided to attend. It was wonderful. I can't wait until next year's conference.
Spring is finally here. The winter really had me feeling the blues, however it gave me time to climb on the couch with a blanket, cup of coffee and a book. I have been reading and editing alot lately. Currently I am reading 2 books: Divergent by: Veronica Roth and Hereafter (the Shadlowland series) by: Kate Brian. Typically I read one book at a time so that I can keep the plot, characters, and setting in my head, but I just couldn't help reading both of these books simataniously, they are both SO GOOD.
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AuthorSharon loves to read mysteries, romances, and fantasy. She loves the fact that a book can take you anywhere if you let it. Archives
April 2022
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