BarbsWriteTree

Name:
Location: San Marcos, California, United States

Southern gal living in California. Have been writing since the age of ten and am addicted to the written word. Have stacks of books-to-be-read in almost every room. I teach writing on a volunteer basis and in a paid position. I once worked with foreign customers for an aerospace company; interesting job that gave me great insight into other cultures. Family scattered all over the US so have excuses to travel.

Monday, November 24, 2008

A WAY TO "CUT" OFF YOUR WRITING

There are all kinds of excuses for not writing, most of them just excuses we make because we are procrastinating. My excuse for silence since Wednesday is not due to that. It is because I seem to have become accident prone.

Thursday I tangled with the blade of a potato slicer. The doc said I'd be off the computer for about two weeks but the wound is healing pretty fast.

Hope to be using two hands soon.

But I haven't stopped writing--in my head.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

LOVE AFFAIR

I've told you often it's never too late (or too early) to write your heart out. I often use my elderly students as an example. Their enthusiasm to write their memoirs, funny children's stories, tales of the weird or mysterions, and beautiful rhythms in poetry, teach me that lesson each week. But I have also found to give my beloved craft high priority in my life means I must allow myself to have a love affar.

For many years I have been in the throes of such an affair. I am helplessly, intimately seduced, utterly swept away. I know what love does, how that yearning sensation takes the breath away. Emotional comfort rises up to enfold me in a fond embrace. I all happens to me each time I pick up a pen,or touch a keyboard. How can I not give in to the beauty of the love of my life--the written word.

At this time of my life, I have finally learned to gracefully accept this obsession. Because though I can never walk away from this lover, I don't have to disappear in some shoddy motel, or dark corner of a restaurant, either. I don't have to shut myself away from the world; there are all those lovely chapters, personal essays, poems waiting to be written. There is also mental work to be done before my hands seek the keyboard. A walk along the beach, a picnic in the park, the soil beneath my gardening tools, the laughter of friends, and travels among the unusual--all are part of my secret life, the writer within I have kept hidden from many.

My grounding lover, my dear husband, understands this passion I feel for words. He allows me the freedom to have another love affair, though I am sure he often shakes his head at the roller coaster of emotions such a craft brings out in me.

Thanks, sweetie, for letting me be me. You are my saving grace. Allowing me to have this other love affair is an amazing gift.

WRITE ON!

I've missed my deadline. I was supposed to get off a quick note to you on the 18th and I see that it is after midnight so I am into the 19th. I know you will give me a pass when I tell you the wireless router problems are solved, I completed the last two articles for the 2009 issues of "The Storyteller Magazine" column I write, and I managed to edit two chapters of my book.

Oh,I forgot about the filming of a television commercial. My husband and I purchased a new manufactured home for our land (to replace an old one) and the dealer asked if we would do a commercial for them. We had such a great experience with the company and the manufacturer, we were more than happy to do this. We got great pay too--a gasoline card and two movies tickets. We figured our little spiel netted us nice gifts and we didn't have to join the Actor's Guild and pay dues, plus taxes,so we lucked out.

I just wanted to check in, tell you I had a very productive day, and hope to have something for you a little more substantial tomorrow--or is that today? Whatever, we'll meet again here soon.

Monday, November 17, 2008

SHARING KNOW-HOW WITH EACH OTHER

In spite of the laptop problems (still can't print from my wireless laptop when on the Internet or in e-mail status), I have had a good day. I completed all the lesson plans for the rest of the week--two classes this week to teach--and the first section of a cookbook I am creating. It is to share with the readers of "Aunt Lutie's Blue Moon Cafe," my novel which may never be published but is a hit with my classes. The cookbook is comprised of dishes found in the book and will be a fun gift for my students at Christmas.

Today, I also received my monthly exchange of info with a group of nine other writers scattered all over the US. We are a close-knit group even though most of us have never met and seldom speak by phone. We keep in touch with emails and snail-mail; we critique each others work, and share what we learn in the writing and publishing biz. This exchange is like a shot in the arm, a shove to write more and better, and offers a feeling of being in touch with people who understand what we are attempting to do in our craft. Great letters, gals!

I used the word "share." We do share our knowledge and our work. I also do this in my classes each week. Have you heard the old saying, "Those who can do. Those who can't, teach." Sometimes, although I have been published often, I feel like it certainly pertains to insturctors. I have found that I allow teaching and life to get in the way of my personal writing. I like to say I am busy helping others learn to write but is that merely an excuse? Procrastination on my part? Laziness?

It's not the money. I don't get paid for one of these teaching assignments and the other is pay for a few hours per month. But when several of my elderly students recently were published for the first time, I celebrated with them. What a pay-off for me!

Many writers are fortunate to be able to attend writing conferences; here they can learn and share. Others, well-known authors mostly, teach/lecture at these events. I've never attended a prestigious conference--only smaller, more intimate ones, less expensive, because I need my budgeted writing money to be spent wisely--like maybe on that external hard drive I should purchase. Having said this, I have taught writing workshops and, as with my classes, feel a certain gratitude to be able to share what I have learned over the years spent writing and publishing.

If you chose to teach or lead workshops in order to share your knowledge with other writers, you must create an atmosphere, and sustain it, in which work flourishes. You will find all sorts of personalities attending or reading your expertise, including the know-it-all-already, saboteurs, or know-more-than-you-ever-will who threaten to take over. You must keep your sharing on-track, keep a friendly and casual atmosphere while certain rules are followed. Only then can the ones who really want to learn more be able to do so.

If you are thinking of sharing your knowledge, do it with a willingingness that will convey the trustworthiness of what you have to offer.

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Sunday, November 16, 2008

IT WAS NO VACATION OR, I AM NOT DEAD!

To all of you who have ever made a major move, shut down their entire computer system, got a new server, and then attempted to settle down, unpack, create a garden, continue to work (in my case, teach creative writing classes), you will understand why I have not addressed this blog for months and months and months. It is no vacation to do all of this stuff. And I do not like to take vacations away from my writing.

I did not die, though sometimes at night when my exhausted body staggered to bed, I thought I might never wake up again. I wanted the peace and stamina back in order to hit the keyboard again but I had a problem--My darling hubby wanted my help in every project around this place! Well, now there is only the backyard and a sidewalk to complete; they have to be done on nice days (no California days are not always perfect!) and his love for billiards (pool) has carried him away from the chores several days per week. Yes! Writing time is once again available.

Now, if I can get one of these technically created problems solved! My computer guru came over and installed a wireless router for me so I might take my laptop writing/emailing/research out on the patio or front porch. What a great idea, huh? The only thing is, he had to call the tech in India to get all the kinks out of the installation (my rinky-dink cable company could be one of the major problems with that one). Well, it works for the Internet but....now I can't print from either my laptop or my main computer Internet. And my main printer now shows up as some version of this HP I do not have; I changed the default and Word will work but the Internet still won't. But when I shut down the computer or laptop, the default goes back to this "ghost" printer and when I turn it back on, I have to reset again.

All I want to do is sit down at the darned things, type my stuff, print them off when necessary, and use the Internet. Just another frustration to mess with my writing mind!

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