Special thanks to my sister, Dawn, who shared this with me!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written."
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind..
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Hear from an Agent
On Monday, I'll begin a 3-part interview with my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray of Hartline Literary.
- Querying an Agent
- The Agent/Client Relationship
- Miscellaneous Questions
Tamela originally shared her answers with my local ACFW-Richmond chapter. The information was unbelieveably helpful and encouraging so I felt compared to share with y'all.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Key to Learning the Craft of Writiing
Someone over on the Seekerville blog once shared a quote that has stuck out in my mind.
“There is no such thing as a great writer; there are only great re-writers. As you’ve heard before, 90% of writing is rewriting. The process of rewriting draws heavily on editing. And editing can be taught.” ~Noah Lukeman, The First Five Pages
As my agent spoke to my local ACFW chapter this past weekend, she repeatedly touched on what I realize now more than ever: The key to learning how to write well and to getting published is having a spirit of instruction. And how great is our God to have laid that out clearly in scripture. In my morning reading in Proverbs 10 were these words:
"The wise in heart will receive commands.."
"Wise people store up knowledge..."
"He who keeps instruction is in the way of life..."
I know those verses apply to everything in life, but as I read them, I had writing on the brain. LOL. You know you're a writer when you see everything through writer-colored glasses. %)
Anyhoo, those verses stood out to me becuase as I was looking over some contest scoresheets yesterday, I was discounting a comment here and there that a judge had made without even taking time to consider the change she suggested. Grr. Not only that, but I have scoresheets from a contest I didn't final in and I haven't looked at them because I didn't want to *hear* what the judges had to say.
How can I improve as a writer if I don't have ears to hear and a heart open to learning?
A mentor with a cyber wet noodle can only do so much. :-)
So I'm wondering is there anything someone specifically said to you or you read in a craft of writing book that turned a light bulb on and enabled you to step up to the next level of writing?
“There is no such thing as a great writer; there are only great re-writers. As you’ve heard before, 90% of writing is rewriting. The process of rewriting draws heavily on editing. And editing can be taught.” ~Noah Lukeman, The First Five Pages
As my agent spoke to my local ACFW chapter this past weekend, she repeatedly touched on what I realize now more than ever: The key to learning how to write well and to getting published is having a spirit of instruction. And how great is our God to have laid that out clearly in scripture. In my morning reading in Proverbs 10 were these words:
"The wise in heart will receive commands.."
"Wise people store up knowledge..."
"He who keeps instruction is in the way of life..."
I know those verses apply to everything in life, but as I read them, I had writing on the brain. LOL. You know you're a writer when you see everything through writer-colored glasses. %)
Anyhoo, those verses stood out to me becuase as I was looking over some contest scoresheets yesterday, I was discounting a comment here and there that a judge had made without even taking time to consider the change she suggested. Grr. Not only that, but I have scoresheets from a contest I didn't final in and I haven't looked at them because I didn't want to *hear* what the judges had to say.
How can I improve as a writer if I don't have ears to hear and a heart open to learning?
A mentor with a cyber wet noodle can only do so much. :-)
So I'm wondering is there anything someone specifically said to you or you read in a craft of writing book that turned a light bulb on and enabled you to step up to the next level of writing?
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Brain-dead moments
Today I received another Thank You note from one of my TBL entrants. Like all the others I've received, I happily forwarded them on to the appropriate judges.
Since I have no problem sharing my virtues, I'll give equal time to my flaws.
:-)
I'm not the most...well, sometimes I'm a slackard. When a fun something needs to be done, I'm all over it. When a note so fun something needs to be done, I'm spouting "Tomorrow is another day!"
*sigh*
This horrid trait tends to show itself most in my inability to write prompt thank you notes. Oh, I won't blame my mama becuase she taught me rightly. I am, however, considering the possibility of blaming George W. Bush. After all, he seems to get the blame for everything else.
So...back to that TY note that arrived today. I forwarded it onto the judge and then realized I really ought to write the TY notes for the ladies who judged my finaling Duel on the Delta, Dixie first chapter, and Daphne entries.
I suppose I ought to pat my own back and say I was prompt with thanking my Genesis judges. Yay, me!!!
Now with the Dixie contest, the finalists didn't get back their scoresheets, so I sent a nice note thanking the judges for sacrificing their time. A rather generic note. I tend to prefer to say something specific to the judges about something specific they said.
With the Duel on the Delta contest, I had the scoresheets so I could personalize the note . Of course I apologized for the tardiness of my note. Still, better late than never.
Finally I got to my Daphne judges. By this point in the day, my brain was bluring contests. Really, there ought to be a rule that says each contest must choose a name with a different letter of the alphabet. Of course, I'm the wacky contest entrant who decided to enter five contest this past winter/spring, using 3 different manuscripts.
Because of my slackardness in making a Contests 2009 Excel spreadsheet, I couldn't remember what entry I entered in what contest. Consequently I entered the same manuscript in two contests where the same editor is the final round judge.
While I love finaling in contests, I was happy not to have finaled in the fifth contest I'd entered: Fool for Love. Since the same editor final round judge for the FFL is the same one for the Dixie AND since I'd entered the same manuscript as I'd entered in the Dixie, finaling really wouldn't have been beneficial besides saying I was a finalist. Whereas for the three gals whose entries did final, finaling was beneficial. So it all worked out well in the end. And I have some helpful feedback from my judges.
Anyhoo, while the Daphne didn't send first round scoresheets, my brain wasn't thinking and I sent the Daphne inspy coordinator a thank you know that I'd written for a Genesis judge. Duh.
I really need a nap.
ADVICE OF THE DAY: After your contest scoresheets are returned, send your Thank You notes to your judges PROMPTLY.
Shall I now confess I have TY notes from Golden Pen entrants that I never forwarded to their judges? Whoops. Guess you know what I'll be doing next week.
Since I have no problem sharing my virtues, I'll give equal time to my flaws.
:-)
I'm not the most...well, sometimes I'm a slackard. When a fun something needs to be done, I'm all over it. When a note so fun something needs to be done, I'm spouting "Tomorrow is another day!"
*sigh*
This horrid trait tends to show itself most in my inability to write prompt thank you notes. Oh, I won't blame my mama becuase she taught me rightly. I am, however, considering the possibility of blaming George W. Bush. After all, he seems to get the blame for everything else.
So...back to that TY note that arrived today. I forwarded it onto the judge and then realized I really ought to write the TY notes for the ladies who judged my finaling Duel on the Delta, Dixie first chapter, and Daphne entries.
I suppose I ought to pat my own back and say I was prompt with thanking my Genesis judges. Yay, me!!!
Now with the Dixie contest, the finalists didn't get back their scoresheets, so I sent a nice note thanking the judges for sacrificing their time. A rather generic note. I tend to prefer to say something specific to the judges about something specific they said.
With the Duel on the Delta contest, I had the scoresheets so I could personalize the note . Of course I apologized for the tardiness of my note. Still, better late than never.
Finally I got to my Daphne judges. By this point in the day, my brain was bluring contests. Really, there ought to be a rule that says each contest must choose a name with a different letter of the alphabet. Of course, I'm the wacky contest entrant who decided to enter five contest this past winter/spring, using 3 different manuscripts.
Because of my slackardness in making a Contests 2009 Excel spreadsheet, I couldn't remember what entry I entered in what contest. Consequently I entered the same manuscript in two contests where the same editor is the final round judge.
While I love finaling in contests, I was happy not to have finaled in the fifth contest I'd entered: Fool for Love. Since the same editor final round judge for the FFL is the same one for the Dixie AND since I'd entered the same manuscript as I'd entered in the Dixie, finaling really wouldn't have been beneficial besides saying I was a finalist. Whereas for the three gals whose entries did final, finaling was beneficial. So it all worked out well in the end. And I have some helpful feedback from my judges.
Anyhoo, while the Daphne didn't send first round scoresheets, my brain wasn't thinking and I sent the Daphne inspy coordinator a thank you know that I'd written for a Genesis judge. Duh.
I really need a nap.
ADVICE OF THE DAY: After your contest scoresheets are returned, send your Thank You notes to your judges PROMPTLY.
Shall I now confess I have TY notes from Golden Pen entrants that I never forwarded to their judges? Whoops. Guess you know what I'll be doing next week.
Monday, June 08, 2009
I'm recruiting!!!
Get the most for your money!
Receive critiques by published authors and Golden Heart finalists!
The Golden Network Proudly Announces Its Eleventh Annual Contest:
The Golden Pen 2009
Any yet-to-be published RWA member in good standing, who is not contracted by August 15, 2009. Any published RWA member in good standing, who has not sold or contracted a book in five years. Golden Pen judges who meet the above eligibility criteria may enter in any category they are not judging.
June 1st: Contest opens to receive entries. Due to the special nature of our first round judging panel (minimum each one published author, one GH finalist, one PRO), we reserve the right to limit entries to the first 150 submitted and paid. Additional entries will be accepted contingent on judge availability. We recommend submitting your entry form and payment early to secure your spot. Manuscripts may follow later, but must be received by the entry deadline.
August 15th: Entries must be emailed to the appropriate Category Coordinator. Payment and entry form also must be received by Contest Coordinator no later than August 15, 2009.
For more about this fabulous contest, check out the contest website:
http://www.thegoldennetwork.com/goldenpen.html
Receive critiques by published authors and Golden Heart finalists!
The Golden Network Proudly Announces Its Eleventh Annual Contest:
The Golden Pen 2009
FINAL ROUND JUDGES:
- Series Contemporary Romance: Susan Litman, Editor, Harlequin
- Single Title: Jennifer Enderlin, Executive Editor, St. Martin's Press
- Historical: Allison Brandau, Assistant Editor, Berkley
- Paranormal: Kerry Donovan, Associate Editor, NAL
- Romantic Suspense: Megan McKeever, Associate Editor, Pocket Books
- Inspirational: Melissa Endlich, Senior Editor, Steeple Hill
- Young Adult: Regina Griffin, Executive Editor, Egmont USA
- Novel with Strong Romantic Elements:Valerie Gray, Executive Editor, Mira
Any yet-to-be published RWA member in good standing, who is not contracted by August 15, 2009. Any published RWA member in good standing, who has not sold or contracted a book in five years. Golden Pen judges who meet the above eligibility criteria may enter in any category they are not judging.
June 1st: Contest opens to receive entries. Due to the special nature of our first round judging panel (minimum each one published author, one GH finalist, one PRO), we reserve the right to limit entries to the first 150 submitted and paid. Additional entries will be accepted contingent on judge availability. We recommend submitting your entry form and payment early to secure your spot. Manuscripts may follow later, but must be received by the entry deadline.
August 15th: Entries must be emailed to the appropriate Category Coordinator. Payment and entry form also must be received by Contest Coordinator no later than August 15, 2009.
For more about this fabulous contest, check out the contest website:
http://www.thegoldennetwork.com/goldenpen.html
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)