May 10, 2013 by writesbooks

Motherhood: All Love Begins and Ends There. by Cher’ley

This Blog by Cher’ley Grogg

My Mom said she liked Mother’s Day better than her birthday because it celebrated what meant the most to her in life, her children. She was so giving and loving. She’d wear rags so her children could be dressed well. She’d eat scraps so her children could have the better parts of the meal.

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My fondest memory is sitting on the porch with my Mom. We spent a lot of time there, spending quiet moments and talking softly. Here’s a poem I wrote about my lessons from Mom the original poem is on Yahoo Voices.

Mother’s Knee
By Cher’ley Grogg

I sat at my mother’s knee,
Her with her coffee and me with my tea,
Listen; hear the birds.
Observe carefully my child
And you will learn from the wild.

I sat at my mother’s knee,
Her with her coffee and me with my tea,
Feel: raise your face,
Savor the sun my child
And know there is warmth in this place.

I sat at my mother’s knee,
Her with her coffee and me with my tea,
Smell; lilacs and honeysuckles,
Breathe deeply my child
And allow the aroma to waft and tickle.

In “Stamp Out Murder” James’ adventure started with the death of his

mother. In his quest to get closer to fulfilling her dreams, he went in search of an antique armoire to complete her boudoir set.

In Chapter Nine James Freeman talks about his mother. James thought about saying, loving someone too much isn’t stifling them. He thought about his own mother; she’d loved him so much, and he had loved her just as much. He never felt like he’d given up anything to care for her. He sat quietly as the first witness, a shahadah to the healing taking place before him.

Cosmopolitan says you should buy your Mother a gift that you would like to receive. Not sure if she would want a tool box, a monkey wrench or a power saw. This link takes you to their suggestions. (I like several of them–just in case anyone wants to know).

Tell me a little about your mother. What is your favorite memory of your mother?

Sta mp Out Murder”.

“T he Secret in Grandma’s Trunk” This is an especially good book for your Tween Children and Grandchildren.

And please join me on my Facebook Fanpage, that’s managed by one of my most faithful fans: Cindy Ferrell

Grief and Mother’s Day: National Grief Expert’s 10 Tips to Remember Mom with Peace (prweb.com)

May 6, 2013 by writesbooks

Re-Definition

post by Doris McCraw

How do you define your work? Do you ever feel like you are in a rut? I know I do. I am always trying to find ways to push myself and my creativity. As many of you know I love history and have written papers on various historic subjects. I also write haiku as a daily writing practice that is in its second year. Still, my work could become stilted and boring. I could become bored. For people who live for their creativity boredom can become a death knell.

Lately I have rethought my writing and how it makes me feel. I still love all that I am doing, but at the same time it feels like is something missing. I have started a search to reignite the flames of creativity to reach an even higher point. I want to push myself to create in ways that are new and unusual. To that end I have begun a search and have found some interesting options I thought I would share. Some of you may already know of them and some may not.

I have started to revisit the book “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day” by Michael J. Gelb. Looking at the seven steps again puts my mind in another state. I see and look at things differently. This in turn translates into enhanced ideas and thoughts that show up in my writing. I am in no way the genius that daVinci was, but it is nice to inhabit what may have been his mindset for a while.

Self-portrait by Leonardo da Vinci, executed in red chalk sometime between 1512 and 1515 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the members of Pike Peak Writers has an improv writing group that meets once a week. Anywhere from five to fifteen people show up. The rules are: no critiquing, each person reads their work aloud. Different people bring three writing prompts which everyone writes to. Even if you cannot think of anything to write you can just start writing words. There is no judgement on the part of the participants. I have found this exercise to be exciting and supportive.

I have just found a form of poetry called cento. You compose a new work using the verses or passages taken from another author or authors work put in a new form or order. For more information on this form Wikipedia has a fairly simple definition and example. What I like about this concept is learning and hearing ideas that I have formed from the works I love.

All these are ways for me to re-define my work and creativity. It is something I do to keep myself excited about the prospect of creating new and exciting works. The blog post, the haiku, the short story and non-fiction are all hopefully the beneficiary of this search.

I wish you all a fun creative week.

To read some of the haiku you can find them at http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com

April 14, 2013 by writesbooks

Printing Progress

This post is by Erin Thorne.

Many people keep journals for various reasons. They use this medium to inscribe personal thoughts, vent difficult-to-handle emotions, and as a record of special life events. However, a journal is also an ideal place in which to track one’s writing progress.

I recently began to do this as an integrated part of my work. A writers’ group to which I belong has a feature that, once a week, lets us share with other members what we’ve accomplished in the past seven days. At first, my writing journal was strictly utilitarian. There was simply no way I could have remembered what I’d done if I didn’t write it down. By degrees, it became a motivational tool.

Some weeks are busier than others. During those that are packed with activities and obligations, I sometimes feel as though I’m not getting any writing done. This, in turn, leads me to feel badly about my lack of effort. To break out of this spiral, I take a peek inside the journal section of my day planner, which is where I enter my daily progress. Often, I’ve found more entries than I expected, and this has given my confidence a boost. On the other hand, I’ve occasionally been stared down by blank pages that I’d meant to fill. This has provided the impetus to do more, and to intentionally make time to write.

Overall, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the results. I have finished projects ahead of schedule, and kept a more positive mindset about the whole writing process. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I feel encouraged. I don’t dread sharing my week’s work with others, because I know I’ve done my best in spite of all the demands upon my time. I’d recommend this technique to others without hesitation; no matter what line of work you’re in, nothing lifts your sprits like seeing how far you’ve come. It inspires confidence, and gives you hope about how far you’ll go.

April 8, 2013 by writesbooks

What Happened?

This post is by Doris McCraw

What makes your muse sit up and take notice? When the fickle lady decides she wants to go somewhere other than by your side, how do you get her back? Believe it our not, I go read. Yes, you heard or should I say read correctly, I read. From there it is all easy sailing, with a major dose of work. You thought I was going to say it was easy. You still have to do the work, I write as I smile.

From those readings I can find so much to make me wonder, WHAT HAPPENED? Let me give you some examples that I found fascinating. Maybe you will too.

1. From the poem Emigravit by Helen (Hunt) Jackson

With sails full set, the ship her anchor weighs.
Strange names shine out beneath her figure head.
What glad farewells with eager eyes are said!
What cheer for him who goes, and him who stays!

As someone who loves tall ships I wonder who went, who stayed and how were their lives changed. What about you? How do you see the people involved?

2. A man was recently hanged for taking vengeance on one who had practically disputed his property in a girl.

I just found this statement so odd and somewhat disturbing. Still working on this one.

3. The new road though the Ute Pass is completed, and is now alive with traffic.

Imagine using this as your first line. What kind of traffic? When was this opened? This simple statement can take you anywhere.

Summit of Ute Pass, by Chamberlain, W. G. (William Gunnison) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4. Another mystery, discovered the remains of a man near the head of the gulch. They were found under a pile of rocks. Two bullet holes were found in the skull. They were about forty feet from where the remains of another man was found six weeks ago.

Although this incident took place in 1872, the crime itself is timeless. Who are the victims? Were they related? Is it the work of a serial killer or in the case of the Old West, outlaws?

5. And finally my last and favorite are the last lines to the poem “Last Words” by Helen (Hunt) Jackson

And when, remembering me, you come some day

And stand there, speak no praise, but only say,

“How she loved us! T’was that which made her dear!”

Those are the words that I shall joy to hear.

Helen Hunt Jackson portrait (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I hope someday to use these words as the ending to a story. I know they remind me of my mother and her love of her family, her friends and those whose lives she touched.

Whatever you do to bring the muse into your life and writing, know she wants to help you tell the story of What Happened, so listen. Hear the call? She is whispering in your ear. Now sit down and write, I say with a smile.

http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com

http://renawomyn.blogspot.com

Visit the Helen Hunt Jackson Live page on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Helen-Hunt-Jackson-Live/110440582339080?ref=hl