Monday, November 22, 2010

gratitude



This morning I am blogging from another state and there's 8 inches of snow!!  It's beautiful!  I turned on the Christmas music and I'm feeling pretty good about having it on.  


I wanted to quickly make a list of things I am thankful for this week, in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday....
  • Hubby- I know it sounds ridiculous how much I still adore him after all this time, but I truly am the happiest married person I know.  He is my air, and that's all I really need to say.
  • My girls- Even though they are not my biological daughters, I love them so very very much.  They are my girls and make my life so much richer.  Their smiles, their laughter, their little jokes, their similarities and differences.  I love them more than anything.
  • My dog- I get a lot of crap for how much I love my dog, but I don't care because he makes me soooo happy.  He really really does.  I know he is filling a spot in me that is craving my own baby, but I can't imagine loving him any less when that happens.  (I know.  Everyone says that will change)  I love his little personality and I especially love how he snuggles with me.
  • My complicated family- I love my family so very much.  The dynamics are so interesting, and the struggles have been many, but I am confident we are stronger for it.  I have two amazing parents, in their own ways, and I have always felt loved.  I feel like I have a really great relationship with each of my sibs- there are six of us all together, which makes me very lucky.
  • I am very very thankful for the upcoming stability that is beginning in our lives.  We have had a very up and down year with my husband's business, and it has finally paid off.  He successfully closed a large transaction that will give us not only stability but huge piece of mind.  I am so proud of him.  In this rough economy for him to have created something like he did is a huge fete.  
  • I am so very very thankful that I have had the opportunity to work on my book this year.  I was so unhappy for so long, trying to be successful in an environment that was all numbers and black and white thinking.  With my husband's continued support, I have been able to chase a dream this year and I can honestly say that EVERY SINGLE DAY, I have been thankful for that chance.  I cannot even tell you how amazing it has been to have someone be so supportive.  I never would have got as far as I have without him believing in me and challenging me to DO IT.  
  • Our health- I am so very very thankful that none of my family has had any major health issues.  I know what an amazing thing that is, and knock on wood, I pray it stays that way.
  • I am thankful for our freedom.  I am thankful for all of the brave men and women that have served or are currently serving to keep us safe and free.  I hope they can all come home soon.
  • I have wonderful friends and I am so thankful for them.  They add so much spice to my life and I am so thankful for good and lasting friendships.  I have such a dynamic group of friends from all walks of life, and I love that about each of them.  Their individuality, passions, hopes and dreams make me want to be a better person.
  • I am thankful for the holidays- any reason to celebrate anything and I'm all over it.  I love love love the holidays.  I love the decorations, the music, the excitement in the air and the spirit of giving.  I love family gatherings and reactions to the perfect gifts.  I love hosting parties and spending extra time with good friends.  I love freshly fallen snow- it makes you feel like you can do anything, like you have a fresh start.
This year has been both fabulous and extremely stressful.  I feel like we have been humbled and that we have learned many valuable lessons.  I am looking forward to the upcoming year.  In many ways, I feel like we are arriving, like this next year will be one of the best of our lives.  I am excited to settle, to know exactly what our future will entail and to focus on living instead of surviving.  I am full of gratitude for my life, for the people that are in it, and for the amazing things they have taught me this year.

It may sound trite to make a list of things I'm thankful for, but it is so important to take time to notice the things around you that you are grateful for.  No matter what has gone on in your life, there are always things to be thankful for, to be mindful of.  I guarantee that you will instantly feel better after acknowledging these types of blessings in your life.  

In a strange way, I am also thankful for blogging... the ability for anyone to be given a voice, a sounding-board, an outlet, and a support system.  

Even though it was a hard year, I think that the struggle will benefit us- it gave us a healthy perspective that leaves me full of thanks on this snowy morning.

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."  



Thursday, November 18, 2010

SCRIVENER!!!!!!



Scrivener 2.0 has arrived, in all of its glory!  This software is THE BEST writing software EVER.  Bar none.  LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it!!  The reason I haven't written on here lately is because I'm spending every second in THIS SOFTWARE writing!  


I cannot even begin to tell you how intuitive it is.  It has features I didn't know I needed but then suddenly I can't live without it.  If you are writing ANYTHING, any kind of long document, this is a MUST.  I CANNOT believe I didn't have this before!!  


I found it on accident, while searching for a better way to track my daily writing goals (thanks Stephen King) and someone mentioned this software.  So I went to the website and learned that the creator, Keith from England, was a writer, struggling with the fact that there wasn't the right kind of software to support him.  So, he developed Scrivener... out of necessity, comes brilliance.  


I downloaded the free trial and within minutes was convinced THIS WAS IT.  I also loved that it is totally inexpensive- its about $50.  I seriously would have paid more.  I should be on a commercial for them.  I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE this software. 


Here is their website:


SCRIVENER SOFTWARE- Literature and Latte


And here is the link that has easy to follow tutorials that show all of the capabilities. 


TUTORIALS


It was funny because the 2.0 version wasn't out yet when I found it, and I was already soooo excited about it.  I wrote and wrote and wrote and told everyone around me all about it.  Then about three weeks later I came to do a post here, and went to get the icon for the picture at the top... and the 2.0 version had been released!  So then I abandoned my post, and spent a bunch of time on the new tutorials finding new gems that I didn't even know I needed but now can't live without!  AMAZING.  


Dear Keith,
Scrivener has changed my life.  Thank you so very much for all of your efforts in creating such intuitive software.  I will continue to spread the word about how much I FREAKING ADORE SCRIVENER.  If you ever need anyone to promote your software, you have your satisfied customer.  Seriously.  Also, I love how you say 'whilst' in all of your tutorials.  It makes me want to visit England as soon as possible.  
Thank you thank you thank you.  Brilliant software.  You have my eternal appreciation.  And from what I've read around, this is the general consensus.  
Sincerely,
Writing and Happy


As a sidenote... I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but the software was developed for Macs, but I have heard that a Windows version has either just been released, or will be soon.  So, keep your chin up, PCers.  Or, just get a Mac.  Because really.  Im a MAC.  And you will NEVER go back once you have dabbled in Macworld.


Anyway, I am such a happy writer thanks to Scrivener.  I know this is a silly post, but in all seriousness, it really has helped me organize my writing and navigate it much more effectively.  I just had to share how much it has helped me... because how did I not know about this??????


Man, this learning on your own thing is a little crazy.  But, it does allow for moments of sheer happiness, when you discover something groundbreaking.  Like Scrivener.  Seriously.  Stop reading and purchase.


Happy writing!!!
















Tuesday, October 12, 2010

never give up


You know that feeling.  The sinking feeling when you realize its not going to work.  You hear the "no" in the conversation and you realize that all of your efforts were in vain.  

That's the moment most of us give up, lick our wounds and decide that we won't reach quite so far next time.

Its a human, knee-jerk reaction.  

But.  

Sometimes there is more inside of us.  A deep pocket, way in the back, that we haven't accessed before.  We've never had to got there, and we never would have, were it not for this frustrating situation.  

This is something I have learned from my husband.  No matter how many times he hears no, or it can't be done, or it's impossible... all he hears is:  you haven't figured it out yet- back to the drawing board. 


I admire this quality in him, and I am trying to develop it further in myself.  These are the moments that force us to grow.  Sometimes we fight it... we aren't ready for change, its hard, you have no support or you are just tired of the fight.  Tired of the continued efforts that only amount to banging up against another wall.  

At that moment in time, you are in good company. 

Abraham Lincoln went to war a captain and returned a private. Afterwards, he was a failure as a businessman. As a lawyer in Springfield, he was too impractical and temperamental to be a success. He turned to politics and was defeated in his first try for the legislature, again defeated in his first attempt to be nominated for congress, defeated in his application to be commissioner of the General Land Office, defeated in the senatorial election of 1854, defeated in his efforts for the vice-presidency in 1856, and defeated in the senatorial election of 1858. At about that time, he wrote in a letter to a friend, "I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on the earth."


To be great, you must find the ability to continue against all odds.  

Winston Churchill was defeated in every election until he became Prime Minister at the age of 62.  SIXTY TWO. 

He later said,
"Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never, Never, Never, Never give up." 


Thomas Edison's teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything.  It took him 1000 different attempts to perfect the lighbulb.  What if he would have stopped before the 1000th attempt??

Einstein was told he was "mentally slow" and was even expelled from school.

Henry Ford failed and was broke 5 times before he was succesful.

R.H. Macy failed 7 times before his store finally caught on. 

Tom LandryChuck NollBill Walsh, and Jimmy Johnson accounted for 11 of the 19 Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1993. They also share the distinction of having the worst records of first-season head coaches in NFL history - they didn't win a single game.


Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas." He went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland. In fact, the proposed park was rejected by the city of Anaheim on the grounds that it would only attract riffraff.



The first time Jerry Seinfeld walked on-stage at a comedy club as a professional comic, he looked out at the audience, froze, and forgot the English language. He stumbled through "a minute-and a half" of material and was jeered offstage. He returned the following night and closed his set to wild applause.



After Harrison Ford's first performance as a hotel bellhop in the film Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round, the studio vice-president called him in to his office. "Sit down kid," the studio head said, "I want to tell you a story. The first time Tony Curtis was ever in a movie he delivered a bag of groceries. We took one look at him and knew he was a movie star." Ford replied, "I thought you were spossed to think that he was a grocery delivery boy." The vice president dismissed Ford with "You ain't got it kid , you ain't got it ... now get out of here."
Decca Records turned down a recording contract with the Beatles with the unprophetic evaluation, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on their way out." After Decca rejected the Beatles, Columbia records followed suit.
 In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after one performance. He told Presley, "You ain't goin' nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck."

















 21 publishers rejected Richard Hooker's humorous war novel, M*A*S*H. He had worked on it for seven years.


"Only those who dare to fall greatly can achieve greatly." 
Robert F. Kennedy








"Everything will be ok in the end. 




 If it is not ok yet, 




it is not the end." 




Unknown










































So, dig deeper.  


Try again.  


Don't take no for an answer.  


Go and  be great.  


It's what you are meant to do.


























































































Wednesday, October 6, 2010

the spice of life... and why my job freaking rocks


....aAaAnNnNdDd so it continues....


Im officially obsessed with the fall.  Everyone in my house is teasing me because every meal tastes "fall-ish and I have decorated the house with halloween spookiness.  I just think, if you can add spice to life, why not?  


We went camping up the canyon this weekend with the girlies and it was sooo refreshing! Just what we needed.  It was great to relax.  I think I have forgotten how to relax to some extent!  Being so busy all the time, I find I have to force myself to slow down!


 Meanwhile, I have been plugging away on my book with my newfound words of wisdom from Stephen King.  Ok, so the confession is that I have not hit 1000 words every day since I posted (LAME I KNOW).  BUT I have written more than that a few times, and I am writing with more frequency.  I will get there- things have been really crazy lately with our traveling so much and the kids back in school with their games and stuff.  I have to say that a few things he said in his book have really affected me and helped me so much. I feel like I'm on a roll!


dRuMroLl pLeAse......I would like to welcome back my fall line up.... greys anatomy, how I met your mother, 30 rock, dexter, big love, flash forward, parenthood, friday night lights, house, bones and the office.  My new addition this year is Lone Star, which I have only had time to watch the first episode, but it was good!  DISCLAIMER: I do not watch all of these shows ALL the time and often get very behind... but thanks to DVR, I am able to catch up (often during the summer).  And I always try to run whilst I'm watching...  


I actually find that the more books I am reading and even when I'm watching a bunch of different kinds of shows, I think it makes me a better writer.  Am I allowed to say that?  How cool is my job? I really do pay attention to things like character development and plot and what I liked or what doesn't work.  I am marking up all the books I read now, taking notes in the margins, and underlining things.  I am constantly trying to learn something new from whatever it is that has my attention.  When I'm out and about, I watch how people interact, their facial expressions, listen to their conversations (hey- its my job) and always try to learn something.  I find that I am influenced in my writing by things that I have gleaned from situations around me. 


CURRENTLY READING:  Mockingjay by Sue Collins, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson, Play Dead by Harlan Coban, Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice (OCTOBER book club selection), and (rereading) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  


Today I am meeting my friend Denise to go over where we are in our books and help each other along.  It really does help me to meet with her, to get ideas, to keep the excitement going and to be held accountable.  


INTENTION: I WILL WRITE 1000 words today no matter what no matter what no matter what.  My goal is 2000 words today.  I will report tomorrow morning!!


Hope you all have a wonderful day!!  Get out and enjoy the weather, or hole up inside with coffee, a fire and a good book!  The fall only lasts for so long!!






Sunday, September 26, 2010

thank you mr. king


I just finished "On Writing- A Memoir of the Craft" by Stephen King.  Love, love, loved this book.  I read it in two days and marked it up a shameful amount.  I was really excited when I found out that he had written this book with all his golden nuggets of advice.  


The first half is a memoir of his life- an overview of the things that happened to him that influenced him as he became a writer.  The second half is specifics on writing itself- the mechanic and the evolution of his stories.  And lets be honest... he IS Stephen King!  He knows what he's talking about.  For years now I've gone to author's websites and read everything I can to find things like this.  I am always hopeful that there will be a section 'for writers.'  This was like those sections... on crack.  Everything you need to know, stripped of all of the fluff, brutally honest and crammed with insight.    


I enjoyed this book so much that I want to share the things that were important to me in my writing.  Here are some of the nuggets of advice from Mr. King that had a large impact on me:




  • "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others:  read a lot and write a lot."  This is by far the piece of advice that all authors/writers agree on and vehemently advocate.  Mr. King talks about how there is a learning process going on every time you read, and thats why its so important.  You pick up on grammatical lessons, plot structure and good vs. bad dialogue.  You will be a much better writer if you READ.  At the end of his book he give a list of books he's read in the last few years (well, at the time he wrote it) and it is quite extensive.  He says each book influences you and your writing style so it is important to read a lot of different authors and styles.  "Constant reading will put you into a place (a mind-set if you like) where you can write eagerly and without self consciousness.


  • You've got to pound the pavement.  You have to actually WRITE.   He talks about how you have to be involved in writing without first waiting for your "muse."  If you spent enough time writing... the muse will come.  "If you don't have time to read, you don't have time (or the tools) to write.  Simple as that."  Stephen King wrote "The Running Man" in one week.  WOW.


  •  The writing program he suggests is 4-6 hours a day behind a closed door.  1000- 2000 (increasing as you go from beginner...) words a day, six days a week. 

    • NEW COMMITMENT- I am going to try this out.  I promise to write at least 1000 words, 6 days a week, starting TODAY.


    • The writing room- He suggests you have a room that you can close the door, leaving all of the distractions outside.  It also programs your brain and your subconscious to know that you are going to write.  You can't leave the writing room until you have hit your goal.


    • Tell the truth and be true to your characters.  Your stories should be CHARACTER driven, not PLOT driven.  "Plot is, I think, the good writer's last resort and the dullard's first choice."  This was a very interesting piece of advice to me because I HATE HATE HATE the story-boarding part of writing.  But I hate REWRITING even more than story-boarding, which is why I get stuck sometimes trying to figure out what to do next.  He suggests that if you just let your characters take over, they will lead you in the most true direction the book could go.   I loved this part:  "...If you do your job, your characters will come to life and start doing things on their own.  I know that sounds a little creepy if you haven't actually experienced it, but its terrific fun when it happens.  And it will solve a lot of your problems, believe me."  I have had that happen, and he's write- that's the BEST part of writing.  Because then your characters are REAL.  I have gone back and forth between writing like that and trying to figure out endings.  He says that most of the time he doesn't know how things are going to end up.  He has 'hoped' something will turn out one way, but it may or may be the way it ends... and its up to the characters, not him.


      • NEW COMMITMENT -  Character driven.  Ok, Im going to go with it and see what happens.  I need to let the characters just BE themselves and see where it takes me.  


    • First draft should be completed behind a closed door and without any help from anyone else.  He says when you are wanting to share it with someone, to resist that impulse and to keep the pressure on.  The hope of success and the fear of failure will drive you forward.  



    Basically, if you are writing anything... go get a copy of this book.  The suggestions in ON Writing are fantastic.  I really couldn't put it down.  I love that someone as accomplished and famous as Stephen King took the time to write a book about how he does what he does.  To people like me, eager to learn and just starting out, the advice was invaluable.   It's a pretty amazing thing that something he wrote back in 1999 can have such a heavy influence on me, in 2010.  And there we have the magic of writing... thank you Mr. King.


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