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celebrating strong female characters and whatever else strikes my fancy

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A to Z Blogging Challenge Theme Reveal!

March 23, 2015 by admin

Good morning, everyone! This year I venture into new territory: my first-ever Blogging from A to Z. Thanks to all the great folks over at the Insecure Writers Support Group for their guidance as I navigate these new waters.

Today’s the day we reveal our themes for the month! And mine is…drumroll, please…

atoz-theme-reveal-2015 Dishing the Dirt: My Gardening Life

After all, it’s springtime, so that means I’m outside. We live on a double lot that is almost entirely garden space. We dug up most of the grass a few years ago so I wouldn’t have to nag my husband to mow. Last week we installed a new front yard fence so I can continue working on my “food forest” concept without having the local deer munch everything to ruins before it can grow.

Gardening makes me more peaceful (no small feat) and reflective of the rest of my life. I’ve only gardened for five years now, so I still have a lot to learn, but the garden teaches me…and it’s fun!

The Blogging from A to Z Challenge begins Wednesday, April 1. You’re welcome to join us, too! It’s not too late.

All of these blogs will be participating in the Challenge, too! I’m still getting to know a lot of these blogs, but there’s some great material in this group, and I’m looking forward to reading what everyone has to say.

See you April 1!

 

Filed Under: blogs, gardening, writing Tagged With: A to Z Challenge, blogging, Blogs, garden, gardening

How Do I Get Started?

January 25, 2012 by admin

A reader asked me recently, “How do you get started as a writer?’

When I get a question like this, I think about the times when I didn’t know how to begin. How does anyone begin to act on their dreams? Many times people told me, “Just write,” but that wasn’t helpful. There are so many questions layered in that single question, things like: “Could I really do this?” “I want to write (paint, take pictures, act) but who do I think I am?” “What if I’m never any good?” “What if people don’t like my work?” “What if I never make money at it?” The list goes on and on.

When we ask how to begin, though, we’re also asking for someone to open a door and invite us in. We’re asking for help, one artist to another. We want encouragement. And, of course, we want specifics. So, here are a few:

  1. Study, and that doesn’t mean go back to school (though it could). Study the works of others who have similar concerns or styles as you. Ask yourself, “What do I like about this work? What don’t I like?”
  2. Find out what’s meaningful to you. In the case of the reader who inquired, she already has a subject in mind, but some of you don’t know what to write about. What excites you? Angers you? Keeps you up at night? Chances are, whatever affects you emotionally is a good subject.
  3. Find books that open your creativity. For me, the classic is The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. When I ran across this book in 1997, I had no idea how it would change my entire life. Not only did I start writing spontaneously within three weeks of doing the exercises in the book, but I also learned to quilt, started taking photographs, and decided to travel more. Other people have their favorite creativity books, but this one is mine.
  4. Let go of wanting to be perfect. Your first efforts won’t look good, and they shouldn’t! Be willing to write badly. I’m still a humble student with a great deal to learn.
  5. The secret to writing, and to all of life, is to revise. Though my blogs tend to be off the cuff, my books are not. They go through a lot of changes along the way. Recently I was going through my late mother-in-law’s art, and I was struck by how many drawings she made of a subject before she made the actual painting. With each drawing, she made changes sometimes so subtle that I had trouble figuring out the differences — but she was looking for a particular look and feel, and she explored until satisfied.
  6. Find people who do what you do and connect with them. If you’re a writer, join She Writes or Red Room or some other online writing group. She Writes has sub-groups within it, so if you’re a blogger, join the blogging group. If you can find a local critique group that you enjoy, all the better.
  7. Now, after these other steps, I can say it: just do it. Spend some time each day writing, drawing, or whatever you’re inspired to do. You may not have a lot of time, but start with fifteen minutes. If you write a paragraph a day, you’re still writing. Over time, as you gain confidence, you’ll get creative to find more time. The more you practice, the more you learn.

I hope this is more helpful than “just write.” I hope this inspires you to begin. Fledgling artist, I am opening the door to you. Come inside sit down, and have some cookies. You are welcome here.

Filed Under: Life Changes, writing Tagged With: blogging, books, dreams, getting started, writing

One Thing Leads to Another

January 16, 2012 by admin

This morning, as I sat down to look at blogs and create my own for the day, I couldn’t pull up the Internet. So, I got up to power cycle the router and decided to go ahead and shred some old tax returns while I was waiting. I went upstairs to shred and discovered that the shredder was full, so I had to get a box to hold all the confetti.

Mondays are often like that, where I start out with the best intentions, but as one thing leads to another, I end up scratching my head wondering what happened.

When hubby and I decided to start traveling, we didn’t know that one thing would lead to another. We hadn’t planned on leaving Houston. I’ve lived here for 30 years, hubby for longer. The more we saw the world, though, the more we asked ourselves where we want to live. Here we are, a few years later, planning a cross-country move.

You may have noticed a change in the look and feel of this blog. Here, too, one thing leads to another. In my case, “A Woman’s Nest” didn’t exactly fit the daily goings-on of this blog. It sounds so nurturing, and there is that side of me, but I need to feel the freedom to express all parts of me. We women at midlife are less “nice” and more “real,” so I felt a little constricted.

I’ve also mentioned being part of the Blooming Late group on She Writes. Last year I joined, then got involved in regular posting, then started making suggestions to our leader, Samantha Stacia. One thing leads to another, and now I’m handling the group’s administrative functions when she’s not available. We’re also working on a project so that we can better promote the many fine writers in the group, which led me to some research, which led me to fellow Texan Kristen Lamb‘s wonderful book, We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide to Social Media…and then to these changes that you see.

One thing leads to another…who knows what will happen next? I think that’s part of the fun, don’t you? Any “one thing leads to another” experiences that you want to share?

Filed Under: blogs, Life Changes Tagged With: blogging, books, Kristen Lamb, social media, We Are Not Alone, women, writing

Friday Shout-Outs and Fun

September 2, 2011 by admin

Okay, I lied. I said I would see everyone on Monday, but a lot is happening in the blogosphere, and I’m adapting to the changes as fast as I can. I’ve left Fridays open thus far because I hadn’t come up with a clear focus for that day, and I waited for inspiration to visit. I know that I will serialize my upcoming novel, Change of Plans, on Fridays once we complete the editing process. But since I am a lover of reading as well as writing, why not use Fridays for some fun? After all, we’re focusing on fairly serious topics during the week here at A Woman’s Nest.

I want to thank my new friend Julie Ferrar for helping me find this new direction. She told me I deserved a Leibster blog award. I scratched my head, never having heard of such a thing. She told me that the award is to connect bloggers, especially those with fewer than 200 followers. I think this is a great idea! I’ve been reading some wonderful blogs lately that the world does not yet know about, and I’m happy to share the love.

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If I accept the award, she told me, I must:
* Show my thanks to the blogger who gave me the award by linking back
* Make my own top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
* Post the award on my blog.
* Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the internet—other writers.
* And best of all – have fun and spread the karma.
I’m up for the task! Here are my faves (so far):
Traveling Through – I’ve been reading Julie Ferrar’s blog for a while now, and her musings about travel are well-written and fun. She always writes something that I want to comment on. I’m sending the love back to her not because I feel as though I can call her a friend (we have only met in this fabulous thing called cyberspace), but because she does a great blog. Period.
Over 50 and Happy – Go visit Nina and share a chat with her about life after 50. She’s having a wonderful time, and she’s guaranteed to make you smile! Attitude is everything, and Nina knows this.
Blooming Late Journal – Samantha Stacia is a new blogger who is honing her writing skills. If you’re a writer trying to get started, check out her blog and learn along with her! What I love most about Samantha is her ability to motivate and inspire others. She is the ringleader of the Blooming Late group on She Writes, giving more than 80 of us regular support and encouragement despite health and other challenges.
DebutAuthors – Robin Yaklin – Spotlights and promotes new authors. What a wonderful thing to do! It’s great to find fresh voices that would otherwise be hard to find.
Wanderlust and Lipstick – Nancy Mueller – Okay, so I like travel blogs! Nancy is a freelance travel writer, and when I ran across this one it became one of my new faves. Not as “small” a blog as some of the others, but so worthwhile I had to include it.
Thanks, you wonderful women writers, for keeping the faith and sharing yourselves on your blogs!
NOW I’m done for the weekend. I’m resting my feet from another gorgeous hike in the Swiss Engadin region, and we’ll be biking all weekend. I’m less comfortable on bikes than with my feet on terra firma, so wish me luck!

Filed Under: blogs, Uncategorized, women, writing Tagged With: blogging, Blooming Late Journal, books, DebutAuthors, Julie Ferrar, Liebster, Nancy Mueller, Nina Knox, Over 50 and Happy, Robin Yaklin, Samantha Stacia, social media, Traveling Through, Wanderlust and Lipstick, women, writing

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