Change Is Scary

Changes can be scary.  As adults we are supposed to be able to handle anything.  But life changes can come along and throw us for a loop.  When I got divorced I had to deal with a lot of changes.  Going from the idea of spending the rest of your life with someone to suddenly being a single parent of a small child is a scary change.  When I lost my good paying job, I wondered what I would do.   When I finally found another one for $30,000 per year less, it was a scary change.  We all have things that happen to us in life to bring about change and it's how we deal with it that determines the person we truly are inside.

We might want to act like the ostrich and bury our heads in the sand but that isn't going to do much good.  The changes are still going to be out there and we either can deal with them as they come along or be buried by them and not just our heads!  I might be scared about something coming my way but I'm not going to let it stop me from reaching my goals.  I might have to turn to my friends for support as I ride that wave of scary change, but I refuse to let it defeat me.

Today I decided to make some changes to my blog.  Nothing earth shattering or even note worthy in the grand scheme of things but to me it's important.  And scary.  I was comfortable with the way my blog looked.  I was happy with the layout and the colors.  But scary changes don't have to be a BAD thing and as I worked on my blog today I actually began to like the changes I was making.  I'm sorry to say my little fishies didn't survive the change...for some reason the animation wouldn't work with this new format.  I hope my readers will enjoy the new look, and while there might be a few more tweaks before it's all over, for now I hope you will all join me in a little happy dance...

Figuring Out The Pieces

In case you hadn't figured it out yet, I'm new to this blogging thing.  I came across it quite by accident and like chocolate, I find it very addictive.  I  have given myself a very worthwhile goal of attempting to create a post every day for an entire year.  365 days to try and keep your attention and entice you to return to my blog often.

I have received many followers and feel quite proud of my "virgin" efforts to delve into Blogland where there are millions of blogs to choose from and some people choose mine.  Whether they follow me through email or some other type of feed program, I try to make my posts relevant to the writing community as I seek to inspire others to reach the goals they have set for themselves.

I'm working hard to make this blog the best it can be and you will see some changes in the near future.  As for my issue of whether to have pictures or not with my blog...well, see for yourself...

This world is a big place and is made up of all types of people.  The input I received yesterday from all you lovely people out there simply shows me the level of caring and support within this writing community.  Many people gave me their honest opinion about my blog and it touches my heart to see the response yesterday's blog received.  I will continue to have pictures within my posts and I hope it is not too inconvenient for those who may follow me through other electronic devices.  I value each and every one of you, but if I did not stay true to the style of writer that I am...and THAT is being a VISUAL one...then you would no longer have the same underlying reason to keep coming back.

Thank you, dear readers, for the caring and support I received from you yesterday.  In lieu of my chartering an airplane and visiting each of you in person to thank you, I hope this will suffice...

What's It Worth To You?

There is a saying that goes "a picture is worth a thousand words".  I guess I'm trying to test that theory and I need your help.  Today my blog was given a critique by Laura Barnes at Laura B Writer ( http://laurabwriter.blogspot.com/2012/02/blog-critique-on-write-track.html ).  I am very honored that she was willing to review my blog as I have only been doing this three months now and look to more seasoned bloggers for their wisdom and insight into what is best for blogs in general.

But her critique certainly made me think about a few things.  She said I had too many pictures in my blogs and it takes longer to load onto mobile devices.  The pictures I use in my blog are a vital part of my post itself but I wonder if in the name of "progress", I should limit pictures to one or two?  What do you think?  A lot of people visit my blog because of the pictures so will it hurt the overall feel of the blog to remove them?

She also said that blog posts should never be overly long.  My blogs average about 350 words but maybe they seem longer because of the pictures?  My posts can be shortened, but then would the "message" be lost?

I will let YOU,  dear readers,  be the judge!  Stand up and be counted!  Please leave a comment and let me know what do you think about the possibility of removing the pictures and/or shortening my daily posts.  I want my blog to be something you enjoy so here is your chance to chime in!  If the majority of the comments say they don't like all the photos, then I will stop.  If you say you are falling asleep before you reach the end of my post, I will cut them shorter.

Thanks, everyone...because where would I be without my readers?

What's Cooking?

When I was growing up I would watch my mother in the kitchen while she cooked.  There wasn't much "convenience" foods available back then and my mother would create everything from fresh baked bread and cakes to homemade hot cocoa, all with fresh ingredients.  She always had a plan.  There was a list to follow and she made sure she had everything she needed before she began.

Good writers are like my mother.  They make sure before they sit down to write that they have all the "ingredients" to create something fresh.  Cakes can't be made without eggs or flour and great stories can't flourish without the the right ingredients to make things happen once you sit down at that computer.  So don't forget your list.

Put up a sign and let everyone know you are about to get the creative juices flowing.  Great chefs are never disturbed during the making of their creations and it's the same for writers.  You have gathered the tools of your trade around you and you are ready to whip up something amazing!

You know the steps needed to cook up a great story.  All of the pre-write planning has been done,  the first draft (and maybe even the second or third draft) is finished and you are up to your elbows mixing characters, action, and dialogue.  You think you have all the right ingredients but something is still missing.  What can it be?

Maybe you need to add a few descriptive words to spice things up?  Or maybe you have added too much punctuation and need to cut back a little?  While every story follows a beginning, a middle, and an end, it's up to the individual writer to tweak or "taste-test" each creation to make sure it's just right for their readers.

Like a cake straight from the oven, works in progress need a "cool down" time.  In the heat of the moment, writers may overlook the cracks in their work that can prevent that story from holding up later on.  Editing is like the icing on the cake.  Revising and polishing are the final decorations before that story can be fully appreciated.

Anyone can try their hand at throwing some ingredients together and hoping things turn out right.  But it is the patient writer who knows a strong foundation of knowledge and skill will create a work of art that anyone would love to sink their teeth into...

Have Some Alphabet Soup

Who doesn't remember sitting down to a hot bowl of alphabet soup on a cold winter morning as a child?

There is something heart warming about dipping a spoon into all those letters and seeing what words you could create before you ran out of broth.  Well, here is your chance to recreate that moment from childhood again.

During the month of April, bloggers all around the world will be participating in the A to Z challenge.  Writers everywhere will attempt to blog daily for 26 days with a new letter of the alphabet in the spotlight on each day...i.e. day one is A, day two is B, day three is C, etc.  The lovely head chefs for this challenge are busy in the kitchen cooking up tons of fun for April and there is still time to sign up...just go to their blog April A To Z Challenge and help them reach 1000 participants by March 1st!

I post daily on my own blog so THAT part won't be a challenge.  This is, however, my first year participating and I have given myself the added challenge of attempting a "double header" of sorts and if you don't know what I'm talking about, you will just have to come back in April and find out what I mean!  ;-)

I'm busy doing my research now and even called in reinforcements to help me get ready.  I hope I can do this.  Wait, I KNOW I can do this because I feed on all the energy of this lovely writing community I am so happy to be a part of.  So who's with me?  Who will don that chef's hat with me and cook up a pot of comforting blog posts in April?

And if I'm really lucky I will join my friend, Garfield, in dining on the best bowl of alphabet soup yet...

The Tale Of The Book Mobile

 

I asked the elementary school kids I visit each week if they knew what a book mobile was.  A second grader said sure, and pointed to one hanging from the ceiling in one corner of their classroom.  I realized then that children today may not know the rich history behind the book mobile.

In 1887, Mrs. C. P. Barnes of Louisville, Kentucky created the Traveling Book Project for a local reading group called the Monday Afternoon Club.  Club members in towns and villages who had no access to a library would receive books in wooden crates for their reading pleasure.  Once read, the books would then be shipped back to Mrs. Barnes for redistribution.

Soon, other people around the country thought of ways to put books into the hands of children everywhere.  The era of the Book Mobile was born.  Throughout the year lucky children could now line up when the book mobile came to town and be able to select a book of their very own to read.  Many times this was the only way a child could discover the magical worlds created by books.

There will always be a need for the book mobile program.  Some places simply don't have the access to public libraries, and sometimes the people who live in these places don't have a car to get to a library even if there was one available.

  

But I am finding that the human spirit can never be held down for long.  People always seem to find a way around obstacles in their path between themselves and their books. 

With the federal funding being pulled from the Reading Is Fundamental program, there is an increased risk that many children may no longer have access to books.  Encouraged by others still willing to make books available to readers of all ages, I helped create the Reading For Kicks program at my TaeKwonDo school.  For the elementary schools I visit, those children will no longer have to worry about whether they will still receive free books each year.  It is a program near and dear to my heart as I share my love for books with others.

  

Book mobiles have come a long way since Mrs. Barnes' time, and I think she would be amazed by today's way of delivering books.  I'm not sure if she originated the idea of the book mobile but she certainly had the passion and the initiative to go where others had not gone before.

Even in this digital age readers can find access to the internet down on the corner when the book mobile pulls into town.  No matter the method, the link between a child and their books will never be broken.  And as for the book mobile hanging in that one classroom?  Maybe they need to be a little more creative...

Is It A Train Or Train Wreck?

I sometimes think beginning a new story for me is like going on a trip.  Some trips are planned in great detail, while others are spur of the moment.  Some writers spend hours if not days creating a finely drawn out plan on exactly what they are going to write and others, like myself, will probably start out with a general idea and maybe a very rough outline of what is going to happen.  Either way, there is a growing level of excitement on wanting to step off on that grand new adventure.

Destiny's train is coming and it's coming for you.  Leaving any doubts behind, you are ready to jump on board and see where the open road will take you.  First class passengers travel with all the skills and resources they need to produce the best work possible.  Second class passengers probably have enough to get by, but it can be rough going at times.  Steerage simply hang on with a hope and a prayer that maybe they will lucky enough to make things work.

At first, the going is smooth with clear skies ahead and a beautiful view.  Words flow from your fingertips like raindrops off a tin roof.  You just know a band will be waiting for you when your train pulls into publication station.  But what if you haven't taken the time to prepare for this journey properly?  What will you do if there are fallen trees or other obstacles in your path?  

What if your story becomes a runaway train and you are holding on for dear life?  What will you do then?    I have a feeling that beginner writers who try to rush and push their way to early publication run the risk of having that runaway train taking control of their work.  Without the proper training, foundation or skill level, new writers can end up becoming another sad statistic on that path to publication.  

Their stories lack the strength or creativeness to stay on track and end up a train wreck.  Weak characters, poor grammar, and other writing mistakes eat away at the story until all that is left is carnage and the twisted framework of what could have been.  And who will be around to salvage the pieces?

I choose to plot my journey with slow, careful steps.  I will lay the groundwork of a strong foundation and as my blog name suggests, I will stay ON THE WRITE TRACK until I am certain that I am creating the best literary work that I can.  And if the day ever comes that I think my train is getting away from me?  I will simply choose another way to travel...

Flexing My Blogging Muscles

I've read many blog interviews over these past few months and I've always wondered how these things happen.  How does someone end up on someone's blog to be interviewed?  I mean, do they just knock on someone's blog site and say, "Hey, can I come in"?  Maybe they slip a little note under the door hinting that they would love it if someone would interview them.

Then I realized that blog interviews are simply another way of getting to know each other out there in the Blogosphere.  Like a couple of old friends catching up on the latest events.  Or new friends chatting over a cup of tea.  And since the blogging world is made up of a much larger community of like-minded individuals...those who are curious about writers just like themselves...people to interview shouldn't be too hard to come by.

I met a new writer friend through Rachel Harrie's  Fourth Platform-builders Campaign .  Chris Kelworth has been blogging much longer than myself and he graciously allowed me to be one of his Campaigner Spotlight interviews.  If you would like to see the interview, you can go here    http://kelworthfiles.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/campaigner-spotlight-donna-martin

I must admit I was nervous because this was my first "official" interview as a writer, and I wanted to make a good impression.  And since I was also talking about my blog, I wanted new visitors to my posts to only have one thing on their mind when they leave me...

I appreciate Chris taking the time to come up with thoughtful questions which put me at ease, making my first interview such a nice experience.  If you are new to blogging and someone asks you if you would like to be interviewed, jump at the chance!  It's a way to flex your blogging muscles and get your name out there.  So to my new blogger buddy, Chris, what else can I say, but...

Some Of My Favorite Things

Last night I received a pleasant surprise from Melissa Mead and I'm sure she didn't even realize what she had done.  When Melissa decided to become a follower of my blog last night, she became my ONE HUNDREDTH FOLLOWER since I started this blog back on December 6th of last year!  As I have mentioned before, I quite literally stumbled upon Blogger one day when I accidently hit some random button and suddenly I had a blog account I didn't know what to do with.  I decided to do what I do best and began writing little posts to help encourage and lift the spirits of beginner writers like myself who might be feeling moments of overwhelming stress as they try to figure out the rules of this writing game. Just as suddenly I began to have followers and it really touches my heart to realize someone thinks my words have value.  It also made me think about some of my other favorite things.

I'm thinking most people dream of owning their own car when they are growing up.  Not that they actually got to buy that car of their dreams, but the thought of the freedom that came with it was intoxicating.  One of my favorite things is a nice car with someone to drive me around.  Not that it happens often, but when it does I feel like a celebrity.

Who wouldn't like a hot drink on a cold morning? My favorite winter drink is hot cocoa with marshmallows in the morning and hot tea at night.  There is something reminiscent about wrapping my chilled fingers around a hot mug that floods my mind with memories of dry towels and homemade cocoa waiting for me when I got home from elementary school on a rainy day.  These days I can grab a mug and invite that child of my youth to sit by my side as we create new stories together.

How true that some of the best things in life are the friends and family we gather close to us.  My family has seen the best and worst  of me over the years and sometimes I am surprised they are still in my corner,  cheering me on as I try to fulfill a life long goal of writing children's stories.  My friends are loved ones of my own choosing and for that reason they are incredibly precious to me.  They have come into my life to challenge me to become a better person, a stronger spirit, and to repay their friendship by spreading the love around and paying it forward every day by offering the gift of friendship to those around me.

YOU are one of my favorite things.  I want to thank each and every one of my one hundred followers.  Thank you for stopping by my blog.  Thank you for every comment you have posted telling me how you find my daily posts inspirational.  Thank you for your own encouraging words when I find myself stumbling along this path to publication.  And thank you, Melissa Mead, for symbolizing the collective spirit of this writing community.  We wrap our arms around each other and form a loving bond that strengthens us all.  I can't imagine a better place to be than among friends today.

I'm Texty And I Know It

When you stop and think about it, there are probably millions, if not billions, of books in the world these days.  Just look around and you will find people everywhere writing, blogging, and texting until we could literally float away on a river of words.  There is strength in those numbers and if everyone is doing it, then all those words must mean something.  Right?

Not necessarily.  Some words when chosen carefully, can quite literally change the course of history.  But then there are other words that tear humanity down.  No matter how they are camouflaged, words of hate reflect on the character of the writer themselves and do nothing to lift up the people they target.

I'm texty and I know it.  I want my words to mean something.  I want the stories I create to be built on a foundation of respect for others.  I want to honor their existence by choosing carefully the magic I bring them, for my words can either lift the spirit or do untold damage.

Some writers don't realize the power they have within themselves.  Or maybe they don't care.  Maybe some writers simply want their fifteen minutes of fame no matter how it may hurt those around them at the time.  I believe in my heart that most writers are better than that.  The writers I have met are creators of empowering works of written art which help this world become a little bit better place.  Their kind and giving nature challenges them to choose their words carefully so that others may see the beauty they envision.

Which type of writer are you?  Does your writing lift up your readers, encouraging them to always strive to become a better version of themselves?  Or do you leave them feeling lost and misguided because you have not taken the time to make your words the strongest they can be?  The success of a writer is built from many things, but the most important building blocks you have is your words.