June 30, 2005
Today’s Quote
From Pat Green’s “Poetry"
“I can’t explain a blessed thing
Not a fallen star or a feathered wing
How a man in chains has the strength to sing
‘I’ll fly away’."
Posted by Selena at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2005
Writing Prompts
Writers are always looking for good writing prompts to jump-start their idea engine or just to use for writing practice. So I thought I’d share my favorite writing prompt sources.
The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood
A Writer’s Book of Days by Judy Reeves
WritersDigest.com at http://www.writersdigest.com/index.asp
(look for writing prompts in the right column, midway down)
Enjoy.
Posted by Selena at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)
June 27, 2005
Good Reading-Sci Fi Edition
For today’s good reading, go to The Sword Review and check out “Beautiful Dreamer" by Edward McKeown. It’s really good. It got to me. I’m not ashamed to say I cried.
http://www.theswordreview.com/contents.php
Favorite line: “We will see who can offer the Concordiat a better dream." I love that the aliens in the story choose their leader by who provides a better dream, a better vision of what the future can be.
Posted by Selena at 09:37 PM | Comments (0)
Good News
Heard from the vet today and Charlie’s blood sugar is in the OK range. (Whew.)
So, the insulin is working, the new dose is working, it’s all working. We gotta just keep doing what we’re doing and have his blood sugar re-checked in six months.
Posted by Selena at 07:27 PM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2005
He who hesitates…
This morning I discovered a great writing opportunity. I was so excited I jotted down ideas before I went to work and while I was on my way to work.
But tonight, I found that the opportunity is no longer there. The call for authors has disappeared from the website.
Grrr.
I guess it serves me right for not applying right away.
Or maybe God intervened because He had something better in mind.
I was praying for a sign on my way home about whether or not I should apply.
Guess I got a pretty clear sign.
Posted by Selena at 09:16 PM | Comments (0)
June 25, 2005
Dealing w/ Difficult People
I was thinking this morning about some difficult people I have to deal with and I realized this...
It would help me be more compassionate and tolerant with them if I could remember to take into account their circumstances, their lives.
Some professions and situations are particularly soul-crushing, full of rejection and criticism and uncertainty. That affects people, impairs them in a myriad subtle ways, perhaps in ways they don't even realize.
It makes sense to remember that when dealing with difficult people. Keeping in mind the other person’s subjective experience of the world helps me be more understanding and kind when they are, in my opinion, behaving badly.
Everybody is doing the best they can at any given moment. And that's all we can reasonably expect of each other.
If I can manage to be compassionate with other people when they’re being difficult, maybe people will be gentle with me on those hopefully rare occasions when I’m the one being grumpy and unreasonable.
Posted by Selena at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)
June 24, 2005
Reading Right Now: The Time Traveler’s Wife
I just got The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffennegger. The literary, time-traveling romance vibe appealed to me.
I just started it, but it’s really good so far.
Posted by Selena at 05:08 PM | Comments (0)
Living Cheap
Today I returned about $100 worth of stuff I shouldn’t have bought. I’ve got a real weakness for pretty clothes. Is there a 12-step program I can join? ;)
I’ve also recently cancelled the health club membership I rarely used and dialed down a couple other memberships to less expensive versions. I’m trying to cut my expenses so I can pay off my debts and live cheaper.
Being able to live cheap is a valuable trait for someone planning to pursue writing as a career. Wouldn't you say?
It’s all part of my master plan.
Posted by Selena at 05:03 PM | Comments (0)
June 23, 2005
Today’s Tally
I got a lot done today. I sent off a couple more submissions, bringing the total pending to ten – definitely a record. It seems I’ve been in a submitting mood lately, not so much a writing new stuff mood. But now I’m going to work on new scenes of stories started but too long neglected.
I’m trying to learn Dreamweaver but haven’t gotten very far. I did the introduction and tutorial today but didn’t find it helpful.
My main page [http://selenathomason.com/] is kind of boring design-wise right now but I guess it’s not bad for a beginner. Besides I’m a word-person not a picture-person. It’s the content not the visuals that are important to me. Still, I’d like to figure out how to do a banner at the top with a different background color, maybe find a couple cool pictures or graphics to use. But, that’s for tomorrow.
Posted by Selena at 07:39 PM | Comments (0)
Reading Right Now: Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers
I finally finished reading Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers. (It’s a good book, I've just been busy with other stuff.)
What sticks with me most from this morning’s 2 am reading (couldn’t sleep, too stressed) is that it’s best to keep your coping strategies flexible but that we tend to think that if an approach isn’t working that we just need to try harder.
So, what is the healthiest approach?
“Coping responses built around fixed rules and flexible strategies. This requires that we fight a reflex common to most of us. If something bad is happening and our attempts to cope are not working, one of the most common responses is to, well, go back in there and just try twice as hard to cope in the usual way. Although that sometimes does the trick, that’s rare. During times of stress, finding the resources to try something new is really hard and is often just what’s needed." (p.412)
It’s that last line that particularly struck me in the wee small hours. “During times of stress, finding the resources to try something new is really hard and is often just what’s needed." Faced with chronic stress and my usual strategies not working, I’ve been thinking of trying something new, making a change.
For more of Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, check out these earlier posts:
http://www.selenathomason.com/bblog/archives/00000030.html
(part of the lost ones, so it’s far down the page, the 3-11 post)
and Recommended Books at
http://www.selenathomason.com/bblog/archives/00000008.html
Posted by Selena at 10:26 AM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2005
Old Blog Link
For old blog entries click here http://www.selenathomason.com/bblog/
Posted by Selena at 09:18 PM | Comments (0)
Today’s Tally
Ok, so at least I didn’t waste the day. I did get a lot of writing in. I even sent off two subs. I’ve now got a total of seven subs pending. Could be a record.
Also got some new blog software, trying Movable Type this time. And here it is. What do you think?
I’ll probably post entries here and in the old blog for a while to be on the safe side. To quote “Beauty and the Beast" again – “I’ve been burned by you before." Funny how that quote works in so many contexts.
Posted by Selena at 08:29 PM | Comments (0)
Three Days Off
I have the next three days off. I’m gonna try not to waste it. By which I mean, I’m gonna try to get some writing done.
Heather Sellers says “If you take one day off writing, your muse will take the next three."
Sadly, that means I will probably be writing junk the next few days. But I’ve got to get back into it.
Posted by Selena at 05:50 PM | Comments (0)