Silence, Writing, and Anne Lemott

Some books stimulate the muscle between the ears.

"The thing about light is that it really isn't yours; it's what you gather and shine back. And it gets more power from reflectiveness; if you set still and take it in, it fills your cup, and then you can give it off yourself."
Anne Lamott - Traveling Mercies

I spied Lamott's Traveling Mercies on the library shelf while sitting in a meeting at church. No doubt donated by a progressive parishioner, I was familiar with her name from years of referencing her writing helps in Bird by Bird. I plucked this volume, subtitled Some Thoughts on Faith, and reflected--what am I doing?I'm in the middle of three book studies and have 17 books I have not read, plus I have this blog and my novel to edit and complete. I devoured this personal epistle of short stories in less than a week, and I don't want to give it back. What do you think God thinks about covetousness to the point of stealing a book from the church library, Anne? No doubt, he loves me.

I'll probably purchase this one for my own library, but first I'm anxious to reread it on several different levels. Published in '99, it's still poignant and satisfying in an armchair coffee-sipping type way, but her faith journey in brutal honesty fascinates the author wanna-be in me. Anne's poetic prose infuse me; make me want to write more creatively with sincerity and openness, and lest I lie, covett the other two books on the church shelf by Lamott.

From One Friend to Another - KUDOS

Last time I blogged about friends who help. This video came from another. Sit back and accept this hug from me. xxoo

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=hN8CKwdosjE

Techno Anxiety Attack

"Life is partly what we make of it, and partly what is made by the friends we choose."
Tehi Hsieh

This week I've had the great good fortune to have two different friends hold my hand (the one with the mouse) and help me tackle my electronic presence!

Almost 10 years ago, I went to a marketing seminar and was told a first time author has to do their own marketing. Now, with the advent of facebook and twitter, publishers not only expect a well crafted, perfectly pitched book, they also want to know how large is my electronic reach.
A semi-recluse-writer-type who never figured out my kid's VCR lesson before it was replaced by a home theater system and three remotes, I suffer from electronic angst. This all brings me back to my friends, Jan Rider Newman and Kay Huck who helped me maneuver blogspot and facebook this week; discovering that, an old bitch can indeed learn new tricks.

Jan, my go-to-person for blogspot info, has a great blog, "Beyond Acadiana: Reading, Writing, and Living Well," and Kay is The Queen of facebooking and the Pulpwood Queens Bookclub of Southwest Louisiana. Both women graciously gave me their time, and I'm honored to call them friends.

I reiterate what Albert Schweiter said once, "Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light." Or maybe in my case,

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." Bernard Meltzer

Either way, we're not meant to go it alone.

My Muse

As a writer having not exactly writers block, but writer's procrastination, I decided to take a Leisure Learning course at our local McNeese State University. The class, Muse in Your Box: A Unique Approach to Creative Writing, was offered by Janice Repka, a professor and author that I had studied under before. Last week was the first of three two hour sessions, and I am already at my computer writing poetry! Our first class assignment was to envision what our muse would look like. It was a fun exercise that lead to this:



Dah Muse

My muse, she is chocolate clad in combat boots,
melting into thoughts,
a pound of whoop-ass for my insecurities.
A liquid nymph with multiple eyes
sees my blind spots – crystallizes ideas
that moment before dawn awakens into reality.
Filmy, billowing, smoke floats between my ears
curls through the gray matter,
sliding out my fingers, quickening my breath,
a flash on the monitor.


For more about Janice Repka go to her website at janicerepka.com

The Short term of it.

My memory has been bothering me the past 10 years. I've never had what would be called a quick intellect. The gray cells of my mind have always leaned more to the slow and steady variety, traveling around the wrinkles of my brain several loops before they discover the right electric pathway. But, of late, my memory actually seems a little clearer. (Maybe I just can't remember what I was like.) However, I chalk up this small success in mental prowess to de-stressing my life. I've decided it's OKAY to forget someones name, or to forgive myself if I lock my keys in the car - last week. It's okay that I'm not perfect. What a relief.

I didn't realize how many people are concerned about their memory until a friend sent a download of a video that I found funny, if not a little scary. There is solace in the proverb, "misery likes company." I'll attempt to share (the video). Please forgive me if I fail.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzSaoN2LdfU

January I hit the road running, attending the Pulpwood Queen's convention, better known as the Girlfriends Weekend, with host Kathy Patrick and 300 other quests in the little Texas Town of Jefferson. It was a great time meeting new and used authors from around the country. I brought home a stack of books; enough to keep me busy until 2012! I just started reading an old favorite, To Kill A Mockingbird. Makes me want to rent the movie.