What Am I Doing Here?

Did you ever get on your blog to post a new one and just sat there thinking, "What am I doing here?  I don't have anything to write today.  I don't know what to say.  What would I have to say that would be interesting to other blog readers?"  Well, that's where I am today.  I've been searching through all my writing books and can't seem to find anything I feel comfortable enough to write about.  I've thought back through my life as a writer and I don't think there are really any interesting stories that I can share with everyone.  So I'm going to start rambling and see what I can come up with today.

I started writing poems and music when I was 17.  Are they good?  Probably not!  Did I enjoy writing them?  Yes!  Have I ever been published?  Nope!  Do I want to be published?  Yep!  I have come pretty close to being published.  Twice I've had my story picked to be included in a book and twice they had to cut a few stories and of course mine was one of them.  That alone tells me that I'm good enough to be published.  I have sent in many songs and there are the usual "not what we're looking for" rejection slips from many publishers.  I've also had a few who wrote personal notes telling me I have talent and they would like to see more of my work.  There was even a couple of publishers who called to see if I could do some rewrite of my music and make it more country.  Did I do that?  Nope!  I tried.  It seems that when I have music written, I can't get my mind to change it for anything.  The music fits the words and that's it.  I think I'm stuck in my ways!

So here I've rambled about a whole lot of nothing but at least I blogged.  It's probably not one of my best blogs but sometimes we take the good with the bad.  When you're having trouble coming up with something to blog about, just start writing.  Who knows, you might come up with your best blog ever.  Keep writing!

Karen Sperra

More Bizarre and Unique Holidays

This is the last of the unique and bizarre holidays for the month of September.  I hope you have a good time trying to come up with an interesting story or poem to go with at least one of these crazy holidays.  Have fun!

Sept. 11  911 Rememberance
Sept. 11  Make Your Bed Day
Sept. 11  No News Is Good News Day
Sept. 12  Chocolate Milk Shake Day
Sept. 12.  National Video Games Day
Sept. 13  Defy Superstition Day
Sept. 13  Fortune Cookie Day
Sept. 13  National Peanut Day
Sept. 13  Positive Thinking Day
Sept. 13  Uncle Sam Day-his image was first used in 1813
Sept. 14  National Cream-filled Donut Day
Sept. 15  Make a Hat Day
Sept. 15  Felt Hat Day-on this day, men traditionally put away their felt hats.
Sept. 16  Collect Rocks Day
Sept. 16  Step Family Day
Sept. 16  May Flower Day
Sept. 16  Mexican Independence Day
Sept. 16  National Play Doh Day
Sept. 16  National Women's Friendship Day (third Sunday in September)
Sept. 16  Working Parents Day
Sept. 17  National Apple Dumpling Day
Sept. 17  Citizenship Day
Sept. 17  Constitution Day
Sept. 18  National Cheeseburger Day
Sept. 19  International Talk Like A Pirate Day
Sept. 19  National Butterscotch Pudding Day
Sept. 20  National Punch Day
Sept. 21  International Peace Day
Sept. 21  Miniature Golf Day
Sept. 21  POW/MIA Recognition Day (third Friday of September)
Sept. 21  World Gratitude Day
Sept. 22  Business Women's Day
Sept. 22  Elephant Appreciation Day
Sept. 22  International Rabbit Day (fourth Saturday in September)
Sept. 22  Oktoberfest begins (date varies)
Sept. 23  Dog in Politics Day
Sept. 23  Checkers Day
Sept. 24  National Cherries Jubilee Day
Sept. 25  National Comic Book Day
Sept. 26  Johnny Appleseed Day
Sept. 27  Crush A Car Day
Sept. 28  Ask A Stupid Question Day
Sept. 28  National Good Neighbor Day
Sept. 28  Native American Day (fourth Friday of the month)
Sept. 29  Confucius Day
Sept. 30  National Mud Pack Day

Are you talking like a pirate today?  It's the day to do this!  Hope you enjoyed this bit of trivia.

Karen Sperra

9/11

                                                                                   Pat Zabriskie

Eleven years ago on this date, our country was attacked by terrorists. I hope television channels will run the devastating pictures as a reminder what people who hate us can do.

Everyone who witnessed this has his/her own memories. Mine are these: after breakfast I checked into one of the morning TV shows to get the news. I couldn’t believe what played before my eyes—a plane aiming for and crashing into the World Trade Center Tower.

At first I thought the plane had malfunctioned and this was a terrible accident. But when I saw the second plane, I knew some enemy had deliberately crashed into a familiar American landmark. A building filled with people. An international edifice that housed offices from many countries: Indians, Japanese, Americans, Europeans, and countless others.

We know there were hundreds of first responders, policemen, firefighters on duty. We’ll never know how many people helped. There was one group of noteworthy Americans whose names we’ll never know.

Across the river, a construction gang saw the disaster. In minutes, those men laid down their tools, jumped on the ferry and went to New York City to help.

On an unknown street in Newark, another work crew saw the residents of an ethnic community exit their homes and begin to dance and clap in the streets.

Elsewhere, people who commuted from NJ sat frustrated in gridlocked traffic. Wasn’t the first time that happened, but aggravation and agitation rode with them. They turned on the radio to get a traffic report, only to hear of the tragedy at the Trade Center. Aggravation was erased as a number of drivers realized their office in the WTC was gone, along with co-workers who made it to work on time.

Two of my grandchildren were in the city—one studying at Pratt, another on a work assignment. I sat in stunned silence as I watched the crowds running from the huge cloud of debris speeding after them. Would I see my grandkids’ frightened faces among them? I’m sure I was not the only person praying earnestly.

A young waiter who worked at the WTC’s restaurant on top of the world,

told us later, he was approaching his work when he saw the towers tumbling down. He rushed back to his nearby apartment, changed clothes and returned to help. That act saved his life. He was safe indoors when the worst of the debris flew.

America is a country blessed greatly by God. As Israel of old, we Americans have set aside our first faith and worship many idols. The God and Creator of heaven and earth, whose Name we use as a curse word, is replaced by the god of choice, to whom we sacrifice babies on Choice’s altar. The god of money for whom we cheat and trample the poor. The god of sexual immoralty who returns our worship with disease and divorce. The god of disrespect who teaches us not to care about our elders.

This is our present world. Can anyone ask, “Why doesn’t God do something …?” Because it is man’s fault. The result of human choices is war, famine, disaster, hatred, murder and horrifying abominations.

Today we remember our lost citizens, and the rescue forces who braved burning stairwells to save as many as possible. We remember the fearless Americans who thwarted the plan to hit the White House. They gave their lives.

The Bible speaks of this act, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at .just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might we willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:6-9

Nine-Eleven’s rescuers asked no question as to whether the people in the Trade Center were worth saving! No, they were ready to give their lives for anyone who needed them.

Christ stands ready to save anyone who calls on Him for help

Remember.

The Writer’s New Shelf

 

              In the Aug. 19^th edition of the Six Rural Writers’ Newsletter, I wrote an article entitled “A Writer’s Shelf.” In the article, I told about taking inventory of my writing related books, both on the oak bookshelves and on my Kindle & Kindle Fire, and said I would post those books on our blog. This week’s post includes only the books on my Kindles and in the “cloud.” I’ll post more books next week.

Writing Fiction for All You’re Worth by James Scott Bell 

(Mr. Bell is one of my particularly favorite authors of writing books and articles. He is entertaining as well as educational, and his enthusiasm for writing comes through. I also enjoy the fiction he writes.)

Getting the Words Right by Theodore A Rees Cheney   

(This is a great book on revision. Enjoyable to read and useful when you are in the throes of agony and want to throw out the first draft. His guidance will ease the pain.)

Write That Book already! : The Tough Love You Need to Get Published Now

by Sam Barry & Kathi Kamen Goldmark - aka: the Author Enablers - editors of this collection of helps from some of today’s top writers                                          (The title caught me…and I’m glad.)

Write Poetry Now by  Robert Lee Brewer             

(I subscribe to his blog, and have enjoyed him immensely. He writes the “Poetic Asides” column for Writer’s Digest and is the editor of the current, and past years, Poet’s Market )

The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing: Everything you need to know about creating & selling your work by the editors of Writer’s Digest

New Oxford Dictionary – 2^nd edition                        (Of course, I have a dictionary on here!)

A Writer’s Book of Days by Judy Reeves               

(One thing I appreciate about Amazon is the fact that I can download a sample to read, then purchase the book later if I like it. From the preview, I will buy this book.)

Creating Characters by Howard Lauther                                   (Downloaded the sample on my Kindle)

The Giant Book of Poetry - edited by William H. Roetzheim         

(It not only inspires my poetic bent, but other parts of my writing)

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nin Sankovitch                 

(The author’s year of reading a book a day, and has a complete list of the books she read)

Holy Bible: NASB                              

(not just for the soul, but also for the wonderful literature, beautiful poetry, riveting stories, and the moral compass we need for God to guide us)

      As you can imagine, carrying these books around would be rather cumbersome, so being able to have the inspiration, information, and the “get to it”prompting in a traveling form is a great boon to the writer. I hope this gives you a few ideas for your own library and, if you don’t already have an e-reader, helps you decide on whether one would be beneficial to you.

Happy reading…and writing!

Jerolyn Lockhart

 

Grandparents Day September 9, 2012

                                                                     Christine Stamp

We Grandparents have a special day set aside for us because of one
woman, Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade. She was mother of 15,
Grandmother of 43, and great-grandmother of 15. On September 26, 2008
Mrs. McQuade passed away at the age of 91.

Mrs. McQuade was a passionate advocate for senior rights. She
campaigned tirelessly in 1970 to have a special day set aside just for
Grandparents. Between 1970 and 1978 she campaigned in all the 49
lower states for each state to adopt a resolution to proclaim a
special say for Grandparents. She was rewarded for her efforts in 1978
when the United States Congress passed legislation proclaiming the
first Sunday after Labor Day to be National Grandparents Day and
President Jimmy Carter signed it into law.  September was chosen to
signify the “autumn years of life”.

The Grandparents Day proclamation reads as follows: “Grandparents are
our continuing tie to the near-past, to events and beliefs and
experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us.
Whether they are our own or surrogate grandparents who fill some of
the gaps in our mobile society, our senior generation also provides
our society a link to our national heritage and traditions.”

So this Sunday, September 9, 2012 as you celebrate one of the greatest
events in your life of being a grandparent, say a little thank you to
Mrs. McQuade. I know that we’re supposed to receive cards and phone
calls from our grandchildren, but I look at it a bit differently, I’m
so thankful for those four little shining faces that I will be
giving them a call to let them know how honored I feel to be their
grandmother.

Ah, Fall!

                                                                                              Pat Zabriskie

I’m jumping the gun a bit as I welcome September—month of hope—these 90 degree days can’t last much longer. Those cool, chilly mornings assure me that Fall is hovering about. I wish she’d hurry up and kick Summer out soon.

Patience. I can make it, I think.

For some reason September seems to usher in a time of order.

In September, people settle into a different routine. The kids go back to school, people stop vacationing, and resume a more regular schedule.

Even though our five kids are grown with children of their own, I still love Fall.

Summer was brutally hot out here on the eastern plains of Colorado. Many 100 degree days. Everybody moving in sweaty, slow motion. My husband splits wood these cool mornings. I dream of windy days hunkered down by the fire with a book and a cuppa java. Probably by October.  Now, I can peaches, make plum butter and zucchini relish and use the oven instead of the crockpot.

Along with nostalgia and dreams, my Autumn invites me to my desk where I’ve sweated this past summer on my book draft. I’m writing the story out now and loving this phase of the work. By October, I hope to have it ready to submit.

So with hopes and dreams, I greet September. Before I know it, I’ll be handing out Halloween candy, cooking Thanksgiving dinner, and dashing around buying Christmas gifts.

For now, I’m content bringing to life a cast of characters I hope my readers will love, and will beg to read more about them.

A book contract by Christmas would be nice, too.