bnd-writenow

bnd-writenow: I'm logging on today for the first time in a while.

While I was away on school vacation in April, my brother - in Texas - went through a very bad time. He's been out on medical leave since then.

I've been spending my FS time focusing on him thru prayer, phone calls and lengthy e-mails... LOL - he likes my writing! Despite all the nice things I've heard from other sources, the praise of my big brother had me doing a happy dance.

He said I should write a book at some point about how we survived our childhood. So, we're saving our e-mails and notes.

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The first chapter of my co-authored teen book (creative non-fiction about a local food/sustainability project) is ready to send off to agents/publishers. I'm focusing on gathering submission guideline as well as names of agents and publishers. LOL - it feels like I'm not writing, but this is an important part of the process!

I'll be back on fs before too long... I have some updates to post about Haiti.


I miss my friends and their awesome writing.
Bonnie

bnd-writenow: I'm so busy these days, I can hardly keep up with life in the real world, much less here in the virual realms...

I came across this quote, and had to laugh. I hope you enjoy it, too:

"Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers." Isaac Asimov

I'm thrilled to be a co-winner in the Train of Thoughts contest! I entered by accident while I was reviewing the rules to review an entry.

Thank you for your votes, kind reviews and support!

bnd-writenow: For some, truth is viseral, tangible and blatant. For others, truth is an elusive, formless entity - a distant goal.

Here's my quote for the day -

"Once in a while you will stumble upon the truth but most of us manage to pick ourselves up and hurry along as if nothing had happened." Winston Churchill

Now there's some food for thought...

bnd-writenow: No - there are no such things as bukus, Tolkus, prokus, or the like! I made them up for my Haiku Harvest collection to make a point and to make you all smile!

However, there is a tofu, dofu and my neighbor's poodle, Foofoo...

bnd-writenow: Here's my quote for the day - seems to fit what's happening to me in this weird time of seasonal change.

After the previous week tantalizing us with spring promises, it's down in the teens at night, with chilly, breeezy days...

It's too cold to do this, too warm to do that... I'm feeling stagnant, on the verge of major movement...

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Will Rogers

bnd-writenow: With the spring playing its fickle tricks - 75 on Saturday and it snowed on Sunday - my thoughts have been running to the same extremes. Shadowing the weather, it's been hard for my spirit to settle - so restless; my mind's playing tricks on me as well as everyone else, it seems.

So here's the quote I like today:

"I don't think there's anything unique about human intelligence. All the neurons in the brain that make up perceptions and emotions operate in a binary fashion." Bill Gates

Yup - just switches, going on and off. Simple.

Okay, so nerdiness is a part of me - I think algebraically, or in patterns.

Now you know one of my biggest secrets. (*^.^*)

bnd-writenow: To all the Irish, or Irish wannabees -

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

bnd-writenow: Happy Birthday to me!

bnd-writenow: No quote today!

Happy New Year to all our Asian friends and others who celebrate the lunar calendar.

So, XIN NIAN HAO!

Let's hope the year of the tiger is a happy, healthy prosperous year for everyone!

bnd-writenow: With the flu kicking me in the butt, I've not been up for posting to FS, although I sold one story about Haiti to a paper.

Just as I started feeling better, the Jeep died, but was resurrected a week later, for very little $$ - Bless my machanic! He could have easily soaked me for a grand, but, hopefully, he didn't use paper clips and duct tape since he charged less than $100!

So, I've been thinking about science, physics, motion, karma and grace. This is a logical progression for my Piscean mind...

So here's a thought for today:

"The less you know, the more you believe." by Bono

Food for thought...

bnd-writenow: Since the last contest I won was a DJ for the Night at a local radio station many years ago, I am happy my poem won the New Arrival Poetry contest. My sincere thanks goes to the FS board members for this honor as well as the support of many FS members. I will put my gift certificate to good use.

As I get ready to post several works about Haiti in a few days, I ask that you keep your attention, support and prayers focused on this small island nation. TV crews, already moving on to current headlines, report less every day. Yet, as the initial catastrophe passes, need grows.

I came across this quote my Martin Luther King, Jr. and it reflects my feelings today:

"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."

Haiti's people have a long history of struggle and suffering and the death toll of this earthquake made for sacrifice of biblical proportions.

Now is the time for justice.

FanStory wrote to bnd-writenow: Congratulations! New Arrival Blues won the contest "New Arrival Poetry"

bnd-writenow: My heart is filled with sadness for the Haitian people during this catastrophe. As I prepare writings for FS and print, my prayers go out to those in need as well as those attempting to deliver aid.

I pray that by working together in Haiti, the international aid groups will bring hope to surviors of this tragedy.

"People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society." Vince Lombardi

bnd-writenow: Although I write non-fiction, I read tons of fiction. My favorite writings tend to be adventure, fantasy and sci-fi. I also like historical novels and other genres that carry me away, so I'm in the story rather than on my couch. My record is 13 in one week, but I had dengue fever at the time, and could do little else.

My favorite book is Trinity by Leon Uris - it's about a 1000 pages and I've read it 8 times. I'm due to pick it up again, and I suspect it is the reason why I love the Irish so much.

While I love novels from long ago, I want a story that sets the scene, develops characters and moves along at a quick pace. Keeping in present tense (or past, when appropriate) rather than over using passsive voice is key to the action. I love Poe, but he wrote in his day, and we must write in ours.

Here's a little advice from a well-known Maine writer - you may have heard of him:

"In many cases when a reader puts a story aside because it 'got boring,' the boredom arose because the writer grew enchanted with his powers of description and lost sight of his priority, which is to keep the ball rolling."

Stephen King from On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

...he does a rather good job with that ball...

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bnd-writenow: I love this quote by Eric Clapton. Although a musician, it relates to writers, too, and encourages us to free our spirits and follow our own paths.

"It's been very important throughout my career that I've met all the guys I've copied, because at each stage they've said, "Don't play like me, play like you."" Eric Clapton

bnd-writenow: Hmm... Reviews are, for the most part, fun - both writng and receiving.

May reviewers, professional and otherwise, expand their knowledge by reading critique guidelines offered by many professionals, on several awesome sites.

I never want my writing to appear dated or only appeal to those above 40. If the majority of teachers and editors had negative attitudes, offering no encouragement, many great novels, poems, and other works would never reach the public. Few would bother to write, much less read.

"It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be." Isaac Asimov

bnd-writenow: Here's my quote for today, after thinking about numbers yesterday. Most people know Asimov for his sci-fi stories and the Laws of Robotics. He wrote creative tales of horror, mystery and unknown forces in his Black Widowers stories. His math books offered insight and creative teaching ideas.

"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster." Isaac Asimov

bnd-writenow: Well, in light of the late afternoon hour, I'm a little late thinkng of a quote to start the day... Humor's been a big factor today, and so has math. So, who else besides Albert Einstein could I quote? Okay, clearly Isaac Asimov - a noted mathematician as well as a writer.

But, Albert won out this time.

"When you are courting a nice girl, an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder, a second seems like an hour. That's relativity." Albert Einstein

Math and physics can be so simple!

bnd-writenow: Here's the quote that fits my mood today:

"Life is one big road with lots of signs.
So when your riding through the ruts,
don't complicate your mind.
Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy.
Don't bury your thoughts,
put your vision to reality.
Wake Up and Live!"

Bob Marley

Isn't that what we yearn to do in our writing - to "put your visions to reality?"

I find inspiration in spiritual books and teachings, but like wisdom from songs, writings and speeches that are less esoteric. I connect with words written by the flawed, real humans on a more personal level.

And on another note, with the dribbles of snow, I wonder when our pounding storm will come... There's just enough to be a pain, but will another bad storm pass us by this time?

bnd-writenow: "If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace." John Lennon

Welcome to the first day of a new year. Doesn't 01/01/10 look like an auspicious date?

Here's my sincerest wish - may all of you have a wonderful new year, filled with lessons learned, enough resources to meet all of your needs (but not all of your wants), friendship, laughter, peace, love (in some true form), spiritual growth and a muse willing to hang out all year long.

bnd-writenow: Here's my thought for the day, and a good plan for the new year:

"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip." By Will Rogers

I'm trying to figure out how to post a photo of Rocco here, but no luck so far. I can delete my photo, and replace it with his, but not add.

After releasing my first free verse poem in decades, I love knowing so many animal lovers hang out on FS.

Thank you all for your support and stories about your own rescues.