What mask are you wearing?

Today is Halloween when kids and adults dress up and let loose. Yet I can't help but think that today is the one day of the year when people honestly state they are wearing a mask of their choosing.

We all wear masks. The mask of the good employee, pretending to be interested in status updates, excel spread sheets and power point slides. But the truth is that it is a mask.

We wear a mask in school we sit obediently and memorize and respond with the right answer for a grade.

And then Halloween comes around and we don't have to pretend, we can be what our heart desires, we can be a witch because it has been that type of year. We can be a vampire to reflect the soul suckers in our lives. We can be the nurse because we are caregivers.

But on Halloween we can just be and no one expects any differently from us.

Back up your writing

If you are a writer you know how important it is to keep your files safe. I am highlighting SugarSync today because they are free and if you want premium service you they are having a sale

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Creating my own world

When people ask me why I want to write, for me it is the ability to create my own world to create my own stories, to create my own characters. Granted once I start writing the characters have a funny way of behaving and going rogue.

But I have to tell you a secret as writer when one of your characters goes rogue and behaves in an unexpected way that is when whether you admit it or not you fall in love with these make believe people. In those rogue moments they are REAL, you no longer have control and you are telling their story and my oh my their stories can be amazing.

So create your stories but look forward to that moment when they get rebellious and they act out of character trust me those are the ones  you never forget.

Defiance

I hate hearing the word "no" especially in response to a request. I hate the feeling that I should be thankful when crumbs of kindness are thrown my way. I hate the feeling that my time, my thoughts, my view must be moderated by someone who doesn't know or doesn't care how I feel.

So I write, I write in defiance of people who tell me that meaningful work is done between 9-5pm.  I write in defiance of people who claim I must be on a certain schedule. I defy people who tell me to stay within the lines, to only use crayons and use my indoor voice.

I have a brain and I will use it, my brain belongs to me. Nothing you say will make me change my views, opinions or thoughts. You can use threats, force, blackmail but trust me in the end I will defy you and I will laugh. I was born to be free and no cage for my own security will keep me trapped for to long. No amount of fear-mongering will keep me from spreading my wings and climbing higher. No amount of negative comments or hateful words will keep me from my goal.

For to many years I listened to everyone else, because I am a good girl well now I am ME. So I will defy everyone who says: "I am not" because I am.

I want my last thoughts on my deathbed to be yeah I did it, not I wish I had tried.

Perpetual twilight

I woke up today with a half dark sky. And as the day wore on the day barely brightened. The birds were gone and it was quiet outside. Nature knows the storm is coming so it is preparing itself for what is to come knowing that it will weather is all part of a cycle.

The notice came as a text no work tomorrow and the twilight lingered. I think twilight will linger through the storm and then sun will break through as it always does after a storm.

Torn to pieces

If books were an unhealthy addiction, I would never be clean and truth is I would give into my addiction gladly. Thankfully books are an addiction with only mind blowing side effects such as: making you laugh, cry, wonder in amazement feel fear, feel joy etc.

Lately I have not been reading because I don't want my writing to be influenced by another author. Apparently one of the Lisbeth's didn't get the memo we are creative in an empty room with bare walls and only a chair and it would still be a party. And let me tell you it would be an epic party.

Because I had been denying myself of my drug and self control is a muscles that taxes itself with to much exertion (just read the study so now I have proof) I caved, cracked, succumbed to read.

Oh it felt good every single page turn was a new rush of wonderful stimulating endorphins that can only be compared to a good time, good food or good sex.

When I was done with the book I realized something interesting the book had given me a completely DIFFERENT idea of the premise and outcome of the book. So my brain must be working harder smarter.

And I the brain scurried here and there I realized it wasn't just the book it was the accumulation of many books and the idea my brain is currently consumed by would have never happened without the previous hundreds of authors plus the book I just finished.

Moral of the story: when you write you need to read a lot.

So I do think it is possible to read for pleasure and continue to write.

Excuse me I need to take another hit the second book is calling me....

Is being creative an accident? Or are we born creative?

Now sometimes I lay on the couch and I wonder how my brain can have so many great interesting ideas. And then I remember it started with this:

I mean seriously a cross-dressing rabbit? And let me tell you folks I thought that episode was EPIC I mean I wanted to watch that one episode over and over again (my mom was concerned but she thought ehhhh just a cartoon how bad can it be)

But then I turned 6 and I realized I was in need of more mature entertainment and I found this:

Her aunt pimps her out!!! And they do it to song and dance!!! I mean till this day if you throw on a song and start dancing I can be entertained by all kinds of craziness (explains my unwholesome Bollywood obsession)

Then I turned 10 I mean I was a grown up ready to TACKLE PROBLEMS and Hollywood show me the truth of my future.

Seriously I didn't stand a chance, my brain was forever conditioned to negotiate every interaction like a potential plot point in a movie.....Don't get me started on what I tried to do when I read Madeline L'Engles A Wrinkle in Time (I will save that for another day)

How about you? Were you born or did you become creative?

It is ok to be happy but it is better to make miserable people happy

If you watch the news, read the paper or go online you can find an infinite number of ways to be unhappy.

So how does being happy start? A sprinkle of self-esteem, a cup of love, a pound of nurturing , 3/4 of tolerance, 4 cups sense of humor,5 cups of patience, 6 cups of compassion. And then you don't stop stirring. People will tell you your dish is to rich or to bland.

But don't forget what makes you unique is the fact that your happiness can not be found by chasing the dream of others.

Being happy is finding those quite moments and LISTENING to the silence, listening to the space between your breath and reflecting on those things which you are grateful. And when you are ready to communicate you communicate from a place of love and understanding even when you don't understand the world around you.

Want to make yourself really happy? Gather a piece of paper, your tablet, laptop, pens, pencils crayons etc. I will wait until you get back.

Right now in your life is a person so repugnant you cant think about them without bile rising in your throat. Now I want you to write that persons story, before you start to whine you don't know their background that makes this project even more fun. Imagine what turned them into a repugnant, obnoxious, bitter, miserable person.

But we aren't done, next step write the second part of the story where you and this person meets and write it from their perspective. We aren't done yet now I want you to end the book. If you believe in the world of karma or paying it forward I challenge you to write a happy ending to end all endings. By the time your story is finished this person should be completed healed.

Now I know you are wondering why would I write a story about someone who is repugnant? People aren't born bitter, angry etc. life changes them and it is up to us to stand fast and not let their negative energy infect us. By writing their own happy ending you can see the alternatives and you may also discover that the world has very few heroes and villains but is full of just normal people doing the best they can with what they have at any given moment.
 

You are all grown up, so what do you want to be when you grow up?

Time to wake up and smell life. Life will happen to you whether you are prepared or not. Time will come and go, what you do with your time will depend only on YOU.

How many ideas, thoughts, and wishes do you have on the back burner?

How long will you let them simmer? Taking the first step is scarey but not taking the first step will lead to a lifetime of regret.

So what do you want to be when you grow up? You say you are 40 now, well guess what all things being even you still have another 20-30+ years of life left. How do you want to spend them?

The right tools to write

Ask three authors what tools, techniques they use to bring out their inner muse and you will get 3 different answers.

I have read multi-page blog posts waxing poetics on: outlines, index cards, cork boards, legal pads, napkins, post it etc.

I purposely did not mention software and hardware, I have heard of an author who wrote his entire book using his cellphone, others will swear by certain software programs i.e. Scrivener, Dragon Dictation,  MS Word etc.

Then hardware, some authors feel more professional sitting at a desktop with an organized desk of notes and research by their side. Some authors swear by a laptop which they carry wherever the wind blows them.

And let us not forget Apps, I would start to mention some but then I would have to write up another blog post on apps.

And the apps do not include all the cloud synching capabilities available today: Dropbox, Box, SugarSync, iCloud, SkyDrive, GDrive etc.

How do I like to write? I prefer my laptop, synced to multiple cloud services (I use all of the above plus some) I need a comfortable chair and at some point I am going to need some coffee.

Two hours of writing and then 45 minutes of re-reading certain sections feels comfortable.  On a good day in two hours I can bang out 10-12 pages, on a not good day 3-5.

So what are the right tools for writing? is it your iPad, a laptop, desktop, smart phone? I am curious to see more reviews for Microsoft's Surface tablet, but until then I will stick with my current routine.

A perfect moment

I am not a teacher, but I do work with schools. I was just outside in the playground with the 3-4 year old's and I experienced a moment of perfection. Little bodies playing, laughing and learning. Pointing out all the amazing trees like the red, yellow and green leaves. They played with dirt and made little house and forts. They pretended to be birds and monkeys and swing on the playground.

I looked around I jumped right in, yes I too played.

And it was amazing, all of a sudden I realized that the trees were magical they were multicolored and I could search for the treasure in each leaf.

That wasn't just dirt but a magical substance that could create a fortress. And the best part about playing was the lack of judgement the freedom to just be. The ability to live each second as they arise with no thoughts of past present or future.

Although the playtime was brief it was like my parched soul was watered, no judgements, no critics. While I was on the playground I could just be. And I cant think of a greater gift than to just be.

I hope you go outside and play as well :)

Concentration and Focus

Have a full-time and you are also working on your novel?

Then welcome to this:

People will say you are selfish, because you want to stay in and work on your novel. People will ask what is the point as you don't have a good chance of being published.

People will ask who do you think you are to believe in yourself and call yourself creative.

People will point out all the people who came before you and are still not published.

People will assume your novel is not good enough. People will assume you aren't smart, or creative enough.

People will call your writing a silly hobby. People will assume this is just a passing phase. People will tell you ad nauseum not to quit your day job even while you never mentioned quitting your day job.

People will assume that they are so interesting that you will want to somehow add a caricature of their likeness to your novel.

And that is what they will say to your face, behind your back the comments and gossip will be a lot nastier.

It is up to all of us who have a gift for story telling to hold fast to the belief to concentrate and focus on what feels right. Writing just feels right for me.

So for all the nay-sayers all the do gooders and all the non believers. I will be here tapping away on my keyboard. Because I believe in me. 

Writing the wrong way aka Do not try this at home

I have purchased every molskine, notebooks, writing pads, writing apps, writing software, outlines etc.

I have yet to find anything that feels right for writing. So everyday I write and re-write scenes in my head, scratching out words, deleting sentences, adding information. I sit down with the trusty laptop and I type out the scenes that have played in my head for days and sometimes weeks. In no way am I advocating or even suggesting this as a viable method for writers or writing.

I would gladly love to have some other system that works for me and as I continue on this journey I hope to find some system that does work and feels natural to my style.

Call Me Ishmael, No call me Rumpelstiltskin, actually just call me Lisbeth

I was watching Once Upon a Time last night and I kept thinking about Rumpelstiltskin today, because someone said something not nice to me.

I thought I didn't care because the person who said it not someone I admire or look to for guidance.

Then I guess my subconscious or my back-brain as I like to call must have dwelled  on it because I thought of quite a few put downs for this person and I wanted to tell this person about them self.

And for a moment I felt powerful like Rumpelstiltskin I knew that power meant having the upper hand. And during that glorious brief moment a mental image of myself flashed in my first brain and I saw:

















And I was not pleased with that pic. Rumpelstiltskin's major weakness was once his greatest strength. When
Rumpelstiltskin refused to fight in the ogre war he understood that it was futile endeavour and his son meant more to him than death or the glory of a fallen soldier. While people in his village ridiculed
Rumpelstiltskin his love for his son was his strength it allowed him to hold fast to his belief and what he believed was right. 

People will call us cowards, not good enough etc, like Rumpelstiltskin we can choose to be true to our love which should always start with our self.

I am choosing to be Lisbeth, and remember that life will set my priorities or I will set them, but regardless what I follow will determine my outlook. I choose to be Lisbeth, so don't call me Ishmael, because both the whale and I have our respective karma's. 

David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas

Possible SPOILER ALERT DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED or JUST STARTED READING
So I was thinking of Cloud Atlas

DO NOT continue reading if you are just beginning

Specifically the first chapter the introduction of Adam Ewing, Adam Ewing is innocent, idealistic, naive, easily deceived, and completely without a clue as to his purpose in life, and his understanding of events as they unfold.

And I couldn't help but think what a wonderful metaphor because Adam Ewing represents us the reader as we embark upon our adventure of David Mitchell's epic journey on Cloud Atlas. Unlike the reader Adam is presented with an opportunity to have learned from his journey as a result of so many "big moments."

I was most impressed with Adam when at the end he realized that yes great moments are presented to us. Those moments dont make great or cowards, when we rise up and realize that these moments are opportunities and that how we respond is what makes us courageous or cowards but even time changes the very meaning of courage and cowardice. Yesterday's rebel, terrorist, enemy of the state, is tomorrow's freedom fighter and vice versa.

Go back in time and ask the British aristocracy if our Founding Fathers were heroes at the time? And even some in the colonies were content to remain under British rule after all it was a known familiar method of rule the new born Democracy was quite frankly SHOCKING fast forward 200 years later....

Our PR campaign to paint ourselves as sinner or saints is for nothing because history will determine where we will be placed in the grand continuum for the benefit of society....