June 9, 2006 | Comments

Next week, I’m going to change my blogging a little bit. School, for those of us with kids, is out. Activities abound and we could be feeling spring fever. Why write? Who cares? I’ll just be rejected. If you’re feeling this way, click on over to www.bethanderson-hotclue.com/blog/. I’ll guarantee you’ll laugh, feel better and realize you’re not alone.

As I was saying, next week I’m going to post every day three inspirational sayings to help you get into the determination zone for writing.

But for today, I’ll leave you with one to get us started.

“Proscrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they’re afraid of the success they know will result if they move ahead now because success is heavy. It carries a responsibility with it. It’s just so much easier to procrastinate and live on the “Some day I’ll …” philosophy.” - Dennis Waitley.

Have a great weekend.

January 5, 2006 | 3 Comments

Something marvelous occurred to me after my Wednesday blog and reading the blog of Sherrill Quinn. She was asking how has the internet changed our lives. Well, one important way, besides major shopping from home, is you really don’t know what the racial identity is of those you’re communicating with. You also don’t know if the person you’re emailing really is a twelve year old girl and not a forty year old police office that’s gonna kick your ass, post your picture all over the country and send you to jail with others of your kind, that need a girlfriend real bad. Unless you ask, or you get hints as to the color of your friends’ skin, it really doesn’t matter. We communicate based on likes, dislikes, common afflictions (like writing) and it’s all good. es, it does take away the actual face to face interaction, but that can occur later. We even belong to one or two of the same groups. I’m looking forward to RWA’s Conference in Atlanta. Last year, I was in a workshop given by Ellora’s Cave, and I just knew , there were some brazen vixens in the room. But, I didn’t raise my hand and ask, fear that Raelene might look at me crazy had a lot to do with it to. This year, we’re gonna find each other, learn, party and shop!

January 1, 2006 | 4 Comments

Well guess what? 2006 has arrived. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the first day of January. Last year was very traumatic and I learned what a supportive group of family and friends I truly have. My mother died suddenly on February 26th, fifteen months after my father died. It has taken me almost a year to accept I won’t be hearing her voice or feeling the loving touch of her hand on me. Now, I’ve cleaned and feng shui’d my writing space and am rearing to go. I haven’t made any real new year resolutions. Don’t believe in them. There is no use in my denying my unflinching addiction to potato chips. So I’m going to keep eating them ( in moderation and no baked chips PLEASE)
I’m taking the route of new beginnings, continuing with what matters, and learning.
Beginnings means develop new writing projects, taking control of my health by eating regularly, including vegetables in my diet (that includes carrots with ranch dressing), embracing our daughters’ soon to be new life as a college graduate, and see the power in each day, even if the sun isn’t shining.
Continuing, finish the line editing for my book so I can submit it, fine tune my website with Karen’s every present guidance, work on my tennis singles game and get my team to the playoffs, and when the time permits decorate my house (ok, so that could be Christmas again).
Learning, writing is always about learning. I’m so thankful for my online vixens, FF&P, Passionate Ink, Chicago North RWA and Pro-Org. What a wealth of information and strong opinions.
And the beauty of all three, is I have Beth and Sloane to journey with me.
Sloane ended the year with a contract for Teddi Turns On from Triskelion. I’m still celebrating her success. You should see Sloane in action. Once she identified her voice and what she wanted to write, she was methodically in her approach. She learned her genre and wrote, then rewrote and wrote it again. Beth, a multi-published author, was the one who saw our potential (now I know why she was staring at me), asked us to write with her and has gently (stop snickering Sloane) taught us. Of course, that big 2X4 lurking in the corner takes me back to Catholic grade school, and has a lot to do with our getting it. At least on the fifth try, as is my case.

So to all my fellow writers, tennis players, and friends stay tuned. I’m coming out swinging!

December 23, 2005 | 3 Comments

I’ve told you my goals for 2006. Right now, I’m finishing line editing my book, enjoying my family and honoring my deceased parents. I wish you all a great Holiday celebration whatever you choose. I’ll return to my blog on January 3rd. On my Writing Humps, Dumps and Lumps page, Hotclue is going to start the year off answering quesitions on point of view. So until then:

Twas the night before Christmas and all through my house,
Every creature was stirring, including my computer mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney in disaray
Cause there weren’t nothing in them, so what the hey
My 22 year old had slept in her bed all day,
While visions of night time juking danced in her head
Now she and her AKA sisters have primped and prepped,
Cause by eleven pm sister girls, out they will step,
They all look so hot and want to have to have a good time,
Make some unsuspecting brothers spend their last dime.
Our son was grooving watching Adult Swim in his room,
Venturing out only for food and the bathroom.
He’s only fifteen and girls give him the frights,
And for this Mommy, that’s alright.
One day too soon, he’ll discover the opposite sex,
Making Mommy reach for a shot gun, shovel and Kleenex.
Hubby is snoring in the Lazy Boy, holding tight the remote,
Poor me, on this I’ve got no vote.
I’ll wait till he’s sleep, from his fingers I’ll pry it,
Then set reminders to pop up every hour, he’ll have a fit.
I’d just fallen asleep when I heard a great noise,
For a moment I thought it might be some hot boys.
So, I hobbled from my bed and peaked out the window,
Couldn’t see anything, no really couldn’t see anything - no glasses, but it was twenty below.
I stepped over our guard dog (yeah right a beagle) down to the first floor,
Wondering if the noise came from a window or door.
I heard some tapping up on the roof,
“Oh crap,” I said, “I don’t think the roof’s holeproof.”
Then suddenly the fireplace grew bright,
And I thought maybe ET’s stopping by for a bite.
Then black boots, red pants shimmed down the flue,
I didn’t know what to do.
Should I start a fire and burn him up?
Or get out the champagne and offered him a cup?
I braved the outside, since no one would wake up,
I stared at the roof, wishing I had backup.
Then I caught sight of a brand new red convertible Mustang,
All I could say was “Dang.”
Filled with bags, the strap of a Louis Vuitton handing out one side,
I yelled, “Oh Baby come on inside!”
I hurried back into the house, stood by the fireplace clapping with glee,
That jolly old man had brought me some LV!
He made it down the chimmey, tossed his bag on the floor, took a deep breathe and said,
“Woman, those bags are heavy.”
I eyed the LV bags all for me, smiled my best smile and said, “Oh Santa, don’t be so funny.”
He shuffled the bags and unloaded all the loot,
For my family what a hoot.
But, just as I went to touch a bag, my hand he gave a sharp wack!
“Not so fast,” he said, “Ms Smartaleck.”
“Have you finished line editing your book?”
He gave me a harsh look.
I bowed my head and shook it no.
He said, “To your desk, now go.”
“But it’s late”, I begged.
“I’ll do it tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that damn proscrasination line from Sloane.” He smirked.
Boy, Santa was becoming a jerk!
“I’ll take the Vuitton back, the Mustang too.
If you don’t do what you’re supposed to.”
“Oh no Santa, not the LV and my brand new ride!”
“I’ll write, I’ll edit, I’ll submit, just don’t take away my bribes!”
He paused for a moment, I was scared
I was going to have to beat Santa and hide his carass under my bed.
Then he leaned back and laughed so loud,
I thought he’d wake hubby - Not!
“Girlfriend, make me proud.”
“Success awaits you, now say it loud.”
“I’m black and I’m proud! Oops, my bad.”
I raised up my hand and said, “I got it Santa. I know what you’re saying.”
“Sit my ass in that chair and keep writing.”
“I’ve got potential, I’ve got promise, I’ve got stories to tell.”
“Millions of books to sell.”
He said, “Now, you’ve got it.” He reached down in his bag and said, “I’ve got one more thing to
make you happy.”
“Your own personal tv remote. It won’t work for anyone else, not even your hubby.”
Now I was feeling rather froggy and bubbly.
So with a short salute and a tap on my hubby’s head,
He waddled to the front door, outside sat a bobsled.
On top of a black Hummer.
As he gunned the motor, I said, “What a bummer.”
Those big rim spinners,
Just kept him grinning.
He roared around my block, turned the sound system way up loud,
My daughter and her friends would have been proud.
I could have sworn I heard him yell, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”
But the bass was so loud all I saw was headlights.
So I’ll say it for Santa, my vixens and friends,
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.