tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81108680768338751002024-03-05T18:28:19.704-08:00Write for DelightNaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-51632294596155640472010-11-06T21:31:00.000-07:002010-11-06T21:32:42.107-07:00What I've learned from the Epic Barn Fire of 2010<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Hay can catch on fire spontaneously. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*When 50 tons of hay, your barn, and tractor are on fire, it causes so much smoke that it can be seen all across the valley. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Being out of the country on a cruise is an awfully inconvenient time to have a massive fire in your back yard. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*You will have calls, texts, messages on facebook, and various messages left to every member of your family from people who are concerned. </span></span></span></p></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz88uHQ7oSaiwwUoGyL9TOw57R-OlHuDCxsuNmcCNDCSpSaeS1Hmg7WMDDf3KFi2xIH_0k6nnA-i6iF237gAntaRLm0TaWkiFJnlgaejW_Qy9Py-A2cLD9dlgJ4zizuMFc5Y7dH3lXIU2f/s1600/smoke.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz88uHQ7oSaiwwUoGyL9TOw57R-OlHuDCxsuNmcCNDCSpSaeS1Hmg7WMDDf3KFi2xIH_0k6nnA-i6iF237gAntaRLm0TaWkiFJnlgaejW_Qy9Py-A2cLD9dlgJ4zizuMFc5Y7dH3lXIU2f/s200/smoke.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536658470867554594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Complete strangers will jump your fence and catch your yearling horse, who is completely freaking out, and take care of him. </span></span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD6lsUqtLBsyDWzgFJtSSWmPM1S03T5MU7n19kSDDWLPKKNeRMnKBGz6lqpJDMdXDMakPQk_beR5B6tSAeVsT5YXFURUdKusATTx4itMdX47cs-StjlFThzzNnY3zSlyVNYsb4ZH_WHSs/s1600/DSCN0531_JPG.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD6lsUqtLBsyDWzgFJtSSWmPM1S03T5MU7n19kSDDWLPKKNeRMnKBGz6lqpJDMdXDMakPQk_beR5B6tSAeVsT5YXFURUdKusATTx4itMdX47cs-StjlFThzzNnY3zSlyVNYsb4ZH_WHSs/s200/DSCN0531_JPG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536658328418487042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Your neighbors will come and get your dog and take him to their house, making sure he has lots of food and water. </span></span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkThc9XJKqqVc8P63kpL51d1dKHyxJ_Begx8LC6SLRh6s2Dfzmrv6asELL_9UyHOH6rdQJXjwuKAUqy29wodeXdXTA0eS6Bs2qvZwARzT5a2GgSWAcX9sIrwxbDPV0WIzyCvKnDOL2a5lG/s1600/DSCN0562_JPG.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkThc9XJKqqVc8P63kpL51d1dKHyxJ_Begx8LC6SLRh6s2Dfzmrv6asELL_9UyHOH6rdQJXjwuKAUqy29wodeXdXTA0eS6Bs2qvZwARzT5a2GgSWAcX9sIrwxbDPV0WIzyCvKnDOL2a5lG/s200/DSCN0562_JPG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536658324372689698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*The City fire department has a really quick response time and they will stay late into the night.</span></span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrZtcLJBd-gveKsqhb043MP9jMZivv9XzYhGpnN4bPn0tI83aBqfmLRWBprDeSeIqG9pMekUwpyIhyeQ4jKJvv7o4wtRGZdRYSnQgA1E1HeGpU_wseea3cILi57I4qtovZWXXb4_mJZSG/s1600/DSCN0524_JPG.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrZtcLJBd-gveKsqhb043MP9jMZivv9XzYhGpnN4bPn0tI83aBqfmLRWBprDeSeIqG9pMekUwpyIhyeQ4jKJvv7o4wtRGZdRYSnQgA1E1HeGpU_wseea3cILi57I4qtovZWXXb4_mJZSG/s200/DSCN0524_JPG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536658319612516738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">*Putting out a hay fire takes A LOT of water. </span></span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fx3-Og2dqE_MCOZlHyvDyzYyqW2oSQD8w_yax5_y1TFF1cue8t-LO7ns1S3RRe3uslH-xHR5CqLup47UTpGODDImamUoPcnIONkGE-H7kyffldMkkhxXZgpLFV_BumjLaAavhPOaylm9/s1600/water.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fx3-Og2dqE_MCOZlHyvDyzYyqW2oSQD8w_yax5_y1TFF1cue8t-LO7ns1S3RRe3uslH-xHR5CqLup47UTpGODDImamUoPcnIONkGE-H7kyffldMkkhxXZgpLFV_BumjLaAavhPOaylm9/s200/water.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536658317946293058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 88px; height: 200px; " /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Your brothers, parents, and neighbors will come right over and help out, no matter what they were supposed to be doing or how nicely dressed they are. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*If you can’t be there while a trillion people are in your backyard, make sure your Dad and Step-Mom are. (especially when they know most of the cops/firefighters there.) </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*It takes a lot of fans to un-smoke and un-stink your house. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*When a ton of wet, muddy, and stinky firefighters tromp through your house, make sure your Step-mom is there forcing them all to take off their boots.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Send your three year old daughter to your Mom's house to play. She'll have a much better time, and won't be upset by the fire. </span></span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBG7i1Uoiw-Lbv0Xhejr6URGUxgQd0Ei1hyKFGDSxxsrUbchR2aqradv70gEhKoum-RQgwHA1rP5Lk3Fs-ph8zs50UiBwGXk5bMIEKcZGf1TsIELpNVK2RySS5huhMMMGtPYjxQMMQSdq/s1600/DSCN0543_JPG.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBG7i1Uoiw-Lbv0Xhejr6URGUxgQd0Ei1hyKFGDSxxsrUbchR2aqradv70gEhKoum-RQgwHA1rP5Lk3Fs-ph8zs50UiBwGXk5bMIEKcZGf1TsIELpNVK2RySS5huhMMMGtPYjxQMMQSdq/s200/DSCN0543_JPG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536658311468901762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8u8wonzgqgk07DWRFZiCGKhfddpxKpXFOXsqcigMkAvBAbBKkUcsNM9haxJPiZ1ibBJYl5nncCh_hCyOZ-jBr0pOFZECFnU34an-O2bOh7TQJoydMQ-9-u0AKkyR_naBjkgxcGbHUtzNT/s1600/DSCN0540_JPG.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8u8wonzgqgk07DWRFZiCGKhfddpxKpXFOXsqcigMkAvBAbBKkUcsNM9haxJPiZ1ibBJYl5nncCh_hCyOZ-jBr0pOFZECFnU34an-O2bOh7TQJoydMQ-9-u0AKkyR_naBjkgxcGbHUtzNT/s200/DSCN0540_JPG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536657958280717346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sK5LyYrw0wmKm08kcUfeSf2BkYGo88zVXqcqp5v4pI8KfktDGA-k3ux1XA_n4mahoTm0Giql5pQ6JmGAqDqU8G_GQWvE-uEpvHKWTFZk1ZkEztn4vffojjdfCQilfWTIa6oCXvquVzEa/s1600/DSCN0549_JPG.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sK5LyYrw0wmKm08kcUfeSf2BkYGo88zVXqcqp5v4pI8KfktDGA-k3ux1XA_n4mahoTm0Giql5pQ6JmGAqDqU8G_GQWvE-uEpvHKWTFZk1ZkEztn4vffojjdfCQilfWTIa6oCXvquVzEa/s200/DSCN0549_JPG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536657954631348018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Random smaller hay bales can burst into flames the next day. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*The fire departments response time is just as fast the second time. </span></span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuf73fbStusIuq-fQ2qX93gDyWHwR0rpFQN5EwZ5ycAnjWH09sJDv4f5Gq_QJ337uR9cV3ucaXz-woLPo5qSWhIIPYK8Nj9TySV8ATdL_hGQW-gho9hqZ85mnoGCNR1IkYSbH5MJg0WLR/s1600/DSCN0559_JPG.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuf73fbStusIuq-fQ2qX93gDyWHwR0rpFQN5EwZ5ycAnjWH09sJDv4f5Gq_QJ337uR9cV3ucaXz-woLPo5qSWhIIPYK8Nj9TySV8ATdL_hGQW-gho9hqZ85mnoGCNR1IkYSbH5MJg0WLR/s200/DSCN0559_JPG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536657947429320898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*When you horse waterers are melted, you won’t have water to your house for several hours until your amazing-can-do-anything husband can fix it. (No matter how many times he swears while he’s working)</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Don’t use the toilets until your are certain that they will flush. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TPMVZ3P0nPMzdvv1JNyHNLOVSvXx3VGxRmcsnIyK4zkE6iJTDWeH8Nz-YVMWCDXWf0BjxsOAsfi0JuUAtaxlfMaUvW5QJGCxJvtVVFo9uBJAnW584hFNx2AfmSzD0eYHQx_r49epL874/s1600/DSCN0546_JPG.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TPMVZ3P0nPMzdvv1JNyHNLOVSvXx3VGxRmcsnIyK4zkE6iJTDWeH8Nz-YVMWCDXWf0BjxsOAsfi0JuUAtaxlfMaUvW5QJGCxJvtVVFo9uBJAnW584hFNx2AfmSzD0eYHQx_r49epL874/s200/DSCN0546_JPG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536657942356850562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*When it’s all said and done, you will have a giant, stinky mess to clean up, and a large head ache from dealing with the insurance company. </span></span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8AQ_5QQ3hXOUQcuQb6bm5ZX5vC0dpN1bBeCE5dZ-pwGehM2SkhyphenhyphenhGA79zTg5shg8bTU1G5MYKNsrSfE9Lr_Fix6NWPXtnzOam_d1gMwfEOylm3rTm3GrdviEBE84JqmydStxcEMy7m-J/s1600/DSCN0527_JPG.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8AQ_5QQ3hXOUQcuQb6bm5ZX5vC0dpN1bBeCE5dZ-pwGehM2SkhyphenhyphenhGA79zTg5shg8bTU1G5MYKNsrSfE9Lr_Fix6NWPXtnzOam_d1gMwfEOylm3rTm3GrdviEBE84JqmydStxcEMy7m-J/s200/DSCN0527_JPG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536657937940616946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large; ">*It SUCKS to deal with a fire, but as long as my hubby and daughter are safe and sound in our un-singed house, and we have such great friends and family, it makes me realize how very much I have to be grateful for!</span></span></span></p><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large; "><br /></span></span></span></div>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-62252563924195350502010-11-01T10:03:00.000-07:002010-11-01T10:09:17.101-07:00Meet Writers Cubed!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gbvoSuAmplqam6q_C3LGYF6XUORVcDorIMX8Ybh9i51deqYTNEY1rBm6obIIedxRRPtrCEut_TksOnV7aIxkdMEN5at7iqqpuubM8sLNLZwsz0psQNlFrqD3fLXkdVupzaUA5krMb-UP/s1600/cubed4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gbvoSuAmplqam6q_C3LGYF6XUORVcDorIMX8Ybh9i51deqYTNEY1rBm6obIIedxRRPtrCEut_TksOnV7aIxkdMEN5at7iqqpuubM8sLNLZwsz0psQNlFrqD3fLXkdVupzaUA5krMb-UP/s200/cubed4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534629195242728658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS_4nZea5nXCudY-djBjtkPxKZ_OkLGyjyR98tIBfJdPYDnAkW997DDE55K6jxAnsbtXwaaMrRcPk4y9M4Q5XMLycY7c3HeFG8KreF_mx9OtnItm3S_67XP6lIwt9ois4Kgw8AhFx42aR/s1600/cubed2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS_4nZea5nXCudY-djBjtkPxKZ_OkLGyjyR98tIBfJdPYDnAkW997DDE55K6jxAnsbtXwaaMrRcPk4y9M4Q5XMLycY7c3HeFG8KreF_mx9OtnItm3S_67XP6lIwt9ois4Kgw8AhFx42aR/s200/cubed2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534629181034103794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU4X5QAGM9Z0uE3cTHwxnjPfZBtQp7ZOvhyphenhyphenaXXVaCdqM7_Ghe-tFjo2GYnACJu-ZgUb496pQ3txwSWcBMPgpaIdwgIS2lZ2wzHNk6VA8hwmWm2U3hHt9NeckqQg78jqyhOJmOSp44MBWe/s1600/cubed6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU4X5QAGM9Z0uE3cTHwxnjPfZBtQp7ZOvhyphenhyphenaXXVaCdqM7_Ghe-tFjo2GYnACJu-ZgUb496pQ3txwSWcBMPgpaIdwgIS2lZ2wzHNk6VA8hwmWm2U3hHt9NeckqQg78jqyhOJmOSp44MBWe/s200/cubed6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534629173139131986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My besties. My cubies. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Our website is almost done!!! Check us out soon at www.writerscubed.com</div>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-15465023047261759052010-08-21T22:50:00.000-07:002010-08-21T22:56:11.378-07:00If I could pick a different life . . .<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">{not that I would. I love my life and my family} BUT for the sake of the game . . .</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I would want to be a cowgirl. I want to ride my horse with skill and be as tough as cowgirls are. I want to travel around to all the small towns and live at the rodeos. I want to wear the cowgirl garb {NO. Not the ugly rodeo queen stuff, the cool, country stuff} and flirt with the cowboys. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I’ve got part of it down. I’ve got a way cute cowboy hubby that I get to flirt with everyday. The rest? Well, I’ll just have to dream.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Tag! You’re it! What would you’re life be like if you could choose anything? Leave me a link to your blog so I can check it out! </span></span></i></span></p>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-61648702626434088972010-08-05T20:50:00.000-07:002010-08-05T21:07:47.589-07:00Help! They're after me!New stories! <div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ahhh</span>! I want to dive into one so badly. All these new stories are scattered across my mind. I see breeding operations, gospel fiction and revolutionary war. Corporate espionage and imaginary worlds. Time travel and almost affairs! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Dystopian</span>, Fantasy, Adult Romance, Middle Grade, Picture books!!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ahhhh</span>! </div><div><br /></div><div><div>I can't pay attention to them. I've got a near completed project right now, dang it. But these stories are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">doggie</span> piling on my brain, and I can't focus on anything. It's like they are saying: "If you won't pay attention to us, then we won't let you pay attention to anything else." So, what do I do? Veg out on the couch in front of the T.V.</div><div>It's a good plan. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've GOT to finish the rest of the manuscript before I can do anything, right? That's the right thing to do. *RIGHT?* </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes. It is. I can't get a divorce and get out of this. I can't have an abortion and get out of this. I can't give up on my baby while it's skull is still developing. (all analogies I've heard used for the process of writing a book.) </div><div><br /></div><div>I've got to get this finished. </div><div><br /></div><div>*but not tonight. So You Think You Can Dance, a bowl of ice cream, and a snugly husband are all calling my name* Good-night tormenting new stories. I'll see you tomorrow. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-37126450238505127022010-07-15T14:59:00.000-07:002010-07-15T20:37:25.319-07:00Writing and Reading<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I’ve heard many people say over and over that to be a good writer, you have to be well read. Is it true? </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For me, I love to read. What writer doesn’t? But I barely have enough time to write my own book, let alone read everyone else's. So when I started writing I banned myself from reading. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Why? It distracted me from my own book in a lot of ways. Their books were so good that I couldn’t put them down to read. I got discouraged because I felt that my book will never be as good. I even found myself accidentally writing characters/things/situations into my book because I’d read them elsewhere. *not good* </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So I stayed away from other books. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Then, once I finished the first draft of my manuscript, and needed a break, I finally hit the bookshelves and read like mad. And you know what? </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I think I was wrong. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I think it was a mistake to avoid books all together. I learned a lot by reading published works. I found new techniques, and interesting ways to craft my story. It’s been good for me to get a better understanding of my genre, and see what the readers are reading.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sure . . . I still got distracted from my manuscript. I just need to sort out how to stay focused on my book, while reading others. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What do you guys think? Do you read a lot while writing your manuscript? How do you stay focused? </span></span></span></p>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-6872924231967334892010-06-27T12:25:00.000-07:002010-06-27T12:51:55.919-07:00A little sunshine<div>I've been busy lately . . . I know its a lame excuse, we're all busy. I've been slacking on the blogging, but I've been hard at work on my manuscript. <div>Anyhow, my good friend Jo, at <a href="http://jostorm.blogspot.com/">JoStorm</a> left me an awesome award! Thanks Jo! </div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGFhNzPsb44Ilr45aYFjFf7-1QHn9ybyzyIO7n7KYqxTO1abKr1BYbRnyicy26y-q0sdLrWRWdbDn6bWN0q38anAuEHYcaxUWEU_snXFhbK6bzq1NjQkTFGf08r0b2hNELazl5MvnGzDN/s1600/Sunshine_Award.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGFhNzPsb44Ilr45aYFjFf7-1QHn9ybyzyIO7n7KYqxTO1abKr1BYbRnyicy26y-q0sdLrWRWdbDn6bWN0q38anAuEHYcaxUWEU_snXFhbK6bzq1NjQkTFGf08r0b2hNELazl5MvnGzDN/s200/Sunshine_Award.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487538347832414578" /></a>I'm going to pass this award on to five blogs that bring sunshine into my day.<div>Margie at <a href="http://spinmewriteround.blogspot.com/">Spin me Write Round </a></div><div>Tamara at <a href="http://whyigetup.blogspot.com/">Why I Get Up</a></div><div>Roni at <a href="http://fictiongroupie.blogspot.com/">Fiction Groupie</a></div><div>Lois at <a href="http://idevourkidbooks.blogspot.com/">I Devour Kid's Book</a>s</div><div>Rose at <a href="http://thisisourzoo.blogspot.com/">We Live in a Zo</a>o</div><div>You guys all rock! Thanks for your blogs! </div><div>I'm hard at work on my rough draft, trying to make it not so rough . . . you know how it goes. I'll get blogging soon! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-89784512425539722282010-06-03T14:06:00.000-07:002010-06-03T14:10:42.569-07:00I did it!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I finally finished the first draft of my manuscript. Holla! Once I wrote The End, I ran around like a mad woman, and broke out into unattractive, bouncy dancing without warning. </span></span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(my family thought I’d lost it)</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But, really I was so excited and proud of myself! How did you feel once you finished that first draft? What crazy things did you do?</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then, as my </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1275599187_0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">good friend</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Margie says, I experienced the plummet after the high. Did anyone else feel this way? Though so excited, I also realized the hoards of work that still faces me before I can call my book “done.” I deflated a little.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then I got to share the great news with people, which by the way, went great. Everyone was so excited and proud of me (thank you to everyone for your encouragement) But no one really shared my enthusiasm (except my group. I love you guys) Even my close family, who was very happy for me, didn’t share my crazy excitement. So I deflated a little bit more. I guess I wanted someone to jump and and down and scream with. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I got over it though. I'm mustering up the courage to face my revisions, and I accepted the fact that the support I'm getting from friends and family is enough. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So the purpose of this post (other than sharing my awesome news with everyone so you can pat me on the back and tell me how great I am, of course) is to mention the love for writing friends.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My writers group, (formally known as Maple Mountain Writers Guild) officially Writers Cubed, are my lifeline in my writing world. They know what it’s like to write. What it’s like to think of stories and feel connected to characters. They know. They get it. I would be lost without them.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, as important and amazing as your non-writerly loved ones are, they won’t get it. That’s why it’s important to have writer friends in your life. Whether they’re a group that you really meet with, or people on the internet, you need that support in your writing life. It made ALL the difference for me.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Writers Cubed. You rock! You’re my cubies! Not my besties, but much more.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">XOXOXO</span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div></span>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-43453275966994095222010-05-23T20:23:00.000-07:002010-05-23T20:32:42.930-07:00Shhh! Its a secret<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/200299576-001.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=91F5CCEF208281FD4E31182CC073A6F46D405DD155566CC2F91B5431588ED141EC7C5022FB410D56"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 413px; height: 413px;" src="http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/200299576-001.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=91F5CCEF208281FD4E31182CC073A6F46D405DD155566CC2F91B5431588ED141EC7C5022FB410D56" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yes it’s true. I’ve kept the fact that I’m writing a novel a secret from most of my friends and family. (with the exception of my husband and a small amount of people)</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> *gasp* </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Why? </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I’m not entirely sure. The reasons pile on top of one another. I was never a lover of the written word–writing–guru–english major–type of person. (Please don’t kick me out of the writing world for this confession.) </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So, when I started writing it was for the love of stories and my wild imagination. It was silly. Really. ME? Write a book? Pshaw! Then I found that I loved it. So why did I hide it? Hmm . . . that’s been a tough one to answer. Let me try to explain. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I’m a quitter. No, I don’t like that. I’m a non-finisher. There, that’s better. I didn’t want to start my novel and not finish. If I told my family I know they’d all smile lovingly and supportively and think to themselves . . oh, here she goes again, we’ll see how long </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">this</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> lasts. I did not want those negative thoughts buzzing around. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I knew my non-writerly loved ones wouldn’t really see the HARD WORK and awesomeness that goes into writing a book. They’d only see the silly part, the imaginative part, the part I call FUN. You know, creating my own worlds, characters, rules and plots. They’d know that I stay up late thinking about an indian who often travels his magical mountain shirtless, and not that I’ve worked really hard to learn how to put emotions into my words and figure out exactly where that comma goes! (I’m still not sure) They’d think I was silly. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But when I tell them that I wrote a whole novel–a giant, full length Young Adult novel!–Now that’s accomplishment! I’ve been looking forward to that moment of big reveal when I get to tell my family that I WROTE A WHOLE BOOK! That my friends, will be a great day. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It’s been a long time that I’ve held this secret near to my heart. It’s tearing me in two. I can’t keep up the lies! I told myself I’d tell my loved ones of my passion once my first novel was finished. Well, thats taking a lot longer than I thought. So, on April 27th I made a goal to have my book finished by the end of May. *yikes* To make myself even more accountable, I posted it on my family blog, and concealed what I was actually doing. I confessed to having a secret project and told everyone that I would reveal it to them on May 31st. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Things are coming along great! Since I made the goal I’ve accomplished so much! I can’t believe that I can actually get so much done so fast. (Takes a moment to look around the mess of a house and the child zoning out in front of the TV) </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So, on May 31st I will officially reveal once and for all that I'm a writer! Stay tuned friends, things are going to get wild over here!</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Till then . . .</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shhh! It’s a secret. </span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#551A8B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-46320808528443479672010-05-19T09:38:00.000-07:002010-05-19T09:40:56.026-07:00Wordless Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSlrPdROX3zvQgRE6vytev1qrxvpFG5NIW4TKgrRZn8N3PIboAymhV6PSAQw6U6Jiz9s8myuRV46LwPk_K86xkAv-7q98NklZNyIIt-sWpi0Tma5YlaaD73Az8gCsyNZayAiaOSp2G_Cd/s1600/IMG_7492.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSlrPdROX3zvQgRE6vytev1qrxvpFG5NIW4TKgrRZn8N3PIboAymhV6PSAQw6U6Jiz9s8myuRV46LwPk_K86xkAv-7q98NklZNyIIt-sWpi0Tma5YlaaD73Az8gCsyNZayAiaOSp2G_Cd/s320/IMG_7492.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473021806074001394" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dreams Do Come True! </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I've been wanting to get my picture taken with Cinderella since I was four! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Join Wordless Wednesdays: </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://sevenclowncircus.com/<br /></span></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-87857909621304484112010-05-14T08:45:00.001-07:002010-05-14T08:49:36.680-07:00My BioI had to put together a bio for the Maple Mountain Writers Guild website (coming soon!) I was really struggling with what to say that would show a reader how cool I am, why my life is amazing and why they should read my stuff. Let me tell you, that's NOT easy. So after much toil I finally came up with this: <div>*I tried to keep it as close to the truth as possible*</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">NaTahsha Ford’s life was struck with tragedy at the tender ago of one, when her parents were grotesquely murdered by the most formidable villain the wold had ever seen. He was unaware of her super powers and was destroyed, but in the process he marked her as the chosen one who would save the world from all evil.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">She was taken in by a kind man who was secretly her grandfather, and leader of an ancient secret society. He taught her to hone her powers, solve riddles and decipher codes. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">As she grew, her intelligence was unmatched, and her intoxicating beauty blossomed into something desired by boys near and far. Her high school years were marked by an intense love triangle between a blood lusting vampire and an immature, yet sexy werewolf. She was strong willed and powerful enough to realize that she didn’t need either of them. She kicked them both to the curb and continued on her quest looking for her true love, one who did not want to eat her and wasn’t half dog. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">NaTahsha never lived the life of a damsel in distress, and often kicked in the faces of the whiney princesses who sat helpless while counting on hunky men to save them. Instead, she uses her super-powers, and plump, luscious lips to defended her self and kick some evil butt. She’s learned that through that course of action, the men often come hunker and even more shirtless. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">She spent years time traveling through a secret magical cave. There she met historical people and had adventures that strengthened her powers and kept her on her path to eliminating all evil. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Today, NaTahsha is still on her quest of super power-ness, evil butt kicking, flaunting of her goddess-like good looks and seducing of shirtless men. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">What do you think? </span></span></p></span></div>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-68997944902865418622010-05-05T15:47:00.000-07:002010-05-05T15:55:22.459-07:00Recess Sucks<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My pal Margie is hosting this contest in which we write about why recess sucks, and I've not been able to think of anything else, since. Check out her blog (Spin me write round) and enter the contest your self! </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A disclaimer. I am not a soul-less child eater as this story may entail. I was merely trying to convey my frustrations at the moment. I love kids. Especially the well behaved kind. </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Recess.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ugg.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I escort the kids outside, dreading being on recess duty. But I’m the T.A. I get the crappy work.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It’s Joey’s first recess in weeks. No punishment or discipline can get through to that kids oversized melon. He doesn’t care. Every day he starts with a clean slate. Five chances before he loses recess privileges. Five chances is four too many. That kid should be cleaning out the urinals with a toothbrush. At least I wouldn’t have to chase him around the </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273099574_0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">class room</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> everyday so my teacher can teach. Is it legal to tranquilize a student during school hours? Not anything lethal, just a small dose of sedatives is all I’m asking for.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I shake away the un-teacherly thoughts as I enter the bright playground, and wrap my arms around myself. Why did I wear a skirt today? The wind whooshes up me and I have to dance around. I congregate with the other TAs to a spot where we can keep a watchful eye on the kids, while staying out of sight. </span></span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The bell finally rings and our classes line up with us. Suzy </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273099574_1" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">tattle tale</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> informs me that Joey hasn’t lined up yet. The other TA walks my class in while I deal with Joey. It’s me, him and a tall twisty playground. I’m an adult, I should be able to handle this third grader just fine, right? Wrong. As soon as I tell him to come inside, he bolts up the playground and balls himself up on the top of the </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273099574_2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">monkey bars</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. The only way to get him down is by yanking on his dangling leg. It’s not too far of a drop, he wouldn’t get hurt too badly. No, I push the thought away. I’m not allowed to touch the kids.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He likes the chase. He teases and runs away from me, staying just out of my reach. My face gets redder and he laughs. The more I yell, the further up the playground he climbs. I threaten to call his Mom or his Dad. But that has no affect. Those push over parents bow down to this child like he’s the queen of hearts and his tantrums alone could make their heads roll. I threaten to call his babysitter, the one person who has any control over the creature—I mean child. I can see I’ve hit my mark. Joey starts to climb down.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I laugh within myself. I’ve done it! I’ve conquered the beast. I imagine dragging him into school by the earlobe, whacking him a few times with a yards stick and placing the dunce hat on his head. Where did the old fashioned punishments go? Kids wouldn’t be so out of control if they had to answer to a stuffy teacher with a bad hair-do and a yard stick.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But I am wrong. Oh so wrong.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Joey bolts!</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">All the energy he’s built up over weeks of no recess comes bursting out of his little legs. He heads for the fence. I yell and chase after him—stupid skirt! I can’t keep up! Joey reaches the fence and starts to climb. A busy street and wide open world waits for him beyond the chain link. He’s now a danger to himself.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Just before Joey reaches the top of the fence, I grab him by the back of the shirt, and yank him down. Stifling my desire to body slam him to the ground like an overpaid wrestler, I place him on his feet. With a firm hand gripped on his arm, and one on his back, I walk him to the principal’s office. I ignore his pleading and his meaningless apologies.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I say nothing. </span></span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Recess sucks.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I leave Joey in the hands of our principal, whose chair is all too familiar with Joey backside.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That night, I officially make the decision that I’ve been struggling with for weeks.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am definitely not cut out to be a teacher.</span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div></span>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-15186815548759857272010-05-01T09:52:00.000-07:002010-05-01T10:02:45.219-07:00It's a miracle!<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I’ve been practicing and developing a skill, that when used appropriately can break even the meanest streaks of writers block. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yes, it’s true! I’ve discovered the cure to writers block.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: medium; "> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I want the world to learn this amazing skill, so that this raging torment that affects writers everywhere can be a thing of the past. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We all know how it goes, you’re writing along beautifully and then your fingers come to a grinding halt against the keyboard. You scratch your brain, scream at the computer, eat lots of cookie dough and still nothing comes out. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My friends! It doesn’t need to be that hard! </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large; ">Heres the big secret: </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large; ">simplicity. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When your mind goes blank, figure out the simplest way to get your point across and–voila!– the wall comes crumbling down and you’re writing like you never thought you could before. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Let me give you some examples so you can see the theory work. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Scene one: My characters are traveling down a tunnel. Shea is approached by a man who has not hidden his distaste for her. </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He leaned over me and whispered, cold and wheezy against my ear, </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Here’s where my mind went <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>blank, and I had to employ the simplicity theory)</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> “I will threaten you now, and you will be frightened. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>My character will develop and you will begin to be suspicious of me.” </span></span></i></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></i></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">See how amazing that is? I didn’t know how the character was going to get my point across, so I just made him say it as simply as possible. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Aren’t I an amazing writer? </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Do you want to see another one? Its really good. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Hello, thank you for meeting me a secret manner that is suspicious.” </span></span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“You’re welcome, though our conversation, Shea will be wary of our intentions.” </span></span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Yes, and when horrible events unfold in the future she will suspect us as being </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">the masterminds.” </span></span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“And now, we will laugh evilly at out despicable plans!” </span></span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i></i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I know, you’re jealous of my skills. Don’t get frustrated, you too can learn to write like me.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My latest one is my favorite:</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“I will say something relevant to the situation, but somewhat strange that will </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">show an intuitive person <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>my real intentions.” </span></span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">See, it’s easy. It takes some time and practice to develop your skills, but soon they will be as well crafted as mine.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My great friend Jo, (on my blog list as Shoveling in a Jo Storm) was aware of my amazing abilities and she shared a video with me that employed the simplicity is best theory. I rolled on the floor when I first watched it. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFicqklGuB0&feature=player_embedded">Academy Award Winning Movie Trailer </a></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: medium; ">I will end my post by saying something inspiring, that will show you what an amazing writer am, make you excited to read more things from me, and most importantly, get you excited about writing too! </span></p>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110868076833875100.post-9284020123343249882010-04-27T08:25:00.000-07:002010-04-27T13:00:26.652-07:00Why?<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">t’s the question every writer has to ask herself. Why do I write? Is it for money or fame? To improve talents and exercise skill? Do you do it because you’re god’s gift to the writing world, and it would shrivel away without your shining contribution? Do you do it because you have to? </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Why do you do anything in life? </i></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">All those reasons are fine, but if happiness isn’t making an appearance in your list of motivation, then what’s the point? Life is too short, with too many amazing opportunities, that its downright silly to spend your precious time doing something that doesn’t bring you joy. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now, that doesn’t mean that every second of the writing process is sheer bliss. Writing is HARD WORK. Sometimes it just sucks. It can be daunting and overwhelming. There might be times when you are tempted to take your whole manuscript, light it on fire, and do a naked celebratory dance around it’s shriveling ashes. (Please don’t tell me if you’ve ever done that) That’s okay! The most rewarding things in life come from hard work. As long as in the midst of your naked fire dance phase, you can still dig to the core of yourself and find that writing really does bring you happiness, then you can put some clothes on and get back to it! </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As a writer, my day is busy with work and little people and life. Each day I have a hundreds other things I should be doing besides writing. In fact, writing is a sacrifice for me. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So why do I do it? </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I write because it makes me happy. When I get to write, I not only escape to a new world, I create a new world, with characters and places that I love. They flow out of my head and onto the pages, often with no prodding from me. I LOVE THAT! I’m proud of myself when I improve my craft and achieve new goals. I’m excited at the possibilities writing has to offer me. I love the people who are a part of my writing life. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I may never make millions of dollars and become a famous author, and that’s okay. Writing brings me happiness. So, I can dig through the tough times, push past the words that come out as nothing but sucky crap, and face the overwhelming reality of the writing business head on because, </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">I write for delight. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p>NaTahsha Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08558316716246778678noreply@blogger.com3