As a writer, I understand the importance of words. As a reader, you do too. A friend of mine wrote an excellent blog post about words - or at least about one word - today. Follow this link and give it some thought.
Words are very powerful. So is Anne's writing.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Dripping With Virtue
Patience. I have it and that is a good thing. But if, as the old saying goes, it is a virtue, I must be the most virtuous woman in all of South Carolina. In fact, it is pouring from my body...or at least from my eyes every night when I go to bed - because that's the only time I let myself cry from the frustration of it all.
I've not blogged in a while because I was waiting for this rant to pass. You know, trying to be patient. But since the rant doesn't seem to be passing - well, here goes!
I'm tired of waiting. Hear that world? I'm used to making things happen in my life but I'll be damned if I know what to do to make things happen right now. I'm waiting to hear from potential employers. I'm waiting to hear from agents about my manuscript. Hell, I'm even waiting to hear from the mechanic about my car today.
"Be patient." That's what everyone says.
Well, I have been patient. I've waited. AND WAITED. Politely.
I've filled out your applications down the smallest details. I've dug through drawers to find my high school diploma. You know, the one from 1982 because you had to have a copy of it for some reason still lost on me. I've stayed up until 2:00 a.m. answering the 275-question questionnaire that you sent me at 9:30 p.m. and wanted returned by the start of business the next day. I've stood in line for hours with 10,000 others at a career fair to hear you promise you'd call. (Did the red star really mean don't call?)
And what have you done? NOTHING. You've not even acknowledged the receipt of the documents. If I've managed to get through to HR through the mistake of some kind receptionist, you won't confirm whether or not the position has been filled. I'm waiting for your call to set up an interview. Or an email or letter telling me that the position is filled so I can give up hope and move on. I AM the person you are looking for. Call me. You'll see. You already know I'm patient. And, if you'd answer your phone the one time I call for a follow-up, you'd know I'm STILL interested.
I'm doing my part to be polite and professional in the job search. How 'bout you do the same? I'm sure you're overwhelmed with applicants. Lucky you! It must be nice to be busy at work. Try being on the other side. Try wondering what you're going to do when the unemployment benefits stop or your COBRA runs out. Try being patient when you've applied for a hundred jobs and no one shows you the common courtesy of responding to your inquiry for employment. One in nine people in our state are experiencing the same thing. You might be next. Do unto others because it might be you having to be patient tomorrow and the next week...and the next month!
And about those manuscripts...thanks to the agents who communicate, who acknowledge receipt of the query and requested materials. You will never know how much of a real difference that makes to a writer. You make it much easier to be patient in a career that includes waiting as part of the job description. You rock!
So tonight I'll go to bed and patience will reach my eyes again, because today I applied for a job and was told not to expect to hear anything until April 20th "at the earliest - be patient". And, my inbox didn't contain any email from any other employers...or agents. And, my mechanic just called and said he needs to keep my car until tomorrow afternoon. But tomorrow, I'll wake up smiling and ready to go again. There's a job to find, another manuscript to finish and my car to pick up.
Note to employers - I AM the employee you're looking for!
Note to agents - I AM the author you're looking for, the editors can't wait to sign, and the readers can't wait to buy!
Note to the world - I WILL make it happen!!
Good things come to those who wait. And even better things come to those who reach out and make it happen.
I've not blogged in a while because I was waiting for this rant to pass. You know, trying to be patient. But since the rant doesn't seem to be passing - well, here goes!
I'm tired of waiting. Hear that world? I'm used to making things happen in my life but I'll be damned if I know what to do to make things happen right now. I'm waiting to hear from potential employers. I'm waiting to hear from agents about my manuscript. Hell, I'm even waiting to hear from the mechanic about my car today.
"Be patient." That's what everyone says.
Well, I have been patient. I've waited. AND WAITED. Politely.
I've filled out your applications down the smallest details. I've dug through drawers to find my high school diploma. You know, the one from 1982 because you had to have a copy of it for some reason still lost on me. I've stayed up until 2:00 a.m. answering the 275-question questionnaire that you sent me at 9:30 p.m. and wanted returned by the start of business the next day. I've stood in line for hours with 10,000 others at a career fair to hear you promise you'd call. (Did the red star really mean don't call?)
And what have you done? NOTHING. You've not even acknowledged the receipt of the documents. If I've managed to get through to HR through the mistake of some kind receptionist, you won't confirm whether or not the position has been filled. I'm waiting for your call to set up an interview. Or an email or letter telling me that the position is filled so I can give up hope and move on. I AM the person you are looking for. Call me. You'll see. You already know I'm patient. And, if you'd answer your phone the one time I call for a follow-up, you'd know I'm STILL interested.
I'm doing my part to be polite and professional in the job search. How 'bout you do the same? I'm sure you're overwhelmed with applicants. Lucky you! It must be nice to be busy at work. Try being on the other side. Try wondering what you're going to do when the unemployment benefits stop or your COBRA runs out. Try being patient when you've applied for a hundred jobs and no one shows you the common courtesy of responding to your inquiry for employment. One in nine people in our state are experiencing the same thing. You might be next. Do unto others because it might be you having to be patient tomorrow and the next week...and the next month!
And about those manuscripts...thanks to the agents who communicate, who acknowledge receipt of the query and requested materials. You will never know how much of a real difference that makes to a writer. You make it much easier to be patient in a career that includes waiting as part of the job description. You rock!
So tonight I'll go to bed and patience will reach my eyes again, because today I applied for a job and was told not to expect to hear anything until April 20th "at the earliest - be patient". And, my inbox didn't contain any email from any other employers...or agents. And, my mechanic just called and said he needs to keep my car until tomorrow afternoon. But tomorrow, I'll wake up smiling and ready to go again. There's a job to find, another manuscript to finish and my car to pick up.
Note to employers - I AM the employee you're looking for!
Note to agents - I AM the author you're looking for, the editors can't wait to sign, and the readers can't wait to buy!
Note to the world - I WILL make it happen!!
Good things come to those who wait. And even better things come to those who reach out and make it happen.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Words of Wisdom from Tim McGraw
I love music. If you've read my blog, you know that. If I had to give up one or the other, there is no question, the TV's would go and the radio, CD players, and iPod would stay. My music is me. I am my music.
Music transcends and permeates everything in my life. I write with music on. I know exactly what music I need, what artist I want to listen to, for what I am writing that day, that hour. My novel - like my life - has a definite soundtrack to it. Hopefully one day soon, you will get to see that when you read my novel.
There have been a few songs that have stopped me in my tracks. A song did that a couple days ago. I was driving down the road when a new song - at least a song that was new to me - came on the radio. I was glad that I was near a parking lot because I had to pull over. The song - Nothin' To Die For by Tim McGraw.
There's a whole lot of things you say you're living for
You've got to fight it somehow, stop and turn around
'Cause this ain't nothin' to die for
Tim was singing about alcohol and spending too many hours at the office in his song. Well, I like a margarita or a Landshark Lager every now and then but I definitely don't have a problem there (too many empty calories)...and Lord knows back when I had a day job - you know, back before the "economic downturn" when several of us were outsourced/laid off - I would put in too many hours but that's not been a problem for much too long now (anyone need an excellent business analyst?). No, Tim's words were a direct belly blow.
I stared at the radio. When the song was over, I sat there and hit scan until I found it playing on another station. OMG! He was right! All the crap I'd been wandering back towards eating again lately...none of it was worth dying for!
We all have our own addictions. EVERY one of us. Some are addicted to drink, some to shopping, others to work. Me - it's food. I traded the food addiction for exercise addiction one time several years ago. That didn't work out so well either. I recovered from that addiction. Too well. I work every day to find that balance between food and exercise without letting either one be all-consuming.
You know what? Since I heard that song it's become easier. Honest to God. I'll look at my food choice and think "this ain't nothin' to die for". I've done the same thing when I think about skipping the workout to watch a TV show. What an easy concept to employ at every decision point.
Thanks, Tim!
Music transcends and permeates everything in my life. I write with music on. I know exactly what music I need, what artist I want to listen to, for what I am writing that day, that hour. My novel - like my life - has a definite soundtrack to it. Hopefully one day soon, you will get to see that when you read my novel.
There have been a few songs that have stopped me in my tracks. A song did that a couple days ago. I was driving down the road when a new song - at least a song that was new to me - came on the radio. I was glad that I was near a parking lot because I had to pull over. The song - Nothin' To Die For by Tim McGraw.
There's a whole lot of things you say you're living for
You've got to fight it somehow, stop and turn around
'Cause this ain't nothin' to die for
Tim was singing about alcohol and spending too many hours at the office in his song. Well, I like a margarita or a Landshark Lager every now and then but I definitely don't have a problem there (too many empty calories)...and Lord knows back when I had a day job - you know, back before the "economic downturn" when several of us were outsourced/laid off - I would put in too many hours but that's not been a problem for much too long now (anyone need an excellent business analyst?). No, Tim's words were a direct belly blow.
I stared at the radio. When the song was over, I sat there and hit scan until I found it playing on another station. OMG! He was right! All the crap I'd been wandering back towards eating again lately...none of it was worth dying for!
We all have our own addictions. EVERY one of us. Some are addicted to drink, some to shopping, others to work. Me - it's food. I traded the food addiction for exercise addiction one time several years ago. That didn't work out so well either. I recovered from that addiction. Too well. I work every day to find that balance between food and exercise without letting either one be all-consuming.
You know what? Since I heard that song it's become easier. Honest to God. I'll look at my food choice and think "this ain't nothin' to die for". I've done the same thing when I think about skipping the workout to watch a TV show. What an easy concept to employ at every decision point.
Thanks, Tim!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Frozen Pizza & Beer...It Must Be Snowing In South Carolina!
YEP! It's snowing BIG TIME! Like inches. School will be closed for a week. Even if it all melts by noon tomorrow. The state will be traumatized for the week. Trust me.
But thanks to the ace weather reporters, we knew it was coming a couple days ago so everyone did what they do here in the South...they went to the grocery store and loaded up on bread and milk. I mean gallons and loaves. Because you might need to eat a few dozen pieces of toast in that day - or maybe two - that you're stuck in the house before it all melts.
Me? I was born and raised in the Chicago area. I did what transplanted Northerners do. I went to the grocery store and got a couple frozen pizzas and a six-pack of Landshark Lager. Hell, I'm no fool. If I'm stuck in the house, I'm eating pizza and drinking beer.
Thank God it snows down here once a year! It's the one time that I allow myself the treat of a Tombstone pepperoni pizza. Or two. I make healthy pizzas during the rest of the year. You know, low-cal ones on tortillas. They taste good and are really satisfying but Lord how I look forward to my snowed-in, Tombstone treats!
When they start talking snow, the kids in Greenville start praying that it happens so that school is cancelled. I start drooling at the possibility of eating a frozen pizza. I got a pepperoni and a supreme. Good thing because we are getting socked with snow. This is a REAL snowstorm this time. It's beautiful...absolutely beautiful! As white and light as the cheese on my frozen pizza.
Life is good!
But thanks to the ace weather reporters, we knew it was coming a couple days ago so everyone did what they do here in the South...they went to the grocery store and loaded up on bread and milk. I mean gallons and loaves. Because you might need to eat a few dozen pieces of toast in that day - or maybe two - that you're stuck in the house before it all melts.
Me? I was born and raised in the Chicago area. I did what transplanted Northerners do. I went to the grocery store and got a couple frozen pizzas and a six-pack of Landshark Lager. Hell, I'm no fool. If I'm stuck in the house, I'm eating pizza and drinking beer.
Thank God it snows down here once a year! It's the one time that I allow myself the treat of a Tombstone pepperoni pizza. Or two. I make healthy pizzas during the rest of the year. You know, low-cal ones on tortillas. They taste good and are really satisfying but Lord how I look forward to my snowed-in, Tombstone treats!
When they start talking snow, the kids in Greenville start praying that it happens so that school is cancelled. I start drooling at the possibility of eating a frozen pizza. I got a pepperoni and a supreme. Good thing because we are getting socked with snow. This is a REAL snowstorm this time. It's beautiful...absolutely beautiful! As white and light as the cheese on my frozen pizza.
Life is good!
UPDATE - We definitely got snow! Here's my Amish snowman (no face). Life is better than good - IT'S GREAT!!!
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