First Step to Being a Writer: WRITE

After reading a fellow blogger's post yesterday, I was reminded of a very important rule for being a writer.  What is that rule you ask? Write! I know that isn't exactly earth shattering.  But it hit home because I have a hard time making myself sit down to write if I don't have a lot of time.  And I love to write, so it shouldn't be that difficult! But I prefer to have a couple of hours to work on a project.  If I only have thirty minutes, I typically find something else that needs done.  The problem with that is I have been extremely busy this year.  That means I haven't gotten many words down on my current WIP.  On previous projects, I've been able to complete a first draft within two months.  However, I began REKINDLE this past spring and I haven't even hit the 10K mark.

So basically, I've completely dropped the ball on that very necessary rule.  With that being said, I sat down last night and completed a whopping 300 words.  That doesn't sound like much, but it sure felt good to see the words on the screen.  And it was certainly better than seeing a blank screen!

One final note: take time to stop on over at J. W. Alden's blog where he shares a few good writing rules.  It's definitely worth the read.

Our Role as Consumers

I've spent a lot of time considering our role as consumers.  And by "consumer" I mean anyone who purchases books, movies, music, or any particular item from any store.  I would guess everyone fits into the category of "consumer."  What really got me thinking was the whole Chick-fil-A mess.  (There.  I said it.  I won't say it again because that's not the focus of this post, and there's no point beating a dead horse with a stick.)

I don't have an answer, but I can't help wondering how far we as consumers are willing to go to support one company or author or musician or actor/actress, etc. versus not supporting another.  For instance, if I decide to boycott every person or company that believes something contrary to what I believe, I'd probably have to carry a mile long list as a reminder of who/what I cannot see/read/listen to, etc.  And that would probably be the same for many other consumers regardless of what side of an issue they are on.

So that bring me to the next question.  Does appreciating a person's talent/ability or a store's service/items equal supporting the person's/store's beliefs? That's where the water gets really muddy for me personally.  I can recall a time when someone I know stopped watching a particular show because of something that came out about the main actress.  At the time, I thought that was rather silly.  I thought about the person I know, just because you don't support "that" doesn't mean you can't support her acting ability.  I also recall when an author came out with a particular novel and a set of people threw a fit because of the author's stance on an issue.  And again, I thought that was silly.  It was just a book.  Pure fiction.  It didn't mean anything.  Reading the book didn't mean a particular consumer agreed with the author's belief.  Yet there is an author I will not read.  There are singers I will not listen to.  There is an actor I will not watch.  And that leaves me questioning why I'm diligent about not supporting those, but I don't mind supporting others.  I'll use my religion as an example.  If I were to boycott one atheist, what would be the point if I don't boycott them all? It seems rather ridiculous to make a big stink about one and not the others.  That's just an example.

So back to the original question.  As consumers, should we pay more attention and be more diligent about those we choose to support and who we choose not to support? Or do we just enjoy what we enjoy while recognizing we won't always agree with certain people's/companies beliefs? Perhaps it depends on your definition of "support." 

I'd love to know what others think, so leave your thoughts below!

Fire and Ice ~ August AW Blog Chain

Time for the August AW Blog Chain. This month's prompt is Fire & Ice. As usual, the post can be fiction or non-fiction. For those of you unfamiliar with the chain, please read my fictional post and then take a look at what the other participants had to say. The links are listed below. Thanks!


Pain shot through her fingers as she gripped the door handle.  She let go, thankful her hands weren’t numb yet.  She rubbed them together.  Maybe there was no use trying to get out.  Even if she wanted, she’d never be able to open the door.  The freak storm which had left behind several inches of ice had her trapped.  The room she now occupied was a mere four degrees warmer than outside.  She’d never experienced such an extreme cold.  But she didn’t really mind.  The rage that burned within her was enough.  For now.

She could no longer walk, so she crawled across the floor in search of anything she could use to break a window and the layer of ice which covered it.  If she survived, her feet would be amputated because of frostbite.  Perhaps her hands would be, too.  It wouldn’t be long before she could no longer use them.  Still, she was determined.

Finally, she located a hammer and eased her way back to the window.  Her first swing barely cracked the glass.  Gritting her teeth against the pain and the cold, she swung again.  And again.  And again.  But her arms soon gave out; the ice was thicker than she thought.  Slumping against the door, she imagined him lying on the ground somewhere.  Was he suffering worse than she? She hoped so as she gasped for one more breath.  He deserved no less for leaving her to die.



Now, check out the following:
orion_mk3
Ralph Pines
areteus
Catherine Hall
bmadsen
pyrosama
meowzbark
BBBurke
writingismypassion (YOU ARE HERE)
wonderactivist
SuzanneSeese
randi.lee
Proach
BigWords

Cross on Public Property ~ Dugger, Indiana Facing Legal Action

Stories like this both sadden and anger me.  It is another supposed violation of the separation of church and state.  It is stories like this that inspired me to start my First Amendment series, which currently is on hold.  This story is a great example of how far we as a country have strayed from the original meaning of the First Amendment. 

The article basically states that Americans United for the Separation of Church and State have sent a letter to Dugger, Indiana, population 915 as of 2011, threatening legal action and informing that the twenty-six foot tall cross located there in Dugger on public property is a violation of the Establishment Clause.  In case you're not familiar, the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."  The cross was built by a private citizen at his own expense, and the town council approved the cross's current location.  The council does not believe they can afford, much less win, a lawsuit.  And because of that, there was much debate over what to do.  The council has now decided to sell the property so that the cross can remain in its current position.

I applaud them for not taking the cross down.  But they shouldn't have to sell the property to avoid a lawsuit.  No violation to the Constitution has been committed.  If this was a situation where the citizens of Dugger wanted the cross removed from public property, I would understand.  The town council acts as representatives of the citizens and should act accordingly.  From what I can understand, though, the protest has not come from the citizens.  Does that mean there are no citizens in Dugger who want the cross down? Not necessarily.

I've made no attempt at hiding the fact that I am a Christian.  And just in case you're wondering, I would not have a different opinion if the issue was an atheist sign.  For example, if a private citizen built a sign that was "anti-christian" or "anti-religion" or even representing a different religion for that matter, and the town council approved the sign being displayed on public property, and the citizens had no problem with the sign, I wouldn't object.  An atheist's rights are protected by the First Amendment just as much as the Christian's or other religious person's rights are.  If I was travelling through a town that had a sign which was contrary to my beliefs, I wouldn't even go out of my way to turn my head to prevent myself from looking at it.  The sign wouldn't threaten me or my beliefs.  It wouldn't change my view, just as a cross probably won't change the view of an atheist.  And the same goes for symbols of other religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, etc.  If I saw a large Buddha located on public property, I wouldn't accuse the town of "establishing Buddhism."  The town would merely be using the Buddha as a representation to their religious beliefs.  And they would have that right.

This whole false concept of the separation of church and state infuriates me.  My biggest concern is that we as a people have come too far, that there's no going back to the original meaning of the First Amendment.  And before I start ranting, I better end this post.  But let me end with this:

One person's rights cannot be granted by taking away another's.

Lazy Day Saturday

I have to admit, I love lazy days.  You know the kind, the kind where you get out of bed and stay in your pajamas all day because you have absolutely nowhere to go for once.  Today is one of those days for me.  And how am I using my lazy day? Catching up on writing projects and household chores.  It's funny how such a busy day still feels like a lazy day compared to my usual schedule.  But sitting around doing nothing all day really isn't my style, so I don't really mind.  At least I get to stay home and get caught up. 

I've had a crazy busy summer so far, and my mom and I were recently talking about how fast time goes.  She goes to the Brickyard every year and always takes someone with her.  This year was my third time, and my mom and I were commenting on how we look forward to it for so long and then it's over.  We hardly have enough time to enjoy the experience.  But such is the case with everything. 

So with that being said, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my day and my weekend for that matter.  August is my least busiest month; every weekend in September is already booked.  Better enjoy the break while I can.  Have fun all!

REKINDLE Changes

Well August has arrived, and I'm sorry to say I haven't had much time to work on REKINDLE.  There have been too many other things fighting for my attention.  However, I am excited about a recent development in the storyline.  From the beginning, I planned on sharing the story through two POVs ~ Kallie's and Joey's.  I thought (ha ha, that's what I get for thinking) that Kallie would get more time than Joey.  But I don't think that will be the case.

Here's a very brief description of the story:

Kallie returns to town because she has finally sold her old house and needs to pack up all her stuff so she can move on with her future.  When Kallie had left town several years before, she left Joey behind to cope with a broken heart.  They run into each other early on and the story goes from there.

The development I'm excited about is this: Joey's life has been turned upside down.  The love of his life skipped town, and then he was forced to deal with another loss and his family is still trying to pick up the pieces.  I'm sensing a lot of conflict and tension yet to be written.  And that's more interesting than Kallie and her packing abilities.  Actually, she does more than pack boxes, but Joey's going to be the popular one.  So it's a shift, a big one in my opinion.  Kallie and her dilemmas are not going to be the focus of the story after all. 

Ahhh...writing.  Got to love the journey it takes us on!