Cloud Nine Girl

[I wrote this post as a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our worries and also offer support and encouragement to each other on the first Wednesday of every month. If you’re a writer like me and you’re looking for a bit of support, you can click the link and sign up here]

This month’s awesome hosts are, Tamara Narayan, Pat Hatt, Patricia Lynne, Juneta Key  and Doreen McGettigan.

Thank you so much! And thank you founder Alex J. Cavanaugh!

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Back in high school, I faced my worst fear joining a creative writing group—public feedback. I’d been writing stories since the first grade and up to that point my stories and ideas had always been just for me. Not even my own family really understood my passion for words until much later.

Now looking back, I realize the gentle coaxing to join the group was pivotal to my next steps. I did enjoy sharing my chapters with a group of peers and our writing coach, our history teacher. I did like the subtle comments to add or expound or even clarify certain scenes or details. I also learned some of the pretty language was just for me, and not necessarily the reader. Still a teen myself though, I struggled with the personal side of comments. It wasn’t until later when I became a corporate trainer and trained to teach 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, did I realize the difference in specific and kind feedback and the others types of comments that didn’t matter so much.

This month IWSG questions asks us “What is one valuable lesson you’ve learned since you started writing?

Helpful, sincere and specific feedback is my answer. I’m thinking of the importance of feedback in everything we do. There’s a balance of course in helpful and kind feedback verses critical feedback, which might be more about the person and less about improving skill or contributing to a clearer and more successful outcome. Those writing friends who do know the balance also do care for our own personal success.

We always have a choice of course, and feedback is biased and personal based on our own backgrounds, but I do believe it’s necessary if given in the right light.

And favorite quote this week?

Fridays are all about celebrating the Small Things thanks to a weekly blog hop created by author Lexa Cain. Joint co-hosts this week are authors L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog The mission coincides with what I’m hoping to do with my own writing, inspire and focus on the light when those slippery shadows creep around our shoes. Want to sign up? Click Lexa Cain’s link to find out more.

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Worry creeps into our heads. The pulse races. The heartbeat starts to pound. The hairy monster you dreaded meeting is right in front of you, worse than you ever thought it might be. Before you know it, you’re waving your hand at the monster, or kicking and shouting outloud. In anycase, the thing you dread the most arrives and you actually pass it. How does it happen? How do you go from biting your nails, your knees shaking, to raising your arms and screaming outloud, “I did it!”

Yes, inner strength and perseverence counts.  But today, I’m thinking of our shadow champions. Our dearest ones who hold our hands in the dark when we can’t seem to get control. Today, I’m celebrating my own champions in my life who’ve helped me see through the dark, given me an extra flashlight and squeezed my hand right before I had to face what I really didn’t want to face.

This week I moved to a new home. I cleaned up my old home and managed to get everything done and vacated in the time I’d planned. It was rough. I pushed myself to the limits. I pushed others to the limits but the best part is, they still love me.

I have so many wonderful memories from the past three years in my old home, but now I’m ready to make new ones. So thank you to my partner Dave, my girlfriends Chrissy and Diana and my mom Joyce for all the love and support given through this difficult time.

On the writing side, my computer is up and running again and I’ve been rereading all my notes, my synopsis, and all my short clips of chapters I plan to include in my new working manuscript. Thank you Becky for being such a great writing partner and inspiring me to believe in this new idea I have.

My mother and stepdad came out for a whole weekend and I’m celebrating seeing them as well. They live in Denver, a solid 8 hour drive away from Kansas City, so we don’t see each other as much as we’d like.

My post is short, but my heart is big. Encountered your own small miracle this week with the helping hand of someone you love?

Always remember: