Ruin Is the Road to Transformation…So What Are You Waiting For?

Posted on February 21, 2024 by mestengobooks

Quote by author Elizabeth Gilbert from the book/movie, Eat Pray Love

Lesson Learned…Again and Again

I watched Eat Pray Love again last weekend, for the umpteenth time…and each time I watch it I glean some lesson, either newly learned or temporarily forgotten, from the wise and wonderful words written by author Elizabeth Gilbert. I found the book much funnier than the movie because her voice was more present in the writing but not in the overall script. I keep returning to the movie for bits of badly needed wisdom, as if it were a roadmap of my own life.

Like Humpty Dumpty, Only Better

What always hits home for me is the quote above about transformation. About getting knocked down repeatedly and rearranging yourself or your life because it’s necessary in order to move forward, out of a stuck place. The message is: You have to be willing to fall apart to put yourself back together again.

It’s also a bit like my Badly Designed Parking Lot post…because it’s about recognizing what isn’t working for you in your life (job, home, relationships, writing gigs, etc.) and making a conscious decision to change what needs to be changed. Change is always chaotic until the cycle is complete. Only then can we see in hindsight that those changes were right and necessary, however uncomfortable. Getting out of our comfort zones is what activates us; staying in those comfort zones (fear of change), whether you realize it or not, is not all that comfortable. It’s just familiar (read: less scary).

Ouch, That Hurts…

As of late, I have been banging my head against the proverbial brick wall with – surprise – the same (undesirable) result each time. And when I made a decision to finally and completely let go, I went quiet inside because, as I now realize, it was the right decision, no matter how risky I deemed it to be. The proverbial leap of faith. And it paid off.

Long story short: Two years of temp jobs weren’t working out (for a variety of reasons) and the last one, due to run about eight months, was cut short after only four days, by the client. I wasn’t all that upset – which surprised me – but my approach to this ongoing issue (that brick wall I’d been banging my head against for two years) was simple and logical. I sent an email saying I no longer wanted to work for the agency or their client. I was done being chewed up and spit out.

We are often forced down that road to transformation because we reach a boiling point, a point where no amount of contrition from the trespassers will keep us from making the right and necessary decision.

The Relief, the Freedom

My (new) passive income kicked in this month and allows me time for art projects I’ve been putting together. Hundreds of ideas zip around in my head and my imagination has free reign in my brain. Now I have both options and time (but not too much $$ but that too can be changed with a little effort). What a feeling. A family member responded to my news with this: So you have joined the ranks of the “senior, experienced, wise, freed up, interested, etc.” Enjoy while you can.

I plan to. Because all the ruination/transformation that has defined so much of my life seems to finally be winding down. And I can breathe. Truly and deeply. And it feels oh, so good.

And so can you. If only you let go. So what are you waiting for?

#EatPrayLove #ElizabethGilbert #amwriting #author #lettinggo #transormation #authoroninstagram #fiction #poetry #life #writinglife #meditation #art #painting #imagination #passiveincome #watercolors #acrylicpainting #oilpainting #sketching #abstractart #myart #makearteveryday #artlovers #artists #creatives #artistoninstagram #creativity #artsy

Better Late Than Never

Posted on February 9, 2024 by mestengobooks

Credit: Google Images

Almost Forgot…

Okay, I’m a little behind the eight ball this year…

I’ve had a rough few weeks, so my mind has been on other, more important (or less trivial) things. This is the time of year where I like to remind all of you writers to clean out your old files/projects/works, old stories that will never see the light of day and any other projects that have been at a standstill for at least a few years. Time to heave-ho. Put them in your “file 13” (trash can – digital or paper).

A Chance to Begin Again…

Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year, the Green Wood Dragon 2024. Gung Hay Fat Choi – which is Cantonese for “congratulations on prospering in money.” In Mandarin, it’s Gong xi fat cai.

“It is a popular saying you’ll hear frequently during Chinese New Year. Unlike Americans, this Chinese congratulatory greeting is not based on something already achieved but instead is a wish or hope that you will achieve what you desire, hence the congratulations in the phrase. It’s a blessing of good fortune and prosperity (it’s not always money, as many Chinese believed that enough food to eat also represented abundance in one’s life).” MB post, January 26, 2020

This is supposed to be a fortuitous year for many, so I’m crossing my fingers. Because my life has had some major up- and downswings lately, I figure I need all the help I can get. I added a Chinese Dragon as wallpaper to my Google. Added a smaller one to my phone for luck. Tonight I will eat some potstickers (can’t really find Chinese dumplings where I live, it’s a bit rural) for good luck. If you can find mandarin oranges (they’re in season here), buy a bunch (at least 5) and place them in a nice bowl on your kitchen table (another representation of prosperity = enough food to eat). Keep the bowl filled as much as possible through February.

Cleaning House, Again…

In 2021, I wrote about scraps of a writing life – yet I am still clinging (versus just holding on) to some of those unfinished projects and haven’t touched them in years. What am I waiting for? It dawned on me yesterday as I uninstalled a few unused apps on my phone: there was once a time when I lived my life fully and without any of this digital crap. Why am I hanging on to stuff I don’t use? Do I fear missing out on something? Why am I afraid to let go? What exactly do I fear? Why oh why am I saving website links? Why all the digital clutter?

Cleaning house, including computer files, is good for the spirit; it releases stuck energy and makes you feel like you accomplished something worthwhile. So what are you waiting for? Get off your butt and get busy cleaning out those old writing projects that no longer serve a purpose in your life. Let go. (This is the hardest part because we may feel that we failed instead of seeing the incomplete projects as works of exercise that stretched our minds but weren’t meant for public consumption.)

Refresh Your Memory

If you haven’t yet read it, please visit my post on organizing your writing area to empower you and your work. Check out how to clear out old work. Organize (or re-organize) your writing space. Learn how to lay your past projects to rest here. Re-read them if you will, refresh your memory. Let this new year begin with a new version of you, a better version of your work. After all, life is about progress, not perfection, right?

#writing #fengshui #chinesenewyear #greendragon #2024 #writersoninstragram #WritersDigest #WriterBeware #mestengobooks #prosperity #abundance

Credit: Google Images

The Seven-Year Itch…Plus One

Posted on January 23, 2024 by mestengobooks

Credit: Google Images/Redbubble.com

Lightbulb!

I knew it would come to me sooner or later. I’ve been spending this afternoon re-reading old blog posts to correct grammar, remove now-defunct website links, update format styles and break up long paragraphs into smaller, more easily digestible bits. I knew going over older posts would inspire me and I’d come up with a topic for my next post. I just clicked on my sixth-year workiversary post and realized I now had another two years under my blogging belt.

*raised eyebrow*

Next month will be my EIGHTH year as a blogger. Honestly, I can’t remember ever sticking with anything for this long. As I wrote in that previous blog (Feb 2022):

“It’s a form of adult-ing in which I rarely engage.”

True dat.

Running Out of Good Ideas? Not Likely!

While I occasionally struggle with ideas for this post, I have to say I’m proud of the posts I’ve written here. I’ve had some very good ideas, well-written posts and good suggestions to improve both your writing and your storytelling, as well as a few personal revelations. All in all, I’d say I’m happy with what I’ve shared the past eight years.

To again quote from the six-year anniversary post, “I don’t know how much longer Mestengo Books will be around but I do know this: both your presence and your absence has bettered my writing and clarified my creative process.” It’s the honest truth and I hope to continue this for at least a little while longer. I also hope many of you will continue to take the ride with me. Let’s hang out until it’s time for me to walk away, until it’s time to find another creative outlet I’m willing to commit myself to for a similar period of time.

That’s growth, maturation, shifting perspectives and priorities.

“Everything is ephemeral, both that which remembers and that which is remembered.” Marcus Aurelius

#happyanniversary #Mestengobooks #writerslife #blogging #storytelling #creativity #selfpublishing #writersdigest #writersofinstagram #authorsontwitter #fictionwriters #nonfictionwriters #writingcommunity #tuesdaytips

Good Tips for Writing Great Magazine Articles

Posted on December 31, 2023 by mestengobooks

Credit: Google Images/https://www.youngwriters.co.uk

You’ve finished your query for an article you’d like to write and you’re looking for a magazine (or several magazines) to buy it. What next? Here are several tips for turning out a great article that stands a good chance of getting published in a magazine — if you do your homework.

Get All Your Ducks in a Row

Creating an outline for your article idea is an effective writing tool. It helps you organize your thoughts on the topic and break it down into workable pieces (e.g., the introduction, the body, the conclusion). I assume you’ve done some research or made some notes on your article idea. Take that information and use whatever is most relevant to the article. These can become your guides, or main headings, to the layout of the article. If necessary, create subheadings to ensure you have enough content for each section of the article.

Make It Strong, Make It Flow

I’ve touched on this in several previous blog posts – it’s vital that you use strong verbs (not passive tense), tight writing (say what you mean with as few words as possible) and use specific language (in other words, no fillers and crutch words).

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences. – Strunk and White, from The Elements of Style

An article that flows well will allow the reader to move seamlessly through the information. Pay attention to your paragraphs. Does the beginning of each new paragraph herald new information, a new and related topic? With reader attention spans even shorter, keep each paragraph to an easily digestible length.

Editors appreciate writers who turn in succinct articles. If you write 1000 words, cut it down to 500. Then cut it down to 250, maintaining the heart of the article. Your article may contain lots of great information but whittling it down to its salient points will grab the editor’s attention (as well as readers). Choose words carefully. Write only what is relevant.

Vague words dilute your writing and weaken the points and information you are conveying. William Zinsser in his book On Writing Well states, “Don’t say you were a bit confused and sort of tired and a little depressed and somewhat annoyed. Be confused. Be tired. Be depressed. Be annoyed. Don’t hedge your prose with timidities. Good writing is lean and confident.” – Kerrie Flanagan in Writer’s Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing (2018)

Remember, be specific and use strong verbs:

Credit: strong verbs from Writer’s Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing (2018)

Fact-Checking Isn’t Always Fun But It’s Necessary

Nowadays, almost everyone relies on Google and Bing search engines to find information. Problem is, too many people assume that what is found online is true and fact-based. This is a fallacy and can doom your article. Be thorough in your research, especially in fact-checking any nonfiction information in your article.

One great source is public libraries; librarians can help you find and verify the information or steer you in the proper direction. There are a multitude of online clearing houses that provide factual information, such as the Library of Congress/National Archives. It’s probably one of the most complete library systems in the world, where you can find millions of bits of information based in fact.

In Conclusion

Now that you have a good idea of where to start, there’s nothing stopping you from getting that article published. There are thousands of magazines out there and I’m sure somebody wants to print your work (I think I’m saying this more to myself than to you, dear readers).

A new year is headed our way — a tabula rosa, if you will (look, I used a Latin phrase, wink wink). A clean slate. A fresh start. Get writing and you have a better chance of getting published than if you don’t write. Right? 🙂

Credit: Google Images

#amwriting #writersoninstragram #happynewyear #2024 #publishing #selfpublishing #fridayfunfacts #author #authorsoninstagram #writersdigest #outline #introduction #grammarly #scribd #goodgrammar #writingtips

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL…

Posted on December 18, 2023 by mestengobooks

Credit: Google Images/IMDb

I’m not a religious person but who can watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and not be touched by Linus’ speech? It is my gift to you this year, dear readers. May you find light and peace within and time with family a blessing…

From “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1966):

Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. [moves toward the center of the stage]

Linus Van Pelt: Lights, please. [a spotlight shines on Linus]

Linus Van Pelt: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not:” [Linus drops his security blanket on purpose]

Linus Van Pelt: “for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'”

Linus Van Pelt:That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Credit: Google Images/inspireuplift.com

Life is Like a Badly Designed Parking Lot

Posted on December 12, 2023 by mestengobooks

zigzag

Driving Me Nuts

Yesterday I found myself swerving, zigzagging and avoiding cars driving straight towards me in parking lot lanes barely wide enough to be two-way. The one-way lanes in this lot were so narrow I had to slow down and carefully go around any trucks or SUVs with their rear ends sticking out of the short lanes to avoid hitting cars parked on the opposite side (*deep sigh*). As I came to a turn, I prayed idiot pedestrians would actually look both ways before stepping out onto the road (in CA they NEVER do that) so I won’t chance hitting one (not that I’d be all that upset if I did). I slammed on the brakes for two guys indifferent to my presence.

As I navigated stop signs and idiot drivers through this parking lot from one side to the other (it’s a shortcut to avoid several lights though I’m rethinking the route now), something dawned on me and I exclaimed it out loud to myself (multiple times) in the car:

“This badly designed parking lot is a metaphor my life here in northern California!”

*Sheesh*

Not the Metaphor I’d Hoped For

2023…this has been a spectacularly challenging year (even though a Black Water Rabbit year, according to Chinese horoscopes, was supposed to be good for me in the area of finance. *harrumph*). Temp work all but dried up and permanent work has been beyond my grasp. I can’t explain the feeling of how navigating the parking lot seemed a strange parallel to what my life has been here: a lot of dead ends (choices leading nowhere), stop signs (no, you can’t go that way), people crossing my path (for brief periods and not caring much ), narrow lanes (are you sure this is the right path? not a good fit for you). I was overcome with such a strong feeling of discombobulation that I now struggle to put it into words (not a good sign for a writer, eh?). Frustration doesn’t even begin to describe it…it’s as if, no matter how hard I try or which choices I make, the end result is the same: nope, this road ain’t gonna work for you.

Such is Life…

But life is like that sometimes, right? We’re confronted by numerous adversities, both personal and professional, in our lifetimes and whether we right ourselves depends on our ability to cope and resolve the issue. It’s just that sometimes that feeling of discombobulation is so overwhelming it can be hard to see the way out of a place that isn’t working.

Movin’ On is All You Can Do

Can’t go back in time, can’t stay still, so moving forward, moving on, is the only option. Like the saying “one day at a time,” I must keep moving in a forward direction, one step, one day at a time. Must keep knocking on doors, climbing over walls, finding ways through locked gates. For me, “when one door closes, another door opens” always meant when one door closes, find a damn window to climb through. I’ve always been determined to find a way, no matter how many obstacles in front of me. I don’t like to be told ‘no’ in any form.

Cathartic writing is good for the spirit. Who knows, in sharing this I may finally find my way out of that badly designed parking lot and on to a smoother road. Or maybe a reader will come up with a resolution to a similar problem. Either way, all we can do is hope, right?

#writing #amwriting #writersofinstagram #author #driving #roadblocks #life #lifeishard #mestengobooks #livinglife #loveyourself #success #believe #positivevibes #selflove #goals #yourself #motivationalquotes #l #mindset #likes #insta #quoteoftheday #friends #inspirationalquotes #family #live #quote #positivity #peace

My Favorite Blogs: How Tos, Who Dos, and Need to Knows

Posted on April 22, 2023 by mestengobooks

Source: Google Images/passionwp.com

Looking for Ideas

In trying to come up with a new post, I did what I often do – I re-read my previous posts for inspiration. I noticed some patterns in my blog posts and some, well, obsessions, actually. Like my obsession with good grammar. Did you note that in this post’s title I used plural (Dos) and not possessive (Do’s) form?

That’s in favorite grammar blog #2!

I have noted more than once my loathing for poor grammar, as it makes for poor communication and lowers a writer’s credibility. Turns out, when I looked through my blog, I have written a number of posts on this very subject. To keep the list manageable, I created a ‘top ten’ list of grammar-related posts that I personally like. Think of this as an opportunity to refresh your memory:

On poor grammar and writing:

Then I noticed other patterns. For example, I have written many blog posts related to the concept of home and for writers in general. These ‘top ten’ posts are where I feel my narrative writing style stands out and they provide some good information:

Home and writer-related:

Then I saw another distinct pattern – of writing miscellaneous, fill-in-the-space-between-bad-grammar-rants blog posts. These ‘top ten’ ranged from personal stories to personal opinions and everywhere in between:

Miscellany:

So there you have it. Just in case you missed any…feel free to click on the links and expand your mind…

Now that’s tootin’ my own horn… (wink wink nudge nudge)

#writersonwordpress #writersoninstagram #writersontwitter #mestengobooks #fiction #writingstyle #blogging #blogger #gettingpaidtowrite #grammar #language #books #library #booklover #storyteller

Caveat Emptor: Let the Buyer Beware. Or: If It’s Free, You Get What You Pay For…

Posted on April 13, 2023 by mestengobooks

Source: Google Images/EClectEcon

Suckered Again

Lulled once again into a sense of ‘getting something for nothing,’ I happily clicked on a link to Alison dot com, sent by my job coach, to take a FREE online course in becoming a copyeditor. The course takes 2-3 hours and over 4,000 people have already taken the course (as if it adds credibility).

The catch? (Cuz you know there is one, there always is.) The course is free but you have to pay for the certification. Hmm. And when I try to find the fee for said certification, I’m sent back around to finish the course. No heads up as to what it’ll cost me in the end except precious time.

copyediting

You Have to Pay to Play

They list the skills you’re going to learn from this basic course. There are more courses, of course, that teach increasing levels of skills and they do offer paid courses, though I’m not sure of the cost or quality of information because I can’t get there without paying first.

According to the website at Alison.com, “a Copy Editor would typically need to:

Fact-check and edit the content of written text to ensure proper use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and style guides
Be comfortable working with publishing systems and databases via the internet or from paper manuscripts
Edit news stories, job descriptions, manuscripts, emails, and internal documents, depending on the industry they work in
Manage a significantly more research-centric role, if employed in a technical field that requires specialized knowledge
Ensure the authors provide all necessary material and documentation; review the written content for style and organization; make minor corrections
Leave detailed feedback on organization, focus and tone for the original writer to make required changes
Be able to sub-edit text written by diverse authors to maintain a stable and coherent organizational style”

I can find this information in any basic copyediting book at the library or online. Nothing new here.

The narrator’s voice is female with a noticeable accent that is both British and (East) Indian and, British English is used (spelling is different in certain words). After listening to several sections, I realized it’s a computer-generated voice; pronunciation of certain words was definitely not of the human error kind (accent or emphasis on the wrong syllable or drawn out incorrectly, as AI tends to do).

The following is a basic approach to guidelines when copyediting. See how they spell ‘summarising’? That’s British spelling and my computer keeps trying to change the second ‘s’ to a ‘z’ for American English (‘summarizing’).

editing techniques

The information isn’t all that spectacular; as I wrote above, this information can be easily found in books at most libraries or online. The Books for Dummies series has a great edition on copyediting and I would recommend that over this course – more information, more than just the basics. You can buy a used copy online at Amazon and don’t need to pay for a ‘certification’ for basic copyediting skills, which you already have as a writer, journalist, novelist, poet and such, and use daily.

edit tech2

You can read the screen above for the information layout. I think it’s a nice course to refresh your editing skills. I also believe that paying for the certification will NOT lead to job offers in copyediting. Only degrees in Journalism, Communications, and related fields and experience in writing and editing will get you a job (freelance or not).

After sitting through most of this free, ‘basic’ course, all I can say is “be careful what you wish for… you just might get it.”

#amwriting #authoroninstagram #publishing #copyediting #copywriting #WritesDigest #thursdaytips #mestengobooks #journalism #freelancewriter

Want to Improve Your Writing? Go Read a Dictionary!

Posted on March 24, 2023 by mestengobooks

Source: Google Images/https://people.howstuffworks.com/words-removed-dictionary.htm

More Than Just A Book of Words

Reading a dictionary – now there’s a novel idea. And a challenging one, at that. I’d been thinking about what to post next; as I considered topics, something came to me:

A dictionary contains every word in every story you’ve ever read or written or will ever read or write. When was the last time you read through one?

Or have you ever tried?

And then I came across a short but informative article on just this subject. It’s a great little article on why reading a dictionary will greatly improve your writing and I’ll quote often from it here because he made so many wonderful points.

“When I misbehaved as a kid, writing out sections of the dictionary was the way my father punished me. At the time, I wished he’d have chosen any other means of discipline. Throw out my Xbox, no television for a week, make me eat broccoli, anything but that dictionary I’d think. Little did I know how much this book improved my vocabulary.”

Isaiah McCall, Journalist and NYC comedian

I have a clear memory of our thick Webster’s Dictionary sitting alongside our complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica that sat in a small bookcase in the long hallway between the kitchen and living room/bedrooms. Growing up pre-Digital Age, I often referred to that dictionary when writing school papers (in longhand and rewritten often to achieve perfection because the Catholic nuns accepted no less).

“Real self-improvement is doing the activities that most people would rather avoid. It could be waking up a little earlier, exercising a bit longer, or going where few ever go to improve their writing: the dictionary.”

Isaiah McCall

Always Learning

Sure, reading books can help with learning vocabulary and improving language skills but only a dictionary can build your word base (that pesky skill that allows one to speak and write well and, diversely). Dictionaries provide so much more than just words: pronunciation, history, evolution. Even the newest lexicon is included to provide readers and perusers with so much more than JUST a word.

“You can read War and Peace or Lord of the Rings (both excellent books by the way) until your face turns blue. Yet you won’t ever learn the word axinomancy (the placement of an ax, hatchet or saw into the ground or stump of tree).”

Isaiah McCall

What’s interesting is that I learned, in reading Isaiah’s article, that dictionaries have evolved from being prescriptive (telling us how to use the book) to being descriptive (how people use language) – big difference. I clearly remember all the hubbub around the word ain’t and how it really wasn’t a word (though it is and has been for some time). There was a saying in our neighborhood (and probably in many other neighborhoods as well) – “Ain’t ain’t a word. If ain’t ain’t a word…well, I forget the rest of it…too long ago. But you get the point, since ain’t has been included in the dictionary since the 18th century!

“Instead of rushing through the dictionary to find sophisticated or bizarre words, take the book page by page — revel in the experience. Write the words down, understand them, and only after that can you continue to the next page. Unless you have a photographic memory, you‘ll likely forget some, if not most of these words. But this isn’t the point of writing out a dictionary. The point is to gain recognition and a real feel for words you never even knew existed.”

Isaiah McCall

Personally, one of my favorite words (which I learned from perusing said book) is obsequious and I do like to use it in conversation. As a child, I was obsessed with pronouncing and spelling pneumonosilicovolcanoconiosis. I can’t remember how or why I locked on to it. At the time, it was one of the LONGEST words I’d memorized, aside from supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, which every kid in the neighborhood knew (thanks, Mary Poppins!).

I’ll let Isaiah finish making the point for me:

“But as a writer, the dictionary allowed me to lock onto words that struck my fancy. “Videlicet” and “autodidactic” are two words I continue to use in my conversations and more importantly, my writing.

You’re bound to find a few words that will become staples in your writing.

Start with writing out 10 words a day. You can go with an “a through z” approach or flip to random pages. Either way, make sure you get your 10 words in.”

Isaiah McCall

Now go dust off that big old book or bookmark Webster’s online dictionary and get your words ON.

#writing #amwriting #MirriamWebster #Oxforddictionary #dictionary #reading #writersoninstagram #writersontwitter #vocabulary #blogging #lexicon #autodidactic #fridayfuntips #author #authoroninstagram #words #language #digitalage #technology #onlinedictionary

Organize Your Writing Space to Maximize Output and the Results May Surprise You

Posted on March 11, 2023 by mestengobooks

Source: Google Images/https://www.lesliebudewitz.com/feng-shui-for-a-writers-office/

Just a Little Reminder for a Big Effect

Back in 2017, I posted a blog on setting up your writing space for better success. I’m still a firm believer in space arrangement and how it affects your work and home, and a springtime newsletter from a feng shui expert prompted me to remind you all as well.

“A writer’s office should be a haven, a sanctuary. A safe place to explore unknown realms of the heart and mind. A nest, a birthing place. An efficient model of production where computers and printers spit out polished manuscripts.” Leslie Budewitz, Author

The following are the top ten from Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA, Feng Shui Master Practitioner, whose feng shui newsletter I have followed since graduate school. Note what’s in the Number 1 spot – how you position yourself while you’re working, creating that next bestselling novel, that personal masterpiece.

This can make or break your writing process, if you ask me.

1. Sit (or stand) in “command” position. That is, face toward the room entrance door, preferably on a diagonal. If you can’t turn your desk around, hang or place a mirror so you can see what’s going on behind you.

Personally, this is always my go-to choice. Never liked sitting with my back to the door or a window. I want a view of who’s coming in and what’s going on outside (even when a nice window view is a not-so-welcome distraction, it beats staring at a wall). Honestly, I do feel more in control when my desk is in this position. Problem is, some people may not have enough room (read: small studio apartment or shared living space) but there are fixes available to help you write and sell that next great novel.

2. Think like Goldilocks and choose the right size desk. A desk that is too small can make you feel like you are not up to the challenge of your work. A desk that’s too big symbolizes feeling overwhelmed by tasks. An unsubstantial desk will limit your opportunities for growth and promotion.

Absolutely! I had a friend who started a home-based consulting business after leaving her corporate job. Her desk was far too tiny and narrow, I reminded her, to get the business off the ground, because it represented a lack of space (for clients/opportunities) in her life. Needless to say, until she moved out of the cramped space and got a larger desk/work area, her business stagnated, which left her in dire financial straits for a time. Now she’s growing her business and is much happier.

3. Sit in the most comfortable chair you can afford. Many companies embrace hybrid working and offer chairs and other equipment that employees can bring home. It doesn’t hurt to ask and take advantage of available options.

Who on earth wants to sit uncomfortably at all? Especially writers! We spend far too many hours bringing our imaginations to life to sit in a chair that creates discomfort. Check out consignment shops first; I found an adjustable and comfy leather swivel office chair for a whopping $4. You’ll never find unless you look.

4. Keep work out of your bedroom. Try to find another space for your home office, like in the dining room if you rarely eat there, or in an infrequently-used used guest room. If there is no other place for you to work, separate out your workspace using a floor screen, standing plants, or a curtain hung from the ceiling as a divider.

This has been difficult, especially through the Covid-19 lockdown and everyone stayed home. Private space became nonexistent or had to be shared with others. Use your imagination (you’re writers, for crissakes) and make your writing space your own.

5. Adjust the art in your workspace. Choose images that make you feel inspired, motivated, and calm. Get rid of anything you no longer like, and avoid art that’s dark, empty, lonely, or depressing, no matter how valuable or how much you paid.

Choose picture, colors and patterns that inspire. It’s that simple.

6. Add a living plant. The ideal location for a natural plant is within 3 feet of your desk to balance any issues from electromagnetic energy. Silk is acceptable if you can’t grow plants, but avoid dried flowers because they symbolize dead, unmoving energy. Also avoid cacti or other plants with sharp spikes.

I love a just-the-right-size-for-my-desk jade plant. They represent prosperity and success (upper left corner of desk) and I love their thick, moist leaves. There’s a sturdy gentleness about this plant that speaks to me. Cacti belong OUTSIDE; their sharp needles will direct negative energy directly at you and will affect how you feel and how you write.

7. Accent your workspace with color. Choose accent colors to match the bagua areas of your workspace to enhance your career path.

8. Add current photos. Display photos of mentors, family, and friends who support you. It’s okay to display photos of deceased relatives who were mentors, but balance these by also displaying current photos of you and/or your family to show continuing growth.

Dead people on my writing desk? No thanks! Talk about an inspiration killer… That’s what hallways and unused corners are for…

9. Lighten up your home office. Locate your desk as close to a window as possible, and choose full-spectrum or warm-glow bulbs that simulate daylight, rather than cold, blue-white bulbs. Avoid overhead fluorescents.

Eye strain, eyeball and temple headaches are a distraction and can be avoided with proper lighting. I love the full-spectrum bulbs; they’re sunlight in a lamp. No seasonal affective disorder with full-spectrum! And they last about six years so they’re extremely cost-effective, too.

10. Tune in to tune out distractions. Play music or use a white noise device or app in your office to drown out any distractions from inside or outside your home. This is a good time to rethink your playlist and choose more soothing sounds to balance any work-related chaos.

This one’s tough for me since I have the attention span of a squirrel. Thankfully I have several jazz apps on both phone and laptop. Soothing and allows me to focus on my work (like this post – I’m listening to KKJZ out of LA right now…).

#amwriting #fengshui #writingdesk #writersdigest #saturday #writersoninstagram #tribel

Getting Paid Writing Gigs – Can I Handle the Pressure?

Posted on February 17, 2023 by mestengobooks

Is it really this easy?

Can I Produce What They Want?

This very question came to me as I perused the media jobsite Mediabistro, just to see what they had to offer. I read job ads and descriptions, including a sidebar on each page as to what a Proofreader does, what’s expected from a Copywriter, etc.:

What does a Proofreader do?

A Proofreader is in charge of making sure work is reviewed before it goes to print. Proofreaders check documents for grammatical errors, along with looking at the body of work stylistically and making sure the margins and spacing is correct. While the job can overlap with an Editorial job, a proofreader mainly ensures that an article is free of grammatical errors. Ultimately, a proofreader works to make sure content is free of typographical, grammatical, spelling, punctuation, syntax, formatting and other such errors.

From Mediabistro.com

The job description of Proofreader fit me (and my inner Grammar Nazi) to a tee but the degrees required make me hesitate, make me question my abilities – can I provide what they need?

Each sidebar noted that a degree in English, Journalism or Communications was necessary. Is that true? Plenty of degrees require writing skills but I do wonder if I would receive consideration even though none of my degrees are in the requisite fields listed.

What are the requirements to become a Proofreader?

Similar to the requirements for most Editorial roles, this person typically has a bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, or Communications. This person must have a high threshold for tedious work as well because most of their work will be very specific last-minute edits that sometimes they only have the eye to see. Ultimately, this role requires impeccable attention to detail and grammar.

From Mediabistro.com

Sound the Death Knell

And there it is. The anxiety-producing, I-doubt-they’ll-even-consider-me-for-the-position willies. The sheer weight of fear of that level of responsibility crushes me, keeps me from moving in the direction of ever getting a paying writing gig. How does one get past this hurdle? If I’ve been writing articles for newsletters and journals for thirty years, how is it I still think of myself as not talented enough or good enough? I’ve written books, for crissakes. Certainly experience equals or trumps any degree, right?

Just Gimme a Chance!

Maybe all I need is that first gig, that first shot at proving to myself and the contractor that I can do it. I can write. I can proofread. I can meet your deadline. I can write a paragraph or 1000 words on a topic close to your heart.

There are thousands of magazines out there. If I could drum up the courage and send out some queries, I’m sure I’d find a few takers. I get so close – I start writing an article or informational piece. Next step is the query – this is where I get stuck. So many magazines and publications – where to begin? What are their submission guidelines? The impending confusion and overwhelm pulls me back into my shell. And there I sit, a writer unpaid and afraid to reach for something more.

I can’t be alone in this – this desire to prove that I’m good enough to be paid for the work product I know (on some level, anyway) I can create. Being insecure and a writer – they do tend to go together often, don’t they? Amazing that some writers accomplish anything at all.

I’m still working on that…

A Year of Letting Go

Posted on January 1, 2023 by mestengobooks

Source: Google Images

2022 was a challenge for many; Covid-19 and its variants, housing difficulties, job and financial losses certainly have tested our proverbial mettle. Even I could not escape its most antagonistic grasp. I was forced, often to my chagrin, to face aspects (read: imperfections, failures) of my personality, relationships and life in general as I worked through some difficult and oft-repeating themes. In moments of overwhelm, I simply decided to let go. Why was I hanging on to people, places and things that no longer fed or supported me emotionally or spiritually?

The Great Escapes

At the onset of 2022, one of the first tasks was to walk away – no, ESCAPE from – a lousy job of 2.5 years. High stress, high turnover, low pay, filthy working conditions, etc. I had so many reasons for leaving but couldn’t muster the courage to take that leap of faith. Not only did I walk away but I managed to secure a long-term seasonal job with better pay, (much) lower stress, and a (much) smaller workforce (total of 7 of us in the office). I finalized my escape at the end of January 2022.

In the spring, I ESCAPED a living situation that had gone from slightly uncomfortable (two very different, occasionally opposing personalities) to over-controlling and immovable (on her part). As an Aries, I can tell you that the one thing you CANNOT do is trap, ensnare or corner us – we’ll lash out in some way. My way was to move out. End of story. (I stayed my course and am now living in a way I CHOOSE for myself. Can’t get anymore Arian than that!)

Source: Avantika’s Astrohelp on Twitter

Mercury retrograde through May knocked me on my keister but I knew Jupiter in Aries was soon to follow so I hung in there best I could. I picked up another long-term temp gig with a company that has kept me working (most of the time) and at a much higher rate of pay than most jobs here.

Over the summer, I cleared out my storage unit of unwanted pieces of my life that were no longer useful. Done. Now I can breathe. Being tethered to less and less of the material world has helped free my spirit and has lightened my load in so many ways.

Hangin’ In There But Still Letting Go…

Indian summer/fall found me struggling with another Mercury retrograde (while Jupiter was still in Aries so it didn’t hit so hard) but still working. Then I got hit with a medical issue that brought me to the ER after much arguing with myself that it really wasn’t that serious. It wasn’t, turns out, but there was something else that was discovered in a follow-up appointment with my PCP. I was taken aback at first; for someone who’s always been a foodie (I love my veggies and fruit over junk food) and relatively healthy, this new diagnosis was a surprise, albeit a scary one – at first. Once the initial shock wore down, I did some research (I did have a medical license for some years, after all) and realized that I could do what was needed without having to make too many changes in my food choices or daily habits.

I decided to let go of the fear of the negative long-term possibilities and scheduled an appointment with a local talented Acupuncturist/Chinese herbalist. I’ve kept going and boy, what a difference! I’m constantly amazed (and disgusted) by the defeatist attitude so prevalent in Western medicine. They consider my situation nonreversible but that’s not true in Chinese medicine. It rarely is. If one is willing to make some changes in diet/lifestyle for the long term good, the outcome will no doubt be to your liking.

When It Comes to Family and Friends…

And then there’s family – or at least what’s left of it. With mine, sadly, there were some losses in 2022 but it’s my generation’s turn so not much to be done about that. Facing mortality is a fact of life, especially when you reach my age. (I find myself more and more pragmatic about it the closer to the other end I get. That’s good right? Acceptance?) Even old friends, long gone from my life (for not always the right reasons) and still on my mind had to go. I had to make space in my heart for the new in 2023.

What I’m referring to is the letting go of relationships or perceived relationships that I have been unwilling to sever, for lack of reciprocity. I’m not a hopeful romantic but I have spent far too many years ‘hoping’ that certain friends and family members would – how to say this – change the way they feel about me, the way they treat me.

Not gonna happen.

In the wee hours of this very morning, I did a visualization: I conjured up images/faces of those particular family and old friends with a satin-like ribbon extending from their images to my body. I took a pair of scissors to each ribbon and, one by one, SNIP SNIP SNIP. What a release! What a nice way to close what has been a very challenging year (for so many, not just me)!

Once completed, I felt relief. Emotional freedom and the permission to go about my life as I choose. I don’t care anymore. I can’t. It’s been draining me for too long because I’ve received NOTHING in return. Some people just can’t be the people we envision, the people we need, the people we hope they can become. For whatever reason, they simply cannot or will not be what they could be. So I have to let them go.

In Elizabeth Gilbert’s movie Eat Pray Love, Richard from Texas (actor Richard Jenkins) tells Elizabeth (actress Julia Roberts): “So miss him. Send him some love and light every time you think about him, then drop it.”

Brilliant.

That’s what I’m gonna do. I will send them love and light when I think of them and then I’ll drop it. I’ll let go. So I can be free. To be me, warts and all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

#writersoninstagram #authorsontwitter #writersontwitter #authorsoninstagram #writing #blogging #lettinggo #eatpraylove #tarot #eightofcups #farewell2022 #happynewyear #2023 #amwriting #elizabethgilbert #freedom #independence

Happy Holidays to One and All

Posted on December 11, 2022 by mestengobooks

Source: Google Images/Dollar Tree

I came across this poem many years ago. I don’t know who wrote it (if you do, please let me know). Each Christmas I’d print this out and stick a copy in each card I sent to family or friends. This year I share it with you, dear readers, in appreciation for your loyalty, comments and kinship.

May this holiday season be rich with good food, the warmth and comfort of family and/or friends, and maybe a nice snowfall!

The Christmas Card List

There is a list of folks I know

All written in a book,

And every year at Christmas time

I go and take a look.

And that is when I realize

Those names are all a part

Not of the book they’re written in,

but deep inside my heart.

For each name stands for someone

Who has touched my life sometime,

And in that meeting they’ve become

A special friend of mine.

I really feel that I’m composed

Of each remembered name,

And my life is so much better

Than it was before they came.

Once you’ve known that “someone”

All the years cannot erase

The memory of a pleasant word

Or of a friendly face.

So never think my Christmas cards

Are just a mere routine

Of names upon a list that are

Forgotten in between.

For when I send a Christmas card

That is addressed to you,

It is because you’re on the list

Of folks I’m indebted to.

And whether I have known you

For many years or a few,

The greatest gift the Universe can give

Is having friends like you.

#Christmas #Xmas #Holidays #friends #writersoninstagram #writersontwitter #author #amwriting #christmasgift #giving #Hannukah #Kwanza #friends #travel #Italy #wanderlust #newmexico #connecticut #massachusetts #california #oregon #washington #Instagram #Twitter #Tribel #Mastadon

Be Water, Fellow Scribes

Posted on November 24, 2022 by mestengobooks

Source: Google Images/Radiant Shenti

Winter, a time of powering down and going within, is almost upon us. The softer sounds of winter beckon to us; the gentle swoosh of wind and snowfall (unless you live in a warm area – too bad, your loss), the crackle and crunch of snow under boots, or the quieter chirps of birds that don’t migrate (like our red cardinal, an eyecatcher resting on a snow-covered bush). It’s a great time for writers to hunker down and get their words on.

In Chinese medicine, “water is the element of Winter, the most Yin of seasons. It represents the completion of a cycle and the cleansing of previous cycles. Energies are stored deep within, as in the roots of plants and trunks of trees, as well as within ourselves. It is the time of year to be more introspective and less physically active.” (The 5-Element Guide to Healing with Whole Foods, 2016)

“Water… flows on and on, and merely fills up all the places through which it flows; it does not shrink from any dangerous spot, not from any plunge, and nothing can make it lose its own essential nature. It remains true to itself under all conditions.

– Nei Jing (475-221 B.C.)

My advice? Be like water, fellow writers. Remain true to yourself and your stories; do not lose your essential nature and write your stories from a place of unwavering candor.

“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

– Bruce Lee, martial artist

To keep our writing skills sharp and be more like water, we need to take care of our mind/body/spirit connection during this most Yin of seasons:

“Winter is the season of the Kidney/ Urinary Bladder organ system, where our root energies lie. Bitter and salty foods are contracting and inward/downward moving, which help us store our energies and keep us centered.

Salty foods strengthen Kidney but too much actual salt can weaken it. Include miso, soy products, seaweed, seafood, millet, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, celery seeds, and barley in your diet. Bitter foods include parsnips, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips/rutabagas, celery, alfalfa, rye, quinoa, chicory root, and burdock root.

Roasted chicory root blended with other roasted herbs makes a nice substitute for coffee, which depletes Kidney Essence[1] with its caffeine content. One-pot meals like slow-cooked soups and stews are your best choices, and you can add in both salty and bitter foods to create a healthy, nutrient-dense meal.” (The 5-Element Guide to Healing with Whole Foods, 2016)

The characteristics of a healthy Water element (which is within each of us, to a varying degree) will help you get through the winter months and any writing challenges that might come your way. Water element likes a calm, unrushed environment; it allows us to better communicate (like through our stories) and to influence others (like through our stories). If your Water element needs a boost, wear black, dark blue, or dark purple (violet).

If you feel ‘stuck’ or have writer’s block, envision water: flowing, smooth, soft. When we are rooted in our Water element, our will is rooted and we’ll have a powerful source of intuition that can positively affect our writer’s imagination. There’s a deeper sense of knowing. Write without fear. Act on your inner faith as a writer. That is Water element in action.

Be like water, fellow scribes.

[1] This is the pre-natal Qi we get from our parents; a definitive amount is passed to each child and must be used sparingly to ensure a long and vital life. Lifestyle excesses (alcohol, sex, food, etc.) will use up Essence more quickly, which can speed up the aging process.

#Chinesemedicine #Waterelement #writersofinstagram #authorsontwitter #thewritinglife #BruceLee #author #writer #blogger #wordcount #amwriting #nutrition

And the Accent Goes On…

Posted on November 12, 2022 by mestengobooks

Source: Google Images

I’m a word-y person. I love a play on words, words that rhyme (especially in funny poems or jokes), words with unusual spelling or pronunciation (I like a good challenge), even words that make me giggle (like ‘kerfuffle’). All part of being a writer, I suppose. Writers must love words of all kinds to build their stories, don’t you think?

The words that got me thinking about this post are those with accent marks still used in our modern English. Many have been dropped as we modernize even more in this Digital Age and I wonder what will happen to our language as we know it. Will it, too, adapt to a point of unrecognizability? I hope not. I enjoy it too much.

Are Diacritical Marks All That Critical Anymore? I Say YES!

Accent marks are called diacritical marks. And in our modern English they are being used less and less. The accent mark, or diaeresis (omg, I had to add this word to my computer dictionary) indicates, according to Wikipedia, “the modification of a vowel’s sound when spoken.” In modern English the only two that are used consistently are the grave accent (è) and acute accent (é). Even these tend to disappear in certain types of publications, such as an online blog (but not mine, ok?).

Take Your Pick

The list of diacritical marks is longer than I expected (you can view it here) so I’ll cover the accents most relevant to the English language and currently in use.

From Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_terms_with_diacritical_marks:

the acute accent and grave accent
- as in née, frappé, soufflé, résumé (e.g., I shall resume writing my work resume – just doesn’t look right to me without the accents; neither does drinking a glass of rose… or rosé?)
the circumflex (entrepôt), borrowed from French
the diaeresis (Zoë), indicating a second syllable in two consecutive vowels (similar to, but not same as, the German umlaut)
the tittle, the dot found on the regular small i and small j, is removed when another diacritic is required (poor little tittle goes away…)
the macron, lengthening vowels, as in Māori; or indicating omitted n or m (in pre-Modern English, both in print and in handwriting).
the breve (ă)
the umlaut (über), altering Germanic vowels
- written now as (ü) ue, (ö) oe, (ä) ae
the cedilla (soupçon), in French, Portuguese and in Catalan it is a softening c, indicating ‘s-‘ not ‘k-‘ pronunciation
- So garçon (waiter) doesn’t sound like ‘garkōn’ (something from a Lord of the Rings movie, maybe?)
the tilde (Señor, João), in Spanish indicating palatalized n, and Portuguese indicating nasal a and o (although in Spanish and most source languages, the tilde is not considered a diacritic over the letter n but rather as an integral part of the distinct letter ñ; in Portuguese the sound is represented by “nh”)
- as in piñon (mmm…my favorite when they’re fresh picked) instead of pinyon/pine nut

There are several others, “representing European personal names, anthroponyms, and place names, toponyms” (remember these from my -Nym post?) and you can search them out yourself, if so inclined.

There are also digraphs…but I digress…

There are a few English words that actually don’t borrow diacritics from another language, we made them up just for us! It’s called a hiatus – two separate vowel sounds in adjacent syllables – and you thought it was just a break from school… As in words like coöperative, daïs and reëlect – now they’re replaced by use of a hyphen (re-elect) or made into a whole word (cooperative, dais). (Note: certain publications still use the hiatus, it’s not just for breaks anymore!)

When one breaks down a language, it’s amazing what can be found. Sure, we learn English language in schools – nouns, verbs, adjectives and such – but no one teaches the history of our language unless you major in it in college.

If the history of language or words were taught in grade schools, perhaps there would be more word nerds like you and me, then. Get your word on!

#authorsoninstagram #writersoninstagram #English #language #amwriting #writerslife #poetry #creativewriting #writersblog #Mestengobooks