THE NEXT BIG WRITING CRAZE

If you want to know the next "new" writing craze, try reading the oldie goldies. Someone said ,"there is nothing new under the sun," and they were right.

I remember in the early 70's being a young feminist at twenty exploring my sexual fantasies by reading Erica Jong's new breakthrough novel "The Fear of Flying." Flash forward to 2012 and every one's going berserk over the latest erotica break out novel Fifty Shades of Gray. Same premise, modern spin. I can't even say "new" spin since sexual games and fantasies are as old as sex itself. However the newness of it just may lie in how graphic it is.

Look at the vampire phase we have just emerged from. You would swear no one heard of vampires until the Twilight saga took hold.  I remember being hooked on "Dark Shadows" in the sixties and wishing I could write a sequel to the vampire saga starring a young Brad Pitt and boyish Tom Cruse in the eighties.

All I'm saying is why re-invent the wheel. Revisit some classics. Read some Kurt Vonnegut. Watch the "Valley of the Dolls," from 1967 or "The Way We Were." Now don't copy the work. Use your imagination, spice it up and tailor the story to fit 2012 and guess what?

YOU too can have the next break out hit. How would you re-write the characters of Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford in "The Way We Were"? Suppose Robert was married and African American and Barbara was a catholic nun? Instead of politics as the back drop suppose it was civil rights?

The Fear of Sailing

A new study says that we add two years to our life by staying off the couch. Moving is good! Can you imagine how many brain cells we save when we keep challenging ourselves with new adventures?

The author John A. Shedd said, "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."

Trying something new is scary but also exhilarating. Fear and excitement accompany every new adventure but in the end the excitement of trying something new overpowers the fear.

So don't let your ship stay in the harbor too long. Expand your writing. Try new genres. Tie your writing into something else you love. If you like cooking, write a cookbook. Love to eat out, query your local newspaper about writing restaurant reviews. If shopping is your thing, blog one day a week about specials you find.

Have a passion? Tell me how it may compliment your writing or lead you on a totally new venture. Mmmmm, got you going now.

Necessity, the mother of invention.

The need for fulfillment drives us to keep changing and re inventing ourselves. One of the things I love about writing is that it allows me to change hats by providing a buffet of different opportunities.

A poem can turn into a short story just by thinking a little deeper. That short story can lead to a novel that eventually becomes a play.

I use my writing to express all of my dimensions without locking myself into a corner by defining who I am by any specific style of writing.

I am a blogger, a writer of short stories and a freelance writer of articles that find themselves on the pages of many different publications. My writing has taken me from hoovering over a keyboard to standing behind a podium speaking about my passions rather than writing about them

No sooner than I get settled into selling my articles I get an itch to write in a new way. Yes, your friend Debra is about to embark on a new adventure that will combine my writing, speaking, knowledge of farming with my passion for food and.........not so fast.

Remember the first lesson you learn in writing is to show don't tell.

While you are waiting for further hints of my transformation, I want you to tell me how has your writing led to other influences. Maybe friendships, love, travel, hope, courage, joy or adventures. C'mon lets hear it. Inquiring minds want to know. What new and different road has your writing led you to?

MOJO

After the big April blogfest I lost my MOJO. I don't know how these things happen. All I know is you can be in love one day, out the next. Love seafood all your life then lose your taste for it.

Same unknown negative vibe happens and it takes your passion away. I haven't been able to write a thing since May. How did I get my MOJO back? I pushed myself to a writer's meeting last night. Yep, that is all it took.

Lesson learned.

Surround yourself with positive people that share your particular passion and that are willing to encourage and inspire, Blam, zap, bling....you are on the road again.

Want romance find people that still believe in it. Want to knit...look up friends that knit. Want to get into swimming, duh....go to a pool someone will help you to swim.

How do you get your groove back? What motivates your MOJO?

Do You Believe In Miracles?

Amanda Trought the very talented mixed media artist tagged me on her blog http://realityarts-creativity.blogspot.com/ to play an 11 question challenge. Oh the pain of having no time! So instead of answering all 11 questions, I'm going to answer the first one.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

When I take my first breath in the morning, I am sadly aware that many didn't. I thank God for the miracle of life. When I kiss my husband goodnight, I know the divorce rate is high and the marriage stats are low. Nothing but a miracle could have kept me together with the same spouse for 35 years. LOL. I have had diabetes for well over a decade and in spite of it, I manage to lead a pretty healthy and active life, many that suffer from this awful disease can't say that. Life is all about miracles. The one's we know of and the many we aren't even aware of.

I find so many miracles throughout the course of a day. The sun rising, the beauty of a moonlit night, the sound of the ocean, my daughter's voice, friendship, family, my writing. All miracles!

What miracles are you most aware of in your life?

Blog or Write...which is right?

I've found out that it is hard to keep up with writing assignments and blog (also visit blogs) at the same time. I'm greedy I want to do both. I know the answer to my dilemma is easy. Set a schedule, stick to it and do both.

So here I go. I promise to write every day and blog once a week. Hey that was easy. Now that I've said it publicly I must stick with it.

If I don't I want my blogosphere friends so really let me have it.

Have you found that both blogging and writing are the same but different? Do they both fill your inner writing void but the satisfaction you receive from each is also different. If you could only do one which would it be? Blog or Write ...which seems right?

ZEST

Just when you think life couldn't get any better here comes Arlee with the Alphabet Challenge and BAM, a big heaping helping of ZEST added a different flavor to the mix.

My blog for certain will never be the same. I tried to rise to the occasion and blog my heart out. It was my hope to give you 26 really good rides in the blogosphere. I hope I did that.

I am grateful to my new friends and followers and I am looking forward to many visits back and forth.

SO THANK YOU ARLEE FOR THE ZEST...IT WAS JUST WHAT WE NEEDED! Mmmm Mmmm GOOD!