Category: Uncategorized

  • F is for Flourishing!!

    #AtoZChallenge 2025 letter F

    Contributed by JaeSage

    F is for Flourishing: Beyond Surviving to Truly Thriving 

    Life, in its intricate tapestry, inevitably weaves in threads of change and loss. While these experiences can be profoundly sad and even devastating, they are an undeniable part of the journey we are fortunate to undertake. Navigating these turbulent waters requires more than simply enduring; it calls for a conscious shift from surviving to truly flourishing. 

    Embracing Growth After Change and Loss

    The immediate aftermath of a significant change or loss often necessitates time for processing and healing. Allow yourself the space and compassion to navigate the complex emotions that arise. Once the initial waves begin to subside, consider embarking on a personal journey toward a growth mindset. As the revered Thich Nhat Hahn wisely said, “Every morning when you wake, notice you are breathing, and smile. Here you are ready to start another day.” This simple yet profound practice reminds us of the present moment and the potential for renewal inherent in each new dawn. 

    During this transformative period, remember the vital importance of seeking support. Lean on the strength and understanding of your loved ones, trusted friends, and even supportive acquaintances. Consider reaching out to professionals such as therapists or spiritual advisors who can offer guidance and perspective. Embrace opportunities to learn, grow, and assimilate new ideas. Ultimately, the goal is to integrate these experiences and discover your own unique path toward flourishing. 

    Cultivating Loving-Kindness and Self-Compassion

    A cornerstone of flourishing is the practice of loving-kindness, both for ourselves and for others. Remember, you are inherently enough. Embrace the understanding that you possess the capacity for growth and can embody a state of true flourishing. Self-care and self-compassion are not luxuries but essential pillars in this journey. Be patient with yourself, acknowledge your progress, and consistently take steps forward, no matter how small. 

    Developing a SMART Action Plan

    To actively cultivate flourishing, consider developing an action plan grounded in SMART goals. This framework provides a clear and structured approach to moving forward: 

    • Specific: Define your goals with clarity and detail. Instead of a vague aspiration, think in concrete terms.
    • Measurable: Establish tangible ways to track your progress. How will you know when you have achieved your goal?
    • Achievable: Ensure your goals are realistic and attainable within your current circumstances.
    • Relevant: Align your goals with your core values and what truly brings meaning to your life.
    • Timebound: Set a realistic timeframe for achieving your goals, creating a sense of direction and accountability.

    By thoughtfully crafting and pursuing SMART goals, you can actively shape a life that is more aligned with your deepest values and aspirations, paving the way for genuine flourishing. 

    Springing into a Flourishing Future

    Once you have allowed yourself the necessary time for healing, cultivated self-compassion, and developed a clear action plan, you can begin to allow yourself the space to spring into action. Embrace the opportunities for growth and renewal that lie ahead.  

    May your Spring, and indeed your life, be one of continuous flourishing! 

    As always, 

    JaeSage

    For further reading:

    • Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh
    • The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: A Proven Way to Accept Yourself, Build Inner Strength, and Thrive by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer

     

  • The A to Z Blog Challenge – New Beginnings!

    So, you know how that whole “time” thing works? Where it’s January 1, 2, 25, 527, then all of a sudden it’s April 1st?

    Which is the first day of the A to Z Blog Challenge?

    Which you’re planning to do on your group blog with friends?

    And then your partner’s power goes out and your work blows up?

    And…

    And. We’re HERE.

    Happy April everyone! Welcome to the A to Z Blog Challenge, an annual challenge to post everyday in the month of April except for Sundays. Each day corresponds to a letter in the English alphabet. You can pick any theme that you want.

    Theme: Moving Forward

    Our theme for this year is “Moving Forward.” We all agreed that 2022 was a rough year for many of us, and 2023 has been intense as well. We are feeling a collective sense of wanting to move forward, build momentum, and bring new life to our writing and craft.

    Other words that we came up with:

    • Spring
    • nature
    • balance
    • inspiration
    • muses
    • new beginnings
    • rebirth
    • momentum
    • actual movement

    Our first post will be by our member, Laura Fasick, and will be up shortly. Enjoy!

  • A Is For… Antroduction!

    Humorous picture of cat grinning in a ridiculous manner.

    Happy April! You know what April 1st brings?

    THE A TO Z CHALLENGE AND CAMP NANO!

    It’s also, apparently, letter writing month AND poetry month. And no, that’s not April Fool’s! It is Spring, though, and I’m guessing that’s what’s in the air. Plus, we’ve all been dealing with heavy stuff, right? The war, pandemic, climate crisis…

    Well, we can’t fix all that. But we CAN play with some creativity, and for the next month, that’s what I invite you to do, too. We’ve got some great posts in store for you: tips for when you feel blocked, travel, mythology, and even poetry.

    Check back each day except Sunday for the Writer Zen Garden A to Z Challenge! And remember to visit other participating blogs – this is a global challenge and there’s so much knowledge and creativity out there, you won’t know what hit you. Perhaps it will inspire YOU to be creative with us, TOO!

    Check in below in the comments and let us know where you’re writing from and what you are most excited for this Spring. We’d love to know!

    Write on!

  • Q is for Queen Victoria

    Currently I’m writing a steampunk novel and most stories take place during the Victorian era.   One of the things I like about steampunk is the history blended with the fantastical.   Although steampunk stories have alternate time lines, its still nice to know where the history deviated.

    I generally prefer stories with some history woven in.   I tend to read historical romances (including steampunk) and then wonder about the facts of the story.   Its not uncommon for historicals to have a political backdrop.  Inevitably when I’m reading, I want to research what the author wrote.   Between my own research and reading research, I’m always curious about the history behind the story.

    I admit to a certain fascination with kings and queens, royal lineage, etc.  One of my recent purchases was a wall map of the royals of Europe.  

    I figure it will help in my research and serve as a decent reference.  

    Tina

  • P is for Promotion or Putting yourself out there…EEK!

    “If writers were outgoing, we’d be actors.”

    That sums up a lot.   As a published writer, I still have a hard time tooting my own horn.   This is not an uncommon phenomenon.   I’ve met more than a few writer’s who have a hard time Putting themselves out there.

    I’ve always considered myself an Extrovert, imagine my surprise when I took my “Introverted” husband to a writer’s conference and found him pushing me to introduce myself.  I later found out that an Extrovert is someone who gets their energy from other people.   They can be outgoing as well, but such is not the case with me. 🙂

    Online marketing is pretty crucial for my promotion.  It allows me to socialize from the safety of my living room and filter criticism through my computer.  There’s something about having a box of tissues, wine and chocolate nearby when a reader informs me my book is best used as toilet paper.  Ouch!  I live in the comfort that my book pages might paper-cut their arse. 🙂 

    Luckily I’ve grown a bit thicker skin and take most criticism with a grain of salt.  I can honestly say no reader has verbally assaulted me in public.  Whew.

    I believe the key for any writer to self-promote is to do what your comfortable with, do it well, and be genuine. If you promote with the “buy my book” and nothing else, readers react like sharks to blood in the water. And, if you dip your hands into everything, your voice can be diluted or become noise.

    My general platform involves social media, online presence and public speaking – ironically I loved acting in high school, but never pursued it as an adult.   I was also in speech, so I have no qualms about public speaking.

    I’ve spoken at smaller conferences and this particular form of promotion has served me well.   It’s usually indirect as I’m talking about a genre, e-books, publishing in general.   The spotlight isn’t really on me so I don’t have to worry if I forget my lines.  🙂

    That’s how I feel in my head.  🙂

  • Dreaming of Luna

    I recently remembered an elusive dream. 

    It’s premise?  I learned that someone invented a type of loom through which raw fiber could be instantly converted into a fine, diaphanous cloth.  While somehow offering the results of an overly large circular loom, the fantastical tool lacked every real-life component, including yarn.
    With this wonder, a mysterious woman showed me how to transform my recently deceased cat’s fur into a seamless blouse.  You see, years before I began collecting the shed, rabbit-soft fibers.  The white tufts simply seemed too soft to discard.  I’m serious when I say they make cotton feel almost like burlap.
    The dream, meanwhile, provided a clingy garment interspersing her lovely fur with a black fabric for strategic modesty.  The swaths were vaguely triangular, simple contrasting slashes in a timelessly classic pattern.  I adored it.
    My recollection process is, if I may say so myself, more interesting.  It began with thought of Luna’s portrait on my laptop, in turn reminding me how her image replaced that of Craig Charles dressed as Dave Lister from “Red Dwarf”.
    (Sorry, Mr. Charles.  For now, I choose this bittersweet lamentation over a fond chuckle.)
    While this consideration didn’t bring back my complete memory, the process started because my dream’s sole comedic twist came in the form of Craig Charles somehow being involved.  Whether as himself or Mr. Lister, I cannot say.  Either way, he amicably helped me run this fictional loom.
    Then, hours later, something else happened to help my mind fill in the blanks.  I discovered a chair pad still decorated with wisps of Luna’s telltale fuzz.  It all flooded back fast after that.

    I still miss my itty bitty pretty kitty but have to smile at this unique memorial.  Too bad there is no magical loom.  Sigh…

    –

  • Darla’s Writer Wednesday – Dreams of Writing


    There was a magical time when I’d wake from dreams that left me anxious to write.  That is, arguably, a fairly common story source.  Then, for some reason, the urge dried up despite the constant REM flow.
    I really want that to change.  And if last night’s plethora of images cannot instigate this, then I don’t know what will.  Scenarios were mostly good, many lacking any frustration or embarrassment that often plague my intermittent nightmares.
    There was one in which I could not find a free stall in a crowded bathroom overflowing with wedding party attendants, but I’ll just stop that tell right here.  ~shudder~  I don’t know where my mind comes up with this stuff.
    Alternatively, I dreamed of having been born with too many vertebrae, a virtual tail which my surgeon father removed early.  Other details remain cloudy, but I was proud of this dream dad much like the real father blessing my life.
    (Dad, you can stick with mechanical things and being a great listener.)
    Another dream entailed a fantastical loom.  I have written a post for September 2nd further detailing this brief plot, but the writing fodder is undeniable.  Hopefully, I’ll have a short story ready for Friday.

    It’s time I get started, come to think of it.  Happy writing, all.

    ~

  • Memorial to a Writer’s Cat

    I lost my best feline pal early this afternoon.  Her little body just couldn’t battle cancer any longer, so we released Luna to peace with the assistance of a very compassionate vet.  Those folks and a local oncology team are forever in my debt for all their tender care.  Today our vets’ office even wrote off the cost of a physical examination after we decided to let her go.  Classy and caring, eh?

    I must admit that Luna was not the best of writing buddies, typically demanding attention, often giving a painful claw poke inside my upper arm.  But I wouldn’t have traded her for a bookshelf full of publications.

    Yet now I have more time to write.

    There are no more daily and weekly medication schedules.  I no longer need monitor her food intake, making sure her two fellow felines eat only their share.  Nor do the litter boxes require constant scooping to prevent toxic chemotherapy chemicals from spreading to others.  I cancelled several pending veterinary visits and can even sleep without sharing my pillow or waking with fur in my hair.

    Yeah…

    So now I have more time to write.

    This is my first, truly intimate pet loss.  The darn cat actually picked me while living on local streets, visiting me in my burgeoning garden.  She insisted on moving in despite my allergies, resulting in the salvation of our other rescued cats.  They just happen to be happy without me as a human futon.

    So.  Okay.  Yeah, now I have more time to write…

    … and garden, for that matter.

    Sigh…

    –

  • Writer Wednesday – Crazy Chicken Dance

    So, it’s Wednesday.  The first Wednesday of June.  This means it’s my day to write my Writer Wednesday post.

    Um…

    ~crickets~

    • Final line edits of Sealed by Fire are due Friday.
    • I teach class tomorrow night.
    • I have a meeting this morning at the regional sales office for my day job.
    • I should probably do laundry this millenium.
    • I need a vacation.
    But I have some super sekrit cover squee for you.  I haven’t even released this on the Noon and Wilder blog yet!  ~drum roll~
    Coming from LooseId June 24th!

  • Getting My Sci Fi Geek On


    My partner recently discovered a British science fiction comedy called “Red Dwarf”.  Holy cow.  While the character driven plot doesn’t require a science fiction setting, such elements offer a unique backdrop and brilliant storyline opportunities.  We should have seen the program years ago.  Better late than never, I guess, and a true blessing since futuristic fantasy/cop drama “Almost Human” got cancelled.  (Having Karl Urban on the small screen every week was awesome, but I digress.)  Ditto with the demise of another favorite, “Revolution”.
    Watching “Red Dwarf” has become my daily highlight.  And honestly, limiting ourselves to one episode a day has me feeling quite like a junkie whose trying to cut back, easing her way into sobriety.  Literally addicted to the whacky humor, I’m sad that there are only a few nights left to get my fix.  I’m particularly taken by Craig Charles as Dave Lister  (it’s shallow, but his boyish good looks and Scouse accent make me weak in the knees).
    The first installment of 2008’s three part “Back to Earth” special did leave me a little flat tonight, I’m sorry to say.  I didn’t miss the laugh track; the dialog just lacked enough entertaining banter.  The character known simply as Cat, the highly evolved humanoid feline, calling Lister “Monkey-boy” was as good as it got.  Nonetheless, we plan to watch every last episode availed us.
    Hulu Plus doesn’t seem to have season ten available, so I will have to find it elsewhere.  In the meantime, I learned tonight that filming of an eleventh season is set to begin this October.  I’m definitely crossing my fingers it will come to fruition and that I survive that long without.

    What entertains you these days?  Any good books or shows you’d like to promote?

    –