epiphany

I am writing another blog entry this week cause I missed one last week and I have something else to say.

A college friend sent me her handouts from a writing workshop she attended and I received the sweet gesture in the mail today. This combined with a Buddhist healer recently encouraging me to share my life's story to help others has given me pause.

So, since the beginning of this blog series had an entry about finally writing a book, a childhood and recent actual dream of mine, I have come full circle and know now what I am to do. I am to create a book relating my experiences since that is what I know best, and writing is what I love most in my work life.

I probably will begin another blog by the end of this year, so you can journey with me. I am off to a new adventure, after exploring this past year what avenues to take with my creativity.

Like Minds

Recently I learned that a friend of mine had met a local poet. My friend is a caregiver in a facility which houses those whom have suffered strokes and the like. This friend told me she had told the local poet about my work as a poet and that the local poet wanted to meet me.

Imagine my surprise and humility when I met someone who is well-known and published. We exchanged books wherein we had our works. Mine were simply in an anthology; hers was one of many which contained works only by her. She even signed it to me and encouraged me to continue writing poetry and offered me assistance if I needed it. I couldn't believe my fortune in having met such a kind and sensitive creator, so unaffected by her fame.

In addition, it was revealed that the local poet who was temporarily laid up with the results of the stroke, was close friends with another poet whom I have befriended. It is amazing how poets communicate with the same soul language and how we gravitate towards like minds.

Getting a web site

This week I met with a young man who designs websites for a living. I learned that if I wanted a really classy website which included audio, video, and search engine optimization, I would need to pay.

In order to create my own web page, I could use wordpress.com There I could register for a domain name, which is the actual address with which I could be reached. Then, I would need a host for my link.

Search engine optimization is created by having key words included in the copy on the site, to make the search for your site easy and to allow for more "hits" or readers of your link.

It was recommended that both my blog and my web page be at the same site, also to maximize the number of hits. For MAC users, creating a web site might be more straightforward, though

the site might be a very basic one if using the tools on me.com.

Retreat Report

Pema Osel Ling is the perfect place to recharge. Meditating while Buddhist monks were chanting at the shrine transported me into a peaceful state. And I got a wonderful massage from experienced masseur David Tobey.

David's contact info is David.Tobey@gmail.com He lives in Felton, CA. and has healing skills that were absolutely a blessing for me. You should pursue this. He is a professional.

Regarding the workshop aspect of the retreat, I got all the questions I arrived with, answered, and learned even more. I also made some new acquaintances by meeting other attendees. And I got to know friends and associates better.

The workshops were run by Nina Amir, Jay Swartz, and Nora Profit. I would recommend them all highly.

Dale King and Danita Craft did a great job of making sure things were running smoothly. I would consider my time spent at the NorCal CWC writing retreat a great success.

Writing retreat

Next week I am scheduled to take part in a writer's retreat sponsored by California Writers Club NorCal.

I am looking forward to the opportunity of perhaps writing in a new genre-short story. There is also a pool for exercise and a shrine for meditation. Right up my alley...

There will be an agent, as well as five workshops including how to pitch to an agent, all part of the price. Dale King has been working diligently to make this retreat as good as the first one was back in April.

The retreat is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, an optimal hiking spot too.

So, I hope to recharge and rewrite! I will give a report of how it went in two weeks.

Take Part in the National Gallery of Writing

Take Part in the National Gallery of Writing

October 20 is the 2nd National Day on Writing. A resolution was passed by the Senate to "express support" for this designation. A National Gallery of Writing was created, which collects "all kinds of writing from people from all walks of life-people just like you," according to the web site at www.ncte.org/dayonwriting.

You can submit "stories, poems, recipes, e-mails, blogs, even audio, video and artwork," it says on the link mentioned above.

To learn more about submitting your writing, see http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Involved/DayonWriting/SubmitYourWriting.html

Writer as Marketer

The eWomen event I attended last week taught me some things. Not only is it a good idea to network, but also it is worth it to occasionally pay for a marketing table at an event.

The important thing about setting up your table is to be prepared in advance. I was able to easily create a colorful flyer using Word. It highlighted my writing skills. Of course, one should also have enough updated business cards handy. An introductory marketing speech that hits home is valuable. It is a bargain to share a table with someone else. I made signs that designated my portion of the table as mine.

I learned that it is good marketing to have something memorable for your potential clients to "take away." There are companies that make pens or other useful items with your logo or name on them, but it is best to be creative. In addition, something that stands up on the table and can be seen from far away is attractive. A fellow marketer had a eucalyptus scent wafting from her table that drew people there.

Finally, if you leave a book that might have your published works in it on the table, be sure to mark it as a sample, especially if you intend to sell copies. People think they are free to take.