"Write now is good."

Kicking out winter

I wanted to apologize to you, Wonderful Readers, for my light posting as of late. We've been "kicking out winter" here — another way I say that my family and I have been sick with colds and more for the last couple of weeks. These last (I'm sure of it) ailments are another way I think we detox from the cold, darkness and lack of activity that winter brings. I feel these sick spells are one last complete exhalation of the snow-bound energy that's taken over our bodies and psyches for the last few months, in preparation for sunlight, more time outside and running around. I can't wait.

Friends and family in other states and even other countries, people we haven't seen in awhile, are also sick. This confirms by suspicion that we're experiencing a human response to the seasonal shift. I do believe we are all tied in to planet Earth's changes, much more than we'd often like to admit, and I think that explains partially why people far and wide are also "kicking out winter."

So, how are you doing?

My energy is returning. I'll be back to posting more regularly this week. I'll also visit all of your blogs more often, too. Hope you all are well.

Painting my blog's virtual trim

Spring is in the air ... somewhere.

I can feel it hiding behind those single-digit Fahrenheit temperatures (Celsius temps look even colder!) as the arctic blasts again thrust the mercury into a wind-chill Hall of Fame.

In other words, it is STILL REALLY COLD HERE!

In hopes of a speedy spring debut, today seemed like the right time to spruce-up my blog. Inspired by Maryam in Marrakesh and Quantum Storytelling who have both recently given their excellent blogs fresh coats of virtual paint, I've touched up the trim here a bit:

- changed active, hover and visited link colors
- took away the underline and bold aspects of my links
- let the crest of the "big wave" (representing the writing flow) in my masthead finally show

The biggest change is my new tag-line. I've replaced my former "Join me on my wordy quest through life." with "Words, sweat and inspiration". Why? I love my old tag-line, and I may go back to it because it still applies, but I feel that as my blog has progressed, I — and thus, my blog — have gotten more entrenched in the writing process. Nothing sums up the writing process better to me than "words, sweat and inspiration".

Let me know what you think, especially if you have any trouble seeing or reading anything now.

And please join me in a somewhat desperate cheer: "C'mon, Spring!"

Note: I found an interesting link to the origin of "spruce-up" if any of you wordy folks are interested.

This blog is for you.

Last week, I mentioned a blog-friend's mission statement for her writing — a contract between herself and her readers. She's promoting her debut novel as I type this, and I think one of the secrets of her success is that she so clearly writes for others. In her blog posts, her poetry and her new novel, Patry has her audience's reading pleasure in mind. It shows.

Inspired, I've started a contract of my own, a mission statement for my blog. I'll revise this as needed. Writing contracts for my freelance work and novels-in-progress would parallel many of these points, as my writing values are similar for all my projects. Since not all of my freelance work and none of my novels are available online at this point, I'll keep those mission statements for another time.

The "Write now is good." mission statement, February 2007

1. Since I'm not just writing for myself here, that means this blog is mainly for you — the readers.

2. I will post regularly, at least five times per week.

3. I will be bold in my writing and my ideas. I'll take risks in my own writing.

4. I will pay continued attention to clear expression and correct grammar and spelling.

5. I will continue to reach out through the Web to highlight noteworthy writing, artistic and creative communities, ideas and projects.

6. I'll write with attention to facts and the truth. I'll cite sources and/or provide links to where I find information and give credit where credit's due.

7. I'll share what I know to help others expand their knowledge and scope about writing and the creative life.

8. It's a complex, creative, vibrant world out there, though there is also much struggle and strife — I aim to inspire a fresh look at all of it.

9. I'll contribute to other blogs and sites that I feel are up to similar positive goals.

10. Comment here? I'll comment back, and I'll even visit your blog, because some of the best parts of blogging are the conversations and connections.

Feel free to fill out a "comment card" and drop it in the suggestion box below.

Caught the "5 little-known facts" meme (atchoo!)

Becky Carroll over at Customers Rock! tagged me with the ubiquitous "5 little-known facts" meme. Fun! And after reading Becky's list, I've realized she and I have some facts in common (singing, martial arts, love of outer space). It is so cool getting to know people out in the blogosphere!

Here are my five:

1. I almost gave birth to my son in a taxi on the way to the hospital. That was a wild ride!

2. When I was 7-years-old, I wanted to be all of the following when I grew up:
- a marine biologist, so I could play with dolphins
- an astronaut, so I could travel in space
- a waitress, so I could have food and money
Clearly, I'm a dreamer and a pragmatist.

3. I love sports, and throughout my life, I've participated in 24 different ones (as long as things like freeze tag, frisbee, red-light/green-light, and climbing trees count...). I even assistant-coached a girls' soccer team for a couple of years.

4. I love to sing. I've been in choirs since I was very young. I took voice lessons and performed with a jazz band briefly (one time, to be exact). I once tried out to be a drummer/backup singer for a hard-rock band. Then I saw Spinal Tap, and I decided not to pursue the endeavor. ;) 
(Actually, I was so nervous that I couldn't drum and sing at the same time.)

5. I once worked on a floating hospital.

Now I get to tag five people. This meme has been around for awhile, so I'll just start listing blogs until someone wants to be "it". If you've already done this, I think you can opt-out:

- I think that Perspective, Servant of Chaos, and Mindblob have already been tagged. (If not, feel free to run with this!)

- I was going to tag Patry Francis, but she's just been tagged by Amy King. Read Patry's exhilarating response here, as her new book is coming out within weeks! Yeah, Patry!

- And I even think some of the following have gotten it, but I have to stop tagging somewhere...
O.k. Five little-known facts about YOU. Ready, set, go!
Lee Carlon
Literary Life
Quantum Storytelling
S. William Shaw
The Writing Life - All Kinds of Writing

"Get to know me!"

After receiving comments that my blog's "About" section said almost nothing about my projects and experience as a writer, I've completely revamped it.

If you'd like to read it, you're welcome to click on the ABOUT link at top of left-hand column or click here.

I'll give a shout-out to anyone who can tell me which TV character is famous for saying, "Get to know me!" I'll post the answer — and any winners — tomorrow.