A Writer's Life Defined

I believe people fail to realize writers LOVE words. They love the sentences when words come together. They spend a lot of time trying to create one perfect sentence that will grab ahold of every reader and become part of the mainstream venacular. 

Writers are akin to philosophers because they spend countless hours pondering subjects searching for unforseen new ways to spin old and sometimes overused subjects. They are always wondering "what if."

But writers are more than story tellers and philosophers. Many are historians, armchair scientists, detectives, criminals, women who are men, and men who are women. They are whoever their story needs them to be to give the reader a book worth reading and once opened, never put down.

Writers are made of thick skin, rubber skin, skin of armor. They are made of these many different skins because they have to be in order to be a writer. People read their work they may have toiled years to get just right and reject it, criticize it, mock it, have contempt for it, or declare they are a much better writer than they are. Writers are not weak in any form of the word. Their spine has to be made of the material of Iron Man's suit each time they present their BEST work to the public to be adored or trashed. It takes real nerve to be a writer.

If you are lucky enough to know a writer, aren't you amazed at how they can form a character in their mind, give the character a detail rich home, a tragic or eviable life, a love found or a love lost, and a life altering choice in their life that would be difficult for any normal person. Writers create crises and also solves them. How good are you at creating your own crises and solving them?

A writer stares at a blank page on their computer screen, and creates an entire world. How can they do this you may ask? Because a writer's brain is never really at rest. They are constantly thinking. Their imagination is constantly triggered with ideas, plot twists, or new imaginings from everything and everyone they encounter in their day. I know even while waiting to go into surgery, I was thinking about crafting a operation scene in a work in progress I was writing. I was taking mental notes on everything medical and would have loved to have had a pen and paper handy to jot down how I would describe my operation scene in my work.

The five senses are crucial to a writer. Writers have to impart an experience to their reader. How a lover looked, smelled, felt, tasted, and sounded. I know you are saying you can do that with your own love interest. But does your love interest have the ability to make thousands, hopefully, millions of the opposite sex reader desire them? Writers have to dig deep into sexuality, sometimes heavy handed (almost pornographic), at at time with the lightest touch to leave the reader longing. I guess writers are also sex experts or at least romantics.

Writers are magicians. Their aim is to entertain the reader, surprise the reader, shock the reader, and never let the reader know the secret to their magic. They take the ordinary and do wonders with it and the lucky few can perform something never seen before. Writers are magical.

Before I forget, I must add writers are psychologists. Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and to their enviroments. They use their findings to help improve processes and behaviors. To write about humans one must understand people. Using their knowledge of human behavior, writers make you love, hate, or even feel indifferent about characters in a book. Many books take the reader on a journey discovering good and bad things about the human psyche. Writers make the the reader relate to heroes and villians tapping into the readers emotions. The reader may see themselves in the characters artfully written about in the pages and decide to make the same or opposite changes just as the character/characters did. Writers can inspire, encourage, and give hope to their audeience. Writers draw out the reader's smiles, tears, anger, sympathies, compassions, and even hatreds. 

I started writing twenty years ago and as most writers know, my first books were crappy. I loved the subject matter of my books but my writing skills were really bad. Fast forward to present writer Dorothy, and I'm much better. The one thing I have learned is that writers continually sharpen their writing skills. Their writing becomes better due to critism, helpful feedback, just continuing to write, and from having their work published. The win - PUBLISHED! But, nothing is certain in a writer's life. One book can be wildly successful and they are heralded as genius and the next book is a flop and the public says they were never actually talented.

So why do writers write? Because writers love words. They love the sentences when words come together. They spend a lot of time trying to create one perfect sentence that will grab ahold of every reader and become part of the mainstream venacular. They are magicians with a story to tell. To all my writer friends, never stop making MAGIC.

Please share, like, comment, and follow. Thank you. 

You can do it too.

FAMOUS QOUTES FROM CLASSIC LITERATURE

• “Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.” —Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

• “I have been bent and broken, but— I hope— into a better shape.” —Charles Dickens, Great Expectations 

• “Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot.” —Truman Capote, Breakfast At Tiffany’s 

• “The thing is—fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream.” —William Golding, Lord of the Flies 

• “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” —Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland 

• “Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.” —Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man 

• “I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.” —Herman Melville, Moby-Dick 

• "It’s in vain to recall the past, unless it works some influence upon the present" —Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

• "It's much better to do good in a way that no one knows anything about it." —Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina 

• “If you tell the truth you do not need a good memory.” —Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

• “You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.” —Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

• "Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs." —Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre 

FAMOUS QOUTES FROM POETRY

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning.” —Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven

• “To be or not to be: that is the question” —William Shakespeare, Hamlet 

• “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the road less traveled by” —Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken 

• “Every time I travel I meet myself a little more.” —Yrsa Daley-Ward, Coordinates 

• “Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without words And never stops at all.” —Emily Dickinson, Hope is the Thing With Feathers 

• “You can trodme in the very dirt, but still like dust, I rise.” —Maya Angelou, Still I Rise 

• “Be an outcast, Be pleased to walk alone.” —Alice Walker, Be Nobody’s Darling 

• “I celebrate myself, and sing myself.” —Walt Whitman, Song of Myself 

• “To live a little better and  always be forgiving, to add a little sunshine to the world in which we are living.” —Helen Steiner Rice, A New Beginning 

• “Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man,But soon or late the man who wins Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!” —Walter D. Wintle, The Man Who Thinks He Can 

FAMOUS QUOTES FROM ROMANTIC LITERATURE

• “He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” —Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights 

• “If you loved someone, you loved him, and when you had nothing else to give, you still gave him love.” —George Orwell, 1984

• “Who, being loved, is poor?” —Oscar Wilde, A Woman Of Importance 

• “To love or have loved, that is enough. Ask nothing further.” —Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

• “All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.” —Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

• “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” ―Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays

• “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” —Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

• “We love the things we love for what they are.” —Robert Frost, Hyla Brook

• “How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.” ―Rupi Kaur, Milk and Honey

• “I am beginning to measure myself in strength, not pounds. Sometimes in smiles.” ―Laurie Halse Anderson, Wintergirls

FAMOUS QUOTES FROM CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

• “Promise me you’ll be braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think.” —A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh 
• “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” —Aesop, The Lion and the Mouse 

• "Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow." —Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden 

• “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

• “The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid.” —L. Frank Braum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

• “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” —Shiamin Kwa, Mulan

• “The more he gave away, the more delighted he became.” —Marcus Pfister, The Rainbow Fish

• “But all the magic I have known. I’ve had to make myself.” —Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends

• “Real isn’t how you are made, It’s a thing that happens to you.” —Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit 

• “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” —Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You! 

• “Never hurry and never worry!” —E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web 

• “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” —Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables 

Imporvement Begins With Reading

     

How important is READING to self improvement? It is so important until censoring what you read is a must. Anytime a leader wanted to control a people, they restricted their ability to read.

There are so many things in which I wish I could take credit for. I want a wise saying or philosophy to be attributed to me. There are already so many great nuggets of wisdom until I don't believe there are any new ones to come up with. I want to discover the key to success that will work quickly and efficiently. Many other people have come up with their formulas, but they include things like dedication and persistence. Sounds like a lot of work to me.

Even though I may not be known for anything earth shattering, that doesn't mean what has already been thought of and said is a waste. I have found many good self-improvement guides by several different people. There is a running theme to them all, "Improvement Begins With Self." Whether it is being a good leader, prosperous, or being a good Christian, you must begin with self. 

    Marcus Mosiah Garvey was featured in a newsletter in which I did not agree with the philosophy, but he made some good points. Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. ONH was a Jamaican political activist. He was the founder and first President-General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League, through which he declared himself Provisional President of Africa.  His reasons for giving his "lessons" on bettering self are not reasons I can completely get on board with, but the lessons themselves are sound and I would like to share them with you.

Garvey has been quoted as saying, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.” “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” “Take advantage of every opportunity; where there is none, make it for yourself.” 

As I stated earlier, many people offering advice/instruction for self improvement hold to these main points and central theme of READING.

 1. One must never stop reading. Read everything that you can read, that is of standard knowledge. Don't waste time reading trashy literature. The idea is that personal experience is not enough for a human to get all the useful knowledge of life, because the individual life is too short, so we must feed on the experiences of others.

 2. Read history incessantly until you master it. This means your own national history, the history of the world, social history, industrial history, and the history of different sciences, but primarily the history of MAN. If you do not know what went on before your birth and what is happening at the time you are alive, you will not know the world and will be ignorant of the world and mankind. 

3. Read intelligently. Be able to master the language of your country. To do this, you must be well acquainted with its grammar and the science of your language. People judge you by your writing and your speech. If you write badly and incorrectly, they become prejudiced towards your intelligence, and if you speak badly and incorrectly, those who hear you become disgusted and will not pay much attention to you, but in their hearts laugh after you.

 4. A leader who is to teach men and present any fact of truth must first be taught in his subject. 

5. Never write or speak on a subject you know nothing about, for there is always somebody who knows that particular subject who will laugh at you or to ask you embarrassing questions that may make others laugh at you.

 6. You should read four hours a day. The best time to read is in the evening after you have retired from your work and after you have rested and before sleeping hours, but do so before morning, so that during your sleep hours what you have read may become subconscious, that is to say, planted in your memory. 

7. Never keep the constant company of anybody who doesn't know as much as you or (is) who is not as educated as you, and from whom you cannot learn something from or reciprocate your learning. 

8. Continue always in the application of the things you desire educationally, culturally, or otherwise, and never give up until you reach your objective. 

9. Try never to repeat yourself in any one discourse in saying the same thing over and over again except when you are making new points, because repetition is tiresome and annoys those who hear the repetition.

 10. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. When you know a thing and can hold your ground on that thing and win over your opponents on that thing, those who hear you learn to have confidence in you and will trust your ability. 

Garvey's 11th point is directed to African Americans, about being wary of what they read because at times, it is written by particular authors with a perspective that may not be inclusive of the Black experience. It is worthy to note our country's interest in changing the history of what American children learn in the school classroom. 

We are now battling 'Critical Race Theory' being taught in American schools according to Republicans. Censorship of certain books and authors for the sake of not being 'offensive' is occuring. It is asserted our children can't handle the truth about how America became a country. Mark Twain's Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, in which he used the word 'injun' and 'nigger' was heralded as fine literature and taught to Black students without any regard to how reading the words and slavery might affect or offend them. No censorship for Black children's feelings.

The rewriting of history has always been an issue. People still argue on which translation of the Bible is correct or doctored. It is said that the winners get to decide what is recorded in history. Our education system running amuck is another post within itself. The above lessons in self improvement are lessons we should instill in our children as we teach them to read before they enter the classroom. Correct grammar and first impressions are something the parent should be deeply concerned about because it greatly impacts their child's future. Don't leave your child's future in the hands of ANYONE. Example these lessons at home so that it will be a natural part of everday life.

People often seek to improve various aspects of themselves, including physical health and fitness, mental well-being, personal relationships, career development, financial management, and personal growth. Reading credible writers is a sure for improvement in any areas of your life you want to improve.

Birthday Gift for Oprah Winfrey

  

   Happy 70th Birthday Oprah Winfrey. What present can you give a woman who has everything? Give her one of her favorite things - READ a book which encourages positive self-change.

    I found this great book What Happy Women Know by Dan Baker, Ph.D. which I have suggested to people on my 'Get Caught Reading Campaign'. There is a great tool in the book I think will free women from some self-torture in their lives and its the acronym VERB

V= Victimization
E= Entitlement
R= Rescue
B= Blaming

    One important thing to know is there has never been a happy victim. We can choose to wallow or get stuck in the heartaches of life and yes, even the tragedies of life or we can find a way to transcend these rough and tumble times and channel it into something that brings meaning to our life or even better, into the lives of others. A person may be victimized, which happens and is woefully unfair, but choosing not to adopt a lifestyle of victim is a step in reclaiming life back. It is a return to thriving in life instead of just surviving life.

    To live a happy life, we need to check our feelings/beliefs of entitlement at the door. Entitlement believes the world owes me/you something. None of us are the center of the universe and thinking so leads to us sitting around being miserable when what we hoped for doesn't come our way. Entitlement is a stunting, passive approach to life. A fulfilling life and happy life has goals and working to accomplish those goals understanding it is the hard work that makes them become reality. When our dreams and goals rely mainly on another person showing you favor or waiting for lucky breaks to happen for you, will lead to feelings of being let down. Expecting others to hand you your dreams and desires just because its you, will lead to unhappiness when they don't.

    When we were children, all of the fairytales we read or our parents read to us had a hero. The stories were exciting and we waited for the hero to show up and make everything alright. Many of us are still waiting on heros in our own lives. Rescue is waiting for somebody or something to save you, putting the responsibility onto the shoulders of someone else. You have to rescue yourself from that horrible job or not finding the right mate. You need to make the changes in your own life which you know will make you happy instead of waiting to be rescued. Waiting, looking longingly for your rescuer who is taking forever to come and save you from the life you have makes you more unhappy each day they still have not shown up.

    Finally, blame unloads a sense of responsibility on someone else. Once a person gets stuck in the go no where thinking of my problems and my unhappiness, is caused by or due to someone elses actions or lack of actions. Of course there are actions people may do or not do that do cause problems or unhappiness in your life, but you can not remain indefinitely a blame cycle. Decisions and actions to be in control of your life to your fullest ability, will help you to not get stuck in the blame game which does not lend a person to self-reflection and positive changes. Blaming distracts a person form living and achieving because they become sidetracked into bitterness and sometines revenge where VERB has taken up residence within.

    In the context of revenge, you become the victim of your own misery, you feel entitled to something better, you are waiting for someone to rescue you. and you can't wait to lay blame on the person who put you in that position in the first place. Chapter 5, pages 93-96.

    Happy women have to know many things, but the good point is-they are a few simple things. One thing is how to react to people and situations in life. You have to decide whether your response is going to always go to anger or frustration. There are so many things you can become angry about in any given day. The next thing you know, you are an angry person. A person gets to decide their response to setbacks or events they find difficult or unfair. 

    Don't let life build you into an angry bitter person. You can have the feeling without being led by it. You don't have to voice every angry feeling you have. Adjust yourself not to be in the situation by changing you. If you have a friend or familiy member who always says something to make you mad, well, don't hang around that person or accept they will be offensive, and you won't react. Just move the conversation along to something else. It is your choice leading to your own unhappiness deciding to continue to engage someone who always angers you. You are making your ownself unhappy. 

    Dumb people irritate you? Well, why are they in your circle? And if you must be around dumb people, you should be compassionate and realize they are unable to do better. Why are you, the smart person, not behaving like a smart person recognizing limitations in others. Your expectations, even demand for a person to be smart is like asking a rock to give water. Who is the dumb person?

    Make right choices for you regardless of what others are doing without having to declare it. Move in your peace and competence. You get to choose your reactions. A peaceful person acts peaceful no matter what is happing around them. Being a peaceful person does not mean being a doormat. You make choices that bring you peace not trying to change the other person which you can't and it's not your job. Anger is not needed to make choices. Everyone has the right to be who they are whether it upsets you or not. You have the choice of your response to them and always being angry doesn't fix anything. 

    I think this is a wonderful book and surprise surprise; it is not a male bashing book. It is a book more focused on how much of your energy are you going to expend on things and people that does not make you happy.

    I learned how to quilt, bake, can fruits, and other things because it was what all of the other women around me did and seemed happy doing. I hated quilting and baking and all of the other things that were supposed to define me as a woman and I went through the VERB dance feeling like a victim, I was entitled to a better life that did not include sewing and sweating in a hot kitchen. I wanted my husband to rescue me and say 'oh, honey, I think you are just as much of a woman even if you can't do all of those things'. I blamed  myself for living in the community that encouraged traditional sex roles even though I actually loved and felt safe in raising my children in the community. Was I happy? Not in the least. Could I have been happy? Absolutely. What I needed to do was just stop doing the things I didn't like doing and continue doing what I enjoyed. When I decided traditional sex roles were not for me - nothing happened. My husband and children were fine whether I baked or not and when a blanket for a bed was needed, we just bought one. 

    Happy women understand the importance of having personal power, which means their lives belong to them. I had no one holding a gun to my head telling me to quilt or can fruit. And I learned I had many more qualities that fulfilled my definition of what a woman was/is, and it is a very satisfying list to/for me. 

    Don't let life make you bitter. Choose how you move in this world regardless of what's happening outside of you. You are the one who feeds your HAPPY. You are the one who removes what you can't tolerate in your life or accept it without complaint. Nothing or no one is perfect. Sometimes our expectations are unrealistic and need to be changed. Our expectations disappoint us more than people do.

    So, happy birthday Oprah and many more to come. Thank you for encouraging us to read and grow in every way possible.