Eclectic Writing

Listening to my Heart

2010-01-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't written a post in a very long time. But, today I thought, I would like to write. So I will.

I am tired of trying to figure it all out. I am tired of believing that there is anything outside of myself that can help me figure it all out. I am tired!!

So, no more new years resolutions. No more insane trying to stick to a disciplined schedule that drives me crazy. No more trying to be someone or do something that someone else has told me will be the thing that works. It never does because when it comes right down to it --- I'm different (and so are you).

So, from now on I will listen to my heart.

What my heart wants right now is peace and color and beauty. It want silence and it wants inspiration. It wants no time but NOW. It wants to serve people on a personal level. It wants truth. It wants passion. It wants to heal.

Journal Writing Topics

2008-07-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

I have posted some on journal writing topics on Associated Content. Here they are:

Journal Writing is your Safe Harbor

and

How to Journal Without Fear

Improve Your Blog Writing: Stop Writing Top 10 Posts

2007-11-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

The following article was written when I was still under the influence of Woody Allen. It was a fun one to write. Here is the link:

Improve Your Blog Writing: Stop Writing Top 10 Posts

How to Achieve Success and Excellence: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin

2007-10-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

Often when reading about people who are the best in their field you hear them talk about hard work, discipline, and perseverance. However, when it comes down to the essence of their talent, they often are unable to describe the mechanisms of their success. This part of their talent gets defined as magical and unknowable.

In The Art of Learning,Josh Waitzkin takes on the difficult task of explaining the unexplainable. Waitzkin is able to do this through examples from his life and the lives of other world-class figures, such as Michael Jordan.

The following are a few of the important lessons taken from Josh Waitzkin’s book. The essential thing to remember is that not only is hard work, discipline, and perseverance necessary to achieve excellence. It is equally important to use intuition, creativity, and awareness. These are the essential characteristics which have allowed Waitzkin to achieve excellence in the fields of chess and martial arts.

Fundamentals are Important

The basics are very important to learning. Whatever the fundamentals are in your field you have to master them. Once the fundamentals are internalized you move towards the more complicated. Step by step you become familiar with the complicated matters until you are able to practice them with the same ease you practice the fundamentals.

You must stay true to yourself. Whenever learning something new it always needs to be in harmony with you and your nature. Waitzkin states, “it is critical to integrate new information in a manner that does not violate who we are. By taking away our natural voice, we leave ourselves without a center of gravity.“

Invest in Loss

Excellence in any field is a long term learning process. Sometimes you will not be at your best when you are in the process of learning a new technique. As Waitzkin puts it, “we must take responsibility for ourselves and not expect the rest of the world to understand what it takes to become the best we can become.”

However, Waitzkin also cautions against hiding behind a “process-first” philosophy by claiming that results don’t matter thereby never putting yourself on the line. The results do matter. They matter because they feed the process. Results can be learning tools.

Use Whatever Comes Your Way

Mistakes, failures, emotions, chaos are all a part of the learning process. During it all it is important to maintain clarity and presence. Don’t cling to the things that come into your experience because this could lead to a downward spiral. The first step is to let these experiences exist and make peace with them. The next step is to learn to use these experiences to your advantage.

The goal is to eventually be able to create learning or inspirational experiences without needing to experience the mistakes, failures, emotions, or chaos. Waitzkin gives the example of a right foot favoring soccer player devoting a period of time to not taking a right-footed shot. Exceptional people don’t need to experience injury or setbacks in order to learn and grow.

Dissect the Leaps

Waitzkin gives the example of a triangle. The bottom represents the fundamentals. This becomes internalized until you can access it without thinking about it. Then you use what you know to create leaps (call it inspiration or discovery) which help you climb further up the triangle. This is the point where most people stop. They keep waiting for “divine insight” to pop up again. Waitzkin says that there is a connection between that discovery and what you know. You need to figure out the technical components of the discovery to find out what makes the “magic” tick.

Sports players will review tapes of games. Chess players will review their chess moves. Whatever your field you need to be able to look at the moment of the leap and figure out what happened. You need to look at the moves, your emotions, the arena of inspiration. You need to dissect the moment. Then once you have added this “leap” into your learning (once it flows easily) you will then discover another “leap” that will build upon the last.

Be Present

The most important aspect of excellence is being present. Waitzkin observes, “I believe an appreciation for simplicity, the everyday - the ability to dive deeply into the banal and discover life’s hidden richness - is where success, let alone happiness, emerges.” This is what separates “the best from the mediocre.” Being present gives you the flexibility to work with whatever comes your way.

Don’t expect to pick up this book and get a step by step game plan. Waitzkin’s lessons are craftily intertwined with his experiences and the experiences of others. This will be frustrating to those expecting the typical self development book which spoon feeds you information in easy to digest bites. The key to reading The Art of Learning is to slow down and let the intuitive part of yourself absorb the lessons and build an awareness inside you which spurs you to action. As Waitzkin says, “mastery involves discovering the most resonant information and integrating it so deeply and fully it disappears and allows us to fly free.”

My Associated Content Writing Challenge

2007-10-25T17:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had a few free hours and decided to give myself a writing challenge. My goal was to write five news pieces for Associated Content.

How did I do? Well, I missed my goal by one.

It was an interesting challenge. I just sat and wrote one after the other. I browsed the press releases at PR News Wire to get my stories. Overall I am pleased with myself. It was a fun writing exercise and I also managed to get a few bucks out of it. Not much, AC only pays $5 for each article.

What did I learn or discover from this writing challenge? I need to speed up my writing. I am super slow with this kind of thing. I need to figure out ways to expand the story. Most of my articles barely made the AC 400 word limit. Also, I need to figure out a way to make the writing more interesting. Wow, those articles are boring. LOL!

This challenge was a great way to spice up my writing routine. Try giving yourself a challenge and see what happens.

Here are are three of the four that I sent to AC (the fourth had to be edited and re-submitted because of formatting problems):

Airbus 380 Takes Flight

United States Companies Donate Millions to California Wildlife Relief (The AC editor added "Big" to the title.)

Evacuation Plan Important During Natural Disasters

Top 5 Halloween Treats That Will Get You Tricked

2007-10-10T16:32:00.000-07:00

My latest AC article is now up:

Top 5 Halloween Treats That Will Get You Tricked.

My writing has been influenced by the Woody Allen book I am reading. It is a good learning experience because I am not very comfortable with this type of writing.

Comments are appreciated.

Inspiring Stories

2007-10-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Zen Habits has posted two success stories of people who have started new daily habits. I love reading how others are making changes in their lives. It inspires me to keep working towards my goal of establishing a daily writing habit.

The one thing I took from the first success story is how he manages his time. I like the idea of telling yourself, no reading emails or browsing blogs till noon. I admit to falling into the trap of starting my day with my email box and browsing a few blogs. The next thing I know the day is gone and I have not accomplished much.

Read the success stories.

My Top Six Developing a Writing Habit Tools

2007-10-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

I have been somewhat faithfully doing my half-hour writing session each day. Here are some tools I have been using to help me develop my writing habit.

Google Notebook

I use Google Notebook to write down any ideas or topics I have for my writing time. Before I start my writing session I open up Google Notebook and pick a topic.

Stop Watch

I found an online stop watch which I set at the beginning of my writing session. Very convenient.

Don't Break The Chain

This is a great application I put into my iGoogle page. You mark off each day you work on your goal and create a chain. It is based upon a motivation technique from Jerry Seinfeld.

Google Docs

I write most of my writing sessions in Google Docs. Each session is saved in a separate file. After my session is over, I place a copy into a different folder where it awaits my editing.

Paper and Pen

Yes, sometimes I go "old school." I pull out a notebook and pen when I don't feel like sitting down in front of my computer. This is not a convenient choice because later I have to type everything into a Google docs file. But, sometimes it is the only thing that works.

The Web

Other blog posts, this blog post, lists, articles, you name it. I am always on the look out for topic ideas for my writing sessions. I would appreciate any recommendations for a good non-fiction writing prompt resource.

Writing Tips from Eminem

2007-09-20T16:46:00.000-07:00

I had to share this creative, clever, and entertaining blog post with you. From Taylor the Teacher, Things I Learned From Listening to Eminem: 9 Writing Tips (It's actually 7).

See how you can find inspiration anywhere?

Is Finding Time To Write Really The Problem?

2007-09-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

Two recent blog posts I have come across talk about finding time to write. In Stop Writing, Darcy talks about how important it is to be "done" for the day. She give you tips on how to prioritize your writing and still have time for those other things you need to do in life (like eat). In Writing is Work, Cyn also touches on how important it is to prioritize writing in your everyday life and also the importance of knowing when to quit for the day. She mentions how important it is for writers to relax and refill their creativity wells.

This subject of finding time to write is something I have been dealing with recently. At first I thought, "I need to find time to write." The reality is I have time to write. What I don't have is the writing habit. There is a difference. If you need to find time for something that means you actually do that something. My current state of writing is in spurts with long periods of inactivity and neglect. This is not writing. I didn't realize this was my issue until I read the article I linked to in this post from a few days ago and the two posts mentioned above. Then it became clear what I need to do is establish a writing habit.

My goal is to write for at least a 1/2 hour each day. This is my starting place. A half hour of time devoted exclusively to writing and nothing else. This time doesn't include journaling because I already have that habit. Seems a bit silly when I write it out. What is a half hour? Well, to me this is a significant commitment. It is the start of a new habit. In fact, I started today with this blog post being a part of my 1/2 hour writing time.

Habits take time to form. They also take commitment, desire, and patience. I also think you need to see some benefit or reward for yourself from cultivating a habit. For me, writing is something I have always wanted to explore, but never truly tried beyond a few cursory attempts. This is my chance to challenge myself, expand my world, and do something just for me.

9 Simple Writing Habits

2007-09-13T18:13:00.000-07:00

Over at Dumb Little Man is this fantastic post entitled Complete Your First Book With These 9 Simple Writing Habits. The habits include: daily writing, simple tools, idea time (you will have to read the article to get the others). It is all common sense, but I like the simplicity of it. You will definitely benefit from this article even if you are not planning on writing a book.

The author also mentions the importance of not trying to cultivate all of these habits at one time. He suggests choosing one habit and working with it for several weeks before moving on to another. This is very important. I know that sometimes I will jump right into something and try to do everything at once. Bad move. A few weeks later my enthusiasm has waned and my sloppy habits take over. Lately, I have decided to slow down a bit and be more focused on a single project (which is why I have been neglecting this blog).

Hey, Jack Kerouac

2007-09-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Today is the 50th anniversary of Jack Kerouac's On the Road. While I did like On The Road, my favorite Kerouac books are The Dharma Bums and Big Sur.

I love these two books because they are polar opposites. The Dharma Bums is full of clean, fresh energy and optimism. Big Sur is the opposite. However, each has such a great rhythm. If you have not read a Kerouac book then start with Dharma Bums. It is beautiful. You will be reading along, having fun and smiling then BAM - Kerouac hits you with a simple truth. He is fantastic that way.

Here are some Kerouac links that I found interesting and thought I would share with you:

NPR Link - you can hear audio and see video of Kerouac.

Dharma Beat - Various Kerouac related links. One link is this blog which is mapping the On The Road journey.

September Reading

2007-09-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

Started: August 2007 - still in progress. Update: 9/20/2007 I am less than 100 pages from the end!

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Finished: September 13, 2007. Not my first reading. This book always makes me think and helps to improve my life. A definite must read if you are into the Law of Attraction or just curious. Much,much better and more comprehensive than The Secret.

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Finished: September 8, 2007. Had a slow start to me but definitely came into its own later. The book revolves around Carlos Weider who goes by several names. Weider is a spy, murderer,poet, amongst other things. Distant Star is written in a dry, self deprecating, humorous manner. I'd recommend it.

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Finished: September 2, 2007. I was able to finish this book in one sitting. A bit difficult to read because of the stream of consciousness style of writing. Don't let that dissuade you. The words flow so beautifully you can't put the book down. Here is a passage I want to share from the book:

He was mysterious and the otherness of his life suddenly struck her. She wanted to be thrown onto his back and hauled off. She wondered how warm his skin was or how cool or how soft at the throat. She wanted to climb around on him. She looked at his arms and wondered what they'd do with a girl. He seemed to have a thousand decisions made inside of him and many secrets and she wanted to know what they were and to study him and to watch the secrets change. She wanted, she wanted.

Yes, I recommend this book!

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You are a Super Writer Person

2007-09-03T16:42:00.001-07:00

I have been absent lately. General life stuff and a new blog have been keeping me busy. I found this article on Creativity Portal entitled How to be a Successful Part-Time Writer. The author lists six simple steps to get you back on the writing track.

I read it and thought, yes, I should be doing that.... LOL I think the key is to take everything at your own pace. I know I haven't written anything for AC in a long while. However, I'm not that upset about it because I have been writing. I write everyday whether it is a blog post (I maintain several business and personal blogs) or in my journal (a daily must for me). So, don't beat yourself up if you are not the super writer person you imagine in your head. See what you have accomplished and then ask yourself, what do I want to do next?

Fashionable and Contemporary Free Crochet Patterns

2007-08-20T17:57:00.001-07:00

My latest article on AC is up! Fashionable and Contemporary Free Crochet Patterns give you three sites that you must visit for the latest and hippest crochet patterns.

Looking to start your own craft business? Try this crafts mega package. It includes helpful information on pricing, craft shows, selling on consignment, and more.

Technorati Tags: free crochet patterns fashionable free crochet patterns crochet

Four Earth Friendly Back to School Buying Tips

2007-08-13T17:51:00.001-07:00

My latest Associated Content article is up!

Four Earth Friendly Back to School Buying Tips

These are ways that you can save the environment and also save money on back to school supplies. I was motivated to write this article because of reading all of the stories about back to school spending. I think it is outrageous. Plus, all of the waste. I hope you like it.

Technorati Tags: back to school shopping, earth friendly back to school shopping, back to school

Where to Find Article Ideas

2007-08-12T22:42:00.001-07:00

I finished listening and watching all the material up through Day Two of the Thirty Day Challenge. Day Two was about generating ideas for a market. The goal at the end of Day Two was to generate seven market ideas. I haven't done that yet. However, some of the places suggested to find markets would also be great places to generate article ideas. Here are the five discussed in Day Two of The Thirty Day Challenge.

Ebay Pulse - You can browse the hottest categories in Ebay.

Technorati - Look at what people think are the hottest blogs. Plus, read what the hottest blogs are saying.

Google Groups - Browse different interests and hobbies.

Google Trends - See the hottest trends by day.

Yahoo Answers was also mentioned.

So, if you are out of article ideas for AC then browse through the resources above and get your creative juices flowing again.

Technorati Tags: associated content, thirty day challenge, writing ideas

Internet Marketing - Thirty Day Challenge and Associated Content

2007-08-12T15:58:00.001-07:00

I am still working on pre-season though I do see the end coming soon. Which means that I am still catching up because the Thirty Day Challenge started August 1st.

Why am I writing about the Thirty Day Challenge on this blog? Anyone can benefit from this marketing challenge. It is geared towards affiliate marketing, but this information is enormously beneficial if you have a Web site or blog. It would also be a good way to promote the articles you write for AC. I already know it would be a good idea for AC writers to form groups and start cross-promoting their articles. Right now you have people on the forums asking for others to view their articles to increase their page views. A better route would be to form small groups of people who promise to Web 2.0 each other's articles. It doesn't take that long and it would be much more beneficial than reading what each other wrote.

Technorati Tags: thirty day challenge, 3DC, internet marketing, associated content

Testing ScribeFire

2007-08-11T22:38:00.001-07:00

This is a test post using my new ScribeFire Firefox add on. This allows me to post a blog post while I am surfing the Web. I'm curious if this will really work. This was one of those tools I discovered in the Thirty Day Challenge pre-season information.

Technorati Tags: scribe fire

Yes, I am still reading and writing

2007-08-11T22:14:00.000-07:00

I started the Einstein book. Very good read. There is quite a bit of science, but written in an easy to follow fashion.

I also submitted two articles to AC. One has already received an offer. I'm waiting to hear about the other one. I have quite a few ideas for a few more articles. I'm just trying to find the time to write.

AC had a page view update (finally). My page view bonus is up to about 50 cents. LOL. Hopefully, the Thirty Day Challenge will help me get more page views.

Associated Content: Write; Get Published; Get Paid. It is that easy. Join Now!

Internet Marketing

2007-08-11T21:56:00.000-07:00

Here is my progress in the Thirty Day Challenge. So far I have:

1. downloaded Firefox;
2. added the suggested ad ons (Although, I don't seem to have a Twitter icon);
3. Listened to the podcasts and watched the videos up to the Pimp Your Forum posts.

I have not joined a team yet. I think I have found the team that I will join. It is a large group. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. Also, I don't want to join a team until I have caught up.

Yes, I know I have quite a ways to go. No problem. I am actually enjoying the learning process. It is exciting to think of how this type of marketing can impact my business. I plan to test out the marketing to promote a new Web site. I'm not focusing on earning $10, but on getting business leads. This Web site is a perfect testing ground because it is a new (less than six months old) and I have not heavily promoted the site. I am also interested in seeing if I can successfully use this challenge to increase the number of visitors I have to this blog. That's just for fun.

Associated Content: Write; Get Published; Get Paid. It is that easy. Join Now!

Internet Marketing

2007-08-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

I decided a few weeks back to join the Thirty Day Challenge. The challenge is to make your first $10 during thirty days. Each day there is a new lesson. Actually, I think there is a new lesson every day - I'm still trying to catch up. I am in pre-season mode right now.

My reason for doing this is to gain new internet marketing skills I can use in my existing business. I also plan to use these skills to promote the writing that I do for AC and this blog. I am only half way through pre-season and have learned of some great tools that will help to streamline my internet marketing time. I am looking forward to learning more as I go along.

Associated Content: Write; Get Published; Get Paid. It is that easy. Join Now!

The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon

2007-08-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

I finished The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel last night. I loved this book. I really love Chabon's descriptions of the characters and settings. Here is an example:

Rabbi Heskel Shpilman is a deformed mountain, a giant ruined dessert, a cartoon house with the windows shut and the sink left running. A little kid lumped him together, a mob of kids, blind orphans who never laid eyes on a man. They clumped the dough of his arms and legs to the dough of his body, then jammed his head down on top.

How can you not love that description? I guess this type of cascading descriptive word waterfall could get a bit tedious for some. I never grew tired of it. Chabon's descriptions made me laugh, smile, and see the action more vividly.

This is an entertaining book. It does take a bit more time to read because it is word dense. Also, you have to contend with a fair amount of Yiddish. However, it is well worth the time. I definitely recommend reading this book.

Next on my plate is:

Associated Content: Write; Get Published; Get Paid. It is that easy. Join Now!

August Reading

2007-08-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

Finished:8/06/07 Read what I thought about this book.

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Started: Soon

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Associated Content: Write; Get Published; Get Paid. It is that easy. Join Now!

Three Foods That Trigger Anxiety and Panic

2007-08-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest article for AC:

Three Foods Shown to Trigger Anxiety and Panic Attacks.

Associated Content: Write; Get Published; Get Paid. It is that easy. Join Now!