Stuck in a bucket?

If you need writing (or life) inspiration, visit Pen and Prosper and meet Sporty King, featured on Jennifer Brown Banks' blog.

The one thing Sporty said that resonates with me is "Every word must have multiple meanings." I LOVE THIS!

For example if someone tells King, a motivational speaker, they have writer's block, he asks them to tell which block they grew up on...   Read more here: https://bit.ly/39dXGhk .

Charlie got himself stuck in a bucket. He was uncomfortable. My first thought was to rescue him. My second thought was of my late mentor Helen Rodgers. She told me if we rescue a baby every time he or she gets stuck under a table, we use OUR reasoning to ease his/her discomfort, and they can't move forward literally, or cognitively if we do their thinking. 

She did not mean we should never help. But we should first allow the child to do the reasoning.


In full disclosure, I showed Charlie how to tip the bucket, and he crawled out... and repeated the action. He leaned into the discomfort and moved forward. Does this make sense?

Brianna Wiest discusses how feeling discomfort can be a motivator. Usually we back away, rather than move toward that which makes us feel uncomfortable, and we fall back into old patterns.

Brianna Wiest claims, "If you don’t learn to tolerate discomfort, you’re going to live your life in fits and starts."

Wiest says, "You’re going to get an idea about what you want to do, or who you might want to be, and then as soon as you’re a few days into your new life, you’re going to revert to what you were. This isn’t because change is impossible. It’s because, eventually, reality kicks back in. You’ll encounter challenges, down days. You cannot coast on the high of an idea forever."

Wiest is right! "If you never learn to tolerate discomfort, everything— from small tasks to big-picture ideas— will end up unfinished." I urge you to check out these two prolific motivational writers. 

Hurry for holiday discount

The weather is cool and rainy this 4th of July weekend, and even though swimming, picnicking and fireworks are not on the agenda, I am still cheering for the red, white, and blue!

Chicken Soup for the Soul Spirit of America is filled with patriotic stories. One of mine is included.


Also, some buzzard messed up our computer which has been in shop for three days, so I have been unable to post the latest info.

Coffeehouseforwriters.com is offering a new four week session. So if YOU want to learn how to write a Chicken Soup-type story, sign up by tomorrow for a 10 % discount (on any of the classes being offered.) Click on "Our Courses" to see the selection. Check out "Our Instructors"

Well, that was a nice surprise!

Jennifer is a gem. If you are not familiar with Jennifer Brown Banks you should be. She features guest bloggers, delivers the goods on writing and provides writing services. My introduction to Jennifer was through a writer's magazine. When I picked it up and read about breaking all the rules, I thought, "Wow! I've been doing that and didn't even know it." Writing and submitting is all about connecting first with your first reader, the editor. Check out Jennifer's blog, Pen and Prosper. I did, and my poem won her contest. My prize came in the mail yesterday, a book on writing, a daily purse planner, other little goodies and CHOCOLATE!

Help! I'm overdosing on chocolate

First of all, welcome to my newest blog followers. I appreciate each and everyone of you. I'm coming up on 200, and I can't wait for that to happen.

I am so excited to announce that my "chocolate" entry won first place at Pen and Prosper, Jennifer Brown Banks' BLOG. Every writer worth his or her chocolate knows that flavinoids induce good writing.

I've been a follower of this brilliant writer since I read her first article in a writer's magazine about breaking the rules. I knew then, that we were kindred spirits. Please visit her site and peruse the articles.

Writer's Inspiration

M&Ms three at a time ... colorful ellipses for my writer's mind.

Melted exclamation point on my tongue, a puddled Kiss.

Dark chocolate covered coconut, Mounds of happiness.

Chocolate, solidified or liquified, a writer's Bliss.

Let me get my lasso!

Woo Hoo!

I feel like Annie Oakley right now, a notable cowgirl in the wild west. I used to watch the TV show Annie Oakley when I was a little girl. When I had my own little girl, I dressed her as Annie Oakley for her first Halloween. I put yarn braids on my little two year old baldie, gave her a fringed vest and little turquoise blue skirt and a six shooter. I have a picture of her looking at the gun with an expression of HUH? And what was I thinking?! Giving a toddler a toy gun. Then again, that was forty years ago.

This morning I received an acceptance on my four sentence flash Western story from Brett Cogburn, great grandson of  Rooster Cogburn the real person, portayed by John Wayne. It will appear with other short-short Best Westerns Never Written in Cactus Country III, an anthology published by High Hill Press.

Hop on over to Pen and Prosper and show Jennifer Brown Banks what you've got. She's running a "chocolate" contest. Check out the details and read my entry. Jennifer has been widely published. I discovered her article in a writer's magazine and have followed her words of wisdom ever since.

A tip of my hat to the leprechaun

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you wearin' the green and tippin' your hat. That green beer will get you if you don't watch out.

Ashley, my first granddaughter, was in my class almost twenty years ago. The leprechaun leaves his little footprints every year and spills his (fake) gold, pennies and sparkly things all over the room. He even visits the bathroom. Oh my, he jumps on the toilet paper roll and the toilet seat. You should hear those kids squeal. EVERYone wants to tell me and take my hand so I can come see it. I tsk-tsk and say, "That naughty little leprechaun!"

We try to trap him, but you know those sly little guys. We've never caught one yet.
It is one of the most exciting, wild and memorable days.

Ashley was about seven years old, questioning the truth about Santa, the Easter bunny and tooth fairy. As I was driving, she expressed her doubts and asked about the leprechaun. I said, "Seriously, they are everywhere, but they don't want you to see them or catch them."

No sooner did I say that, a gust of wind lifted a large, bright irridescent green potato chip bag a few inches off the ground. It skittered in front of the car and dropped out of sight into a ditch.

The most verbose little girl in the world was speechless. When she caught her breath, she screeched, "I saw a leprechaun! I believe-I believe!"

I believe I laughed until tears rolled. That was divine providence, or an interference from leprechaun land. Ashley recently told me that she thought she had really seen a leprechaun scamper in front of the car and into the ditch that day.

St. Louis has two huge St. Patty's celebrations, one in an area called Dogtown, where the Hibernians celebrate with a parade and day-long partying. There is also a parade downtown.

Many years ago, I took my students on a field trip to the downtown area on March 18th. As the children got off the bus, there were some young, green-clad revelers sprawled at the curb still sippin' the suds.

"Teacher, is that a leprechaun?"

"Does he have an orange beard?"

"No, his beer is green."

I shook my head. What else could I do?

Be careful...kids are watching.

Do a little jig, and hurry over here for some great advice for writers. Jennifer Brown Banks has a guest, Noelle Sterne, whose advice is spot on.

Good news for all writers

I have more great news, some about me and some just for you! The editor at Sasee Magazine accepted my Christmas story for the December issue. It is a holiday story near and dear to my heart about my children. I will link to it here on my blog in a few weeks.

The great news for you is PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED, MULTI-PUBLISHED WRITER, Jennifer Brown Banks is launching her writer's service. See details for the wealth of information she has to share. Jennifer is Managing Editor of Coffeehouse for Writers. Why not sit down, sip a cup of your favorite java and learn from Jen? She knows her stuff! I discovered an article penned by her in a writer's magazine about breaking all the rules. I have followed her wonderful advice ever since, and here I am today, prospering, multi-published in many genres. No wonder her blog is titled PEN AND PROSPER! (click on it for the link)

I received this email from Jennifer, and I am passing it on to you. Will you please pass it on to others?

From: Jennifer Brown Banks
Subject: WILL YOU JOIN ME?

Writers,

You work hard for your money. Your money should work hard for you.
Which is why I'm pleased to announce a service that will save you time, money, and mental wear and tear.

I'm proud to announce JEN'S VIP CLUB.

If you like my Blog, you'll love my club!

Let me put the benefit of over 10 years of professional publishing, (and connections with others in the industry) to work for you!

For the price of a trip to Starbucks, here's what your membership provides:


ADVICE BY EMAIL
BLOG JOB LEADS
LINKS TO WRITER-RELATED CONTESTS AND ANTHOLOGIES
TIP OF THE MONTH
BOOK REVIEWS FOR WRITERS
DISCOUNTS ON MY CREATIVE SERVICES

...And more!

For 1 month the cost is just 7 bucks!
Join for 2 months or more, and the savings are even greater.
Not satisfied? Cancel at anytime.

Act now. The first 12 members will receive a free gift!

See the details and pay on line by clicking the BUTTON under followers at my Blog.
http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/

I can't wait to share what I have for you!
Discover the benefits of being connected... today.

Regards,

Jen

Jennifer Brown Banks

Veteran freelance writer, Columnist, Pro Blogger
http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/
Managing Editor, Coffeehouse for Writers
http://Coffeehouseforwriters.com/
Columnist, Technorati.com

Passing it on, doing unto others

I am amazed at how nice my new blog friends are, truly honored and absolutely stunned that you all chose little old me to grace the pages of your blogs.
I want to thank the famous, Jennifer Brown Banks at
Pen and Prosper for nominating me as a Phenomenal Female Blogger during Women's History Month. You can read one of my previously published essays on her blog. It may give you some insight as to who I am and how I have evolved.


Another shout out goes to Donna B. at
Mystical Journeys who awarded me this blog award. I was instructed to post a picture of myself blogging. Not the most flattering photo, but the most spotless you'll find my work area. Actually, I shoved my pile of papers under the calendar which is flipped back to February. Notice my
monkey on the top right of the screen? His presence is a reminder to quit monkeying around and get writing.

When I was in kindergarten my dad used to tell me he was going to get me a little monkey (I imagined a baby chimpanzee) to carry my books to school in a little satchel. His story telling was a precursor to my writing.

I was instructed to pass this award on to other deserving writers.

Dianna Graveman @wordpress.com is one of the hardest working and busiest writers I know.

T'Mara Goodsell's fun blog is a hoot. Be sure to scroll to some of her previous posts and read Sexless in the City.

Cathy C. Hall is a humorist and great writer. Her wit makes my synapses fire.

Claudia is a tea drinking, deep thinking writer/poet.

June Freaking Cleaver at Ratio of Failures is very insightful and wise.

There are so many more of you that I haven't mentioned here. It has nothing to do with preference. I love you all.

Take a moment to stop by and visit these folks and please leave a comment.

Now, I have a question for you. This happened to me today. I walked into a fast food restaurant and the teenager behind the counter had her hand in her mouth!( braces or food trapped?) Then, she walked over to place an order on a tray and took it to the dining room. I had one of two choices, either walk out or address the problem. I decided that my health and that of others was at risk, and so as she came around the counter, I stopped her.

"Excuse me," I said softly, "I don't want to sound rude, but when I came in the door you had your hands in your mouth. Would you please go wash your hands before serving my food?"

Some teens would have sassed, spat at me or ignored me, but she smiled and said, "Oh yeah, sure." Then she be-bopped to the sink.

How would you have handled this situation?

Dedicated to her craft!

Jennifer Brown Banks at Pen and Prosper dedicated her post today to ME. I am so honored, but more than that I am inspired and want to share her article with all of you. When I first read it a few years ago it made me sit up and take notice. I always knew I had writing ability, but I lacked self-confidence. Yes! After reading Jennifer's article, I stepped out in faith and earnestly submitted. That year I received several acceptances from a variety of publications, along with rejections. I crossed genres and compressed long essays into one page poems which were published, much to my amazement.

I am a believer. I believe in positive energy, I believe in myself, I believe in helping others, and I believe the worst that can happen when I step out in faith is an editor may reject my work. I believe that there is a power greater than mine at work in this universe, and when I send my work on its way, I ask for blessings.

I am blessed to have so many supportive and wonderful writer friends in my life. I would like to encourage you to write something before you go to sleep this day, anything, even if it is a note.

One of my students gave me a stack of three note pads, by Lady Jayne, Ltd. Each has an inspirational message printed on it. I want to encourage you to do just this



Please post the first line of your work in progress and inspire all of us. My email is billin7@yahoo.com, so if you do not wish to post on my blog, feel free to share privately.