Name: Shari
Email:
Web Site: http://blogaboutwriting.com
Bio: Shari Smothers writes web and print copy, poetry, essays and more. This blog is the journal of what she has discovered and is learning from her writing life.
Posts by admin:
- It’s good to get things off my chest as writing can be a great contemplative release
- It might help someone if I offer a perspective they’d not considered
- It might make me a new friend bonding over common ground or beneficial disagreement
- It might make me a new enemy – not a great thing just good to know
- It’s important to click that PUBLISH button when I have a chance
- I have a lot to learn on my day job. I will allow that to distract me at home, in the form of reviewing my day’s activities.
- There is new software I want to master on my afternoon job also. I only give myself the month of December to start and master it for proficient use in January.
- Planning for the children (afternoon gig) is a time-consuming pleasure.
- Extra jobs will take my free time so that I can get ahead with the software purchases I need to make in the near future.
- My volunteer obligations take up a lot of time and that is fine for now, as I get them in order.
- Family and friends are in the front of my thoughts right now; there are things I want to do for and with them and that is a juggling act.
- The new story will keep until I get to it. In the meantime, I am making notes as things hit me.
- I have two stories that I want to finish (didn’t get to them) and they are fresh and clear in my head — except for the endings.
- While I’m not writing a poem a day, I will be posting more of what I’ve written because that’s where my heart beats.
- For the first time, I am perfectly content to not try to push for this — maybe next year
- It can read my writing back to me
- It has a publishing function that will format the text for reading online
- Timeline view lets you see your story as notes, like sticky notes
- Drag and drop works in the timeline view
- I can’t delete chapters yet
- It offers many ways to notate my story for ideas that pop up
- PHP: I use it for includes on my static websites. However, I want to harness more of the language’s power to get the most out of it
- MySQL: Same as with PHP. Database software is really powerful and a very versatile tool to catalog data such as articles, images, audio and so very much more. I would like to learn enough to be able to troubleshoot background glitches when database stuff goes wrong
- Forms validation: The code geek in me just wants to know the mechanics of effective forms validation skills
- Video editing: I have edited a few things with my Sony Vegas software. There’s a lot more power that I haven’t used yet.
- Simple animation: Cartoons are really cool and making my own would be a lot of fun. I think it would be really cool to animate some of my creative writing stories.
- Play the guitar: I’ve iffed at it a few times. I didn’t get far either time, but I think I’d do better now because…just because.
- Paint and draw: I can scrawl just as good as the next 10-year-old. I just want to do more. It’s more a matter of practicing so that I can make things come out of my hand that walk through my imagination.
- Sew my own clothes: When I was a very young, maybe in grade school, my paternal grandmother showed me how to cut a pattern for a shirt and a denim jumper, to line the cuffs and cover buttons with material like the shirt. Mostly what I remember about that was the great feelings I had. The times we spent laying out, cutting and pinning patterns is part of the blurs of childhood memories that remind me of the warm carefree times.
- Make paper: I read an article on making paper at home and it was really interesting. One day, I would like to try it out. Since I’m always writing on stuff, I think it would be pretty cool to make my own
- Glass blowing: I’ve only seen it on television and it’s amazing to watch. When I watched it, I thought about the molecules, fluid, hot, that can be pushed, blown, stretched, and shaped. Then cooled into a solid that can’t bend only break. There’s something really moving about that.
- It reinforces you’re on the right track which can carry me forward from one project, one milestone, one task to the next
- It requires that you slow down to reflect, and assess, and doesn’t that help with clarity—no wallowing or fixating involved
- Manually fixed my blog I broke (and fast too—sort of)
- Prepared my CSS print file for article pages
- Learned that my websites actually are helping me
- Worked out best Sony Vegas settings to render clear screen capture videos
- Deleted arcane drafts from blogs, stored them out of the way
- Singing out loud (gotta be alone for that) can still make me feel better
- Felt the deep sense of release that comes with hearty laughter
- Accepted that I need more sleep (now to make it happen)
- Trusted, in a difficult moment, that trying times are impermanent
- Studying the construct of my faith, I find I still have it
don’t overlook your selling points
December 30th, 2011
I was in a random restaurant and asked about WiFi. Server said they had it but she thought I’d need a password—which she didn’t have. Standing in line, I turned on my NOOK and connected. It didn’t occur to me to not try after she told me about the password. That is rarely necessary in a public place.
bridging the technology divide
After I downloaded what I wanted, got my food and sat down with my mom, I went back to the counter. I told her I got on, didn’t need a password. She said, “Really?” I said, “Yeah, unless it’s not your signal I’m using,” and watched her expression briefly as she tried to parse the exchange, before I returned to my seat.
what perplexed me
It wasn’t that she didn’t know. The problem I have is that she is a young person who had no clear knowledge of what her place of employment offered the customers. Soon as I walked in and saw the coffee shop tables in one area, I had an idea. And that’s why I asked.
My next contemplations were about finding a way to insure that employees knew what they had to offer clients. What they could take advantage of at their places of employment. These little things are selling points — no small matter in the business world. If it were my business, I would want my people to know about my free WiFi, just like they know the drinks and how to prepare the food and run the cash register.
it’s just good business
It’s not the first time I’ve encountered such apathy from this restaurant, different location albeit. I hope it’s not an anomaly of the chain, only a small few locations. In business you never want to overlook the easy selling points. If I invest in anything for my customers, I want workers to know about it when someone asks about it.
Don’t you want to maximize the benefit from your offerings to your clients? Would you put up signs? Or, just make sure that your first line employees had accurate, detailed answers for the easy questions?
writing it out of my system
December 29th, 2011You ever have times when you’re really hot to write something? You run to the page and write feverishly til you covered every thought that brought you to the page and a few that arrived after you got going. All this only to find that the passion has dissipated.
second guessing and affirming my ideas
You may not know what I’m talking about, but it happens to me from time to time. It’s not about journaling. It’s about the impact of the words I’ve written. I start wondering, Will anyone be interested? Be able to relate? Will anyone care or be entertained?
I remind myself that there may be someone, some one person who would really like to know what my take is. Someone who will greatly benefit from putting up my ideas alongside his. And on some really good days, he or she may tell me how I was wrong or right about something.
just do it
Ultimately, I have to just do it if I ever want to click the PUBLISH button. So, I suck it up and revise and edit my writing. When I’m satisfied I’ve presented my ideas as fully as I want to, I just let it go. It’s been a while since I clicked the PUBLISH button here. And, I have all these snippets of ideas running around in my head. So the time has come for me to trust that I am talking to somebody out there when I say and show, JUST DO IT.
Letting my ideas flow is the whole reason behind keeping a journal, paper or electronic. Blogging is the perfect place to write just in case someone wants or needs to hear what I have to say. In sharing here, and on my other sites, I invite you to share your thoughts. Write to me and tell me what’s your take.
why do it? 5 reasons
I’m curious! Do you doubt your ideas? How do you get passed the voice that tells you maybe you shouldn’t do a thing? What’s your incentive for pressing on?
extra is not always a bonus
December 28th, 2011In my AA (Administrative Assistant) job, I have to keep the books. We use QuickBooks to record financial business. At home, I use Quicken.
learning new software
I am working on learning the ins and outs of Quicken, (my graduation from spreadsheets), and now I have to work on learning QuickBooks too. At work they’re planning a training session for us to learn more about QuickBooks. At home, I’m on my own, which is fine.
Usually I click around to learn new software, it’s part of the fun for me. But, I’m in a bit of a hurry now. I need the key information, not extra stuff right now.
I bought 2 books for bookkeeping and Quicken. In reviewing the Quicken book, I found I’m going to have to sift through a lot of ‘related’ material. There’s a lot of aside information that is too far afield to be called theory. Along with getting what I need, a manual for the application, this book seems to try to incorporate bookkeeping and accounting training. And, it is infused throughout the book. So, I expect big fun trying to get around/through all that.
writing the book review
Once I’ve read through enough, (I just got the Quicken book today), I’ll make my determination on whether or not I’ll recommend the book. I was actually surprised by how much extra stuff was in the book. What I was looking for was a dedicated software book. Interestingly this book is the closest I’ve come and it doesn’t cover my particular version of the software.
Once I’m done scanning/using the book, I may write a detailed review of what I got out of the book. I see that I’ll have to sift through the distracting stuff. But it looks like the book will show me some things I haven’t figured out yet. It may turn out that the book is perfect the way it is…I’ll let you know.
Are you learning anything new? Do you take a class or buy a book first thing? Or is structured learning your last resort?
sometimes you gotta give up
December 27th, 2011
I’ve had 2 jobs for the past 3 1/2 months. It’s been really interesting and fulfilling and hectic. Rewarding and testing.
For far too long, I was under- and unemployed. When I moved back to my hometown, New Orleans, Louisiana, all I wanted to do was work. I searched, applied, asked, and talked to people. Before I knew it, I had almost 3 jobs. I got the first one, an afternoon job that was for 2 hours, 4 days a week (no Mondays) working with Second Graders.
Six weeks later I got the second job, it was in the day time: 6 hours Monday through Thursday, 3 hours Fridays. I was so grateful until I decided to do them both and was considering a 3rd job which fell through, thankfully.
The two I got fit together but then they really didn’t. Both were demanding and a pleasure. But there were times when they clashed. If things ran over in my day job, then I would likely be late or close to it for my afternoon job. You see, there was only a 30 minute window between the 2 jobs which allowed for travel time. A surprise event would eat that travel time quickly and leave me no room to do any preliminary things.
Once or twice it even made me a few minutes late. I couldn’t have that for myself. And my boss and the children (it was an after-school tutoring program) deserved better.
looking at all sides
I tried to tough it out. All I wanted was to work to make up for all the time I didn’t work. Here’s the thing though. I am tough. And dedicated. Once I understood that it wasn’t about me alone, but what was best for all involved, the choice came clear.
I didn’t want to be forced to run out of my day job leaving unexpected things for the next day, in order to be on time for my evening job. And, as I said, I didn’t want to have to run late or be absent for the evening job because of my day job (Administrative Assistant).
I opted to stay with the day job that was closer to full time, provided me with autonomy (once I learn all the nuances), and made no demands on my time or finances outside of the job. Teaching is not that kind of animal, even in only the after-school sessions.
how i chose
I took the selfish route. I wanted to be on time every evening for the afternoon program but it wasn’t a guarantee that I could. I wanted to be free once I got home, to do other things I was interested in, like my volunteer work for my church, book studies, website development, learning software applications. That was difficult to do with the demands I placed on myself for classroom preparations.
My choice was to pick the one that I could focus on with minimal hesitation. This was the formula because both are rewarding and autonomous positions. I didn’t want to give up either, but since I had to, I opted for the free evenings and relative quiet of working in an office setting.
I’m sure I made the right decision for myself at this juncture in my life. I have no problem with working 2 jobs. But I firmly believe that my second job should be online and from home, to minimize the wear and tear on me.
So, did I make the right choice? When did you last give up on something in the name of self-preservation? Did it bear out that you made the right choice?
I won’t really feel my decision until after the holidays, when everything is back in full swing — and I get to go home at 3:00 p.m. It will be a bit before I really feel the absence of 2nd Graders asking questions, working studiously and trying to have their way. I may need to visit them.
10 excuses for skipping nanowrimo
November 4th, 2011It’s been a long time since I let myself off the hook so early for NaNoWriMo. But this year, at the last minute, I made up my mind to let it go before I even got started.
It’s not that it’s not fun. I still enjoy challenging myself. This year, though, is a little different because I know that I don’t have the time to put into it. And I have no interest in hurting myself to make it happen.
These are the things I gave myself to as I tried to decide whether or not to participate in NaNoWriMo. I read my journal and saw that I was focused on everything but my outline for the story, even though I did throw one together. And, although I wrote it last, I think the biggest thing to seal my decision is the fact that I am content in my spirit with the choice I have made.
I call this a list of excuses because they’re not enough to keep me from participating in NaNo this year. If I wanted to push myself to at least try, I could. I could add to my sleepless evenings and jam-packed weekends, put off friends and family, missing events. I could curb the volunteering. And this is my time of self-indulgent behavior.
october angst
October 15th, 2011It’s been a long time since I felt relaxed enough to spend my time writing on my personal projects. I’m reading for me with minimal distraction, as testing for my 2nd grade class is done. Grades are recorded. So for a little while, my weekends and evenings are part my own.
I say part my own because there will be times (like today) when I will spend a few hours on organizing work for the students, visiting the library, recording last grades. And, my church and family responsibilities have a portion of my time. The balance is my free time, to spend wildly if I choose.
My Big Plans. There is my short story I’m writing which I’m working to finish; a non-fiction book a friend wrote that I’ll finish reading tonight; and more to read in my book study book (Kingdom without Borders) that I will be reading from, shortly.
organization skills put to the test
Monday I start my second job, my day job. It will take up the bulk of my days leaving me only travel time to get to my afternoon job. I’m compelled to be very organized, certainly more than I have been lately. It will be a welcome challenge, as I look forward to applying my skills to getting everything done.
Things seem to be well in hand for work with the children. But the work of fun is another story. For a few months now I’ve been writing successfully using yWriter software. I’ve managed to nearly finish two stories — they’ll likely be done the end of this month. Reading is manageable in bursts most often. But I set aside time daily now to read a little. So, it’s all coming together.
nanowrimo – am i in or no?
Even with my fine organizational skills, the cool software, and a story idea in the wings, I’m not sure it will be enough to get through NaNoWriMo. I’ve tried a few times, but never seem to get through before I let the rest of my life take over. Prior to November, I get all excited and pumped up with anticipation only to fizzle out in the middle (or even earlier).
This year, I likely won’t commit until the last week of October. And that’s really okay since I’m fleshing out a story plot in a grid (I read about that practice somewhere and I like it). Once the plot written and saved, I can use it whenever — next month or next year.
If I participate in NaNoWriMo this November, I’ll likely keep my progress updated at Shari’s Telling Stories. You can visit me there, to see my progress – or lack of. Either way, I’ll be reading around the web to see all the writer camaraderie.
Are you writing a novel this year for NaNoWriMo? Do you know about National Novel Writing Month? Find out about the project here, http://www.nanowrimo.org/, then decide if you want to put your writing acumen to the challenge of 50K words in 30 days.
10 things that inspire me
October 3rd, 2011It’s easy to inspire me! Mostly because I’m always open to having my socks knocked off me. Television, shows and commercials; movies with great story lines. The Internet that puts so much at my fingertips—literally.
1. people pursuing passions
I’m connected with two networks related to writing and arts. It is really inspiring to see writers pursuing their passions. I read liner notes in albums for the gems they sometimes hold about the album artist. One of my Nina Simone albums had her story in it. I was as sad to lose that as I was about some of the books I lost in the wake of post Katrina and Rita clean-up.
2. the brilliance of children
It’s not about how smart they may be. What moves me is the luminous shimmer the new people exude. It’s the glow of promise, hope for our future, and the endless possibilities of how we might get there.
3. possibility
I wonder how it is some of us never lose the inner child, or manage to find a measure of it. However it happens, I’m grateful that it’s possible.
I could almost weep for the life I might have known had I kept hold of the child in me; or found her sooner. I won’t cry though. I have more of her in me than I once thought. Instead, I take joy even at this advanced hour. After all, it really is all good— Besides, I’m not dead yet.
inspirations all around
4. dancing
When I watch people dance, it makes me happy, excited. It’s a pleasure to watch dancer’s move in ways that I could never. I would love to dance, but I haven’t the aptitude (really haven’t the aptitude), and I haven’t the body with a bad hip. I am humbled by the works that dancers do. Gregory Hines and Savion Glover can make my heart race. I never had the opportunity to see Gregory Hines dance live. And I’m sure if I had, there would have been tears. I believe that because the liturgical dancers at my church can move me that much.
5. photography
Composition can be poetic. I have lost myself in a great cloud scene or the soulful eyes of an elderly man helped to deposit his first ballot after Apartheid. A beautiful flower or a solitary bird in his solitude. Images can open my mind to more than what is before me. They are my conduits to alternate interpretations the image itself and life all around me. Being open to, and a practitioner of silliness, facilitates this laudable transcending ability.
6. music
I love to listen to great rhythms, beats that get make my heart pound, melodies that open my mind. Jazz is in my library. Some of my favorites I return to repeatedly include Lyle Mays, Fictionary; Joe Sample, Ashes to Ashes; Spyro Gyra, Love and Other Obsessions; and Hubert Laws, My Time will Come; and Ellis Marsallis, Whistle Stop are a few that keep me and serve to transport me.
7. writing
During work writing, my focus is on the message and the best way to get it across to the client’s audience. Even when I’m totally engaged, there are times errant creative ideas will come to me. If it’s timely I may even be able to spare a moment to capture an idea on paper or recorder to have it for later use.
8. poetry
It amazes me what people are able to create in poetic expression. The canvas is paper, the inks the colors of experiences, the deft poet paints the picture of what happens to, around, through him. There is room in his writing for me and my experiences and what I bring to the table. I’m inspired by the ability of a poet to tell a poignant story of a thing he knows, and how I am opened to so much more just by reading it.
9. generosity of others
There is so much I can’t do for myself sometimes. It frustrates me when self-reliance is simply not an option. I’m learning to give in to help from others. It’s humbling and empowering and amazing to be able to receive help and understand that it is not diminishing me but just a hand.
There’s something to be said for the grand gestures of kindness and humanity around the world, the ones that make the news and 60 Minutes. But the kindness of a friend to a friend is as large if it is unknown to many.
10. nature, trees
I love trees. I can’t name them I’m sorry to say, but I have a profound respect for the majesty of trees. Big and small, many or just one. I can get caught up just watching a tree, tracing the grooves and cracks with my eyes and hands; leaning against a tree, feeling it’s solidness support my back. I could go on, but you get the picture.
This list is by no means exhaustive since I spend a lot of time enjoying the little things in life. Many things inspire me. I was the child that would be caught staring out the window in school; the one who could lie on the ground for long periods of time, to watch ants go about their business. Today play is still important to me, as well as spending time with trees, even though I don’t have as much time for them. These things inspire me to do more, some days even just to continue.
What inspires you in your life? Remember that inspiration is everywhere; you can receive it from all sources, as long as you remain open to it.
“we’re all us real goddam firefighters now”
July 19th, 2011I’m excited this week! I have no time to be writing, but there is little else I can do before I move. So, I write.
software: yWriter
Once when I was planning to write for NANOWRMO, I searched for different things that people were doing to make the writing task easily. I came across yWriter. It got my attention enough for me to download it. That was a few years ago.
working out the setup
In the first week of July, I opened yWriter because I wanted to try something different as my latest story was getting longer. I found that the application is not nearly as simple as using WordPerfect (my default app) or Word. I actually had to go to the online manual to get started right. It was thrilling!
The quick start guide gave me enough information to learn how to set up chapters and scenes. (I don’t know how to delete chapters, but I’ll figure that out too.)
First, I set up the skeleton for my novel, the chapters and scenes. It was really easy once I knew what to look for. Then I uploaded my story, 7,272 words, chapter by chapter into yWriter. That was July 4th, fitting since it allowed me to declare my independence from the bulky use of word processing for novels.
what i learned about yWriter
rolling along
Today I have 28,570 and the only reason I slowed up was because I had a move in the midst of everything.
Ideas are coming and I focus on how to get it said, not the mechanics. And an interesting thing is happening.
I’m dreaming of my characters’ stories. The story’s in my system. Two weeks ago, after writing the ending until after 05:00, the backstory for one character came to me before 08:00. It was too soon to put my contacts back in. So, I wrote it on my legal pad, two pages front and back.
Last night, I did a quick read-through (I know I shouldn’t have). I was amazed at how much the backstory tied things together. Things I hadn’t thought consciously of, but were burned into my brain from the story. It’s actually fun.
peace of mind
I have no worries about how I will move my content around if need be, just like the yWriter developer says. I just focus on the writing, knowing the revising will be infinitely easier.
Word processors make writing very easy when compared with typewriters. But, when it comes to larger documents, it can be fairly cumbersome. When I am writing, I don’t feel the need to change order a lot but it does happen. yWriter has some excellent tools to make moving content really easy. One is a drag and drop capacity for scenes between chapters.
The other I’ve found so far is the storyboard tool. It looks like notes on lines. And I can slide these boxes to different chapters and different characters for POV.
about the story
This story I’m discussing is my first fan fiction. I’m hoping to submit it to The Chamber, the fan fiction site I blogged about it on Telling Stories.
It’s the first long story, novella length now, that I can actually see myself finishing. Part of that does have to do with not having to worry with the mechanics either during or after, since yWriter automates so much.
about the title
I got the quote from “Roxanne” 1987. After successfully fighting their first real fire, the character, Andy (played by Michael J. Pollard), made the proclamation. It’s my proclamation since I’ve actually satisfactorily advanced on my story and can see an end to it — for the first time.
I’m happy with this application but I will keep my eyes out for other writing tools. I may try a paid one, to see what I might be missing. Please share any suggestions you may have for tools you like or have heard about.
10 things i’d like to learn
May 6th, 2011I’ve been thinking about this post for a little while. I’ve come up with a mix of things I want to know better and things new to me. What stalled me is that I had a revelation: I have been fortunate to be able to pursue many of the things that interest me.
Here’s the thing though, I learn many of the things I use, enough to get the job done. Really though, that’s not enough for me. I’d prefer to get more detailed about the things I use already. You know, nothing like knowing a little theory to be able to work my way out of a corner.
Anyway, following is what my list looks like today.
10 things i’d like to learn and know better
Not quite a bucket list, but these subjects are things that keep me busy learning. The first 5 are to help me in the work I do. The last 5 are on my list to entertain me. In life there must be a balance, so this actually worked out better than I’d planned.
Confession: My balance is skewed towards pleasure. All the things on my list are things I really enjoy. I can (and often do) get lost in working at my computer.
What’s on your list of things to learn or know better?
Up next: 10 things that inspire me.
10 things i’m happy about
March 30th, 2011I want to write through ‘10 Things…’ for a bit. It’s my journal exercise right now focused on attending to the small moments. Today I thought about 10 things I’m happy about, to express more than fleeting gratitude for successes that happen on the fly.
Sometimes life moves so fast until you can run right over the small important moments—without even drawing out all the inspiration.
impetus for 10 things i’m happy about
Lately, I’ve had a lot to do and not a lot of time. I’d tick off a task, maybe smile about it if it was new or particularly difficult, and move to the next thing—which is a good thing. But, appreciating the small accomplishments helps in two ways:
So today, I decided to reflect on things my little successes that kept me moving forward. Some were so fleeting until I almost forgot them. Some were realizations I made.
All that to say, these are my recent 10 things I’m happy about:
Gratitude is the order of every day, for success or failure and what I learn from each. Think about the things you’re happy about, and slow down a moment to appreciate them. And let them propel you forward.
Up next in my ’10 things…’ mini series, “10 things i’d like to learn”
