How pleased I was to get an invitation from Sor’a Garrett, creator of The Shine Connection blog, to participate in a “Writing About Writing” blog tour. This week, I am asked to answer the questions below on my own blog. A week from now, I will introduce you to three bloggers whom I’ve invited to participate, and they will answer the questions too. If you’re new here, be sure to add your name to our email list in the sidebar. Your information will be protected, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
1) What are you currently working on?
Here at Heartspoken.com, I try to provide weekly insight and reflections on the power of connection to enrich and add meaning to our lives. Besides my client freelance writing, this keeps me pretty busy, but I’ve got two projects in the works that I hope will come to fruition over the next year. One is to launch a series of Heartspoken’s Little Guide ebooks on a wide variety of topics related to my theme of connection. The second is to create a podcast in which I interview experts who can contribute to our understanding of life’s essential connections — authors, philosophers, psychologists, speakers, etc. Both projects seem a bit daunting right now, but if feeling a bit afraid is a sign I’m on the right track, then I must be.
2) How does your work differ from others in the same genre?
I like to think my writing conveys the warmth and love I feel for my readers, and to the extent that a writer is authentic in their communication, no one else is ever quite like them. Even a similar message delivered by two different messengers can offer unique color and insight.
Nothing makes me happier than to help someone make a connection that brings them value, assistance, or joy. A blog provides an amazing platform for reaching folks I might never have known otherwise. I bring the benefit of age and experience and, I hope, the humility of always being open to learning from others along the way.
Life is an adventurous journey, and through my writing, I am blessed to have fellow travelers share it with me. These essential life connections are ones I’m trying to strengthen in my own life, and I’ll learn from you as you come along with me on the journey. We support each other, and like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, Spirit mysteriously and beautifully makes the sum of our individual connections an even more wonderful whole—a co-creation, if you will—than we could have done on our own.
3) Why do you write what you write?
Turning 60 was a watershed time for me — a time for reflection on how to make the rest of my life count. As I thought about what had contributed most significantly to my own success and happiness, I realized it was my ability to make connections. I believe strongly that this is not just a matter of natural ability. I know anyone can learn to strengthen those connections most essential to their well-being, so my goal is to teach and share with anyone who wants to learn. There are many kinds of connections, of course, but the four that, to me, are the most essential are the connection:
- with God
- with Self
- with Others
- with Nature
My goal in all I do is to help others strengthen those connections in which they feel the most need.
4) Describe your writing process.
First of all, I have an editorial calendar that identifies the general theme of my twice-weekly posts. So on the first and third Mondays, for instance, my theme is Connection with Others, and on the second and fourth Mondays, it is Connection with Nature. The first and third Thursdays call for writing about Connection with Self, and on the second and fourth Thursdays, I write about Connection with God. When there’s a fifth Monday or Thursday, it’s either pot luck or I write about my favorite connection tool: personal handwritten notes.
I use Evernote (see notes below) to captures ideas on the fly or as a way to clip online articles that inspired me to develop one idea or another. I also have a folder for each of my four areas of connection in which I put magazine or newspaper articles I’ve cut out. So if I’m stuck for something to write about, I have a treasure trove of ideas just waiting.
I’m a proponent of something I learned in the Damn Fine Words writing class I took recently: writing routines help ensure productivity and creativity. So I typically wake up, enjoy some quiet prayer time and spiritual reading, and then I write in my home office, with a cup of coffee at my side.
Stay with us on the tour
Be sure to check back next week when I introduce three wonderful writers to you, each of whom has a blog of her own. And be sure to visit Sor’a Garrett’s blog, The Shine Connection.
[stextbox id=”info”]NOTES: Evernote is a desktop program with mobile apps that give you access from anywhere. I learned how to use it through Brett Kelly’s excellent ebook called Evernote Essentials.
I learned a great deal about the importance of writing routines and processes from the fabulous course by James Chartrand called “Damn Fine Words.” Just getting on the course mailing list will get you lots of free writing tips, even if you don’t purchase the course. I’ve written about it in more details HERE. Course registration will open up again in early September.[/stextbox]
Photo credit: “Two Puzzle Pieces” by Wunderbild via Dollar Photo Club
I love how intentional you are about the many aspects of your life. The word “intentional” has been coming to me over and over this year. There’s beauty in it that I’ve largely ignored in the past. Am working on changing that in the present. Your post was good to read for that reason alone:).
I’m so glad, Lisa! I do think being intentional is important (be sure to read my book review of Notes from a Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally In a Chaotic World – http://heartspoken.wpenginepowered.com/6999/notes-from-a-blue-bike/), but it should be a guide, not a tyrant. Otherwise it produces stress beyond what’s healthy.
Wow…your answers to the four questions far surpass mine (I guess I need to amp up my answers for next week!). I find it interesing that you have such a stringent schedule for writing. I have tried it – forced myself to write. I can’t do it! How YOUR writing differs from others? I am inspired by each of your “connections.” Every dang time you write about them. Many times, your blog is what keeps me going! And how is it that when I’m thinking of a problem or question, your blog pops up in my email with just the right answer?
Oh my gosh, Karen, you’ve made my day with that beautiful comment. There’s no such thing as “far surpass” when it comes to these subjective questions. I got a little carried away, but people who know you just want to know what goes on behind the scenes in your writing world. I work hard, but since I work for myself, it’s not the same kind of pressure that you have working for someone else, so don’t compare :-).
Yes, I have a stringent schedule, but it doesn’t always get done when I want. I really do try to be consistent, though.
Considering the significant role you have had in improving my writing back when you had time to do so much editing for me, I am thrilled beyond words that my pieces feel helpful and relevant to you. I’ve learned from you to cut the crap (‘scuse my French), get rid of the frills, and speak from the heart. So thank you, in public, for that, Karen.
Your writing does indeed convey your warmth and love. You are the most authentic, delightfully connective person I know. Yesterday, I came across the note you wrote me after we’d moved to Kansas. It was the perfect reminder of goodness and inspiration as I move back into the world I know best! Thank you for recognizing the call of the dream that has touched so many people, Elizabeth.
Mimi, Mimi, Mimi…you have no idea how much I was inspired by YOU back when you were writing regularly about goodness and love and how important small things can be. You planted more seeds than you’ll ever know, and I consider that I’m just watering and tilling your soil a bit. Most of all, you modeled the importance of these inspirational principles being critical in the work place and not just at home or in church.
Thank you for this beautiful message and for your continued love and support.
The projects you are working on sound great! I love what you say about being feeling a bit afraid and how that confirms how are right on track! That is so true. If there is anything I need to work on is getting a writing routine down and being disciplined to write in the midst of so many distractions!
Thanks so much for this affirmation and insight, Cari. You are a prolific writer, so I imagine routines are very important for you.
What a wonderful idea. So neat to learn more about you, Elizabeth: about your work, about what set you on this Connection journey, and about your routine (which is inspirational to all of us!). I so agree with your lovely quote: “Spirit mysteriously and beautifully makes the sum of our individual connections an even more wonderful whole—a co-creation, if you will—than we could have done on our own.” So glad I’ve gotten to know you through Heartspoken.
Thank so much, Pamela, and I agree completely that meeting people like you has been one of the truly beautiful gifts of blogging and having an online presence. And aren’t we both fortunate to have met Karen R. Sanderson, The Word Shark, who is a master at connect interesting people with each other.