Say It, Write It, Love It

So many people begin with the words, "I've always wanted to write a book but... ". They stop themselves before they have even get started. How do you know you can't write, if you've never sat down to do it? Fear is a powerful feeling but what is an even more powerful feeling is the pride you experience when you finally do sit down and write that first full page.

The first words are the hardest, making you question every letter you use, but they will become more fluid as you relax. Writing is a seductress, luring you into her bed, drawing you in with the freedom to create beautiful worlds, driving ambitions, moving emotions and before you know it, you'll be in love before you even hit the sheets.

Time is the biggest commitment you need to start, time and the will to try. Don't think of writing a whole book, if that's too overwhelming. When the great pyramids were built, it took twenty years. Few workers were there from start to finish so for them it became a job of moving one stone at a time.The job was cut down to size. So, start with your one stone. One page at a time.

You may then say, "Oh, I wouldn't know where to begin." Okay, fair enough, so ask yourself this, where do you like to start a good movie? Do you want to sit in a dark theatre, munching on your popcorn, looking forward to a drawn out introduction of a character's entire life leading up to the action that finally comes his way? You'd need more than a couple of hours and some extra soft seat cushions for your butt if this is the case.

You start where the real story begins when the character's life takes its dramatic turn. In the "Wizard of Oz", we don't start the story when Dorothy is born, or when she's growing up, no the story starts when she's facing the threat of losing her dog. The drama in her life has taken a quick step forward taking the viewer with it. Still, if the story lingers there too long, the viewer will become more interested in the box of Milk Duds in his hands then with the story so the pace has to keep picking up speed.

Once you find your start, trust your instinct to keep the momentum going. You may find after a few pages that you won't want to stop, and even with one page a day you'll have a full novel by the end of the year. Writing is an amazing process begging to carry you along if only you just let it. Don't go putting unnecessary pressure on yourself, you can write for just your eyes only, if it helps, or let someone you trust read it but you won't know how it feels until you try. I promise there is no greater gift you can give yourself.
Doreen McNicol
http://www.rachelwicks.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7355705

Celebrating Women in History

While almost all Americans can find themselves, their ancestors, or community through archive research, in celebration of 'women in history' , I urge you to take research a step further, document the influence of women on  your heritage through identifying, recording and sharing family stories.

It was through participating in a national celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s legacy that I understood for the first time, the impact of my family’s heritage, Quaker.  Basically, the Quaker culture views itself as a caretaker, not owner of property - a role which implies providing for the present without sacrificing the future. In my book – A Path Worn Smooth, which is dedicated to the people of my community Laurel Historic District - , I invite readers to walk on a path worn smooth by generational expectation. Savor nostalgia for the places that are near and dear to my heart, recall family traditions and more importantly, renew experiences. Challenging all to celebrate heritage because heritage is more than a possession, it is a gift: the birthright of our children.

So, to emphasize this gift, I want to share with you a few facts/stories that illustrate the influence of my legacy. Due to the influence of a Quaker value - equality, my grandmother directly inherited property from her father and transferred property to her daughters establishing a tradition that influenced the transfer of property directly from my Dad to me. 

As a result, the women of my Dad’s family were self reliant and saw themselves as a ‘caretaker’ working the land along side their husbands.  In my book, I share stories of these women and their influence from initial settlement of the Bolton property in 1838 to the present.  To hear an author interview, link to the Renee Bobb Radio Show -  or view an interview, link to Henrico County Hunt for History -   .

During 2011, my book was recommended by the National Women in History Project. Instead of highlighting national figures, the NWHP encourages individuals to discover stories about women in their own families and communities. Why? They believe awareness of the challenges these women faced, grappled with, and overcame can be an enormous source of strength to all of us.

Because I am a child of the era ‘tell instead of read’ me a story, I'm aware story-telling provided a rich resource for my family history. So, in my e-book edition, I included research tips and strategies which help enable identification as well as publication of family histories.  So, in celebration of 'women in history', won't you join me in an effort to encourage others to research and highlight their legacy. Together, let's insure family histories gathered through story-telling are recorded for the next generation. 


Sylvia Hoehns Wright resides in central VA on 7th generation property. For details of her activities, link to www.TheWrightScoop.com

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