Showing posts with label Final Blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Final Blog. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
The Power Of Inclusion...
As the newest crew member on The Revenge I wanted to use my last blog post to not only thank the rest of the crew for the wonderful opportunity, but also for the personal support that I know will continue on beyond the life of this blog.
Of all the things being part of this crew has given me, the lesson that will resonate forever with me is the power of inclusion. Being a newbie writer, struggling to find my way, to feel as if I had the right to call myself a writer, to find some sense of foothold along the treacherous path writers endure, something magical happened when I was officially asked to become a blogger with The Revenge.
Now I might not have blogged that often, nor can I claim to have given any immensely compelling insight into the writing process, but my inclusion as a member of this crew might have helped me more than my posts helped anyone else.
Advice. Support. Straight talk. Cheerleading. Reminders about big girl panties. Validation.
This crew has provided me with these and so much more and it all came down to the power of inclusion. They included me. By asking me to join their group it went beyond just writing a few blogs.
It lit a fire in me. I went from having spent two years trying to write my first book, to finishing the first, entering my first writing contest, outlining two more books while starting book two. Inclusion can do that.
All it took was someone asking me to be a part of something bigger than the blank page in front of me.
This crew has taken me beyond what I could have done on my own simply by making me feel apart of something bigger that gave some legitimacy to the time I spent writing.
So with my last post I want to leave this crew and our readers with this one point - include someone.
Whether it's just including that writer you see sitting alone at a conference or asking a newbie like myself to join a blog or critique group, extending an invitation to them will mean so much more than you can image.
My writing journey really started when I signed up for the amazing Judi McCoy's writer's boot camp at the RT Booklovers Convention. As you all know, Judi was an amazing woman who lived to include, to build-up, and to empower young writers. At the same time I met Judi I met an equally amazing, and honestly, an even more empowering woman for me - Maureen, our own lovely 2nd Chance. Both took it upon themselves to connect with me and I will be forever grateful and in awe of their selfless acts to help new writers.
What began with these two woman was lifted into something affirming and life-changing when Terri extended the invitation to become a writer here on The Revenge. It was the power of inclusion. Thank you so much for including me, for giving me a sense that I could conquer the blank page. Your invitation took me out of solidarity and allowed me to identify as finally, a "writer."
My dear crew, I'd love to hear your stories of being included - whether with your writing or personal life. Was there a special moment that has stuck with you as being a deal-changer or had long-lasting personal meaning? How did you come to join The Revenge?
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Empty Nest
This is my pirate goodbye.
I feel like I’m about to have one of those sad montages. You
know what I’m talking about. These scenes have a Boyz II Men song playing in
the background. Us pirates are garbed in white robes and the light of heaven
shines down on us while we tearfully hug one another promising to keep in
touch.
But in all reality, we’re just messing around and we rip off
our white robes to reveal sultry skimpy pirate garb and pull out barrels of
liquor to ply Satan with while we take over hell.
In all honesty, it hit me a little harder than I thought it
would. I’m not much of a sentimental girl. I don’t like hugs. I don’t like
talking about my feelings. But the thought of saying goodbye to a ship’s deck I’ve
spent countless days upon (well, more like all my time in the Crow’s Nest with
the Undead Monkey) is a little sentimental. It was upon the ship’s deck I
realized I could possibly write an original story. I could branch out from just
fan fiction. That I was capable of telling a different kind of story. I’ve
stumbled plenty over the years but reading the encouraging words of this ship’s
crew kept me going when I wanted to just give it up.
I’m really just a girl who likes to wear baggy sweatpants
and hoodies. I stay up way past a reasonable bed time in favor of romancing the
keyboard with my fingertips in an attempt to write the stories embedded in this
mind. Yet, these few year have made me feel like someone who could be a writer. You made me feel like I just had
to put my mind to it and you’d believe I could do it. So thank you to the crew –
the pirates – who befriended a nobody fan fiction writer on the Eloisa James
board and encouraged me to come blog about a subject I really don’t have any
useful knowledge about (writing). And the commenters who stayed with me even
when my blogs turned into crazy rambling attempts to convey writing things. And
the readers who may not have commented but took the time to stop by. Last the
friends I’ve gained from this adventure. We’ll always be friends. That’s what
this is all about.
So thank you. May I see you again in the future; and if not,
good luck with your own adventures. When the going gets tough remember there is
someone out there waiting to read your story. I believe in you Dear Writer.Dear Commenter.
Dear Reader. Dear Friend.
Tell me what’s been
your favorite part of the RWR experience and what you’ll miss the most.
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