CIRQUE DU YOUR WAY

 

It seems every year... 

There’s new information... 

On how to keep the mind and body fit..

And lo and behold the other day...  

I found this article: 

Learning new and engaging activities fire off neurons in a positive way. Activities that require focus and practice are: 

Dancing, music, theater, sports, and circus arts. 

Wait a minute (giggle)

Circus arts? 

Like what?

Flying on the trapeze? (chuckling) 

Tightrope walking? (guffawing)

Stilt walking, pogo sticking, foot juggling? (I’m on the floor now)

And just so I don’t seem insensitive... 

To the circus arts and those that perform them...

I did find a few tricks that I liked... 

And just might come in handy one day: 

Knife throwing, club swinging, and bull whipping.

(don’t ask and I promise not to tell) 

So?. 

Are you up for or have you ever done any circus arts?

 Or how do you keep your mind a body fit?

Always, 

Em-Musing

BOO YA!

Hey! It’s the Monthly Blog Hop for the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The first Wednesday of every month, we announce an optional question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember, the question is optional!!! 

The awesome co-hosts for the August 2 posting of the IWSG are Kate Larkinsdale, Diane Burton, Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence!

August 2 question: Have you ever written something that afterwards you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?

 

My book, Azael's Lot has some scenes I debated about keeping...

Though conflicted, I kept them.

The story is about fallen angels, demons, and witches.

Too often movies and TV shows... 

Make the dark side is seem not so dark...

Cozy witches cooking potpourri and making candles...

And cute love potions and spells.

Not my witches...

They’re evil and I wanted people to detest them. 

That’s what the darkness is.

Years ago... 

Harriet, my 76-year-old neighbor in Ohio...

Asked to read the manuscript...

So I gave her the whole enchilada.

A few days later Harriet came to my door... 

And shoved the manuscript at me and and said: 

“Oh, Leigh! I couldn’t finish reading your manuscript…

All the blood! The filthy rituals!  What those witches did 

to that boy! I just didn’t want those visions in my head. 

I was afraid of getting nightmares. I’m sorry. I thought

the story was about angels…not witches and demons.”

“But there is a redeeming factor in the end, Harriet.”

“Sorry dear, I just can’t read anymore.”

So? 

That fact that my story scared the bejeebers out of Harriet…

Was that a good thing? 

Always.

Em-Musing

 

JUNGLE CHAT

Is that a Samurai sword? I asked my neighbor. 

Yes, she replies.

It’s beautiful, I said. I only have a machete.

We should practice together.

Yes. That’d be fun!

On coconuts.

Absolutely!

We could put a coconut on a stump...

Imagining it’s the head of a robber... 

(there was a recent robbery in another neighborhood)

Or an ex…

And...

Hi- YA!!!! 

Ha, ha, ha!!!

Um, yeah...

Conversations are different here in my Mexican jungle.

Heck, life is different here...

It's a place where Mayas share tales of jungle spirits, and jaguars roam the night. 

And sometimes 2 women get silly.

Always,

Em-musing

  

P.S  machetes are a household tool here.

HANGING AROUND

 I’ve been reading old Blog Fodder and found many, for whatever reason, I didn’t post. So here's today's morsel 

 

 "You have to hang by your arms for at least 30 seconds.”

“But why?” I ask my daughter as I dangle from the door frame.

“To build strength”.

“In my armpits? That’s where it’s burning.”

“No, your upper body.”

“And who says to do this?”

“My strength trainer.”

“And when will I ever need to hang like this?”

“Mom, just do it.”

And just then I remembered a news story:

 

Brazilian woman saved by ravaging mudslides

When neighbors throw her a lifeline.

 

OMG! 

She hung from that lifeline for many, many minutes…

Before her neighbors yanked her up on their roof to safety.

Well, I don’t live in a mudslide area...

Unless we’re talking mixed drinks.

But then…

With all the crazy things happening in the world…

And if the apocalypse actually happens…

Could there…

Would there…

Ever be a reason…

That I would need to hang?

Always, 

Em-Musing

A BOOK DEAL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

Hey! It’s the Monthly Blog Hop for the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

This group is for writers of all genres no matter what part of the writing journey you’re on. It’s a safe place where you can share your insecurities, struggles, your triumphs, or offer a word of encouragement for other writers.  This group is all about connecting with other writers. Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.  Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!   

The first Wednesday of every month, we announce an optional question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember the question is optional.  The awesome co-hosts for the July 5 posting of the IWSG are   PJ Colando,  Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre!

July 5 question - 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?

Thoughts!

I get lots and lots of thoughts.

Where do they come from?

Experiences, people, and places?

Or maybe they come from the part of my brain... 

That creates my dreams?

Or maybe they come from my heart...

Where loves, hurts, losses, and joy dwell...

Perfect emotions for storytelling.

Or maybe they come the ether.

According to Joseph Nguyen in his book 

Don’t believe Everything You Think

“The source of thoughts come from something 

that is beyond our minds—the Universe, if you will.”

Which, by the way...                                                      

Is not the same as thinking. Which comes from within us.

Hmm? 

So does the Universe follow me?

So it can download thought nuggets for my writing?

And when people ask me who follows me on my blog...

Can I say, The Universe?

And can I add that to my platform?

Because the Universe is the ace of all follwers, no?

And what about you?

Where do your ideas come from?

 

Always, 

Em-Musing

This is the Statue of Cain in the

Tuileries Garden in Paris. I bet he was thinking: 

What was thinking eating that apple?

USING YOUR DEVICES

Hey! It’s the Monthly Blog Hop for the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The first Wednesday of every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

This group is for writers of all genres no matter what part of the writing journey you’re on. It’s a safe place where you can share your insecurities, struggles, your triumphs, or offer a word of encouragement for other writers.  This group is all about connecting with other writers. Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.  Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!   

The awesome co-hosts for the May 3 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Meka James, Diane Burton, Victoria Marie Lees, and M Louise Barbour!

May 3 question - When you are working on a story, what inspires you?

                                            Remember, the question is optional. 

Music!

That's what inspires me.

Music alters my sensibilities...

I start writing early in the day...

Listening to my "writing" playlist on Spotify. 

Later...

Depending on what I'm writing... 

I'll put other genres of music that groove with me.

To me...

Music is one of mankind’s greatest achievements...

"It’s the oil of life" my friend, Dario once said, and I agree. 

Imagine y e a r s  ago...

The dawn of rhythms, harmonies, and melodies...  

Consisted of playing drums, flutes, and harps...

And chanting and mantras. 

But really, did anyone chant or say OM for entertainment?

When songs came along with melody and lyrics... 

People were left to their own devices to be entertained... 

And they had to have a great memory...

If they wanted to whistle, hum, or sing a song... 

They  probably only heard a handful of times. 

Music has taken a long fascinating multi-cultural journey 

throughout history...

And now we can listen to what we like on our technological devices. 

Or, we still can hum, whistle, or sing if we want.

And I love that we can take our music anywhere and anytime. 

So?

What is your inspiration when writing?

And do you listen to music when you write?

And if so, what?

 

Always,

Em-Musing

 

Below is a link to a rendition of the oldest known song in the world circa 1400 years B.C. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8tfBLvlN98

This group is for writers of all genres no matter what part of the writing journey you’re on. It’s a safe place where you can share your insecurities, struggles, your triumphs, or offer a word of encouragement for other writers.  This group is all about connecting with other writers. Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.  Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!   

 

THROW IT BACK

 Hey! It’s the Monthly Blog Hop for the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh.   More details below.

The awesome co-hosts for the April 5 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, Nancy Gideon, and Natalie Aguirre! 

 

April 5 question: Do you remember writing your first book? What were your thoughts about a career path on writing? Where are you now and how is it working out for you? If you’re at the start of the journey, what are your goals?

Since I was a ten  and on into my teensI wrote poetry.

When I married and became a young mommy 

I put all writing aside—too busy.

Then one day, an idea for a book came to me...

The premise: 

A mommy brings home nursery rhyme books from the library

And she shocked to see some of the rhyming couplets have been changed.

Surely the book publisher had made a mistake

(Oops! Did a proofreader goof?).

So she takes the books and shows them to the librarian.

But the woman didn’t have a clue nor did she care.

So mommy goes snooping... 

And uncovers a political plot 

But who would do this? And why?

That's what she was going to find out.

There was so much more to the story

But I got too busy again being a mommy 

And unfortunately back then

There were no computers and “Save File” options.

All I had was my trusty Royal typewriter.

Ultimately... 

I’ve I lost all typed pages and handwritten notes.

I even forgot the rest of the storyline.

Then in the 80’s...

A TV show called The Scarecrow and Mrs. King aired

With the same premise—a mommy goes undercover, yada, yada, yada,

I knew I had a good idea!

So, to answer today’s question

Did I ever aspire to be published writer?

Maybe for a hot minute. 

But I did become a creative copywriter

And loved writing every word.

Now, at this juncture of my life

I’ve self-published one book

And have finished another manuscript—Women’s Fiction, humorous

(I have 5 more in queue )

And I'm working to get it published traditionally.

And you?

What’s your story?

 

Always,

Em-Musing

 

P.S.

After my mother passed, my sisters and I went through her things and lo and behold there was a box and in it were all my hand-written poems. I couldn’t believe it. Thanks, mom.

This group is for writers of all genres no matter what part of the writing journey you’re on. It’s a safe place where you can share your insecurities, struggles, your triumphs, or offer a word of encouragement for other writers.  This group is all about connecting with other writers. Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.  Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!   

The first Wednesday of every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember, the question is optional!!!