My Writing Life Today - National Museum of the American, Choctaw Spirit, Book Fun Magazine, First Monday Insider, Camp NaNoWriMo…

When my dad passed, I cleared everything off my agenda I possibly could, including this blog. After over seven months and nearly completing my NMAI Program, I’m slowly taking things back on again. I’m starting back up here with a quick overview of my writing life as it looks today.  

Sarah Elisabeth

Book Fun Magazine Column: Choctaw Spirit

I haven’t mentioned I have a monthly column in Book Fun Magazine, have I? You can find direct links to my past articles in this blog post: Choctaw Spirit in Book Fun Magazine. (Sorry, these articles are no longer available online).

Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian Artist Leadership Program

I just completed my Workshop portion of the program. I’m thrilled with how it went overall. The 20 participants I had were amazing, and I look forward to working with them more as we complete the final phase of the program: publishing an anthology of Choctaw Trail of Tears stories. More on that soon.

First Monday Insider

Just past its one year anniversary, I love our micro business, First Monday Insider. I produce two newsletters a month for it, and my mama keeps the Facebook page brimming with great shopper photos and stories. And of course, a blog.

Camp NaNoWriMo

Who says camp is only for the summer and kids? Writers need a retreat too, a time to focus on the bliss of writing. The best part: no bug spray, no packing, no sleeping on the ground is required.

You also don’t get campfire cooking and roasted marshmallows, but you can’t have everything.

In my “spare” time, I’m participating in Camp NaNoWriMo, the April edition. Hey, I need to be churning out my next manuscript anyway, so why not have a little fun? You can keep up with my progress over at my LIGHT series blog, www.sesawyer.blogspot.com

That’s mostly what my writing life looks like currently. God keeps opening new doors, and that feeling of excitement at what may be next is coming over me. At the same time, the shock of my dad’s passing is wearing off and reality is setting in. I will never hug my daddy again this side of Heaven. I don’t know how to deal with that yet. I can only rest in the hope of Jesus Christ.

Writing helps.

What’s going on in your life right now? Share in the comments

NMAI Artist Leadership Program, and My Life

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." There are not many ways to describe this season in life. One of the worst summers of my life, and it ended with my dad’s passing. Then I got a phone call.

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In May, 2012, I had applied for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian’s Artist Leadership Program. Amid the disasters of the summer, I still checked the mailbox every day in August, catching myself going out there on Sundays too. Waiting, waiting for a letter that would either accept me or a say a polite try again.

When I couldn’t stand the suspense anymore, I emailed the director, Keevin Lewis, on August 25. He emailed back with the news he’d been trying to contact my referral, Assistant Chief Gary Batton (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) with a few questions.

I went through the roof, but tried to keep a lid on my excitement. My application was receiving serious consideration, but not granted yet. A few emails later and I had a call time set up for Keevin to reach Gary.

That was Saturday, August 25.

Sunday, August 26

We weren’t expecting it. It shocked. It hurt. It left me empty.

I wrote a poem. We made funeral arrangements. I got another email.

The phone call had gone well, and could Keevin call me today?

No, not today. Tomorrow.

He called. I’d been chosen for the Artist Leadership Program. I cried, extreme happiness and extreme sadness fighting for dominance in my heart. The battle still rages today.

A few of my recent Facebook statuses:

…Life hurts. God heals. In the in between time, we take it day by day and live in His grace and love…

…I'd rather feel pain than feel nothing. Pain lets you know you're still alive. A time of worship can bring everything out, including pain. Not something we want, but something we need…

…Blowing kisses to the sky…

On the happy end, we’re preparing for a two week research trip in Washington, D.C. as part of the Artist program. I’ll conduct research on our Choctaw ancestry at half a dozen facilities, present lunchtime talks to the NMAI staff, and perform two storytelling concerts at the ImagiNations Center at NMAI. How thankful I am to be doing it all with my mama!

An all-expense paid trip to D.C., plus. Yeah, I’m started to feel some excitement. It’s sinking in. Just in time, too. We leave in a few weeks.

Part Two of the program means putting on an Advanced Writing Workshop for the Choctaw Nation in March. Not a bad credit in my writing portfolio.

Split Focus

A day hasn’t passed that I don’t see scenes from August 26. The event shoved me off the cliff for a shattering landing. God put out deep padding to catch us.

This is the best of times, this is the worst of times. But it's all God's time.

Have you lived through the best and the worst at the same time? I’d like to hear your story.

He's Not Really Gone

Sunday, August 26, 2012, my daddy left his earth suit behind to be with his mama, brother and Jesus in Heaven. Through this unexpected loss, God’s provided friends and family to engulf us in love, prayers and support.

Monday, August 27, 2012, I wrote the following piece. May God use it to comfort those who mourn.

He’s not really gone

Over and over I repeat the words

They’re not true

Nurse, do something, Doctor, do something

Somebody do something

He’s not really gone

Lord, just one more day, one more hour

One more minute to say “I love you” one more time

At home, the first thing I see is your shirt on the arm of the couch

I clutch your walking stick and weep

He’s not really gone

You’ll be home later in the morning

It’ll be time for Mama to fix your eggs and make sure you take your vitamins

Tonight we’ll have a Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Big Valley marathon

Then I’ll fix your computer and explain Facebook again

This weekend you’ll play your guitar and sing for the nursing home residents

You’ll sing the song you wrote, “Tell Mama her boy is coming home.”

He’s not really gone

I see him that final time before they take his earthly body away

I touch him, touch my heart and I know

He’s right here with me forever

Thank You, Lord Jesus, He’s not really gone

Ara C. Sawyer 1946-2012

5 Reasons I Still Love My Kindle Touch

I don’t use my Kindle Touch every day. I still try to keep the number of books I’m reading at any given time down to three or less. Sometimes that includes all paperback. But the novel I’m reading now, The Restorer's Son- Expanded Edition (The Sword of Lyric) was an ARC in digital form. (ARC=Advance Reader Copy. Loving the story, I’m in the hands of a master author).

That brings me to newly discovered benefits about my Kindle Touch.

1. Treadmill reading. Man. Can I say how good it feels to watch the minutes ticking away, wishing they would slow down instead of speed up? More than once, I’ve gone over my exercise time because I needed to finish the chapter. And how the chapter ends is usually torture and I have to read a few more pages. No wonder my weight is decent right now.

2. Battery life. If I turn off the wi-fi when I’m not using it, the battery lasts on and on. I’ve only charged it a handful of times since purchase. I love being able to grab it for a road trip and not have to panic that I forgot the charger.

3. No backlight. Sure, there are times I wish for an option to light up the screen. (Though have you ever thought of lighting up the pages of a paper book?) But honestly, I’m glad there isn’t. I work on the computer eight to tens hours a day. I want my reading time to be a different experience.

4. Easy organization. After my recent marathon of editing my forty flash fiction stories in prep for release as an ebook—and print—my Kindle home was a mess. I had sent the docs to it for final review and everything looked scrambled afterwards.

I spent a few minutes separating books I’d gotten from Amazon recently and deleting the edited docs. In just a few minutes, dozens of titles were sorted in their categories and the home screen now looks clean and simple. I like clean and simple.

5. Unexpected updates. I don’t love everything about the Kindle Touch, as I said before, but it was still great. I’d heard updates were few and never, so I wasn’t expecting improvements. But then Kindle released some nice additions.

My favorite was what should have been in the first place—the ability to turn the reader horizontal. It doesn’t do it automatically, which I like. It’s nice to hold it sideways sometimes, depending on my reading position. Also in the updates, I noticed my Touch is even faster than before.

Missed my 8 Cool Things About the Kindle Touch? Read it here.

Question: Have you stepped into the world of e-readers yet? What do you love/hate about the digital revolution?

3 Easy Steps in Writing a Helpful Book Review

“This is the best book on the planet!!! Stop what you’re doing right now and buy this book! You won’t regret it!”

“Seriously? This author needs to get a job hauling garbage instead of producing it.”

book review

You’ve read these kinds of reviews—on the same book. Not helpful in making a decision to buy (or not buy) the book, are they? The first was probably written by a friend of the author, the other by someone vehemently opposed to the author’s message.

So what do potential book buyers do? Keep reading reviews until they find one that is written from opinion yet tells the whole story. Here’s how you can be one of those reviewers who gets a “thumbs up—yes this review was helpful.”

1. Start with your own summation of the story. Don’t give anything away, and don’t just repeat what’s on the back cover. Write a few paragraphs of the basic storyline, either from the main character’s perspective or just the gist of the story as you remember it.

Often, I find out more of what the story’s about by reading this section in a helpful review. The description given by the publishers is meant to intrigue you enough to buy the book. But sometimes, I’m confused as to what the story is really about.

I have a clue and might like it, but when I read it in a review, I’m sold. Or not. Either way is good for both me and the author. They don’t want me reading something I don’t like and leaving a less than glowing review because of it.

2. Add a space break or >>> and write your own thoughts. This is where your opinion comes in. When possible, pick out a few things you liked (or loved) about the book and give specifics. Instead of, this is the best book I’ve ever read! you can say something like, the way the author brought out the main character’s pain was so real I experienced it.

If it truly is the best book you’ve ever read, skip to steps 3. But some books you just didn’t like at all. That’s okay. Still start with positive, and add your gripe in next (nicely, of course). Authors are a sensitive bunch, but the great ones prefer honesty from a sweet soul like you than for your review to lead to the wrong person buying the book and writing a no-holds-barred review.

Don’t go overboard with criticism. Same as the positive, pick out a few things you really didn’t like and be specific as to why. At that point, your reader can decide whether it’s something that will bother them so much they won’t enjoy the book, or it’s no big deal. Again, don’t give anything away. It’s a balancing act.

3. Finally, end with your thoughts on who might enjoy the book. It may not have been for you, but you know the type person who would enjoy it. If it’s a YA or children’s book, you might give caution for parents to read it first, or that it would make a great family and discussion read.

Don’t be afraid of being honest, and you don’t necessarily have to say “in my opinion.” The potential book buyer knows it is. The smart ones weigh it with others and make an informed decision of whether to invest their time and money into that book, whether you personally loved or hated it.

Question: Has a review ever helped you make a buying decision? Share your experience in the comments.