July 26, 2007 by Lani Voivod, Chief Scribbler.

“Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

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July 23, 2007 by Lani Voivod, Chief Scribbler.

“Most writers are secretly worried that they’re not really writers. That it’s all been happenstance, something came together randomly, the letters came together, and they won’t coalesce ever again.”

-Nicholson Baker, author of U and I : A True Story

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July 19, 2007 by Lani Voivod, Chief Scribbler.

I am so excited, proud, and delighted to be sharing the following writing resource on The Wild Quills Blog for two reasons:

1. It’s AWESOME - thorough, engaging, interesting, gamut-running, inclusive, essential, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, entertaining, and utterly useful.

2. I’m thrilled to be one of the contributors!

What IS this muse? This Craft Caddy must-have?

It’s The New Writer’s Handbook 2007: A Practical Anthology of Best Advice for Your Craft and Career

Although editor Philip Martin contacted me way back in February to ask if he could include one of my blog posts from Epiphanies, Inc.’s “A-Ha Blog” in his anthology, I told myself I wouldn’t get excited until I actually held the book in my hands.

I guess it’s the Achille’s heel of the creative soul - we have so many ideas in our hearts and minds, and so often opportunities present themselves that ultimately never make it to fruition, that we set up a few guards for the things we TRULY want, just in case they don’t pan out.

Well, last week I received an envelope in the mail. I tore open the envelope, reached in, and pulled out the book and a check, just as Mr. Martin had promised.

This book has been parked on the island in our kitchen since then. Now granted, our family has been busy. We’ve had out-of-town guests, our son’s swimming lessons, work deadlines, prenatal appointments…the usual stuff of life.

But the truth is, I’m still in a quiet shock. I know this by my behavior of the past week. While the book has perched confidently on the island of our kitchen, I’ve been walking past it, circling around it, almost afraid to even touch it or confront it directly.

A few years ago I caught myself wondering how one gets to be included in a niche anthology of any kind (nevermind how one gets to be part of a collaborative non-fiction book that’s got a preface by legendary author Erica Jong, who wrote one my personal favorite books/feminist anthems of all time: Fear of Flying).

Is it who you know? Do you have to have an “in” with the publisher? Do you query? Barge in? Beg?

To my utter joy and amazement, it turns out I just had to be surprised by an email in my inbox from a wonderful person who found something I wrote online, liked it, and had his own mission and vision to pursue.

This is the ultimate fairy tale for me. This one opportunity supports everything I believe - and want to believe - about how life works when it’s at its best.

1. You do something with passion. In my case, I wrote that blog post when I was particularly fired up about the amazing power and potential of blogging.

2. You put it “OUT THERE.” For everyone, someone, or no one in particular. But at least it’s “OUT THERE,” and “OUT THERE” means there’s a chance for something to happen to it while you’re busy doing other things.

3. You get rewarded. I’m now part of a professional anthology about my favorite thing: THE CRAFT, CULTURE, AND ACT OF WRITING.

My name is among more than 50 experts on all things writing.

We’re talking award-winning authors, journalists, bloggers, teachers, essayists, industry leaders, literary agents, editors, and unstoppable enthusiasts (including Jane Yolen, Richard Powers, Ridley Pearson, Marcia Yudkin, Katha Pollitt, and many, many more!).

The more I flip through this book, the more I see it’s a dynamic, cover-to-cover gotta-read about everything I love AND everything I want (and need) to know about.

I’m so darn grateful to Mr. Philip Martin, to the universe, and to whatever twist of fate that invited me into this opportunity so gracefully and effortlessly.

I’ve put a lot of things “OUT THERE” over the years. Some of it’s been let loose with a rigid strategy behind it. Other stuff has been sent out with a wing and a prayer. And still others (like the rant on blogging included in this book) has been put “OUT THERE” because it felt like a raging necessity, and I had to get it off my chest in the itty bitty time slot I had available, or I’d be weirdly bitter, or implode, or self-flagellate endlessly.

If I had known this particular rant would soon be in a book alongside articles, excerpts, and essays written by some of today’s most celebrated and talented writing professionals, I probably would have agonized over it so much I would have either:

a) Never let it loose, or

b) Watered it down so much it would have never caught the fancy of dear Mr. Martin.

Thank goodness for the small miracles of life that turn out to be such wondrous whoppers to your own personal journey. I’m so glad I didn’t get in my own way.

THANK YOU, MR. PHILIP MARTIN, and Scarletta Press, and Erica Jong, and everyone else who’s a part of this book. You’ve all made THIS writing enthusiast very, very, VERY happy.

To find out more about The New Writer’s Handbook 2007 from its Scarletta Press homepage, click here.

To buy the book RIGHT NOW at Amazon.com, CLICK HERE!

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July 13, 2007 by Lani Voivod, Chief Scribbler.

What if I told you there’s an easy, convenient, and (often) cost-free way to…

• Get access to how-to writing classes (among others)

• Learn from a diverse and ever-changing group of passionate professionals

• Go hog wild with career development, niche hobbies, and personal growth

• Hang out with hundreds of strangers in the comfort of your own home

…all while wearing your grungiest pajamas?

I know that sounds like a bad infomercial, but it’s the real deal. They’re called teleclasses, and the “Teleclass News” (brought to you by Coachville.com) is a fine way to fish for the subjects that interest you and toss back the rest.

“But What the Heck Is a Teleclass?”
A teleclass is a group phone call on a specific topic, and if it’s through Teleclass.com it’s led by a certified instructor. The typical Teleclass is about an hour long. You sign up, they send you a special phone number, you dial in at the scheduled time, and then you take notes, listen passively, or hang up if the call doesn’t hold your interest.

Though some of the teleclasses are tuition-only, most are FREE. The talent and expertise of the instructors range from mediocre to extraordinary, so if you try the format out, give it a fair shot – say, three to five sample classes – before you decide if this resource works for you.

To learn more about teleclasses, click here, or just sign up for their weekly email and see what catches your fancy.

So many different (read: unique, valuable, or downright bizarre!) interests out there – there’s bound to be something that piques yours!

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July 3, 2007 by Lani Voivod, Chief Scribbler.

“Take the time to write. You can do your life’s work in half an hour a day.”

-Robert Hass, author of 20th Century Pleasures

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