C Is For Courage #AtoZChallenge

C Is For Courage

A to Z April Blogging Challenge 2016

Cultivating your passions requires courage and a constant refuelling of commitment to the process. The courage to dream. The courage to start.

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The courage to plan. To prepare to make that dream a reality. To learn, revel and rejoice in the process. To find like minded people to accompany you on your journey. One of the biggest steps I took along my road to becoming a writer was join a writing group. To find like minded people to learn from and who support my efforts. I put myself in front of people and own that need to put words on paper. I’m also a part of an online community of writers who are dear to me. Writers who struggle, who are always willing to listen, offer suggestions, and their time. Ones  who understand the road I’m traveling, especially as it pertains to writing romance and how little value some other authors have for my genre and therefore my efforts.

And above all it takes courage to limp along when nothing is going as planned or you can’t make out the details of the road ahead.

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It takes courage to put yourself out there to be judged. The learn how to take constructive criticisms and to deal with the haters. I’m still learning how to be a writer placing offerings at the feet of readers. Still finding my way from learning to owning my process.

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I hope you find the courage to start what you’ve been putting off. Find the courage to continue should you feel despair. Or summon the courage to end what isn’t working.

Travel your way around the blogosphere and see what others are saying about the letter ‘C’.

Maybe you want to share your thoughts? One small step you took?

On Katniss and Other Opinions

I was one of those annoy girly girls as a teenager. I was also clumsy and scared of grasshoppers. I wouldn’t have lasted three seconds in a Hunger Games arena. Which is probably why I loved the book so much, and the main character, Katniss Everdeen. To busy surviving to worry about being likable, she’s gutsy and loyal and a bunch of other things.

For me she’s the epitome of one of my absolute favorite sayings!

“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have.”  Unknown

For Katniss Everdeen it’s not about being likable, or even being the best. It’s certainly not about choosing between Boy A or Boy B. It’s about survival. It’s about winning. And it’s about clinging to your humanity while forced to do the unspeakable.

It looks like it’s going to be a terrific movie! It’s already a damn good book. So, if you haven’t read it, reconsider. Katniss Everdeen is a hero worth knowing.

In other news, I’m reading Any Known Blood by Lawrence Hill for our April book club pick. It’s about five generations of men named Langston Cane. I just hope I can stay awake long enough to finish it. And the thing about ereaders? You can’t gauge where you are in a book. I was sure I had to be at least halfway through because I’d been reading for like ever. But no, 19% read. I don’t know if I can survive another 80% worth of Langston Cane’s. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a poignant story told by a masterful storyteller. It’s just meandering and taking it’s time to the end.

What I was doing while I should have been reading or writing. Watching Swamp People! One gator jumped right in da boat! I don’t why but this show fascinates me. Maybe it’s the need for subtitles! I don’t know…Also Battle Castle. Six mighty castles; six epic seiges. My new love – the History channel.

Any new loves? Going to see The Hunger Games? What are you reading?