What is Your Central Theme?

I just spent a LOVELY afternoon with people that I have known my entire life; whom I consider family. Which got me to thinking about how the family structure can be such a peculiar dynamic. My grandparents would consider family to be those that we share a DNA bond. Nowadays family has such a different meaning. For me, I consider family to be those that I love and trust; people who have been significant in my life regardless of the fact that we don’t have any relation or share a genetic code. I also I find myself spending a lot of time working with the topic of family within my writing.

I’m currently working on revising a short story that I have been working on for quite sometime. I really need to move forward and send the thing out to a few literary journals for publication – but that would take another blog post to discuss the issue about publication. At any rate, the main focus of the piece involves a woman who is trying to work through her own purpose and identity. The narrator of the story is a seven year old girl. I’m not sure why I went with having the story told from this perspective but I like having the naïve narrator demonstrate a silent strength that we – as adults forget we possess.

I’ve also used vernacular as a central component of the character. It’s taken me a while to begin to understand my central theme as a writer and I think I’ve found it; family, vernacular, and identity. This is really starting to sound much like my own personal life. But I guess as a writer – we all write from our personal experiences one time or another.

How have you worked to find your voice as a writer? What is your central theme as a writer?

Cluttered Heart

Today’s prompt for The Red Dress Club was to write about sloth or one of the seven deadly sins.  This piece is about forgiveness, something we all struggle with.

I think my heart is cluttered.

My health is great. My mental stability is just fine. HA- I’m sure hubby would tell a different story during my ratchet time of the month.

I’ve taken a path in my life that I’m very comfortable with – honestly no regrets.  I have discovered a comfortable level of peace and understanding in my life.

But something just doesn’t seem right….

I’m sure I’ve told all the people that are important to me how much I appreciate them.  Anyone who knows me – knows I speak from my heart, KEEPING IT REAL along the way; the good and the bad.

So my heart can’t be cluttered from that…..

Are there things I need to get off my chest to a few people that have pissed me off along the way?  Naw, cause I’m certain I took care of that awhile ago.

I’m stumped and not sure what could be causing this uneasiness I’ve been feeling lately.

I’ll admit.  I have a mean-streak and I don’t forgive that easy.  In fact, I don’t forgive at all.  Especially, when I have accepted and overlooked lots of pain and rejection from people.  I just compartmentalize the issue and move on.

But maybe, just maybe forgiving would help to release the small compartment that is now the size of a storage unit.

I’m not entirely convinced and I’m a little skeptical about the process because quite frankly, I’m still pissed at the betrayal.  I won’t get into the specifics, you know who you are.

Possibly it’s why my heart feels cluttered.

I probably need to let it go – be free of the bullshit. But I’m not so sure about this approach.  Sometimes, I like being angry and pissed off it helps me get through the pain. Also, some people just don’t deserve to be forgiven – plain and simple.

This is gonna take some time.  I need advice.

Tell me.  Why and how do you forgive?

It’s My Special Day !!

Today is a day for celebration.  It’s my day to shine. I just completed my first semester at Mount Mary College!

I transferred from Spalding University’s Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing program to the Masters in English program at Mount Mary College .

It was an adjustment but I’m happy I made the change. 

The learning opportunity at Spalding was wonderful.  However, family obligations made it difficult to participate in the 10-day extensive workshop.  Transferring to continue my studies in the Master of Arts in English program at Mount Mary was ideal. The program gives me a chance to study and develop my craft as a writer, obtain a master’s degree, and manage my family obligations.

As a young girl, I always wanted to be a writer.  Now as an adult, I’m finally fulfilling my dream.

Writing is a journey of personal exploration that is different for every writer. And despite a few obstacles, I’ve been persistent about furthering my capacity as a writer.  

I plan to take time off from school this summer to focus on blogging, guest blogging opportunities and writing. 

In the fall, I will be refreshed and eager to analyze narrative techniques, character development, literary themes and complete my manuscript. 

Since I’m always looking for ways to network with other writers, anyone want to join me in developing a small writing group/workshop for the summer? 

Online?  Sure, why not.  We are bloggers after all.