7 Steps To My Writing Process, Why I Write, by, Carrie Smith

Carrie Smith, a fellow Bewitched Television fan and friend, shares her thoughts on the writing process and candidly shares, "why and how she writes."

7 Steps To My Writing Process, Why I Write
By, Carrie Smith

1. I've always subscribed to the theory that anyone can write--and write well. What matters most is the idea; syntax and grammar is secondary. In that light, a vivid imagination is paramount and style will develop over time. When I write, I start by jotting down ideas first and worry about structure later. I have volumes of titles and opening sentences which I look back through for inspiration.

2. I give awesome feedback when asked to critique/edit someone else's work but I am my own worst enemy. I have a very hard time deciding when something I write is "done."
3. Learning other languages has helped tremendously with learning grammar.
4. I'm most comfortable writing creative nonfiction/memoir. Taking creative license with events from my own life is therapeutic and helps to give closure. Putting something funny or troublesome onto paper forces me to examine all the details and think about them from other perspectives.
5. I have a hard time sharing my work. I'm very protective of it because in my eyes, it's never good enough.
6. I wish I was better at writing fiction. I'm too consumed by the actions taking place and too often skip over smaller details which would help the reader understand why they're happening.
7. My first publication was a in 2004 in a local writers column in the Gannett News syndicate. It led to proceedings to appear on a talk show for public television. Unfortunately, the host died before my episode could be filmed...

Serendipity Media Group

Manifesting Magnificence: A Personal Growth Workbook, 21st of the month exercise, by, Linda Ferrari

 

The 21^st of Every Month: A Plan for Keeping Your Life in Balance

(excerpt from Manifesting Magnificence: A Personal Growth Workbook, Serendipity Press, all rights reserved, copyright 2015)

By Linda Ferrari

Ever make a New Year’s Resolution and then three weeks later you realize you haven’t “kept” your resolution? Me too. Or, perhaps worse, you can’t remember what your resolution was? Or, perhaps worst, you decide to simply not even make a New Year’s Resolution?

For me, a New Year’s Resolution is a metaphor for positive change—changes—big and small. And I believe change is inevitable. So why not plan for change? Why not make a “New Year’s Resolution” once a month? That’s what this plan does—help plan for change on a monthly basis.

Another advantage of the plan is that it helps keep your life in balance. Have you ever found that when you concentrate on improving one area of your life (such as finding a new job) that another area of your life starts to suffer (such as then getting less exercise)? Me too.

So here is a plan that helps manage change while helping to maintain a balance in your life at the same time. I have practiced this plan myself and have shared it with a few others who have also found it useful. I hope you will find it beneficial to your life.

Here is how it works. I check in with myself once a month and see if I am keeping my life in balance while meeting goals I have set for myself, and then setting new goals as needed. It’s, therefore, a time for personal reflection.

I chose the 21^st of each month because the shortest day of the year (Dec. 21^st) is on the 21^st of the month and the longest day of the year is on the 21^st (June 21^st) and the seasons traditionally change on the 21^st (Sept.—autumn), (Dec.—winter), (Mar.—spring), (June—summer) but any day of the month will do. The main point is to choose one day a month and have it be the same day each month. I mark the day on my calendar so I will not forget.

This is what I do. I bought a pretty notebook with blank pages, and I write in the notebook on the 21^st of each month. I evaluate my life in nine areas and then sometimes add goals that seem especially important, or just notes or random thoughts or an overall evaluation of my life.

Here are the areas: Spiritual, Work/Career/Vocation, Family, Financial,  Physical, Mental/Education, Love, and Friendships. (You may add Social and Emotional to your workbook). Directions, print out the below wheel. Give yourself a rating for each area of your life and place a dot with pencil or pen on one of the three lines in each category. The line closest to the center is (below expectations), middle line is (needs improvement), top line is (pleased/satisfied with expectation). Once you do this for each area of your life, connect the lines and then ask yourself, "will it roll?" View this as a bicycle tire or a car wheel, is this stable or are one of the spokes in need of repair?

 

 

 

 

 

Manifesting Magnificence is a personal growth workbook with a series of exercises to promote positive benefits in the areas of mind, body and spirit. How would it feel if I took a hike to Yosemite one day and met a woman named Cecelia? It would feel exciting and serendipitous. While on that hike, I discovered that Cecelia is a Drama Therapist who has shared for this workbook her tips. How would it feel to have a book signing in Manteca and be seated next to a man named Richard? It would feel fun, energizing. While at that book signing, I found out that Richard is a Yoga Master and he has shared his meditation techniques in this book. How would it feel if I was looking for an online Dreamboard and met a woman named Anita? It would feel enlightening and wonderful. Anita is the Co-Founder of Dreamitalive.com and she has shared her Law of Attraction tips in this workbook. The stories behind the collaborators in this personal growth workbook are stories in themselves. Enjoy a bounty of rich information intended to uplift your mind, body, and spirit.

Buy here: http://www.serendipitymediagroup.com

 

Manifesting Magnificence: A Personal Growth Workbook, in the news, Directions on how to create an online dreamboard

If you haven't heard yet, Manifesting Magnificence: A Personal Growth Workbook has sold 17 copies since it was published, just three weeks ago. To keep the momentum going, I have asked Dreamitalive.com Co- Founder and Visionary, Anita Rani to share our book with her friend and colleague, John Gray. I have requested he write the Foreword to Manifesting!

John Gray is the foremost authority on relationships. His best-selling book, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, has changed for the better the way men and women relate to one another.

Anita recently interviewed John for the Dreamitalive.com website. Anita writes about why she started an online Vision and Dreamboard Company in Manifesting and I have contributed How To Create  A Dreamboard Section in Manifesting as well.

Dr. Allan Hedberg is going on TV today to discuss his collaboration and his Self-Esteem techniques found in Manifesting. For those that don't know, Dr. Allan Hedberg is  a Clinical Psychologist practicing in Fresno, California.

I went on Central Valley Talk TV last Wednesday, and had Manifesting Magnificence on the coffee table as Mike Scott was interviewing me about this book as well as my cookbooks.

Yoga Master and Author of Emotional Sobriety, Richard Parenti is teaching a Meditation Course at Modesto Community College and has shared similar meditation techniques in Manifesting.

Manifesting Magnificence: A Personal Growth Workbook has something for everyone. If you are teaching a course, the perfect accompaniment to your lesson plan. If you are a stay at home mom struggling to find your life purpose, and need a new fresh perspective, Manifesting offers it. If you are a college student, in need of some easy and healthy recipes, (dorm room friendly even), Manifesting has that too.

If you would just like to show your support for someone who has contributed to Manifesting, that would be wonderful as well.

Each author in Manifesting Magnificence would enjoy an opportunity to teach a workshop or share his/her passion for a cause.

My two causes that I support are NAMI Fresno and The Madonna De Lume Society.

I have a request: In the next couple of weeks I will be a guest speaker at a renowned university--would you consider ordering two copies?

http://www.serendipitymediagroup.com/buy-books-here.html

Let's start a change reaction. Thank you for supporting Serendipity Media Group and authors who need a voice.

Anita Rani, Co-Founder of Dreamitalive.com

Dreamboard Exercise:

You are responsible for your life. The way you think creates your life.

We are giving you multiple tools to create your own Dreamboard online as well as in this workbook. Go to Dreamitalive.com to create your profile.

Manifesting Magnificence: A New Year, A New You, by, Serendipity Author Liz Longo

Liz is change agent. A native New Yorker, Liz knows how to multitask. In her commentary, “Relation Ships”, she sails you in a new direction by working in a healthy current of progressive thoughts. Relation Ships Relationships - it’s a compound word with a complex problem. It kind of depends on where you split the word but even then there are issues. Nevertheless it ain’t easy either way. What do I mean? You jest... Scenario 1. First word - relation. Second word - ship. Relation, a noun, per Dictionary.Com is: “an existing connection; a significant association between or among things: “the relation between cause and effect.” Tie that one onto a ship, a sailing vessel (the heart) square-rigged (non-flexible, though portable) on all of three or more masts (possibilities), stay sails (more considerations), and a spanker (uh...no thank you) on the after-most mast (structure that holds the sails) (the relentless disposition of one party of a relation-ship that cause the effect of morning sickness without any relaxing fetus making a chaise lounge out of your cushy womb wall at all, or - if you are a man, the lifelong dent in your wallet and social life as well. The way I view it is the ship sails, relations go adrift until they reach so far enough way to a far, far, far off shore that you can finally wave painlessly. List the people in your life that have set sail? How did it make you feel when they left? How do you feel about it today?

Thoughts For The Day, by, Serendipity Author, Richard Parenti

Thought for the day, by, Richard Parenti Thoughts for the day are simple, yet effective ways to explore possibilities in your own life and ponder on the powerful meaning of words, feel the inspiration. Serendipity Media Group is proud to share Mr. Parenti’s thought provoking quotes. “If your happiness depends on what other people say or do… you are in deep trouble.” “The wise man and woman gives 99% of their attention to how they feel about what they want, while continuously reaching for the next best feeling thought, and 1% to inspired action, thus enjoying the journey and staying in their power!” “When you find yourself in alignment with your source energy, outside conditions won’t matter.” “You can change your vibration about people or events in your life or in the world simply by finding the beauty in it all… and realizing that the imperfection you are observing is perfect as it is, as it cannot be any other way.” “Feeling good is the ultimate manifestation, because it feels good to feel good, especially when it comes from within, without any outside action.” Richard Parenti has more than thirty-four years of experience with mentors and yoga masters in the science of emotional mastery. He is the author of “Emotional Sobriety: Feel-Good Secrets for Everyone” published by Balboa Press. He is also contributor to Manifesting Magnificence: A Personal Growth Workbook, Serendipity Media Group, 2015. After returning from a 40-day silent retreat in the Himalayan Mountains in India he authored "Naked Before God" and "Your True Self" both of which appeared in Himalayan Path Magazine. In 2007 he was recognized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Northern California for having the ideal yoga class for people with multiple sclerosis. Since 2000 he has been the spiritual director of the Yoga Health Institute in Modesto, California. http://www.yoga-ehealth.com/ http://www.emotionalsobriety.biz/

Meet Anita Rani: Using The Law of Attraction & Dreamboards To Live Fully

Anita Rani: Using The Law of Attraction Dreamboards To Live Fully At every given moment, we have a choice on how to live life: by default as a victim or with intention as a creator. On October 1, 2007, doctors diagnosed my mom with cancer, and five weeks later she passed away, not even giving us a second to grasp what had just happened. From this period of time, the only memory that resonates in my mind comes from three days before she passed away. All I can remember is seeing her, weak from her last strong chemo treatment and unable to speak, spending hours slowly writing her last words, “Life is full of surprises, enjoy fully.” At that moment, something hit me. It was like I had just awakened from the biggest nightmare of my victimized life. I realized these were no ordinary words, but inspiration and wisdom that would carry me into my life’s purpose and would eventually become my mantra. Though I did make many of my own decisions, they stemmed from my inner dialogue that I, a woman, was nothing special, only the male species were the "chosen" ones. Family, friends, culture and movies heavily influenced me. A lie that I came to believe by none other than myself. Even after creating my first successful online business in 2005, DivaVillage.com, and being featured on Oprah.com as a chosen community leader (to help raise awareness for Oprah Winfrey’s and Eckhart Tolle's online course, “A New Earth”) I was still not fully ready to embrace my true essence, the magnificent beauty that runs through my veins. I continued to hide behind the men in my life, letting them stand in my “light” and making my success theirs. After seeing my mom pass away at just 60 years old and then becoming a single mom to three kids after 18 years of marriage, I realized life is way too short to live small. If I continued on this path, I would be misguiding my kids, dishonoring my mother, and, most of all, disrespecting myself! I wanted to create, love and live! I wanted to make a difference in the world. I had a dream: To live life purposefully and to awaken to a higher way of thinking, living, and believing! I realized at that moment that it was time to do what made ME happy. I started to follow the advice of self-help gurus and created my first real Dreamboard an organized visual representation of all your dreams and goals. I spent over two weeks going through magazines, cutting images and creating intentions. This board displayed all the dreams I wanted to experience, from various energy healings and ayurvedic massages, to cabana huts in Koh Samui, Thailand. Three weeks after I created my Dreamboard, I got a call from my brother asking me to join him on vacation. My first thought was, “There is no way I can go! I have 3 kids, a business, and employees to attend to. I have too much to do and not enough money.” Still, my brother demanded I find a way to do it because he was booking a first class ticket for me, reserving a fully paid private cabana in an exclusive resort with unlimited food and all the premium services I wanted. Needless to say, I found a way. I went and experienced my dream come true: yoga under a tree, past life regression, healing sessions, tai chi, enchanting tea with a tea master, and at least 2 massages a day – all expenses paid! Two weeks after I came back, I was sharing my experiences with a friend on the phone and happened to be taking a closer look at the picture of cabanas on my Dreamboard. I realized that I had gone to the exact location of the pictures on my Dreamboard and didn’t even know it! After I successfully manifested my dreams and goals depicted on this Dreamboard, I knew there was some power behind it that I wanted to share with the online world. Thus, I dedicated the next three years to finding a way to motivate others through my experience, and with the help of my team we launched DreamItAlive.com on 11-11-11. We can’t control each step of our lives, but we have the power to create our dreams and the direction of our life. Though I learned it the hard way, I am here to help you understand that you are not alone. You have the force of the universe, the power of Law, guiding you to achieve what your heart truly desires. All you have to do is BELIEVE! We can go through life by other’s guidance, or we can harness the Law, known as the Law of Attraction (LOA), and focus on intentionally bringing more positive things into our life while minimizing the negative. Everything has a vibration. From the foods we eat, the friends we associate with, to the thoughts we have--they all create a vibrational frequency. The Law of Attraction states that “like attracts like”, and therefore we attract experiences into our life that match the vibrational frequency that we vibrate at. Just to go a bit deeper into LOA, we have two minds: the conscious and the subconscious. The conscious mind works through logic and reasoning, and the subconscious mind works through what we constantly feel, think about and repetitively focus on. The subconscious does NOT know what is or is not real, and it has the ability to attract physical things and experiences with which we vibrationally match. Given this information about our subconscious, the more we repetitively visualize what we desire with positive emotion, the faster our desires manifest into reality. Another thing to help the manifestation process is to keep your frequency at its highest potential by engaging in life Activities that emit the same emotions as the ones we experience while visualizing our desires, dreams and goals. In other words, the more we experience the feeling of having what we want, the faster we will have it. For example, if you have a dream/goal to build a business that will help the world; you should visualize it daily with the joy of achieving this dream. You can also speed up the manifestation process by engaging in life activities that allow you to experience the same authentic feeling of joy as you did when visualizing. This is the Law of Attraction in action. However, keep in mind when dreams do not show up as fast as we want them to or just don't show up at all, chances are we have a block or a resistance to them which delays or detracts the dream from ever showing up. In order for LOA to work, we need to be fully ready and open. So if we have struggles "attracting" the perfect relationship into our life, chances are we might be dealing with some self-love issues. Before we try to love others, we first must love ourselves! Always remember, feelings like enthusiasm, love, joy, bliss, hope, courage, gratitude, freedom and trust emit high frequencies. Stay away from feelings that emit a lower vibrational frequency, which will push your desires away, such as fear, grief, guilt, worry, disappointment, resentment, insecurity and sadness. Visualize what you truly want on a daily basis and be enthusiastic about it. Engage in life activities that match that same enthusiasm and get ready to attract the life of your dreams. GET HIGHER! Excited to announce that Anita Rani, Co-Founder of Dreamitalive.com (a virtual Dreamboard Community) is a contributor in the upcoming Manifesting Magnificence: A Personal Growth Workbook, due out on 1/1/15, A Serendipity Press (Serendipity Media Group Publication). 559-449-1970

The Hamburger Tree, by, Maria Pacheco

The Hamburger Tree is a bilingual children's book inspired by a true story.  Maria Pacheco is a West Coast Author passionate about multi-cultural enrichment. In 2014, Maria's book received the Superior Award in an Oral Interpretation Competition. Maria is a successful guest speaker having shared her book, The Hamburger Tree, with hundreds of fans in the United States, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Grow your imagination with this fun, timeless adventure sure to please children and adults alike.