Author of Death by Roses
Dear Friends of Author Vivian Probst,
As my husband and I prepare to set sail on a cruise of the Scottish Isles on the North Sea, I am keenly aware of how long it has been since I’ve written to you. The good news is that I’m still writing and a two-week cruise should give me time for more of that. Here’s what’s up…
Recently I stepped away from a project that was right up my alley: challenging, time-consuming, and interesting—plus it paid me. You might wonder why I did that and I’m inclined to tell you because I could use some support (and maybe some advice).
As most of you know, I have run my own business for over thirty years, traveled the country and I’ve written and published a couple of books in my ‘spare’ time. (My children left home long ago so if you’re thinking you should be able to do all that and raise children, you’ll have to get your advice on how to do that from someone else.)
Thinking about doing a detox of the first time? Read this before you decide detox is a good idea.
When a friend suggested I join her on a 10-day detox, it sounded so simple and good for me. Drink two shakes each day and eat one meal. Avoid sugar (which included my beloved dark chocolate), cheese and dairy, and alcohol. My husband is importing wines from small boutique vineyards in other countries. You can imagine that wine is a staple in our diet. It was only ten days and it would be good for me.
March 10th will be the 18th anniversary of my writing life and here I sit–not writing–for the first time in almost two decades. It’s not that there’s nothing to write about—far from it! But I am restrained, as if someone has hit the ‘pause’ button or put my creative juices in the freezer. Is this that ‘writer’s block’ idea I’ve heard people talk about? Before this, the only Writer’s Block I had ever experienced was a bottle of wine by that name. (And it’s yummy!)
Is it safe to come out now? Am I the only one who has been emotionally whipped by long weeks of astrological, solar, moon and weather-related terrors that I have felt all the way to my bones? If so, that’s OK. Somehow, I think other people have similar feelings at times like these.
I was always the family scare-dy cat. My earliest memories are of things that scared me. It’s over sixty years later. Have I learned anything?
You bet I have.
I recently read “The Bestseller Code” by Jodie Archer and Matthew Jockers. Of course, their title captured me instantly. Is there a formula for a bestseller? If so, how close is my novel, ‘Death by Roses’? Can such a code help with my future writing? What about yours? Call me fascinated.
What astounded me most was their particular fact about ONE word. Did you know that using the word ‘the’ too often in novels actually rips energy out of a story and bores your readers? Really? Apparently so. ‘The’ nails a story’s coffin shut?
Do you remember childhood days when you and your siblings or friends would get rowdy in the house and Mom would say, “Take it outside”? There were four of us kids less than six years apart so we could get out of hand whether we were playing or fighting. Out we would go until Mom let us come back in—typically after we had used up some of our abundant energy.
In ‘I Was a Yo-Yo Wife…Until I Learned THIS’ I have changed the metaphor to ‘take it inside’. If we understand that what we see externally is actually a reflection of our inner world, the place to let off steam is within. I learned this lesson well in my second marriage.
“I no longer have any idea what my preferences are,” a young mother lamented to me last week as she struggled with her unhappiness in her job. It’s a common problem for busy people and particularly mothers. In fact, if you study the word ‘mothers’, you can see it split between ‘m’ and ‘others’, yes? Isn’t being a mother mostly about others? Of course it is!
If you, like this young woman, are feeling completely lost in OPPS! (Other People’s Problems), here’s what I learned and what I suggest to get back in touch with yourself. Why? Are you thinking, why should I bother? It will be years before the kids grow up!
On a radio interview not too long ago, the topic of purpose came up. I was asked how one finds their purpose and was unable to provide a satisfactory response. I could tell people were disappointed, as if they hoped I had some magical formula to share. Life purpose is a big question and one that we tend to think we have to hunt for in order to feel fulfilled.
‘Purpose’ is an interesting word. Originally from Latin, proponere. Pro = before; Ponere = to set or place. If we go back that far, purpose then is “that which a person sets before herself as an object to be reached or accomplished.”
Every Sunday I pull down several decks of ‘oracle’ cards and ask for messages for my up-coming week. These are beautiful and I always benefit from reading and studying whatever comes up.
Just once, I’d like to share with readers how such an activity encourages and empowers me. We will focus on last Sunday’s cards.
From ‘The Book of Rune Cards’ by Ralph Blum: FLOW: a time of cleansing, evaluating, organizing and aligning. Perfect. It’s supposed to be a rainy week which means I’ll be indoors. Good time to go through things no longer needed.