Tag Archives: celebrate

Pay it Forward

Blog, , , , ,

I love it when my friends achieve a big milestone. In fact, this year I’m set to celebrate a huge achievement for two of the folk in my direct writing group. (I’m nearly bursting to tell you, but more on that in future blogs. Sorry!!! But I can say yay! ) On the creative successes front, I know that will just be the start. 

At times like this I’m reminded of the joy of sharing the success of others—and how over the years, others have shared my successes.

On the writing front alone, my writing group have rolled up their sleeves so many times on my account to make book launches and events a success. (Thanks Quirky Quills!!) Many of them were there to see my stunned shock at being an award recipient, knowing firsthand the blood, sweat and tears behind that accolade. They’ve seen me overstressed, ecstatic, horribly ill one week out from my second book launch, disappointed, frustrated, and so happy I could float. (Wild ride, right?)

But isn’t it pure delight to know we get to be on the cheer squad of others in their life adventures? What a great opportunity to pay forward the support others have invested in us!

With 2020 shaping up to be an exciting year on the writing front, I’d best get my practical pompoms ready! (And maybe a box of tissues or two, ‘cause you know how these things go. Happy tears. Stressed tears. Just because tears. And the occasional ill-timed head cold!) 

I bet you can also think of people who’ve supported you through the highs and lows of life’s journey. I love how we have those people in our network and that it’s a two way street. And you know, I think everyone can do with a few extra bodies on their cheer squad.

So as we stride into this new year, can we think of anyone we’d like to cheer on? What about those who might be new to our circle? Are there practical ways we can get behind what they’re doing and encourage them towards their goal? If not, maybe it’s time to put an eye out and sign up!

Making the Cut

Blog, , , ,

MakethecutIt’s fascinating to get inside a movie director’s head by checking out the extra features on a movie. From the Director’s Cut to the making of the film, how intriguing to see the project from the outset through to the finished product. As a writer this is great learning, but I particularly love watching deleted scenes and the accompanying Director’s commentary.

The deleted scenes are often removed for the benefit of the story. I’ve heard directors talk through deleting a fleeting scene where there might be a romantic connection that later weakens a character’s integrity or their interaction with another member of the cast. Other times the scene just doesn’t work or fails to serve a useful purpose in advancing the story.

For instance, in watching the deleted scenes from the recent movie release, Frozen, the directors revealed that for some time Elsa, the newly crowned queen, was going to be a villain throughout the entire story! What a different story that would have been. Would the powerful message of selfless love overcoming the destructiveness of fear and paving the way for healing and restoration have been diluted, if even still possible?

I wonder how many times we’ve wished for a certain scene to be included in our life? Perhaps you’re like me and long to rewrite certain scripts, convinced it should have worked out differently.

But maybe those seemingly non-existent scenes ended up in the delete scenes folder. Maybe what we thought was the best plot for our story, would have actually had a negative impact on the way our journey unfolded – or potentially changed the powerful themes of our story that enable us to connect with and encourage others.

Perhaps instead of wishing for the missing scenes, we should celebrate the ones that made the cut. It doesn’t mean we mightn’t experience a sense of loss as we release sub-plots we felt sure of having, but I think it’s really important not to spend our energy mourning the regrets, the ‘what if’s. How much better to focus on the beautiful elements of the future that await us from where we are right now.