Month: December 2017

Mind & Body

Streeeeeetch!

FanTC
Yoga Elephant
Photo Credit: Roberto Blizzard @VeganYogaDude

I used to believe yoga had to be calm, stoic, and intentional. Now I think differently.

The word yoga means “discipline” so the act of practicing yoga is in itself yoga. It is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines (ones that I do not adhere to very well. In a sense, I lack yoga.)

I do know enough positions and stretches so that I may perform without injury to myself, and I have a basic understanding of muscle tension, warm ups, and muscular functions.

One night, after spending nearly the entire day reading, blogging, Twittering, and otherwise sitting in my rocking chair with a cup of tea and only getting up to refill said tea or to use the bathroom, I became very stiff and sore. To the floor mat I went, humming to myself because I was thoroughly enjoying my day off, and set about on a relaxed, but motivated yoga routine.

It was invigorating to loosen up my muscles, breathing oxygen and blood through them after sitting so long. I immediately felt alert, awake, and energized.

I did not spend much time on the mat, but soon after took the dog on a brisk walk down the street and back. It wasn’t much – maybe five minutes of stretching and five minutes of walking, but the effort was quickly rewarded with a realignment of mind, body, and spirit.

Take some time today to get on the floor and stretch. Unable to get down without fear of getting back up? Stay close to a couch or sturdy chair which you can use to climb back to your feet, or remain standing while stretching your arms, back, and neck.

There’s no need to push perfection or hurry through this time. You’re not out to become the next world renown yogi. Just take care of yourself and your body once in awhile. I promise, it will feel good.

This has been,

Fanny T. Crispin

Writing Prompts

Obligatory Holiday Post

FanTC

With time on the line and nothing to spare, the author and writer begins to despair. For Christmas is coming and no one can hear the bells of St Nick foretelling he’s here.

On that crappy poetic note, let’s begin.

10 Deadly Habits – Part Six

After today, only four more blogs of torturous editing and we will be done. I hope you readers appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears I’m pouring into this project to ensure your good health. Without this valuable information, you might just succumb to one of the deadly habits!

(Typing this up on my phone. Sorry I can’t add any fun Red Pen of Death. By the time I learn HTML [again] it will be Christmas and someone will have died from sleeping the wrong way.)

6. Choose a favorite sleeping position(.)
Everyone has their (own – omit) (a) sleeping position that suits them best. But make sure to choose a position that helps you get some sleep, and not cause you neck pain. It is recommended to sleep on the side or on the back, not on the stomach.

Not a whole lot wrong grammatically with this one. I do say the publisher is getting BETTER. See? It pays to keep writing even though you’re bad at it, because with practice you might just make something of yourself.

Let’s freshen this up then:

6. Choose a favorite sleeping position.

Studies show that the position in which you lay in bed can affect your sleep. Is your neck supported? Is your low back supported? Do your arms get pinned and lose blood circulation while you sleep? Is your spine twisted or caving unnaturally? These are factors we should consider and which will aid in giving us the best sleep possible. Sleep.org goes into depth on this article and Health Magazine offers pillow recommendations for each position. (Both websites say basically the same thing, but Sleep.org says it better and focuses less on saggy breasts.)

Thanks for reading!

This has been,

Fanny T. Crispin

Books and Affiliated, Raw

You Do You

FanTC

I don’t care that my stories or even my characters may not seem realistic all the time. I write the kind of stories I want to read, and so should you.

How often have we heard that encouragement? “Write for yourself! You’ll find readers who enjoy your work as much as you do!” But how often are we hounded by the same gurus telling us we need realistic, heart-felt, raw characters, we need ordinary, everyday issues about life and personhood addressed and resolved, we should write about current events so readers will gravitate to our work?

I struggle with this idealism to make my characters real in a real way, and yet molding them into the heroes and heroines I need to propel the plot forward. Sometimes I write characters who are bolder than I feel. Some of them are shy and morose like me. I’ve been blamed for making shallow main characters who are only moved by supporting characters. Maybe sometimes I feel shallow and can only be moved by people around me. But on the flip side, I’ve also been accused of writing unrealistically brash characters who jump into action without thinking!

There’s no placating people. Everyone has an opinion, and someone will always tell you to do the exact opposite of what you are currently doing.

So, here’s my question: What’s your opinion?

Sometimes we have to refocus ourselves to the reason we write. I’ve been writing for so long, I don’t remember not being a writer. Before I started publishing, before I even shared my work, I literally only wrote for my sister – and maybe one or two supportive friends. I also wrote…for me. I loved my stories. When I get an idea in my head, it’s so exciting. I love the thrill of adventure! I love writing about young girls who get the chance to experience magic, who talk to fairies, who aren’t bound by family but go off willy-nilly without repercussions, scoldings, or groundings. I write to free my mind from my body, and I write to satisfy these urges to hop on a plane to who-knows-where and just escape!

In reality, I really don’t want to run away from home. Yes, I want to explore this world, but that’s not financially realistic – yet. Besides, I love my home. I love my stupid town. I love all the stupid people who populate it, the just and the unjust alike. I just want to experience adventure in a safe way.

And what better way to – safely – experience it than through a good book?

If I never publish another book, it won’t break my heart. I will continue to populate my personal bookshelves with my stories, and if that sounds narcissistic to you, then YES. YES IT IS.

Here is the only time I will tell you to fully embrace narcissism. Nobody is going to love your stories as much as you do. You will never have enough fans, enough adoring Tweets and Facebook messages to compete with the love you have for your own book. And you know why that is? Because you birthed the darn screaming, pooping, puking, colicky thing. You stayed up late and woke up early. You beat your head against walls and computer desks. You were stumped by its rebellion, but you overcame its temper tantrums. You pointed a finger at the notebook or computer screen and shouted, “You’re going to behave, grow up, and become a decent book, so help me God!”

Good parents will always tell you no one will love your child more than you will. It’s the same for books. No one will understand why you put so much patience and time into a few stupid words. Some will even tell you to trash something if it’s just being too difficult.

Well, that’s not what we do around here, is it? No, sir. You pick up that sniveling, snot-faced, puffy-eyed story, wipe away its pathetic tears, give it a few pats on the butt and tell it to go play on the swingset. This is your book. And this is my book.

So let’s write like we don’t give two fudgesicles about the world and its problems.

This has been,

Fanny T. Crispin