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By

Michele L. Tune

Photo Credit: Me

First of all, I’d love to thank Jeanne Dininni of Writer’s Notes, for the beautiful, generous guest post she shared with us last week. In case you missed it, please do check it out. She shares tips on how to find motivation to finish that work when you’re just not feeling it. Also, her amazing guest post at John Hewitt’s Writer’s Resource Center is filled to the brim with advice! In 7 Secrets to a Striking Essay, Jeanne will lead you through each step with such inspiring wisdom, you’ll be to the last secret before you know it–wishing you had thought to write this awesome piece!

Moving along….

I’m always emphasizing how I love sharing my heart–opening my very soul for my reader to see, feel, and relate to. I think pouring our heart and soul into our work is the ultimate way to gain readership, build a great community, and/or win those big ole clips!

As I’ve traveled across the blogosphere lately, I’ve noticed that very trend popping up more and more! It excites me because I love to feel that connection. I love to see folks sharing their hearts, reaching out to their reader, showing that they’re human and not just a set of typing fingers on the other side of the computer screen.

I’ve decided to list a few of the posts where I feel the author really opened their heart, revealed their true feelings, and did so in an inspiring, encouraging way–in a way that really spoke to me, and I’m sure to the other readers as well.

1. Melissa Donovan, at Writing Forward, recently posted: How I Launched My Freelance Writing Career. She went into great detail, revealing step-by-step how she happened upon the freelance life, how she researched, studied, planned, and just went for it.

A few words that grabbed my heart:

The past nine months have been crazy. There are ups and downs, moments of sheer excitement when I realize that I’m doing this all on my own and moments of sheer exhaustion when I realize it’s all riding on me.

Melissa presented herself vulnerable to the world. Some people think of exposing our naked heart negatively. I disagree. There’s a priceless beauty in unlocking the heart and inviting readers in, encouraging them to kick of their shoes and stay awhile. Melissa does this with grace and dignity! She brought the realness of freelance writing to the table. It isn’t about lounging with a view of the beach and a laptop–although some writers are able to do that (bless ‘em!) and it’s a life we fantasize about. In reality, it’s exhausting, and it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. I personally think fate pulled Melissa to the freelance life. As she explains in her post, she had no choice but to come up with a plan–and quick!

Melissa’s blog, Writing Forward, is an invaluable resource for writers and bloggers alike. You’ll find writing tips, writing exercises, lessons with poetry, grammar, and more. She’s the friendly, cool “English teacher” you always wish you had! Keep up the great work, Melissa! You’re shining brighter each day!

2. Blogger and up-and-coming freelance writer, Mary Grandy, displayed her heart in a post titled: The Last Good-bye. Unlike Melissa, Mary’s topic was sad. But you’ll find as you read it, that not only is she expressing herself through words as a way to grieve a loss, but she’s honoring a loved one with words that inspire, stir emotions, and rekindle memories of the readers’ own loved ones. If you follow the comment thread, you’ll see first-hand how Mary’s passionate words sent her readers on a walk down memory lane. Words are powerful, people, very powerful!

Of the words Mary shared, these are the ones that made me sad yet caused me to smile at the same time:

I should be going now, but I selfishly don’t want to. I don’t know if you realize this, but there are others reading this letter. You wouldn’t understand why I write this here, but then you never understood the concept of call waiting.

I think we can all relate to trying to explain to grandparents or parents why on earth we’d expose our “diaries” for all the world to gawk at!

Mary, since I first started following your blog, I’ve watched you gain blogging confidence. You’ve learned to hyperlink, started a blazing trail of guest posts, and have built up your comments in those beloved double digits! You were destined to blog, my dear. And, what a writer you are!

3. Another post I had to pull off the cyber highway for, was written by none other than Rebecca Laffar-Smith. This brilliant writer always writes from her heart, shares her soul, and has a magical way with words. She recently flew to California to attend the Writer’s Conference and Book Expo. While she waited for her plane, and a couple more times throughout her adventure, Rebecca wrote letters and published them on her blog - The Writer’s Round-About - starting them out with “Dear Reader” and signing each one, “Sincerely, Rebecca.” I thought this was a fabulous idea, keeping her readers updated while she was away–and with such a personal touch!

One letter, A Sax Outside My Window, gives us a glimpse into a writer who feels like she’s landed in another kingdom, a faraway kingdom she’s always dreamt of visiting. Like a princess, she sits by her window, soaking up all the activity around her, finding inspiration in every detail of movement her eyes behold.

Read for yourself. Here’s an excerpt:

The city is a magical place to be a writer…. It is so nice to simply sit, listen, and ponder. Isn’t it amazing that doing this, right now, is considered working? Sometimes I imagine this as the life I could have had, a lonely writer sitting up in her one room apartment above the city streets, writing, and listening to life passing by down below.

Even when Rebecca writes a series, using Star Trek as the theme - even though I totally do not like that show! - I find myself captivated, hanging on each syllable until, before I realize it, I’ve read a long post on a topic I don’t even remotely care about! That’s the beauty of Rebecca. She can draw you in before you know what’s hit you! I’ve watched her blog grow, change, move to WordPress, and flourish right before my very eyes. Write on, Rebecca! I know I’ll see your novel on store shelves some day!

There are so many more examples of writers and bloggers writing from their hearts, just like these I’ve highlighted today. If time allows, and if I see you are interested, I may expand on this topic and do a part two.

The one thing Melissa, Mary, and Rebecca have in common: heart. They’re not afraid to share it.

So, what about you? Do you share your heart? Or do you detest posts like these? Why? Would you come more reading a post if it has that special, heartfelt touch? Or do you prefer just basic information: get to the point and move on? If so, why? Please share in the comments. And, if you feel like it, leave a piece of your heart!

Here’s to sharing your heart, writing the cyber highway!

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By

Michele L. Tune

“A person who is master of patience is master of many things.”

That’s the quote you see on that little piece of paper on the plate below…

Photo Credit: Me

I think the universe is screaming at me. Ludicrous, you think? Don’t jump to conclusions. Seriously. As I can, I’ve been making time to update the links in my old posts. I started at the beginning and am working my way backwards, up to now (because I just moved from Blogger to WordPress, for anyone just tuning in). I came to this post about patience.

Check out what I said at the end of that post:

Patience is a virtue (I believe) all successful writers possess. Dig deep and find patience. It’s in there!

Yes, I wrote those very words!

This is what happened when I got up from editing that post to find something quick to fix for lunch: I was digging in the cabinet and found a box of fortune cookies. I never really take those little fortunes to heart, but I love the taste of those cookies! I broke a cookie and started nibbling. I just laid that little ole piece of paper on the counter while I went searching for something to actually eat.

Imagine my surprise when I decided to pick that fortune up and read it! The quote at the top of this post jumped out at me. I just had to take a picture of those cookies on the plate with my fortune displayed. Coincidence?

I’ll admit, I’ve never been the most patient person. Some people think I’m very patient; others think I have zero patience. But it’s crazy to think the universe is screaming - ok, maybe not screaming - the topic of patience to me.

Weird.

What a strange day I’ve had, writing the cyber highway!

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, I did not eat all those cookies!

By

Michele L. Tune

You probably can’t see the inspiring words on the front of this spiral notebook I bought yesterday.

These six words jumped out at me and spoke volumes to my soul! I had no intentions of buying a notebook, but I couldn’t resist this one.

It’s true, the door to our dreams is right in front of us—just up a head a little ways. Like the rainbow we talked about in the previous post, it’s there, we just can’t see it yet. All we have to do is stay on the path that leads to it - no matter how rocky the terrain gets - and have the strength to open our door once we reach it. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

Sometimes the only thing holding us back from our dreams is us. Yes, that’s right. Maybe we’re afraid of the unknown. Maybe we’re beating ourselves up, thinking we don’t deserve all the goodness that awaits us. Who knows? But the door is there, and we’re the only ones with the power – the key – to open it.

So, what do you say? Are you ready to unlock and open the door to your dreams? Do you have enough muscle to pull hard enough to yank that door open and flail it against the wall? Do you have enough ambition, faith, hopes and dreams to bust through with all your might? Think about it….

Keep watching for your rainbows, but don’t forget to keep an eye out for the door to your dreams; it will enable you to have much success writing the cyber highway!

By

Michele L. Tune

So, what are you writing? What does your “book” say about you? Are you “writing” a page turner, or do you make “readers” want to slam your book shut? Think about it…

Our lives are like books. Our actions and words, expressions and convictions are all read by others. Do you smile when you pass someone? Do you growl at the service person? Do you say “thank you”, “please”, and “your welcome?” Or do you just rush off, paying no mind to anyone or anything except making it to your next destination?

Life is a book, this is true, and we each act as an author writing it. How will yours read? What is your index? Who is your book dedicated to? How many pages does it have? How will it end?

I guess I’d have to say my book is dedicated to those I love most:

• My grandparents, who are deceased, especially my Grandma and Papa, who were rare and priceless. (I’ll always miss you).

• My parents, who have been my rock(s), and to whom I owe my life (literally). Without you, I’d be another domestic violence statistic.

• My Aunt Dorothy, for all her beauty and inspiration–her “book” outweighs them all!

• My Uncle A.C., who taught me the motto, “Be true to yourself…”, and who somehow always found a way to help me find the silver lining to my mistakes. (You are missed).

• Other special family members (you know who you are).

My index would be filled with good and bad chapters, sad and happy chapters, sometimes life-threatening chapters, but overall the roller coaster ride my readers engage in will be one they won’t be bored with. In the end, my readers will see that through my mistakes, through all the pain there has been, through battling illness, obesity, domestic violence, and much more, that joy comes in the morning and the light shines so bright.

I know my book will have a lot of pages, too many to count. I have dozens of chapters to add, still yet, and anxiously anticipate filling those blank pages with success, inspiration, smiles, love and laughter!

Each day, as I write a new page, I desire to write with all honesty, integrity, emotion, realness, genuine care, my unique humor…

As the author of my “book”, I want to be categorized as “Inspirational”, “Uplifting”, “Different”, and “Special.”

When my book closes (eons away!), my prayer is this:

Dear Lord,

• Thank you for the life you gave that I might live and live it more abundantly.

• Thank you for carrying me when I felt so alone, just like You said you would.

• Thank you for touching my life in more ways than I can count.

• Thank you for showing others through my own trials, that You grant victory to plain ole country girls like me.

• Forgive all my mistakes, and show my readers how far I’ve come. Let them see that even when I wasn’t perfect, I tried hard to always improve.

• Thank you, oh thank you, for a wonderful, loving family.

• Thank you for friends that I cherish so dear.

• Thank you for smiles and tears, for all my years.

• Thank you for making me, me, and for giving me special talents and for giving me the courage to use them and share them with the world.

• Thank you for showing me that my writing dreams aren’t as far out of reach as I once thought.

• And, Lord, when the day comes that you help me write the last sentence of the last chapter, let my readers know that my book isn’t out of print. Tell them I’ll write the sequel from Heaven…

*THE END*

By

Michele L. Tune

Well, here she is… my beloved computer armoire. I cherish her to no end!

Take note of the stuffed Ziggy and Woody Woodpecker perched atop my monitor and speaker. They’re figures from my childhood and it just makes me happy to see them every day, ha ha!

I love this armoire. There’s a big file drawer, smaller drawers, shelves for reference books and all kinds of nooks and crannies to store all my writer goodies.

The smaller books I refer to often are lined up within reach. A pastel floral cup holds my highlighters and pens, and I even have space for a couple of photos and a beautiful writer’s block my aunt gave me as a gift.

I love the pullout, too. Not only is there a place for my keyboard, but it’s a double pullout (like a desktop!) with plenty of room for my weekly planner, the 3-ring binder I keep my log sheets and manuscripts in, and even a cup of coffee!

On the inside of both doors are cork panels for pinning up more goodies and photos and a handy calendar for easy deadline notes.

I never tire of this cozy writing space! She continues to bring inspiration for my writing and joy to my soul. I feel like my life is all tucked away into this armoire at times. It seems that way anyways.

And… Here I am typing away, writing the cyber highway!