The Writer Is In
2017 is the year of my novel. There, I said it. Now I’ve got to get to work. I even bought myself a gift that will be my daily reminder, a new “The Writer Is In” mug. (I got one for my daughter too.) These four words are helping me to keep my writing as a priority even as other distractions (some also important) continue to pull me in other directions. I have learned that this is life, this balancing of to-do’s, wants, needs and desires, so I try to evaluate and adjust my priorities on a regular basis, and one thing I know for sure, is that in 2017…The Writer Is In!
For the perfect start to you writing day, have your coffee in an inspired mug. Find “The Writer Is In” and other inspiring mugs at The Write Life on Etsy!
For more writing inspiration check out Eloquently Elliott my daughter’s writing blog.
For the perfect jump-start to your writing year, try the 2017 Write On! Workshop put on by my myself and my writing partner Jenny McGlothern.
Write On! Workshop with Jenny & Sonya
Are you looking for the perfect gift for a writer in your life? Wife? Husband? Friend? Or maybe a gift for yourself, one that will help you start 2017 right? Check out the Write On! Workshop. Register Today and you or your special someone will join my friend and blogger Jenny McGlothern (mamaneedsarefill.com and heartwriter.com) and me for a workshop designed to inspire!
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Light Up the Court with More Shots
I haven’t been able to play basketball since July and last week when I was at the YMCA doing rehab on my shoulder I found myself wandering onto the basketball court. I dribbled the ball around, allowing my shoulder to soften and relax with the controlled motion. Then with my good arm I shot one-handed for a bit. I’m sure it looked a bit odd, as I have to leave my left arm down by my side, but it sure was fun. And then, when I was done shooting around I went to the other end of the court to see if the young kid, who’d been shooting since I got there, wanted a rebounder. I couldn’t help myself.
I stepped under the hoop and asked as I snagged incoming balls out of the net and off the backboard and passed them back to him. He didn’t answer but his face lit up. So for the next half an hour I felt like myself again. I am at home on the court. I didn’t say much, other than suggesting to this twelve-year-old boy that he catch the ball like he would in a game, on the move, and then I passed the ball to him as he work around the basket at different distances. He had a nice shot and a relaxed follow-through, so I simply let him shoot.
If you are an athlete working on your shot, find a friend or a coach, partner up and get some extra shots in at game speed. Make up shooting games with one another, play some one-on-one, make it fun and keep your body moving. If you’re a mom or dad who knows nothing about the game, don’t be afraid to get out there with your […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: The Fine Art of Writing
My daughter Charli is a writer. She may not believe she is, but I know it. Not only does she love to write, she’s written a first draft of a novel, and is studying to get a creative writing degree in college. That to me is a writer. Over Thanksgiving break my husband suggested she start a blog. She didn’t know what to think about the idea. Then last week I got a link to eloquentlyelliott.com, a place of for writing inspiration. Charli had created a blog.
Charli doesn’t quite know what this new blog space means to her. But for now it is a place to get her words down and share her love of writing. Her first blog post The Fine Art of Apologizing is a powerful piece and it came from a home work assignment in her non-fiction writing class. It is the inspiration for today’s writing prompt.
If you love to write, you are a writer, so find the time to do just that, you are worth it. Write On!
WRITING PROMPT: Write a piece about the fine art of something trivial. A sigh. A sneeze. The goal is to slow down and focus on the little things. Write on!
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
Blog
LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Listen To Your Body
My husband has bad knees. He played football in college and has had many knee surgeries so he no longer has much cartilage. He’s had to adjust his workouts over the years and eventually cut out a few things. He waited a long time to cut out competitive basketball. Probably ten years later than he should have, but he really enjoyed playing, so it wasn’t easy to quit, but the pain became too much, so he had no other choice.
He’s never loved to walk, unlike me, and he likes speed. So a few years ago he turned to biking. It took him a while to jump on the biking bandwagon, but now he loves it. When he first started riding he trained for the STP (Seattle to Portland) with a group of guys and had a blast, and it actually helped his knees. Then a year later he started mountain […]
LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Push Yourself
I like to run, sort of. I don’t like running long distance (too many miles on my body that I’d rather use pounding the hardwoods), but I do like shorter distances, less than three miles. When I do a running workout, I usually just jog/run to a spot, pick a couple of trees or telephone poles that are maybe 50-80 meters apart and then do a little sprint workout.
Well, I’m using the word sprint very loosely here because my emphasis is on not pulling a muscle, so what I do is more like a fast jog, but that, to me, is better than ten miles at a slow jog. Which is not to say ten miles is bad, it’s just not what I like. Find what you like, and then even push yourself a little.
Last year, I decided to run in a track meet, as a “fun” way to stay […]
LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Dog Gone Good Exercise
I like to walk, which is good, because I have a dog and he needs to go on walks. Walking your dog is a great way to get some exercise and keep your body fit. I walk at a pretty good clip, but just getting out there and moving your body does the trick to burn some calories, not to mention getting you some fresh air.
For me it’s also a good time to think. Whether I’m deciding what groceries to buy or coming up with a new blog idea, walking clears my mind. And just think of how good it is for Fido. So get out there and take your dog for a walk, it’s a win-win.
What do you like best about walking with your dog? Or maybe you walk a different pet. I’d love to hear about it.
Follow me for more ideas on living a happy and healthy life […]
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