tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.comments2024-01-22T05:21:28.419-05:00IshtaBlogsIshta Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comBlogger1857125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-32266776491791979752017-06-25T12:50:54.827-04:002017-06-25T12:50:54.827-04:00Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful.Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful.Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-42489265713268609492017-06-24T16:13:21.400-04:002017-06-24T16:13:21.400-04:00I like this web site very much for it has a lot ...I like this web site very much for it has a lot of fantastic <br />information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-79864648697291668532017-06-24T14:16:19.539-04:002017-06-24T14:16:19.539-04:00I went over this website and I think you've go...I went over this website and I think you've got plenty of fantastic information, bookmarked.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-53937662681367497132016-10-02T05:45:55.267-04:002016-10-02T05:45:55.267-04:00The end had some tense moments where I had to stop...The end had some tense moments where I had to stop reading because my head was all, 'No, no, no!'<br /><br />To me, this indicates a good relatable story and excellent pacing/writing.<br /><br />Great read!Houston Infrared Building Inspectionhttp://www.infraredbuildingtechnologies.com/houston-infrared-building-inspection-services-start.phpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-1335432211494410562016-09-30T19:47:59.929-04:002016-09-30T19:47:59.929-04:00And here's the longer reply: I think in the mi...And here's the longer reply: I think in the microcosm of this world, I AM pretty much a mosquito on the wall of life. Put another way: If someone had told me twenty years ago that this is where I would be now, I would have thought they were underestimating me. I have the hindsight and life experience to understand that I got myself here through various life choices that I made, some recently and some not so recently, and that if I want to get out of here, I need to start making different choices. This is my mess, and I have to either learn to love it, or clean it up. (And if you think about it, mosquitoes don't do nothing. They're out there keeping pitcher plants alive and infecting birds with avian flu. But one mosquito isn't going to cause any grand-scale changes. A species will not rise or fall because of one mosquito's existence.)<br /><br />On the macrocosm level, though, we're all mosquitoes on the wall of life. If the wall is big enough, even something planet-sized looks like a mosquito next to the wall. Which means that in a counterintuitive sort of way, everything humans do matters equally. (You could look at it another way, I guess, which is that there is always something bigger, but there's no way to ever be satisfied with that line of thinking until you've either blown up the sun or created a new one, and that's more influence than any human has a right to have.)<br /><br />So this is what I focus on: This understanding that I am here, now, on this slip of a world, doing the best I can with the time that I have, for no reason other than that I am here. It is all any of us can hope for, and it has to be enough.Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-13881325692530103132016-09-30T07:24:09.238-04:002016-09-30T07:24:09.238-04:00you have an option on your Blogger dashboard to tu...you have an option on your Blogger dashboard to turn blogspot address into a .com one :) and then you can just redesign it a bit DEZMONDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127166104359407763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-38305477592977772962016-09-01T18:15:49.890-04:002016-09-01T18:15:49.890-04:00Oh, thank you! Thank you so much for the time it t...Oh, thank you! Thank you so much for the time it took to read and comment. Hugs forever for this. And yes, we must get together again soon! We have much to catch up on.Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-47860822441660331852016-09-01T16:46:52.923-04:002016-09-01T16:46:52.923-04:00I am now dying to know what that book was that mad...I am now dying to know what that book was that made you feel like a doomed sidekick in a cautionary tale, but also to take you out to tea and argue passionately that you are NOT a mosquito on the wall of life, either. <br /><br />I know you're not asking for pity here, but this is something I care a lot about, because I've been working through a lot of similar issues in the past few months myself. And one of the many conclusions I've come to is that whether or not you or I achieve the current worldly ideal of fame or success, or even live up to our own hopes and ambitions, is immaterial to our worth as human beings or the ultimate value of our contribution to the world. In fact we often get our priorities completely wrong, because our perspective on what (and who) matters and why is so limited. I keep thinking of the episode in 1 Samuel where the prophet is looking at Jesse's tall, handsome, kingly-looking eldest son and thinking, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed," and God warns, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."<br /><br />What I've come to realize is that whenever I look at my career or my life from my own limited perspective of what I think matters to other people or what I'd like to achieve, I get fretful and discontent (much like the shippers in that very interesting article, who can't be satisfied with anything less than their personal vision for the characters becoming "canon"). But if I see my writing as a chance to give something to others and enrich my readers' lives in some way, however small, then it doesn't matter if I get the six-figure advance or the publicity or the awards and accolades or not. Because it's not about me, and that's okay.<br /><br />I don't know if that makes any sense, but the upshot of it all is that this is a very good blog post, even if it sounds like I'm arguing with you. Also, that we should get together again for tea or lunch or something soon. :)R.J. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04503519800068573393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-66160992859290413302016-08-26T09:28:52.589-04:002016-08-26T09:28:52.589-04:00Honestly, you have to ignore the "rules"...Honestly, you have to ignore the "rules" and just try things. Experimenting with process is the best way to figure out what works for you, and personally, I think it's foolish to eliminate helpful tools simply because someone said you're not "supposed" to use them. Who the heck are those writers anyway? The dictionary and thesaurus are AWESOME.L. E. Carmichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05350407694236351094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-12385689912606735162016-08-25T09:30:58.663-04:002016-08-25T09:30:58.663-04:00Yes, we are sisters in suffering through tough rev...Yes, we are sisters in suffering through tough revisions. But really, I wouldn't have it any other way. Going for a long run sounds like an AWESOME way to think through a tough problem with a WiP! I haven't run in ages, but it's something I've been wanting to get back into doing. (And critique partners. YES. Where would we be without critique partners?)Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-89290114985746146652016-08-24T20:05:58.619-04:002016-08-24T20:05:58.619-04:00Ha! Yep, Laura makes me work hard, too. :) Glad to...Ha! Yep, Laura makes me work hard, too. :) Glad to know I'm not the only one. My process involves pacing the floor, snacks, going for a long rung, sleeping on it, and sending it to lots and lots of critique partners.Hannah Holthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05636205979549411577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-4011670113656373592016-08-20T00:02:30.569-04:002016-08-20T00:02:30.569-04:00Thanks! And I think you make a good point - everyo...Thanks! And I think you make a good point - everyone needs something to strive for. And really, if we zoom way out and look at the very very big picture, even the biggest marks we make are so small as to be insignificant, which I think is a very good reason to look for pleasure and satisfaction in everyday things. Goals are important, but it's the stuff of everyday life that is the cake.Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-85753418093313346122016-08-18T20:10:26.238-04:002016-08-18T20:10:26.238-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.catherinemjohnson.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682281308178996823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-8729534058584657002016-08-18T20:10:15.189-04:002016-08-18T20:10:15.189-04:00Wow Ishta that's a great post! I think people ...Wow Ishta that's a great post! I think people are happiest when they are striving towards something and making a mark should be the icing not the cake.catherinemjohnson.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682281308178996823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-2941505131019884142016-03-04T10:31:05.336-05:002016-03-04T10:31:05.336-05:00You are so great on camera! I may need some tips i...You are so great on camera! I may need some tips if I decide to branch out into video.L. E. Carmichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05350407694236351094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-74175587504166418762016-02-07T12:53:09.141-05:002016-02-07T12:53:09.141-05:00Good luck!Good luck!Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-46923060695484679092016-01-30T11:08:06.376-05:002016-01-30T11:08:06.376-05:00Ishta, I met you at 'Packaging Your Imaginatio...Ishta, I met you at 'Packaging Your Imagination.' I saw this post on Jennifer Mook-Sang's (Speechless) wall. Glad to know you have a blog. Your strength in teaching impressed me at the session I attended, but even more than that I shared an 'ahh moment' when you spoke about connecting with the agent best suited for you. I've recently met Lena at CANSCAIP and oh how I would love to win a copy of her newest book. I'm in! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554516765248092542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-36594895944913835542016-01-11T14:29:12.522-05:002016-01-11T14:29:12.522-05:00^^^Above was a double-post of the same comment - n...^^^Above was a double-post of the same comment - nothing offensive or anything like that. :-) Read and Write ON, -I.Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-52182665837892477162016-01-11T14:26:31.059-05:002016-01-11T14:26:31.059-05:00Good luck with the yoga and guitar! Maybe in a yea...Good luck with the yoga and guitar! Maybe in a year's time, we can get together and have a jam session, LOL! ;-)Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-58146265942062038982016-01-11T14:23:52.858-05:002016-01-11T14:23:52.858-05:00This is WAY more comprehensive than my approach - ...This is WAY more comprehensive than my approach - kudos! We'll keep each other in line. ;-)Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-66780778673659592732016-01-09T20:17:34.652-05:002016-01-09T20:17:34.652-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.catherinemjohnson.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682281308178996823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-61964319574738363712016-01-09T20:17:17.182-05:002016-01-09T20:17:17.182-05:00Great list, Ishta. Good luck with it! I hope to do...Great list, Ishta. Good luck with it! I hope to do yoga and play guitar thus year on a somewhat regular basis. catherinemjohnson.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682281308178996823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-67232670558714232212016-01-06T10:06:40.700-05:002016-01-06T10:06:40.700-05:00I made a lengthy list of all the things I'd li...I made a lengthy list of all the things I'd like to accomplish this year - professional, personal, and day-job. Then I tried to figure out what kind of action and scheduling would be required to make it happen. Then to identify what I was doing that wasn't consistent with my plans. It was a little overwhelming. But I'm hoping that with planning and structure (things I seem to crave), I'll be more efficient, and less tired this year. Go team!L. E. Carmichaelhttp://www.lecarmichael.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-69135550048026405222015-09-06T09:22:03.085-04:002015-09-06T09:22:03.085-04:00Wahoooooo! I will never forget the shock and awe a...Wahoooooo! I will never forget the shock and awe and thrill of holding a book with my name on it for the first time. Enjoy it!L. E. Carmichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05350407694236351094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763911471376369172.post-70807137560804713122015-08-21T13:07:06.846-04:002015-08-21T13:07:06.846-04:00Another thing to think about: publishing is strugg...Another thing to think about: publishing is struggling. In the blockbuster economy of the 20-teens, publishing is struggling to stay afloat, and authors are struggling to make a living. (It could be argued that authors have always struggled to make a living, but that's beside the point.) Many authors rely on their backlist to stay afloat. By pushing paperbacks to a separate, online-only list, are we harming the backlist? Or are big-selling paperbacks - the ones that make up "Top Ten" lists - not part of that equation for the typical mid-list author who relies on sales from the backlist to keep the electricity turned on?Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.com