Thursday Two Questions/Blog Awards

Welcome to Thursday Two Questions.

Last week, my blog was honored with The Versatile Blogger award.

I was thrilled--and touched--to receive such recognition from Rosi Hollinbeck, a fellow writer and blogger (The Write Stuff), whose opinion I respect.

This was my fourth blog award, and I treasured it as if it were my first.

Unfortunately, most such awards come with stipulations, which amount to a lot of work.  So much work, in fact, that I hesitate to pass them on to other deserving bloggers.

My favorite award,  the Personal Growth Guides' Blogger of the Week Award, came from Aris Moreno (The Optimist's Blog). 

Why is it my favorite?

Because it came with no strings attached.

It was a compliment, pure and simple.

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

1. As a blogger or blog follower, what do you think about blog awards?
2. Should blog awards be given without a list of things to do, or does the "home work" serve a valuable purpose?

If you would like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Margaret

Thursday Two Questions/The Spaces In Between Us

Photo Credit: h.koppdelaney

Welcome to Thursday Two Questions.

On Monday, in a post called The Spaces In Between Us, I wrote about a song that weaved perfectly with the theme of my blog and the spirit behind my four novels. 

When I heard the song for the first time and read its back story, I felt singer/songwriters Jan Garett, JD Martin, and Lisa Aschmann had put into words much of what I was trying to say and how I was trying to live my life.

With the artists' permission, I now share the song with you.  To hear it, just click the link The Spaces Between Us.

(For the lyrics, refer to the above link to Monday's post.)

The song's lyrics that especially touched me describe "the spaces in between us" as:

• "The breath I take before I sing"
• "A symphony without a sound." 
• "The vast potential of the heart."

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

1. What song most closely exemplifies the spirit behind what you do and how you live your life (or simply, what's your favorite song)?
2. What words or stanzas of the song are especially significant to you?

If you would like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Thursday Two Questions #22/The Creative Life



Photo credit:  Eden Brackstone

Welcome to Thursday Two Questions.
On Monday, in a post called, The Creative Life/Tips for Writers and Artists,  I made the following generalizations about the creative lives of artists and writers.

1. In one form or another, they have stepped into "The Between," where mind and spirit meet. 
2. They have plugged into the Intelligence that exists as potentialities around them, often relying on their intuition to do so.
3. They live multidimensional lives and know how to connect with their inner core and feed their soul.
4. They are open to life's messengers, knowing that whatever catches their attention is trying to tell them something and that whatever they pay attention to will grow.
5. They have a flexible response to life and know there aren't any wrong turns, only new ones.
6. They use their imagination to create something extraordinary out of the everyday.
7. They are the writers, actors, and directors of their own stories.

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

1. What is your own particular creative talent?
2. What practices or rituals do you use to assist your creative flow?

If you would like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below.

As always, thank you for stopping by.

Thursday Two Questions/Ho'opononopo



Photo credit:  h. koppdelaney

 Welcome to Thursday Two Questions.

On Monday, I wrote a post, called Ho'opononopo/Ancient Huna Forgiveness, about a forgiveness mantra/prayer that helps align your mind and spirit so you can be the best you can be.

The prayer is so simple that at first I had a hard time believing it could accomplish anything. 

But somehow and for some reason, it has the power to cleanse and heal whatever needs its energy.

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

1. What is your favorite practice to "set things right" in your life?
2. Are you interested in the wisdom practices of other cultures, or are you more comfortable adhering to those of your own spiritual tradition? 

If you would like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below:

Thanks for stopping by,

Thursday Two Questions/Twitter



By Fanie!

 Welcome to Thursday Two Questions #18.

I once thought that I needed to learn how to text on a smart phone in order to use the social networking and micro blogging service called Twitter. 

This week I've learned from a group I belong to called Thursday's Novelists, that I can send and read messages (tweets) through my computer and via my blog.

I did some experimenting and next thing I knew, I had twenty Twitter followers.  I discovered (to my complete amazement) that I already had a twitter account and address @enterthebetween (must have set it up without even knowing it).

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

1. Do you use Twitter, and if so, how?  If you don't use Twitter, why not?
2. In your opinion, does it take a lot of time to use Twitter to it's full advantage or are there ways to use it effectively with a minimum of effort?

If you'd like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below.

Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday Two Questions/Stylish Blogger Award

Welcome to Thursday Two Questions #16.

On Tuesday I wrote a post about The Stylish Blogger Award that Cathy Kennedy presented to my blog.

I was honored.  It made my day.

As I said in my comment on Cathy Kennedy's Blog, "Bloggers so need an accolade such as this once in a while to encourage them to keep on keeping on. Your willingness to pass this gift on to others is not only a kindness but an inspiration."

My Thurday Two Questions to you are:

1. Has your blog ever been presented with an award (This was my first)?
2. Have you ever heard of the Stylish Blogger Award or maybe know where it originated?

If you'd like to further participte in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below.



Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday Two Questions/Gratitude Just Makes Sense



SnoShuu

Welcome to Thursday Two Questions #15.

Wednesday, I did a post called Gratitude Just Makes Sense in which I talked about how gratitude burns away the shadow of life's circumstances, like the sun burns away fog--that empty mode we can lock ourselves into, where we're unable to shift our energy from bad to good.

Gratitude isn't just about being thankful.

Gratitude changes us neurologically, makes our brains stronger, just makes sense.

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

1. How has being grateful enhanced your life in 2010?
2. What are you grateful for as we begin 2011?

If you'd like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below:

Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday Two Questions/Miracles All Around Us

Welcome to Thursday Two Questions.

Since today's TTQ's theme is Christmas, I'll relate my two questions to Oprah Magazine's December issue and Miracles.

In my previous post, Miracles All Around Us/Why I Write Fiction, I wrote about Oprah Magazine's "Awe Tour," which introduces mysteries and curiosities that you can see, hear, and touch, such as sailing stones in Death Valley and the Isle of Eigg, which produces music when you run your hands through the sand.

And then I wrote about the miracles you can't perceive through your senses, such as sound waves, microwaves, radio waves, emotions, wind, and love.

In my novel, Between Now and Forever, One of my characters is a 13-year old healer. 

Sure, it's fiction, but I believe in miracles.

I also believe in positive thinking and that Spirit works through human beings in mysterious ways.

Guess that's why I write fiction.

I can put into my stores what I believe, but can't prove to be true.

I know how busy you are right now, so skip my TTQ's if you like.

If you have the time, my Thursday Two Questions to you are:

1. What miracle, mystery, or curiosity have you experienced through your senses?
2. What miracle, mystery, or curiosity do you believe, but can't prove to be true?

If you'd like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below:



Happy Holidays.

Thursday Two Questions/Journal Treasures

Welcome to Thursday Two Questions.

In Monday's blog, Journal Treasures/Sweet Fluid of Expression, I shared one of the journals I wrote in 2003, (two years into the writing of my first novel, Between Will and Surrender, and when I was about to start my second, Between Darkness and Dawn) to let readers in on how the mind of at least one writer works.

What I said back then still applies today: 

"I enjoy the feel of this form of expression, the artiness of it.  Life takes on meaning when I react to it in a way that becomes preserved between the pages of my journal.  Words that will outlast me."

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

1. Do you keep a journal or diary (written, pictural)?
2. How do feel about this form of expression?

If you'd like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below.





Thursday Two Questions/Final Read Through

Welcome to Thursday Two Questons. 

In Monday's blog, Final, Final Read Through, Again, I talked about how I'll never be done revising my novels and that at some point, I'm going to have to say, "Yes! This is it."  And then, knowing me, I won't be able to read my book once in print, because I'll want to make changes.

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

1. How many times do you revise your work (be it a poem, an essay, a blog, or a novel) before you say "This is it!" ?
2. And after you publish your work (including posts on your blog), do you want to go back and revise it?

If you'd like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below.

(Photo credit:  This Paper Trail Leads Right Back to You: by bethan)

Thursday Two Questions/Your Ideal Reader/Author

In Monday's post titled Identifying a Niche-Specific Audience/Cultural Creatives, I wrote about how writers need to find a niche and then directly address a niche-specific audience.

But in order to do so, the writer first has to figure out who that audience is.

I imagine my future readers as female (though I hope to attract male readers as well). After all, I write about a woman's struggle for psychological freedom and her yearning to discover a path based on meaning and purpose, rather than income and security.

But then I take it one step further and add an emerging subculture called Cultural Creatives as my imaginary readers.

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

1. As writer (and that includes all bloggers), describe your ideal reader.  Or if you are a reader, describe your ideal writer.
2. Have you ever heard of Cultural Creatives?

If you'd like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below.

Thursday Two Questions/Finding Your Voice

By ashley.adcox

In Monday's blog, Finding One's Voice, The Elusive Key, I wrote about how our voices come out loud and clear during our every waking moment, while we're talking to family and friends.  But when we sit down to write, IT'S GONE!

It's like another personality takes over, the one that was always trying to impress the teachers back in school, the essay voice, the term paper voice, the journal voice. It's like we've been put under a spell, the English Teacher's Curse, which has left us voiceless.

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

Under what conditions do you find yourself voiceless?

When does your voice come out loud and clear?

Share your answers in the comment section, and if you want to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, click on the link below.

Thursday Two Questions/Light Master Teacher



By *r3M'S*



In Monday's blog, Light Master Teachers, I wrote about teachers who, as Kathleen Parker of the Washington Post's Writer's Group so beautifully put it, "hit the light switch and change one's life."

My Thursday Two Questions to you are:

Did you have a Light Master Teacher while in school or beyond?

If so, how did he or she inspire you?  If not, how could a teacher have made a difference in your life?

I'll be looking forward to your comments.

And if you'd like to further participate in Thursday Two Questions, follow the link below.

Thursday Two Questions/Your Work in Progress

In Journal of a Novel, John Steinbeck wrote, "Even if I knew nothing would emerge from this book I would still write it."

He was talking about East of Eden, which we all know turned out to be a great success.  He had no way of knowing this, of course, during the time he was writing it.  In fact, he said, "This book will be the most difficult of all I have ever attempted.  Whether I am good enough or gifted enough remains to be seen."

Using his words as a guide, my Thursday Two Questions are:

1.  If you knew nothing would emerge from your work in progress, would you continue to do it?  Why or why not?

2.  What are you working on now?

That's it.  Just leave your answers in the comment section below.

And if  you want to enter your own blog in Thursday Two Questions, visit its host Blessing Reflections for instructions, or follow the link below.

Thursday Two Questions

I don't normally blog on Thursdays and don't plan on making it a habit.  For one thing, I don't have the time to write more than three posts a week, and for another, I'm not sure my followers have time to read them either.

However...

I came across this clever idea hosted by Blessed Reflections. 

It's sort of a Thursday Two Questions challenge. 

Post two questions on your blog and link it back to Thursday Two Questions.  Then visit other participants and try to answer their questions. 

Here are mine:

1. What do you prefer in a blog, information, or something personal relating to the blog's author?
2. How many blogs do you "follow" and why?

That's it.  Answer my two questions if you like, or just leave a comment.

Happy Thursday.