New beginnings are always refreshing. My daughter starts Kindergarten this Tuesday (probably already has by the time anyone reads this). Of course, I have high hopes for her despite the fact that this past week has been quite trying for our family. An unexpected illness landed me in the hospital and turned many of my plans upside down. And I am definitely a planner. I organize, make lists, try to anticipate all upcoming appointments, jobs, events, etc. I put a lot of stress on myself, and that's probably a big part of my problem and why I may have come down with a severe case of asthma that has never been a part of my history or background.
I've never smoked or suffered from allergies before and, other than what I thought was a regular cold I caught a few weeks ago and other annoying but minor ailments I've suffered from lately, most of them more chronic than serious, I've been pretty healthy most of my life. Besides one small surgery and the birth of my daughter, this was only the third time I'd been overnight in a hospital and actually the longest hospital stay of my life. I've seen more doctors and had more tests done than I've had in years. I'm not one who likes to go to doctors regularly, but there was no choice in this matter. I was having severe breathing attacks, coughing spasms, and felt generally miserable. I couldn't eat or sleep and could hardly talk. It was a very frightening experience. Compounding it, of course, was my concern for my young daughter. I knew she was worried about me and was also nervous about starting school. It was a hard time for her, and I wanted to be there for her.
I had also been told to remove the new cat we had recently taken in from our house, even though several doctors agreed he wasn't the cause of the problem because, before the loss of my beloved Floppy two years earlier, I'd had cats all my life but that, because of my sensitivity, it would not be a good idea to have the new cat around for awhile. It broke my heart to have to do this and I knew it hurt my daughter although she understood it was to help mommy feel better, but we were lucky that a relative was able to temporarily board the cat while I was recovering.
Other concerns, although less paramount emotionally but still of significant importance, were my having to be away from both my jobs, my real life one as a librarian and the one I have been doing in Second Life for almost a year now publishing an online magazine about a virtual world. While worries about my real life job mounted because my sick leave was used up, my boss was very understanding that my health had to come first before I could consider coming back to work. Likewise, my staff on RezLibris took over handling the monthly production work so that I could take my time recovering. They knew that even though the magazine was not a regular paying job to me, it is still very important to me.
So it's been rough. I'm home now and starting to recover gradually. I'll be off from work a little longer and also taking a break from my virtual world endeavors, too. I'm concentrating on my health and learning to relax more which can only aid my recovery. I'll spend some quality time with my daughter and see her get started at school. It's been a hard start for both of us, but we'll get through it. That's about it as far as my plans because I've learned that planning really doesn't work when anything can happen to interrupt those plans. It's one step at a time now; day to day. That's the way you start. That's the way you go on.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Pitter Patter of Furry Feet
I am proud to announce that there's been a recent addition to my home. His name is Stripey, and he's a four-month old Tabby cat. I have to admit I was hesitant to make the decision to adopt him because, if any of you know my story, I am not fully recovered from the loss of my beloved Floppy cat who passed away two years ago this coming October. But since my daughter insisted that, at four and three-quarters years old, she is old enough and because my neighbor, the cat rescuer, did not give up on persuading me take one of the kittens she was trying to find a home for, there is now the lovely sound of the pitter patter of furry feet again throughout my house.
It really is fun having a new kitten, although it does take some adjusting to (it's been some time since I had a kitten, as Floppy lived to the pretty decent age of 15). The preparation itself was pretty tiring. I had to kittenproof the house which wasn't easy in light of all the stuff a pre-schooler leaves around.
The kitten is adapting nicely. He's found some great spots to hide, but he's very social. He loves our front bay window. He's also caught several insects around the house, a few small spiders, which has delighted my daughter who shares her mother's fears of bugs. I am sure if a mouse got in the house, he'd take care of that, too, as he loves the toy mice I've given him to play with. My daughter laughs at how he runs and pounces on them.
I think it will be great that Stripey will probably grow up with Holly. As with my other cat, I intend to keep him as an indoors cat, make sure he has all his shots, and take him to the vet regularly. I know that it will be sad when he is ill or gets old, but that is part of having and loving a pet. They become part of your family.
So here's to the pitter and patter of furry feet. It's a sound I welcome hearing. Welcome, Stripey!
It really is fun having a new kitten, although it does take some adjusting to (it's been some time since I had a kitten, as Floppy lived to the pretty decent age of 15). The preparation itself was pretty tiring. I had to kittenproof the house which wasn't easy in light of all the stuff a pre-schooler leaves around.
The kitten is adapting nicely. He's found some great spots to hide, but he's very social. He loves our front bay window. He's also caught several insects around the house, a few small spiders, which has delighted my daughter who shares her mother's fears of bugs. I am sure if a mouse got in the house, he'd take care of that, too, as he loves the toy mice I've given him to play with. My daughter laughs at how he runs and pounces on them.
I think it will be great that Stripey will probably grow up with Holly. As with my other cat, I intend to keep him as an indoors cat, make sure he has all his shots, and take him to the vet regularly. I know that it will be sad when he is ill or gets old, but that is part of having and loving a pet. They become part of your family.
So here's to the pitter and patter of furry feet. It's a sound I welcome hearing. Welcome, Stripey!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Even Avatars Get Sick
I just got over a bad bug which threw me for a curve (high temperature, chills, that generally lousy/sick feeling). Although I've been through this many times in my life, it was a bit scarier this time with all the warnings about Swine Flu and Super Bugs. How does one stay healthy when germs are everywhere? For me, working in a public library, it is especially hard because of the germs that can be transmitted from all the adult patrons, kids, and even staff members. They tell you to wash your hands, spray Lysol around, take your vitamins, eat healthy. Do these preventions work? Sometimes and sometimes not.
Catching a virus or flu is not the only way that people get sick or feel bad. Many people suffer from chronic illnesses that, while aren't usually fatal, can be quite debilitating. Take migraines, for example, or back pain, arthritis, acid reflux, allerigies, the list is pretty long. A lot of these ailments are caused by stress, diet, or just a predisposition to them through heredity or history. It seems staying healthy, in light of all these possible conditions, is not too easy.
But getting better once one is sick is even harder because most people avoid going to doctors until they are pretty sick or in too much pain they literally have no choice. But do you blame them? Most doctors have limited office hours and then squeeze you into an already overbooked schedule which results in your waiting an hour or longer in the waiting room and then possibly an hour more in the exam room. Then, when you do get your five minutes with the doctor, he or she either orders you to go for tests, prescribes a pill that has side effects, or refers you to a specialist. That's why so many people resort to home remedies, chiropractor treatments, and acupuncture. But are these the answer? For some, but not for all.
If you belong to a virtual world like Second Life, you may also mistakenly think your avatar can't get sick. Guess what? Even though a computer-generated image is pretty indestructible (as long as your computer works that is), there are viruses other than computer ones it can catch. I'm often amazed at how many people my avatar knows who come down with colds, viruses, all the usual human complaints, and how they all swear they caught it from one another over the computer which we all know just isn't possible. On a more somber note, avatars even die. There were two deaths recently among my group of library/information people in Second Life. Where do avatars go when they die? No one really knows the answer to that either, but they are missed and mourned by those who have known them virtually. I can attest to that. Even online memorials are sometimes given in their honor or virtual trees planted in their memory.
So how do you keep you and your avatar alive and well? I guess the bottom line is trying to lead as healthy a lifestyle as you can. Don't smoke, excercise, eat fruits and vegetables, retain a healthy weight and have as much fun as you can even if it means hanging out in a virtual world. After all, laughter is the best medicine, and happy avatars are healthy avatars.
Catching a virus or flu is not the only way that people get sick or feel bad. Many people suffer from chronic illnesses that, while aren't usually fatal, can be quite debilitating. Take migraines, for example, or back pain, arthritis, acid reflux, allerigies, the list is pretty long. A lot of these ailments are caused by stress, diet, or just a predisposition to them through heredity or history. It seems staying healthy, in light of all these possible conditions, is not too easy.
But getting better once one is sick is even harder because most people avoid going to doctors until they are pretty sick or in too much pain they literally have no choice. But do you blame them? Most doctors have limited office hours and then squeeze you into an already overbooked schedule which results in your waiting an hour or longer in the waiting room and then possibly an hour more in the exam room. Then, when you do get your five minutes with the doctor, he or she either orders you to go for tests, prescribes a pill that has side effects, or refers you to a specialist. That's why so many people resort to home remedies, chiropractor treatments, and acupuncture. But are these the answer? For some, but not for all.
If you belong to a virtual world like Second Life, you may also mistakenly think your avatar can't get sick. Guess what? Even though a computer-generated image is pretty indestructible (as long as your computer works that is), there are viruses other than computer ones it can catch. I'm often amazed at how many people my avatar knows who come down with colds, viruses, all the usual human complaints, and how they all swear they caught it from one another over the computer which we all know just isn't possible. On a more somber note, avatars even die. There were two deaths recently among my group of library/information people in Second Life. Where do avatars go when they die? No one really knows the answer to that either, but they are missed and mourned by those who have known them virtually. I can attest to that. Even online memorials are sometimes given in their honor or virtual trees planted in their memory.
So how do you keep you and your avatar alive and well? I guess the bottom line is trying to lead as healthy a lifestyle as you can. Don't smoke, excercise, eat fruits and vegetables, retain a healthy weight and have as much fun as you can even if it means hanging out in a virtual world. After all, laughter is the best medicine, and happy avatars are healthy avatars.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Traveling on Your Computer Saves Money and is Still Fun
We're all concerned with saving money these days, so many people are travelling more locally for summer vacations. But have you considered that there are places you can go without even leaving your house and still have a great time when you visit some of the attractions of a virtual world?
If you've been reading my blog, you know that, in addition to being an author of the virtual romance, Cloudy Rainbow, I am also a publisher of a magazine aimed at librarians in the virtual world of Second Life. For this magazine, RezLibris, I have recently started a travel column that will feature monthly themes of places to go in Second Life. For instance, in our June issue that just came out, we feature an article on a museum devoted to King Tut, the Virtual King Tut exhibit at Kings Rezzable. In July, we will take a tropical vacation to the Costa Rica sims to scuba dive, horseback ride, and enjoy the many amenities of these islands. For August, we are planning more vacation fun with a trip to a Second Life amusement park or game sim. And in September it will be back to school to visit one of the many schools that offer virtual instruction or perhap one of the many real colleges that have a presence in the virtual world.
For those of you who have never experienced sightseeing in a virtual world, there are many benefits besides the financial. Have you often worried about what to wear to a party or other social event? In a virtual world, you can attend in your pajamas literally and your avatar, the 3D respresentation of yourself that you create in such a world, can wear gowns or tuxedos that cost $2 or less to buy. But you will also find that you are invited to as many pajama parties as formal events in these worlds, too!
Another benefit to virtual travel is that no passports are required; instead a password enables you to travel around the world and meet people from many countries, too. In addition to visiting many international sights that are recreated as places or sims in virtual worlds like Second Life, you may also visit locations not possible in real life -- science fiction worlds, immersive environments, role-playing lands to name a few.
But how to you find the best places to visit in a virtual world? In Second Life, many players or residents as they are known, have created blogs devoted to their travels (some of my favorites are Second Seeker, Mermaid Diaries, and SL Things to Do) as well as inworld groups catering to others who enjoy the same type of interests be it Art, Music, Science, Sports, or other entertainments. Even virtual travel agencies have sprung up along with virtual hotels, resorts, and clubs.
So for fun at your fingertips literally, pack light, save money on gas, and take a virtual vacation!
If you've been reading my blog, you know that, in addition to being an author of the virtual romance, Cloudy Rainbow, I am also a publisher of a magazine aimed at librarians in the virtual world of Second Life. For this magazine, RezLibris, I have recently started a travel column that will feature monthly themes of places to go in Second Life. For instance, in our June issue that just came out, we feature an article on a museum devoted to King Tut, the Virtual King Tut exhibit at Kings Rezzable. In July, we will take a tropical vacation to the Costa Rica sims to scuba dive, horseback ride, and enjoy the many amenities of these islands. For August, we are planning more vacation fun with a trip to a Second Life amusement park or game sim. And in September it will be back to school to visit one of the many schools that offer virtual instruction or perhap one of the many real colleges that have a presence in the virtual world.
For those of you who have never experienced sightseeing in a virtual world, there are many benefits besides the financial. Have you often worried about what to wear to a party or other social event? In a virtual world, you can attend in your pajamas literally and your avatar, the 3D respresentation of yourself that you create in such a world, can wear gowns or tuxedos that cost $2 or less to buy. But you will also find that you are invited to as many pajama parties as formal events in these worlds, too!
Another benefit to virtual travel is that no passports are required; instead a password enables you to travel around the world and meet people from many countries, too. In addition to visiting many international sights that are recreated as places or sims in virtual worlds like Second Life, you may also visit locations not possible in real life -- science fiction worlds, immersive environments, role-playing lands to name a few.
But how to you find the best places to visit in a virtual world? In Second Life, many players or residents as they are known, have created blogs devoted to their travels (some of my favorites are Second Seeker, Mermaid Diaries, and SL Things to Do) as well as inworld groups catering to others who enjoy the same type of interests be it Art, Music, Science, Sports, or other entertainments. Even virtual travel agencies have sprung up along with virtual hotels, resorts, and clubs.
So for fun at your fingertips literally, pack light, save money on gas, and take a virtual vacation!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Online Friends and Virtual Pals
I know there's a lot of concern in the world today about the affect computers are having on society, how reliant we are becoming on them, how they are affecting our socialization skills, especially those of younger people who have over the years gone from interacting with others in group activities such as sports and clubs to spending more time in front of computer screens emailing, chatting, and social networking with people who are often strangers. I know there are dangers involved, but being of a slightly older generation (35+), I never thought I'd become so hooked myself or find that I could develop real online friendships. Or are they real? What is the definition of friendship? Can you be a friend to someone you have never seen? Is it possible that type of friendship could even be deeper than that with friends you see every day?
To answer these questions, I reflected on my own experience. As a librarian, I've been a member of online mailing list groups for a long time where I was able to discuss some of my interests in books, cats, and parenting. But two years ago, I ventured out into another online experience. I joined Second Life, a virtual world where not only could I talk to people, but I could see them, or at least the 3D graphical represenation of themselves that they call avatars. Even more fun, I could create an avatar of myself, dress her like a Barbie doll, name her, and even have her dance to the best steps that I haven't even mastered. I have to admit I was skeptical at first and quite confused. There is a much more difficult learning curve involved in participating in a virtual world versus joining a yahoo or Google group. After two years, I still can't build anything, but I am starting to arrange the furniture in my house better than I had when I first joined. I still have problems keeping up with multitasking my private IM's with open chat, but I'm also improving there.
It's strange for me to realize that I've made more online friends during my time in Second Life than I have in real life. Is that sad? I don't really think so. What does it say about me? I've always been a bit of a loner, shy and somewhat introverted. Throughout my life, reading and writing have been my favorite pasttimes, and you know they are rather solitary occupations. So maybe that's why a virtual world appeals to me. And yet, Second Life is anything but solitary. In fact, if it were solitary, you would be bored out of your mind. The whole idea is to mingle there, find something to do, and have fun. But it can be more than that if you want it to be. It can be a place to develop real friends.
When I joined Second Life, I was lucky in that I found out about a community of librarians who had started up a great group -- what was then Second Life Library 2.0 and is now the Alliance Virtual Library. Through this group, I became involved in writing about their news, events, and happenings (yes there are virtual newspapers and magazines and most of them are online, too). I opened up my own pet memorial center after my beloved cat, Floppy, died. People actually helped me build and design it. After some time, I heard about a library magazine that was just getting off the ground and decided to join its efforts. I have been working for them for a year and am now the publisher of RezLibris http://rezlibris.com/ I oversee a staff of ten, and I consider many of them my friends. We are all in touch practically daily through email or chat and meet in Second Life occasionally, too. Two of them gave me a hand when I had to relocate my virtual home, helping me set out furnishings and landscaping. One helped me create and maintains my real life website: http://www.debbiedelouise.com.
So getting back to my question about what constitutes a real friend. The definition of a friend to me is someone you can talk to, someone you enjoy being with, and someone who you know you can trust and who will help see you through the hard times, who will be there to lend an ear and give you a hug to lift you up when you are down. Does an online friend or virtual pal fit that description? You can certainly talk to someone online or in a virtual world, but most of the chatting is done by typing words on a keyboard (using voice is now possible in most of these worlds, yet typing is still preferred). Can you really enjoy being with someone you've never met in person? Why not? I often find myself laughing at some things people write, and I actually have memories of fun things I have done with friends in Second Life, the virtual parties and dances I've attended, the incredible art and other exhibits I have viewed, the meetings and conferences I took part in.
A harder question is if you can trust someone you meet online or in a virtual world. Since these people can reveal whatever they'd like about themselves and still remain anonymous by using a pen name (whatever they call their avatars), how can one place trust in such elusive identities? And yet is meeting someone at a singles bar or even a respectable place in real life any better? Many times you just have to trust your instincts. You need to be careful, yes, but that is true in all social situations, the real as well as the virtual.
Another difficult question of whether online friends should be considered real actually concerns the real person behind the keyboard typist or avatar. Can someone you speak to on the computer actually help you in hard times? When I had some last-minute problems regarding the publication of my book, Cloudy Rainbow, I turned to an online friend to discuss the situation. Just talking about it to someone who was there to listen helped, and you'd be surprised at how little real life family members or friends really listen in that way. A virtual pal sometimes has more time and compassion for us than a distant relative or a busy friend.
Last but not least, how in the world can an online friend give a supportive hug? Well, it isn't easy but, in a virtual world, or any immersive experience, the imagination is capable of recreating physical contact. I'm not referring to any x-rated stuff that many of these virtual worlds are avoided because of. What I'm talking about is what psychologists have known for ages, that all feelings begin in the mind. Virtual hugs and handshakes are possible through imagination or animations. Not exactly the real thing, but a pretty decent substitute.
So, yes, online and virtual friendship is not only possible, it can be very rewarding. Whether or not you ever meet these people in person, they can play a very meaningful part of your real as well as virtual life.
To answer these questions, I reflected on my own experience. As a librarian, I've been a member of online mailing list groups for a long time where I was able to discuss some of my interests in books, cats, and parenting. But two years ago, I ventured out into another online experience. I joined Second Life, a virtual world where not only could I talk to people, but I could see them, or at least the 3D graphical represenation of themselves that they call avatars. Even more fun, I could create an avatar of myself, dress her like a Barbie doll, name her, and even have her dance to the best steps that I haven't even mastered. I have to admit I was skeptical at first and quite confused. There is a much more difficult learning curve involved in participating in a virtual world versus joining a yahoo or Google group. After two years, I still can't build anything, but I am starting to arrange the furniture in my house better than I had when I first joined. I still have problems keeping up with multitasking my private IM's with open chat, but I'm also improving there.
It's strange for me to realize that I've made more online friends during my time in Second Life than I have in real life. Is that sad? I don't really think so. What does it say about me? I've always been a bit of a loner, shy and somewhat introverted. Throughout my life, reading and writing have been my favorite pasttimes, and you know they are rather solitary occupations. So maybe that's why a virtual world appeals to me. And yet, Second Life is anything but solitary. In fact, if it were solitary, you would be bored out of your mind. The whole idea is to mingle there, find something to do, and have fun. But it can be more than that if you want it to be. It can be a place to develop real friends.
When I joined Second Life, I was lucky in that I found out about a community of librarians who had started up a great group -- what was then Second Life Library 2.0 and is now the Alliance Virtual Library. Through this group, I became involved in writing about their news, events, and happenings (yes there are virtual newspapers and magazines and most of them are online, too). I opened up my own pet memorial center after my beloved cat, Floppy, died. People actually helped me build and design it. After some time, I heard about a library magazine that was just getting off the ground and decided to join its efforts. I have been working for them for a year and am now the publisher of RezLibris http://rezlibris.com/ I oversee a staff of ten, and I consider many of them my friends. We are all in touch practically daily through email or chat and meet in Second Life occasionally, too. Two of them gave me a hand when I had to relocate my virtual home, helping me set out furnishings and landscaping. One helped me create and maintains my real life website: http://www.debbiedelouise.com.
So getting back to my question about what constitutes a real friend. The definition of a friend to me is someone you can talk to, someone you enjoy being with, and someone who you know you can trust and who will help see you through the hard times, who will be there to lend an ear and give you a hug to lift you up when you are down. Does an online friend or virtual pal fit that description? You can certainly talk to someone online or in a virtual world, but most of the chatting is done by typing words on a keyboard (using voice is now possible in most of these worlds, yet typing is still preferred). Can you really enjoy being with someone you've never met in person? Why not? I often find myself laughing at some things people write, and I actually have memories of fun things I have done with friends in Second Life, the virtual parties and dances I've attended, the incredible art and other exhibits I have viewed, the meetings and conferences I took part in.
A harder question is if you can trust someone you meet online or in a virtual world. Since these people can reveal whatever they'd like about themselves and still remain anonymous by using a pen name (whatever they call their avatars), how can one place trust in such elusive identities? And yet is meeting someone at a singles bar or even a respectable place in real life any better? Many times you just have to trust your instincts. You need to be careful, yes, but that is true in all social situations, the real as well as the virtual.
Another difficult question of whether online friends should be considered real actually concerns the real person behind the keyboard typist or avatar. Can someone you speak to on the computer actually help you in hard times? When I had some last-minute problems regarding the publication of my book, Cloudy Rainbow, I turned to an online friend to discuss the situation. Just talking about it to someone who was there to listen helped, and you'd be surprised at how little real life family members or friends really listen in that way. A virtual pal sometimes has more time and compassion for us than a distant relative or a busy friend.
Last but not least, how in the world can an online friend give a supportive hug? Well, it isn't easy but, in a virtual world, or any immersive experience, the imagination is capable of recreating physical contact. I'm not referring to any x-rated stuff that many of these virtual worlds are avoided because of. What I'm talking about is what psychologists have known for ages, that all feelings begin in the mind. Virtual hugs and handshakes are possible through imagination or animations. Not exactly the real thing, but a pretty decent substitute.
So, yes, online and virtual friendship is not only possible, it can be very rewarding. Whether or not you ever meet these people in person, they can play a very meaningful part of your real as well as virtual life.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Tough Truth about Talent
For those of you who haven't watched the amazing video of Susan Boyle's singing performance for Britain's Got Talent, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY, it's worth it to have a look. This unassuming, unattractive lady who is initially scoffed at for dreaming of a singing career, belts out a tune that is nothing less of heartrending. A lesson is here for those of us who judge a book by its cover or imagine that talent comes in any predefined or stereotyped package. In so many fields today, especially the creative ones that are so competitive, the only edges that people can get are who they know or how they look. It's sad but true. So much talent is out there waiting to be recognized that never will be.
Performers are particularly judged by their looks, and, in some fields, such as fashion, youth is a criteria for success. Writers, however, often pen their first famous works after they retire from other careers and, while a nice cover photo is great, it's not essential nor is a model-perfect figure or appearance for book tours. Still, writing talent is not often measured fairly and accurately by editors, publishers, and agents. It is not an easy task to weed out the chafe from the wheat, so to say when there are so many manuscripts vying for attention and promotion.
So how is true talent recognized and identified? How do you know if you have what it takes to shine in a world where so many wannabe stars can block your light? Think back to your childhood. What hobbies and pasttimes did you enjoy most? Did you ever have teachers compliment you especially on one of your creations or projects? Were you particularly proud of your achievements in one field? Is there something today that you still dabble in and that co-workers or friends admire? Although talent needs to be nutured, it usually is inborn. Many artists and musicians come from families of people with similar talent, although it's not purely a genetic inheritance. Often, it is being exposed to certain pursuits from an early age. For instance, most great pianists start lessons early. But not all those who begin young become virtuosos. The seed has to be there. but so does a great deal of hard work and luck.
For myself, I've always loved to write. I was encouraged by family members and teachers to continue writing and expressing myself with words. But most of what I wrote, I wrote for myself. I enjoyed seeing some of it in print in college when I wrote for my college newspaper and later when I wrote for pet magazines. But when I finally decided to self publish my romance novel, "Cloudy Rainbow," it was a different ballgame. I didn't expect to become an overnight talent or grow rich by the copies that were sold. And, of course, neither scenario has taken place. I'm glad my work is out there and am hoping to continue writing. I'm also hoping it will be recognized by a traditional publisher or an agent eventually. Like Susan Boyle, you just never know. You have to keep trying to live your dream and polishing your talent no matter what the initial reactions are.
Performers are particularly judged by their looks, and, in some fields, such as fashion, youth is a criteria for success. Writers, however, often pen their first famous works after they retire from other careers and, while a nice cover photo is great, it's not essential nor is a model-perfect figure or appearance for book tours. Still, writing talent is not often measured fairly and accurately by editors, publishers, and agents. It is not an easy task to weed out the chafe from the wheat, so to say when there are so many manuscripts vying for attention and promotion.
So how is true talent recognized and identified? How do you know if you have what it takes to shine in a world where so many wannabe stars can block your light? Think back to your childhood. What hobbies and pasttimes did you enjoy most? Did you ever have teachers compliment you especially on one of your creations or projects? Were you particularly proud of your achievements in one field? Is there something today that you still dabble in and that co-workers or friends admire? Although talent needs to be nutured, it usually is inborn. Many artists and musicians come from families of people with similar talent, although it's not purely a genetic inheritance. Often, it is being exposed to certain pursuits from an early age. For instance, most great pianists start lessons early. But not all those who begin young become virtuosos. The seed has to be there. but so does a great deal of hard work and luck.
For myself, I've always loved to write. I was encouraged by family members and teachers to continue writing and expressing myself with words. But most of what I wrote, I wrote for myself. I enjoyed seeing some of it in print in college when I wrote for my college newspaper and later when I wrote for pet magazines. But when I finally decided to self publish my romance novel, "Cloudy Rainbow," it was a different ballgame. I didn't expect to become an overnight talent or grow rich by the copies that were sold. And, of course, neither scenario has taken place. I'm glad my work is out there and am hoping to continue writing. I'm also hoping it will be recognized by a traditional publisher or an agent eventually. Like Susan Boyle, you just never know. You have to keep trying to live your dream and polishing your talent no matter what the initial reactions are.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
When it Rains, it Pours, literally and virtually
Have you ever had a really bad week full of really bad news? I know we all get those once in awhile, and this past week was my turn. It started when my mom informed me her cat 16-year old cat passed away. I felt bad for her because I knew what she was going through and although the cat hadn't been mine, I'd known him since he was a kitten. It also brought back the loss of my Floppy who will be gone two years this fall and whom was the both the inspiration for my book, "Cloudy Rainbow," and the pet memorial center I operate in Second Life.
The week continued with bad news. I learned a long-term patron at the library where I worked who was also a good friend had succumbed to the Cancer she was trying to fight. I had seen the woman less than a month ago. We had shared a smile and a hug. You just never know.
A few other less noteworthy things occurred both at work and at home that added to my rotten week, and then the week was topped off with a message from an online friend that both surprised and saddened me. I was surprised both by the message and my feelings about it. For the purposes of this blog piece, the circumstances don't matter. It just meant that my online correspondence with this person would change and possibly cease. Have others experienced this, I wondered? Have you ever really come to depend on the support and friendship of someone you've never met but someone you email or chat with on a regular basis over the Internet? I imagine this occurs occasionally if not commonly as our society has become so reliant on computers and more people are still lonely even if they have real life friends and family.
In my book, "Cloudy Rainbow," my main character also becomes involved with someone she meets online in a virtual world who she later learns is someone who is actually part of her real life. In a turnabout, the feelings she develops with this person online transfer to her real life relaltionship with him. When I wrote this, I wasn't basing this on any of my own experiences, even though many other events in the book are fictionalized fact. But now that this has happened to me, in a different yet similar way, I can relate. Another acquaintance I have in Second Life recently wrote a column for RezLibris, the library magazine I co-publish, saying that people often reveal more of themselves online and can become as close if not closer than in real life because they are more transparent, having only their words to share with one another. I had never thought about this, but I now see it is very true.
So while I mourn for my mom's cat and a library patron friend, I also mourn the friendship of someone I'd never met in person but whose friendship meant a great deal to me.
When it rains, it pours, literally and virtually. I hope next week is better.
The week continued with bad news. I learned a long-term patron at the library where I worked who was also a good friend had succumbed to the Cancer she was trying to fight. I had seen the woman less than a month ago. We had shared a smile and a hug. You just never know.
A few other less noteworthy things occurred both at work and at home that added to my rotten week, and then the week was topped off with a message from an online friend that both surprised and saddened me. I was surprised both by the message and my feelings about it. For the purposes of this blog piece, the circumstances don't matter. It just meant that my online correspondence with this person would change and possibly cease. Have others experienced this, I wondered? Have you ever really come to depend on the support and friendship of someone you've never met but someone you email or chat with on a regular basis over the Internet? I imagine this occurs occasionally if not commonly as our society has become so reliant on computers and more people are still lonely even if they have real life friends and family.
In my book, "Cloudy Rainbow," my main character also becomes involved with someone she meets online in a virtual world who she later learns is someone who is actually part of her real life. In a turnabout, the feelings she develops with this person online transfer to her real life relaltionship with him. When I wrote this, I wasn't basing this on any of my own experiences, even though many other events in the book are fictionalized fact. But now that this has happened to me, in a different yet similar way, I can relate. Another acquaintance I have in Second Life recently wrote a column for RezLibris, the library magazine I co-publish, saying that people often reveal more of themselves online and can become as close if not closer than in real life because they are more transparent, having only their words to share with one another. I had never thought about this, but I now see it is very true.
So while I mourn for my mom's cat and a library patron friend, I also mourn the friendship of someone I'd never met in person but whose friendship meant a great deal to me.
When it rains, it pours, literally and virtually. I hope next week is better.
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