Category: Uncategorized

Wednesday 29 October 2025

#3 Smoke & Mirrors

Have you ever been backstage at a theatre production? In the performer’s dressing room, and many times in the side wings where they wait to go on stage, are a lot of mirrors.

Dancers have a misguided reputation for being vain because they rely on mirrors as they train. Supposedly, a dancer can’t walk by a large window or even the tiniest mirror without a sideways glance at themselves. Some habits are harder to break than others.

The showstopping musical number from the Broadway musical A Chorus Line is sung by the lead character, Cassie, who is the aging chorus girl trying to make a comeback. “All I ever needed was the music and the mirror and the chance to dance for you.” Yep. That’s an amazingly accurate statement about what being a dancer means. The actress Donna McKechnie put this song and dance number on the eternal map of musical theatre’s most powerful performances because her passion for dancing, initially ballet, had nourished her soul from a very young age.

There’s no shortage of commentary and speculation about why or what Stoker intended by writing Count Dracula as invisible in mirrors. No soul. Not living. Ashamed of what he’d become. Violent at the thought of anyone looking at their reflection saying, “And this is the wretched thing that has done the mischief. It is a foul bauble of man’s vanity. Away with it!” He throws the shaving mirror out the window to shatter on the cobblestones below. As if shards of a mirror are acceptable while the whole is not?

The folklore surrounding mirrors could have influenced Stoker, but as I mentioned, writers gather and weave strands from everywhere for a long time before something appears in a story. Yes, the soul of a person is a major theme in Dracula but recall Stoker’s career as a theatre critic and business manager. Whether or not Stoker ever acted in a play isn’t documented, but once he got an all-access pass to the inner workings of what it means to be an actor, he had to have been awed by a performer’s reliance (and sometimes addiction) to their own reflection. Stoker was and never dropped his role as a critic. Someone who offers feedback to a performer…just like a mirror.

The phrase “smoke and mirrors” has been a theatrical technique since the late 18th century when magicians used it to project an image onto smoke to make the image look as if it were floating, shimmering, or hovering. If that image happened to be a person, they were called spirits and ghosts. Fast forward and the words suggest that what someone is seeing or being told should be investigated vigorously to be sure there is truth there. It’s been a go-to idiom in political commentary since the 20th century. Stoker had to have encountered the practice in 19th-century theatre because it was a very popular stage trick to make the audience believe in something that actually didn’t exist.

See where is leading?

Mirrors (not fun-house distortions) tell the truth. No matter how tiny the shard, the reflection is an exact image with an unbiased, untainted message (wicked Queen in Snow White exempted from this discussion.) This is precisely what you look like and the first impression others will have of you. That truth is the reason performers are trained to use mirrors as a means to improve and as a way to see what needs correcting. Look in the mirror. Pants unzipped. Zip. Go out on stage. The mirror also cuts down on what the critic has to complain about. All the world is a stage.

When Jonathan Harker looked into the mirror to shave then felt Count Dracula’s hand on his shoulder (a common place for the imaginary characters of angel and devil to sit) he cut himself with the razor because the “visitor” surprised him. Snuck up on him. Harker claims to have been able to see the whole room in the reflection, but he didn’t see the physical embodiment of the devil behind him. He only felt his presence in his own physical body.

First lesson in smoke and mirrors: be careful what you project for it has a truth all its own.

Be well, write well!

~Joy

(Image Graphics Fairy)

Tuesday 28 October 2025

#2 Stoker’s Day Job

Okay, so where did author Bram Stoker get the idea for the character Count Dracula? Seems like a simple enough question, but writers are not the most straight-forward of folks. We tend to noodle around as famed writing teacher Brenda Ueland called it until we finally arrive at the words “The End.” To think that there is a definitive answer to how Stoker created his main character is to ignore the life of the writer.

Bram Stoker’s day job was as the business manager to actor Henry Irving and later the Lyceum Theatre in London, England which Irving owned.

Lyceum Theatre

Before exploring how Stoker’s “real” work might have influenced his writing, let’s do a quick overview of his life.

Born: November 8, 1847 in Dublin, Ireland (Irish and a Scorpio.)

Education: 1870 Bachelor of Arts in mathematics (?) from Trinity College

First day job: Civil servant working in Dublin Castle for the British royals

First side hustle: Unpaid writer and theatre critic for the Dublin Evening Mail newspaper

First professional turning point: 1878 Because of Stoker’s review of Hamlet’s Shakespeare published in the newspaper, he meets acclaimed actor Henry Irving who offers Stoker a job as the business manager for Irving and the famed Lyceum Theatre in London

Personal life: 1878 Marries actress Florence Balcombe (who had previously been engaged to Oscar Wilde)

One child: 1879 Irving Noel Thornley (notice that Stoker’s only child is named after his boss Henry Irving)

Dracula: 1897 Published in England; 1899 published in America

Literary career: 1902-1911 Continues writing and publishing novels, lectures, & nonfiction

Deceased: April 20, 1912

To begin with, I’m impressed by a writer who can do math, but the university he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from is vague about the emphasis of the degree. Stoker claimed he graduated with “Honors in Pure Mathematics” then went on to keep the books for a major theatre company. Works for me. Obviously, Stoker was that creator.

He became interested in theatre in college but was known as an exemplary athlete in several sports. He must have recognized the importance of making a living and spending personal time on less lucrative endeavors such as writers. Reading Stoker’s life reminds me of Steven King’s beginnings as a school maintenance worker who wrote in the evenings. It’s no surprise then that Stoker worked the day job to pay the bills while writing pro bono for a local publication. Between his education and work experience and interest in theatrical arts, Stoker did what most writers do: endure reality to support our fantasies.

What does a theatre business manager do? They watch the bottom line like a hawk making sure that there is money enough to keep the actors paid and clothed and the audience intrigued enough to buy tickets. Henry Irving was one of the most famous, sought-after actors of the time. He was too busy at his craft to bother with these all-important tasks. Without the building, lights, costumes, advertising, and a script, Irving was nobody. He knew enough to hire an astute and admiring assistant. My own work history includes more than one stint as a business manager for a local ballet company followed by a stint as the personal manager of a popular ballet teacher. I performed exactly the tasks Stoker did for Irving: correspondence, advertising, travel arrangements, negotiations, purchases of everything from food to shoes to reading materials, and much more. All while continuing my freelance work as a dance writer.

The life of an actor (or dancer, musician, author) then and now depends on ticket sales. Tickets are bought because of notoriety. The public will pay for a ticket stub and the bragging rights to be able to say that they saw so-and-so live and in person on stage. Swell. But the pace and the stress are exhausting. It is a blood-sucking existence because fame is fleeting, and artists know it. When a person is at the top of their game, that’s when the fans want to see them. Scheduling and traveling are grueling because an artist never knows when the public will turn away to follow the next fad. The managers are just as used up as the artists.

Then what?

Exactly. Most of the time, there is no notice, no date when an actor’s fame fades. It is usually a gradual thing like the ebb and flow of low tide on the beach when most sun worshipers are inside having dinner. No one is on the sand to witness the slow rise and gentle recline of a weak little wave as it barely wets the sand on its way in then out for good. Until another bigger, grander, wider, more expansive wave comes in later. Does a surfer run for a ripple? No. The crowd swells for a big swell. It’s that way with performers and their managers.

What happens next is the time to realize how exhausted on every level you are, be it performer or support staff. It can be months before energy returns. It can be years before you feel like working at all. After the hustle and adrenaline rush of a performance career, the after party is more like a car running out of gas in the middle of the highway. There is no juiciness left. There is no life force left. You feel as if the blood that used to pump through your veins and kept you on the cutting edge has been literally sucked out of you and all you have left is a carcass not good for much of anything.

“Kiss today good-bye” is a true and famous line from the song “What I Did for Love” from the Broadway musical A Chorus Line. ACL is about the fleeting life of dancers in the chorus line. Although ACL was written in the 1970s, the feeling of nothingness when the career is over is what we humans believe to feel like being dead. The walking dead. The un-dead as Bram Stoker originally titled his novel eventually called Dracula.

A Dracula sucks the life out of another being so that Dracul can go on living. The theatre will suck the life out of the players so that it can go on existing. Did Stoker’s thankless day job as a business manager to a famous actor make him feel as if the fluid of life, his blood, had been drained from his body? We all do something for love at least once in a lifetime.

Be well, write well!

~Joy

(Image The Graphics Fairy.)

Monday 27 October 2025

#1 Dracula is a Romance?

One day my mentor in graduate school said to me, “Consider the book Dracula as a romance novel.” As a romance author myself, it hadn’t occurred to me to view this enduring work as a romance novel, but as one of my favorite all-time books, Bram Stoker’s Dracula rates high for me. The rating is based on the facts that I adore epistolary fiction and no matter how many times I read Dracula, I find something new or different to think about. Why couldn’t I see Dracula as a romance novel?

The left side of my brain immediately reminded me of the eight elements of the romance novel defined by educator and researcher Pamela Regis in her book A Natural History of the Romance Novel (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2003.)

1. society defined
2. the meeting
3. the barrier
4. the attraction
5. the declaration
6. point of ritual death
7. the recognition
8. the betrothal

My mentor’s intriguing statement got me looking at Dracula in a different way. Right away, I ran into a brick wall. Who are the love interests in the story? The standard romance tropes require that two individuals develop an attraction followed by overcoming obstacles resolved by culminating in an agreement between the parties to make changes necessary to commit to a lasting relationship.

Now you may be thinking, “The obvious romantic couple is Miss Mina Murray and Jonathan Harker because they end of happily married and with a son they name after the man who gave his life to save them.” As a matter of fact, Stoker tries to tie up several relationships at the end of the book explaining that Godalming and Dr. Seward live and are also “both happily married.” And yes, the final remarks of that stalwart Van Helsing point to maybe Stoker wanted readers to see the story of Dracula as a romance with a happy ending:

“We want no proofs; we ask none to believe us! This boy will some day know what a brave and gallant woman his mother is. Already he knows her sweetness and loving care; later on he will understand how some men so loved her, that they did dare much for her sake.”

Doesn’t this sound like the end of a romance novel to you? It does to me, but I must admit that other elements of the story stand out so vividly for me that seeing a love story as the main idea hadn’t crossed my mind until those words from my mentor.

What do you think? Can you sink your teeth into the idea of the novel Dracula as a romance? Why or why not?

Be well, write well!

~Joy

(Image Graphics Fairy)

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

JOURNAL-TO-GO-BAG SHAKES THINGS UP IN A GOOD WAY

12 April 2025

To refresh your memory, my author platform for over 30 years has been the health and well-being of creative people, especially writers. Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity was my first published book in 2003 after several years of presenting workshops on the topic. The book is in its third edition and with a third publisher because the previous hosts closed up shop. Publishing is a chaotic business and not for the faint of heart or the impatient. Writer wellness is a way to embrace and thrive within the chaos.

The five key concepts of writer wellness are journaling, exercise, relaxation, nutrition, and creative play. As publishing and authoring evolve, I like to regularly remind creatives to follow good self-care practices in order to support their work and health. This post includes tips for journaling.

JOURNALING

Everyone goes through a journaling slump. Regardless of dedication to the practice, it can become stale or mundane. It happens. Don’t take it as a sign of time to stop. A journaling slump is time to explore the page beyond the norms. Instead of documenting the events of the day, write the list in your journal and title it “Today’s Goals” then check everything off with an X or a check mark. This is a positive way to look at a repeat practice.

Another helpful activity is to change up the place where you journal. I regularly like to go to a coffee shop or the library to journal to shake up my surroundings and what I journal about. One thing I do is LEAVE MY JOURNAL AT HOME and take blank paper to the new spot. I do this because I don’t want my regular journal to be misplaced. Once I’m home, I staple, glue, or enclose the pages in a cellophane envelope and add stickers then attach the whole thing to a page in the regular journal.

“Journal-to-Go-Bag” is a must and makes journaling in a new place easy. Fill a tote with the essentials such as blank paper or a notebook, pens, and markers and keep it always ready to go. I also include a roll or two of washi tape in case I find ephemera or interesting things at the location to add to my pages.

Up Next: Taking care of your physical body with regular exercise keeps your brain in shape too!

Sign up for my weekly e-newsletter by filling out the form HERE. Or scroll to the bottom of this page! Thanks in advance!

NEWSLETTER

Be well, write well.

~Joy

MY WRITEDAY SUBSCRIPTION BOX CART OPENS MONDAY, MAY 5. Don’t miss out on this fun box of writerly goodness lovingly called by one subscriber “A treasure trove for writers.” The May/June box is called “The Writing Coach.”

Advertisement

The wealthy Kate Hamilton must marry the wounded viscount she is sheltering in her London townhouse since saving his life has ruined her. But he is a perfect candidate since he needs to marry well. When he seems reluctant, Kate proposes hiring him as her husband to disguise her love for him.

Hugh Bartram, Viscount of Dancy, has never met anyone like levelheaded Kate, thrusting herself into a scandal to save his sister from gossip. He resents Kate trying to solve everything with money, even as he admits her heart is in the right place.

Just as they wed, his sister elopes, and Dancy is captivated by the unconventional Kate as they ride across England together to prevent another scandal.

This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.

You are receiving this message because you previously signed up for notifications or participated in a program/course with Joy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

JOY E. HELD is an author, educator, editor, entrepreneur, and literary citizen responsible for this site and its contents. She is the author of

Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2020)

Writer Wellness Workbook: A Guided Workbook and Journal to Accompany Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2023)

The Mermaid Riot (Fire and Ice YA, 2024) Young Adult Historical Fantasy

She writes spicy historical fiction under a pen name.

She is the winner of multiple writing and book awards:

West Virginia Writers, Inc. Annual Writing Contest, Honorable Mention, Novel, 1998.

New York Book Festival, Honorable Mention, Writer Wellness, 2020.

Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Finalist, Writer Wellness, 2021.

Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, Member of the Year, 2020.

Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, First Book Award, 2020.

She is an adjunct faculty member in the Southern New Hampshire University Online MFA Creative Writing.

She is a proud graduate of Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction.

She is a member of The Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Joy is the founder and CEO of My WRITEDAY Subscription Box for writers and readers.

This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.

Today we’re featuring authors NANCY HAYES KILGORE, KATHIE GIORGIO, & FRAN HAWTHORNE.

BOOK: Bitter Magic

AUTHOR: Nancy Hayes Kilgore

GENRE: Historical Fiction

BLURB: Bitter Magic, inspired by the true story of Isobel Gowdie and her witchcraft confession, reveals a little-known corner of history—the lives of both pagan and Protestant women in the Scottish Reformation of the 1600s as witch trials and executions threatened their lives, values, and beliefs.

The story is told by Isobel herself and also by Margaret Hay, a fictionalized seventeen-year-old noble woman. When Margaret stumbles across Isobel one day, it seems as though Isobel is commanding the dolphins in the ocean to dance. Margaret is enchanted. She becomes interested in Isobel’s magic, in fairies, and in herbal remedies; Isobel freely shares her knowledge. While Margaret worries that being around Isobel could be dangerous, she also respects Isobel’s medical successes and comes to believe that acknowledging the efficacy of herbal remedies or believing in fairies does not challenge her Christianity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nancy Hayes Kilgore, BITTER MAGIC (Sunbury Press, 2021,) is the author of two other novels, WILD MOUNTAIN (Green Writers Press, 2017) and SEA LEVEL (RCWMS, 2011). Her writing has won the Vermont Writers Prize and a ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Award. Nancy is a graduate of the Radcliffe Writing Seminars and holds a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling. She is a writing coach, psychotherapist, and former parish pastor, and leads workshops on creative writing and spirituality.

BOOK: Hope Always Rises

AUTHOR: Kathie Giorgio

GENRE: Literary Magical Realism

BLURB: In Heaven, there is a gated community for those who end their lives. This is a surprise to Hope, who ends her life on the banks of the Fox River in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Hope never knew what caused her sadness. God reassures her he does, but he won’t reveal it. Yet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kathie Giorgio is the critically acclaimed author of seven novels, two story collections, an essay collection, and four poetry books. Awards include Pushcart Prizes in fiction and poetry, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library Association, the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence, and the Eric Hoffer Award In Fiction.

BOOK: I Meant to Tell You

AUTHOR: Fran Hawthorne

GENRE: Contemporary Upmarket Fiction

BLURB: When Miranda Isaac’s fiancé, Russ Steinmann, is being vetted for his once-in-a-lifetime dream job in the U.S. attorney’s office, the couple worries that Miranda’s parents’ history as political activists in the Sixties could jeopardize Russ’ security clearance. But the real threat emerges when Russ’s future boss discovers that Miranda was arrested for felony kidnapping nearly a decade earlier—an arrest she’d never revealed to Russ.

Miranda tries to convince Russ she was only helping her best friend, Ronit—caught up in a nasty custody battle—take her daughter to visit her parents in Israel. As Miranda struggles to prove that she’s not a criminal, she either makes matters worse or stumbles into more secrets. With everything she thought she knew upended, Miranda must face the truth about her family, herself, and her future marriage.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Fran Hawthorne has been writing novels since she was four years old, although she was sidetracked for several decades by journalism. During that award-winning career, she wrote eight nonfiction books and was an editor or regular contributor for The New York Times, Business Week, Fortune, and many other publications. But Fran never abandoned her true love: Her debut novel, “The Heirs,” was published in 2018, and now I MEANT TO TELL YOU (published last November by Stephen F. Austin State University Press) has already won or is a finalist for seven awards. Fran is at work on two new novels and also writes reviews for the New York Journal of Books.

Advertisements

This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.

Welcome to Books By My Friends (BBMF) where I host various authors and their work.

Today we’re featuring authors TAD CRAWFORD, ZOE TASIA, and CHRIS COURTNEY MARTIN

BOOK: On Wine-Dark Seas: A Novel of Odysseus and His Fatherless Son Telemachus

AUTHOR: Tad Crawford

GENRE: Historical Fiction

BLURB: Here is a brilliant recounting of the life of Odysseus after his safe return to the island of Ithaca, his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. Countless readers and listeners have thrilled to the adventures of Odysseus in The Iliad and The Odyssey, but what further adventures awaited him after his ten years of war and ten years of wandering?

Narrated by Telemachus to the bard Phemios, On Wine-Dark Seas speaks of the human drama of a man gone twenty years from home and family, a man who saw Troy on the night of its destruction, a man who lives the special quest which is his destiny. In probing the inner journeys of a son and father separated twenty years who must come to terms with each other and their ruthless slaughter of the suitors of Penelope, it reveals the doubts and joys of Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tad Crawford is the author of A Floating Life: A Novel as well as The Secret Life of Money and a dozen other nonfiction books. His lectures have brought mythology alive at venues such as the New York Open Center, Wainwright House, and the Analytical Psychology Club of New York. The recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts award, Crawford is the founder and publisher of Allworth Press. He lives in New York City.

BOOK: Kilts and Catnip (The Shrouded Isle Book 1)

AUTHOR: Zoe Tasia

GENRE: Fantasy

BLURB: Becca Shaw visits a Scottish island where there’s a doorway to a magical world. Local Greg Gillie keeps everyone safe from the fae living there. Since Becca’s arrival, magic attacks have increased. The two must work together to stop the fae as they navigate growing feelings for each other. Note from the author: Kilts and Catnip is a sweet and wholesome fantasy romance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Zoe Tasia lives in Texas with her understanding Greek husband and a crazy cat where she explores her imagination as a writer. When she’s not giving her imaginary friends full rein, she enjoys the opera, ballet, well-chilled champagne and books, lots and lots of books.

BOOK: THE BOOK OF I.P. (Idle Poems)

AUTHOR: Chris Courtney Martin

GENRE: Poetry/Prose Chapbook

BLURB: ‘THE BOOK OF I.P. (Idle Poems)’ is a hybrid poetry and essay chapbook collection that is “ironic in concept, sincere in content” as it deconstructs prescribed best-practices for getting ideas greenlit as a screenwriter and what it means to possess a producible and worthy story. Note from the author: Some adult language and themes, PG-13

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chris Courtney Martin is a Black Queer multidisciplinary artist and psychic medium originally from Philadelphia. Martin’s produced screenwriting credits include short independent projects starring talents such as Sheryl Lee Ralph and Niecy Nash, as well as the animated YouTube series ‘SOMETHING SCARY’. After a multi-awarded screenwriting trajectory, the artist pivoted to literature. Their debut poetry/prose chapbook ‘THE BOOK OF I.P. (Idle Poems)’ is available in print on Amazon, via Alien Buddha Press. A second, full-length collection called ‘SLAM POEMS FOR MY BATHROOM MIRROR…And Other Selected Works…’ is due to launch in October of 2023. Martin also releases music under the name KWEAN OONTZ and debuted with the ‘A KWEAN OONTZ NOVEL’ MicroAlbum in June 2023, to positive international critical reception.

Advertisements

This post may contain affiliate links that may result in a small commission to me if you purchase through the link.

“BACK TO THE BOOKS” SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER BOX REVEAL!

It’s “Back to the Books” in September and October and the first WriteDay bi-monthly box is arriving as we type! Let’s take a look at what’s inside.

1. Featured writing craft book: The Idea: the Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage, or Fiction by Emmy and Golden Globe award winning author Erik Bork. Erik’s book is relatively new and packed with super information about coming up with ideas. Who doesn’t need a bit of help there now and then? He was part of the writing team for the hit HBO series “Band of Brothers.” His ideas for coming up with ideas is nothing short of brilliant.

2. Blank journal: Write your own story in the 5 x 7-inch spiral-bound journal with lined pages to collect all the ideas you gather after reading Erik’s book!

3. Literature stickers collection: You don’t have to be a scrap booker to appreciate this cute set of literary stickers. There are no less than 10 stickers in the packet. Use them in your journal, in a scrapbook, or decorate a blank greeting card you’re sending to a writing friend.

4. Healthy snack: These peach flavored gummy rings from Lily’s are sugar-free and tasty as all get-out!

5. Decor: When I came across the miniature wooden typewriter, I had to have one. I use it to display my business card on the table at book signings. So stinkin’ cute, if you ask me.

6. Jewelry: The Writer zipper pull blows me away with its cuteness factor. I can’t tell you how many zippers I have that the pull has broken off but the garment, purse, whatever still functions. It can also be attached to a key ring without adding bulk or weight, and it would be super adorable hooked into the eyelet or laces of your walking sneakers.

7. Writing tool: There’s a pen in the box from yours truly.

8. Jewelry: The collectable enamel pin is off the charts, mine anyway, for being an adorable and understated way to let others know you’re a writer. Plans are to have a different writing/reading book related enamel pin in every box. Wear it on a lapel or attach it to the strap on your laptop case. Collect them all!

9. Something to write about: I’m nuts over Thoughtfulls pop-out greetings. Each one is brilliantly created to be interesting and charming. I keep a few in my journaling tote bag to share or use as a journal prompt. They fit nicely inside greeting cards for a little something extra. Pop it open, copy the words into the blank journal you just received, and write down your thoughts. They’re a little bit addictive.

It’s not too late to get your WriteDay Sept./Oct. subscription box while supplies last.

My WriteDay Subscribe Here

“Holiday Hoopla” November/December box will begin shipping November 25. Know anyone who would appreciate receiving a gift subscription to My WriteDay? Visit the website to get that in the works.

I hope your WriteDay is fantastic!

Joy

At first glance, the title could indicate that this is a piece about surviving a literal fall, as in down the steps, goddess forbid! The “fall” is seasonal in this case. Here are some tips for writers and readers for getting the most out of this time of year filled with so many colors, activities, and opportunities.

JOURNAL

Survival is one thing, but thriving is another. Surviving makes me think of living through a tough time and finally being rescued. I feel a bit fatigued by the idea of survival. Conversely, thriving makes me feel powerful and energized, ready for life’s curve balls. Here are three journaling prompts to bring the pen and paper to a meeting of the minds (or the keyboard clacking!)

1. Write about a school memory set during the autumn. Did you love the coloring sheets in elementary school with falling leaves, pumpkins, and turkeys on them? Did fall sports mean anything to you during junior or high school?
2. All the seasons involve transitions. Whether it’s environmental or physical, write about a transition memory that still impresses who you are today.
3. What do you love (or not) about the autumn season and why?

EXERCISE

With the cooler temperatures, fall is a good time to get outside for regular exercise. Walking is a favorite of mine. It makes me feel better and relax because I’m moving and not at the computer. If walking or yoga outside aren’t possible, open a window wherever you workout and enjoy the crisp air and the flapping curtains cheering you on.

MEDITATE

Many things change about our northern hemisphere lifestyle in the fall. Five minutes of stillness, eyes closed, and counting breaths can do wonders for appreciating the transitions of the seasons and our lives.

EAT

While summer brings its bountiful harvest of fresh, local produce and flowers, autumn offers its particular flavors and scents. The onset of every new season is a good time to reset your body’s systems. Everyone should do a mild detox or cleanse at the start of every new season. If for no other reason than to feel open and spacious for the coming months. The simplest and safest way to detox is to increase your daily water intake. There is no formula. Adjust as needed.

CREATE

I believe we’re all natural born creators. Some people play to that strength more than others. One reason some folks don’t consider themselves creative is that they never had the opportunity to make something. And they may have “expectations syndrome” which I invented to mark the times when I feel less than capable. For example, I can’t draw more than stick figures, hearts, and chakra symbols. I’m a good doodler. I like journal pages to be illustrated and colorful so I cut images from magazines and create collages. I can embellish as I see fit and feel satisfied that I lived up to my belief that art, all forms of art, are interpretations of how we see the world.

How do you plan to thrive this fall?

I hope your WRITEDAY is fantastic.

Joy

Women with clean houses do not have finished books. ~Joy E. Held

Connect with me!

LinkTree

Advertisement

Please note that this site may contain affiliates links. I may earn a small commission if you click through the link and make a purchase. Thanks for all the support!

The September/October My WRITEDAY subscription box “Back to the Books” ships September 20! Sign up now to be an Early Bird subscriber and receive a surprise free gift with your first box.

$59.00 plus tax includes shipping.

My WRITEDAY Subscribe

My WRITEDAY is a subscription box program that delivers curated products from authors, creators, and small businesses to writers and readers in the US. It’s unique in that many products are sourced from writers who are also crafters and artisans. Each box delivers a writing craft book of the month and 3-7 items associated with the key concepts (journaling, fitness, relaxation, nutrition, and creative play) of Writer Wellness, my flagship program and book (Headline Books, Inc. 2020.)

Each box is inspired by literary themes, genres, and holidays. Every box includes access to My WRITEDAY digital magazine filled with writing and publishing tips, writer wellness ideas, fiction excerpts, poetry, special offers, social media options such as live virtual meetings, and more.

The idea behind My WRITEDAY is to help writers spend more time creating stories, engaging with like-minded book friends, and enjoying the juicy, creative life they deserve. From craft books to office supplies to fun, writing/reading inspired décor, subscribers will discover an experience designed to offer a healthful plan for living your best writing life.