Welcome to “Write True” the March/April 2025 box! Writing true means several things to me. Write the truth as you know it whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, memoir, or poetry. Use true words to describe what you believe is the truth. Be authentic and avoid overused words. What does true writing mean to you?
Let’s look at it all.
500 Words You Should Know by Caroline Taggart is not your average “dictionary” because of its organization by theme. Need a unique or special word for mood? It’s in there. Want to use something besides heaven to name it? It’s in there. This is the most unique “dictionary” I’ve ever seen. It even has a bibliography and an index to further support your word cravings. I’d love to know what you think about this book!
Plot Twist inspiration cards. These are not your average inspiration cards for writers. These are not your average cards for coming up with ideas when you’ve hit a bump in the manuscript. Because you never know what you’ll find behind the scratch off area on the card. Just like a lottery ticket, pick a card, get a coin, and scratch off the hidden inspiration. The only difference between Plot Twist cards and lottery tickets is that PT makes you a winner every time. Each hidden message is fodder for fixing plot problems or having something to journal or blog about. The fiction collection is in this box. I love them so much that you are guaranteed to see another genre in a future box! I would love to know how you used these cards. Critique group writing prompt anyone?
Fruit Flavored Chewy Candies consciously crafted by The Lovely Candy Company. Individually wrapped and organic, these candies are perfect for that moment when you want something sweet but don’t want a whole cupcake! The “no” list of ingredients is just as important as what’s in each delicious piece. No artificial colors or flavors, non-GMO, no high fructose corn syrup, or gluten. Awesome.
Candle kit with “natural fireman” is something I created for you. The tea light candles are from an artisan candle maker in California. The sand is what is called a “natural fireman” for candles because if the candle melts or flames out of the container, the sand will automatically and naturally put out the fire! Place the sand in the glass tea light holder then center the candle in the sand. Never burn candles around paper, please😊
Bookshelf Note Pad from Pippi Post products in Kentucky is perfect for lists or keeping in the journal go bag I wrote about in the January/February MWD Digital Magazine. And so cute!
There are reading andwriting stickers, a Thoughtfull pop-out journal prompt, and promotional bookmarks from some my author friends.
I adore hearing from you any time! Watch your email in late APRIL for the exclusive MWD subscriber digital magazine.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
The May/April 2025 MWD box will be available from Monday, May 5 to Saturday, May 10 ONLY. Mark your calendar so you don’t miss out on this “treasure trove for writers” delivered to your door every other month.
Thank you so much for being a My WRITEDAY subscriber AND a future subscriber.
I hope your WriteDay is fantastic!
~Joy
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.
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.
GENRE: Haiku, Poetry, Popular Culture, Television, Science Fiction.
BLURB: The Twilight Zone Haiku explores the essence of Rod Serling’s iconic,
uncanny 1960s television show through haiku, giving us dazzling, spot-on
snapshots of each episode. In seventeen syllables, Boykin captures the
show’s main objective: to deliver a keen jolt of existential awareness.
As you read, you find yourself marooned on an alien planet, lost in
time, trapped inside a mannequin, surrounded by the debris of a nuclear
attack, and always, always powerless to forces beyond your control. The
Twilight Zone Haiku conjures the trappings of each haunting plot of the
series, but more astutely, its scalpel-edged soul.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Attorney, author, and former boxer Chadwick Ellis Boykin is the owner
and creator of Jobber House Press, LLC. He is the author of Muay Thai
Kickboxing: The Ultimate Guide to Conditioning, Training, and Fighting
(Paladin Press, 2002), The Twilight Zone Haiku (Jobber House Press,
2023), and the forthcoming Kaiju and Kayfabe, essays on the uniquely
interconnected history of giant Japanese monster cinema and the art of
professional wrestling. He has contributed to the forthcoming Outside In
Can Live With It: 174 Deep Space 9 Stories, 174 Writers, 174 New
Perspectives (ATB Publishing), and The Kaiju Haiku: The Comic Zine with
Weirdo Poetry.
Tom Elliot is the host of The Twilight Zone Podcast, the definitive and
longest running podcast about the landmark show on the web. In addition
to episode reviews, the podcast includes short story readings, book
reviews, event coverage and interviews. The show has been graced by
guests such as Anne Serling (daughter of The Twilight Zone creator Rod
Serling and acclaimed author of As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling),
Earl Holliman (the first actor to ever appear in The Twilight Zone) and
Win Rosenfeld, Executive Producer of the 2019 The Twilight Zone reboot.
Tom featured as one of the speakers in the BBC documentary You’re
Entering Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone, along with Anne Serling and
Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker. The Twilight Zone Podcast is an
unofficial production, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of
The Twilight Zone and the work of Rod Serling.
BLURB: Governess Marian Greenway feels she’s been hired by a lunatic when her employer demands she wear a revealing dress to dinner then introduces her to his relatives as his fiancée. When she realizes his behavior may be rooted in his war wounds he has her instant sympathy. Captain David Armstead, Lord Wyle just wants to fob off his interfering aunts, and a fake engagement seems a good idea when in his cups. But the next day the woman he thought was a hired actress takes over his household, and his children become instantly devoted to her. After only a few days he feels that he is falling in love with her but she has vowed never to marry a soldier. Even before they wed Wyle and Marian face the dilemma of what is more important, the welfare of the children or their own happiness. They find the answer when a threat to those children vaults them into an international plot where only Marian’s resourcefulness and Wyle’s faith in her can bring them all home safe.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Barbara Jean Miller is a retired educator, author, and nature observer.
BLURB: At the dawn of the second millennium, two royal Scottish children are swept away from their families—Macbeth to the perilous royal court of his grandfather, Gruach to the remnants of the goddess-worshiping Picts. Macbeth learns that blood bonds are easily severed while Gruach finds her path only to lose it when she’s summoned back to the patriarchal world. They struggle with gaining and losing power, guided and misguided by prophecy and politics as their paths converge in a fiery bid for royal succession. Upon the Corner of the Moon separates literary legend from the reality of rulers who changed the face of Scotland. While closely following recorded history about Macbeth, it also speculates on the heritage of his wife Gruach, drawing on the Neolithic settlement of Alba and the mysterious legacy of the Picts. “Upon the Corner of the Moon is a haunting and bloody tale of Scottish history. It’s also a finger tracing along a set of scars, ones we already know are too deep to ever really heal,” said the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Valerie Nieman’s debut historical novel, Upon the Corner of the Moon, is the story of the young Macbeths, destined to unite Scotland in the tumultuous 11th century. To learn more about the people and landscapes, she wandered Scotland from coast to coast and spent many happy hours in museums, libraries, and small pubs. She is the author of a short fiction collection, three poetry books, and six other novels, including In the Lonely Backwater, winner of the 2022 Sir Walter Raleigh Award, which was called “not only a page-turning thriller but also a complex psychological portrait of a young woman dealing with guilt, betrayal, and secrecy.” Her novel Blood Clay won the Eric Hoffer Prize in General Fiction. To the Bones, a horror/Appalachian/ecojustice novel, was a finalist for the 2020 Manly Wade Wellman Award, and now has a sequel, Dead Hand. A graduate of West Virginia University and Queens University of Charlotte, she has held state and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships is professor emerita of creative writing at NC Agricultural and Technical State University.
BLURB: Never mind the circumstantial evidence. Seventeen-year-old Noelle, an aspiring ballet dancer, doesn’t believe her missing mother would ever have committed suicide and launches her own investigation. Meantime, she’s dealing with growing romantic feelings toward Ravi, her best friend and fellow dancer, as well as worries about why her little sister is so reluctant to visit their dad. Threaded throughout the novel is the story of a young woman nearly twenty years earlier whose escape from an abusive marriage turns out to be related to Noelle’s investigation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lynn Slaughter is addicted to the arts, chocolate, and her husband’s cooking. After a long career as a professional dancer and dance educator, Lynn earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She is the award-winning author of five young adult romantic mysteries: MISSING MOM, DEADLY SETUP, LEISHA’S SONG, IT SHOULD HAVEBEEN YOU, AND WHILE I DANCED, as well as an adult mystery, MISSEDCUE. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where she’s at work on her next novel and serves on the board of Derby Rotten Scoundrels, the Ohio River Valley chapter of Sisters in Crime.
Advertisement
My WriteDay is a bi-monthly subscription box for writers and readers. Each “treasure trove for writers” includes a writing craft book and 3-5 writerly gifts curated to support writers.
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.
writerwellness at gmail dot com for information on how you can be a featured author on Books By My Friends.
Buy me a coffee:)
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.
“Advice on How to Get Your Writing Noticed from Estelle Erasmus”
GUEST POST from author/educator/journalist ESTELLE ERASMUS
As legendary memoirist Abigail Thomas said about Writing That Gets Noticed: “It’s an encyclopedia of writing advice, but feels like a conversation.”
A Curious Mind Takes You A Long Way
I think a successful freelance writer keeps a curious mind, and a beginner mindset and gathers information, and then makes sure that the craft supports the execution of the essay, article or pitch. They also realize that publishing is a long game, and so they look into various ways to tell their stories: through micro memoir, substack posts (where they can accrue subscribers, and eventually get paid), podcasts and new technologies. The traditional media venues are shrinking so it’s important to find new ways to get what you want to say out there and build an audience for your message or writings.
The Importance of Building Your Craft
I think that the cream rises to the top, and if people aren’t able to craft a story well, they will lose their readers over time. A publication may want them for a “clickbait” story, but once that story is over, if they don’t know how to tell other less sensational stories they won’t be published consistently in credible publications. I think to develop craft people can read books for ($20 and less) like mine, and others, read about craft in Brevity and Writer’s Digest, and listen to/watch free podcasts like Freelance Writing Direct that offers craft and writing advice, directly from authors, agents, editors and publishing and media professionals, including how to structure books.
The next level is attending online webinars for a small fee (I love the ones offered by Jane Friedman and also CRAFTSTALK). You might also consider taking a class at your community college, but make sure that the person teaching has the kinds of bylines or books you aspire to, as well as deep ties in the industry.
Another option is to take classes at established organizations like the ones I teach for Writer’s Digest. A fifth level is to take a university-level class for adults, which I teach at NYU’s School of Professional Studies.
Finally, they can invest in attending conferences (virtual and in-person) and going to sessions taught by industry leaders. Many writing coaches also offer 1 x 1 coaching which requires a deeper investment. I always advise having some experience with the person first before putting a great deal of money down.
How Can you Make Your Mark as a Journalist?
I would say that to make your mark as a journalist, it’s important to not shy away from the big story. Go Big! Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself to explore new, groundbreaking subjects. If you stick to doing round ups or very service oriented pieces (how to carpet your guest house), you won’t get the kind of attention to make a name for yourself. I always tell my writing coaching students that they should work on adding voice to any service pieces that they write. This can be done in the intro statement and also at the ending of a piece.
My Best Advice if You Want to Write
As Jackie Collins said, “If you want to be a writer-stop talking about it and sit down and write!” To start out in a professional capacity, write anything you can and for everyone you can. When I was starting out I wrote brochure copy, book reviews, pieces for local newspapers, and then wrote for magazines once I became a magazine editor. But, I always kept learning and growing and never gave up.
If you want to write a memoir, start writing your stories, and try to get some of them out in micro memoir form. A lot of the bloggers that I knew when we all blogged have since written books. I think it helped that they were in the practice of writing every day, and kept honing their skills. It’s important to realize that publishing is a long game, and so think of your writing that way and never give up.
Estelle Erasmus: an award-winning journalist, is the author of WRITING THAT GETS NOTICED (named a “Best Book for Writers” by Poets & Writers Magazine), a Contributing Editor for Writer’s Digest, and host of the podcast Freelance Writing Direct. She is an adjunct instructor for NYU’s School of Professional Studies/Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts, has written for over 150 publications, including The New York Times, Next Avenue/PBS, WIRED, The Independent,The Washington Post, and AARP: The Magazine, and was the editor-in-chief of five national publications. Find out more at estelleserasmus.com and follow her on Substack at https://estelleserasmus.substack.com and on social media: @EstelleSErasmus.
Author of Writing That Gets Noticed
In Poets & Writers “Best Books for Writers”
2023 Zibby Award winner for the “Best Book for The Writer”
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.
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, a weekly feature hosting a variety of my friends who have published books. Please leave a comment for any or all of the guest authors in the space below.
Today we’re featuring authors LAURY A. EGAN, NITA SWEENEY, AND ZOE TASIA.
“The Psychologist’s Shadow” cover photo by Laury A. Egan
BLURB: In October 1992, Dr. Ellen Haskell begins a new therapy practice in Princeton after a tragic error with a former client. Demoralized by her failure, Ellen strives to restore her emotional and professional confidence. Her parents have departed for Greece, leaving Ellen alone in their secluded country house. As the reader is introduced to her roster of clients through their individual sessions, Ellen becomes unnerved when she receives hang-up phone calls and a series of bizarre gifts from an anonymous admirer—at first at her office and then at home. As the obsessive lover increasingly invades her life, Ellen’s anxiety crescendos and she begins to fear the stalker’s behavior will escalate into violence. The Psychologist’s Shadow is a portrait of a compassionate, introspective therapist who finds herself in a dangerous struggle with an unknown stalker. The novel is a simmering literary suspense, one in which tension accumulates as the reader gains insights during sessions with clients—one of whom may be the psychologist’s shadow—and through the stalker’s journal entries, which serve as a discordant counterpoint.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Laury A. Egan is the author of eleven novels, The Firefly; Once, Upon an Island; Wave in D Minor; Turnabout; Once, Upon an Island; Doublecrossed; The Swimmer; The Ungodly Hour; A Bittersweet Tale; Fabulous! An Opera Buffa; The Outcast Oracle; and Jenny Kidd; in addition to a collection, Fog and Other Stories. Four limited-edition poetry volumes have been published: Snow, Shadows, a Stranger; Beneath the Lion’s Paw; The Sea & Beyond; and Presence & Absence. Eighty-five of her stories and poems have appeared in literary journals.
BLURB: What do you think of when you hear the word meditation? Monks? Instagram influencers? Yoga? Tai Chi? What if lifting weights, dancing with your love, or walking across a room counted? What if you could make any move a meditation? Nita Sweeney’s Make Every Move a Meditation shows you how!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nita Sweeney is the bestselling wellness author of Depression Hates a Moving Target, You Should Be Writing, and Make Every Move a Meditation. Ultramarathoner. Meditator. Mindfulness coach. Writing practice zealot. Mental health advocate. Dog mom. Retired attorney. Retired publisher of Write Now Columbus. Her next book, A Daily Dose of Now, will be released in September.
BLURB: Becca juggles witch-in-training lessons, mothering to two teens, and falling in love as she works to stop island troublemakers and her crazy relatives from wreaking havoc. Bagpipes and Basil is a humorous, cozy fantasy about a family, a courtship, and a community.
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.
BLURB: Christmas wants to spend the summer hanging with Lexi, the one friend who gets her completely, ADHD and all. But things are strained, and get weirder when the friends stumble on a crime scene, and Christmas is forced to face difficult realities about her her beloved lake community. Author note: A little heat! (Some kissing and flirting.) Also, content warning for homophobic language (a character uses a slur) and substance abuse.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sara Hosey is the author of three young adult novels: Iphigenia Murphy, Imagining Elsewhere, and Summer People. Her short story collection, Dirty Suburbia, is forthcoming in 2024. A Queens native, she lived for several years in Wisconsin before returning to New York, where she teaches English at a community college.
BLURB: What you see with your own eyes is true, right? Not necessarily, when a crooked prison warden slams social media with deep fake videos showing an inmate’s escape helped by his female guard-lover. The guard claims that never happened. No one believes her except investigator Tawny Lindholm.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Debbie Burke is an award-winning journalist, crime novelist, freelance editor, and blogger on The Kill Zone. She writes from her home in Montana where the scenic, rugged Rocky Mountains offer plenty of locations to kill people…on the page, that is!
BLURB: Ready or Not, the sequel to Summer of L.U.C.K., features more magical adventures with Darby, Naz, Justin, and the ghost who haunts a magical carnival, but it spotlights thirteen-year-old Justin, who faces a tricky choice: stand up to bigotry or let fear hold him back.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Laura Segal Stegman is a Los Angeles-based author whose middle grade debut novel, Summer of L.U.C.K., and its sequel, Ready or Not (both from Young Dragons Press), are available wherever books are sold. The Chambered Nautilus, third in the L.U.C.K. trilogy, will follow. She serves as a judge for kidlit writer competitions and shares her author journey in engaging visits to schools and libraries. Her popular PR Tips for Authors workshop features a step-by-step guide to building a digital author media kit. Non-fiction credits include collaboration on the travel book Only in New York. A long-time publicity consultant, she owns Laura Segal Stegman Public Relations, LLC. www.LauraStegman.com
BLURB: 1964: A dark summer night on a still black lake. A lantern is lit at the end of a dock. A blond girl in white appears and begins to dance, her body illuminated like the fireflies surrounding her. A second girl emerges from a house and is beckoned forward. The two meet, swim, and then kiss, beginning an ethereal romance and a young woman’s journey into adulthood. Robin Bennet, 14, has been abandoned at a lakeside rental. Her parents argue and leave, each believing the other has remained with Robin. Alone, Robin discovers someone has been sleeping in the house and stealing food. A fifteen-year-old, Kieran, the charming intruder, invites himself to dinner. He is the brother of the beautiful girl who magically appeared on the dock the night before. After he departs, the “Firefly” returns, but in the morning she has disappeared, leaving Robin on a quest to find her all the while pursuing her dream of becoming an architect. Heat rating: 2
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Laury A. Egan is the author of eleven novels, The Firefly; Once, Upon an Island; Wave in D Minor; Turnabout; Once, Upon an Island; Double crossed; The Swimmer; The Ungodly Hour; A Bittersweet Tale; Fabulous! An Opera Buffa; The Outcast Oracle; and Jenny Kidd; in addition to a collection, Fog and Other Stories. Four limited-edition poetry volumes have been published: Snow, Shadows, a Stranger; Beneath the Lion’s Paw; The Sea & Beyond; and Presence & Absence. Eighty-five of her stories and poems have appeared in literary journals.
BOOK: As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back: A Novel
BLURB: As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back is a-girl-and-her-backpack story with a #MeToo influence: Carlie is a child sexual abuse survivor. As a teen, she runs away to Asia. Falling in with an international crew of Tai chi-practicing backpackers, Carlie’s journey becomes one to find the self-respect torn from her as a child and the healthy sexuality she desires. Trigger warnings for: child sexual abuse, addictions, and suicide.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nominated for The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Book Award, Alle C. Hall’s debut literary novel, As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back was winning prizes before its publication, including the National League of American Pen Women’s Mary Kennedy Eastham Prize. The novel was also submitted by the publisher for The National Book Award. Hall lived in Asia and traveled there extensively. She has a daily Tai chi practice that spans 35 years.
BLURB: While dealing with her own messy personal life, Lieutenant Caitlin O’Connor investigates the most complicated case of her career, the suspicious onstage death of a revered ballerina.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: After a long career as a professional dancer and dance educator, Lynn earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. MISSED CUE (Melange Books) is her first mystery for adults. She is also the author of four award-winning young adult romantic mysteries: DEADLY SETUP, LEISHA’S SONG, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU, AND WHILE I DANCED. Lynn lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where she’s at work on her next novel, serves on the board of Louisville Literary Arts, and is an active member and former president of Derby Rotten Scoundrels, the Ohio River Valley chapter of Sisters in Crime.
This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.
My ideas are not ever meant as a substitute for consulting with a qualified health professional
Is It the Yoga Mat or Is It You?
Remedies for stopping the slide.
People from all walks of life can enjoy hatha yoga because of its accessibility and availability. I recommend it to writers because the whole-body practice combined with breathing and meditation is an all-in-one fitness method that addresses many of the issues writers face. But many yoga devotees complain about their hands and feet slipping and sliding on the mat. There are two ways to end this problem, and it is a problem because it interferes with achieving good alignment. It’s just plain frustrating to not be able to hold a downward facing dog pose and enjoy the great stretch it offers because your hands won’t stay in place! Is it the yoga mat causing the problem or is it you? It’s a combination of things.
The phrase is not as prevalent now as in the past, but yoga mats are technically called “sticky mats.” When a young yoga teacher named Angela Farmer was leading classes in Germany, she wanted something soft, supportive, and that wouldn’t slide underneath the asanas. She took a piece of carpet padding, cut it to the size of a towel, and the modern sticky yoga mat was born.
Since then, manufacturers have constructed yoga mats from materials such as plastic, latex, cork, and rubber that do provide more stability. Some yoga students, me included, need an extra layer of dryness to keep from losing grip on even the “stickiest” mat. Slipping while holding a yoga pose leads to several problems. One of them is misalignment and poor technique. Poor technique or not modifying a pose with props like blocks, blankets, and straps is the primary cause of injury.
Here, let me remind you that yoga doesn’t do anything to anyone. People do yoga and in a variety of ways to accommodate their abilities and needs. This is one of the hallmarks of yoga: it’s accessible to so many people and body types. Accessibility aside, guidance from a good hatha yoga teacher and knowing one’s own physical boundaries are essential. Always remember that yoga doesn’t do anything. YOU DO YOGA. What you do with yoga determines the results.
Stopping the slide on your yoga mat is essentially a matter of proper technique while doing the poses. However, yogis quickly discover that exercise is a cleansing tool and sweaty palms and feet can make that all-important alignment difficult to maintain. Even practicing on the iconic yoga mat that claims to stop the slipping, sweat (a good thing) can be frustrating. Rubbing alcohol and towels can’t keep up once the sweat begins a serious trickle down your arms and legs. I’ve studied and taught yoga for 40 years. I’ve tried different ways to keep my hands and feet dry during practice, and of the methods and products I’ve used, Carpe brand lotions work amazingly well.
Carpe products include antiperspirant lotions designed to stop sweat from coming through the pores. They also make sweat-absorbing powders, but that substance doesn’t work the same for me as the antiperspirant line. I’ve used the hand and foot lotions for several years. They help considerably. The only issue I’ve ever had is washing the lotion off!
Remedies to stop the slide during yoga include investing in a good quality yoga mat, practicing proper alignment techniques, seeking the guidance of a trained instructor, modifying poses with props, and using products like Carpe to stop the sweat in its tracks.
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 month 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.
My WRITEDAY subscription box launches in August! Stay tuned for your opportunity to be an Early Bird subscriber and receive a special gift in your first box.
This article may contain affiliate links which may result in the author receiving a commission when readers purchase items through the links.
Crave chocolate but want less sugar? Lily’s to the Rescue.
Lily’s brand chocolate bars and products are decent options when you’ve decided to reduce or cut your sugar consumption AND improve your brain and heart health by eating dark chocolate (cacao). But why make these dietary changes in the first place?
Chocolate contains some decent vitamins and minerals that our bodies are happy to make use of. Cacao itself without “a spoonful of sugar” to help the medicine go down tastes downright nasty. Consequently, eating chocolate generally interferes with any desire to watch one’s sugar intake because the first thing the Spanish conquistadors did was add something sweet to the brew they discovered in Central America way back when. Sweetener of choice was and is sugar. Sugar turns to fat in the body. The kind of fat that’s difficult to purge. Choosing good-for-you chocolate means eating dark varieties that contain more of the components such as flavonoids AND is produced with healthier sweetener alternatives such as stevia or monk fruit. Bear with me. This is the good part of the story.
I’m no Sheldon, but I can understand that flavonoids, like those in chocolate, are chemicals, good ones, found in plants and vegetables that help cells do their thing like function the way they are supposed to. This is according to multiple studies on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. There are indications that flavonoids help reduce inflammation and plaque buildup which are problems associated with heart disease as well. Cacao is loaded with the good flavonoids as are many other foods and beverages. Eating healthy chocolate with less sugar or sweetener alternatives is good for your heart, head, and belt size. After much experimentation, I’ve found Lily’s brand products a satisfying choice for cooking (I put it in my chili,) baking (the chips are divine,) and for an everyday dessert (just a few squares does the trick.)
The Romance of Chocolate
No denying at this point that human beings have had an extended, romantic affair with chocolate. What we like about it, as far as I’m concerned, is the sweetness, the smooth, melty sensation, and the aftereffects. It is a consumable drug, after all. There is also the emotional factor associated with chocolate as in romantic holidays or anytime you want to say, “I love you.” A chocolate bar speaks louder than words alone. How did this happen?
This less than five-minute TedEd video written by educator Deanna Pucciarelli lays out a history of chocolate. Not only is it a decent introduction to the cacao bean’s checkered past, but it also doesn’t hurt one’s research as a writer to know details about the things we put in our books. The video provides some social commentary in the sense of unsavory practices involved in growing and harvesting the magic beans. Here’s the low-down. Cacao beans are grown mostly near the Earth’s equator in primarily rain forest regions because it needs high humidity, lots of rain, steady warm temperatures, and protection from the wind blowing it off the branches too soon.
And it’s been cultivated for thousands of years beginning in Central America and spreading to other countries along the rain forest belt of the planet. It was a spicy, stimulating drink for rulers and soldiers in Mesoamerica, used as currency in the exchange of goods and services, and available mostly to wealthy people. At first. As I said, the Spanish got a hold of it and added sugar (or honey, etc., again something available only to the elite,) and the rest of the story is what we stare at while waiting in line at the grocery store and fight with our kids about over eating too much. Too much what? The chocolate or the sugar? Both.
My mother said, “Anything in excess usually results in a problem.” But sometimes, the only thing that will calm the twitch is chocolate. Do the diligence and read the labels on commercially available chocolate candy. Besides the history and the benefits, know that quality cacao products containing better for you sweeteners have a magic about them that only testing will bear out. I can’t explain it, but you will eat less candy by choosing brands such as Lily’s. The company isn’t suffering because of this. They are a mission-driven group that source ingredients with a consciousness good for you, the company, and the globe.
When you subscribe to My WriteDay, you’ll undoubtedly find a Lily’s product in the box from time to time.
I hope your WRITEDAY is fantastic.
Joy
Women with clean houses do not have finished books. ~Joy E. Held
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.
Years ago, when I was teaching six hatha yoga classes a week, I wasn’t eating well because time was my enemy. Most of my classes were scheduled for the five o’clock hour and interfered with eating on a regular schedule. They say don’t eat after 8:00 P. M. but that’s when I got home from class.
Starving, I would eat and have trouble sleeping. My nutritional coach recommended adding a protein shake to my food intake. It helped battle my fatigue and muscle recovery immensely, but it took a lot of trial and error to find one that I liked the taste of and that fell in line with my overall food program of Eat Right 4 Your Type. Another blog on that program later.
The “blood type diet” as it’s nicknamed suggests that my O blood type avoid wheat and whey. Many protein drinks contain whey and drinking them made me feel bloated rather than satisfied. The brand that eventually hit the spot is Premier Protein. When I wanted to reduce the amount of sugar in my diet, this brand helped since it generally contains only one gram. Does it help control my weight? Yes, but I don’t use it for that purpose. I drink it for the protein benefits as I’ve come to dislike the taste of many meat products and vegetable protein doesn’t fill me up. I also appreciate that Premier Protein is low on sodium content. It’s not crazy expensive and typically easy to find in stores and online. Winning!
The general key to losing weight is to cut calories and exercise regularly. A protein drink as a meal replacement is perfectly fine but not on a long-term basis. Whole foods and plenty of water are mandatory to a healthy food program. I don’t say “diet” because the first three letters spell “die.”
Do you drink a protein shake on a regular basis? Why or why not? Which one works for you? Recipes to share?
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.
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.
Reading is essential to being a writer. Regardless of level or number of published books, writing depends on reading. Not every reader becomes a writer, although you probably know it happens quite often. Do a search on fan fiction for an eye-opening experience about readers who write. Heck, reading may very well be the reason you became a writer. If you had to look back and trace your path to becoming a writer, what would the journey look like?
“Stepping Stones” is a journaling favorite of mine that I do with my college English students to help them “see” a concrete example of how they became writers or came to dislike writing. It’s a multi-step project that starts with answering some questions about their reading history followed by a hands-on poster and ending with writing an essay.
The majority of my Freshman Composition students raise their hands when I ask who doesn’t like to write. I always feel a bit sorry for the minority of souls brave enough to raise their pencils when I ask for a show of those who LIKE TO WRITE. Those same haters don’t like to read either.
Surprisingly, I encounter aspiring writers in my editing and book coaching business with similar sour attitudes toward reading. However, every student/client is able to answer the following five questions about their reading history. This is my secret, back door tactic to getting them to write a personal essay about their reading journey.
“My Reading Journey Essay”
Were you read to as a child? Where? By whom?
Do you remember the title of one book from grade school? Middle school? High school? What is it?
As a child, did you go to the library regularly? Why or why not? Who took you? What do you remember about going to the library? When was the last time you were in one?
If you have a good relationship with reading, can you point to a person, place, or thing that contributed to that?
If you have a not-so-good relationship with reading, can you point to a person, place, or thing that contributed to that?
With the answers to these questions, boom, students (and you) have the outline for an essay about your storied history with reading and maybe how that history impressed your current love/hate party with writing.
In the article “Reading: A Writer’s Best and Most Constant Muse,” agent and author Paula Munier says, “We writers have to stay where we are to write—and good reading is our gateway to good writing.” There are studies galore about the value of reading, and you probably know how it contributes to your writing. Even though the effects are sometimes subtle, reading in and out of your genre undoubtedly has an effect on your writing. Munier reminds us that writing requires us to be stationary but that reading is a way to move about in mind and soul. Of course, we must not forget to be physically active in between reading and writing sessions.
I will return to this topic in the future as it has many layers of discussion associated with it. Such as the pitfalls of reading for writers, how much or how little to read is good for a writer, and books about the topic of reading like a writer.
For now, try answering the five questions above and write your own essay or blog about how reading impresses your writing. I’d love to READ it!
Have any quick comments about how reading affects your writing?
I hope your WRITEDAY is fantastic.
Joy
Women with clean houses do not have finished books.
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.
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.
