It happens before I realize it. I’m browsing the latest posts in my Google reader and one site takes me to another, which takes me to another, and before you know it a half hour or so has gone by. There are some great sites out there that are chock-full of inspiration and resources for writers.
The other morning I woke early as usual and, while Gerry and the girls slept, I reached for my iPad and started reading.
The first post of interest I came across was at Women’s Memoirs. It was a guest post written by author Pamela Jane Bell about using our dreams to spark writing ideas. Pamela writes about a type of dream called a lucid dream, which is a dream in which one becomes aware that they are having a dream.
I recall a dream I had that there was an intruder in my house. I was in a panic as I looked for the telephone and when I found it tucked away in a little alcove I couldn’t remember what numbers to dial (yes, dial, it was one of those old phones) for 9-1-1. Obviously, this was not one of my more brilliant moments. I remember the frustration I felt as I tried in vain to remember the emergency number when suddenly I came to the realization that I was having a dream. Boy, was I relieved!
Anyway, after I read this post I headed over to Pamela’s site, Long Ago in the Here and Now, to check it out. She has some fascinating posts and writing prompts related to memoir writing on her site. So interesting, that I added her site to my Google reader too. I came across one post called Highly Sensitive Marketing that caught my attention. Now that I’ve finished my memoir and am thinking about publishing options, I’m also thinking about marketing (ugh!) options. There was a link at the bottom of this post to something called Shrinking Violet Promotions. It sounded interesting so I clicked over to check it out.
Well, at Shrinking Violet Promotions I found my people! My tribe! Introverts! There is a ton of information on this page for people like me who mostly prefer to stay out of the limelight but, of necessity, find themselves in a situation of having to step up and into the spotlight now and then. Yes, I added this site to my Google reader too. One of my favorite features on this site, aside from the uber-useful Online Persona Workshop, was The Introvert’s Bill of Rights.
A few of my personal favorites are:
2. Introverts have the right to leave social events “early” as needed. Or not attend at all. (Truthfully, I prefer the latter most often.)
6. Introverts have the right to retire to their hotel rooms for quiet and recharging time during conferences. (This is absolutely essential in my book.)
9. Introverts have the right to use email instead of the telephone. (Confession: sometimes I leave my phone on silent mode so I won’t risk receiving a phone call.)
22. Introverts have the right not to speak up in meetings until they’re damn well good and ready, without being thought of as dull-witted. (Amen!)
There are thirty of these that I’d like to have printed up and posted on the door to my office, my house, and my Woman Cave!
So there you have it! A few early morning minutes spent learning a few new things, discovering some great new sites, and adding to my Google reader list of favorite sites to visit. I hope you’ll do some blog hopping and check out these sites as well.
And if you’re looking for me one day and can’t find me, just remember number 15 on the Introvert’s Bill of Rights: Introverts have the right to take walks in the middle of the day to clear their heads and recharge.
Chance are I’ll be taking a walk. A solitary one.
Oh! Linky love! I will check out these sites. I did the same thing for a bit last night- began clicking and next I knew, I’d been in blogland for I don’t know how long! But it felt good, as I’ve not had time to click around as I used to. Well, I’m going to MAKE time from now on, because it just was so nice reading up on everyone and learning and etc.
Smiling . . .
It is fun to catch up on favorite blogs and find new ones too. Happy you’re finding some time to do that, Kat.
I love the Introvert’s Bill of Rights. I will have to share them with my daughter as well, who makes me look like the extrovert that I am not.
I hope your daughter enjoys them, Joyce.
Dear Linda,
Like Joyce, “I love the Introvert’s Bill of Rights.” For me, one of the wonders of growing older is that I’ve started listening to my body and simply saying “no” more often to people. I leave family gatherings early and I take a lot of time to simply “be.” All in all, I’ve learned to be more gracious to myself and to care less about what others think of me. A great freedom.
Peace.
I agree, Dee. One of the greatest pleasures I’ve gained in growing older is the willingness to NOT do some things and to DO other things. It’s very freeing.
I love this! As an extrovert, I especially cherish all the introverts in my life. I find you delightful.
We all need each other, don’t we?!
Love the Introvert’s Bill of Rights. (I’m an expressive introvert, sometimes misread as an extrovert. But I do ALL the things you said to keep my sanity.)
Thank you for stopping by, Pamela. Im happy to meet another kindred spirit.
Oh yes! I’ve been known to wander in this way myself. Worse, some blogs get me to thinking about a certain subject, and then I jump onto the larger highway we know as the internet. I’ll read a blog, then find myself studying something theological or historical. I can wander for hours on end (alone) 🙂
Y’know, I never understood until I really dove into the introverted personality why I really hated to go to places where I wasn’t comfortable or attend things. Now I know why. It takes a real effort for me.
When I attended a writing conference in Denver, I spent most of my time in my hotel room. I just did not feel comfortable at all gathering with other people, even if those other people were writers!
Such a delightful list of new links, Linda. I wander,too and can spend endless hours finding new sites. They are like treasures! Google Reader is a great tool for organizing favorites. The Introvert’s Bill of Rights is wonderful and I can relate to everything you’ve cited,especially the one about going for a walk alone. That’s when I do my best thinking. Thanks so much for sharing . I really enjoyed your post!
Great links. I agree with Kathleen that blog links are a treasure. It seems that when you seek out one you find another and then it’s an hour later.