Time to Swing the Bat!

WHERE did the last decade go? No matter; I won't miss it. There were some good things--watching my sons grow into men...publication of two new books and new editions of two older ones...reuniting with a couple of cherished old friends...getting to know several new ones--but there was a lot of loss and sadness in the past ten years, and a heap of struggling. I welcome 2010 with open arms and high expectations, and hope you do the same!

Here's an opportunity to get this new decade off to a great start: The Tennessee Women's Theatre Project is accepting submissions for "Women's Work," their annual festival and celebration featuring the work of women playwrights, poets, musicians, essayists, painters, filmmakers, dancers, and photographers from across the country. For three weekends in May (May 7 through May 23), Women’s Work will showcase the talents of creative women at Nashville’s Z. Alexander Looby Theater; submissions are being accepted now through April 5th, but why wait? If this is the year you're determined to get back in touch with your creative self, or acknowledge the creative self you've been ignoring or trying to deny, this is a terrific way to dive in. Get out that camera, dust off your oboe, belly up to the barre, or dig out that manuscript from the bottom drawer: it's SHOWTIME! Click here for details about TWTP's big event, and check my blog often because I'll be posting other opportunities to celebrate your fabulous self as I come across them.

Because here's the deal: life is short and every day counts. Don't miss out on the joy (and there is joy in every day)because you're too busy, too shy, too modest, too broke, too embarrassed, too fat, too short, too clumsy, too disorganized, too overwhelmed, or whatever other excuse you keep using to keep you from becoming the Woman You Were Meant To Be. Grab this year by the horns and go after what you want! As somebody once said (and if you know who deserves credit for this quote, please let me know!), "You can't hit the ball if you never swing the bat," so START SWINGING!

P.S. Attention momwriters and wannabe momwriters: this just in! Katherine Hauswirth (http://www.katherinehauswirth.com/) is offering an "Hour of Solidarity" writing challenge on January 10th--a perfect opportunity to stop talking about writing and actually DO it! Sign up and get details here.

Go, Joanie! Go, Joanie!

In my newsletter last month (if you're not subscribed, click here; I'd love to have you!), I challenged my readers to "STREAMLINE in 2009!" The world's most angelic author, Joan Wester Anderson, wins the prize for being first to report her STREAMLINE success, and her response was so entertaining, I just have to share it with you:

"Jayne, congratulations on your goal to streamline! I have already started. I took a look at my “storage room” and wondered---if I died, who would ever come in here and try to sort this out? Would that be fair? Me romping through the hills of heaven, carefree and joyful, while someone here tries to find my password for myspace…

So I started with the most important thing: finding all my book contracts and making a folder for each one. Next came p.r. stuff written about me. Oh, it hurts the ego to toss all that, but is anyone really going to ask for a clip about a book that is out of print?

I modestly proclaim that after a week-and-a-half of FULLTIME work, I have only the top of my desk left to organize. Jayne, I feel as if I personally have lost at least 20 pounds, which translates into a ton or so of tossed papers! I have completely eliminated one, huge, two-drawer file cabinet, and I think I know where most important things are now (or at least what section of the room they may be hiding in.) "

She signed off with a wish that "I hope this is the year you discover what color your office rug is."

Me, too, Joan; me, too! Congratulations on your "weight loss" and thanks for inspiring the rest of us to get ON with our streamlining tasks!