There is really no excuse for how late I am on some of my book reviews, but I hold my integrity near and dear and always set out to keep my word. That said I am scheduling some time next week to fulfill all of the reviews I have promised some of you. I ask for your sincere apologies and I thank you so much for your patience.
In other news, if nothing else always set out to do what you have said that you will. There is nothing more discerning of true love and support than to fulfill your word.
OK now, about this American Horror Story Episode about to come on tho…
You wouldn’t know it from the color of the sky, the not so barren trees, or the way the sun kisses the ground but the wind is a reminder that frost does not need to edge the tops of buildings for the temperature to drop. The heat from the computer modem down at my feet warms my naked toes before the blanket of caffeine engulfs my throat. It has never been so refreshing than to drink coffee or tea in the winter time. Nonetheless, I sit here in the slightly dimmed bedroom I have turned into a second office of which the bed is left purposely unattended, almost as if someone is hiding out in there. The shape of my body left lingering in the curve of its back, sheets curled into itself, and pillows lodged one on top the other that I may return shortly and pull the covers up to my eyeballs. No, it’s not that cold, I just like to do that. My white walls makes the room look tan against the darkness and splash of yellow from the lamp. I love the way the colors blend to mimic the natural earth tone of browns and oranges. The lamp produces just enough light with its small and modest stares. As the cable modem and computer compete simultaneously to produce the greatest hum (have you ever sat back and noticed how loud electronics are?) the truth is that I’m sitting here thinking about the transition of creative thought to production. Obviously my mind is in a creative mood and I wonder how it slips from my thoughts to electronic ink on a page. Is it blue ocean waves overflowing into the shapes of words; is it strung along by string from my heart and stitched into white paper; are these words a mere thread of my consciousness, a spiritual essence poured out only to be confined and restricted to the tangible platform that binds them. It is an intriguing transition. That process of being filled to the brim, only to drip mere inklings of thought from black colored ink, and fire coated passion, on white paper.
Hello there loves, this Writer’s Quote Wednesday I will be combining WQW with the final day of my Special Three Day Quote Challenge. Special thank you again to Roo for nominating me for the challenge. I hope you don’t mind my special twist on the initial challenge :).
I hope that my quotes these past days have been an inspiration and a strength to you. Since Writer’s Quote Wednesday is the last day of this challenge for me, I will combine this challenge with that weekly prompt so as not to overwhelm you with quotes.
I will also not explain the quotes as usual. Instead, I want to know what you think of the quote. What comes to your mind, how would you interpret it and all that good stuff. OK, we ready? Here we go.
Quote #3 Day #3 + WQW:
For this final 3 day special challenge, in which I have featured my own quotes, I challenge Yinglan for the 3 Day Quote Challenge. You can choose to participate and follow the traditional rules, my rules, or not participate at all. It’s completely up to you.
Special Challenge Rules:
1. Post three consecutive days.
2. You can pick one or three quotes per day.
3. Challenge ONE different blogger per day.
As for the rest of you, what do you think my quote means?
“It has to be very relevant to your protagonists experiences. If it’s nice to have, but doesn’t actually move the story on, you just have to cut it, you don’t need it. The dreaded info dump slows the pace of a story so much and bores the reader to tears, or even worse, closing the book and falling asleep. You can be sure they won’t pick it up when they wake. Info dumps show you know a lot of stuff, but it doesn’t make for a good story. Decide what you absolutely need to set the scene, give your hero their incentive to act, and drip feed it throughout the story as you need it, not all at once.”
– Author Ali Isaac
I love this advice. My favorite part is: “..drip feed it throughout the story as you need it…”
While Kayla’s work always mesmerizes me, another award recipient named Gabrielle Gorman brought me and many others to tears with her experimental film “Dear America,” for which she won the title of 2015 Student Honoree.
Photo courtesy of the My Hero Project
I just watched the live stream of Kayla’s film screening at the National Young Arts Foundation in Miami, and Gabrielle’s film screened shortly before hers. Watching it again made me question why this film touched me so personally. After all, Gabrielle’s film is about not loving herself as a dark-skinned black youth. She candidly discusses how she wanted to bleach her skin and lessen her large lips–how she wanted plastic surgery to look more…
Is it Wednesday? Indeed it is and that means another episode of Silver Threading’s Writer’s Quote Wednesday. I am so excited to be back! For those of you keeping in touch you know I took December off so I have not done a WQW since November! Soooo what better way to resurface than the first WQW of the year.
Let’s get started. Today’s quote is from Nelson Mandela:
I truly believe that how you treat others play a big part in the life that you live. More than our individual goals and ambitions is how we are wiling to share pieces of ourselves with others that will truly determine the kind of people we are. If we have fed the hungry, encouraged the lowly, or given a kind word to the sick. In short, if we have loved. If we have looked out for others the same as we would look out for ourselves. After the sun slumbers and the dust settles, this is most important. Not so much how important you are, but how important you have made others. The light that you instill into their lives after the goals are realized and the dreams fulfilled. Did you keep what you’ve learned to yourself or did you share it? More so than share it, how much have you multiplied? At the end of the day my passion rest with providing for others to the extent of my ability. If I can change the life of one person with my books, my words, and the life that I live then I have done my job. I believe no earthly possession is more noble.
About the Author:
Nelson Mandela, 1918 – 2013
South Africa’s first black President, Nelson Mandela was born Rolihlahla Mandela into the Madiba clan in the village of Mvezo, Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918. In 1930, when he was 12 years old, his father died. Hearing the elders’ stories of his ancestors’ valor during the wars of resistance, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.
Born of royalty, the son of Chief Henry Mandela of the Madiba clan of the Xhosa-speaking Tembu people, Nelson Mandela renounced his claim to the chieftainship to become a lawyer. He attended South African Native College (later the University of Fort Hare) and studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand; he later passed the qualification exam to become a lawyer.
On May 10, 1994 Mandela was sworn in as president of the country’s first multiethnic government. He established in 1995 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which investigated human rights violations under apartheid, and he introduced housing, education, and economic development initiatives designed to improve the living standards of the country’s black population.
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That’s it for this weeks segment of Writer’s Quote Wednesday. Be sure to check out the quotes from other blogger participants.
As I scrolled through my Facebook feed a few weeks ago, I came across a status update that was upsetting, though sadly not surprising: “That awkward moment when your decision to wear your hair natural comes up in an interview… and not in a complimentary way…”
My friend Sonia had interviewed for a position as a Social Media Specialist for a marketing startup in New York City. The interview took place in the common area of WeWork, a coworking office space where the startup had put down temporary roots. As distracting commotion took place around them, she and the rather cold interviewer had the following exchange.
Interviewer: “Is that how your hair is in your LinkedIn picture?”
Sonia: “…Yea.”
Interviewer: “Not straight?”
Sonia: “Nope.”
Interviewer: “Oh… Interesting…”
He then made qualifying statements, such as, “So you say you’re good at SEO,” and “You claim to be a good writer.” I…
Photo courtesy of the My Hero Project 
The PBS Blog 