"Everything Peggy Payne has critiqued for me has gotten published and in venues such as Image, Shenandoah, and The Missouri Review. Her advice on structure was indispensable in revising my memoir, Gods of Noonday." Elaine Neil Orr

Welcome to a conversation about writing, imagination, going for broke as an artist, self-employment, conquering fears, coming up with ideas, making a living, keeping going, and the inner travels and spiritual quest of creative work.

After 35+ years as a freelance writer, 2 novels, 2 nonfiction books, travel writing from 25+ countries, a few seasons as a TV reporter, writing for ad agencies, a winter in India, development of my consulting services for writers, and hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, I'd like to invite you to take part in some creative shop talk here on this blog.

   Peggy

 

The Five Things We Cannot Change...

I just started reading a book from my stack(s) that my hand felt magnetically drawn to. The title: The Five Things We Cannot Change...and the Happiness We Find By Embracing Them. The author: David Richo.

I hadn't even reached the discussion of the First Thing before the book had reminded me very memorably that: the difficulties we each encounter are our chances to learn, expand, and shine.

I've always had a feeling that any problem I encountered was likely caused by my own bad planning. No matter how improbable it might seem, somehow it was a bad decision I made that caused trouble.

I don't know how exactly this book dissuaded me of that. But for the moment at least it has.

If you're burdened with hyperresponsibility, you might find it worth having a look at.

Personal health update: still recovering, sleeping about 12 or so hours a day, and feeling amazingly serene.



If you like this post, please bookmark it on del.icio.us, share it on StumbleUpon, vote for it on Digg. Thanks so much.