Help Someone & Help Yourself !!

Great charity auction to benefit the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for those influenced by SANDY on the east coast:

www.jenmalone.blogspot.com.au

Not only will your contributions benefit others, but you could win a critique of your query, ms pages, or more from authors, agents, and editors.

Book Review: SAVING EACH OTHER

I breezed through the first half of this book while sitting in a waiting room full of cancer patients. My husband had some skin cancer removed that day. And frankly, I found SAVING EACH OTHER to be quite self-indulgent and elitist.

Bad things happen to good people all of the time - it's part of life. So why should one person or one family expect differently or expect a free pass to the front of the line when everyone else has to walk through the mud of life? It always amazes me when someone asks the question, "Why did this have to happen to me?" Well -- why not? Should bad things only happen to your neighbor? Your cousins? The poor? Why shouldn't you have to go through hardships? It's part of life.

How you handle those hardships is what makes you special.

And ... that's why I ended up giving this book four stars instead of one.

Because even though I got frustrated several times with the narrative of this book, in the end I was impressed with the personal growth of Ali Guthy and I was impressed with the accomplishments of Victoria Jackson. They both took action that will not only benefit themselves, but it will also benefit the medical community and patients worldwide for generations to come.

So while I disagree with Jackson's statement on page 225: "I looked around at the other moms ... and realized that probably no other mother was thinking of her daughter ... the same way I was ..." I cried on page 162 when Ali wrote: "That night definitely sucked for me. But I think being in Mom's shoes would suck even worse. Wouldn't trade with her if you paid me. And she would pay anyone if she could trade with me."

Being a mom is a tough never ending job, but if you do it well, it's the most rewarding experience in the world.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the memoir genre. I enjoyed the different points of view of mother and daughter, but I found the italic font annoying to read. I wish the publisher had chosen a different non-italicized font instead.

I'd also recommend this book to any family struggling with the diagnosis of a medical condition. However, as a lower-income family, this is a frustrating book to read because the Jackson-Guthy family can afford to move to the front of the line, have doctors on call 24-hours a day, and receive the best of the best care. Lower-income families have to deal with waiting days/months for an appointment with a doctor who's willing to accept their minimal monthly payments for basic care. However, there are ideas and tips within the pages of this book that can help inspire and motivate you to keep fighting for the best care for yourself and your family.

I'll be donating this book to our high school library.

 

Here's a clip of SAVING EACH OTHER's authors Victoria Jackson and Ali Guthy on The Ellen Degeneres Show: 

http://www.ellentv.com/videos/0-ujfdv7uf/ 

 

What are you reading right now?

Critique Checklist

I've never paid anyone to read my writing. I've never paid for a critique or an edit. I'm not saying it's right or wrong.

And with that, here's a TOTALLY awesome checklist for critiquing your own writing and/or someone else's writing:

critiquemymanuscript.com/checklist-for-critiquing-a-novel/


Check it out.

Have you paid for a critique? Are you looking for a critique partner?

Opposite of FEAR

When writing and revising, it is important to incorporate tension and conflict in each scene. One way to do this is to first identify the main emotion, or beginning emotion, of a scene. Second, thread the opposite emotion into the scene, or have the scene end with the opposite emotion.

So ... with the current scene I'm revising, FEAR is the main (and beginning) emotion. My instincts told me that the opposite of fear is COMFORT. But ... to be thorough, I googled "the opposite of fear."

Who knew the topic was such a controversy?

Several websites argue that COURAGE is not the opposite of fear, because fear is a state of being while courage is an action. Interesting. But couldn't you also argue that action is required to remove yourself from that state of being? Yes, but then courage is merely a pathway to the opposite of fear. Which bring us back to the original question.

What is the opposite of fear?

Several websites argue that FAITH is the opposite. Several others claim that LOVE is the opposite.

Which made me wonder how I could have been so off track with my thought of COMFORT being the opposite?

Let's look at the definitions (according to: www.merriam-webster.com):

FEAR: the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
COMFORT: a feeling of ease from grief or trouble

And yet, neither are listed as an antonym for the other.

What is listed as an antonym for FEAR?

... wait for it ...

...

FEARLESSNESS

...

Seriously? How is that helpful?

Actually, there are more. Here's the list from Merriam-Webster, but they're titled "near antonyms":

Near Antonyms aplomb, assurance, boldness, confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence; bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, fortitude, gallantry, hardihood, intrepidity, intrepidness, stoutness, valor; audacity, guts, nerve

So ... I think I'll go with HARDIHOOD as my opposite. Do you think it has any relationship to the Hardy Brothers? Hmm?

Hardiharhar.

I don't know.

I honestly think that the opposite of fear is ACTION. Think about it. What do you fear? What would happen if you took action instead of sitting in fear? What would you accomplish? What would you feel?

I think a synonym for fear should be procrastination.

High School Dances

I could post another writing quote, or a great bit on the craft of writing, or a review of a great (or bad) book, or I could just post pictures of my daughter's first homecoming dance ... and then I'd have to smile really big!

All is Lost

"The All is Lost Point ... is the place where mentors go to die, presumably so their students can discover "They had it in them all along." The mentor's death clears the way to prove that" - - Blake Snyder (SAVE THE CAT, p.86).

Well Constructed Scenes

"A well-constructed scene has a mini-arc of its own: a beginning, rise and climax or reversal at the end" - - Donald Maass (Writing the Breakout Novel, p.174).

Plot Resolution

"One of the few indisputable laws of YA fiction is that the stories must empower their teen leads with the resolution of their own conflicts" -- Deborah Halverson (WRITING YA FICTION FOR DUMMIES, p. 130).

SAVING EACH OTHER

From Ali Guthy, A Thriver's Guide to NMO and Other Challenges
By Victoria Jackson and Ali Guthy,
Authors of Saving Each Other: A Mystery Illness, A Search for the Cure, A Mother-Daughter Love Story

 

 

Yes, it's true. The 2% deal of the cards is not always fair, especially when it comes to being given a rare orphan disease. But as I learned, those same low odds can be overturned. How? Well, the following five steps have certainly worked for me and for others who've given them a try. Hopefully they'll provide you with a starting place, if not a roadmap to thriving, to how you might create your own map. The steps are: (1) Discovery, (2) Throw a Fit, (3) (In the words of my mom) "Put on Your Makeup and Get Out There!") (4) Don't Be a Victim, and (5) Remember: The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow!

STEP 1: DISCOVERY

Know what you have! Ignorance can be bliss, but it's also a means of avoiding the situation. Take your time, but confront your enemy, face the music, and then, in your own way, learn how to deal with the facts presented.

STEP 2: THROW A FIT

Don't bottle your feelings, but don't allow them to take over your life. Stick to a normal routine, but allow yourself to balance that normalcy with the realities of your unusual/unique circumstances. When someone says or does something that's insensitive -- even if it's the most minute comment -- if it makes you feel upset, be upset! Allow yourself to have bursts of anger or fits of depression, as long as those moments don't start to encroach upon or ruin your normal life.

STEP 3: (IN THE WORDS OF MY MOM)
"PUT ON YOUR MAKEUP AND GET OUT THERE!"

Don't let the reality of your situation or the every-so-often fits of depression stop you from living. Lead a normal life and pursue activities or goals that are both enjoyable and alleviate you from the stress, anger, and confusion that surround your health challenges.

STEP 4: DON'T BE A VICTIM

Self-pity, self-judgment, and all other forms of internalizing a diagnosis like NMO are not the answer. Don't be the helpless Cinderella waiting for the magical Prince Charming (commonly known as the cure) to come sweep you off your feet. As much as it pains me to say it, in the realm of NMO and other dire diagnoses, there is no time for the magic of fairy tales. You can't indulge in if only thinking anymore than you should allow for what if thinking. Don't be a patient; be an advocate. Be your own Prince Charming, and be a part of the search for the cure. Donate blood to the repository or be part of research efforts, talk to your doctors and other patients, and spread the word about NMO or other little-understood diseases by educating those around you.

STEP 5: REMEMBER:
THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW

Stay positive! Always try to find the silver lining. I know, sometimes it just doesn't want to be found. If you can remember that everything you are going through is going to empower others to overcome their odds, that might help you remember that you are being part of the solution­ -- and that's a very powerful force to be.

And finally:

Never, never, never give up.

-- WINSTON CHURCHILL

The above is an excerpt from the book Saving Each Other: A Mystery Illness, A Search for the Cure, A Mother-Daughter Love Story by Victoria Jackson and Ali Guthy. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Copyright © 2012 Victoria Jackson and Ali Guthy, authors of Saving Each Other: A Mystery Illness, A Search for the Cure, A Mother-Daughter Love Story

Author Bios
Having achieved success as a Hollywood makeup artist, cosmetics entrepreneur and television infomercial pioneer, Victoria Jackson prefers to think of herself as "a goodwill ambassador for makeup."

A recognized trailblazer in the infomercial industry, Jackson altered a global beauty aesthetic with her "no makeup makeup" -- a foundation that was the cornerstone of her eponymous line Victoria Jackson Cosmetics, which has enjoyed over a half billion dollars in sales, and continues to grow.

Jackson has also garnered a devoted following through her two briskly selling books: Redefining Beauty: Discovering Your Individual Beauty, Enhancing Your Self-Esteem and Make Up Your Life: Every Woman's Guide to the Power of Makeup, a deeply personal account of her experiences in business.

Today, Victoria's primary focus is the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation, which is dedicated to funding biomedical research in the search to understand the pathophysiology and biochemistry of Neuromyeltis Optica (NMO) Spectrum Disease. It is her greatest hope that "together we will reverse the effects of NMO and eventually cure this disease."

Married to husband Bill Guthy of infomercial giant Guthy-Renker, Victoria Jackson is the mother of three children and together they reside in Los Angeles.

Ali Guthy, a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has kept a journal since she was a young girl. At The Buckley School in Los Angeles, she served as co-editor-in-chief for her high school's award-winning newspaper, The Student Voice. She is also the managing editor of The Spectrum, the newsletter she created with the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation. While at Buckley, she had record-setting achievements on the tennis court, finishing with an overall winning record of 165-22. Ali also received Buckley's coveted Head of School Award -- given to a student who demonstrated leadership, academic achievement, character, and service on behalf of the school and community. Ali has also been honored with numerous awards and in the media for giving a public face to NMO and for her leadership in reaching out to newly diagnosed patients and their families.

For more information please visit http://www.guthyjacksonfoundation.org and http://www.vanguardpressbooks.com, and follow the authors on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube

...

A note from Margo: As a parent of a child with a chronic disease and other children who've suffered traumas, I was interested to read this book. Check back next week for my review of the content.
...

What are you reading right now?

IWSG: Real Life is SO Distracting!

"The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs."

YIKES. If ever I've fit the definition of an insecure writer, it's this month, and last month!!!

As you may have noticed, I've been distracted lately by my "real life" - - - it's been so busy; I've not kept up with my blog posts or my WIP.

I bought a book on time management, but I've haven't found the time to read it yet. *sigh*

So ... here's a quote to get you by for the next couple of days:

"Shift your thinking to the less-sophisticated teen sensibility, phrasing the text so it focuses more on how the events are affecting the protagonist than the other characters involved ... use quick judgment and action, letting the chips fall where they may" - - Deborah Halverson (WRITING YA FICTION FOR DUMMIES, p. 161).

Friday, I will feature an exerpt from:
Victoria Jackson and Ali Guthy, authors of Saving Each Other: A Mystery Illness, A Search for the Cure, A Mother-Daughter Love Story