The Noreaster is Coming--PREPARE TO WRITE

Later tonight, the Greater Philadelphia Region will be experiencing our fourth major snowstorm of the season. Take advantage of the winter weather and WRITE about it. Complaining about it accomplishes nothing, but if you write in the midst of the storm, you will accomplish something valuable. People living through this winter will not forget it anytime soon and future generations will wonder what it was like. Here are some tips to get your creative juices flowing to take advantage of the life-halting experience a snowstorm brings.

SNOWSTORMS FORCE US TO:

Stay off the roads. (unless, of course, we are emergency personnel and the road crews). So if you would be driving to work, to meetings, appointments, or errands--instead, use that time to WRITE.

Stay inside. Think of a snowstorm as a free night at home instead of running your children to all of their activities or running yourself to your activities--WRITE.

Cuddle up. Grab a pen and journal OR laptop and WRITE.

Shovel and dig out--NO. Find a hungry teenager (hungry for food, gas money, itunes cards, video games, whatever) and hire him or her to do your shoveling. That frees you up to WRITE.

Avoid doing laundry, housework or the bills--avoid anything that HAS to get done because at some point, it will get done sooner or later. Start writing in those few moments while gazing out your window watching the swirling snowflakes quietly cover the ground once again. Enjoy those peaceful flakes because soon enough the rush of normal life will squeeze out the silence that is in the midst of a snowfall.

Set Snowday Boundaries with your kids. Yes--it is actually acceptable to tell your children they are to occupy themselves for one hour while you steal away to pull your thoughts together to accomplish something for you. But, just in case--pull out some movies and popcorn and tiptoe out of the room.

WRITE about snow or sand, or sea--JUST WRITE!

Write Better, Share More

In my neck of the woods, we just experienced the biggest snowfall in 14 years--which has allowed many of us to actually stay off the roads and away from the hectic running we are so accustomed to doing on a daily basis. I am thankful for days like that because it slows me down and helps me realize that there are more important things in life than working, running and doing. It is BEING! Being able to sit by a fire, play a game with a child, watch a movie, shovel out an elderly neighbor, throw a few snowballs, and laugh like a kid again.

As a writer, it also allows time to sit back and gather ideas for the next article, blog, newsletter or book. For those of you who spent yesterday snowed in and cut off from the norm, did you post on your Facebook or LinkedIn, did you write a newsletter or blog? Have you ever thought of writing a fiction or non-fiction book or articles based on life experiences? Would you like to journal your life or write memoirs? Maybe you have to give presentations or seminars and are looking for a supportive and inspiring group to help cultivate powerful writing skills.

Come out to WriteShare--a 'Communicators' Clique' monthly group. We are friendly, non-threatening and supportive for any genre of writing you seek to pursue. What we are not:

--Philosophical thinkers who only think about what we want to write
--Literary academics
--Talkers

What we are:

--DOERS -- we establish writing goals and work toward achieving those goals.
--SUPPORTERS -- we support each individual in the group
--ENCOURAGERS -- we encourage and motivate you to realize your personal potential

Join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, March 2 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the evening group -OR- March 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Lahaska. You'll take that dream of writing to a whole new level an d you will Write Better and Share MORE.

Speaking and Writing--Communicate Better

Do you want to improve your public speaking abilities and become a more confident presenter?

Are you looking to become a speaker?

Would you like to polish your overall communication skills?

Have you always wanted to write a book?

Would you like to conduct seminars and prepare materials?

Then the Communicators' Clique is for you! What is the Communicators' Clique? It's a memembership of like-minded women who want to become better speakers or better writers or BOTH! If you are looking to improve your public presentation skills and/or become a writer, join us on February 4, 2010 as we explore all the benefits that One Day Sharing has to offer through the Communicators Clique membership. Don't put it off any longer, make 2010 be a better year and communicate confidently and stylishly. For more information, email info@onedaysharing.com.