Resolutions for Being
Resolutions for doing, another attempt this year.
More money. Fewer calories. More exercise for a body leaner.
Finish goals started years ago for Earthly success,
Promising again to make dreams come true for a life blessed.
This year, will determination win over addiction?

What if resolutions focused on being?
Loving ourselves despite the numbers in bank accounts or on scales.
Turning backs on judgement to face the light in others.
Goals for greater compassion and sovereignty; for fewer triggers from opinions.
The heart wins as doing surrenders.

Jean Neff Guthrie
Writing Tips for Stories
Award-winning author and English instructor, Ron Rash, gave hints on writing short stories during the January meeting of the Atlanta Writers Club. These four favorite suggestions I heard apply to crafting stories, novels, or poems of any length:

  1. Every word must serve the story.
  2. Let characters have free will to reveal themselves.
  3. Allow characters to do something unexpected that surprises and entertains the reader.
  4. No surprise in the writer, then no surprise in the reader.
graphic-book-adventure.jpg
Excerpt from Chapter 16: Mitushi and the Vision Council
Aria: Princess LeSom mentioned there were many wars on Vitchera before y’all got to world peace.
 
Mitushi: True, most unfortunately. We nearly destroyed our planet. That was long, long ago.

Over the generations, Gallion elders discovered the importance of empowering youngones in all tribes to dream forward a vision of world peace. To create a planet where they would want to raise their youngones.

Gallion youngones select peer leaders from their tribes to form a Vision Council. These youngones imagine Vitchera the way they want it to be. Each Vision Council member represents the dreams of his or her tribe.

The Gallion Supreme Legislative listens to the common goals of the youngones’ Vision Council and bases their long-term decisions on them.
 
Aria: You mean your politicians actually listen to kids?
 
Mitushi: How else would we evolve?