An Amazon.com Book Review…

Happy Friday, everyone! I’m in a bit of a tizzy today- where did the time go? because I’m preparing to spend the weekend with my daughter and help her get settled in her new house. I’m going to share with you guys an earlier review I’d written at Amazon.com.

Eloisa Ramos is a student and teacher of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or tapping, which she uses in her work. I’d vaguely heard of tapping via webinars, newsletters and such, but Eloisa explains the technique in more detail as a stimulus process used much in the same way as acupuncture on key areas of the body to,”unblock stuck energy showing up as negative emotions and beliefs- releasing them from our energy system.”

This book is deep and I initially thought too conservative in its writings for me, but, you’ll see from reading my review- I had, as Oprah would say, “aha.” moments during the read.

My amazon review:

Self-Esteem: Discovering Your Boundless Self-Worth (Volume 1) (Paperback)
When I downloaded a free copy of Beyond Self-Esteem, from Story Cartel. admittedly, I began my initial read of the author’s work, with bit of a closed mind, as I had preconceived notions of what to expect in regards to self development, enlightenment and spiritual self awareness- some of the the criteria for which my own work is based. The author’s work started to read like a college term paper at first, but, when I returned with a sincere determination to finish the book and give an honest review, I allowed myself to read, without prejudice and harbored no perceptions of what I thought the message should be. Overall, I found the book to be stimulating, interesting and humanly intriguing.

It was interesting to find out more about EFT and how it works when exploring the true ‘self.’ I was also encouraged by the author’s take on self-images and how we find our truths by recognizing what’s lies beyond our externals. I enjoyed letting go of limiting beliefs and opening up to the positives the author have to share. Important lessons to learn!

P.S. Let this be a lesson to all creatives- never assume anything until you’ve read the fine print:)

How about you guys- ever thought a book ‘difficult’ only to find it was really worth the read?

A Visit With Joe Bunting…

Hello everyone. Thank you for stopping by on this first day of March. I know what you’re thinking-“TGIF!.” Clara54’s guest today is professional writer, author and editor, Joe Bunting. Please join me in welcoming him to the writers forum.

1. Congratulations on your blog The Write Practice being selected as one of the 10 best writing blogs of 2012! What did that feel like?

Thanks Clara. It felt like relief, actually. We won last year, too, and I was so nervous that we wouldn’t this year. Expectations make life so much harder. When you get what you’re expecting, you’re not satisfied. When you don’t, you’re angry and disappointed. It’s better to have low expectations.

2. I’m a subscriber to The Write Practice because it’s a great resource for those of us who love the Story and maybe want to write that great Novel someday. You have said that writing short stories is the best way to began this endeavor. Why is that?

I think the most important thing for a writer to do is start sharing his or her work as soon as possible. To be successful, you need to start making friends and building an audience sooner rather than later. Plus, I think, most of us writers have an innate urge to share our work. It’s scary but it’s thrilling, too, and it motivates us to work harder on the next story.

The problem with novels for the new writer is that they just take so long. They make it so much harder to get your work in front of an audience (even if that audience is just your mom). Stories allow you to audition, bringing a little bit of your best work to the world to see if they want more. Stories are little experiments. Novels are huge projects.

And the reality is that your first “finished” pieces will probably be very bad. I’d rather fail at a dozen short stories than a novel I’ve put three years of my soul into.

3. Can you talk a bit about Story Cartel? I joined the site as an Amazon reviewer and love that I get free books out of it! Is this the only stipulation for joining?

Yep! All of our books are completely free in exchange for your review. We wanted to create a really great resource for readers, almost like a speed dating site for readers and writers to connect. I’ve spent a long time talking just to writers, and I wanted to start connecting with readers. It’s been really fun so far.

4. What makes a great writer?

Sheesh, what a question, Clara! Proust was a great writer but that doesn’t mean I want to read him. I love Dickens but I know so many people who hate him. And a teenager who’s just finished Twilight might say Stephenie Meyer is a great writer, and while I’ve earned the ire of many a writer for sticking up for her, saying she’s “great” might be stretching the language a bit.

Still. I guess I’ll take a shot at it. To be a great writer, I think you have to create interesting characters whom you know completely, to tell a great story, to combine politics, history, religion, and setting without overwhelming that story, and write perfect prose with your own unique flare.

5. How do you handle criticism?

I grieve. Then I get back to writing.

6. You’ve recently introduced HANDS to the reading audience. I’ve read great reviews about this one. Share a few nuggets with us and how we can get a copy for ourselves?

Hands is essentially a story about music, how it connects us to ourselves and to others, even across obstacles like race, age, and death. The story is about Jim, a dying jazz musician who is losing the use of his hands, and a visit he has with one of his former music students, his favorite student, really. During the visit, Jim finds that he can no longer connect—he’s too old and too out of touch—except through the music.

If that sounds interesting, you can get a free preview of the story here:

http://thewritepractice.com/hands-preview/

Thanks for sharing a slice of Joe Bunting life with us!

No, thank you, Clara. You’ve been so great.

Are you guys encouraged to move forward and write that great short story or novel? What burning question would you have asked Joe Bunting?