Inspiration

I LOVE FALL, Y’ALL!

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

I LOVE FALL, Y’ALL

I guess we call it “Fall” because leaves trickle down,
And I suppose that makes a lot of sense.
But, somehow, I think “Autumn” has a better sound — 
More positive — when lovely things commence.

For me, it is the crowning season of the year,
And supersedes even winter holidays.
I get a happy feeling as it’s drawing near,
And yearn for it to make a longer stay.

The brilliant golds and reds and oranges bursting free
Against a sky pellucid, yet true blue.
Carpets made of crunchy leaves beneath the trees:
A happy crunch — but extra work it’s true.

Bonfires’ unique scents that drifts along the air;
Families roasting hot dogs, smashing smores;
Digging out the sweatshirts we can’t wait to wear;
Shopping at the farmer’s market stores.

Squash, tomatoes, apples, pumpkins, corn on cob,
Chrysanthemums so big they seem unreal.
The work of harvest overtakes all other jobs,
And nature’s blessing our good effort seals.

I just can’t get enough of that crisp Autumn air,
Or the quiet that seems to rest on everything.
Even Autumn rains fall with quiet care,
And something in my heart can’t help but sing.

If I could have my way, Autumn would rule the year.
I’d keep one month for Winter’s cleansing touch.
I’d give one month to Spring and Summer with good cheer.
But all the rest to the Autumn I love so much!

A BRAND NEW RESOURCE FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

A friend of mine has just published a huge book of quotes, jokes, puns, and interesting facts that will prove a terrific resource for public speakers of all genres. Called simply SPEAKER’S GOLDMINE,  the 436-page book has a lot to offer — so much so, in fact, that rather than trying to type out an ad for it myself, I’m posting the book trailer so you can get a close-up look at what it’s all about. I hope it can serve as a help to some of you podcasters, educators, ministers, and motivational and inspirational speakers.

 

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ‘THE END’ ? – VIDEO

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Visit my “Happy Wordcrafter” YouTube channel to view the newest episode in my “Speaking As A Writer” series.

POETRY CHALLENGE — ‘IN PERFECT ACCORD’

| Sandra Pavloff Conner


I am subscribed to “Keep It Alive,” and Sadje (the owner of that channel) keeps us abreast of a number of writing challenges. I don’t always have time to take part in them, but I manage to do so once in a while. This week, she shared a challenge from “Selma,” who told us how she was prompted to take the last line from the poem of a friend and begin a new poem of her own with that line. She then challenged us to do the same. I have done something similar in the past for another poetry challenge, but it has been many years, so I thought it would be fun.

Selma’s last line was “In perfect accord.” So I set out to write a poem beginning with that line. I did not intend for my last line to repeat the first, but it just worked out that way so perfectly that I couldn’t help myself.

Anyway, I hope you will all hop over to visit Sadje and Selma both and maybe write your own poem beginning with the last line of mine — or theirs.

Here’s my poem:

I REST WITH GOD

In perfect accord with God, I rest;
Forgiven for sin and healed and blessed.
I have no need to struggle or strain,
Or fight for what I want to gain.
He meets my needs on every hand,
And, washed clean by His blood, I stand
Acquitted, accepted, anointed, adored;
I rest with Him, in perfect accord.

THE PRICE IS PAID; THE VICTORY’S WON

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, when we focus on Jesus’ suffering and death for us. But we want to be sure we don’t focus on the suffering and death without including the victory that resulted from it. I wrote this poem this week to celebrate all that Jesus did.

THE PRICE IS PAID; THE VICTORY’S WON

Mankind was bowed beneath the load of sin and shame.
But in the fulness of God’s time, the Savior came.
He walked as man and lived obedient to God’s law.
Then took upon Himself the sin and curse for all.

His sorrow was so deep it turned his sweat to blood.
In agony He prayed alone, misunderstood.
He cried “Dear Abba, can You find another way?”
But when no way was found, He rose up and obeyed.

The scourging ripped His body; thorns punctured His head.
Nailed to the cross, unclothed, He cried aloud and said,
“Father, forgive them; they do not know what they do.
I’ve done Your will, and now my spirit comes to You.”

The arms of death did grip Him tight within their hold.
The devil felt supreme and in his hate grew bold.
But suddenly God’s voice was heard: “The price is paid!”
And all the underworld began to reel and shake.

The Spirit of Life, who had created all that’s seen,
From Heaven came down and filled Christ’s body once again.
He rose to life victorious over sin and curse,
And in that life now reigns over the universe.

SOUL FOOD

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

SOUL FOOD

Beautiful flowers are food for my soul:
Bright colors, soft petals, verdant leaves.
When I feel fragmented, they help make me whole
And saturate me with their peace.

For flowers have a nature of positive vibes,
In the sunshine, the wind, or the rain.
Even when storms thrash them from side to side,
They lift up their heads once again.

When I’m in a funk about life overall,
I stop and I contemplate blooms.
For I know my soul needs to answer their call
To let beauty dissolve away gloom.

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

| Sandra Pavloff Conner


How I long for home at Christmas,
In the seat of warmth and love.
The place where welcome never fades,
Where family is enough.

It’s the fireplace Dad has kindled
And the taste of Mom’s rich fudge;
Where a rest so deep takes hold of me
That I wish to never budge.

Life scatters me other places;
I do work I enjoy;
I have a few friends good and true,
And some who quite annoy.

My life is mostly good and right;
No serious remorse.
And if I had to choose again,
I’d follow the same course.

But every year at Christmas
I find a need so deep
To be at home with family
This holiday to keep.

For even though I’m grown up,
A child lives in my heart
Who needs the comfort and the love
That only Home imparts.

SPEAKING AS A WRITER – # 4: YOU ARE A WRITER; YES YOU ARE

| Sandra Pavloff Conner


What an exhilarating experience it is to create something! Our God, of course, is the original Creator, but since He made us in His own image, we are also creative by our very genetic nature. I’ve written about this fact a number of times in the past, including it as an important part of my curriculum Releasing the Creative Writer in You.

Writers, particularly, need to be aware of this facet of their craft. Artists just naturally seem to understand that they have created something unique when they finish a painting or a sculpture. And jewelry makers and woodcrafters recognize the fact. But so often I meet writers who seem to feel that until they have completed an entire novel or at least a large collection of short stories or poems, they have not actually created anything of value. And then many writers feel that until another person has judged their work and labeled it “valuable” – someone such as a publisher or literary agent – then they are still “working” at being “creative.”

But the truth is that the intrinsic value of writing lies in this one potent fact: everyone who writes – once he has written an original piece of any size – has created something that never before existed. That person’s words in that specific form, making that specific statement, having that particular impact, constitute an entity that never existed before it came forth out of that individual. What’s more, it never would have existed – had no chance of ever seeing the light of the world – unless that individual had put it onto paper – or into his computer as the case may be.

Now, it’s true that most of us who write want others to read and appreciate what we’ve written. That’s fine. In fact, it’s a good thing. And the acknowledgment of others has its place in a creator’s life. But the fact is that whether or not anyone else reads what we’ve written – whether or not it ever boasts a publisher’s imprint or spends time on a bookstore shelf – every original piece we write is a unique entity that we have created out of ourselves. I encourage all the students in my creative writing classes to get that point indelibly planted into their minds and souls and to enjoy the power of it as they labor, even on their most frustrating, unfruitful days, to hone and polish their craft.

And just as an afterthought, I’ll add one more point that I tell my students – again and again – until I get it solidly established in each of them: Once an individual has written anything original, he has become a “writer.” I never allow my students to say that they are an aspiring writer, a would-be writer, or a prospective writer. Any individual who has created a piece of literature that never before existed is a writer, pure and simple, and should gladly embrace and acknowledge that fact to himself and to others as well.

SPEAKING AS A WRITER # 2 – I’M COMMITTED TO ‘THE END’

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Over the past decade, the publishing world has experienced an interesting, but, in my opinion, sad phenomenon. Almost all fiction authors and/or publishing houses have started leaving out the words “The End” on the last page of novels. It’s now become passe, and I guess in some minds, even unsophisticated to write those two iconic little words below the last paragraph of a story.

It’s sad. I’ve been an avid reader all my life. My earliest happy memories involve reading stories and having them read to me, and I started writing my own in elementary school. In fact, I wrote my first full-length play in the 6th grade. I get totally immersed in the books I read. I can pass hours and even go without food — even chocolate and coffee — once I get entrenched in a story. I live the experiences with the characters — laughing with them, crying with them, loving with them, fighting with them — and rejoicing in the final resolution of the climax in their favor. ( I do not read stories where the main character ends up defeated.)

But when I come to the end of those stories, I’m generally so much involved that I need closure in order to let them go and move on. Those two little words — “The End” — have always given me that. Now, many have been the times when I hated to see them come. I didn’t want the story to end, and I would have pushed those words forward for another twenty pages or so at least. But eventually, all good stories have to reach their resolution, and when they do, I’ve always found a quiet acceptance and even a serene pleasure in reading those words. I can’t begin to count the times I’ve leaned back after reading “The End,” closed my eyes, and taken a slow deep breath and relished the fact that all was resolved and every loose end securely tucked away.

Those two little words close a story and let me know that it’s all right to let those characters go and move on to the next story — the next adventure — the next romance — the next journey. Yes, I know that any reader of average intelligence is able to figure out that if there is no more text between the covers, then the story has come to an end. But that doesn’t satisfy me at all. Somehow, those two words typed onto the page just make the reading experience complete, and finishing a story without them is not the same. Perhaps I’m the only one who feels that way. I don’t know. It’s not a subject I discuss with other writers — or readers. But it’s something that touches me powerfully enough that I continue to type “The End” at the completion of every novel I write.

And I will continue to do so from now on. The publisher that I have worked with for years is in agreement with me, and, of course, any books that I publish through Amazon or Barnes & Noble don’t require my considering anyone else’s opinion. So whichever publishing route I use I am free to do as I please. And what pleases me is to be able to say to my readers  — in effect — “Well, now, we have come the distance together in this story; thank you for sharing it with me; I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have; we’ve solved the problems for the hero and heroine, and they are satisfied and secure;  I’ve taken great care to leave you in a good place; All is well.”  And I can say all of that with the quintessential conclusion: ‘THE END.’

WEEKLY SMILE FOR 10/28/24

| Sandra Pavloff Conner


Oh, my goodness, it’s been so long since I have had time to participate in Trent’s Weekly Smile — or very much of anything else here on WordPress. I was just thinking about it today and wondering if he is still doing these posts. I was so glad to go into my Reader and find him there right close to the top.

So I took that as a sign that I need to jump in and participate this week. And I really do have something to smile about. It’s my smile.  No pun intended.

No kidding. I had a terrible amount of pain in my left jaw last week — sinuses, teeth, and gums — both top and bottom. Sometimes the pain felt like it was coming from my sinuses, but then it seemed to center around a tooth that had been crowned years ago. 

I called my dentist and asked if he could get me in for an emergency appointment. That was Friday, but he couldn’t work me in until Monday. The pain was so bad, I really prayed for relief — and even called my pastor to pray as well. And the pain did finally leave after just a few hours. Then I dithered about whether I should keep the emergency appointment. I finally decided that, since I was already scheduled to see him, I might as well go ahead.

When my dentist looked things over, he found a cavity at the edge of the crown — on the little bit of tooth that the crown was attached to.  Wow. That’s a bummer. But he was able to drill off that whole crown, fill my tooth, and put on a temporary crown until he could make a new permanent one.

But today — hallelujah! — I got my permanent crown. It looks and feels so good. I can eat normally, and I am smiling wide.  I had been really concerned, because the tooth is the one right beside my eye tooth, so if I had lost it, there would have been a very unsightly empty spot there, and that would have spoiled my smiles completely.

So my weekly smile really is my SMILE.

To join in the fun of Trent’s Weekly Smile, just click the link.

SPEAKING AS A WRITER # 1 — IT ALL BEGINS WITH 26 LITTLE LETTERS

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Welcome to the first installment of my series “Speaking As A Writer.”  I plan to post an article each week about writing — probably covering all kinds of territory: everything from general concepts to details of problems I’ve had getting a story to come together to explanations of how I came to write a particular story or poem in the first place. Several of the things I’ll share can probably be found elsewhere on this website from the past, because, after all, anything that’s really worth saying is worth saying at least twice or three times, right???

I will probably philosophize, maybe preach a little, no doubt make a few people mad, and most likely make fun of myself. But hopefully a lot of what I share will ring a bell — or strike a chord — with a few other writers out there — and maybe even a few readers as well. So let’s get started.

 

IT ALL BEGINS WITH 26 LITTLE LETTERS

There’s a quote floating around out there among writers and readers that says, “Every book you’ve ever read is just a different combination of 26 letters.” I don’t know where it came from originally. I’ve searched the Internet for a reference, but found none. However, I know that quote is true. And I’ve found myself thinking about that truth a great deal.

One particular morning, as I sat pondering on this quote, I thought back over all the books that I have written. Now, I’m not even thinking about books by others that I’ve read — the multiplied thousands of them. But considering just the books that I have written, I stand totally amazed at the vast differences in the subject matters, the characters, the environments, and the stories themselves that have all been created by using only these same 26 little letters.

I think I got particularly focused on language and its amazing power in the lives of human beings when I was working on book # 5  in The Smoky Mountain Series. The novel is titled  THIS FIRE IN MY HEART,  and in it I’m telling the story of a full-blooded Cherokee man who is very personally involved in a movement to restore the original Cherokee language to his people. While many of the elderly Cherokee still speak their native language, most of their children and certainly almost all of their grandchildren barely know and understand that language.

A major reason for that lack, of course, is the result of the U.S. government forcing thousands of American Indian children to leave their homes and families and attend boarding schools for years at which they were totally stripped of everything about their culture and their heritage. They were forced to use only the English language for all communication and were severely punished if they even spoke to each other in their native tongues. Naturally, that kind of treatment could easily and quickly eradicate an entire nation’s communication skills.

As I pondered these terrible events in history and worked them into the story where they needed to go for the sake of developing my main character, I thought anew about how powerful language really is. And how powerful words are. As a devout Christian and one who tries to write mostly for the sake of sharing Gospel truths through my work, I’m very well acquainted with the importance the Lord puts on words. In fact He comes right out and tells us in Proverbs 18:21 that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

So our words have great power to effect others. And as a writer, I try to always be aware of that fact. I know that words have driven men to hateful, heinous acts against each other, and words have brought an end to wars and brought comfort and courage to thousands in times of need. I try to be aware that all my words carry some degree of power to affect others and even the atmosphere around me — for good or for bad.

I believe that the words I write are just as powerful as the words I speak aloud, so it’s my aim as an author to be the most responsible purveyor of words that I can possibly be. It’s a challenge, but it’s also a great adventure — taking 26 little letters and crafting them responsibly into brand new, life-sized people and their stories — or into messages that will change peoples lives for the better.

A Few Seasonal Poems

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

As most of my followers know, I love, love, love fall!  And last week I was in a poetic mood so decided to whip up a few bits of verse in the form of haiku and cinquain. Hope you all enjoy them.

OCTOBER HAIKU

October is here.
My favorite month at last!
Delight to my soul.

OCTOBER CINQUAIN

At last — 
October’s here!
Wind-driven, burnished leaves–
Jewels against crystal blue skies.
Gorgeous!

AUTUMN HAIKU

Autumn has glory
That outshines other seasons.
My soul’s fav’rite time.