Hobby: Letter Writing #2

Quite a while ago, I posted about a favorite hobby of mine--letter writing. There is something so entirely magical about stringing words together for another to read. Seriously, if I could make a living off of writing letters, I would do it. Anyone interested in paying me to write letters? Pretty please?

Now I've found a couple of different option for my other letter-lovers. Of course, some of these may not be your thing.

If you're like me (a narcissistic letter writer), then perhaps volunteering to write deployed soldiers might be the thing for you. Since they're so busy, they rarely write back but they're in need of the escape of letters. So if you like writing, this might be the thing for you. But don't be surprised if you get a letter back!

adoptaplatoon.org

Or if you're okay paying a bit of money ($23 if you're from the USA), you can buy a subscription (3 issues in a year) to The Letter Exchange. It's a type of magazine where letter writers can write listings to attract particular types of correspondents. Some people choose to role-play or find a fellow writer to critique their work. It's a unique idea and I'm hoping to buy a subscription myself soon.

And then, if you're interested in some instant penpal action, you can check out Penpal World. You can start out with a limited profile where you can get in contact with 3 other penpals. If you find it's to your liking, you can upgrade your membership for a "low" cost. I haven't been able to find the cost anywhere, though. But a limited profile would probably give me more than enough people to talk to.

And if you don't like what I've found for you, then do some of your own googling exploration! There are some cool opportunities out there for people who know how to look!

May you have many letters in your future!

Captivation: Upcoming Writing Contests

Have I ever mentioned that I want to be a writer? I suppose if you've kept pace with me you've seen the telltale signs of my adoration of words strung together to create mosaics of story.

This afternoon I spent in the library pouring over writing magazines. I found many contests. So at the possibility of you beating me out and winning these contests, I'll share them!

Even this picture will take you to info on another writing contest. Deadline is in November!

Not Your Mother's Book
Consisting of real-life stories written by individuals 18 years and older, the series will not focus on death/dying, cry-your-eyes out sad selections, but only hip, fun, modern and very-much-today type stories that will entertain our readers.
word count: 500-2500

PNWA Literary Contest
12 Contest Categories
deadline: February 22, 2013
fee: $50 (nonmembers)
These can be book length and you get 2 critiques!

Crazyhorse writing contest
categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry
deadline: January 31, 2013
fee: $20 (includes a year subscription)

The 9th Annual Geist Postcard Story contest
word count: max. 500
a postcard that somehow relates to your fictional or nonfictional story
deadline: February 1, 2013
fee: $20

Catharsis Journal contest
topic: How creativity changed my life
category: short memoirs between 2500-10,000 words
deadline: March 15, 2013
fee: $20

So my fellow writers, grab your pens and laptops and get scribbling. If you're prolific, you could have a story to each of these contests! I'm hoping maybe I'll submit a story a month. I think my creativity and my budget might be able to support that endeavor.

"The book you want to write is the book you've always wanted to read." - Dylan Brody

Captivation: Book Publishing

I ran into an acquaintance today who has been working at getting his book published. I do dream of writing my own book and getting it published, but there's a ton of work involved.

Currently, I'm in the lowest ranks of an editorial department. I do the brunt work and the busy work and the work that no one else wants to do. And I'm totally okay with that. It's nice to know that me working on that not-fun-work opens up the editors to doing the important stuff. So my work counts for something! And the priceless experience of knowing how a publishing house works.

here

Recently, I had the opportunity to read through the infamous "slush pile". This pile is the fear of every writer, but the true reality of the writer's life. A slush pile is the stack of unsolicited book proposals that an acquisitions editor receives. I read through 20 book proposals.

here

Two of the biggest reasons that these proposals were rejected:
- no platform (aka no place to self-market their book)
- wrong subject matter for our publishing house

What we can learn from this.
Please research the publishing houses that you desire to submit your work to, making sure that they publish your genre and be ready to self-promote! Personally, self-promotion puts a bad taste in my mouth, but it is necessary.

Helping a fellow writer out.
So you interested in reading about a new author with a new book that you can get on Amazon or Barnes and Noble's? Allow me to introduce you to The Eliot Papers. Want it on the Nook or Kindle?

Teddy Bears

My great aunt loves them. Children love them. We've got stores devoted to them such as Build-a-Bear and then all the knock off stores. We've got Winnie the Pooh. Teddy Bears (dubbed so after Theodore Roosevelt) are a favorite of America.

via


People love teddy bears. Honestly, we're trying to incorporate them into everything these days. Check out some of the following creativity.

via

Don't want a teddy bear coat? Well, then. You could get a teddy bear lamp.

via

If that doesn't sit well with you because you find it truly horrifying, we'll move on to a sweeter type of terrifying.

via


Now, if that was much too haunting for you, we'll go for a more European look. This teddy has a good if random life. I'm wondering if he's a photo-bomber.

via

Yes, I think I want to be this girl with her teddy in the woods with balloons. After all, anything can happen. Balloons grow on trees.

via

Although I know a fair amount of child-at-heart adults, I still think teddy bears look most at home in the arms of a child.

via

This may seem quite random to you. However, I visited my aunt this week and I admired her teddy bear collection. I thought it was only right that I might do a bit of blogging about these wonderful teddy bears. Of course, this post focused more on the fun and random. This blog is like my brain sometimes (but, not always - so don't freak out, mom).

A Wild Flower Walk

Feet in hot pink mud boots with a basket on her arm, my cousin set out with me on a walk. We went in search of wild flowers. For days, we'd been driving down these country roads watching black-eyed susans nod their heads at us. For days, queen anne's lace sophisticatedly taunted us from the windy freedom of the side of the road.

Yesterday afternoon, we went in search of beauty.

As the hot sunshine made sweat slide down our backs and our mud boots plodded along the road, our eyes searched out bright bits of colors. Like children (for we are children sometimes), we hunted out these treasures of color.

Long before our walk had ended, our basket brimmed with flowers. My cousin walking beside me sighs and says to me, "I feel so relaxed right now. I don't really know why I wasn't relaxed before, but now I am."

I looked at her oddly. Musing on her words, I could only thing that sunshine, flowers, buzzing flies, sweat, and a comfortable camaraderie are therapeutic. More than that, we were participating in an activity that girls had done for decades. We sought beauty.

Summer begs for idyllic adventures and simple activities with those one loves. It's so easy to appreciate pictures of nature from the view of our couch and computer, but there is nothing like a personal snapshot of nature that one sees in the midst of the bugs, sweat, and sunshine. Perhaps a personal snapshot won't last as long as paper and ink; however, a personal snapshot is like a slideshow that never stops. Keep creating these moments for yourself and others.

In twenty years, I might not remember this wildflower walk. But, I will remember this summer spent with my cousins. And who knows, my cousin might recall this walk.

Go pick some wild flowers and revel in the beauty that has been granted us on this earth. And have a lovely Independence Day!

via

What If the Concept of College was Re-defined?

People call college "the best four years" of their lives. Thousands upon thousands of dollars are spent for board, tuition, classes, books, etc. After college ends, where do we go? How do we pay off these debts? Graduation is like a jump board out of the cozy environment that we've been living in to a world labeled "dog-eat-dog." Suddenly, graduates have to realize that life does not revolve around school. For 16 years, undergraduate students attend different academic systems to gain the education level that they want or feel that is expected. And then, school ends.

What comes after school? Real life? Family? A job?

College definitely has its perks; however, does a degree truly make one more prepared for life than real life experience? What if life experience and schooling could be combined?

Timothy Cook at The Saxifrage School has a vision to redesign college education. Not only does he have the vision, but he is putting action behind his ideas.

This is the Saxifrage School, a college redesign project with dual-majors, language fluency, and real-life skills. It's a real place that will have 400 students, 40 professors, and a $5000 tuition. The Saxifrage School is set to open in 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

p.s. Don't forget about my giveaway!!! It ends May 9th!

Tree Houses

As a child, I dreamed of having a treehouse in my backyard. For a kid, I had it pretty good with a lovely climbing tree next to a swing set. Personally, I think my back yard was a child's paradise. However, I would have loved to have a legitimate tree house. It would have fueled so many imaginative games.

via


Happily, my love of tree houses doesn't have to die out as I grow up. Tree houses grow with me.

via


I wonder what it would take to get to stay there for just a day. Of course, if one is feeling adventurous and has a passport handy, jet off to South China for a stay at this idyllic play place.

You know, even though I'm afraid of heights, I'm pretty sure that if this tree house happened to go on sale and I happened to have an extra couple hundred grand in my back pocket, I would grab my handy dandy How To guide and buy this baby right up.

via


And if you're not feeling ambitious enough to take up residence in a tree house, why not spend a meal in one? Okay, well, this treehouse has only been considered in concept. However, I think it's a neat idea.

via

If you are still as enthralled by tree houses as I am, I suggest you go check out these 10 Amazing Tree Houses.

Uh, oh. I just discovered my newest interest. It looks absolutely divine. Although not quite a tree house, it has to do with trees and houses. It's referred to as a Hanging Human Birdhouse.

When you were a kid, did you love tree houses? If you could live in a tree house now, would you? What do you think of the Hanging Human Birdhouse?

Hobby: Letter Writing

Someone once asked me what I would do if I could only do one thing for the rest of my life as a job. After careful thought (because I'm one of those people), I responded that I would write letters.

Snail mail with its almost obsolete stamp and its paper and ink enthralls me. Letters tell stories. I suppose they are only half of a dialogue. However, there are so many opportunities for sharing stories, antidotes, thoughts, and just words.

via

The wonderment of such notes sent through mail couriers and all kinds of weather is that notes require letters of the alphabetic variety.

via

But notes aren't just contained to words.

via

Letters can bring stories alive. Letters draw people together across distances. It's a tangible presence of another person's time and effort. Letters are a thing of beauty like a fairy tale (okay, so i do believe letters are like fairy tales; however, I just wanted the opportunity to share this picture.)

via

If letters are saved and put together, they are like loose leaf journals. A good journal is like a best friend and best friends should always receive letters.

via

But more than anything, letters make me feel like someone took the time to think of me. They took precious time out of their days to acquaint me with the going-ons in their lives.

via

Do you write snail mail letters? What are some of your favorite hobbies?