Leaving Your Words Behind

The Importance of Creating a Legacy

 In our communities we have many watering holes, anywhere where people are congregating and conversing. The barber and beauty shops, nail salons, coffee houses, smoke shops, restaurants and bars. Places where the discussion is lively. Politics, religion, sports, family, are fair game for watering hole conversations.

We debate, dream, create, discuss, argue and lament about the world we live in today. We talk loud, laugh, interrupt each other, agree, and disagree as we talk about who did what, how they did it and what they need to do. Places that yields networking opportunities, business ventures and partnerships. Some of the best sales I made were from the many street vendors that dash in and out of these establishments, selling everything from a sandwich to a suitcase.

While moving in this “village” environment   I began to see that something else was going on, sometimes the conversation shifts. It gets a little uneasy, uncomfortable, silent, and people begin to disconnect, pulling out cell phones, leaving the premises, turning back to the task at hand, until someone changes the subject. Then the conversation picks up again, as we move on to the next subject at hand.

What happens in the uncomfortable and silent time of the conversation? As I ponder the question, I began to think about the times long ago when I sat in the beauty/barber shop with my mother, listening to the banter.  I heard comments like “when is somebody going to invent a …?”Or “all you need to do is…” I heard grand ideas of inventions and solutions that made perfect sense. I’d find myself nodding in agreement, thinking I hope somebody does that because one day I’d like to buy one.

I believe that it’s our own inadequacies that we feel in the uncomfortable times, our inability to place importance on that voice that tells us to create something for the future. It’s time to get busy; we must leave something tangible for our future generations to build on because our legacies are foundational. Often our creativity or business is so simple that we don’t put ancestral value on it. So I ask the question” if we don’t who will?”  Must we wait for the right time or situation to begin creating?  Must we wait on someone to do it for us??  Or will it die with us? Why are we brushing aside the inner voice trying to guide us? I shudder to think of our answers.

I can no longer ignore it, nor do I want to, it’s time to take responsibility of our God given gifts. A definition of legacy states-something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past. We must leave our words behind. Not only for future generations, but for present day situations, someone needs to hear our words now.  

For the past several years California State Senator Curren Price has seen the value of literacy and creating a legacy by sponsoring the Annual Curren Price Writers Contest along with the Genesis Writers and Reflections Publishing House. He is dedicated to doing all he can to give the writer the opportunity to begin the process of creating a legacy that he provides cash prizes for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners along with a commendation from the State of California, that any participant would be honored to receive at the 6^th Annual Make it Happen Writers Seminar sponsored by Reflections Publishing in February 2013.

For story and submission guidelines: email dabellis@reflectionspublishings.net or call Deborah Bellis at 310/695-9800

Establishing goals for the next step workshop

You were never created to be employed. you were created to BE deployED

 When a tree bears fruit, it never brings the fruit to you; it attracts you to the fruit. Whatever you are born with… is never for you, it is for your serving/contribution to the world. This is the time of opportunity. Train your gift/calling by taking the next step in the writer’s journey.

 WHAT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT MOTIVATION FOR YOUR BOOK?

Communicating values? Making money? Getting a Book Deal? Leaving a legacy? Educating community on history? Entertain? Tell a Story?  It is essential that you operate and establish your passion on the subject, content, by the time you reach the publishing stage.

Building a Platform – Promoting - Why you need a book proposal if you are self-publishing..

What is a Writer’s Platform and How Does it Help?

·         Your writing platform is a tool you use to promote yourself and sell your writing. To build a strong writing platform, you need to be an entrepreneur and marketing guru with established followers. It’s a tall order – but take heart! In our modern technological age, it’s possible and not too difficult to do.

·         Your writing platform proves your ability as a writer to promote and sell your book on a national or international level, which drives book sales. It provides a measure of security to the publisher and acts as a vehicle to promote your book and you, the writer.

·         Some writing and publishing experts’ say not having a writing platform is an automatic death sentence to an article query or book proposal. If you don’t have a writing platform, you won’t get traditionally published. Building your writing platform is not only necessary, it’s essential.

 IDENTIFYING SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM GOALS

What are your next step goals, in the journey of perseverance?

Can you identify the next step?
It is important to define your strategy – that’s what we accomplish in the Intermediate Writers Workshop
What writing goals have you accomplished so far?
How can you benefit from completing your writing project?

Purpose always attracts prosperity. You were not born to just make a living; you were born to deliver a purpose to your generation.  You need an incubator for your dreams

Living your life from the inside – The inner purpose is inside, whatever you were born to do is inside you.  In the right environment the seed in you can germinate. You never retire from what you were born to do. You must fertilize water and seed your purpose. Reflections Publishing House is providing the incubator for the development or next step of your project.

Define 3 goals that you will accomplish in the Intermediate Workshop.

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 Writers Society  Intermediate Workshop

July, 2012

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