Finding Great Advice by Sandra Rafuse

Having my publishing date near the end of every month this year has been a bonus for me because I get to read all the blogs that are published before mine. Since we all use the same prompt as the topic for our blog, what I read from those who publish before me helps me immensely by giving me so many ideas and much information to use. I feel I don't have the experience I would like to have had to write something using this month's prompt and I have struggled with the January and February prompts as well. Each one has been a challenge for me. Why? Dana-Lyn's comment says it all. . . "I am extremely new to the craft of writing." I love that sentence. That's me. (Thanks for sharing that, Dana-Lyn.)

For now, I can say I received the best advice about writing from books. I've always loved to read. I'm remembering a couple of favorite old books from when I was a lot younger and still lived at home. For a time, my father subscribed to Reader's Digest for those hardcover books they offered that had two stories in one book. I remember enjoying those. I remember reading and rereading 1001 Arabian Nights - The Complete Adventures of Sindbad, Aladdin and Ali Baba time and time again. Then, for most Christmases, there was a new book wrapped up and placed under the tree for me. I would spend an entire day at some time during the holidays, curled up on the couch, reading and finishing the book before the day was done. And I can't leave out mentioning second hand bookstores and all their treasures that came along as the years went by and. . .wait. . .the Scholastic book orders that were sent away every month at school. It felt like Christmas time when the orders came in. Words. Books. Reading. Understanding. Now Writing. There's my connection to the best advice I've ever received for writing.

When I consider all I've read, I am aware of the power, the impact, the emotions words have on me. I feel them in my mind and in my heart. I am amazed how authors have written their stories, or articles, or poems, etc., using the words they have chosen and they have made them into something so meaningful and beautiful and organized and clear. How do they do that? I think about it now as I write. As I learn to put words together so they come out saying something good. I am happy to be in this new chapter in my life. It certainly is a lot of work. And I'm happy about that, too.

Sandra Rafuse lives in the small town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, with her husband, Bob, a Gordon Setter named Sadie, and a Peregrine falcon named Peet. She is a retired teacher, an amateur writer, and is thoroughly enjoying having the opportunity to share what God has been teaching her through her life experiences.

Photo at top of page by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.