Sophia Essay for Moon Books

Writing an essay for publication is a great honor. It is also a great challenge. You want to to be good. You want it well research. You want it to touch people and be remembered.  Yet, it is only an ESSAY. That means it has to be short. You are not writing a full feature article. You are not writing an educational manuscript or a novel. This is 1000 words... only.

I just finished 52K words for a fiction novel in November. 1000 words should be fast and easy.

So why am I still here at the beginning with piles of books and papers around me, all with highlighting and little sticky tabs?

Because the material warrants more than 1000 words and I only have 1000 words. I have written and rewritten the outline no less than 7 times. The number 7 must be lucky here, for I have 5 topics to cover plus the introduction and conclusion.

I.                   Sophia

a.       Historical Context

                                                              i.      Wisdom Literature

                                                            ii.      Gnostic Beliefs

b.      Contemporary Context

                                                              i.      Gnostic Sophian Spirituality

                                                            ii.      Feminist Sophian Spirituality

c.       Personal Context

                                                              i.      Pagan Sophian Spirituality

Sophia is a goddess of Wisdom.

The official essay, you will have to read through Moon Books.

Exciting New Developments

First exciting bit of news:
The French version of my book Magical Blend Book of Secrets Vol. 1 (Livre des Secrets) is now available!

Second exciting bit of news:
I will be attending the Montreal Yule Fair with copies of my books. I will also have other items for sale and do books signings with the French translator. AND! And I will be giving a presentation about The Zen of Tea as I had given it at Gaia Gathering last spring.

For more info about the Montreal Yule Fair: http://www.themagicalblend.com/yule-fair.html

Third exciting bit of news:
I am working on my second novel through NaNoWriMo this month. Wish me luck! If you are doing NaNoWriMo, add me as a buddy (scarletcougar).

Preparing for NANOWRIMO

November is almost here and I am already preparing for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) where you write a novel of 50K words in 30 days. WOOHOO! I won last year and hope to win again this year.

Every year, I host write-ins. I used to host them in the shop I owned. This year, I may host them at my home and/or in the learning center where I work.

Also this year, I plan to host a Young Writers Program for NaNoWriMo for kids grades 6-8. I have done some research, downloaded lesson plans and tips and tools for the kids, ordered fun supplies, and am eager to register them for the program! At the end of the program, I will publish their stories for them. Young writers deserve to see their hard work in print so they can show the word what they have accomplished. I want to help them realize their dreams of being young novelists!

Writing Log for August 21st

So, the first Magical Blend Book of Secrets Volume 1 is out!

Now I see all the things I missed in the first few rounds and want to "forever-edit" it. I will do a once over and resubmit to clean of the glaring annoyances. The translation got done way faster than expected. So, publishing the French version has now moved up the list of priorities. I just have to reformat, add in the pictures and send it to the publisher for final review.

I have reorganized the list below:

1. Magical Blend Book of Secrets Volume 1 (book in FRENCH yet to be translated)
2. Zen of Tea (book in the works 2/3 written... index is hell to do)
3. Edit and finish a novel that is co-written with a friend (Age of Scions is the working series title that is so not going to stay)
4. CMS Level 1 workbook #1 (in progress)
5. Synctretic Tradition (4K word chapter for anthology in progress)
6. 6 or 7 scathingly risquee fanfiction novels (in progress and not permitted to sell)
7. 2 fiction novels I have been waffling about because while I write fanfiction well, I am uncertain if I can write original fiction as well
8. Book about Chakras from my personal experience and perspective
9. Book about rites of passage for Pagans
10. Workbook for teens about how to write stories, fiction and non-fiction

Firelight Gathering

I will be at Whispering Pines over the weekend at Firelight Gathering Festival. It is a relaxation weekend where I will sit for the weekend on a blanket with my books and some other stuff to sell, enjoy the summer weather and good friends, read at my leisure, and write whatever pleases me!

I hope to see some of you there.

Also... NEWS!!! Magical Blend: Book of Secrets: Volume 1 is now translated into French and will be available sometime in September 2013!

Beautiful Drumming

Because some things are so inspiring and must be shared. I will try to have a play list of this music during the book launch.

Writing Log

I thought I would make a list of what I am working on. For myself and for all of you. You can also make requests!

• Zen of Tea (book in the works 2/3 written... index is hell to do)
• CMS Level 1 workbook #1 (in progress)
• Magical Blend Book of Secrets Volume 1 (book in FRENCH yet to be translated)
• Synctretic Tradition (4K word chapter for anthology in progress)
• 6 or 7 scathingly risquee fanfiction novels (in progress and not permitted to sell)
• 2 fiction novels I have been waffling about because while I write fanfiction well, I am uncertain if I can write original fiction as well
• Book about Chakras from my personal experience and perspective
• Book about rites of passage for Pagans
• Workbook for teens about how to write stories, fiction and non-fiction

I wonder what else to work on or what people would actually want to see.
I can transform any of the workshop or courses I teach into a book.