Leaving the Everyday World Behind

I feel so fortunate to know that no matter where I go or what I'm doing, I have the option to escape for a few moments into the world of Heaven's Wait. Since this magical world is of my own creation, I am free to travel to that corner of my mind whenever I please. What a luxury that is! While cooking dinner, pulling weeds, riding in a car, or taking a walk, I can pop into Heaven's Wait for a few minutes to concoct a new scene for a story, rethink the path of a character, create a new melody for a relevant moment, or invent a new oddball plant to throw into the animated landscape. Since I usually have my laptop attached to my hip, I can dive into my unearthly world during my lunch hour at work, when I'm on vacation, while my mom naps during the Thursdays I spend with her, or whenever I just need some time to myself.

Escaping into the world of creativity has proven to be so good for my soul. But it is because I approached my Heaven's Wait project with that intention in mind. The Tales from Vowella series was never about finding a new career for myself or landing a book contract. It was about finding a way to satisfy my creative urges while perhaps making some kind of difference in the universe during the process. So I make a point to keep my project at a stress-free level as much as possible, and I make sure that I am enjoying the process more than the end result.

A former elementary school classmate of mine recently told me that at this point in his life, he finds himself spending 85% of his time looking back and 15% of his time looking forward. My first inclination is to say that I do the opposite, by spending 85% of my time looking forward. But as I take a closer look at myself, I find that I spend most of my time in the present, taking care of tasks at hand, paying as much attention as I can to "life", which presents us with something new on a continuous basis, and then consciously stepping into the world of Heaven's Wait to see what new adventures await me.

I think all of us have a Heaven's Wait within us. You may go there with a camera, a golf club, a musical instrument or a paintbrush. You may go there when you spend time with a child, drive a racecar, dance to your favorites song, watch a movie, or perform a random act of kindness. I hope all of you have found ways to consciously leave the everyday world behind you for at least a few moments each day, and that you are living a more fulfilled life because you have chosen to travel such a path.

Lasting Story: Things That Allow Me to Get Lost in Time

Let's continue writing your Lasting Story! Below, you will find suggestions for writing about the above subject. You may develop your own format for writing about this subject, or you may use the handy MS Word Lasting Story Template that lives within the Heaven's Wait website at http://www.heavenswait.com/WriteHW.html. It includes guidelines to help you write your stories in a consistent format and file them in an efficient manner.

Suggestions:
What are some things or activities that feed your soul, that transport you to another place, where time doesn't matter and all is at peace? Does music transport you? Do you escape in the stories of books or movies? Does practicing a faith or being in nature take you there? Does a hobby or a creative activity feed that place in your soul? Perhaps sharing ideas about this subject with loved ones would give them further insight into who you are, and encourage them to give you space to fully experience all that gives you moments of peace. Add this entry to your Lasting Story!

Visit the Heaven's Wait website for the accumulated Lasting Story Write Guide at: http://www.heavenswait.com/WriteHW.html

To receive Lasting Story Writing Alerts, join the Heaven's Wait Email Alert List at: http://www.heavenswait.com/FormEmailList.aspx

Has this subject prompted a discussion between you and your family or friends? You are welcome to share your thoughts or conversations by commenting in one of two places:

1. Click on "Post a Comment" below this Lasting Story blog post. Note: If you would like to go back and comment on a previous post, click on Lasting Story under Subject Blogs in the upper right hand corner of this page. Then scroll down to the subject on which you wish to comment.

2. Facebook users, see Heaven's Wait's Page, http://www.facebook.com/heavenswait. Comment under the Status entry for this Lasting Story subject in the timeline. Scroll down to comment on previous subjects.

The Value of Writer-Reader Conversations

Good or bad, reader comments are gold. Not only do they push the writer to hone her skills and produce a better story; they tell her whether or not elements of her work have touched readers' lives in a noteworthy way.

I had an email conversation this week with a friend who just finished reading R.J.'s Story. Since he has known me personally for many years and knew that R.J.'s character was based on my own father, he asked several questions concerning the facts behind many of my references to R.J.'s history, beyond those detailed on the R.J.'s Real Story page of Heaven's Wait website. Did my dad really have his own plane? Did he really build tiny windmills in his backyard garden? I found it interesting that on similar occasions, other readers who had no connection to my family's history also asked those questions.

My friend took the time to write two pages of thoughts and questions. His first point told of the trouble he had connecting with the new otherworldly characters I introduced, a fact that hampered his progress through the first half of the book. He said it would have been helpful if I had included pictures of the individual Vowellans so he could see them as they appeared to me in my head. I must admit that I threw a whole community of alien characters at readers in a very short amount of time. But I also withheld such pictures from this initial eBook because I understood that many readers prefer to conjure up their own pictures of such characters. One of my other readers found an instant connection with not only one of the Vowellan children but also the wistas, the most mystical creatures of the land of Heaven's Wait. She did, however, jump at the chance to see my library of illustrations when I offered to show them to her.

My friend really seemed to relate to several of the subtle messages that were woven into the story—those pertaining to purpose, materialism and the passing of loved ones. Because they were significant to him, he was prompted to express his views on those concepts. In contrast, those messages slipped by other readers who picked up on details of characters, action and scenes and used them as the focus of their commentary.

All of my reader-writer conversations have told me that I raised my readers' curiosities beyond the written page, some in a good way and some in a not-so-good way. If I can at least get the readers thinking and talking about the subject matter, then I think I'm headed down the right path with my written expression.

P.S. So far, the people who have commented on R.J.'s Story are looking forward to reading the next book. You are welcome to weigh in with your thoughts. Write to me at barbara@heavenswait.com or comment at the bottom of this blog post. Thanks for your interest.

Lasting Story: Favorites…That Feed My Senses

Let's start writing your Lasting Story! Below, you will find suggestions for writing about the above subject. You may develop your own format for writing about this subject, or you may use the handy MS Word Lasting Story Template that lives within the Heaven's Wait website at http://www.heavenswait.com/WriteHW.html. It includes guidelines to help you write your stories in a consistent format and file them in an efficient manner.

Suggestions:
Give your loved ones an initial peek at who you are through the smells or aromas that are most meaningful to you. How do they make you feel? What memories do they bring to mind? What do they mean in the bigger picture of your life?

Sight, sound, taste, smell, touch! The five senses! Have you ever given thought to their relevance in your life? Have you ever shared those thoughts with the important people in your life? Think about the following questions and answer them in the same way you described smells. You just might discover something about yourself that you didn't know. Share your answers with your loved ones. They will likely discover something about you too. If you do not possess all five senses, imagine what your answers would be if you did possess them, or describe how you feel about not having them.

What do you most like to look at?
What are the sounds you most like to hear?
What are your favorite tastes or flavors?
What do you most like to touch?

Visit the Heaven's Wait website for the accumulated Lasting Story Write Guide at: http://www.heavenswait.com/WriteHW.html

To receive Lasting Story Writing Alerts, join the Heaven's Wait Email Alert List at: http://www.heavenswait.com/FormEmailList.aspx

Has this subject prompted a discussion between you and your family or friends? You are welcome to share your thoughts or conversations by commenting in one of two places:

1. Click on "comments" below this Lasting Story blog post. Note: As we move forward, if you would like to go back and comment on a previous post, click on Lasting Story under Subject Blogs in the upper right hand corner of this page. Then scroll down to the subject on which you wish to comment.

2. Facebook users, see Heaven's Wait's Page, http://www.facebook.com/heavenswait. Comment under the Status entry for this Lasting Story subject in the timeline. Scroll down to comment on previous subjects.

I look forward to hearing about your conversations.

Barbara

Design Your Lasting Story

Today, I'm going to delve into new territory with my blog. From now on, I hope to devote my Friday posts to sharing food for thought in the area of writing your own Lasting Story, one that the universe deserves to know about the unique part you've played in its ever-evolving human saga.

As I am writing the stories of Heaven's Wait, I am including a storyline in which R.J. works with the Vowellans to make sure they record their thoughts and messages about the part they are playing in their world. That way, future generations of Vowellans will have a clear view of their heritage and their contributions to the greater good. Wouldn't it be great if we all participated in this practice?

Whether you're ten or ninety, the possibility exists that you might not be here tomorrow. Have you ever given thought to the things you want to make sure your family and friends remember about the person you are, once your life journey has ended? I'm not talking about things you've done or accumulated, but instead things that feed your soul, things you've learned, things you've been inspired to share.

As long as I can remember, I've believed that our legacies will have much more relevance to our loved ones and the rest of the world if we are the ones who are active in designing them. I know that when my last day arrives, I want to feel at peace that I've communicated my true essence, as I see it, to the rest of the world, and that my legacy is something tangible that can be passed along and enjoyed by others, especially my loved ones.

Writing a Lasting Story can be an exercise for the entire family. It doesn't have to be complicated, and it doesn't have to be a lot of work. Think about how wonderful it would be if you really understood the true essence of the children in your lives, and they understood the same about you. Surely, there are things that you've never before thought to know about them. It's possible for all family members (and various other groups) to write now, keeping in mind that whatever they write may be updated at any time.

So . . . my goal is to share writing ideas with you on Fridays. I hope you'll stop by so, together, we can create Lasting Stories for ourselves and/or our family members. This coming Friday, I'll suggest the first subject and present more details so you can begin this new journey.

New Avenues Along My Unexpected Journey

Well, I think I've finally caught you up on the history of my journey with Heaven's Wait. The trip to date, as you now know, has been quite fascinating for me. I hope that my ongoing story has been of interest to you as well. I am excited to keep moving forward with my project. Who knows what awaits me as I continue to fill more pages with the antics of the Vowellans, the Drippils, and the other yet undisclosed characters of Heaven's Wait. I hope you'll stay along for the ride. There are bound to be more side trips, snags, and surprises along the way. I'll just take them as they come, and let you know where they take us.

Before I started blogging about my Unexpected Journey, I spent several months writing the various historical posts, accumulating them into a folder, so that when I went live with the blog site, I was able to draw from my collection of posts and keep them coming on a regular basis. I kept writing more posts during that time, so I was always a month or two ahead of myself. But now, there are no more posts in the reserves. I'm ready to start 'winging' it.

On Mondays, I will continue to journal my Heaven's Wait journey when something is worthy of mention. Since I am working on Book 2 at the moment, there may not be many things on which to report on a regular basis. So I plan to sprinkle Mondays with a potpourri of other subjects as well, since Heaven's Wait isn't the only path I've followed on my unexpected life journey. Perhaps I'll give you a peek at my day job, my travels, or my garden. I know I'll inject a few tried and true recipes from my "Mama Galuchi's Kitchen." I'll try to keep it interesting as we move forward.

I will be dedicating future Friday posts to a new side path. I hope you will be inspired to travel it with me. It is an activity that has often lingered in my overly creative brain and one in which R.J. from R.J.'s Story regularly participates with his beloved Vowellans. Check out Monday's post for all the details.

Until next time!

P.S. If you're a regular reader of Unexpected Journey, feel free to comment once in a while. I really have no idea who is out there unless I get occasional feedback from readers. Whether the comments are positive or negative, I'd love to hear from you.

Trimming the Social Networking Fat

Social networking is a curious beast. I'm still trying to figure it all out. I agree that the networking potential is limitless. It's a fun way to keep up on news and events of family and friends. It allows us to find connections and share information with others with whom we have common interests. It is an important vehicle through which we can promote a business, a book, or a philosophy. But it is also a time swallower and an information overloader, and my guess is that few of us need such pests in our lives.

Since I've tapped into the various networking arenas for the sake of introducing Heaven's Wait to the outside world, I've learned some interesting things. I've had to take a hard look at those things and decide how to make social networking relevant to my overall vision.

Though I enjoy both Facebook and Twitter, they have taught me that a silent majority lies within my present circle of "friends". Most of them admit that they simply lurk, seldom participating in comments or conversations. But then, there are those who feel the need to preach, and those who share things that shouldn't go public. While some people and businesses share just the right amount of relevant information, others bombard us with "who-cares" status updates and retweets that overload cyberspace.

Then there is the idea that higher numbers are better. "If you follow my tweets, I'll follow yours." "If you 'like' my FB page, I'll 'like' yours." That makes sense from the standpoint that numbers attract more numbers. But I've found that in that situation, most people are out to promote their own agenda. They're not really interested in what the other person has to offer. Should I follow a man in Hawaii who writes books about volcanoes simply because he followed me so he could add a number to his list of followers? If we suddenly have hundreds or thousands of tweets through which to scroll every day, how can we possibly locate the ones that are relevant to our interests and who we are as individuals?

So, for the sake of streamlining my valuable time and information overload, I'll be trimming those I follow on various networking sites. Though I appreciate each person for the valuable things he or she has to say, I choose to spend my online time with those with whom I feel a connection. If I lose some followers in the process, so be it. My goal is to steadily move forward with my Heaven's Wait platform so that by the time Book 7 (yes, Book 7) is complete, we will have established a cozy community that feels the common bond of Heaven's Wait.

There are various ways you can explore the Heaven's Wait community. Check out the links to the right of my posts.

Why Do I Keep Writing?

People frequently ask me—how do keep yourself motivated to work on your Heaven's Wait project? After all, it has been several years, and the progress has been so much slower than I anticipated. For me, motivation has never been an issue. For whatever reason, the concept of Heaven's Wait landed in my head. Now that I know so much about the place and I'm so attached to the folks who live there, there is no question that I will move forward with this project until the larger story that lives inside my head has been told.

The great thing about fiction is that it takes you to places and worlds you never before imagined. I find it endlessly fascinating that the brain is capable of creating such realms. I never thought I would find myself working on a project such as this one. I'm sure many of you out there cannot imagine taking on such a project. But when an idea, no matter how outlandish, pops into your head, why ignore it? Just think of the fascinating places we could visit if all of us fell into a project such as mine, where you created a new world, as well as its inhabitants. We would have more interesting places to explore than time would ever allow. My guess is that literary fiction has already reached that point.

My biggest challenge and responsibility is to find a way to share with others the world that exists within my brain. Heaven's Wait is of no value to anyone if it remains locked within my head. As I've said before, if the lives of even a few people out there are someday touched because they learned about Heaven's Wait, its oddball residents, and the stories that emerged from their world, if I make a difference in another person's life because of my journey, then the road will have been well worth traveling.

I will keep on writing as long as a creative door remains open to me. I look forward to writing's companionship and the wealth of creative moments it presents to me.