Comments for E.F. Watkins Blog http://www.efwatkins.com/blog Author E.F. Watkin's Blog Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:33:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 Comment on Book Discussion at Riverdale Library by Vicky Marotti http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=56&cpage=1#comment-66 Vicky Marotti Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:33:40 +0000 http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=56#comment-66 You could definitely see your enthusiasm within the paintings you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers such as you who aren't afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart. You could definitely see your enthusiasm within the paintings you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.

]]> Comment on Attack of the “Shoulds”! by E. F. Watkins http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=106&cpage=1#comment-65 E. F. Watkins Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:47:13 +0000 http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=106#comment-65 I find whenever I stop worrying about spending money, even for a week or so, it comes back to bite me. Becoming super-frugal has been very hard for me, because I'm naturally a spontaneous (and math-challenged) person. I hate having to count every dime, but it's been the only way to survive these financial times. I've devised many cheap or free ways to promote my books--in fact, I'm giving a talk on that subject later this month to a group of authors at the Morris County Library in Whippany, N. J. Thank heaven for the Internet--at least you can do a lot of promoting for free that way! I find whenever I stop worrying about spending money, even for a week or so, it comes back to bite me. Becoming super-frugal has been very hard for me, because I’m naturally a spontaneous (and math-challenged) person. I hate having to count every dime, but it’s been the only way to survive these financial times. I’ve devised many cheap or free ways to promote my books–in fact, I’m giving a talk on that subject later this month to a group of authors at the Morris County Library in Whippany, N. J. Thank heaven for the Internet–at least you can do a lot of promoting for free that way!

]]> Comment on Attack of the “Shoulds”! by Sandra Saidak http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=106&cpage=1#comment-64 Sandra Saidak Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:43:04 +0000 http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=106#comment-64 Count me as one who can relate. When it comes to work around the house, my kids and my writing, I'm overwhelmed with "shoulds". However, I find I'm less worried about spending money, especially on promoting my novels. I'm just not sure this is a good thing. Count me as one who can relate. When it comes to work around the house, my kids and my writing, I’m overwhelmed with “shoulds”. However, I find I’m less worried about spending money, especially on promoting my novels. I’m just not sure this is a good thing.

]]> Comment on Attack of the “Shoulds”! by Erin M. Hartshorn http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=106&cpage=1#comment-63 Erin M. Hartshorn Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:43:47 +0000 http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=106#comment-63 I try my best to recast my thoughts. I think "should" creates burdens and obligations. I like deadlines -- I can tell myself "I have to get this done." Necessity doesn't carry the moral dimension of obligation. It's more definitive, and doesn't have the same sense of choice that "should" does. Thus, "I have to work on my taxes today," not "I should work on my taxes today." I try my best to recast my thoughts. I think “should” creates burdens and obligations. I like deadlines — I can tell myself “I have to get this done.” Necessity doesn’t carry the moral dimension of obligation. It’s more definitive, and doesn’t have the same sense of choice that “should” does. Thus, “I have to work on my taxes today,” not “I should work on my taxes today.”

]]> Comment on About by Wil Dewey http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?page_id=2&cpage=1#comment-61 Wil Dewey Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:24:33 +0000 http://efwatkins.com/blog//?page_id=2#comment-61 up to chapter 12 in 'Dragon' ! ... I'll post your author page on my facebook if u want.... up to chapter 12 in ‘Dragon’ ! … I’ll post your author page on my facebook if u want….

]]> Comment on An Interview with Author E. J. Copperman by Jeff Cohen http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=98&cpage=1#comment-60 Jeff Cohen Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:14:21 +0000 http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=98#comment-60 You're too good to me, Pat. But I don't recognize the capital "S" in "Shore." That's a remarkably obnoxious TV show. We go "down the shore," not "down the Shore." You’re too good to me, Pat. But I don’t recognize the capital “S” in “Shore.” That’s a remarkably obnoxious TV show. We go “down the shore,” not “down the Shore.”

]]> Comment on An Interview with Author E. J. Copperman by Pat Marinelli http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=98&cpage=1#comment-59 Pat Marinelli Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:09:38 +0000 http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=98#comment-59 Hi Jeff, Great interview! Your very short answer to one particular question…hum? Your humor cracks me up both in person and on the page. Love your new Jersey Shore series. But, man, you gotta remember to capitalize that S in Shore. Come on, you're a Jersey Guy! Hi Jeff,

Great interview! Your very short answer to one particular question…hum? Your humor cracks me up both in person and on the page.

Love your new Jersey Shore series. But, man, you gotta remember to capitalize that S in Shore. Come on, you’re a Jersey Guy!

]]> Comment on “The Ugly Duckling” Revisited by Mickey Flagg http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=91&cpage=1#comment-58 Mickey Flagg Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:13:05 +0000 http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=91#comment-58 "The Ugly Duckling" was always a favorite of mine. Some of us grow into our worth, our place in the world. Along the way, the road chosen can be less straight and narrow, more full of the 'why did I go this way and not that way.' Eventually, and despite the feeling of not fitting in, all that is learned shapes who we become. Not all children fit the norm. Growing through the awkwardness of intolerance and finding where you fit in is a journey well worth the heartache. How sad that in today's world, the old fables that had much to teach are tossed aside for grabber stories more aligned with entertainment and feel good vibes. “The Ugly Duckling” was always a favorite of mine. Some of us grow into our worth, our place in the world. Along the way, the road chosen can be less straight and narrow, more full of the ‘why did I go this way and not that way.’ Eventually, and despite the feeling of not fitting in, all that is learned shapes who we become. Not all children fit the norm. Growing through the awkwardness of intolerance and finding where you fit in is a journey well worth the heartache. How sad that in today’s world, the old fables that had much to teach are tossed aside for grabber stories more aligned with entertainment and feel good vibes.

]]> Comment on “The Ugly Duckling” Revisited by Margaret L. Carter http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=91&cpage=1#comment-57 Margaret L. Carter Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:19:42 +0000 http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=91#comment-57 I'm certain your interpretation is absolutely right. That's how I've always read the story. I consider it the personal Ur-myth of most SF and fantasy fans; it certainly is mine. James Tiptree writes about it in "Beam Us Home," a heartbreaking story about a boy who imagines himself to be an alien placed on Earth to observe us. The final scene may or may not confirm that he was right all along. Looking back on my own work, I long ago realized I was repeatedly rewriting "The Ugly Duckling," the story of a character whose supposed flaws turn out to be assets when he or she discovers his or her true nature. I’m certain your interpretation is absolutely right. That’s how I’ve always read the story. I consider it the personal Ur-myth of most SF and fantasy fans; it certainly is mine. James Tiptree writes about it in “Beam Us Home,” a heartbreaking story about a boy who imagines himself to be an alien placed on Earth to observe us. The final scene may or may not confirm that he was right all along.

Looking back on my own work, I long ago realized I was repeatedly rewriting “The Ugly Duckling,” the story of a character whose supposed flaws turn out to be assets when he or she discovers his or her true nature.

]]> Comment on What Does it Mean to Be “Creative”? by Rahima Warren http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=76&cpage=1#comment-54 Rahima Warren Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:36:54 +0000 http://www.efwatkins.com/blog/?p=76#comment-54 So many different paths for us creative types! Creativity was not supported much in my family, just practical things, like getting a good job and holding onto it forever. Even though I kept journals for decades: wrote down my dreams, wrote dialogs with dream characters, wrote essays and poems, and drew pictures, I never thought of myself as a writer or artist. It was just something I did for myself. Long story short, I was a psychotherapist and ended up training as an Expressive Arts Therapist. I had fun leading Expressive Arts groups for women, but grew more and more interested in my own creativity. I've been painting for seventeen years and am writing a fantasy trilogy. Now that I am retired, creativity is my main passion! So I believe that everyone has a creative spark that can be nurtured. Expressive Arts focuses on the creative process, not the product, so it freed me from the "I don't know how" and the inner critic, and the "comparer" - you know, the one that says "Picasso did it better. You can never be as good as him so don't try." etc. Even my engineer/physicist husband found himself having a great time painting at a painting retreat we went to last year! (Brave man - it was him and 17 women!) So many different paths for us creative types! Creativity was not supported much in my family, just practical things, like getting a good job and holding onto it forever. Even though I kept journals for decades: wrote down my dreams, wrote dialogs with dream characters, wrote essays and poems, and drew pictures, I never thought of myself as a writer or artist. It was just something I did for myself.

Long story short, I was a psychotherapist and ended up training as an Expressive Arts Therapist. I had fun leading Expressive Arts groups for women, but grew more and more interested in my own creativity. I’ve been painting for seventeen years and am writing a fantasy trilogy. Now that I am retired, creativity is my main passion!

So I believe that everyone has a creative spark that can be nurtured. Expressive Arts focuses on the creative process, not the product, so it freed me from the “I don’t know how” and the inner critic, and the “comparer” – you know, the one that says “Picasso did it better. You can never be as good as him so don’t try.” etc. Even my engineer/physicist husband found himself having a great time painting at a painting retreat we went to last year! (Brave man – it was him and 17 women!)

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