Mark David Gerson's Blog en-US Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:03:59 -0800 60 Mark David Gerson's Blog 144 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo_144.jpg /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/229997-the-voice-of-the-muse-wins-2009-new-mexico-book-award Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:03:59 -0800 <![CDATA["The Voice of the Muse" Wins 2009 New Mexico Book Award]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/229997-the-voice-of-the-muse-wins-2009-new-mexico-book-award Mark David Gerson's Medal-Winning Writing Book Honored in Statewide Competition

Mark David Gerson's The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write was named a winner in the 2009 edition of New Mexico's premier literary contest, the New Mexico Book Awards.

The top prize in the competition's self-help category was announced at an awards banquet in Albuquerque earlier this evening. Some two dozen books were honored at the event.

This is Gerson's second honor for The Voice of the Muse. Earlie...

posted by Mark David Gerson on November, 23 ]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/229998-all-about-balance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:03:59 -0800 <![CDATA[All About Balance]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/229998-all-about-balance Today on her blog, you'll a find a post by me -- "Creating Perfection"

A Guest Post by Pat Bertram

Someone asked me where they should insert dialogue into the novel they were writing. I went blank for a moment, unable to comprehend the question. Insert dialogue? To a great extent, dialogue is the story. The most personal way people interact is by dialogue, and a story is or should be about people interacting, about ...

posted by Mark David Gerson on November, 23 ]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/229999-the-muse-you-5-radio-for-writers-and-readers-with-mark-david-gerso Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:03:59 -0800 <![CDATA[The Muse & You #5: Radio for Writers and Readers...with Mark David Gerson]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/229999-the-muse-you-5-radio-for-writers-and-readers-with-mark-david-gerso Episode Five:
Thursday, Nov 19, 1pm ET
(listen live or to the archived version any time after the show airs)

• Ask the Writing Coach (your questions for me about writing and creativity) and a feature interview with Dan Stone author of The Rest of Our Lives

Some months back, I got a call from a friend here in Albuquerque. "You've got to meet this guy, Dan," he said. "He writes fantasy, like you. I know you'll have a lot to talk about."
He does (write fantasy) and we did (find a lot to talk about)...

posted by Mark David Gerson on November, 23 ]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/224606-changes Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:28:44 -0800 <![CDATA[Changes]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/224606-changes Dream about the pictures
That I play of changes
~ Phil Ochs

If you're particularly observant, you'll notice that the header of this blog has changed. No longer titled The Voice of Your Muse, it's now titled simply with my name. Why? To reflect the blog's new, slightly broader scope and to reflect, as well, my philosophy that life, creativity and spirituality are all intrinsically linked.

In effect, I've suspended posts to my New Earth Chronicles blog (still filled with all kinds...

posted by Mark David Gerson on November, 13 ]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/224607-larger-than-life Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:28:44 -0800 <![CDATA[Larger Than Life]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/224607-larger-than-life my inspirational newsletter.

Watching the DVD recording of that 2006 concert this evening prompted me to revisit the original piece and share it again with you here.

Back in October 2006 when I was visiting Toronto, a friend treated me to a ticket to Barbra Streisand's first-ever concert performance in that city. Although we were sitting high in the rafters in a hockey arena that was anything but intimate, I was startled by ...

posted by Mark David Gerson on November, 13 ]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/224559-a-musing-about-my-muse Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:28:38 -0800 <![CDATA[A Musing About My Muse]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/224559-a-musing-about-my-muse
Every now and again, I post work here that was produced in one of my classes or workshops.

Today, I'm featuring Elizabeth A. Galligan, an Albuquerque resident who penned this meeting with her muse during my "Spirit Writes" workshop earlier this fall. No one was more surprised than she was to discover the form her muse insisted on taking....

I imagined a larger muse, something like a manatee or a mammoth, something with mass -- strong, hairy, ponderous even....

posted by Mark David Gerson on November, 13 ]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/216159-snap-a-pic-for-me-and-promote-yourself-part-ii Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:48:20 -0800 <![CDATA[Snap a Pic for Me and Promote Yourself - Part II]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/216159-snap-a-pic-for-me-and-promote-yourself-part-ii This is a repeat of a piece I posted here in July, but featuring a whole new gallery of readers! (A version of this also appeared in August in my New Earth Chronicles blog.)

I hope you'll join the fun. Read on to find out how....

Do you have a copy of either of my books? If so, I'd love to include a pic of you reading either The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write, The MoonQuest, or both in my Rogues Gallery of Readers Photo Album on Facebook.

And to help you promote your book and...

posted by Mark David Gerson on November, 12 ]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/216160-new-mexico-writing-workshops-last-2-for-2009 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:17:54 -0800 <![CDATA[New Mexico Writing Workshops: Last 2 for 2009]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/216160-new-mexico-writing-workshops-last-2-for-2009 What you have lived is unique...
What you have learned is beyond price...
What you can share through your words
carries the potential to transform you and others
in ways you cannot begin to imagine.

For a complete list of all Mark David's upcoming events around the country and on the web -- including classes, workshops, talks, media appearances and his radio show -- visit or subscribe to his page on www.booktour.com.

Sundays, Nov 15 + 22 (1 - 4:30 pm)
From Memory to Memoir: Writing the...

posted by Mark David Gerson on November, 26 ]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/213041-a-writer-s-creed Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:17:15 -0800 <![CDATA[A Writer's Creed]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/213041-a-writer-s-creed
"Speak from that place in your heart where you are most yourself. Speak directly, simply, lovingly, gently and without any apologies. Tell us what you see and want us to see; tell us what you hear and want us to hear....Trust your own heart. The words will come. There is nothing to fear...."
~ Henri J.M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World

• Where in your writing and your life can you speak more heartfully, directly and unapologetically?

• How, in your writing and y...

posted by Mark David Gerson on November, 10 ]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/213042-albuquerque-writing-workshops-nov-dec-2009 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:15:26 -0800 <![CDATA[Albuquerque Writing Workshops ~ Nov/Dec 2009]]> /author/show/719303.Mark_David_Gerson/blog/213042-albuquerque-writing-workshops-nov-dec-2009 Have you heard the call?
The call that thrills as it terrifies you?
The call to set something down on paper?
The call to inspire others...in ways you do not yet understand?
The call to write?

For a complete list of Mark David's upcoming classes, workshops and events — around the country and on the web — visit or subscribe to his page on www.booktour.com.


Sundays, Nov 15 + 22 (1 - 4:30 pm)
From Memory to Memoir: Writing the Stories of Your Life
Learn powerful techniques to help you create compe...

posted by Mark David Gerson on November, 10 ]]>