Chynna T. Laird's Blog, page 2

Writing Prompt Saturday ~ Picture THIS!

I absolutely love picture prompts. Some of my best stories (and a couple of my books) have stemmed simply from looking at a photograph and allowing my feelings to take over. After all, as a writer/author, your words have to bring a reader into a story and see everything around them the way you do.

So, here is one for you for today's segment. What does this picture mean to you? What is it saying? Is the girl afraid, whistful, seeking answers? Where is she? What is the significance of the birds?...

Foodie Friday ~ A Review of SodaStream

Cut down on plastic bottles and cans!I am so excited about today's post! No, I'm sorry. We don't have a recipe today but I am doing our bi-weekly review of a handy house gadget or tool. And today's is the SodaStream.

I've been interested in this wonderful tool since it first came out but the price was a bit out of my league. It still runs on the higher end of the scale as far as affordable kitchen gadgets at around $89 - $100, depending on where you go. However, I really think it's totally...

Writing Prompt Saturday ~ Milestone Birthdays

Thank you to my friend, Jordan for this. Fifty years ago today, I made my first appearance. Apparently, I was loud, fearless and expressed my opinion of my new world rather colorfully. Not much has changed there except, maybe, I go through life a little more quietly and carefully.

Birthdays are a potpourri of memories of past celebrations of our birth - many fond, some fun, a few bittersweet, and, maybe for some, even upsetting. But regardless, each year is a celebration because we are...

Foodie Friday ~ Five Kitchen Gadgets Under $30

I just realized it has been a few weeks since we've posted for today's segment. That's awful. It doesn't help that I'm posting a day late. Oops. Well, I think I'm going to make it up to all of you today because the theme is unique kitchen gadgets for $25!

You all know how much I love being in the kitchen and cooking. But I also love the fantastic little tools, gadgets and fun things that can either make cooking fun or even just a little bit easier. That's not to say I don't look at some of...

All About Books ~ The Late, Great Maya Angelou

One of Chynna's bookshelvesToday, I was looking over both my "Read" bookshelves (which is pictured to the left). These shelves contain not only books I have read for interview and/or review purposes but also where some of my resource books for SPD, Autism, Asperger's as well as books about writing. If you could see the top shelf, you'd find the books I've read and held most dear. One of them is written by the late Maya Angelou .

She wrote many poems and books in her lifetime. One of my...

Writing About Writing ~ Utilizing Submittable

Right now I know many fellow writers and authors are have a crazy time trying to get their work published or even considered right now. Many publishing houses and magazines have slowed down their production due to not having enough staff to make things happen. It's frustrating, I know. Especially when you rely so much on whatever income you bring in from your work.

But have no fear as there are a lot more opportunities out there than you think. Sure, some of them are contests but you have as...

Talk About It ~ How are you, really? And...thank you.

This month was supposed to be a focus raising awareness for those struggling with alcohol as well as to share my continued support for children and families coping with autism. But for today's post, I want to ask a very important question that I've been asked on a daily basis from people all over the world since this pandemic was announced:

How are you...really?

At first, it was nice to have people reaching out. It made having to stay in isolation a little more bearable. After a while, though,...

Writing About Writing ~ Self-Exploration

For today's segment, I am going to introduce the concept of self-exploration through writing.

I have found comfort in journal writing and nonfiction stories my entire life. It's a way to purge personal thoughts, emotions, and other ideas in a safe way because, technically, you are the only one who reads what you write until you choose (if at all) to share it. And in these very worrisome and uncertain times, having a resource such as writing is invaluable.

My definition of s elf-exploration...

Talk About It ~ Video Games: Good or Bad?

I've avoided writing about this topic for a while because things can get quite heated. There are very strong arguments on both sides of this topic and I can understand the points made in each.

When my kids were young, I never let them play any sort of computer games or video games unless they were the "boring" ones online or links they got from school. You know...the educational ones. ::gasp::   Treehouse used to have some wonderful games on there that were fun, interactive and...

Music Mantra Monday ~ Believing In Hope

Every time I think things are finally on track and everything is going great, I'm thrown a curveball. My grandfather used to tell me such occurrences were, "learning experiences". Good or bad, every experience we face not only teaches us about a deeper part of ourselves; it also keeps us real and focused on who we're supposed to be as a whole.

Right now, the world is a scary place to live in. We are facing an unknown virus that we know very little about, how to research it or even how to...