Ronda J. Del Boccio's Blog: Writing is pure Bliss, page 21
December 4, 2015
A Funny Thing Happened While Wiaiting to Hear from the Literary Agent
In case you haven't noticed - ha! - waiting is hard. As I write this, I am waiting for several things to happen with varying degrees of immediacy.
My delivery is supposed to come between 1 and 6. Hard going deep into something and possibly having to yank myself out of an intense scene or carefully organized nonfiction chapter. I have both going right now.
I'm waiting for my friend to receive her present. That doesn't pull my focus often, and only briefly then.
And I'm waiting to hear back from the agent I recently pitched. I can put it out of my mind a lot of the time OK, some of the time. Whether her response will dish out the Hammer of Doom or the Gates of Glory, who wouldn't want to know sooner than later? One night I found myself wondering whether she had verified receipt of the digital files, so I went through the messages in the folder I made for her comms to check. Yep. She got them. Thought so, but...had to check.
Several friends who know I pitched my novel will ask, "Did you hear anything yet?"
Um, it's been a whole 10 days. No, I haven't heard back. My author/writer friends may know these things take time.
So what am I doing while I wait?
First, here's what I am NOT doing.
The #1 thing NOT to do while waiting to hear back from an agent or publisher is:
Any guesses?
Answer: The #1 DON'T is...to bug her about whether she has read your submission.
But that doesn't necessarily mean zero contact. We can still build our relationship. is agent is a cool animal lover, and we've been swapping funny critter videos, fur-child pics and stories.
What to DO While waiting to Hear from an Agent or Publisher
Here are some things you might consider doing while waiting to hear from an agent or publisher:
Write the Next Thing.
Writers write. Keep the creative juices flowing. It could be weeks or months.
Keep Investigating Publishing Options.
Even if you hold off submitting your book elsewhere, that doesn't mean you need to stop researching your options and continuing to make contacts. I have a file of possible publishers for any book project.
Send a REAL Thank-You Card.
Remember stamps? Write a thank-you card expressing gratitude for the agent/publisher's time and consideration. Include an interesting clip or photo that will please her, if you can. This alone makes a person stand out in an age of e-cards and texts.
Connect and Share in Social Media
Find something from the agent/publisher to share on any of the social networks. Pick something that appeals to you or your following. This helps you stay top of mind regardless what happens with the current project.
Keep in Touch
DOn't ask if she read your stuff, but you can keep in touch. If you see that the agent secured a publisher for a client, say congrats in social or in an email. If you both dig Civil War Collectables or love funny quotes, share.
My possible agent and I are both huge animal lovers. She let me know she had received my submission and included photos of her animals. I sent pics of how my dog unmade my bed and a couple other funny pics. She sent me links to a couple hilarious vids, and I shared them and thanked her (and tagged her) in the posts. We're staying connected.
Always Be REAL
No matter whether you send a card, a photo a clip, or whatever, don't do it hoping to get something. Do it because you feel it. Be real always.
I hope this has been helpful to you. If you have other tips, by all means, please use FB or G+ to share your comments and ideas.
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December 3, 2015
What Do You Want to Know about Guide Dogs?
When Leader Dog Jemma and I are out and about, I get a lot of questions about the life of a guide dog. I figured you might like to have your questions answered, and I'd like to collect all the Guide Dog FAQs in one place.
My adorable Jemma!
Posted by Leader Dog Jemma's Adventures on Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Since I'm sharing our adventures in a book I'm writing, I'd also like to be sure I get all the major questions answered there too. So now's your chance.
What do you want to know about the life of a guide dog? Perhaps you're wondering about:
Leader Dogs for the Blind school
Equipment
Home life
Working life
Food
Manners
Training
Playtime
anything and everything else
The only dumb question is the one you don't ask. Trust me; I've heard and answered them all.
Ask your questions at WriteOnPurpose.com/question.
Meet & Follow Leader Dog Jemma on the Social Web
Jemma is a busy dog. Not only is she my guide, toy reviewer and treat tester, but she also shares her adventures in her own voice on her own Facebook page and Instagram Feed.
Watch for her hashtag is #LeaderDogJemma
LIKE Jemma's Facebook Page: Leader Dog Jemma's Adventures
FOLLOW Jemma's Instagram photos: LeaderDogJemma on Instagram
WATCH her videos in the Leader Dog Jemma's adventures YouTube Playlist
READ about her Leader Dog Chronicles
Jemma and I look forward to answering your questions!
Follow your B.L.I.S.S>
Ronda Del Boccio, award winning author and speaker
November 30, 2015
Blogs that Pay $50+ for Guest Posts
(Note from Ronda: Guest blogging is a great way to get your name and expertise out there and get traffic to your website and potentially book sales. IT can also be a source of actual cash when you know where to look. This is a guest post in which you'll see a FEW of the 45 paying markets for writers. Go to FreedomWithWriting.com and sign up for their emails to receive a plethora of paying markets right in your inbox.)
Thank you Jan Chandler for these resources. See original article source for all 45 she lists across several categories.
Miscellaneous
Lawyerist is an online magazine about law practice. They cover topics such as technology, marketing, ethics, practice management, and law school. They pay $100 per article or articles 1,000 words or longer. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Conspiracy Club pays $50 for well research, fact based articles about conspiracy theories. They accept pitches for articles and pay $50 for published articles. Typical length is 1,500 to 2,000 words. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Hakai Magazine “explores science and society in coastal ecosystems.” They accept queries for feature articles. When they first launched, their guidelines said they pay $1/word. Pay is not listed on the guidelines anymore, but should still be quite competitive. Features range from 1,000 to 3,000 words. Shorter articles are around 350 words. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Funny Times is a monthly humor magazine that publishes funny stories and cartoons. They pay $60 for stories, and all contributors receive a complimentary subscription to the magazine. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
The IWA Wine Blog is the official blog of International Wine Accessories. They publish articles that help wine collectors and connoisseurs store and enjoy wine. They pay $50 per post. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) Blog publishes informative articles on “holistic health and wellness.” They’re looking for graduates, students, and industry experts with experience in the healthcare field. They pay $50 per post (600-1,000 words). To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
The Partially Examined Life is a philosophy blog and podcast that discusses all aspects of various philosophies and texts. They publish thoughtful blog posts and essays that discuss philosophy in any and all contexts. They pay up to $60 per post/article. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Submittable is a widely-used submissions portal that publishes its own blog. They accept articles that discuss publishing or digital media. They’re also looking for book reviews and essays on any topic, as long as they “of high literary quality.” They pay $50 per post. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
To see all 45 blogs that pay at least $50 for guest posts, please see the original article source here. Other categories include parenting, entertainment, and travel.
Thanks, Jan!
PS Before you go - Join NOW for FREE Tools for Writers!
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November 10, 2015
How to Pitch a Book to an Agent, Editor or Publisher at a Writers Conference
Soon I am going to pitch a novel to both a publisher and an agent at a writing conference. Since I have done this once before when I was extremely wet behind the ears, I figured it would be good to get some tips.
And naturally, I am sharing the good stuff with you, because you might be preparing to pitch.
First things first...
What's a pitch?
Pitching a novel or nonfiction book is like a sales pitch. You're in a room with a person live hoping to get the agent, publisher or editor interested enough to read your book and consider representing or publishing it.
Some basic Live Book Pitch Tips:
Be prepared.
Practice, practice, practice what you'll say.
Know the key points you need to share.
Don't memorize the whole pitch. Just the highlights.
Start with a strong hook. Sell the sizzle.
Dress well.
Be prepared to get the book to them within 24 hours.
Breathe.
Be natural.
Remember that the agent or publisher is looking for good books to get into the hands of hungry readers.
Agents and publishers are just people, like you.
Now here are some golden nuggets from my research. Note that I am in all cases giving proper credit to the author and source.
Author Peggy Eddleman shared 7 tips for pitching in a Writers Digest article. One of them about asking questions grabbed my attention:
Tip #4: Go with other questions in mind.
I speed-talked my way through my first pitch session, because when I’m nervous I don’t ramble– I leave things out. So my pitch was done in less than 30 seconds. After asking me a few questions, the agent requested my full. Then she said, “Do you have any questions for me?” I hadn’t thought about questions for her! I sat there, feeling awkward, said, “Um…. Nope?” then shook her hand and left, with seven minutes of our meeting unused.
Don’t do what I did! Use that time to ask about their agenting style. Ask about the industry. Ask about the process. Ask about craft. Ask questions about your plot. Ask about anything writing related. Chat. See how your personalities mesh. Just don’t leave seven minutes early. You paid for that time– use it. (See original article source here.
And for anyone who's afraid to pitch if your book isn't done yet, here is an important consideration from Peggy Eddleman in the same article:
Tip #5: Don’t cancel your pitch if your book isn’t ready.
When you signed up for a pitch, it was five months before the conference and you thought your novel would be ready, but it isn’t. Don’t cancel your pitch! (Unless, of course, you’ve signed with an agent since then.) If your book isn’t ready, but you’re working hard to get it there, pitch it anyway. When you send a query to an agent and they request pages, you should get it to them within about 24 hours. When you pitch, you have a YEAR to get it to them. A year! So don’t stress that it isn’t completely ready– there’s plenty of time to make it shine. You are pitching to see if the story idea fits with them, if they think its a marketable enough idea that they want to see pages, and if it’s a story that they have the right contacts to sell. (See original article source here.
Author Tracey Barnes Priestly helps you manage stress to pitch better in her article. Here is one of her tips about taking control of the monkey brain:
3. Take control of your BRAIN.
One of the most productive things you can do to lower your anxiety about pitching is to quiet the seemingly endless parade of negative messages galloping around in your brain. The trouble with this “chatter” is that, though it may feel like the absolute truth, it is the product of distorted thinking, generally stemming from our fears and insecurities.
Changing those thoughts can actually change what you’re feeling. Let’s revisit our biology: Thoughts, which are the words we assign to our perceptions, translate into specific physiological changes in our systems. When you think something like, I’ll never get an agent, your biochemistry actually shifts, your system takes a hit, and you feel discouraged (or worse). This, in turn, can trigger more anxiety and fear. It’s easy to get caught in a vicious cycle. But if you change this thought even slightly, say, to I don’t know if I’ll get an agent, but I’m thoroughly prepared, a different biochemical reaction occurs within your brain and body, one that will make it easier for you to stay calm and clear.
As you prepare for your pitching session ahead of time, make a conscious effort to note the negative thoughts you’re having. These messages can be sneaky little vermin, capable of creeping into your brain without warning. Pay attention! Jot them down whenever they wander into your awareness. Then, using your rational brain, rewrite every one of those negative messages to remove the anxiety. From that point on, whenever a counterproductive thought slithers in, diligently repeat the more rational messages you’ve written. At first, sure, you may feel silly mentally talking back to yourself. But you’ll find that with practice, you will feel more relaxed going into your pitching session. You’ve developed a more realistic perspective. See original article source here.
It's good to know to whom you are pitching, as in what the agent/publisher/editor represents and is seeking. Here's some good advice from Cliff Daigle about that .
Do some research. Find out which agents and publishers that will be attending the conference. You want to make sure they represent or publish the type of work you do. Don't waste your time and theirs by pitching work that doesn't match their specialties. So get online and do some research! See original article source here.
My favorite piece of advice from Daigle is about not getting ahead of yourself. The point of the pitch isn't to sign a contract. It's merely to get the pro to READ your book. Here's how he puts it:
Know what you want. You are not going after a contract quite yet. The sole reason you are pitching is to get agents and editors interested enough in you and your work to actually read it. That's it.Your pitch itself should be a short, interesting description of your novel that captures its best qualities. Think about the blurb on the back of a paperback novel - that's the level of detail you want. Your pitch should only be about 2-3 minutes long. Remember that your appointments will only be for 10 or 15 minutes each and much of that is made up of questions and small-talk. Keep it short and snappy. See original article source here
I hope these tips help you prepare your book pitch.
Do you have some tips or experiences about pitching to share? Please do so in the comments.
PS Before you go - Join NOW for FREE Tools for Writers!
What you get: The Author Profit Pack and MORE, including...
7 Ways to Earn Money While Still Writing Your Book" special report and video mini-class
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Invitations to FREE right-to-the-point classes on everything from book marketing to e-publishing to social media for authors.
Free weekly author success tip delivered to your inbox
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November 1, 2015
Location Name Generators
Looking for a name for your kingdom, realm, or tavern? These generators may be precisely the inspiration you seek.
You can select Earldoms, Duchies, and large or small areas. Here are some of the names that arose using the small area option:
Mystic Necromancer's Earldom
Orange Sunset State
Soft Duchy
Unholy Duchy of the Vine
I would call this a Quest Location Generator, because these are the sorts of names where your hero might go to right a wrong. Ready for an exciting place name where adventures happen? Here are a few examples that came up for me.
Battlefield of Visions
Cave of Oblivion
Decrepit Tunnels of Desolation
Maze of Secrets
Sanctum of Crystal
Those are great quest destinations!
Do you need a far away land with a mysterious name? Try this name propagator. Here are a few it offered me:
Domain of the Damned
Dry Cities of Suffering
False Wilderness of the Unnamed
First Region
Fourth Terrifying Hall
I like False Wilderness of the Unnamed. Sounds mysterious.
Sometimes you just need a room or structure rather than a realm or town. Here are some cool names it spat out for me:
Cloister of Deception
Dead Threshold of Hoards
Frozen Gallery
Gold Watchtower
Hideaway of Pits and Lanterns
Infamous Vault
I like Dead Threshold of Hoards. Really sick stuff would have to happen there. Infamous Vault is cool too, but it needs an "of something" after it, like Infamous Vault of Destinies.
Where do your characters go for a quick pint after work, or to drown their sorrows? Here are some of the local watering hole names that came up for me:
The Funny Priestess
The Gory Sword Inn
The Joyous Bawd's Tavern
The Morose Footpad Saloon
The New Casque Saloon
Did these location names spark your muse into action? Did you stumble across a different generator you'd like to share? Please add your musings or great finds in the comments section.
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Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker, and Amazon Top Reviewer
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best 
selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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October 26, 2015
Book Review of Magical Realism/Paranormal At the Corner of Magnetic and Main by Meg Welch Dendler
Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers.
This week's review is a paranormal romance that's more about the dead than the living. It's called At the Corner of Magnetic and Main by Meg Welch Dendler. THe publisher puts this book in their mainstream category. I'd call it magical realism or paranormal, as it is about ghosts/spirits.
Welcome to all Meg's fans and soon-to-be-fans who are enjoying the blog tour. Click the banner below to see the other reviews, interviews and other other fun stops on the tour.
Here's the book.
At the Corner of Magnetic and Main by Meg Welch Dendler
Book Description:
It's hard to get on with your life when you're already dead.
Penny had been stuck in the same diner for decades—ever since she died in 1952. Her diner was comfortable and safe. Serving ice cream to those who dropped in on their way to the next level of existence, she helped to ease their transition into The Light, the one place she can't go. Her afterlife was perfect.
But when the ridiculously handsome, bad boy biker Jake Thatcher shows up and becomes stuck as well, Penny rediscovers feelings that she thought had been buried with her body.
Life is still life, and love is still love. But was her existence really perfect, or was it something else entirely?
Now for my review. DId I find this a magnetic read?
I enjoyed it a lot. Her's what I liked and didn't like about the book.
Great sense of place
Have you ever read a book that feels as if it's happening in a closet with the lights turned off? That's what it's like to read a book that LACKS a sense of place. As a reader, you want to feel the breeze, taste the ice cream, and see the story unfolding on your mental screen.
Dendler did a great job bringing the reader into a fictionalized version of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. I've be
en there, so I know she gave the essence of the place while not making it read like a Chamber of Commerce brochure.
The tourist town is in full swing in summer, and this tale happens in July, high season with all the hustle and bustle of Independence Day.You'll even read about a small town parade, which reminded me of those back in Normal Illinois, where I went to graduate school. TUrns out Dentler grew up in nearby Champaigne-Urbana, which had similar parades, including the Fire Department, Shriners and the suual floats and bands.
Excellent Attention-Grabbing Title
A lot of the action takes place in a little diner which is at the corner that inspired the book title. Yes, "at the corner of Magnetic and Main" is indeed a fabulous book title. The alliteration, the name Magnetic - it all works.
Protagonist with a Big Problem
While the book actually begins with Jake, the story really centers around Penny, the former serving girl who's been stuck in the diner for decades, port mortem. Penny is an interesting character who is...um...full of life, even though she's both dead and stuck. She feels a sense of purpose, which is helping the newly dead who find their way to her diner adjust to their new status and pass into the light.
The other primary character in this book is Jake, young, cocky, and newly dead. While his sudden death opens the story, he is not actually the prime focus of the book. Penny is. Jakeserves as a catalyst for her and is integral to the big conflict that causes things to change at last for Penny. I won't spoil anything around how that happens, but he is definitely a transformer in this book.
As the story progresses, these two face their issues in very different ways, with Jake constantly pushing Penny to change and her resisting because she feels what she does is necessary and important. I would definitely say Penny changes far more than Jake, and it really is her story.
Strange Opening Sentence
As an author myself, I pay a lot of attention to how a novel opens. This one starts like a self-help book.
Life never ceases to be life, just as love never ceases to be love, and love is eternally at the heart of what immortal soul yearns for. The desire for love, the wrenching yearning for it, continues long past the grave.
Continuing in this opening paragraph, the reader is told, not shown, Penny's situation before ever meeting her.
Penny had lost sight of those hopes and dreams over the years. Today they would crash back into her life with a force that could not be ignored.
So I found myself a little ruffled immediately with this intrusive narrator and being told rather than shown a protagonist.
Next, we meet Jake partly through his own perceptions..
As Jake's motorcycle climbed steep hills and roared down the other sides, he knew it had been worth skipping work that day to take a drive.
That sentence identifies him as reckless, so ther is insight into his character right away. The reader can soon surmise that he is young. (And for the record, I know an 8--year-old guy who owns a "hog" and is just as foolish with his choices on the road).
Fortunately, there is very little more of the intrusive narrator. Once we meet Jake, we're into the story.
Story Does NOT begin with the Primary Protagonist
Generally speaking, chapter one begins with the focal character. While one could argue she gets a nod in that sentence outlining her plight, but that's not the same as the action opening with her. Jake, the catalyst of change, begins the action. So the reader expects this to be Jake's story until a few pages later. While narration switches deftly between the two, it is primarily Penny's tale.
Engaging Storytelling
Despite what was for me an odd beginning, the tale captured my interest right away, and I was eager to get back to reading each day. Dendler did a great job delving into the point of view character's thoughts and motivations throughout the novel. I cared what happened to them and came to understand wat made each special and interesting.
Memorable Minor Characters
The dead come to life more than most of the living in this book. As an author, the people who feel most real to me are the ones that pop for the reader. When I read a book, I can tell which minor have their own life for the author.
A couple of minor characters jump off the page. One is a bus driver who provides interesting tidbits of local color as she drives. The other is an eccentric ghost buster who helps take care of a problem. You'll also meet some "regulars" also dead, who inhabit the diner. It feels very much like the type of crowd one might encounter among the living at your own favorite local haunt. Pun very much intended.
A Good Read Even for those Who Don't Like Paranormal
I love paranormal stories, but to me, this is a book about motivations, fear, and love that would appeal to those who typically don't read ghost stories.
Read my 5 star Amazon review:
Buy the book
About Meg Welch Dendler
Meg Welch Dendler has considered herself a writer since she won a picture book contest in fifth grade and entertained her classmates with ongoing sequels for the rest of the year. Beginning serious work as a freelancer in the '90s while teaching elementary and middle school, Meg has over one hundred articles in print, including interviews with Kirk Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. She has won contests with her short stories and poetry, along with multiple international awards for her best-selling Cats in the Mirror alien rescue cat children's book series.
At the Corner of Magnetic and Main is her first adult novel, but it won't be her last. Meg and her family (including four cats and her dog, Max) live at 1,400 feet in the Ozark Mountains on what they call Serenity Mountain, just outside of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Accolades and Achievements
Best-Selling and Award-Winning Author of the Cats in the Mirror
Mom's Choice & Moonbeam Award-Winning Books
Why Kimba Saved The World, Vacation Hiro &
Miss Fatty Cat's Revenge
and Max's Wild Night (a companion book)
Serenity Mountain Publishing
At the Corner of Magnetic and Main
Coming in September 2015 from Pen-L Publishing
Connect with Meg Welch Dendler
Amazon author page
Website
FREE Short Story from Meg Dendler!
If readers sign up for my Reading Group they will get a free copy of my award-winning short story "Sonya's Steps." Here's the sign up link for that: http://megdendler.com/readers-group-sign/
Please share this all over the social web!
Follow your B.L.I.S.S.
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker, and Amazon Top Reviewer
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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Character Name Generators
Have you ever been writing a story (whether short or novel length) and found yourself stuck for a name of a character? I certainly have. Sometimes I have a first name and need a surname. Sometimes I want a fantasy- or an evil sounding name.
So here are some name generators of different types that might be just what you seek. I hope you find htem useful. And if you come across a different one that isn't included in this list, please DO let me know by adding it to the comments using Facebook or Google+.
When I opened this generator, these are a few of the names it gave me:
Brand Ravendread
Dirk Seraphdream
Drake Loreguard
Eden Griffonvictor
This isn't sophisticated, but it might give you a good idea. You can choose a male or female name and say how many names to provide. You could always mix and match. This uses common names in the USA based on census data.
Grace Mills
Ivy Diaz
Jillian Carson
Joy Zelma Moon
Juanita Mattie Chen
Kathy Trevino
Keisha Tasha Sanders
Kristine Fuller
I write fantasy and paranormal quite a bit, and next time I need a strange sounding name, I might try this one. Maybe one of these will be what you seek:
The Seventh Profane Queen Who Desires Madness
The Seventh Rogue That Burns the Monk
The Sly Bloodstained Sultanna
The Studious Forgotten Czarina That Burns Clouds
Turquoise of the Celestial Tower
Not sure why the fixation on burning clouds, but it just might tickle your muse. My personal fav from this short list is The Studious Forgotten Czarina That Burns Clouds. Maybe I'll use that as a writing prompt and write a story about her.
These names are inspired by J. R. R. Tolkein's body of work. Her are a few samples:
Durormat
Faua
Glard
Gwengoturathae
Ingo
Itungu
Lariauindua
Ldugon
Lonalongila
Matur
I'm using one of these for a Ghoul in a humorous paranormal sequel to A Tasty Morsel.
I have a feeling I'll be using this one to help inspire me for the series around my "pantser" demon hunter Kassidy. Here are a few samples.
Hasatuzs
Zsuesason
Tonserolon
Lasoron
Nuhsatoah
Lais
Ponis
Olashadea
I love looking at these generators, even though I don't write westerns. Here are a few from when I ran it to write this post:
Angela "Thinker" Jensen
Deborah "Gravedigger" Stevens
Gambling Reynolds
Joanne "Shooter" Payne
Lillie "Sunset" Beck
Lost Adams
My personal favorite from this list is Deborah "Gravedigger" Stevens. If you're into writing westerns, I bet you could craft a short story around a female grave digger, or one who doesn't dig them but has that nickname.
Wrestler Names
This one's also good for warriors/fighters or bad guys. I thought this was so funnyt that I had to share it. You don't need to be writing a story about WWF to use a name like any of these:
Q. O. "The Princess" Turner
Sandra "Unknowable Venus" Johnson
Stephanie "Blessed Goddess" Scott
Sue "The Word" Pierce
I like Stephanie "Blessed Goddess" Scott. Imagine a fighter with that appellation. Fun.Those should help you find character names. I'll post generators for places, animals, etc. in future posts, so watch the "Name Generators" series for more.
Please share this all over the social web!
Follow your B.L.I.S.S.
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker, and Amazon Top Reviewer
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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October 16, 2015
Follow Leader Dog Jemma on the Social Web!
Look at this adorable face...
This is Leader Dog Jemma, a spunky Diva Dog who loves to be groomed and KNOWS she's beautiful. She's also a smart and talented guide dog, a toy tester, a taster and more. Here's how you can see her latest photos, videos and updates.
SHe speaks in her own voice on her Facebook page and her Instagram feed. I'm her interpreter.
Meet & Follow Leader Dog Jemma on the Social Web
Jemma is a busy dog. Not only is she my guide, toy reviewer and treat tester, but she also shares her adventures in her own voice on her own Facebook page and Instagram Feed.
Watch for her hashtag is #LeaderDogJemma
LIKE Jemma's Facebook Page: Leader Dog Jemma's Adventures
FOLLOW Jemma's Instagram photos: LeaderDogJemma on Instagram
WATCH her videos in the Leader Dog Jemma's adventures YouTube Playlist
READ about her Leader Dog Chronicles
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Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker, and Amazon Top Reviewer
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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October 9, 2015
Abundance and The Power of Belief: Are You Allowed Only One?
Have you ever said, or heard someone else say, that you can have only one great something?
1 great opportunity
1 great pet
1 true love
It seems to be something instilled, and thus installed, into most people. The underlying belief is you only get one allotment of something precious and no more. Lose it and you're done.
I've heard it and I've overcome that belief.
When I had my first of 3 amazing guide dogs, Thunder, she was so amazing that at first I thought I could never have another guide dog to match or top her level of awesome.
Then I asked myself, "Why can you have only ONE great dog in your lifetime"
I answered myself, "I don't know. That's silly. I may have half a dozen guide dogs in my lifetime. Why should I believe it's all down hill from here
I further reflected that I NEVER believed I was allowed only one great:
Bouquet
Delicious food
Friend
Fun
Vacation
Adventure
Extraordinary Experience
Joyful moment
...so why should I accept that I could only have 1 great guide dog and then my chances were gone for the rest of my life?
Ridiculous!
Yeah - why CAN'T I have more than 1 awesome dog to go along with all my fabulous vacations, experiences, friends, or anything else?
Each wonderful whatever will be great in its own way. Thunder Cloudy Skywalker (her official AKC Name) was a smooth coated (short haired) collie
How useful that I eradicated that false belief and embraced the power of ABUNDANCE in Thunder's lifetime, because a couple months after she crossed the Rainbow Bridge, A little black Belgian shepherd mix puppy with white paint on her wriggled her way into my heart and became a great guide dog named Molly Flagtail.
Each had her own kind of awesome. Thunder had such astounding memory that could backtrack through the twistiest path to get me back to the start, even when I myself didn't know which way to turn. Molly had amazing emotional intelligence. She had her own mission beyond guiding me that involved healing hearts.
And after Molly finished her time with me, a stunning diva dog named Jemma from Leader Dogs for the Blind came to me. She displays Thunder-style smarts, Molly-style empathy, and her own pure divalicious Jemma star power.
And yet...I still come up with issues around abundance and deserving. This became clear to me when I had my Miracle Mindshift.
This is a 30 day program you can do over and over again. Whenever I go through my Mindshift month, I experience deeper levels of awareness about my own resistance to life's abundance. If you'd like to join me, I invite you to visit the Miracle Mindshift page for details at WriteOnPurpose.com/miracle..
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Follow your B.L.I.S.S.
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker, and Amazon Top Reviewer
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books.
See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Decision Making with Reason And Emotion: Leader Dog Chronicles
I've been sharing my journey of getting a new guide dog from Leader Dogs for the Blind. Today's post focuses on how I came to the decision that getting a new dog was right for me. This same method also works for you when you have a tough choice.
The most difficult part of having a dog, whether a pet or working partner, is that they die. So much emotion is wrapped up in the agony of loss that deciding whether or not to get another becomes messy. When I couldn't stand being dogless anymore, here's the tool I used to help me choose. I wanted to ensure that going to school for a dog was truly wise.
I call it T + E. It goes way beyond the usual plus/minus listing to tape into emotional impact. Using this method also provides fuel when you're talking to your nay-sayers or critical companions. You demonstrate both to yourself and others that you are not making an important decision lightly.
T Plus E Decision Method
The T - Pros and Cons
You've probably made pros and cons lists before, and the T part of the process is just that. It has been called the "Ben Franklin Close" by salespeople. Your piece of paper will look like a T with pros on one side of the vertical line and cons on the other. This is only the beginning. Take time, even a day or more, to write down every factor for or against your choice.
My pros list included:
Help navigating crowds
Guiding in unfamiliar environments
Enforced work breaks to care for and play with the dog
My cons list included
Dog will die
Walk the dog even in bad weather
$75/month in expenses
This is where most people stop, and it misses the power of emotion. That's the most compelling element.
The E - Emotion
It doesn't really matter how many items you have on each side of the T. You might have 3 for and 10 against, but that alone doesn't mean you should choose no.
You're going to use an emotional scale of -5 to +5 to evaluate how important or detracting each item is to you..
Emotional Plusses
Go down your list of favorable aspects and give each a 1-5 rating of how important this is to you. Items that are nice but not compelling might rate a 1 or 2. Those that mean the most score a 5.
My 5s included
Help navigating crowds
Companionship
Things like a reason to walk scored a 2, because I exercise regardless.
Emotional Minuses
Now, go down the against list and do the same thing, giving an emotional impact rating.
"They die" scored a -5 for me. Walking in the heat and inclement weather each scored -3 Vacuuming up dog hair scored a -1.
Add up Scores
Next, total the pro column and the con column. Put those numbers at the bottom. This gives an indication of how wise your decision is both rationally and emotionally.
Adjust for Inflation
The next thing to do is to adjust for inflated results. Knowing that emotionally I really wanted a dog, I subtracted 10 per cent from the get a dog side. I still came up pro dog.
Once you gave gone through this exercise, you'll be more in tune with your reasoning and the emotional impact of each possible choice.
Please share this all over the social web!
Follow your B.L.I.S.S.
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker, and Amazon Top Reviewer
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda's books on Amazon.
Join Ronda's readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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