Stephanie Verni's Blog, page 39

You Can Control Whether You Quit or Persevere

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Last night, we had to have the hard conversation with our daughter about possibly quitting something she’s involved in. She didn’t really want to quit, she just wanted to alter the way in which she does it. We talked it through, and we all came to the conclusion that persevering is the optimal course of action.

If you’ve never watched the Markus Zusak Ted Talk, author of The Book Thief, then you are really missing something. He quotes writer Samuel Beckett in his talk, and offers his own perspective. It’s worth watching. The famous Beckett quote is this:

“All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

Try again. Fail better.

These are words we can truly live by. If something’s not working, we must alter the course, but stay the course, that’s what’s most important. Keep working at it. Let your frustrations and failures help you march on toward completion—toward finding satisfaction in it all.

Last summer, I found myself at a low point with book publishing and promotion. I was not at all frustrated with writing and the writing process, but rather with the time one must spend promoting his or her work as an independent author. It’s not all fun and games. It can be exhausting, but it comes with the territory, I’m afraid.

However, I took a little break from it, went on vacation, spent time with my family. I put things into proper perspective, and I came out better for it. I’m continuing on my writing journey and self-publishing journey as we speak, and I feel so happy about it. I’m working on a collection of short stories and it’s changed my focus and brought joy to my life.

I stayed the course. Persevered.

You can do the same.

We all can.

Sometimes, you just need to adjust the perspective, and when you do, it makes persevering feel like it’s what you always should have done in the first place.

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[image error]Stephanie Verni is a hopeless romantic, Professor of Business Communication at Stevenson University, and the author of Inn Significant,  Baseball Girl, and Beneath the Mimosa Tree. Along with her colleagues Leeanne Bell McManus and Chip Rouse, she is a co-author of Event Planning: Communicating Theory and Practice, published by Kendall-Hunt. Follow her on Twitter at stephverni or on Instagram at stephanie.verni.

A Writer’s Biggest Challenge: Time

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This week, I’m getting into my summer groove of writing and finding time to write. Even in the midst of my son’s graduation and preparing for his big graduation bash next Sunday, I manage to squeeze in time that’s just for me.

How many of you are able to find that quiet time to write? How many of you are night owls (like I used to be) or squeezing that writing in early or during a mid-afternoon break?

All the best writers will tell you that you have to make time to write – that you should be writing every day. In the summer when I am not teaching on campus, it makes it a little easier for intense writing to become a daily habit.

As my fellow writers out there can attest, it doesn’t typically happen among the mayhem of a normal day. It has to be penciled in like a workout or a big errand you have to run. Making time for writing is essential, but you also have to know when your brain is ready to do its best work.

When is that time for you? For me, it’s changed over the years, for certain. As I wake up earlier than I ever have, I find I come downstairs, make a little breakfast, brew my first delicious cup of coffee, and then… I begin to write.

Sometimes that writing may involve starting a story from scratch. Sometimes it revolves around editing or embellishing a piece of writing I’m working on. Other times, it may require me to do what I’m doing right now – trying to write a meaningful blog post for my amazing audience.

Yesterday, I finished re-working a piece entitled The Girl on the Trapeze for my short story collection entitled The Postcard and Other Short Stories & Poetry. I wanted to make the story longer, better. I started attacking it and questioned what was missing. More dialogue? Better imagery? Thoughtful introspection from my main character? I dabbled and dabbled, and then something wonderful happened: it morphed into something a little different, and I liked it. Allowing time for creativity to blossom is so essential.

When you get in a groove, it’s fabulous, but you cannot ignore that that little groove requires that you pencil in time for it. 

Just be sure that the time you choose to write is best for you so that your own creativity can flourish.

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When You Realize It’s ALWAYS Been A Goal

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Do you ever come across something that makes you stop in your tracks?

Today, as I’m working on my short story collection and perusing REALLY OLD short stories I wrote in the 1980s, I came across this folder.

It’s not so much the contents of the folder itself that made me pause, but rather what I wrote on the folder itself back then: “Story ideas are easy…building the story is different.” Under that I wrote, “I want to be a novelist.”

I was in my early 20s, and that is what I wrote.

It’s like what Steve Harvey said to a kid the other night on Little Big Shots: “To be what you want, you have to envision it.”

I didn’t say I wanted to be a FAMOUS novelist…just a novelist. And that is why I do what I do every damn day of my life. Seeing this is validation for all the work I put into writing.

So…Continue to pursue your dreams and goals, people. Keep at them. Go for your goal and envision it.

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A Parent’s Thoughts on the Eve of High School Graduation & The Ellicott City Flood

 

 

 

Graduation Tomorrow

All the standard thoughts apply today.

“Time Flies.”

“How did this happen?”

“How is this even possible that time has marched by so swiftly?”

Let me start with advice to young parents: treasure every moment with your children, because I was once like you thinking high school graduation was light years away.

Now, it’s tomorrow.

I’m so proud of Matt. He’s truly found his way in high school. From being the co-captain of the golf team (County Champs!), to his work as the VP of DECA with his best buddy, Luke, (and a trip to compete in California out of it), to his academic achievements in the Business, Innovation & Leadership program at the high school, he has found his niche and enjoyed his time in high school. He also works a part-time job at a golf center that he’s had for over a year and a half. More than all of that, he has a wonderful group of friends that he’s known since we moved to Severna Park for his 8th grade year. He’s truly worked hard and become a responsible young man.

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But, if I’m allowed to get sentimental for just a moment, in the blink of an eye, he will be off to college, and yet, it feels like just yesterday we were dancing to the The Wiggles, setting up obstacle courses in our former front yard in Ellicott City (I will pay respects to what happened in that quaint town last night in a moment), watching him play Little League baseball, attending events at his elementary school, and playing on the beach with our families for 16 years straight in Duck, North Carolina.

 

 

I consider myself quite lucky that my husband’s job allowed me to primarily stay at home with the kids while they were little. I always worked a part-time job, and while I was at work, Miss Amy (our friend, Amy), helped raise Matt while I was teaching my adjunct courses at the college. He loved going to Miss Amy’s house—never did he make a fuss about being with other people. It was all he knew, because I first dropped him off at 7 weeks old. Thank you, Miss Amy, for helping me during all those years that I worked (and then to Lauren, her daughter, who pitched in later). And, if he wasn’t at Miss Amy’s house, he was with my parents or my husband’s parents, who always lent a hand when needed. My mother was a trooper and was ready at a moment’s notice. Then, when Matt’s younger sister by two years was in all-day kindergarten, I went back to work as a full-time faculty member at Stevenson University.

Again, quite fortunately, my job has always offered me the opportunity to be around for my kids, it’s just that—and here’s the scary part I’m about to say to working parents—the time goes by even faster when you work. As I sit here typing this blog post, I cannot believe that come August 20, Matt will be in a dorm room in college. I know he’s ready for it, and I am happy for him, but life is going to be different. His sister has even said, “The house is going to be quieter.” I won’t see his friends come in and out of the house like I have over the years. And I’ll walk by his vacant room and probably get that melancholy pang in my heart.

At least we have all summer to prepare for it.

You know I could go on and on and on, but I won’t. I’ll keep it right here as far as these sentiments are concerned. Hug your kids. Give them love. Let them know you love them every single day.

Because sooner than you think, it will be the eve of your child’s high school graduation. And it will feel weird.

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[image error]Ellicott City Train Tressle. Photo: forum.skyscraperpage.com
The Flood in Ellicott City

Last night, I watched news reports in horror as Ellicott City was devastated by flooding for the second time in two years. For 14 years, we lived 1.5 miles from Historic Ellicott City. It was my former stomping ground. I ate there. I shopped there. I had drinks with family and friends there. I bought all my Christmas gifts from the local shop owners.

There is a romance to that small city.

And now, Ellicott City has flooded beyond compare. It devastated the town two years ago, and it looks as if it has done the same last night. It may even be worse.

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My heart goes out to those retailers and restauranteurs who tirelessly rebuilt their businesses down there, pouring every drop of money they had to make it work. And now, the destruction is daunting. I feel for everyone in the area.

I’m so sorry for their loss.

 

 

 

Some Fashion From The Week | The Petite Professor

On Wednesday, I posted the dress I wore to see the Blue Angels in Annapolis, but didn’t share my other Petite Professor outfits from the rest of the week.

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I also started the editing process of my upcoming collection of short stories. I can’t wait to share them with you.  One story is over 20 years old and was the original short story called Contelli’s Mimosa, out of which grew Beneath the Mimosa Tree, my first novel. There are also a couple of other-worldly tales and a story about bitchy women. This is gonna be fun…

Why You Should Always Follow Your Dreams

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The Story

Yesterday afternoon, I sat with my parents on their porch overlooking their spotless, inviting pool and their gardens that are in full bloom. It was just the three of us, and we got on the topic of graduation and what kids are studying in college, especially as my own son is off to college as a freshman in the fall.

I admitted that I had no idea what I wanted to study when I went to college. I just knew that I was supposed to go to the university and make something of myself. What that exactly was, I had no idea.

“Did you have any idea at all what you wanted to study in college?” my mom asked me.

I did, sort of, but I didn’t take that path. At least not right away. I had a dream, but I didn’t believe it was worth pursuing.

The Truth

Thirty-five years later, I admitted the truth to them as we sat there having lunch.

“I remember sitting in Ms. Sheppard’s History of Maryland class, listening to her talk, but toying with a short story I was writing in my notebook. I remember thinking, ‘Someday I’m going to write something worth publishing.’ That was the only thought I had. I didn’t really know how I was going to get there, I just knew that writing was a goal of mine and it’s what I wanted to do at some point in my life.”

So, I went to college. I went to Towson University and lived on campus.

I did not become an English major. Instead, I was a Business Administration major who earned a “D” in her accounting class. I knew that major wasn’t for me right away.

Taking matters into my own hands, I marched to the Registrar’s office and changed my major to Mass Communication. I learned about radio, television, and journalism; I took courses in public relations and communication, and I felt more at home. I also secured a job at The Baltimore Orioles in the Public Relations department, and that job propelled me a 13-year career with the ballclub.

I still wanted to write.

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I got my first master’s degree back at Towson University in Professional Writing and was promoted to the Director of Publishing at the Orioles.

I was writing. I was editing. I was doing exactly what I thought I might do when I was dreaming back in Mrs. Sheppard’s class. But deep inside, I longed to write fiction.

Simultaneously, I began to teach at a local community college. I left the Orioles and had children and continued to teach. Teaching became a passion of mine, and after my children were in school all day, I was able to move from an adjunct position at Stevenson University to a full-time faculty position in Business Communication. I was primarily teaching writing courses.

However, securing that full-time position warranted that I go back to school.

I earned an MFA in Creative Writing with the support of my husband, a subject I had loved since high school when I took it with Mrs. Susek. I loved every minute of that program at National University.

I had to write a book as my thesis.

I wrote my first piece of publishable fiction, a novel called Beneath the Mimosa Tree, and it will always be special to me.

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It took me a while to follow my dreams, but thanks to Mrs. Sheppard, for all her encouragement as a student in that history class, and Mrs. Susek, for all of her inspiration in Creative Writing, I finally chased that dream as a middle-aged adult. Now, I write on the side and I teach full-time, inspired by people I had along the way. I honestly have the best of both worlds. With three fiction books to my name and one textbook on Event Planning, I’m busy putting together a collection of short stories that started my passion for writing in the first place.

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The Lesson

My point of telling you this story is this: no matter your age, don’t be afraid to follow your dreams. You can go for it at any time. Graduating seniors in high school can start chasing that dream in college, in a trade, or through a work path. Graduating college students can get right on it by choosing a job that suits them, returning for a master’s degree, or going down an entrepreneurial track if that suits them. Middle-aged people like me can do it, too, if you have the support of those who love you around you to help make it happen. Do not be afraid.

Follow your dreams, people. Work hard to make it a reality. Invest in yourself and what you want to do in the future. I took a circuitous route, but you can go more directly. It’s entirely up to you.

 

[image error]Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) on Pexels.com

Wednesday Wardrobe & The Blue Angels: The Petite Professor

[image error]The Amazing Blue Angels flying over Annapolis, Maryland. All photos by Stephanie Verni.

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For those of us who live in the Annapolis area, today’s a big day. Huge. It should be declared a holiday in Anne Arundel County where the Naval Academy is situated on the grounds of Annapolis in the city because the Blue Angels fly as part of graduation week. All of us, whether we know someone at the Academy or not, benefit from this wonderful tradition.

My clever mother booked us at the Severn Inn, which sits on the Severn River across from the Naval Academy, for the second year in a row. Our table was on the deck of the restaurant with a clear view of the river, the perfect vantage point to see the Blue Angels fly. I brought my Nikon with my super-duper zoom lens and strived to take some good photos to share with you. (Mind you, they travel at 400 miles per hour, and I am an amateur photographer, so I did my best)!

I also wore a new dress (yes, Wednesday Wardrobe | The Petite Professor segment will continue to run this summer on Wednesdays for fun), and I’m sharing what I wore here with you. My daughter and her friend also looked cute in their sundresses, and I’m posting their outfits as well.

If you have followed my blog for a bit, you know that I’m an author and that my first novel called Beneath the Mimosa Tree is set in Annapolis. I did my best to pay homage to our beautiful city, a place where I grew up and spent tons of time with family and friends. The actual neighborhood where Michael and Annabelle, the two main characters live, is the neighborhood adjacent to and up the hill from the Severn Inn. (I’m sentimental about my hometown; what can I say?)

The skills of the pilots who fly the Blue Angels marvel me every single time I see these planes fly. The precision of their flight patterns and their tricks delight all of us who put this day on our calendars year after year after year.

I hope you enjoy the photos I took today, and I hope you had a great Hump Day!

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[image error]Our group today!
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[image error]My husband and me.
[image error]Wednesday Wardrobe | The Petite Professor. Dress from Marshall’s, Calvin Klein shoes. Sunglasses by Panama Jack.

“Your stories give me hope,” she said.

 

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“Your stories give me hope,” the woman said to me when she told me how much she liked Inn Significant. “Where do you get your inspiration?” she asked.

I told her I get my inspiration from people—mostly from people I know or I’ve loved along the way in my life.

“You are an optimist?” she asked me.

“I like to think I am,” I said.

“Well, keep writing. You give me hope for the future. Will there be a sequel to Inn Significant?”

“I’m toying with it,” I said.

“Well, stop toying and get to it. I want to see what becomes of these people.”

I guess to both of us, they are real, and not just characters. And in some way they are.

That’s a conversation I will treasure for a long time.

 

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[image error]Stephanie Verni is a hopeless romantic, Professor of Business Communication at Stevenson University, and the author of Inn Significant,  Baseball Girl, and Beneath the Mimosa Tree. Along with her colleagues Leeanne Bell McManus and Chip Rouse, she is a co-author of Event Planning: Communicating Theory and Practice, published by Kendall-Hunt. Follow her on Twitter at stephverni or on Instagram at stephanie.verni.

Playing With Book Covers For An Upcoming Collection

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I’ve started the editing process for my upcoming book entitled, The Postcard and Other Short Stories & Poetry. So far, I’ve organized the stories and made a comprehensive list of what will be included and what is getting pitched. It looks like the book will feature 15 longer short stories, 25 pieces of flash fiction, and about 20 poems. Along with the organization comes the idea of what the cover of the book might look like. As a visual person, I need to have this in my head as I work toward completion. For me, the whole creative process of putting a collection together encompasses so much—the storytelling is at the forefront, but the book packaging is so vital as well. When you are in the business of independent publishing and act as your own curator, designer, and editor, it takes time to comb through each short story and decide if it is worthy of your readers. (You all put a lot of pressure on us to deliver good stuff, and we take making you happy as a reader as the most important aspect of our writing!) Then, of course, it takes time to make it visually pleasing.

I’ve organized myself so that I will work on one story a day, at least to get myself going and not slow down this process. I’ll read each story as a reader, and then I’ll start attacking it as an editor/reviser. It’s sort of fun to look at things you’ve written a while ago and then immerse yourself in it again, but this time with a more intense approach to getting the story just right.

Below are four possible cover ideas that I have so far. If you have any input on which is floating your boat the most, please comment below to let me hear your opinions.

Have a great Monday, you all. If you need me, I’ll be right here…editing.

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Become A Writer, They Said.

This one got me giggling.

As I sat in my office this morning looking at all the short stories I am planning to include in my upcoming collection, I started to panic. The same thoughts go through my head as I start gearing up for publication. It sort of goes like the above meme as well as like this one below.

We love to second guess everything we write. And worse than that, when a short story we wrote was written a while ago, we are so tempted to go in and change it. A lot of it.

Mostly what I’ll be doing is fixing things — making them better for the collection. I’ll edit, add, delete, embellish, extend, and then I’ll wonder if I did anything right at all.

That’s the way it goes as a writer.

We have confidence, and we lack confidence. It’s a never-ending cycle.

But we go through this oddly pleasurable torture for the love of writing, because we can’t imagine not doing it.

Even if everything we write isn’t just so perfect.

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[image error]Stephanie Verni is a hopeless romantic, Professor of Business Communication at Stevenson University, and the author of Inn Significant,  Baseball Girl, and Beneath the Mimosa Tree. Along with her colleagues Leeanne Bell McManus and Chip Rouse, she is a co-author of Event Planning: Communicating Theory and Practice, published by Kendall-Hunt. Follow her on Twitter at stephverni or on Instagram at stephanie.verni.