Surprise!

I don't usually enjoy having people surprise me, I like to know what's going to happen and plan around it but the last few days have been filled with some great surprise's. Firstly my parent's popping over for a totally surprise visit from New Zealand and my wonderful hubby managing to keep it quiet for two weeks worth of planning! It was amazing and so well timed as it felt such a long time until the holidays. I am so blessed to have such wonderful loved ones! The other surprise's over the weekend, the Silverfern's beating the Aussie netball team and the French being silly enough to think walking towards the All Blacks during the Haka wasn't going to make them fight harder to win! Now incase you're thinking you've hit the wrong blog, no I'm not a crazy sports nut infact usually I avoid it at all cost's but when it comes to New Zealand I have a soft spot and can be talked into watching. The great thing about surprising people is the unexpected results and reaction, life isn't always going to be predictable and if it was how boring would that be for all of us? I detest watching movies or reading books where I can pick the outcome from the start and our lives should hold some of that unexpected delight too not just repetition! Think how much better we are as people and in this context as writers because we can experience and enjoy the up's and downs of the unexpected in life, it makes for some fabulous writing fodder too you know! On that note, to my darling Mum. I know you are going to read this so .... surprise, you are awesome I am so blessed to have you and a wonderful family. Thank you for being the most awesome encouragement and foundation in my life, you are the best. Enjoy the day and ride people, do not accept a mediocre life! Isobial

How hard is it really to be nice?

One thing that really hacks us off to no end is how easy people find it to be rude and mean to others; incase you're wondering yes it is one of our pet peeves and yes has occured too often around us lately! A nasty snipe, a critical comment or a violent outburst can ruin not only someone's day but become a long reaching series of event's. It takes absolutely no more time or effort to be nice to some than it does to be rude or horrid and yet so often we see people choosing to ruin someone else's day just because they can or they think it won't matter; well actually it does. Behaving to others the way you would like to be treated not only has it's benefits in that you feel good about yourself but it also benefits the person your dealing with whether they appreciate it or not. Now to point this into context as a writer it is human behaviour 101 isn't it? cause and effect? relational behaviour, it all ties together in the way we depict our characters and develop our plots. Also just as importantly when your dealing with people you want to help you in your career it is important there is more than just business to what you are doing; if you show an interest in them, their lives and always behave in a courteous way you are more likey to establish lasting professional relationships that will stand the test of time and be beneficial to you both. The best way to insure you do this is to practise with those already around you, as I said earlier it take's no more effort to be nice and you may find that by changing in small ways you form a habit that will stand you in very good stead for the future. I always laugh at people who behave nasty in food places especially; I mean really are you that crazy? These people are touching your food and drinks! They have unlimited access, imagination and if you are particularly nasty, motive to deliver pay back, seriously think people! All that aside though what I am really trying to point out is no matter how you are feeling it is way more beneficial if only for the reason of it being the right thing to do, to treat others well; you never know how much of a flow on effect it may have! Enjoy the day people! Isobial :)

A bad case of "Affluenza"?

It always amazes us that no matter how hard we try our lives are a constant challenge to keep perspective. There is always someone on the T.V, radio, internet, phone etc telling us we need this latest gadget, upgrade, outfit, shoes or body spray! Not to mention all the freebie temptations that come with stuff we have already given in to and purchased. Our world seems to be stricken by the worst disease imaginable "affluenza" described as the constant need to accumulate more; to better our self worth and image by adding to or upgrading the things we already have. It is a never ending affliction though as so many others suffer from it and this causes competition and jealousy which is incurable except by purchasing more to even the balance. Now as adults we should understand that marketing is specifically designed to convince us that we "need" something to make us better people, save us money and or time. Not all of us are suckered in thankfully! Unfortunately though children and teenagers do not have the benefit of life experience and are constantly taunted into thinking they need stuff to make them more acceptable to others or elevate them to a higher social status; sometimes it is also just a way to fill the emotional gap they have in their lives. The reason I bring this all up is because recently I have really had my eyes opened when it comes to marketing. How targeted as consumers we actually are but also since writing for a younger age group I have had to keep a closer watch on what is "in" and believe me this changes fast. Even with characters as diverse as mine the need for techno gadgets and labels is still so culturally prevelent that it becomes a universal thing which can affect even a fictional character on the pages of a book, for instance who would believe in a teenage character without a cellphone, computer or labelled shoes these days? I guess the question then becomes if that is the case how can we write to prevent becoming outdated even before we are published, especially in the genre and age demographic I'm writing in? Equally importantly is how do we prevent our own household suffering from Affluenza? I'll leave it there for today as that is a lot to ponder! Have a "outstanding" day where ever you are! Isobial :)

A very challenging question.....

Wow another crazy weekend over! Dinners out and birthday parties have mean't our long weekend flew leaving us with a now semi-peaceful house in much need of sorting! But before we get onto that we really wanted to write a post today discussing some interesting topic's. On Sunday our senior Pastor Peter Pilt asked "what can't you live without?" as part of his sermon. It was a very challenging service and we highly recommend you checking it out on the Nowra City Church website if you get a chance. So like most people sitting there I answered in my head. What was odd for me was the fact there wasn't much materially I couldn't imagine myself coping without if I had too; my faith and my family were the main things. Now whether this is because for six weeks at the beginning of the year we had to live without much due to our oversea's move. Definately having to evaluate everything in our house,garage, offices etc for shipping it has helped us place less value on possessions . I really did hug my washing machine when it came off the truck! I guess in truth the fact that we were all here together safe and released from a lot of stresses back in our former home it just made the lack of stuff easier to deal with. So for the last day I have been pondering Sunday's question and I have come up with another question which I think is harder to answer "what define's you?" When it comes down to it what is it that makes you the person you are? Do you change to suit your environment? From a writers perspective this is an imperitive question as we reflect so much of ourselves into what we create on the page. Not just in storyline or characterisation but in our research, ethics and storyline. When we create our characters we must have an answer for this question, they must become like real people for readers to truly engage and empathise with them. I can honestly say if I closed my eyes and pictured many of my main characters in various situations I would know what their convictions would be, their behaviour response, attitude, even the tone of their speech. In that sense if I didn't fully understand what defined them as characters how could I ever write them to their full potiential? They would be shallow concepts and unbelievable to readers as their convictions would be interchangable, with no defining elements to their personalities what so ever. So whether fictional or in reality I think "what defines you?" is a very important question. Isobial :)