Hill Holler

Kay Elizabeth’s sanctuary from the hustle and bustle

Aug
25

Just wanted to mention

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

If you haven’t popped by The Cuckleburr Times recently, you’ll find some new authors there we’re delighted to showcase in our online magazine that’s created by writers, from writers. Please do drop by and have a look at our newest faces and articles!

We’re always delighted to get new submissions too, so don’t be shy, send us something! See the site for details. :D

Aug
23

A one minute relaxation piece

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

And I won’t believe you if you say you can’t spare 60 seconds in your day to try this short video of mine. If you really can’t, you’re the very person that needs this most. ;)
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Aug
21

Musical Interlude

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

I don’t know why but I just feel like sharing this favorite song of mine. Here’s The Beatles performing The Long and Winding Road.

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Aug
18

Chicken Soup For The Soul Submission Guidelines

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

Chicken Soup for the Soul can always be relied upon to have a number of opportunities up for grabs at any time on a dizzying range of subjects. From their current Possible Books page:

We’re Looking for Stories! We have many Chicken Soup books in development and we’re always looking for new stories. If you have a story, let us know. Take a look at the list of some of our possible books and see if there’s a fit.

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Aug
16

Where’s there’s no will, what’s the way?

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

I thought I’d drop in some quick facts that might help you if you’re looking for article ideas on different subjects. Here’s one to start with:

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Aug
14

So you know your characters inside out, do you?

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

Try this then to see if you really do. :) Ask questions about them. Many writers do this as a kind of homework before they actually start writing a story. The more you know your characters in your mind’s eye, the more rounded they will be on paper. This could make your story easier to write as well. The following questionnaires may even be downloaded so you can work with the actual documents. Handy indeed!

Character Questionnaires

Aug
12

Try it another way! GMSD

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. ~ Alexander Graham Bell

You know someone who does this, admit it. We all have friends or family that fit the bill here. They bemoan their misfortune at every opportunity.

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Aug
10

Quotable quotes

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

You’ve got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing. ~ Arthur Ashe.

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Aug
09

Neale Donald Walsch on Fear

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

Neale Donald Walsch, Author of Conversations with God, discusses the emotion of fear in this video.
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Aug
08

If at first you don’t succeed…

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

Lessons in life aren’t always easily learned. Sometimes, it takes a while for us to recognize that there may be a reason that certain situations in life seem to keep repeating themselves, and each time seems worse than the last.  Here’s a thought. Is it possible we’re just not getting the lesson we’re supposed to learn from it?

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Aug
07

Quotes writers will enjoy

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

My notes have a curious tendency, as I realize at last, to annihilate all they purport to record.- Samuel Beckett

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Aug
06

The Lazy Person’s Guide to Creative Writing

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

“We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to.” - W. Somerset Maugham.

Are you one of those angst- ridden writers who scribbles in a frenzy with a wild eyed look on any scrap of paper he can find, with nothing but nothing penetrating that concentration- not hunger, not tiredness- save perhaps for death itself?!

No, neither am I actually. chuckle Read the rest of this entry »

Aug
05

A Brief Overview of Reiki

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit. It can create many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and well being. In times of stress or illness, energy pathways in your body can become blocked. What Reiki does is help unblock and re-energize the flow lines,  which allows a normal healthy flow to resume.

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Aug
04

Submission Guidelines: Brain, Child Magazine

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

Brain, Child Magazine has a tagline of “the magazine for thinking mothers”. They look for personal essays, features, fiction, reviews and more. I strongly suggest you read the excellent articles on their site not only to get a feel for the type of thing they like, but to enjoy a great read.

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Aug
01

Digging in the dirt

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

“There are no ordinary moments.” Dan Millman, Way of The Peaceful Warrior.

One glorious Summer’s day I was out in our yard with Pip, our old dog. Pip was a beautiful black Spitz and a sweeter natured pooch you’d be hard pressed to find. We were just sitting on the warm grass, side by side, enjoying the sunshine. Little did I know that Pip was going to teach me something very important that lazy afternoon.

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Jul
30

Changed Days Indeed

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

A little on the dark side with a twist in the tail is the way I’d describe Changed Days Indeed . It’s hard to find a single answer when I’m asked what this poem’s about.

It’s about how ancient relationships can still cast a shadow over us despite the passage of time. How easily unresolved emotions can be rekindled with something as simple as a glance. How no matter how much a person changes or improves themselves in life, there’s always someone unwilling to acknowledge that. I guess too that it demonstrates the saying ” the best revenge is a life well lived.”

I said there wasn’t a single answer, I never promised you a short one, ha! Hope you like it - it was a very different direction for me in my writing. :)

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Jul
29

My children’s short story

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

Everywhere I go I like to share Hannah and her Heart. I stop children in the street and read it to them. No, I’m kidding, I don’t…it’s in Walmart. :D I jest of course!

I hope the message of it gets through to even one wee one somewhere that we can all succeed in life, in different ways. Having a good heart to me counts more than anything else. I feel that kids get the wrong message these days. Everything seems to be aimed at implying they need to be perfect and the top of the heap in every way to matter… and that breaks my heart.

Please share Hannah and Her Heart with any little one you think might like it- nothing makes me happier than the thought of that. :) I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy sharing it.

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Jul
27

Winning Writers mention for me

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

Unfortunately I missed this when it came out before but Winning Writers congratulated me on my Feedback magazine win way back in the Feb 2007 newsletter. I can’t believe I didn’t see it because I read it faithfully!

I can only assume the newsletter got swallowed up in cyberspace. Typical! Anyway, here’s what they said:

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Jul
25

Many thanks to Jane Bullard

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

Jane’s a publisher who very kindly shared her article, Answering Seven Questions Can Help Your Book Proposal at our site created by writers, for writers, The Cuckleburr Times. I’m really enjoying working on this! I love nothing more than meeting others that love the writing world in one way or another and helping or learning where I can. :)

If you’re a writer that’s thinking of sending off your book proposal, please do make sure you read Jane’s article first! The lady knows what she’s talking about and offers sound advice from one who knows. :) And please remember we’re always glad to see submissions there too!

Jul
24

Hope is like a road…

Posted by Kay Elizabeth

Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence. ~ LIn Yutang

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