SJ Terra

Author: sjterra

  • Thank the World

    Thank the World

    One little thank you at a time

    So, I did it. I’m a writer. Well, I’ve always been a writer, at least since I was making wiggly letters touch both the top and the bottom line on the page. Now I wrote a book. Somehow that’s not new either. I remember stapling together a couple of sheets of paper containing a story and illustrations! So what exactly did I do? Publish a book? Nope, that wasn’t me, editing had a lot of help with that one too. . . Maybe I authored a book.

    I did not do it by myself. THANK YOU!

    We say things like, “I am an author.” but what does that actually mean? Cambridge says writer of a book, article etc. Or my favourite definition: someone who creates or begins something. Wiki says that an author is a creator of an original work that has been published. I am really glad to find out that being an author does not require me to be an authority on something. The two words grew from the same root but are not related it seems. I am not an expert, not even about my own book.

    Thanks for reading Change the World -with Words! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

    A few years ago I got a head injury. Wasn’t my first, it didn’t even seem to be my worst. But I didn’t really get better. Things are more stable, I know what to expect, most days, but it did leave a few holes that aren’t and probably won’t be repaired. One of them is memories. This is both a blessing and a curse. The funny stories I don’t remember of my own life or those of my kids are the curse part. Along with whether we have milk in the fridge or what time it is right now are also lost. But the blessings are that I can open presents I wrapped myself and still be pleasantly surprised. So it is with writing my book, every time I read it I get excited, “What’s going to happen next? Will everyone be okay?” Then I laugh and remember that I wrote the story. I don’t remember writing it, though. I can point to specific moments or places when I was writing. I know what started it and few parts in the middle if I concentrate but while I am reading, NO IDEA! Its kind of fun that way.

    So I really need to thank all those people who read the story, made sure it keeps making sense, pointed out the spelling mistakes and the sentences I forgot to finish. My family, who suffered through last minute suppers, a million post it notes and me asking the same question more than once (or three times) before I understood and remembered their answer. So I did do it. I created an original work and started something new and am now a published author but I did not do it by myself. THANK YOU!

    Your challenge this week is to simply say Thank You to three different people EVERYDAY for what they do for you, or just for being themselves. These people can be online but bonus points if your appreciation is expressed in person or accompanied by a hug or handshake. Pay attention and keep track, it easy to forget. Let me know who you remembered or who you forgot. I’ll let you know my results next week

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    P.S. I also need to thank the people who buy my book! It’s now available…..

    book cover Rocky Rulers, Purple with large mountain

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  • Building Character(s)

    Building Character(s)

    The characters I wrote are better human beings than I am

    Wow! I wrote a book?

    With my first novel on the Coming Soon! list on the publisher’s listings, a second and third book in the writing and editing stages and a couple more ideas being fleshed out around the dinner table, I laugh and cry a little about where these characters come from.

    The year was 2020… but this is not a COVID story.

    While fiddling around with a doll pattern and then looking into the eyes I saw a story. This skinny, lopsided, flat-footed kid wanted to tell me something. I wasn’t sure if they would be in a short story or just a character study for a online class. It might have been someone that just made my kids laugh and probably did. A little blurb that sparked a flame and now the words run like wildfires across my page. Though writing was something I always did: Journals, half-filled science notebooks, left over printer paper with the hole strips down the edges – all fair game for the words that I needed to get down. I never realized that it might be the one activity that could heal my wounds, give me hope, and force me back into life.

    Not another Creative Journey or How I got my Life Back

    I am not really a ‘share every aspect of my life’ type of person but I will probably include you in some parts of my day to day life from here on out. I have been called to do something a little more. Not to grump about editing or cheer for my kids, not to show you goofy pics of my dogs or tell you how to get things done. These might be the ways that I connect with you but they are not the reason I am here. I have been called to bring joy, build faith, speak truth and ultimately, change the world. That sounds a little egotistical but stick with me for a minute, I’m not doing this alone.

    I see you out there, as I walk along with my dog or reach out to get my mail- you wave, or nod in my direction-I wave or nod back. Hardly speaking, never knowing each other’s name. A small emptiness is filling us up. We need each other. You need me and don’t really know it; I forgot that I needed you, too! All of us bobbing our heads up and down, waving our arms and drowning in this sea of apathy and disconnections. So, as I extend my hand to you, and take this new step, take hold and let’s see where we go together.

    two hands reaching towards each other in front of a pink sky

    Photo by Elijah Grimm on Unsplash

    I will do my best every week to give you something to think about, read out loud to your family or friends, or share with a neighbour. I also intend to give you questions and challenges to encourage you along your journey. I pray that I will put positive words into your world and I hope you will put them into mine. I need you to reach out, to leave a message, challenge me or question me. Keep me on my toes and push me to be better.

    I am not asking for you to buy a paid subscription. Subscribing (on this platform) simply means that you will get my link to a newsletter or posts. Its free and only needs an email. Nothing else is necessary. My writing here is to encourage you and for you to encourage me, nothing more.

    My outreach at the moment includes publishing a book for mid-grade or junior high students. It is a story about kids finding out what being a human is all about, regardless if they have wings or fins. Not a classic fantasy, just young people coming together to learn from each other and maybe change their world. Buy it for your children, grandchildren, friend’s kids or the your school library. It is my first book. It has been professionally edited and printed but I can already see that my writing is improving as I write my next books.

    Are you ready to build your character? Will you join me in weekly challenges to build connections? Can I count on you to push me to be a better person? This is what we have all been called to do. Grab a hold of my hand, let’s do this together.