What's your view?

I'm starting to really realize how VERY, very different my view of daily life (as an epic adventure) and view of the world (as an awesome spaceship with a magical playground that is well equipped to support our human adventure) is from even those closest to me (who I think I know well). So in the interest of getting to know you all better, if you're feeling deeply or not so deeply philosophical, please sound off. What exactly is your view of daily life and our world?

Anyone with a deeper, male voice want to sing the audio for me in the redo?

Give a listen on soundcloud and let me know:

https://soundcloud.com/lacey-schmidt/what-words-willmp3

Make it about one central theme.

The best advice I've ever read from multiple authorities (play-writes, authors, publishers, news editors, teachers, etc.) is to make it about one theme.  Boil it down to what is the moral of the story.  Having a central theme makes it easier to formulate a premise (and thus get rid of extra crap you don't need to tell a story or convey an argument), but more importantly--I think that it makes writing a lot more interesting and exciting.

My book "A Walk Away" will be published in May, and much of the joy of writing and editing it has come from the fact that it has always had one meaningful theme for me:

All of life is sufficing and sacrificing one happiness for another and then adapting to your new balance of happiness.  Sacrificing and sufficing for a chance to love is the greatest happiness and human calling of all.

I think all kinds of stories can be told around such themes, endlessly.  As a writer, the exciting part is getting to decide on the details and shape the premise to reveal that theme from my character's perspectives.  And hopefully, the inevitable revelation of that meaningful theme as the story unwinds strikes a satisfying chord with other readers; but even if it doesn't, I'm satisfied I told a story to the best of my ability.

7 Questions to help you find THE one...

In no particular order, these are seven magic questions you should ask your date early on. 

* What is most important to you?
* Who are the most important people in your life? 
* What inspires you to get out of bed every morning?
* What are you good at?
* What do you wish you were better at?
* How do you prefer to spend your time?
* What are your philosophies?

To make the seven questions work, the person asking has to listen more than talk.

What are you listening for?

1. Does s/he ask you questions in return or prompt you to talk about yourself? Is s/he as interested as s/he is interesting? 
2. Is s/he open to answering all your questions? Shy is okay, but deflecting your attempts at conversation or too many signs of uneasiness definitely means this person isn't in a good place to have a serious relationship.
3. Is s/he too open about wounds, baggage, and being in need of a therapist or fixer? If the conversation becomes a rundown of how awful things are or how s/he has so much to work through, then (again) s/he isn't ready for a serious relationship right now. (No matter how wonderful a person s/he is!).
4. Does s/he use self-deprecating humor? Give any signs s/he is capable of laughing at absurdities in the world? Give credit and praise to others?
5. Are your answers compatible or complimentary? Can you see him/her helping you grow into a better person? 
6. After listening to all these answers, do you want to know more? Is the feeling mutual? 

And remember, attraction shouldn't be difficult, or s/he just isn't the right person at the right time in the right place for you yet.

Free reading...

Kindle unlimited members can now read The Nightshade Lexicon for free:
http://www.amazon.com/Nightshade-Lexicon-complete-worthless-hominid-ebook/dp/B008GAS7VK/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

What Words Will

Most of the important things to say
are ill-defined.
Destined to slather through your hands 
and dissipate like turpentine
gob-smacking you hapless,
hopeless to translate your own heart.

Most of the important things to say
are tasteless and stitched.
Grated to spike stars in your dizzy head
like alcoholic pine pitched
clean-searing you artless,
starved to recruit love's rapport.

We wonder what words will
be sure enough to share
all the import and intent
we dare,
without offending
what words will.

We know choice matters 
but have no ken
as to what words will
carry clear,
enough to render mute 
the hard-hearted fear
of those most dear
to what words will.

Just in time for spring

another techno poetry mix from "The Nightshade Lexicon."  Please give a listen at: https://soundcloud.com/lacey-schmidt/floridmp3 and let the scathing commentaries begin.