Renowned author Elizabeth Gilbert, who is probably best known for her New York Times Best Seller “Eat, Pray, Love,” recently spoke at the annual conference of TED (technology, entertainment, design), where the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers are challenged to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. In her speech, Gilbert suggested that we need to look at genius in a new way. She proposed that, like the Romans, we accept the premise that creative people are not geniuses, but that creative people have access to genius.

There is no doubt in my mind that she is correct. When I write – when I am truly in the zone – I am all too aware that the words are not mine. They come from somewhere else. Gilbert tells the story of a 90 year old poet whom she interviewed. The poet described how the words would come thundering at her from across the land when she worked in the fields as a young girl. Each time, she ran for the house and a pencil. If she got to pencil and paper before the words passed her by, she would have her poem. If not, the words would Read the rest of this entry »

I didn’t see the lunar eclipse yesterday. It occurred around 8 am. and the sky would have been way to bright (I say “would have been” because at 8 a.m I was still sound asleep, having worked on various writing projects until 3 a.m.). But I didn’t need to see it. I could feel it, and that was quite enough.

Yesterday was just plain Ugh! My energy was so low I could barely function. Everything seemed a giant struggle. Every time the phone rang I wanted to throw it at the wall, because I just knew it would be another problem. I couldn’t write. Heck, I couldn’t even think. They say that the energy of a lunar eclipse is about leaving the past behind and looking forward, but I just felt stuck.

This came on the heels of a month of compete indecision over where to take my life next. I know Lonely Planet is seeking an editor for their Laos guidebook. Should I go off to Laos and Malaysia for a couple of months? To Scandinavia to try and see the Northern Lights? Some time prior to June 15th I need to return to North Carolina to complete my annual real estate continuing education requirement. My father wants me to come back to Illinois for a couple of weeks this summer. I’m thinking about going to a Yoga retreat somewhere, although I don’t know where. Yet with so many options, I was incapable of figuring out what to do.

This morning, even though I’d been up until nearly 4 a.m again, I virtually Read the rest of this entry »

If you have noticed the UpTake badge on my sidebar at the right, you may be wondering what that’s all about. UpTake.com is a travel search start-up company based in Palo Alto, CA. The company’s mission is to improve online travel searches by offering vacation information about where to go, what to do and where to stay within the United States from local travel experts and writers. And guess what  – I am one of those travel writers!

Today UpTake officially launched their Travel Blog Network, which provides travelers with the ability to browse and search expert blogs across six categories that include attractions, beaches, hotels, lodging, restaurants and travel industry news. I write for both the Attractions Blog and the Beaches Blog (anyone who know me is aware that I am addicted to beaches).

In preparation for the company’s announcement I provided them with a personal photo and a bio, which they then included in a major article about the launch of the network. I must admit that it is a bit unsettling to see my face plastered across the Internet – I really never expected that my writing would lead to me being promoted. But frankly, anything that provides me with a platform where I can write about travel and show off my photography makes me very happy!

Use UpTake to ferret out great travel destinations, hotels, restaurants, beaches, and attractions

The next time you feel the need to get away but just don’t know where to go, check out the blogs at UpTake.com. You’re sure to come away with some fascinating ideas for day trips, weekend getaways, or full vacations.

Follow Laura Lee Carter through a midlife crisis with a happy ending!

A while back, my friend Laura Lee Carter over at MidlifeCrisisQueen.com asked me to review the manuscript for a book she had just finished writing. Aptly titled, “Midlife Magic: Becoming the Person You Are Inside,” Laura Lee’s book treats us to the roller coaster ride that was her life, beginning at age 46 when she left a loveless, destructive marriage of many years; through the sudden and unexpected loss of her job two years later; and then follows her as she remakes her career and life, in the process discovering who she really is.

Laura Lee had asked me for a quote that she could use, if I was so inclined. I wrote:

“Hang on, it all changes!” Laura Lee’s mantra provides hope to all who are struggling with midlife crises. By reading her story, I realized that I am not alone, and it is OK to ask for help. Thanks, Laura Lee.”

I was absolutely delighted when she wrote back, telling me she had chosen my quote for the back cover. Over the holidays, Laura Lee told me her book would soon be out in print and asked if I would review it on my blog. I happily agreed, although I decided to read it one more time, since it had been Read the rest of this entry »

Ah, yes, I have been strangely silent for a few days. I have learned that when this happens I must just “let it be” and allow the process to happen. These are times of great introspection. Sometimes, the result is an epiphany. Other times, the stillness allows me to hear the answer to a question I have been contemplating.

Since walking away from my lucrative real estate career to pursue a life of travel, photography, and writing, the way I see myself has changed significantly. During my six-month trip around the world in 2007, a friend insisted that I print up business cards that said I was a writer and photographer. Initially I resisted. Although I had been blogging for some months by then, I still didn’t see myself as a writer. Thankfully, she finally convinced me that this was a necessary step. The business cards shifted my belief about who I was – it was in print, so it must be true. Gradually, I began to tell people I was a writer whenever they asked what I did for a living. The more I said it aloud, the more real it became.

Upon returning from my around-the-world trip I began soliciting freelance writing assignments. I had some small success but soon realized I was writing about subjects that did not interest me just to get published. Simultaneously, the blog morphed from a narrowly focused travel site to Read the rest of this entry »

For the past two days I have been in Cincinnati, attending the first annual Writer’s Digest University Editors’ Intensive Event. For those of you who don’t know, Writer’s Digest is the definitive magazine for writers. It is published by FW Media, which also publishes Writer’sMarket and Guide to Literary Agents, the two writer’s bibles when it comes to getting published.

Among other things, the conference promised to teach me how to identify potential agents and write an effective one-page query letter for the purposes of soliciting an agent for my book. While it delivered on both counts, the most valuable part of the conference was a 30-minute review of the first 50 pages of my manuscript by one of the WD editors. My meeting occurred this afternoon and there was good news and bad news. The editor confirmed that I have good writing skills and commented that I have led a very interesting life, which is in my favor when trying to get a memoir published, however he also thought I had a lot of work to do on the manuscript before it is ready to submit to an agent. Although he loved the opening of my book, he recommended I completely rework the next four chapters, condensing them to one much shorter chapter.

It is a bit disheartening to think that I now have to go back and cut out so much of the writing that I sweated blood over, but I know the editor’s suggestions are very valid and these changes will make my book much stronger. I now realize that I went into this process with unrealistic expectations. Since I have been writing for years, I thought I could crank out the book in just a few months and be published in a year or so. I was so wrong. Someone commented today Read the rest of this entry »

Just a quick note of thanks here. My blog placed seventh in the travel category at DivineCaroline.com, due in large part to all the wonderful readers who voted for me. Please accept my heartfelt thanks. Writing this blog is my passion and it would be meaningless without you.

Some years ago, Japanese scientist Dr. Masaru Emoto discovered that crystals formed in frozen water revealed changes when specific thoughts were directed toward them. He found that water from clear springs and water that had been exposed to loving words formed brilliant, complex, and colorful snowflake crystals. Alternatively, water from polluted sources or that had been exposed to negative thoughts formed incomplete crystals with asymmetrical patterns and dull colors.

Using high speed photography, Emoto recorded the formation of frozen crystals from water that had been exposed to different words, thoughts and feelings. When he typed the words “love and gratitude” on a piece of paper and wrapped it around a bottle of water, the crystals that resulted were exquisite and perfectly formed. The same results were obtained when he wrapped the bottles with the words “thank you;” regardless of the language used, the phrase “thank you” always produced perfectly formed crystals. Alternatively, the words “I hate you” produced deformed, incomplete, unattractive crystals.

Since the earth and our bodies are predominantly made up of water, Emoto theorized that we could positively impact the earth and our personal health by changing our thoughts, words, and feelings. Further experiments proved that even polluted water could produce lovely crystals after being subjected to positive words and thoughts.

Perhaps Thanksgiving has put me in a contemplative mood this year, but lately I have been thinking a lot about words, feelings, thoughts, and actions. And of course, about gratitude. Four years ago, despite the fact that I had a successful career and a lovely house, I was seriously ill and severely unhappy with my life. In about five weeks I will celebrate my anniversary of “chucking it all.” On December 31, 2006, I Read the rest of this entry »

A few weeks ago, Hole In The Donut was nominated in the category of best travel blog over at Divine Caroline.com, a really great online woman’s magazine (I especially like them because they have a lot of content about travel). I excitedly emailed all my friends, and asked them to vote for me if they were so inclined, which resulted in an initial flurry of votes. But now I am stalled at 35 votes. The top site has 111 votes as of this writing and I certainly don’t expect to be able to beat that tally, but I would absolutely LOVE to be in the top ten!

So, where am I now? I am currently in 11th position, at the top of page two. In order to get into the top ten, I need at least three more votes. The contest ends on November 30th, so there isn’t a lot of time left. If you would be willing to vote for my blog, navigate over to Divine Caroline’s voting page and click on the button to the right of my blog that says “VOTE.” If you are not already a member of Divine Caroline, you will have to register, but it is free and you are given the opportunity to opt out of receiving any correspondence from them at the time you sign up. Thanks in advance to those of you who are willing to help, and a HUGE hug to those who have already voted for me.