Passages of Light and Darkness

A writing Challenge–

Are You Up To It?

For the Innovative Writer

So, you’ve been writing stories for a while now. But, you feel there’s something missing. The stories need more excitement, drama, pathos, or humor. Maybe a bit of them all.

What can you do?

Consider adding a disabled character to your next story.

Have you ever wanted to include a disabled character in one of your stories, but didn’t know where to research the subject? Has a young man in a wheelchair traveling down the sidewalk whistling ever caught your attention? How about a woman with a guide dog walking through the park on a sunny day? Or two people signing to each other in a department store?

But you discarded the notion, because you had no idea of how a disabled person sees her world. Then, this could be your chance to investigate the vast territories where disability lies.

Starting on March 14, you can register for my class on the Savvy Authors site at:

http://ce.savvyauthors.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Calendar.eventDetail&eventId=2684

a course taught by Barbara Bates — Pardon, is my Disability Showing? Writing Believable Disabled Characters — an Interactive Approach. Check it out.

Three disabilities will be covered in the course: blindness, deafness, and paralysis requiring the use of a wheelchair. This course has two distinctive parts. The first part of each lesson will provide information about the disability and where to do more research, depending on the extent of the disability and whether or not the character is a major one in your story.

The second part of each disability lesson is an interactive session. In these lessons, you will have the opportunity to pretend you, the writer, have the disability. While this part of the class is not mandatory, remember the rule: “Write what you know.” These lessons will give you, for a limited time, the ability to feel the same frustrations and surges of victory that a disabled person feels doing routine tasks. How can you say “no” to that?

Come join us on March 14 at:

http://ce.savvyauthors.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Calendar.eventDetail&eventId=2684

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A Writing Challenge–

Are You Up To It?

For the Innovative Writer

So, you’ve been writing stories for a while now. But, you feel there’s something missing. The stories need more excitement, drama, pathos, or humor. Maybe a bit of them all.

What can you do?

Consider adding a disabled character to your next story.

Have you ever wanted to include a disabled character in one of your stories, but didn’t know where to research the subject? Has a young man in a wheelchair traveling down the sidewalk whistling ever caught your attention? How about a woman with a guide dog walking through the park on a sunny day? Or two people signing to each other in a department store?

But you discarded the notion, because you had no idea of how a disabled person sees her world. Then, this could be your chance to investigate the vast territories where disability lies.

Starting on March 14, you can register for my class on the Savvy Authors site at:

http://ce.savvyauthors.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Calendar.eventDetail&eventId=2684

a course taught by Barbara Bates — Pardon, is my Disability Showing? Writing Believable Disabled Characters — an Interactive Approach. Check it out.

Three disabilities will be covered in the course: blindness, deafness, and paralysis requiring the use of a wheelchair. This course has two distinctive parts. The first part of each lesson will provide information about the disability and where to do more research, depending on the extent of the disability and whether or not the character is a major one in your story.

The second part of each disability lesson is an interactive session. In these lessons, you will have the opportunity to pretend you, the writer, have the disability. While this part of the class is not mandatory, remember the rule: “Write what you know.” These lessons will give you, for a limited time, the ability to feel the same frustrations and surges of victory that a disabled person feels doing routine tasks. How can you say “no” to that?

Come join us on March 14 at:

http://ce.savvyauthors.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Calendar.eventDetail&eventId=2684

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I’m published! Actually I was published on February 1, but have been so busy getting articles ready and answering interview questions for other blogs, I’ve neglected my own.

So, here’s the pertinent info:

AsterIce, a science-fiction thriller!
Drinking this ice from Heaven could open the gates to Hell.

Ice from an asteroid brought in from the belt contains vitamins and minerals invigorating the human metabolism and bringing improved health. It becomes the newest nutritional fad, selling world-wide.

The ice also contains an alien virus capable of altering human DNA, causing humans to lose their individuality, their will, and perhaps even their souls.

Can four infected individuals find a way to stop the process before humanity is lost?
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That’s the blurb I’ve sent out. But it’s not just a sci-fi story. There’s romance, family obligations, and a touch of horror. (Everyone’s life should have a touch of horror.) It’s listed on the publisher’s site (EternalPress.com) as a science fiction thriller. You can pick up a copy either or on Amazon.
My Bio:
I grew up reading speculative fiction and received a BS in electrical engineering and worked for several years in the computer industry. When a head injury left me totally blind, I turned to writing speculative fiction to stay sane. With my youngest child in college, I live with my husband in Massachusetts and plot ways to spend more time with my grandchildren.

I’ve had short stories and articles published online (stories at SNMHorrorMag.com and articles at SavvyAuthors.com), and some like “GreenWorld” published in print, in the “End of Days” anthology. Now trying my hand at novels, you can find me here, or at the attached blog, BarbaraLBates.com/polad.

The ISBN numbers are:
EBook ISBN: 9781615728503
Print ISBN: 9781615728510

And you can buy a copy at:
Eternal Press:
http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615728503

Or at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/AsterIce-ebook/dp/B00BA1O2ES/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1359924999&sr=1-1&keywords=B+L+Bates

Check out the book and give it a look through.

And I’ve been interviewed on the following other sites –
Interview with Tosha Sumner:
http://tlsumner.com

Interview by Babette James:
http://babettejames.com/2013/02/08/interview-with-b-l-bates-author-of-asterice/

An interview on The Whole Shebang site:
http://thewholeshebangsite.wordpress.com/

Individuality and Disability

Think back to the last time you saw a disabled person. What was her disability? Something stood out in your mind. The wheelchair, her long, white cane, the special crutches she used to walk.

Now, what else do you remember about her? Her hair color? The clothes she wore? Surely there’s something about the person you remember. Or did you just see a “disabled” person?

Then again, maybe not. Too often we retain something to remember a person by, but not necessarily a physical characteristic about them. And while it’s true, we do this for those not disabled — the red cap he wore. The way his ski jacket made him look massive. The owlish-look her glasses gave her.

So, I’ll bring up the question — Does a disability characterize an individual? Should someone be identified by his disability? If you identify a person by his disability, you catalog, pigeon-hole, diminish him. When you see a disability as a characteristic of who that person is, you give him the freedom to be himself… and more.

Being a physically challenged person myself, my disability limits me, but does not characterize me. My blindness is a characteristic of who I am, but it’s not all I am. Believe me, there’s a difference. Thinking of a disability as someone’s characteristic, and not who or what that person is, may allow you to see someone in a clearer light. To get to know a person, not a disabled person.

A woman I used to hang around with once said, “God has seen fit to let everyone see my disability. I often wish I could see everyone else’s.” Everyone has a disability; some are just easier to see than others. No one is perfect. Those who think they are have a bigger problem than they think.

Be proud of who you are — your strengths, your talents, your accomplishments. And learn from your weaknesses — your bad habits, your procrastinations, your flaws. Every coin has two sides. Keep yours spinning and they won’t be able to pin you down.

It’s the day of Christmas Eve

It’s the day of Christmas Eve. I wanted to wish everyone out there happy holidays, whichever one, or none if you’re so inclined, you celebrate.

I think part of what should be said comes from some song lyrics:

“May God bless and keep you always,

      May your wishes all come true.

May you always do for others,

      And let others do for you.” *

Being brought up Christian, I celebrate Christmas. But Christmas has changed since I was small. We now have overt commercialism, unbridled materialism, sagging morals and ethics, as well as political and economic corruption, to deal with.  It’s hard to see any light at the end of that long tunnel.

But no matter if you see Jesus Christ as: the son of God, an important prophet, or a wise teacher and good human being, remember he changed the world, history, and our fates – through peaceful means, not war. Whether or not you agree with his teachings, many have lasted to this day.  And, he was a radical in his time. He stood for peace in a time when armed Romans walked the streets. He taught acceptance when the ruling class wanted to keep the classes segregated. He preached material wealth wasn’t the be-all, end-all; we have a spirit too.

Try to take some time this season and figure out what you want in your life. Where you want: to go, to be (when you grow up), to have. Materialism isn’t everything; health, family, community exist without excess wealth. Happiness can come from the “little” things in your life. A child’s smile. A helping hand. A letter from a loved one. A look through a photo album.  

Celebrate the 3F’s this holiday season. Feasting, family and fun. (Those were the 3 F’s you thought of, right?) Savor and be grateful for what you have. Take steps to get those things you need or want. And stop once in a while and take in the grandeur around you. Happy holidays. Barbara

*from “Forever Young” song by Bob Dylan, sung by Joan Baez.

Hey, thanks for stopping by. This is to let you know there’s a new blog associated with the two already here (BarbaraLBates.com and BarbaraLBates.com/polad). It’s called Living for Life, and can be found at BarbaraLBates.com/LivingForLife.

Though it’s slanted to those of us over fifty, it’ll contain advice, exercises, recipes, and other good stuff of interest to many. Give it a look and see. This newest addition is willing and able to take your suggestions about articles you’d like to see about 

 - Simplifying your life

 - Exercise

 - Diet and nutrition

 - Amounts of Sleep and rest you need.  

So, stop on by and say hello.

Recently, I’ve received lots of comments about others using info on this and my other sites. First, let me say, the comments are all very similar. There wouldn’t be a reason for this, would there? (Not that I’m the suspicious type, mind you.) So, let me state this once and I won’t refer to it again. This means if you ask, I won’t answer, I’ll assume you can read this post.

I’m visually challenged (that means I’m blind to those of you who don’t follow the conventions of political correctness). My son, who has a degree in Computer Science, put together my blogs and linked them together for me.

I, alone, am responsible for all the content on all three of the blogs. (Though I haven’t started posting to the last one yet. But it should start about the new year.

I know nothing about setting up these blogs and didn’t pick out the templates used. I did however tell him what I wanted.

Any requests to have me “look at my blog” are kind of silly, unless you want me to tell you if it’s accessible. And to do this you have to give me a “real” URL. (That’s a hint, folks.)

If you want to use any information on any of my sites, feel free as long as you tell everyone (this means to give a URL) where it came from. And of course, feel free to link to my site from yours. I think that covers it.

So, please stop with the can I borrow this, link to your site, and come see mine comments. Please.   

Nanowrimo’s Last Day – November 30

Today is the last day of Nanowrimo. I haven’t been posting the past few days, but have continued to write. My novel currently has over 76,150 words, so I passed the 50,000 gate days ago. I’m still shooting for the novel to be about 85,000 words. Hopefully, it’ll be finished in about a week.

However life and some narrow minded “nons” (stands for non-handicapped) managed to ruin the ending for me.

I started a day early trying to validate my manuscript to be able to enter the “Winners Circle”. I still remember last year when I never got my novel validated. Again this year the validator wouldn’t accept my manuscript (due to my adaptive equipment? No one will tell me). I contacted a staff member (thank you NS), and also left a message at their message center.

NS got back to me and I sent her a copy of my manuscript to date. She validated it for me and I downloaded the winner’s certificate. But I wanted a downloadable image they also offered to the winners. Unfortunately, the images weren’t text labeled, so I was unable to locate them to download them. I sent another email to NS and I hope she’ll be able to help me once again.

As I mentioned, I was not surprised about the lack of accessibility on the Nanowrimo site, as I’ve experienced it before. It does seem to be getting worse rather than better, though. But the site is filling up with all sorts of things for the nons, while those of us using adaptive equipment still can’t get basic services. Can you say discrimination?

Tomorrow’s Turkey Day here in the US. I spent most of today cooking, and though there are two pies, some vegies, and the stuffing to show for it, I didn’t get much writing done. And tomorrow may be more of the same. A fairly quiet Thanksgiving is anticipated here this year.

I have about 68,100 words. Part of the reason for the low word count is I had to move a large chunk of the outline from where it was to be put aside and maybe used later. The actions in it no longer fit in the story as they were. So, I had to redo the outline and then write the story. This is going to happen more often as I near the end. I know how it ends, but I want all the loose ends to be tied up (in a bow of course), and want the story to make sense. But I managed to add about 2,000 words today, so it wasn’t a waste.

I’ve been having a problem trying to figure out how to have the male protagonist introduce the female protagonist to his family. Her father is a well-known wizard, and the name would be a dead giveaway. Not if she used her mother’s surname. But there had to be a reason for doing this. So, I made the male protagonist’s Shifter clan of bears a patriarchal community and the female protagonist’s panther clan a matricidal one. That way she could keep her mother’s surname as it would be within her clan’s normal routine. But since she’s a Golden Panther Shifter, and I have them coming from India, I needed to change her surname to an Indian one. After some research, I came up with Patel as her and her mother’s surname. Her father keeps the Holtz surname, and a possible calamity is averted.

So I had to go through the manuscript and change her last name every time it showed up. I know there’s a replace all command, but I have no idea where it is. I just started using Windows 7 and am still somewhere at the bottom of the learning curve. All good things take time. Yeah right.

I got past the 60,000 word mark tonight, and also finished part 2. So, I’m on the home stretch, and I may finish it by the end of the month. Except there’s this funky holiday coming up here in the U.S. called Thanksgiving. Thankfully, not many people are showing up this year, so I may still finish. And if I don’t, oh well                       , I got past 50,000.