Writing – Angie Mizzell

You are not alone.

May 4, 2011 By Angie 20 Comments

We plotted our course on the map. Take I-40 across the country. Make a right in California. Head north on I-5. Arrive in Oregon. This route promised the best weather, and it looked like the safest way to go. But then I learned mom doesn’t like to drive in the rain. Or in the dark. Or through mountains.

This was going to be a long trip.

That’s a clip from my memoir-in-progress. And yes, my mom is a main character in the story. And yes, she knows. And even better, she has encouraged me every step of the way. Except that one time, when I flew to California to attend a writing retreat when I was four months pregnant. She wasn’t thrilled about that. Did I mention she doesn’t like to fly, either?

But last year, when I introduced my story to literary agents at a conference (just a two-hour drive, one that did not require traveling in the rain, the dark, or through mountains) she supported me.

The story isn’t really about us, although our relationship is a huge part of it. It’s about why I left my career in TV news. It’s about redefining success and making the tough choices to be happy. When life calls us to step through the doors of courage, it’s often a solitary journey. We have to do those things on our own. But it helps to know we aren’t alone. That people who love us are standing (cheering) in our corner.

Who’s in your corner?

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Filed Under: Writing

Creating space for the things you love

April 19, 2011 By Angie 41 Comments

It’s 3:50 am. I receive at text. It reads: ”Write on, girl!”

I smile and text back, “Run, Lou. Run.” And then I start the coffee. I have one of those Keurig machines that brews one cup at a time. Best. Invention. Ever. Green Mountain Hazelnut is my current flavor of choice. By the time I have a glass of water and the machine produces the last gurgle and spit into my cup, I am awake.

Even if you love your morning cup of Joe as much as I do, you may be wondering, “Why were you swapping texts at that hour? Why are you even up?”

In the comment thread yesterday, Lou said he heads to the gym every morning at 4am. (Even on weekends? I’m not 100% clear on that. But my guess is yes.) He added, “I wish I had a workout partner sometimes to keep me company, but that would imply there is another CWAZZY person around here that likes to work out at 4 am.”

I don’t like to work out that early in the day, but I do like to write. And from Lou’s comment sprouted a cwazzy idea (mine) to swap texts as we’re beginning our morning routines. A virtual wave. A mutual display of good vibes and encouragement.

I’ve tried it many ways, but I keep coming back to the fact that I love to write in the morning when the house is quiet. Before my day “officially” begins and my brain and energy shift to other things. To support this effort, I Googled “how to write in the morning,” and I found this post by Leo Babauta. (Laugh all you want. A few days ago, I Googled “how to arrange a living room with a fireplace in the middle of the big wall.” Found my answer.) Babauta also writes about the benefits of rising early and offers practical tips on how to make it through the day without falling on your face from fatigue. And I’m always looking for ways to make it through the day without falling on my face.

How do you start your day?

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image: istockphoto.com

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Popular Posts, Writing

Epiphany

February 17, 2011 By Angie 26 Comments

Last night, as I was making dinner for the kids, this post began to write itself. Usually, that’s what happens with the content I publish here. A thought forms when I’m away from the computer screen, and I turn it over and over in my mind. When the thought hangs around long enough to spin the idea into something of substance, a blog post is born. And last night, this is what kept playing in my head:

The book is calling me, and I need to go to it.

As the words took root, I noticed how I felt. I felt a shift, a release. I felt light, not stressed. That’s the best way to describe the feeling I get when I know I need to act. A couple of weeks ago, I asked you how you make choices. And this is how I make mine.

This time, the old voices of fear and negativity did not take hold, even though I know I resolved to blog five days a week. I am not burned-out on blogging. In fact, it’s just the opposite. I felt the urge to commit to this blog, and I told you about it. And you have shown up each day and taken this journey with me. And what I didn’t realize at first, but I realize now is…

You have been helping me write the book.

So for the next month, or so, (that’s my goal, but it’s hard to tell) I’m going to put my writing energy –fully– into the pages of my memoir. I’m not disappearing. I’m not hiding from my regular day-to-day life. But I need to turn every storytelling bone in my body towards this book. I’m so close.

So, enough already. It’s time to get it done.

I leave you with a dance party, a day early. So join me now and have a little Friday on your Thursday. I hope this post inspires you to grab your Mojo and do that thing that’s pressing on your heart. All we need is…

The Eye of the Tiger.

Yeah, baby! I’ll be back….

Today’s dance party was inspired by the fabulous Jennie B. You can catch her music snack every Wednesday at The Sassy Steel Magnolia.

Photo credit

Filed Under: Writing

Using my words

January 27, 2011 By Angie 17 Comments

This refrigerator magnet is a great way to check in with myself each day. And since the fridge is next to the coffee pot, “Mom feels” has grown quite fond of its position in the bottom left-hand corner.

How do you feel today?

I recently added a badge to the sidebar of my blog. It reads, “I choose authenticity.” I found the badge on the blog of research professor, author and speaker Brene’ Brown, PhD. You can read Brown’s definition of authenticity and grab a badge for yourself here. If you feel compelled to “keep it real” in your own life, I promise, her site is worth a visit.

One of the reasons I chose to blog five days a week (besides insanity) is to help get me through the toughest parts of writing my memoir. In some ways, this plans seems counterproductive. If I’m already scrounging for time, why would I add more to my plate?

Well, because for me, this work is necessary. As I complete each draft, I peel back another layer… chipping away at the protective facade that guards my emotions. The process leaves me feeling exposed. Vulnerable. But this work feels like my calling. At least for now, at this point in my life.

I’m fascinated by the art of storytelling and how it strives to get at the truth about something. This blog teaches me how to tell stories about my life. As my friend, mentor and author Kelly Love Johnson says, when you’re writing for other people, you want to write honestly and openly so people can relate, not cringe.

What does authenticity mean to you?

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Writing

I resolve…

January 3, 2011 By Angie

image courtesy istockphoto.com

This past weekend marked the official end of Christmas at our house. The decorations are boxed and the tree needles are gone–courtesy of the Dyson (which has been so worth the investment. The other day, I used it to vacuum Fun Dip off my 4-year-old. Amazing).

Yesterday, my son said, “Mommy, I wish we could keep the decorations up forever.” I wouldn’t go that far, but I choose to linger in the ambiance of the season. I’m not channeling Clark Griswold–I keep our decorations simple. But I like how the house feels when it’s aglow with lights. Plus, for me, waiting until the New Year to take it all down and clean it all up punctuates the feeling of a fresh start.

In my last post, which was one of the most popular yet, second only to this one, I asked all of you, “What’s your fire?” I got so many wonderful responses. And as I begin 2011, I keep thinking about what Michael wrote:

Often we are swamped enough by everything else, that even the things that bring us excitement tend to be dimmed. (Sorry, didn’t mean to sound depressing.) I think that many of us need to start by simplifying and de-cluttering our lives before we can even be aware enough to find our fires.

My husband and I have spent the past couple of days organizing toys and throwing out junk that just gets in the way. But he keeps reminding me our lives are in constant motion. No matter how hard I try, I’m not going to get a true “clean slate” with two young boys running around the house.

I see how quickly it’s all moving–time, life– and the magnitude of that paralyzes me sometimes.

It’s all about perspective, so I’m trying to imagine my world as the merry-go-round from my childhood–the one on the elementary school playground. Back then, it was fun to jump on while it was already spinning. Did you ever do that?

So this year, I resolve to hop on board and:

…finish what I started.

I’ve shared my journey of writing a memoir here and here and here. This year, with the help of my beautiful writing partner, I plan to polish the manuscript and submit it to literary agents.

…blog five days a week.

This action was inspired by the above mentioned writing partner, a narcissistic friend (and for the record, she considers that a compliment) and the English teacher who taught me how to blog the old-school way– writing by hand in a journal. For a grade, no doubt.

…let my fire guide my path.

My fire is more of a feeling–an ambiance–than a specific thing. In essence, my fire exists in places where I’m making connections and expressing myself creatively. When I’m doing something that makes me feel like I’ve left my corner of the world a bit better than when I found it.

Okay, so it’s time to play ball. I know, I know. Posting resolutions is so cliché. But surely, you have some. What are they?

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Redefining Success, Writing

Freelance Writing in the Digital Age

November 15, 2010 By Angie

If you live in Charleston, I wanted to let you know about a forum at the Center for Women coming up this Saturday, November 20 from 10am-Noon. Freelance writer/editor Holly Fisher and I will host “Freelance Writing in the Digital Age.” We’ll answer questions and offer tips to help aspiring writers secure assignments and sell their work. The cost is $25 for members and $50 for non-members. The registration fee goes directly to the Center for Women.

Click here to register.

On a related side note, I received the good news last week that I have been selected to serve on the Center for Women Board of Directors. This organization is dedicated to helping women succeed every day, and I’m honored to be a part of it.

Executive Director Jennet Robinson Alterman and I will be on Lowcountry Live Wednesday at 10am to talk more about the writers’ forum. So tune in if you can. And if you have any other questions, feel free to email me at angie (at) angiemizzell (dot) com.

Filed Under: Writing

Perspective–in writing and in life

November 8, 2010 By Angie

I keep rearranging the furniture in the living room. We’ve lived in this house for almost six years, and I still can’t get it just right. I can’t decide the focal point. Is it the sofa, the flat screen TV, the fireplace, the photos of my sons– what? It depends on the configuration.

That’s kind of where I am with the book. I’ve come a long way since last year. But now, I have pages and chapters and scenes in a folder on my computer appropriately labeled “Book”… but I’m still trying to figure out how it all fits. I’m about to check the ink and send it all to the printer. Then, I’m going to spread the story across the living room floor and try to put this puzzle together.

It occurred to me recently that I’ve been hyperfocused on one particular event, without being fully clear on how it affects the whole story. It’s like last week, when I took a picture of the Angel Oak, and I had to keep backing up to get the 1,500-year-old tree in the frame.

Perhaps what I’m experiencing with writing the book can be applied to life in general. Sometimes we need distance to fully understand. And sometimes, we can’t “think” our way out of the maze. We have to rely on our intuition and trust where it’s taking us, even if we can’t see the big picture just yet.

Filed Under: Writing

Connection

November 3, 2010 By Angie

I’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to write this post, and I’ve finally found it. Sometimes people don’t fully realize the impact they make on others… because how do you measure the ripple effects of inspiration?

Yesterday, I saw the Angel Oak for the first time. It’s at least 1,500 years old.

In order to take the picture, I had to keep backing up. Back, back, back… then I tripped over this:

And I still didn’t get the whole tree in frame. Needless to say, the Angel Oak is really huge. Majestic is more like it.

When I was in high school, I took an honors English class my junior and senior years, and I was fortunate to have the same teacher two years in a row. Our very first assignment: Go home and hug a tree. The word spread quickly. We lived in a small, conservative town where people just didn’t going around hugging trees. What on earth was this woman teaching? The skeptics wanted to know.

I embraced the assignment (and the tree) and documented the experience in my writing journal– part two of the assignment. I wrapped my arms around the sturdy trunk outside my house and instantly felt the connection. I felt the energy, the life. It made me feel… happy.

We wrote a lot in that class. During those two years, I learned to make the connection between my thoughts, feelings and life experiences. As I wrote by hand (which is still the best way to do it, in my humble opinion) I connected with something bigger than myself. The higher power that guides my life today.

Once you establish a connection… it’s easy to recognize when it’s there. And when it isn’t. You can’t force it. But you can remain open and trust that what you are seeking you will find. You can trust that it will find you.

So, hey Jude, this one’s for you. Thanks for being my teacher so many years ago. Thanks for continuing to be my friend today. You planted a seed, and just like the Angel Oak, it continues to grow.

Filed Under: Redefining Success, Writing

Embracing my crazy

October 27, 2010 By Angie

Am I crazy, or brave? As I listened to the keynote address at the South Carolina Writers’ Workshop conference this past weekend, I realized I’m both. I had the epiphany as bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson told a hilarious tale about how she finally got published.

I wasn’t even going to go to dinner. I’d planned to order room service, sit on my balcony, listen to the ocean waves and mull over the feedback I received earlier that day.

That morning, I had a meeting with “the agent.” The one I really wanted to meet. She’d read the first ten pages of my book, and I couldn’t wait to hear what she had to say. But when “the agent” began the conversation with “Here’s the thing…” I knew the appointment wasn’t going to end with an offer of representation.

And honestly, I didn’t expect that to happen, although I’ll admit I’d played the scenario in my head a few times. I think it’s important to allow myself to see what I’m aiming for… if I don’t let myself “go there” I’m never going to get there.

I left the meeting with thoughtful, constructive criticism. I’d come for that, too.

A change in plans:

Later that day, I met Beth, a writer and a true angel in my path. I sat beside her in a workshop, and at the end of the session, she turned to ask me a question and we ended up talking, long after the room had cleared out. She invited me to join her for dinner. “You know, I think I’ll go,” I decided.

And I’m so glad I did. Not only did dinner give me the laugh and the glass of wine I so desperately needed, it also led to a follow-up appointment with “the agent.” No stalking necessary. It happened so easily and naturally that before I had a chance to process, we’d made plans to meet again Sunday morning.

I left our second meeting understanding I have a story to tell. I have something important to say. Bottom line… I need to dig deeper. Turns out, digging deeper is right up my alley.

I recall being 21 and fresh out of college, eager to break into the TV news business. And, here I am 36 years old and I’m beginning again. Why on earth would I pursue this path when there are no guarantees? The answer to that question is the point. That’s the story I need to tell.

I hope you’ll join me on this crazy ride.

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