Thursday Tale-Tellers Tattle – Writer Intros

Yes, another new thing!  A regular reader asked “Why are you doing different things than you’ve always done?”  I think it is a good question, so if any of my long-time followers (or new ones!) may be wondering the same, here’s the back story.

Taking to heed “Write what you know”, my focus for years has been my life, my experiences, and my thoughts on those things from the differing perspectives that I have as one person – but one person who has lived through a lot.   I write about some pretty heavy stuff here many times, and I plan to do some more of that over the next few months. A lot of times I make fun of myself (and every once in a while, others!). I share things about sustainable living, returning to the country and my excitement as I build my dreams on real foundations. What most of you don’t know is that I’m also concurrently working on other writing projects behind the scenes, and this is where I practice. Yes, you are all now Alphas!  I am working on two poetry projects, and two books, in addition to the writing that I do here on the two blogs, plus my photography.  Oh yeah, I work a full-time, on call nights, day job too J

Perhaps now the term ‘convent of creativity’ has more meaning for you.

But sometimes, it’s nice to think of other perspectives and writers, or, to shift the focus away from me. Think of it as someone introducing you to others that they know, or find interesting. Like a dreaded cocktail party, but you don’t have to leave the house!  Or even make small talk to people whose names you forget 15 milliseconds after you hear it. You can just click right on past if it doesn’t interest you. Good thing this doesn’t exist in the human interaction world, eh?  Can you imagine going to a party and each guest that you didn’t wish to interact with, you could just click past?  Like a remote for people. Or better yet, a business meeting!  That would shorten some meetings, when the drone-on person began.  Hm, I wonder how many people would click past me?  Food for thought…

There are some amazing artists, writers, and musicians in the world, and here on WordPress.  I’ve read a lot of others for many years here, and some for just a few months. Going forward each week, I’ll be spotlighting either a blogger that I’ve found here on WP that is new and shows promise, or an existing one you might not know, and also just other writers from the real world outside of WP – old and new.  Maybe you’ll find something you haven’t seen, or read someone you can identify with, or maybe someone that you can encourage.

This week’s focus is a group here on WordPress that I share a lot of commonality with, but unless you’re one of us, you might never see their stories – and they are stories that should be heard.  I will warn you that these  tales are sometimes quite graphic, and there is some language content to be aware of.

The Cut-Throat Club

http://cutthroatclubhouse.wordpress.com/the-birth-of-the-cut-throat-club/

While their tales are not light-hearted, they are very authentic, and they are a tough group of survivors, each employing different methodologies for their healing, in all different stages. There are multiple authors at the site, but The Club was started by this artist and survivor.

Americana Injustica

http://americanainjustica.wordpress.com/

Domestic violence is a huge, silent epidemic – many victims die, so their voices are never heard. DV affects men, women and children in life-long ways.  You may sit by a survivor at work, or live next door to one, ride the subway or train with one daily, smile at one in your place of worship, or, may even have one in your family, and not know it.  All forms of domestic violence do not leave visible scars and wounds.  Perpetrators learn to do hidden damage.  Even if one suspects, it is difficult to know what to do, and we all wish to avert our eyes. Most of the time, you will not suspect.  I don’t write these words to make you feel guilty, only to make you aware.  I can tell you that I started my first day at a Fortune 100 company years ago with fresh, visible bruises and not a soul suspected. I needed that job, and I certainly wasn’t going to jeopardize it by not showing up, or by showing instability. We are masters of disguise, grand illusionists, playing roles that would make the Oscars and Emmys pale in comparison. By the way, I kept that job, and was promoted four times in seven years, before leaving to try my hand at something else.

Many of you reading this might think, or even say out loud “Why doesn’t he/she/they just LEAVE?” It is okay, to think or even say that. Some of us do leave.  Some of us die trying.to leave  Some of us have no means to leave, or have small children – or both. If you think the survivors are great illusionists, wait until you meet the perpetrators.  It is difficult to understand if you’ve not been there, and I hope you never, ever are.  I am working on a future piece that explores this in-depth.

Please stop by these two sites, leave a note, see first-hand the real people behind the statistics you may have read – because we are everywhere, and we don’t fit the mold that you have in your head most of the time.

Something light, for a smile.  I LOVE this song.  It makes me smile every time I hear it. So, tap your foot, sing along (we can’t hear you!) and think about…simple things.

 

Stay tuned for Friday Fun tomorrow, to lighten the load of the seriousness of, well, real life.

~SE