<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971107622436763257</id><updated>2011-11-27T15:20:47.835-08:00</updated><category term='Extraordinaries'/><category term='volunteerism'/><category term='nonprofit'/><category term='freelance'/><category term='inspiration'/><category term='writing'/><category term='Reviving Ophelia'/><category term='Mary Pipher'/><title type='text'>A Writer's Life</title><subtitle type='html'>Occasional musings by a freelance writer, working mom and passionate volunteer in Silicon Valley.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://annmariemeacham.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5971107622436763257/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://annmariemeacham.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Ann-Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10483851940885244848</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='25' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A5OFAxCcFfk/SreenLGJgwI/AAAAAAAAAAM/Xp37Kl6DwOE/S220/Meacham_Ann-Marie_2008.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>2</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971107622436763257.post-5174715222015623431</id><published>2009-11-14T20:33:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-11-15T10:08:55.398-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Mary Pipher'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Reviving Ophelia'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='inspiration'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='writing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='freelance'/><title type='text'>What Inspires You to Write?</title><content type='html'>A very wise woman responsible for the indispensable parent handbook, Reviving Ophelia, Mary Pipher, believes that the desire to write, that a ha moment when you know exactly what your going to say and how you’re going to say it, is like a muse that must be acknowledged whenever and however it presents itself.  No matter if I am doing the dishes or taking a bath or walking the dog.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My best story ideas usually dissipate with the bath water but I feel strangely drawn to the writing world these days and I am trying to appease the unknown presence in the universe that guides us and, for a change, listen to my god-given intuition.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Of course, I have many ideas, and leads and queries started, few completed.  I am not sure if my inability to finish a project is tied to my inability to finish my thoughts or simply the result of a life well lived.  Yes, I’m stalling – trying to remember what it was the muse wanted.  Did she want me to finish my dream job cover letter or my blog or my query to O.  In any case, as I listen as intently as I can to my soul, my wine glass is becoming increasingly empty and my stomach is growling.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I recently read that writer’s block isn’t so much that but rather other underlying issues that prevents us from completing our work.  It isn’t that your blocked but rather that you hate your current project, or your life, but that’s another issue.  And I can’t say for sure what exactly it is that I am destined to do with my gift to form a complete paragraph but I do not that I am drawn with such passion and desire to share myself with others, perhaps allow for a glimpse of my soul in hopes of catching a piece of theirs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How about you?  Why do you write? What inspires you?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5971107622436763257-5174715222015623431?l=annmariemeacham.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://annmariemeacham.blogspot.com/feeds/5174715222015623431/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://annmariemeacham.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-inspires-you-to-write.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5971107622436763257/posts/default/5174715222015623431'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5971107622436763257/posts/default/5174715222015623431'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://annmariemeacham.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-inspires-you-to-write.html' title='What Inspires You to Write?'/><author><name>Ann-Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10483851940885244848</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='25' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A5OFAxCcFfk/SreenLGJgwI/AAAAAAAAAAM/Xp37Kl6DwOE/S220/Meacham_Ann-Marie_2008.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971107622436763257.post-8465906890399993142</id><published>2009-09-21T21:41:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-21T21:58:12.851-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Extraordinaries'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='volunteerism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='nonprofit'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='writing'/><title type='text'>Volunteerism on the go!</title><content type='html'>If your to do list looks anything like mine, you are hard-pressed to find time for yourself let alone time to do good for another worthwhile cause.    A new program called "The Extraordinaries" delivers "micro" volunteer opportunities that busy people can execute while waiting at the doctor's office, sitting at the playground, or during your lunch hour.  By downloading this service for free to your phone, you can do good while carrying on with your crazy busy life.  Though many of us prefer a more personal experience, doing good, even virtually, is better than not doing anything at all.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5971107622436763257-8465906890399993142?l=annmariemeacham.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://annmariemeacham.blogspot.com/feeds/8465906890399993142/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://annmariemeacham.blogspot.com/2009/09/volunteerism-on-go.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5971107622436763257/posts/default/8465906890399993142'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5971107622436763257/posts/default/8465906890399993142'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://annmariemeacham.blogspot.com/2009/09/volunteerism-on-go.html' title='Volunteerism on the go!'/><author><name>Ann-Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10483851940885244848</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='25' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A5OFAxCcFfk/SreenLGJgwI/AAAAAAAAAAM/Xp37Kl6DwOE/S220/Meacham_Ann-Marie_2008.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
