Welcome to a Blog Hop!

Hello, and welcome to a blog hop – a post in which I answer a few Qs and then recommend other bloggers. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

1. Why do I write what I do? I write about graceful living, civility, communication, and spirituality (while knowing it’s a work in progress—some days better than others!). Why do I write about it? Because I believe writing taps something in each of us, and by sharing it, we can plant seeds for change. And often I think through my fingers! There’s something meditative about typing. Give me a laptop, a pot of tea and an afternoon of classical music in the background (Pedro Grafino), and I could solve the Mid-East Peace Process. Or not.

2. How does my writing differ from others in its genre? A lot of people write about happiness or kindness—and more power to them! But while grace can encompass elements of both, it is a little different. Dare I say, it’s almost a finer, more discreet quality that we all possess, but which is less readily identified: it whispers its presence, rather than jumps out at us.

3. Tell us about your writing process.  It depends on the format. Blog posts can be inspired by a passing comment, a news piece, or even a color. They bubble up and are offered in a way that I’d like to think is crafted (!), but not belabored, so as to retain a little spontaneity. On the other hand, writing a book requires a more ordered outline, and adherence to format in the way you blend anecdotes, insights, statistics or research to convey your perspective. Remember how you drew a sun in first grade? It was a big circle, with “rays” extending out. That’s how I brainstorm. I wrote my book title in the circle, and then drew the lines, each with a different idea at the end of it. Then I grouped similar themes, and my chapter outlines began to stare back at me. When I got tired, I’d challenge myself to write for just five minutes.

 4. What am I working on/writing?  My next book! Watch this space!

Check out these great bloggers! [Disclosure: I know and admire each of these dynamic, talented women.]

Francie Low

 Francie Low: www.shoezle.com

 Francie writes funny, witty posts about motherhood, fashion and frustrations on her blog shoezle.com, so named by her hubby as a polite nod to Francie’s passion for shoes.  Shoezle was named in the Top 25 Blogs of Norcal in 2013.  She’s the mother of two teen boys with yin and yang personalities and married to a cycling afficianado and anything-organic enthusiast. Francie was featured twice on KQED radio’s “With a Perspective” and has written for LiteraryMama.com and The Contra Costa Times.  Francie was cast in the San Francisco 2014 Listen to Your Mother show. She loves anyone Francis/Frances, especially the new Pope Francis.