Your Writing Mentor

Mary Knippel

Collaborating Creatively gave me Editor credit on a wedding advice book

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I attended my friend Fr. Miles O’Brien Riley’s book signing party yesterday under a gorgeous California sky in a beautiful lush garden. Fr. Miles officiated at over 2,000 weddings and needed to share his accumulated wisdom with as many brides as possible – not just the ones who sought him out. He knew what he wanted to say, but he also knew he needed help in crafting the message to deliver it in a way readers would feel they were receiving information and not a sermon. That’s how I came to have my first credit as an Editor for “It’s Your Wedding – Not Theirs!” Miles and I had a great working relationship – he put his thoughts down on paper, and I shaped them into targeted bullet points.  The book is short and to the point without a lot of over the top advice. The emphasis of the book is on brides putting their personality into the wedding and not what Hollywood, magazines or wedding planners dictate.

Writing and getting a book published is a long process. But if you are passionate about your subject and believe you have something to share, then it is well worth the effort.

Congratulations, Miles on a job well done! And, thank you for inviting me along on your amazing book jouney.

Writing about my Passion for Creativity

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Today I am practicing my homework for Pro Track. The course I am taking through the National Speakers Assn to help me become a better speaker. I am to present a 3-5 minute talk in front of my classmates – who are all on this track to either learn the myriad of details involved in becoming a speaker, or polishing their current abilities to a more proficient level.

Creating a talk I am passionate about on the subject of Creativity is not as much of a challenge for me as delivering it. That, however, will be both nerve wracking and exhilarating. I know while I am delivering my 447 words (remembering to use gestures, move around the platform, maintain eye contact, breathe and smile) it will be both the shortest and longest 3.5 minutes of my life. I also know that I will be so proud of myself for having taken on this undertaking of learning a new skill.

Learning the business of speaking (presentation, paperwork, and punctuality), calms and coordinates the raw materials (passion, purpose and panache) are what each of us as individuals bring to the platform.

Good Luck to all my fellow Pro Trackers as we learn and grow through the rest of the year!

 

 

Jump into Your Creativity this June

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Jump into Your Creativity this June.

Ah, June! Does it have you looking forward to transitioning from the routine of the school year to the carefree days of summer? Or, are the days of summer more of a challenge than a blessing with chaos from an overbooked schedule leaving you feeling anything but carefree. Instead longing for the reassurance of resuming a reliable schedule in September, let’s take advantage of this temporary freedom to create our own schedule.  Fill it with the magic of summer’s delights:   planting a colorful flowerbed/flower pot next to your front door; a weekday afternoon getting your feet wet at the beach (or park) when you can practically have the whole place to yourself; watching the 4th of July fireworks curled up on a comfortable blanket; taking a class to try your hand at a new skill, or enjoying the beautiful outdoors by taking in any number of concerts, festivals, or street fairs.

While there is a sense of security and a feeling of calm always knowing what to expect, it is good to shake things up once in a while. It gives us a chance to appreciate how good we have it when life is going along smoothly. My breast cancer diagnosis eight years ago really shook me up and made me step back and evaluate my life. I realized how much I could do to encourage my healing process with Creative activities.  Doing hands-on activities:  writing, planting flowers, painting a canvas, stenciling a wall, stamping a card, walking in nature, and even expanding my culinary abilities have all contributed to my well-being.

Summer is an excellent opportunity to expose your Wild side and become a little bit daring while not going over the edge. Try a new potato salad recipe, or bring mini Bundt cakes instead of brownies to the family picnic, visit a new exhibit at your favorite museum, attend your local Pumpkin/Garlic/Strawberry Festival, or indulge in an Ice Cream Sundae following the high school band concert.  I am especially looking forward to going to the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival in Golden Gate Park.

I wish you an absolutely delicious once-in-a-lifetime summer experience on your path to living a Simple Abundant Life.

Be well,

Mary

Creating a Texas wedding – Michelle-style

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Creating a Texas wedding – Michelle Style

 

 

With this ring Michelle and Travis are wed
With this ring Michelle and Travis are wed

On Memorial Day weekend family and friends gathered under a brilliant sky as blue as the state flower to help witness Michelle, my niece, and her beloved, Travis, exchange vows.  Michelle didn’t have to read “It’s Your Wedding – Not Theirs,” (the book I’d edited with Fr. Miles O’Brien) to have the confidence to make her own distinctive choices about the wedding. Everything was al a carte Michelle-Style.  She chose a beautiful location in the country where she wasn’t tied to a specific florist, caterer, DJ or printer. I was even included in the preparations when the mother of the bride, my baby sister, Joyce, called to ask me to come early from California to Texas so that I could help with the flowers. We were continuing a family tradition of sisters helping sisters prepare for their weddings. When Joyce got married, silk flowers were very popular and I made all the flowers for her wedding. Joyce has the bridal bouquet I made for her on display next to her wedding picture. I have the basket I carried as a bridesmaid in my home next to a shot on that day of all the sisters posed in the church where we all were baptized, made our first communion and confirmed.

 

 

 

Michelle's wild wedding flowers
Michelle's wild flower wedding

It was quite a heady, not to mention fragrant, experience being able to choose among the varieties available for the bouquets and boutonnieres. Deciding what to buy didn’t seem to be a problem for Michelle. “I like anything that’s different and colorful,” she told us as we stood in the Flower Farm Barn. That’s how the guys ended up wearing a Texas Thistle instead of a rosebud. And that’s how we ended up with her bride’s bouquet consisting of: Hydrangeas with powder blue tips, white Iris, hot pink Gerbera Daisies, deep blue Orchids, burgundy Peonies, pale green Phlox, pink Tuberosa and Queen Anne’s Lace. All of the five bridesmaid’s bouquets were whimsical and colorful hand-tied works of art. A riot of wild flower color and greenery adorned the tables at the reception and surrounded the wedding party during the ceremony.

 

 

 

It was a beautiful day full of love and joy. I’m so glad I can say I had a very small part in helping create the finishing details. I’ll cherish the sweet memories and wish the young couple all the best as they start their married life together.

Create a Mothering Spirit Within Yourself!

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Living a Simple Abundant Life – May 2009

Create A Mothering Spirit Within Yourself!

As I watched my daughter drizzle glaze on a fresh batch Poppy Seed Muffins for my Mother’s Day brunch, I marveled at how far we’d come since our first Mother’s Day together. It was a double blessing in that we also celebrated her baptism that second Sunday of May 1984. I was awash with emotions as I held my infant because I was thrilled to at last be able to perform that simple, yet oh so significant, act. There was a time when I was afraid I’d never hear someone call me Mommie.

Mary and Tess on our 1st Mother's Day May 1984
Mary and Tess on our 1st Mother's Day May 1984

Five years of questions and tests, interviews and forms, wondering and waiting, our infertility diagnosis was resolved with adoption. On April 10, 1984 my husband and I entered Catholic Charities as an anxious couple. We emerged with a beautiful baby girl. Our new little family fulfilled my life long dream.

If this May hasn’t brought you breakfast in bed, sweets, or a fragrant bouquet, it’s not too late to provide those things for yourself. While it is true we would like to receive them from others as an outward sign of their love, respect and appreciation for us, the reality is they don’t think to do it. You can satisfy your need to be comforted and nurtured by taking care of yourself. Start small because I know this is a hard concept for many women to grasp. We are not used to being on the receiving end of such gestures. Soak up the afternoon sun for 15 minutes before school gets out, rent a DVD and spend the afternoon lost in your favorite celluloid fantasy with a big bowl of popcorn, or perhpas buy yourself some flowers along with the weekly groceries.

Take time to mother yourself; it will yeild positively spectacular results!