Archery

I belong to an archery club and we met up yesterday at the range.  It had been a while since we had an event and it was good to see them again.  This a great club because everyone is friendly and their energy is wonderful to be around.  I shoot a left handed recurve bow with a 25 pound draw weight.  However, my goal was always to shoot a long bow (think Robin Hood).  Long bows tend to come in heavier draw weights and when I started out, I was pulling at 20 pounds.  So I had to work my way up by developing my strength.

 

My friend Paola has been shooting an English long bow for a while and when I expressed my wishes to her, she let me try out her 30 pound long bow.  I was able to successfully pull the full draw weight and shoot.  I’m not a marksman and am glad when I hit any part of the target, but the fact that I was shooting a long bow had me on cloud nine.

I’m so excited and can’t wait to purchase my own.  One of the wonderful aspects of being a member of this club is its members, like Paola.  From the first day I joined, she has been friendly and welcoming and has shared her equipment with me.  She’s a great person and I’m glad that I met her along with all the other members of our club.  They’re the best!

Saving my pennies for an English long bow has been added to my to-do list, and hopefully by the summer I’ll be tagging along with one of my own.

Gratitude

Like most people who dedicate themselves to writing, I have a small network of friends that I trust with my work. Sometimes we are so busy with day-to-day life, our writing projects, and our daytime jobs that - although it’s ever present in our minds & hearts - we don't get the opportunity to say thanks. Today, I'm taking a little time from my busy schedule to say Thanks to a few special people in my life.

First and foremost, I want to say Thanks to:

• Paulette Bennett: Screenwriter, Novelist & good friend. She was the very first person to encourage me to write; who believed in me even when I didn't, and still does. Thank you Paulette.

• Joyce Pillot: Friend and Beta Reader. Joyce is always willing to put her work aside and make time to read the latest chapter of my novel or Flash Fiction I've written. She connects with the characters and always asks me to write more! Thank you Joyce.

• Tom Newsome: Friend, Beta Reader and Copy Editor. Tom is my guy-best friend and has been there for me for a long time. He listens to my ideas, counsels me when I'm not sure in which direction I should go with my writing, and edits my work helping me make my writing stronger. Thank you Tom.

• Melissa Cohen: Friend. Melissa is very practical in her approach when it comes to me and my writing. When I cry that I have writer's block, Melissa says: “Don't stress about it. Just Write”. When I complain about plot or characters and what to do, Melissa says: “Write, just write. Stop stressing. Write about your day. Whatever you do, just write”. Thank you Melissa.

• Maria Holland: Friend, Avid Reader. Maria is a good friend who sends me e-mails with words of praise and encouragement. She appreciates a good story and I’m happy that she likes the ones I write. Thank you Maria.

All of you have consistently been supportive of my writing and I’m glad you’re all in my life.