Xanthippe- Got a Bad Rap

April 28, 2016October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 20 Comments

I won’t lie; the letter X mystified me. I didn’t have a clue what to write – until I came across the word Xanthippe. What in the world is that, you ask?

Webster defines Xanthippe as an ill-tempered woman. She was also the wife of Socrates (5th-century bc ). Her allegedly bad-tempered behavior toward her husband made her the proverbial shrew.

I don’t know about you, but I’d wager Socrates had it coming. Can you imagine living with a Greek Philosopher? I’d be ill-tempered too.

Yep, we women can thank Socrates for creating the Socratic Method– “A form of cooperative, argumentative dialogue between individuals…” R-i-g-h-t. I can’t think of a better way to spend my evening than having a cooperative, argument with my husband (Not).

I can see it now. What woman wouldn’t want her husband throwing questions at her, like darts, on the pretense of stimulating critical thinking?

Not only did Socrates find his wife disagreeable, but he didn’t like her looks either, referring to her as “undesirable.” This from a man described by Plato ( one of his students) as “short and stocky, with a snub nose and bulging eyes, which always seemed to be staring.” I hate people who stare!

Seriously? Are you still wondering why Xanthippe had a bad temper? Not me.

My guess is she didn’t like Socrates debates, and he didn’t like her answers. Too bad. He’s lucky she didn’t kill him and write him into a parchment novel. Women sure do get a bad rap.

“By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll become happy; if you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher” Socrates. Tweet This.

Yeah, if you ask me, old Socrates had it coming.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, and Contently.

Victory Dance

April 26, 2016October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 14 Comments

Day 22 : #AtoZChallenge

http://www.photobucket.com

I realize we have four more posts before this #AtoZchallenge is complete but I am claiming victory, today. All remaining posts for this challenge are written and ready for their debut on the designated day. Hooray! I did it!

I’ve met a number of wonderful bloggers along the way, found great new sites loaded with valuable information, and made new friends. I wish I’d had time to visit every blogger who participated. Over the next few weeks I plan to visit as many as I can on the list.

Today, is my victory dance, tomorrow maybe yours, or perhaps the very last day of the challenge. Whichever day you claim – dance and be proud of yourself. We have written every day for 26 days!

Congratulations to everyone who participated and many thanks to Arlee Byrd for creating this challenge and to his team for being our cheerleaders.

Five Things I’ve learned from this challege:

Great minds think a like – when bloggers choose the same topic, I learned something new from each one.
Planning is the key – life has a way of interrupting when we least expect it but a good plan can save the day.
Accomplishments come with the right mindset and attitude.
I can write every day. It doesn’t have to be a blog post, but I can write. I’ve done it for 26 days.
Creative ideas and stories are all around us; sometimes they come from the simplist things. All we have to do is pay attention.

“A great accomplishment shouldn’t be the end of the road, just the starting point for the next leap forward.” Harvey Mackay. Tweet This

Here’s to our next leap forward! What about your experince with this challenge? Share them with us.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, and Contently.

Tweet this

April 23, 2016October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 28 Comments

Day 20: #AtoZChallenge

I’m sure you’re familiar with the, “Tweet This,”embedded quotes used on other blog sites. It’s a great way to get readers engaged in the content of your blog and to share it with others.

If you self host, you can use the Tweet This plugin, but these plugins only apply to self-hosted blogs and web sites that use the WordPress.org software.

For those of us on WordPress.com, there is a way around the plugins.

You can use HTML if you’re comfortable dealing with code (more about that here). Or, you could simply go to the website Click to Tweet.

Enter the quote you want shared into the box, click on “generate new link,” and the URL used for the anchor link to your quote will appear.

We’re heading into the last few posts for the #AtoZChallenge. It’s been an exciting and challenging month (no pun intended). When I signed up to do this challenge, I wasn’t certain I could post every day, but I’m a pretty determined woman. So for those of you who who been on this journey with me and see the light at the end of the tunnel, here’s a quote to keep your feet to the fire.

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” -Tommy Lasorda. Via @sheilamgood. Tweet This

What do you think? Like the idea of Click to Tweet?

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, and Contently.

Queries Can Make Your Knees Shake

April 20, 2016October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 17 Comments

Day 17 : #atozchallenge

Writing a query for the first time can make your knees shake and tremble, or so I’ve heard.

What is a query?

It is a letter of communication pitching either a short form or long form manuscript to a publisher or agent. Short forms include magazine articles, short stories, or poems. Long form – novels, screenplays, non-fiction books, or a collection.

What does a query include?

Essential components of a successful query should include these three things.

The hook – a one-sentence summary of the book.
The pitch – 2 to 3 paragraphs which support your hook and should include who (the protagonist), what (the conflict they face), where (setting), when (time frame), why (stakes) and resolution.
A bio – one paragraph or less, to describe your writing credits and platform.

I had the privilege of working on the query for my first novel with Luke Reynolds, author of Keep Calm and Query On (perfect title). His input and direction were invaluable.

Where to send it:

Finding the correct agency to send your query will take some research. You want to make sure you’re sending your query to the correct agency and agent. Visit Barnes & Nobles, the library or Amazon and check out books similar to yours. Knowing the competition is key to getting your query and book to the right person and place. And remember, always address the agent by name, never “To Whom it may concern.”

To find the agents best suited for your book, check out Writer’s Market and Land a Literary Agent

Are you ready to query? Want to know more about writing the perfect Query? Stay calm and check out these resources.

If you want to know more about Luke , check out his guest blog for the Cow Pasture Chronicles. You can check it out here: Walking the Walls of a Writer’s Life.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, and Contently.