No matter what your personal or business life has in store for you each day, don’t limit yourself to these “daily occurrences.” If you don’t train yourself to take notice of everything around you, a lack of ideas will soon be malady of day. Just think of it - there is wonder in warmth of sunshine, a million stories in a big city train station, and a poem is just resting in beauty of nature. Thoughts do have one bad habit though. They will not come to you if you are not receptive. They don’t open your mind for you - they just stroll in if door is open.

So put out that welcome mat - and let everyday life supply you with its wonder and its magic supply of ideas. You can pick and choose, but don’t let a day go by that life itself is not allowed entry. If you do close door, you will never know what great literary achievements could have surfaced on day you decided you were too busy to bother. Take each day as a new adventure, a clean slate, a storehouse of knowledge and wisdom. ENJOY! ©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 June 1

In all fairness, some content will resemble what others may have thought or put to paper, but this should be happenstance and not intentional. Your mind is beautiful in its own way, your thoughts are an indication of who you are, and so should your writing let others know what you believe in, and how you interpret world around you. If a reader wants a Hemingway story-line, then most assuredly, they will seek out Mr. Hemingway. But if they want to know more about anything, discover a new slant to an issue, or investigate new courses, then color their world with your insight, talent, and interpretations. Duplicating someone else's work is not a form of flattery, in essence, it is an insult to your own writing capabilities.

There are a lot of colors to choose from in our world, and as far as writing is concerned, supply of shades and tints is limitless. The only ceiling is one we put up when we tap into someone else's methods and musings. Definitely reading masters and learning from authors who are experts in their fields is one step to good writing, but challenge is to turn what you have learned into a whole new world. Give your readers gift of color, and you will have a willing audience for anything you write. Paint in shades of black and white and your words will fall on deaf ears. Shakespeare can never be duplicated, but he can be central point to a new realization or depiction. If you use someone else's words and thoughts then you will forever stand in shadows. As a writer, there is enough sunshine for everyone to stake claim to a place of their own. The color of your world is what readers are looking for. ©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 June