Artist's Prayer

Today, I offer the Artist's Prayer.  The author is unknown, but greatly appreciated. 
O Great Creator,
Allow me to be of greater service to you and others.
I offer myself to you as an instrument.
I welcome your guidance and ideas.
I trust that you will lead me.
I trust that it is safe to follow you.
I know you created me with intent. 
I ask that you unfold my life, according to your plan.
Please allow my words on paper and in voice to help others.
Help me to believe it is not too late and that I am not too flawed to be healed.
Make me whole.
Help me to create as an act of worship to you. 

Procrastination

Where has the summer gone? When we re-vamped our Web site, a staff member suggested adding a blog. She said, "C'mon JP! You're a writer!" As is obvious, I have been remiss about posting regularly. I've been so focused on editing some fabulous books and articles, and creating Web sites for truly talented folks that my blog got pushed to the back, back burner. I had agreed to post quarterly. But then, March became September... very quickly. Like most writers, I, too, fall prey to procrastination. Today I decided to re-commit and share a short story via a post. One of "our" writers is a professor at the University of Richmond. She is, of course, incredibly busy and very bright. She has a full schedule of teaching and is also tending to her family: a husband and two sweet daughters, while writing her first book. As her writing coach and editor, I had to devise a way to keep her moving forward with writing the book, while still allowing "real life" to "get in the way." (smile) Instead of feeling pressured to write chapters, I asked her to respond to two questions each week. We'll take her responses, organize them, and then turn them into chapters. It will happen--step by step. So, if you can't seem to maintain your momentum on a (writing) project, break your assignment(s) into smaller, more manageable ones and proceed--with consistency, daily. It's harder to procrastinate if you convert big tasks into smaller ones. Her book is now coming along quite nicely. And importantly, we are having fun in the process. If you can relate, consider reading Anne Lamott's book, Bird By Bird. It's time for me to re-read that as well...

Welcome to the blog for JP Payne and Associates, Inc - a writing consultancy

Welcome to the blog for JP Payne and Associates, Inc.--a writing consultancy based in Ashland, Virginia.  From time to time, we will offer updates on our services, review books and articles, share quotes and ideas, and mention what’s intriguing us these days.

In this challenged economic climate with high levels of unemployment, we are especially grateful to confess that we LOVE our jobs!  That may sound corny, but it’s true.  All of our consultants have a love of language and we get really ramped up about helping folks share their ideas. 

We offer a wide variety of turnkey services.  We will edit your work.  We will write your story and give you the by-line.  We will coach you, teach you, and advance your skill sets.  We will help get your book published or typeset and publish it for you.  We will give your resume new splash and help you find the perfect career.  There are so many ways we can help you promote your concept and yourself.

We’d like to share some quotes with you that we think are worth consideration:

“It’s like thinking something for a long time you can’t put into words.  One day you write it down.  You always have it after that.” Lillian Smith

“Make a habit of listening to the language that people in your inner circle use on a regular basis.  The words we select and the attitude in which we express them reveals our consciousness, which ultimately determines our results.  Be careful.  Consciousness is contagious.” Steve Siebold

“Writing is a way of knowing, a process of discovering connections amid the chaos of sensation, shaping a coherence through acts of language.” Lil Brannon

“Why not go out on a limb?  Isn’t that where the fruit is?” Frank Scully

“You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” Kahlil Gibran