My Mother would be so proud. . . .

I've joined something called "The Writer's Table" at our local public library.  I found out about it purely by chance when I was attempting to pay a significant late fee on the 600+ page book I just finished reading for my book club's next meeting.  (I am not a slow reader but I do have a life to lead and that was a helluva long book.) 

Waiting in line late Tuesday afternoon, money in hand, I picked up a flyer about the group and realized it took place that very evening.  You can't say I don't make quick decisions.

Our leader is Jane whose day job is Children's Librarian at my branch library. Not to worry, we are all adults around the table, at least so far.  When I arrived at 6:30, Jane was sitting with a youngish man named Mark, an English and math teacher/tutor I learned, and a budding novelist and blogger with his first book well underway. Next came Adrienne, also an educator in real life, followed by Lolly and Teresa, the latter currently crafting a fascinating website titled the pixelandtheegg.com.

Writing a book is a solitary commitment.  I've often thought about writing one over the years,but somehow never got around to it even though writing has been a major part of my business life and still keeps me in the pr/advertising loop.  In all honesty, I think I am intimidated about the whole idea.  I really hate failing.

Maybe this Writer's Table group will give me a new perspective on the subject.   Don't expect Hemingway or even Danielle Steele.  More like a pale immitation of Dave Barry if he was born a female and spent the last fifty years as a pr maven.

By the way, while I was being sarcastic in the headline of this blog, my Mother actually was an excellent writer all her life.  I am quick to credit my "writer's gene" to her. . .it is truly the gift that keeps on giving.  Thanks, Mom.
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Photo:  Coconut Grove Branch, Miami Dade Public Library

I'm practicing my "neutral face":. . . .

I read an article recently about the importance of working on your "neutral face". For those of you going "What????" at this point, that's your face when you are not smiling or talking or animated in any way. I just decided mine tends to be kind of grim. Who knew. I challenge you to sit in front of a mirror and check out yours. While I know I have a really good smile (see attached photo), in"neutral" I decided I tend to look like I am either worried, ate something unpleasant, or am just plain mad. I think that's why I have taught myself (unknowingly) to always smile when my photo is being taken, because I never like the way I look when I don't. So why do I care, you ask? Because according to the article, your "neutral face" makes all the difference in how you are perceived in both business and social occasions. People tend to be more receptive to those with pleasant neutral faces. The kind of face where the mouth's outer edges turn up instead of down. Geez, I wonder how I managed to get along in the public relations biz all those years with such a sour puss. Seriously, I do believe as you mature your face loses some of its pleasant look just by virture of gravity on the facial muscles. The article makes it very clear that it pays dividends to work on your "neutral face", particularly when you are in a business situation where you are seeking acceptance for some new idea, or in a social situation where you are meeting people for the first time. Serious has its place in certain situations, to be sure, like maybe when you are accepting the Nobel Prize, but for the most part pleasant offers a better payoff. Let me know how you make out with the mirror test and I promise to be smiling the next time we meet. # # # Photo caption: Smile, Joan, you're on Candid Camera