Japan Struck By Massive Quake and Tsunami

03/14 By Leave a Comment

My heart goes out to the people of Japan, and to all those who have loved ones who are still missing. I’ve been blogging about the unfolding disaster on the Fierce Planet web site. The devastating destruction of the 8.9 quake and tsunami has been catastrophic.  So many lives lost and so many still unaccounted for. With aftershocks, fires, and nuclear power plant malfunctions added to the chaos, Japan is in absolute turmoil. Officials are still assessing the damage and sadly the death toll continues to rise.

Japan 2011 Quake and Tsunami (AP) JAY ALABASTER and TODD PITMAN

The USGS reports that more than 124 aftershocks of magnitude 5 or higher have rattled Japan since the big one. Thousands have been evacuated and sent to temporary shelters. I’ve also blogged on my Grant Whisperer web site about Network for Good, the organization accepting online donations for those of you interested in making a contribution to one of the many emergency responders such as the American Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders.

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My Book Is Here!

02/02 By Leave a Comment

I’m excited to announce that my book, Grant Writing 101, has finally arrived! I wrote this book because so many of my friends who volunteer at, or work for, nonprofits would ask me for grant writing advice. While I could offer them a few tips, I realized they needed to know more if their organizations were to have long-term success. With this book I could give them more than advice, secret tips, and encouragement. I could share my guerilla tactics for grantwriting survival. And now any nonprofit or community group can have this knowledge for their organization, too! This guidebook covers all the basics of writing a grant proposal to help nonprofits raise much-needed funds. It takes you step by step and explains terms, gives real world examples, and talks in plain English.

While there’s plenty of advanced tips and techniques for veteran grantwriters, the book is also meant to simplify the grant process for first-timers. Want to know where to begin? Want to know what to do while you’re waiting to hear? I even include what to do if your proposal is rejected, and equally important, what to do if your proposal is approved. Click on the Grant Writing 101 book image to order your copy today. Or stop by your favorite bookstore in person. Pass it on to your favorite charity organization.

My Book Is Here!

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I Met A Maasai Warrior

01/23 By Leave a Comment

I had the honor of meeting a Maasai warrior during his recent visit to Silicon Valley. Sabore Ole Oyie, made an impression on me with his humor, storytelling ability, majestic qualities, and quiet strength.  Enjoying the conversation of our small gathering, I felt in the presence of royalty. He told us about growing up in his village in Kenya, and his mission to preserve the Maasai culture while advocating for the tribal villagers, particularly girls, to receive education.

Sabore, Victoria, and Hellen

Sabore, Victoria, and Hellen

As an ambassador, he helps promote tourism in Kenya and has traveled to Japan, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden and the United States. However, Sabore continues to live in the traditional ways, including wearing the traditional Maasai clothing, carrying hand-made weapons for hunting and self-defense against lions and elephants, and living in a hut made from sticks and dung.

Sabore brought with him, Hellen, another ambassador of their tribe. They both talked about the importance of education and learning so that their community can be stronger and healthier. Hellen was in the Bay Area raising funds for her charity organization, Asante Africa.

I thought about Sabore and Hellen long after the visit ended.  I was struck by both the simplicity and complexity of their lives.  Their stories had enchanted me but I worried about the tribe’s challenges and wondered what I could do to help.  Spreading the word about Asante Africa and the work this organization does is one way I can make a tiny difference.  Click on the link above and see if you are touched as well.

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Blog Talk Radio Debut!

12/11 By 1 Comment

I wanted to let readers of this blog know that I launched an Internet radio show! You can now find a weekly installment of the Grant Whisperer on Blog Talk Radio!

Who is the Grant Whisperer?

There’s a clue over to your right… under Victoria’s Other Sites.

It’s Me! It’s been fun and exciting to host my own show. You have the option of listening live on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. pacific standard time, or listening to the recorded program at any time. The Grant Whisperer radio show (and blog) helps community organizations and nonprofits get through these challenging economic times by offering grantwriting advice and tips. Visit the Blog Talk Radio web site to see the Grant Whisperer’s schedule. My debut program on December 1st covered The Three R’s of Grantwriting and this episode is available for you to hear now. Other episodes include:  If Walt Disney Were A Grant Writer. Pass the word on to your friends who work at any community organizations that needs to raise funds.

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What’s Under Your Tree This Christmas?

12/05 By Leave a Comment

As we begin our holiday list making, it’s a good time to remember to add books. No matter the age and interests of those on your gift list, there are no doubt a wide variety of books to choose from. And don’t forget to add books on your own wish list.

The Romance Writers of America (RWA) has officially launched a “Shop Bookstores This Season” campaign, encouraging their members to support bookstores and purchase books this Christmas. According to the RWA web site, “During the excitement of the holiday season, bookstores offer shoppers the perfect opportunity to select some remarkably personal gifts for friends and family.”

I agree that books make a great gift. Each year there are at least a couple of books under my tree. Fiction, non-fiction, children’s, and poetry. This year will be no different for the Johnson household. How about you? Can you add a book or two to your shopping list?

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What I Loved About Elementary School

12/05 By 1 Comment

A couple of years ago, CompassPoint.org took a poll of it’s visitors, asking them to identify what skills they learned in elementary school that they continue to use today, and what features of grade school they wished carried over to adult life. The results were nostalgic:

Of skills most often used in adult life, 50% of respondents said spelling and grammar skills, 28% said learning how to play nice with others, 11% said how to calculate percentages, 6% said how to dodge things coming at you, and 6% said how to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. On which feature of grade school respondents most wished carried over into work life, 59% want recess, 18% want field trips, 6% want bake sales, 6% want slumber parties, 6% liked knowing when your work was finished, and 6% liked the more structured exercises in personal affirmation that took place in school, but that don’t happen in real life.

Field trips and recess—I loved those days. Didn’t you? And I’m surprised only 6% identified ‘like knowing when your work was finished’ as a feature they missed. Today my work seems never to end. Projects just kind of blend into one another to seem like one long project. Only the grantwriting I do has a sense of completion. That is unless I have overlapping deadlines.

(I searched the CompassPoint site to find the poll, but it is no longer there).

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What Are You Grateful For?

11/27 By Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving is that time of year when we pause for a moment to reflect on aspects of our lives that we are thankful for. It’s a shame we don’t find time to make reflection a part of our regular daily routines, but we’re busy people, right?

An author I met, Derek Rydall, recently sent an email message to those of us on his email list. I found it inspiring and wanted to share a portion of it with you. He titled his article, What You Appreciate… Appreciates. In it, Derek suggests that we try to become more aware of what we are grateful for and he makes a great case for us to count our blessings.  “This isn’t just a nice thing to do, it’s a powerful practice that can radically transform your life on every level. The reason is that what you appreciate…appreciates. What you give thanks for expands,” says Derek. He believes that focusing our attention on positive things will bring more positive energy and experiences into our lives. And focusing on negative aspects will bring us more negativity. “When you live in a state of gratitude, you create the fertile conditions for your greater potential to unfold, because you literally become the kind of person you would be if that potential came true.”

Among other things he encouraged his readers to make four lists. One list Derek titled: Successes/Achievements… and another, I’m capable of / I can… These two lists were great to bring about reflection, and more importantly they inspired action by affirming what we can ‘do’ in the direction of our goals and dreams. Give them a try. To see the other lists and read the complete article, visit his site at www.derekrydall.com

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What Writers Can Learn From American Idol

05/25 By Leave a Comment

In case you haven’t heard, American Idol is a popular reality program on TV. While watching recently, I realized there are some comparisons with the show and writing. Here’s what writers can learn from watching American Idol:

1. Many of the people who want to be singers have absolutely no talent. Watch the audition episodes if you don’t believe me. While those contestants deserve kudos for having the courage to give it a shot, they are clearly not ready for the big leagues. They thankfully get weeded out rather quickly. It’s the same with writers. Many people who claim they want to be writers lack patience, which appears as a lack of talent. I’m not saying that to be mean. You know people who boasted they whipped out their novel over their two-week vacation. Not that you can’t write a good draft in two weeks. But a draft isn’t meant to be seen in public. It needs time and editing and crafting. Everyone wants to write a novel and there are those who send out their work before it’s ready. The publishing system weeds out most of them.

2. If you believe the contestants in their backstage interviews, successful singers sing to improve their craft. They didn’t just drop out of a turnip truck. They practiced the art of singing. Hmm… surely you’ve heard the phrase, writers write. Writing is how writers practice and improve their craft.

3. Idol contestants, through the course of the episodes, also take risks, they challenge themselves with their song choices, and they listen to the experts brought in to offer tips. Writers should take risks, too. Write outside your comfort zone once in awhile and see what happens. It never hurts to bring in experts of your own, either by going to a conference or workshop or reading an article or a writing book. Then put what you learn into practice. See item #2.

american idol for writers

IMPA Awards

4. It’s obvious that singers need more than talent. Just as with writers, they need that something extra to make them stand out. I think it is creativity, a unique voice, and self-knowledge that give both singers and writers that spark.

5. Cream rises to the top. It really does. Just as you watch one contestant after another sing and you think they’re pretty good, one comes along who knocks your socks off and you’re surprised and you’re thrilled. Suddenly the other singers don’t seem all that good anymore. Readers want to be surprised and thrilled, too. It’s not enough to write a good book. You have to knock their socks off.

6. When judges say you have no artistic ability or you should quit, you need to shake it off and persevere. Three of the most popular American Idol contestants did not win on the show! Jennifer Hudson went on to win an Oscar for her singing and acting in Dreamgirls. Chris Daughtry came in fourth but has the third highest record sales of any Idol contestant. Clay Aiken has starred on Broadway and enjoyed multiplatinum success with his debut album. What if these contestants had given up after the judges sent them packing?  And get this, Hillary Scott, now a lead singer for Lady Antebellum, tried out for American Idol, twice, but didn’t even make it past the preliminary rounds to be on the show!  What if she had quit before she got started?  As you may know, Lady Antebellum has numerous hits, platinum singles, and kicked butt with 5 Grammy Awards at the 53rd Grammy’s.

What the American Idol contestants can teach us writers is that no matter what happened on the show, they continued to pursue their dream. Just as some of them will never have a hit record, some of us will never get published. But in this day and age we have options. Singers can upload their songs on iTunes or YouTube. We writers can self-publish or e-publish. Let America decide, rather than a few judges or editors.

 

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Current Works-In-Progress

05/18 By Leave a Comment

I just attended a great blogging Meetup with guest speakers from Google.  Wow!  There is a lot to learn about this blogging universe. It’s all very exciting. I’m meeting great people, professional bloggers and would-be bloggers. Some new to it, like me. Everyone is passionate about their topic and eager to share their knowledge and experiences with the world. I’m raring to go but I have a book deadline that I need to concentrate on. Once I turn in my manuscript I’ll be able to join the blogging community in full force.

My current works-in-progress are a grant writing non-fiction book for McGraw-Hill. It’s coming along nicely and I hope this book will help non-profits everywhere make it through these challenging economic times. This project is so important to me that I put my fiction projects aside to give it my full attention. Meanwhile my latest short film project, Still Life, is complete and has been entered in several film festivals. Click on the Still Life links to the right to find out more.

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