Social Media: Connections From Near & Far

Though I find it odd to speak to a camera and release the recording for anyone who happens to come across it, I have been posting two videos per day on Instagram and TikTok since July 1st, 2022 (@author.afsgreen). 

This photo was graciously provided by dole777 on Unsplash

I post one video about my existing publications — including seven issues of Second Draft Journals — and one video that serves as a book recommendation every day. Much to my surprise, I’ve received a few comments from bestselling authors! Lisa Genova (author of Still Alice and Every Note Played), Michelle Good (author of Five Little Indians), Alka Joshi (author of The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper Of Jaipur), and Cheryl Diamond (author of Nowhere Girl), liked and commented on my reels (I post the videos on both platforms, but I received their comments on Instagram). How extraordinary that accomplished women listened to my comments and reached out to me from near and far! 

A Shift In Social

I’m enjoying connecting with people online, but it’s strange to think about how things have changed. There was a time when no one would use their real name or show their face, and now, it seems to be the thing to do.

I wonder what our ancestors would think about such connectivity? Even those who worked in publishing pre-internet or in the Golden Age of Hollywood would be blown away by the fact that we can reach out to those who inspire us and whom we admire around the clock. It really is extraordinary. 

For all the negativity that surrounds social media (yes, there is a lot of it) and our reliance on technology, instant connectivity is the obvious silver lining.

What is your favourite social media platform?

*The image used in this blog post was generously provided by dole777 on Unsplash.

**This blog post also appears on The Write Results.

Toastmasters: Pass the Mic

Before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, I wrote the below short story inspired by the speech competitions that occur at every level of Toastmasters. (Our district competition was cancelled due to COVID-19, which was a wise decision.)

I’ve been a member of two different Toastmasters groups throughout the years. (If you’re unfamiliar, Toastmasters is an international non-profit organization that provides its members with the opportunity to develop their public speaking and leadership skills. )

To my fellow Toastmasters — regardless of where you are — this story is for you.


Pass the Mic

Clammy palms and a long exhale before walking out on stage. This is not my first speech competition, not by a long shot. 

You would think that I am an experienced speaker: that people pay attention to my words and gestures; that my storytelling techniques are always on point; that everyone waits with bated breath when I pause. But you’d be wrong. 

In fact, I can’t speak at all. I am merely the microphone that helps to amplify your message.

As tens of thousands of Toastmasters prepare to compete in speech contests, I wait in storage, reflecting on the contestants and the countless speeches I’ve heard over the years. From the novice speaker, who was encouraged by a mentor to participate in their very first club competition, to the seasoned Toastmaster, who looks forward to competing at the highest level. As an accomplished speaker, they look back fondly to the early days when nerves rattled them; their voice was shaky, heartbeat raced, and the pounding of their pulse felt as though it radiated through their very fingertips.

Of the many speakers I’ve assisted throughout the years, they’ve all had a message to share, a story to tell. Though I amplify their words for but a moment, they create a lasting impact that will live in the memories of those who hear it. Whether it’s a moment of laughter that reverberates off the walls, scoffs of disbelief, or gasps of surprise that unite a crowd, I take great pride in knowing that I contributed to the success of these speakers in some small way. 

After all, I helped their message reach a person in the back of the room; a person who hadn’t expected to be moved, but they resolve to make changes in their life because of something said. Because they heard. Because they felt akin to an experience illuminated in a speech so carefully crafted and practiced by the dedicated Toastmaster on stage. 

I wish I could amplify my own message. If I could, I would remind you of our history and how far we’ve come. Throughout the decades, our membership has grown to include women and people of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, ability, sexual orientation, and creed, which signals progress, marking important societal shifts. 

Even if figuratively speaking, the mic is passed from Toastmaster to Toastmaster in clubs around the world. Each member is a gatekeeper to their unique story or perspective that has the power to make a lasting impression, to alter perception, and shake loose stagnant thought. 

So tell a tale. Use your voice. It is yours to employ as you inspire, entertain, lead, and educate. 

If you’re ever told to keep quiet, I’ll be there to raise the volume and amplify your voice.


If you liked the above, you would really enjoy:

🇨🇦 Musings of a Masterpiece

A work of art narrates its journey through time in this short story. 

In the centuries since its creation, it has witnessed the joy of love and companionship, the heartache of loss, and hardship. Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but what if the masterpiece you so admire silently muses at the countless wonders of humanity?

🇺🇸: Amazon.com users, click here.

🇬🇧: Amazon.co.uk users, click here.


Amber Green is a self-published Canadian author and freelance writer. Her short stories can be found here: www.amazon.com/author/ambergreen


© 2020 Amber Green

Chair Observes Virtually Inexplicable Desertion (Where did you go?)

My feet remain bolted to the floor. My legs, back, and seat stiff and unforgiving. 

I’ve never sat vacant for so long. 

I look straight ahead and survey the perpetual stillness. The chairs in the stands across the stadium — directly across from me — are just as empty. They are fellow chairs that were produced in the same factory as me, but who were manufactured too far down the line to cross paths; we were installed too far away from one another to ever have a meaningful conversation. We are at once kin and complete strangers.

As any stationary object, our only hope is that we prove useful to humans and that our neighbouring chairs are not a total bore.

I got lucky. The chairs around me — my friends and family, my brothers and sisters — help me pass the time as we recall the many moments that humans sat upon us, spilling pop and beer and nacho cheese. As chairs, we accept that our mission is to assist you when you want (or need) to take a seat- and yes, the fact that “ass” is in “assist” is considered a fortunate, if not cheeky, play on words.

When the silence began, one of my neighbouring chairs took the opportunity to complain about the goth kids in decades past who had chains hanging from their clothes. They scratched the hard plastic of his seat- their zippers in places that didn’t make sense to any of us. (But then what do we know about fashion?)  Another chair joined in as we commiserated; she reminded us about the ridiculousness and prevalence of body glitter years ago. That was a rough time for all of us, as glitter is a shimmering inescapable mess if you’re a chair made of plastic. Alas, we can’t partake in your trends (or understand them completely); we can merely observe. 

Call me a masochist, but I quite like the small heart that a young rebel in love carved into the left side of my seat when on a date with a young lady. He returned with that same woman years later and proposed in this very stadium. Though they didn’t sit in my section, I watched on the big screen above the court as the man got down on one knee and the young woman accepted his proposal through happy tears. The applause of thousands of strangers who surrounded them thundered throughout. Though these people shared in the joy of this couple’s happy moment, I’ll never forget the way they kissed as if they were not among strangers, for at that moment, he saw only her and she him. 

The little boy whom I assisted that evening had no idea that the heart he traced as he sat through the proposal — waiting patiently for the game to restart — was carved by the man on the screen some years before. I wish I could have told him about the significance of that heart, but that’s not a chair’s place.

Like this little boy, it’s always a joy to see young children accompany their sports-loving family to the most anticipated game of the time. It doesn’t matter the sport; the fanfare, camaraderie, and the love of the game is exuberantly passed down, from generation to generation. Bearing witness to this transfer of tradition is what I’m missing most- when parents explain the game to their wide-eyed kids; children cheer and imitate the adults around them as they offer their own commentary to the delight of the fans surrounding them.

The quiet days have turned into weeks. I yearn for the applause, the laughter, the jeers, the chants, and the boos. Humans are strange, I think to myself. Perhaps we will never understand you. Then again, perhaps it’s not my place.

After all, you left with no warning. I hope everything’s okay, though I know deep in my bolts that you’re facing something extraordinary.

We sit abandoned, dutifully waiting for life to return to normal. In addition to the empty stadium, I wonder what else is left unused? Empty airports, empty schools, office buildings, and museums- structures made to enrich your lives wait for your return. Stationary objects everywhere are holding up our end of the bargain; we only hope that you do what you have to do so life as we know it can once again resume. 

The silence is eerie. Wherever you are, I’m sure you feel it too. 

You probably didn’t realize how social you were until you disappeared. Whatever you’re going through — for however long it takes — perhaps when life returns to normal, you’ll appreciate the little things a little more. 

If I ever have the opportunity to assist you, perhaps standing from your seat to allow someone to pass while you’re gathered at the stadium won’t be such an inconvenience. I wonder- will you offer a stranger a kind word or a smile a little faster than you used to before the silence? 

Will this time inspire you to look up from your screens and experience the beauty of the world and appreciate the moments that you have? (It’s not too late to start now.) Wherever you are, I can only imagine that your phones are with you, as I rarely see you without them. Maybe when you come back, you’ll make an effort to record the special moments in your memory rather than through the lens of a smartphone. 

With all of that said, maybe I’m off my rocker to think that humans would take advice from a chair, but if you haven’t stood up and walked away, consider that while a chair’s mission is to assist humans, perhaps a human’s mission should be to assist other humans too.

Until I can finally assist you again, wherever you are, I invite you to take a seat. Take a moment. Take a breath. Take some time.


If you liked the above, you would really enjoy:

🇨🇦 Musings of a Masterpiece

A work of art narrates its journey through time in this short story. 

In the centuries since its creation, it has witnessed the joy of love and companionship, the heartache of loss, and hardship. Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but what if the masterpiece you so admire silently muses at the countless wonders of humanity?

🇺🇸: Amazon.com users, click here.

🇬🇧: Amazon.co.uk users, click here.


Amber Green is a self-published Canadian author and freelance writer. Her short stories can be found here: www.amazon.com/author/ambergreen


© 2020 Amber Green

Springing into Community-Driven Short Stories

UPDATE:

Twitter users chose ‘Sports’ as the major theme for my next short story!

Sports was the clear winner on Twitter. Also discovered, Twitter users do not like weddings…

Now that the major theme has been decided, my second Twitter poll is live! Visit my profile (itsago_blog) to vote on the sports-related Canadian charity that my first community-driven short story will support (details below).

This Twitter poll is live RIGHT NOW until 10 am EST on Thursday, March 5th, 2020!

Learn more about Right to Play and Canadian Tire Jumpstart by visiting their websites.

Thanks for your vote!


Original post:

I am challenging myself to write, edit, and publish a community-driven series of short stories but I need your help. 

Follow me on Twitter (itsago_blog) to help me choose the main theme of my next short story (voting starts right now; Monday-Tuesday, March 3 at 11:30 AM EST).  

Which major theme interests you the most?

-Weddings 

-Sports 

-Winning the lottery

Let me know what you would like to read about, and I’ll start writing!

Charitable Donations

Visit my Twitter page this Wednesday-Thursday and you will have the opportunity to choose between two charities. 

The charity with the most votes on my Twitter poll at the end of 24 hours will receive 10% of the net proceeds made via the sales of this short story (the donation will be made at the end of the year), so please visit my Twitter page on Wednesday, March 4th-Thursday, March 5th to have your say!

Thanks for helping me challenge myself as I create a community-driven series of short stories. 

Give life the green light! It’s A Go.

Amber Green

#WorldSmileDay & #WorldTeachersDay

I am a freelance writer with my own business, The Write Results. Since the featured image discusses my life, I thought it the perfect update to share on my personal blog.

Today is #WorldSmileDay and #WorldTeachersDay. The below image is posted on The Write Results’ Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages.

I look forward to connecting with you on all of my social media channels; please follow me for updates!

Write to the Point.

Amber Green, Founder

The Write Results

Today is #WorldSmileDay & #WorldTeachersDay

Feel good, 7/24 #InternationalSelfCareDay

RIP Dr. Hawking
Art by Dixie Foxton

International Self-Care Day

Today is International Self-Care Day! I feel good about the progress I’ve made since March 2018, so I thought it the perfect time to update the ‘Blogging Honestly’ section of my blog.

After writing about my own struggles with mobility issues in March 2018, I started swimming regularly (from 3-6 days a week) and using a stationary bike as often as I can. I see a wonderful RMT to receive massage therapy once a week.

As I continue to recover from a hip injury, I’ve realized that there really is more to happiness and self-care than moving (“working out” is still too generous a term for the exercise I do at this point) and living without pain. In my opinion, self-care must include: mindfulness, meditation and/or taking a few minutes to yourself for self-reflection. (Reading a good book is one of my favourite ‘self-care’ activities.)

As a goal-oriented person, ‘self-care’ means working towards achieving my business and personal goals, as well. Fortunately, my business as a freelance writer and other writing projects (aside from my blog, I am an aspiring novelist) are going very well.

After about one month of eating almost whatever I want, I am back to focusing on my diet (with the exception of this break, I’ve been following the keto diet since November 2017).

It’s been quite a journey, but at long last, I feel that I am on the right track in many of the most important aspects of life. (If you feel like  you’re in a bit of a slump, I urge you to continue taking small steps towards your personal goals for self-care, and celebrate your victories- even if minute- along the way.)

This year’s theme is: ‘Feel Good 7/24’

According to the ISF (International Self-Care Foundation), Self-Care Day is observed every July 24th (7/24) to symbolize the importance taking care of yourself, 24/7.

Whatever your lifestyle, age and physical abilities, I hope that you’ll take a few minutes to assess how you care for yourself in order to feel good. It’s a journey and it takes effort, but man, is it worth it!

Give your life the green light. It’s A Go!

Amber Green