Comments on: How Does a Fire Impact Your Writing? http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:02:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37701 Michael Stelzner Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:07:47 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37701 Gina - Great insights! Just an update to all. We are still evacuated. Hope to go home today. Good news is the answering machine works so the house must still stand. Mike Gina - Great insights!

Just an update to all. We are still evacuated. Hope to go home today. Good news is the answering machine works so the house must still stand.

Mike

]]> By: Gina http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37697 Gina Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:28:24 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37697 P.S. -- In answer to your questions, I think the metaphorical fires always remind me how much I take for granted and catch me by surprise. "Why didn't I plan for this? What about all my intentions last time to do this list of great things to prepare for the next unforeseen emergency?" It is not lost on me that in times of disaster we suddenly start seeing the people, places and things around us with miraculously opened eyes since the normal routine is interrupted. We also find those places we don't always see inside us -- our ability to act heroically or cowardly, our capacity for melodrama or stoicism. I think this would ultimately make you a stronger writer as it gives you new insights into the human condition. For those of us with home offices, I think this is a good time to remember to make your contingency plans -- if something happened, how will you ensure your business continuity? What do you need to consider for data backup and offsite storage? If you have time, what business items would you grab? If you can't grab them, how will you recover? If you work for a big company they have people who plan for these things but when you have your own business it all falls to you. The same sort of thinking holds true for our personal lives, but if your business is conducted out of your home -- how frightening to consider all the things that could go wrong and impact your livelihood, but how crucial to plan for them in advance. P.S. — In answer to your questions, I think the metaphorical fires always remind me how much I take for granted and catch me by surprise. “Why didn’t I plan for this? What about all my intentions last time to do this list of great things to prepare for the next unforeseen emergency?”

It is not lost on me that in times of disaster we suddenly start seeing the people, places and things around us with miraculously opened eyes since the normal routine is interrupted. We also find those places we don’t always see inside us — our ability to act heroically or cowardly, our capacity for melodrama or stoicism. I think this would ultimately make you a stronger writer as it gives you new insights into the human condition.

For those of us with home offices, I think this is a good time to remember to make your contingency plans — if something happened, how will you ensure your business continuity? What do you need to consider for data backup and offsite storage? If you have time, what business items would you grab? If you can’t grab them, how will you recover? If you work for a big company they have people who plan for these things but when you have your own business it all falls to you.

The same sort of thinking holds true for our personal lives, but if your business is conducted out of your home — how frightening to consider all the things that could go wrong and impact your livelihood, but how crucial to plan for them in advance.

]]> By: Gina http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37696 Gina Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:17:43 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37696 I'm sending up prayers for you that your family remains safe and your home untouched. I’m sending up prayers for you that your family remains safe and your home untouched.

]]> By: Dianna Huff http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37635 Dianna Huff Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:40:15 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37635 Mike, I'm glad you're ok. I've been worried about you. Mike,

I’m glad you’re ok. I’ve been worried about you.

]]> By: Kelly http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37596 Kelly Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:17:42 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37596 All the best for a safe and swift return to your home. Canada wishes you all well down there. I sure wish I could send you all this rain we're getting in Toronto today. Be well, and keep us posted. All the best for a safe and swift return to your home. Canada wishes you all well down there. I sure wish I could send you all this rain we’re getting in Toronto today. Be well, and keep us posted.

]]> By: Ellen Mahoney http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37589 Ellen Mahoney Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:04:28 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37589 Good luck. I have a lot of family in Fallbrook, all evacuated, and it is hard to think about anything else but this frightening situation. We are all thinking of you and sending prayers and good wishes. Good luck. I have a lot of family in Fallbrook, all evacuated, and it is hard to think about anything else but this frightening situation. We are all thinking of you and sending prayers and good wishes.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37582 Michael Stelzner Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:24:43 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37582 Pictures: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/23/gallen.fire/index.html#cnnSTCPhoto Pictures: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/23/gallen.fire/index.html#cnnSTCPhoto

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37580 Michael Stelzner Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:18:46 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37580 Thanks everyone for your prayers and well wishes! Just an update. At about 6am I got in my car and attempted to get "back" into my community. As I rode up the top of a mountain, I could see an orange glow against the dark sky to the north of where I live. That was Rancho Santa Fe going up in smoke. These are like 7 million and up dollar homes. As I went down the mountain I saw a police car. I spoke with the patrol officer about how my home was just beyond him. He said for my safety he couldn't let me in. I could see that the fire had not approached my house (as it would still be glowing). The fires seem to be heading away from me. More soon... Thanks everyone for your prayers and well wishes!

Just an update.

At about 6am I got in my car and attempted to get “back” into my community.

As I rode up the top of a mountain, I could see an orange glow against the dark sky to the north of where I live. That was Rancho Santa Fe going up in smoke. These are like 7 million and up dollar homes.

As I went down the mountain I saw a police car.

I spoke with the patrol officer about how my home was just beyond him.

He said for my safety he couldn’t let me in.

I could see that the fire had not approached my house (as it would still be glowing).

The fires seem to be heading away from me.

More soon…

]]> By: Manya Chylinski http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37578 Manya Chylinski Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:53:59 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37578 Mike, My thoughts are with you and your family. Hang in there and let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Manya Mike,

My thoughts are with you and your family.

Hang in there and let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.

Manya

]]> By: Kim Stacey http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37575 Kim Stacey Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:10:44 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/10/22/how-does-a-fire-impact-your-writing/#comment-37575 Michael - my heart is with you all! Be safe. I love how you've found grist for the writing mill in this situation... I hold the intention that you will return home, and that all will be well. Love, joy and deep appreciation, Kim Michael - my heart is with you all! Be safe.

I love how you’ve found grist for the writing mill in this situation…

I hold the intention that you will return home, and that all will be well.

Love, joy and deep appreciation,

Kim

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