Transforming Through Writing

Break Out of Your Comfort Zone and Create a New Reality

2010-08-24T16:48:00.000-07:00

First I want to thank you personally for being part of my life and/or my company, Reflections Publishing, Inc. Your contributions have helped us become the premier publishing house in the Los Angeles area. Your questions, needs, guidance, suggestions, victories, breakthroughs, and successes have given me the abilities to leap into areas that I didn't think I was ready for.

God pushes, stretches, shapes, and guides me and my transformation progress continues. Now I want to share exciting and life changing news that I am learning at this level of the journey.

I began to wonder why I still couldn't break through in some of the areas of my life. I began to search, yes my relationship with God is the best part of my life, so why can't I give him my fears? Then I heard him say "You still doubt my power." Of course I said "no, I don't doubt you," I was met with silence, which spoke volumes to me, and after I meditated, I grudgingly admitted to myself that there are some areas in my life that I do doubt God's power. There are some areas in my life that I am the higher power. Yes, I said it. After making that painful admission I knew that it was time to go deeper.

I opened myself up with a air of expectation, and then I met Margaret Pazant, an international life coach who I invited to my home to facilitate a workshop on the inner child. What we learned in those few hours blew my mind, and I knew God had sent her to me. Now I want to share all the valuable information I learned, Now I want everyone to have a "light bulb moment" Now I want everyone to press through the barriers and self defeating habits that haunt us all.

After many meetings and discussions I want to present to you:

Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

and Create A New Reality

Presented by

Margaret Pazant

International Life Coach and Motivational Speaker

and

Deborah Bellis

Writer and National Co Publisher of Reflections Publishing, Inc

One of the main barriers to success is lack of action. In this six hour workshop you will learn how to break through procrastination and move beyond the barriers and obstacles that are keeping you from:

Healthy and Happy Relationships
Getting the education you desire
Having a satisfying career
Living a purposeful and fulfilling lifestyle

I didn't know how to break up and break out of self defeating habits. My exercises on shutting down the ego and the chatter in my head had no long term effect. In this workshop we go deep. Identifying the three points in our life that we had a break in belonging. This is big, times when we disconnected. Journaling, meditation, new levels of self expression. releasing the fear of failure and fear of success.
For ministers, self help groups, twelve steps, self employed, students, and hard workers, this workshop is for you. You know my commitment to writing and creating. You know I believe that we are in this journey together. You know that my god given purpose to to help you achieve your dreams and goals. I believe in this workshop so much that I'll even guarantee it. That's right, if you don't have a breakthrough, I WILL REFUND YOUR FEE.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

10 AM to 4 PM

LAX Radisson Hotel

6225 W. Century Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90045

$85.00

includes workshop materials, refreshments and gourmet lunch.

RSVP to Debbie Bellis - 310/695-9800 or

dabellis@reflectionspublishings.net

for more information and to register using pay pal go to

http://www.morningswithmargaret.com/

Tell everybody who needs a breakthrough, now is the time, this is the place that we will make it to what's next.For all of you trying to start your project or with unfinished projects, lets go...hop on the transformational train of change.

PS Check out the prices others are charging for their seminars. If you can't see how to make this happen financially, call me, please, let's set something up. DO NOT allow this small fee to deter you from your seat on the journey of breakthrough. All board!

Special Offer
Register five people and receive a free registration.
Offer expires, September 10, 2010

New Additions

2010-02-22T17:58:00.001-08:00

Hello All
So happy to see you. Please stay a while, rest your bones, enjoy as I take you on a journey of discovery. First l'd like to invite you to become a follower. Just click on the follower sign and whenever I post a blog you will get the message. It's all about taking a step on the writer's journey.

So... I am happy to announce the addition of Grace Commisso, at the Write at the Speed of Change Writer's Seminar. Grace is one of the professionals whose job it is to make your book look and feel like the next New York Best Seller. She is a book cover and book interior designer. Yes, books definitely have designers. She will share industry secrets with you.

Come early on March 27Th. We are starting the program with The I Wills, affirmations written by Synthia ST JAMES at 9:15 AM. I don't want to give you the total program just yet, all I'll tell you is that it is a day full of surprise guests, extra tidbits, giveaways, refreshments and most important, YOU, a room full of enthusiastic writers, anxious to take the next step in the writers journey.

Oh, new this year is our Marketplace, there are a few vendor spaces still available. Call me at 310/695-9800 soon as the space is filling up quickly. Just a hint, if you want a relaxing massage during the break, we aim to please, so one of the vendors is bringing her chair.

I'll continue to post info about our event and I also welcome your comments and questions. One question that you can answer now is "what topics would you like to see covered at the next seminar?"

Writers Seminar News

2010-02-09T00:25:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce the addition of Cynthia Exum the Executive Director of the Leimert Park Book Fair and Charles Chapman the Director of the Los Angeles Black Book Expo at the Write at the Speed of Change Writers Seminar. Cynthia and Charles will be on hand to share exciting information about their 2010 literary events. For more information go to http://www.leimertparkbookfair.com/ and http://www.labbx.com/.

THE TIME IS NOW!

2010-01-26T17:42:00.000-08:00

You’ve been following us for a while and may not have taken the next step in your writer’s journey, or perhaps you’ve never tried your hand at writing, but you know you should. Words are endless and timeless. Think about the power of leaving a legacy for others to remember you by

The written word is often more powerful than speaking. The craft of the writing offers vast opportunities as it is the language of the heart. Let’s face it; writing is one of our most prevailing forms of communication. You have a story inside of you that is crying to get out. I know, you haven’t had the time or stamina to birth the words that will heal, inspire, comfort or teach another. Often the only way to reach someone is through the written word. Your words come out with a blast, swimming or flying across the pages of your mind, looking for a home. We are confident that you find that home by taking one simple step…enrolling in Reflections highly successful Writers Development Workshop, formally The Beginners Writers Workshop which starts you on the road of passing on a written legacy to your loved ones. Let’s talk about the next step. I’m also talking to the writers who have a story in the computer, in a notebook or in their head. I’m talking about the writer who just can’t seem to get focused and stay focused. Is that you? Well we have the answer, Reflections new Writers Book Camp. Six months of intensive, stimulating life changing sessions, where you write and complete your book.

The prerequesitive for the Writers Boot Camp is Reflections Writers Development Workshop. In our popular eight week workshop, you learn the fundamentals of creative writing, write life stories and poems, give and receive constructive feedback, learn industry tips, and have your stories edited by a professional editor. Your stories will be published in an industry standard class book, as you receive hands on information on the self publishing industry. Completing these steps transforms you into a published author. Next you will enjoy the fruits of your labor as you plan your class book-signing program for your family and friends to come and share in your victory of transformation.

We’ve come a long way since our first workshop in 2005. We’d like to see all of our past Workshop participants and publishing clients at our Writers Seminar in March. We want to thank you personally for helping us become the best publishing house in the industry. We learned from you. We listened to your feedback and made some changes because of you. Reflections is moving and shaking. We are well on our way. Here are a few things that have happened to us on the journey. We won a scholarship to attend the Publishing University in New York in 2007. At this training we received valuable industry information that we continue to implement and pass on to our clients. We attended the 2008 Book Expo America, and when we were not networking Ray was volunteering at the celebrity book signing pavilion and I worked briefly at the African American pavilion. In 2008 we incorporated our foundation – Freewill Writers Foundation seeks to promote literacy and empower women in prison, high-risk youth and people from disadvantaged and underprivileged backgrounds to experience life-changing transformation through the power of creative writing.

We held our first annual free writers seminar in January 2008 and at our 2nd annual free writers’ seminar in January 2009, we were blessed to have world renowned artist and children’s author Synthia St James kick off the seminar as she shared her personal affirmations with our attendees. The I Wills according To Saint James was an instant hit, and when she read the first one I will use my words to empower myself and others, the crowd cheered in total agreement.

Well known artist, Charles Gibbs created a beautiful piece of art for the cover for one of our client’s upcoming memoir. We are especially proud of our Beginners Writers Workshops groups; New Philadelphia Writers; Upstairs Writers Group; Renaissance Writers; The Genesis Writers; Women of Light Writers Group; Introspection Writers Group; Wisdom Speaks Writers; Deep Well Writers; and Writers within the Walls. Raunda Frank and Michael Jones, graduates of the Beginners Writers Workshop and publishing client Shirley Edwards are facilitating workshops at our upcoming Write at the Speed of Change seminar on March 27th.

We facilitated writer’s workshops at The Leimert Park Book Fair and The Black Book Expo in Exposition Park as well as the Crenshaw Chamber of Commerce. We facilitated a six week writer’s workshop at California Institution for Women (CIW) in Corona CA. Our client bases includes publishing children’s books; several educational workbooks; journals, poetry books; and presently have several clients in various stages of book development. Our successful beginners’ writers’ workshop now produces industry standard class books and we have incorporated the services of two professional editors for our class books. We co- sponsored with the Genesis Writers the 1st and 2nd Curren Price Writers Contest, and are graced to have California State Senator Curren Price award the winners. We have been featured in The Daily Breeze, the California Crusader, the Wave, Inglewood Today and the Los Angeles Sentinel. We were the official publisher for the local organization of the 2008-2009 Miss America Beauty Pageant. We are again hooking up with The Genesis Writers as they have a call for stories to produce an anthology using the theme How Love Heals the Community. Please consider writing a story or a poem for this wonderful and heartfelt project, you can get information and guidelines at http://www.lovehealsthecommunity.blogspot.com/. We are considering publishing a book – The Best of Reflection’s Writers, or something like that. Perhaps it will be your story that gets published again; we will definitely let you know. The next Writers Development Workshop is starting in April and the Writers Book Camp will start in September, plenty of time for you to get excited about leaping into the future. We are thrilled and hope you are too.

Ray and I need you on March 27th at the LAX Radisson Hotel, 6225 W Century Blvd from 9-5.Hold the Date. $20 for a full day of change, and I promise it will be well worth your while. Of course you know we will keep you updated with all information that is coming. The only thing you need to do now is RSVP for this amazing event. Check us out at http://www.reflectionspublishings.net/ Or call 310/695-9800. As usual refreshments will be served, giveaways and door prizes galore. Just remember to HOLD THE DATE.

Debbie

It's been a while, but I'm back with Great News

2010-01-26T17:40:00.000-08:00

Give your writing a raise at Reflections Publishing’s
3rd Annual, Write at the Speed of Change Writers Seminar

Join a growing group of writers on March 27th at the LAX Radisson Hotel 6225 W. Century Blvd, from 9:00 to 5:00 for an informative and stimulating day of workshops and lectures on the electrifying craft of writing. Our theme this year is to Write at the Speed of Change, guaranteed to thrust you into the next level of your writing journey. This is the event for professionals, stay at home moms, retirees, students, dreamers, entrepreneurs and novice writers to learn the essentials of writing and self publishing.

Ray Driver, CEO of Reflections said, “this year we have included a much anticipated children’s book writers’ workshop. We are pleased to have Reflections very own, Shirley Edwards, author of Mom and Me – A Read Along Book on Child Safety, lecture on the ABC’s of writing, illustrating, and publishing children’s books.

At the seminar, develop the tactics for writing winning book proposals, successful marketing plan, and two must haves for any serious writer. Beverly Reynolds, president of Word Mart will facilitate a workshop on the power of the professional edit. Flo Selfman president of Independent Writers of Southern California will lecture on book publicity, agents and networking.

Reflections Publishing along with their Genesis Writers Group will welcome California State Senator, Curren Price as he announces the winners of The 2nd Annual Curren Price Writers Contest. Tori Bailey, a member of Genesis Writers, said, I am committed to the importance of writing and I work diligently to promote literacy by encouraging writers to submit stories for the writers contest and attend this spectacular event.

New this year is a glimpse into our popular Writers Development Workshop, and our upcoming Writers Boot Camp. Write at the Speed of Change is a day that you don’t want to miss, as Ray Driver and Deborah Bellis lecture on basic grammar and writing rules. Learn the difference between passive and active language, how to identify your target audience, tone, slant and establishing the purpose of your book. Sign up for the writer’s breakout session where attendees will have an opportunity to receive a positive critique on their writing and ideas. Available at the seminar is Reflections, Writing Through Writers Block, a must have journal full of writing tips, writers prompts and affirmations.

Michael Jones, CEO of Success Management and a member of The Genesis Writers Group will facilitate a workshop sharing his proven strategies on overcoming barriers as he gives important tips on coaching your way through your writing. Raunda Frank, Reflections client and owner of RPK Consulting will hold a workshop on the systematic order of writing a memoir, and how to work with a ghostwriter.

Reflections Publishing, Inc is a full service small press publishing house, founded in 2005 by Ray Driver and Deborah Bellis who met while on the developmental team as their stories were being published in Chicken Soup for the African American Soul. They discovered a critical need for affordable, quality publishing services and writer’s workshops for everyday folks. For more information, visit www.reflectionspublishings.net. There is a $20 fee for the full day seminar.
Please RSVP to 310/695-9800 as space is limited, or email dabellis@reflectionspublishings.net.

Next Step

2009-10-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

I have a challenge for you. I'd like to know what you feel is the next step in your writers journey. So I challenge you to respond and answer these questions.

* What have I done in the last month to further my writing?
* What limitations do I have that has stopped me from writing?
* Have I set a time in my day to write?
* What do I feel that I need, that I am not receiving, to jump start my writing?
* Do I have writers block?
* Am I a procrastinator?
*What are my fears about my written words?

I'd like you to answer these questions, and I will post the answers. My goal is to have an interactive dialogue with you. I am so passionate about the transformational power of the pen that I want to do all I can to help you make your dream come true. Look forward to interesting tidbits of writing.

I'll meet you on the transformational road of writing.
*

Transformational Writers Workshop

2009-09-04T15:39:00.000-07:00

So all the buzz today is about building your platform, and/or billing yourself as an expert in your field. I consider this to be the next step in your writers journey. If you have published, or if you have not, it's time NOW to take that crucial step moving from the creative side of writing to the business side of writing.

Timing is everything, pacing is everything, and creating interest and excitement about your work is the name of the game. Creating a buzz about the information that only you have and using your red hot passion about the material is the most powerful and successful way to prove this point.

How? You may ask, well I have answers, and if you have some answers, please share them with me. I'm always open to exciting ways to define ourselves.

But before I give you some of the answers, ask yourself :

Am I ready to move to center stage
Why I have to become a sale person
How will reading my book/story/poetry help the reader
Am I open to attending writers events
Why I need to join a writers/community organization
How do I feel about someone editing my work

Sounds like a lot of work, it is so worthwhile. One of the vehicles to help answer these questions is Reflections Intermediate Writers Workshop. We call it intermediate but it really is transformational. You see, there is a important step between writing and publishing, and it's the stage in which you believe in yourself, you change and grow by transforming into the great writer that lives inside.

One of the most important things about transformation is momentum.

Momentum can make all the difference between achieving your goals and having to live with the disappointment and frustration of never actually realizing what you desire. Momentum is a powerful force that is not only necessary, but also essential in achieving real success. Without momentum you have to consistently apply a lot of effort and willpower that will eventually cause you to just give up.

Small actions are nothing but the building blocks of big actions and great successes. Every big goal only consists of a series of smaller goals. When you act immediately, your action puts you in a psychological state that encourages more action and consequently greater results.

(Excerpts from Intermediate Writers Workshop)

I'm talking about gaining the sustaining power to complete your work and create yourself into a successful author. I hear all the time about people who start something, but never finish it. I must confess I used to be one of those people, but not anymore and another thing that helped me and continues to help me when I'm in a transformational stage is affirmations.

Affirmations are powerful tools to help you move from one state of mind to another. You have to speak the process of change into existence. You have the unique ability to define or redefine your identity, which affects your behavior. Affirmations will help you modify your behavior to obtain the results that you seek.

Developing your elevator pitch, understanding time lines and deadlines, learning different writing styles, writing on topics in this workshop will be personal stories of transformation, learn the copyright process and achieve the next step in your personal writing project by writing articles that you can use to submit for publications and/or to post on your own blog that you create in the workshop.

This is it!!! Now is the time!!!! Go to http://www.reflectionspublishings.net/ for more information about the workshop. Starting on Saturday September 12th.

Sign up today, as a follower of this blog, sign up today for the Transformational Workshop. Take the next step in the writing journey, lets make this an interactive blog by posting your comments, suggestions and answers. See you on the 12th and on the world wide web.

Combustible Process of Transformation

2009-08-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

Hey,

I want to invite you to become a follower of Transforming Through Writing. On the sidebar near the top is a follower bar, click on it and sign up and you will automatically receive my new posts. Exciting things are happening and I want you to share the journey with me.

On August 22ND, Ray and I will be at The Los Angeles Black Book Expo, and you want to be there. It is so wonderful to be part of the literary community in Los Angeles, and the more I make myself open up to the writing world, opportunities arise.

I am on a journey of discovery, understanding the power and energy that I have in creating my day and as I do, I open up to the wonder of God as new and powerful things begin to manifest in my life. The more I expose myself - the more open and vulnerable I allow myself to be, the more I learn. Thus, the combustible process of transformation continues...

Taking the Next Step

2009-07-18T17:56:00.000-07:00

Reflections Publishing and Genesis Writers Group is pleased to announce a joint effort to produce and publish Genesis's 3rd book in their Light Series. "Love Light" Stories of Inspiration and Love, is a book of stories, poems, quotes, art submitted by members of our communities showing how Love Heals the Community.

We want everyone involved, This is a opportunity for you to write about those experiences that show the nurturing power of love, forgiveness, hope and courage. Write about the miracles, the defining moments of your live, we need the legacies and quotes of your family that have been passed down from generation to generation.

The mission of this book is:

To illuminate and inspire our communities through personal expressions of

the healing power of love for unity, harmony and peace.

So, stay tuned, call for stories and guidelines are coming soon...just start writing.

Also, I will be at The Los Angeles Black Book Expo on August 22nd in Exposition Park.

Exciting Times for Writers

2009-05-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

When you are starting the journey of writing, it's important to involve yourself with writers. Join an writers club, writing group, or organization. A great and wonderful event is coming up next month.

Ray and I have a booth on Publishers Row. at the Leimert Park Book Festival on June 6th, 2009. We have exciting events coming up, come join the festivities, and workshops, Nikki Giovinni is a featured guest this year.

Come and sit with us a while, share with us all your latest information drop off your flyers, and leave a business cards for a drawing.

Also in August we will be participating in the Los Angeles Black Book Expo in Exposition Park.
This is a great time for writers, come and join the journey with us.

What is Your Fear About Writing?

2009-05-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

What are your fears about writing???
I ask this question all the time and I get the same answers

Afraid my grammar is not right
Someone might reject my work
What if I don"t finish?
Can't handle any negative critique

So I pose this question again - What is your fear, what is stopping you from completing that manuscript you have worked on for the past several years?

The next post will have the answers that I receive.

The Business of Writing

2009-04-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

Creative Writing is fun, I feel good and I am doing something worthwhile. I am accomplishing something, something lasting, a legacy for all to read. The words come and they nurture me. I read them again and again and marvel that I created them.
The words have sound, they tell a story and I enjoy the journey of the story, but what do I do after I've written a story?
Do I leave it on the computer and email it to a few good friends and talk about it with them?
Do I bury it in the shoebox under my bed?

What do I do with my writing?

Well, I must know that in order for me to get my writing out, I must submit it, I must seek out sources to publish in. Newsletters helped me a lot. Most organizations and businesses have company newsletters, so I began to write a story about my relationship with the organizations and/or business that I was part of and then submitted.l

The first time I saw my name in print was in a newsletter and it was on the front page. I still have that newsletter years later. It was the first step in moving my writing from my computer to print.

So write for a newsletter, there are tons on the Internet, the best feeling is to see your name in print. It does wonders for the self esteem. Pick a topic and write about it and submit it, it just might be published.

Writing through Writers Block

2009-04-10T00:54:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I just need to put the pen to the paper, but I'm not always disciplined.
Then a funny thing started happening, when I set a time to write and I kept it no matter what, I saw that it's not that hard to write. And the more I write the easier it becomes.

Now I know how the best selling authors do it, it is all about timetables and deadlines.
In the past I have been strictly guided by the creative forces that were in me, I had to wait until the mood hit, the words pouring from the depth of my soul. It felt good to write and read the words, but that wasn't happening all the time.

So how was I going to transform? From being a casual writer to a writer making money?
How do I take my writing from a sport to a career?

No telephone, no television, no visitors, I write in the midnight hour, it's my best time, What's yours? I write when I don't want too, I write, fueling by a inner power that lets me know that I am being transformed.

Another way that I overcome writers block is when I let it go. If I am working on a certain story, or part of a story, I put it down and write about something else, or edit some work. I just let the source of my block go, for now, and always it comes back. Sometime in the middle of the night, keep a pad and pen by my bed, and if I don't write down the bright idea right away, it's gone by morning.

So I transform because I don't stop, I transform when the writer's block lifts. Then I'm back on board again.