Sherry Briscoe's Blog

April has always been a bit of a trickster.

One day it’s sunshine and birdsong, the next it’s sideways rain and a wind that feels personally offended by your existence. And right in the middle of it all? April Fool’s Day—because of course the month itself needed a sense of humor.

But if April is playing jokes this year, I’m fairly certain pollen is in on it.

Because nothing says “spring is here” quite like stepping outside, taking a deep, hopeful breath… and immediately regretting every life choice that led you to that moment.

The Great April Setup

April begins with possibility.

Writers love April. There’s something about it—the thawing earth, the soft return of green, the sense that anything could begin again. Ideas feel closer. Energy shifts. Even your coffee tastes more optimistic.

You think:
This is it. This is the month I get things done.

April smiles politely.

Then—bam.

Rainstorms that arrive without warningMud in places mud should never beAnd pollen… floating through the air like nature’s version of glitter

Except glitter doesn’t make your eyes itch and your brain feel like it’s wrapped in cotton.

April Showers… and Side Effects

We’ve all heard it since childhood:

April showers bring May flowers.

Lovely. Poetic. Hopeful.

What they don’t tell you is that April showers also bring:

Sudden downpours when you forgot your umbrellaDamp notebooks (a personal offense)And pollen blooms that turn your peaceful writing session into a sneeze-powered cardio workout

Somewhere out there, the flowers are thriving.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are wondering if we can write a novel while breathing through one nostril.

Nature’s Little Joke

There’s a certain irony in it all.

April Fool’s Day reminds us not to take things too seriously. That life has a sense of humor—even when it’s mildly inconvenient.

And honestly? Spring follows that same rule.

Just when everything looks beautiful and full of promise…
you get hit with rain.
Or allergies.
Or both.

It’s as if nature is saying:

“Yes, you may have renewal… but you’ll have to sneeze your way through it.”

A Writer’s Perspective

And yet—this is the good part.

Because April, for all its chaos, is alive.

It’s unpredictable. Messy. A little uncomfortable. But underneath all of that? Things are growing.

Stories work the same way.

The idea doesn’t arrive clean and perfectThe process isn’t smooth or controlledAnd sometimes, just when you think you’ve got it figured out… everything shifts

That’s not failure.

That’s April.

That’s creation.

Permission to Be a Little Unpolished

So if your writing this month feels scattered…
If your focus drifts like pollen on the wind…
If your plans get rained on (literally or otherwise)…

You’re not behind.

You’re in season.

April isn’t about perfection. It’s about movement. About stirring things up. About letting ideas get a little muddy before they bloom.

And yes—sometimes about laughing when things don’t go as planned.

Final Thought (Before the Next Sneeze)

So here’s to April:

To the jokes we didn’t see coming.
To the rain we didn’t plan for.
To the pollen we definitely didn’t ask for.

And to the quiet, persistent magic happening underneath it all.

Even when your eyes are watering and your notebook is damp…

Something is growing.

Ah yes.
The New Year.

That magical moment when the calendar flips, the internet yells “NEW YOU!”, and suddenly everyone is drinking celery juice and announcing life transformations that require color-coded spreadsheets and alarming optimism.

Writers, readers, creatives—gather close.
Let’s talk about how to actually survive the start of a new year without losing your sanity, your sense of humor, or your favorite pajamas.

Step One: Stop Declaring Things You Can’t Possibly Control

“I will write 3,000 words a day.”
“I will read 100 books.”
“I will wake up at 5 a.m., meditate, journal, exercise, and greet the sunrise with gratitude.”

Friend.
You forgot to factor in laundry, emotions, plot problems, the news, and that one weird ache in your knee that appeared out of nowhere.

Instead of grand declarations, try this radical resolution: “I will show up imperfectly and keep going.”

It lacks glitter. It works anyway.

Step Two: Accept That January Is a Liar

January pretends it’s a fresh start.
January is actually a recovery month.

You’re tired. The light is weird. Your brain is still buffering from the holidays. Your characters have opinions and none of them are helpful.

This is not failure.
This is winter.

Survival tip: Think of January as the warm-up stretch, not the marathon. No one wins medals for stretching, but skipping it causes injuries. (Ask your plot.)

Step Three: Writers—Lower the Bar Until You Can Step Over It

If you wrote one sentence today? Victory.
If you opened the document and stared at it meaningfully? Still counts.
If you thought about writing while doing dishes? Honestly, I’ll allow it.

Momentum comes from kindness, not punishment.

Readers—this applies to you too.
You don’t have to read “important” books right now.
Read cozy books. Reread old favorites. Read cereal boxes if that’s what your brain can handle.

Stories are nourishment. Not homework.

Step Four: Ignore Anyone Selling “Hustle” as a Personality Trait

You will see posts insisting that if you’re not exhausted, you’re not committed.

Hard pass.

Creativity does not respond well to threats or whistles. It responds to curiosity, play, naps, and snacks.

If your plan includes:

Rest

Laughter

Long walks

Talking to imaginary people (characters count)

Congratulations. You’re doing it right.

Step Five: Pick a Theme, Not a To-Do List

Instead of resolutions, try a word or phrase for the year:

Gentler

Curious

Finish Things

Trust the Weird

Less Panic, More Tea

A theme gives you room to breathe. You can return to it on the days when nothing is going according to plan (which will be… most days).

Step Six: Remember—You’re Not Behind

Not in writing.
Not in reading.
Not in life.

You are exactly where the story is unfolding. The New Year doesn’t demand reinvention. It invites continuation.

You are allowed to arrive as-is—unfinished, hopeful, sarcastic, tired, inspired, confused, and carrying more ideas than you know what to do with. That’s not a flaw. That’s a creative life.

Final Survival Rule (Important)

If all else fails:

Make soup.

Light a candle.

Write one honest paragraph.

Read one beautiful page.

Laugh at something ridiculous.

Repeat as needed until December.

Happy New Year, my writer friends and reader fans.

https://canvasrebel.com/meet-sherry-briscoe/

As the final days of the year unfold, there’s a quiet invitation in the air—an invitation to pause, breathe, and consider where we are. Not just geographically, but emotionally, spiritually, creatively. We often spend our lives searching for the right place and the right time as though they are coordinates on a map we just haven’t been clever enough to find yet.

But the truth is gentler—and far more empowering.

You are always closer to the right place and the right time than you think.

In fact, much of being “in the right place at the right time” is less about forcing life into a shape and more about allowing life to reveal its timing. It’s about listening inwardly, noticing the subtle nudges, the synchronicities, the whispers of intuition that say: This. Pay attention. This moment matters.

The Gift of Looking Back

Before we step into a new season, it’s worth glancing over our shoulder—not to judge or regret, but to acknowledge the magic that threaded itself through our year.

Think of the chance encounters that ended up shaping something bigger. The unexpected opportunities that arrived with suspiciously perfect timing. The difficult moments that, in hindsight, shepherded you toward clarity, compassion, or courage. Every year is a tapestry of moments we planned for and moments we never saw coming. Often, it’s the unplanned ones that reveal the miracles.

The Power of Being Present

If there’s one truth that has echoed through my own spiritual journey (and through decades of studying A Course in Miracles), it’s this: Miracles occur naturally when we are present.

Not rehearsing the future. Not rehashing the past. Not trying to control every outcome. But simply showing up—mindfully, authentically, open-hearted. Being in the right place at the right time begins with being fully here right now.

Releasing What No Longer Belongs

As the year ends, many of us instinctively start to clean out closets, straighten shelves, re-order calendars. But the deeper clearing happens inside.

Ask yourself:

What thoughts no longer support who I’m becoming?What patterns have run their course?What relationships need more boundaries—or more presence?Where can I replace fear with curiosity, or judgment with compassion?

Letting go creates space for divine timing to operate more freely.

Setting an Intention, Not a Resolution

Resolutions often fizzle because they come from pressure. Intentions transform because they come from alignment. This year, instead of asking: “What should I accomplish?”

Ask: “Who am I becoming—and what kind of moments do I want to welcome?”

Consider intentions like:

I will notice synchronicities and trust them.I will follow my inner promptings before I talk myself out of them.I will honor the places and people that uplift me.I will cultivate peace so I can recognize miracles when they appear.

These aren’t goals you check off. They are pathways you walk.

The New Year Opens a Door

There is something undeniably hopeful about crossing from one year into the next. It reminds us that life is cyclical, rhythmic, ever-renewing. Each January arrives like a clean page, waiting for the next chapter.

But here’s the secret: You don’t need to chase the right moment. You meet it by being who you truly are.

When you listen inwardly…
When you act on inspiration…
When you trust the timing…
When you stay awake to the quiet guidance of the heart…

You become aligned with the right place and the right time naturally—gracefully.

Ending the Year with Gratitude, Beginning the Next with Openness

So, as you stand on the threshold between the year that is ending and the one about to begin, take a moment to breathe, reflect, and gently bless your journey.

Thank the experiences that stretched you.
Celebrate the ones that lifted you.
Release the ones that burdened you.
And step forward with curiosity into the unknown.

Because the truth is simple and extraordinary: Life knows how to place you exactly where you need to be. Your only task is to be present enough to notice.

May the new year greet you with moments of alignment, surprising blessings, and the unmistakable feeling that you are—once again—in the right place at the right time.

The morning light feels softer this time of year — a little slower, a little more sacred. The air carries the scent of woodsmoke and memory. November has a way of making us pause.

It’s the season of reflection — a time when gratitude rises to the surface like sunlight breaking through clouds. And among the many blessings we count, one stands eternal: the freedom we wake to every morning.

Freedom — that quiet, steady miracle we sometimes forget to notice — has never been free. It was earned in the dust and distance of foreign lands, on ships and bases and battlegrounds where brave souls stood between us and the dark.

Our Veterans — men and women of every generation — carried that burden so we could live in the light. They’ve missed birthdays and holidays, laughter and home-cooked meals, so we could wake to a world where our dreams are our own to chase.

To every Veteran, I say this with all my heart: thank you. 

Thank you for your courage, your discipline, and your faith in what this country can be.
Thank you for protecting not just our borders, but our everyday moments — our morning coffee, our books, our laughter, our chance to build something better.

As we gather with family and friends this season, may we do so with reverence. Let’s lift our glasses not just in celebration, but in remembrance — for every soldier who served, every family who waited, and every freedom we hold because of them.

Gratitude is more than a feeling. It’s a way of living — a choice to remember the cost of the peace we enjoy.

So today, as the flag ripples in the autumn wind, I whisper a prayer of thanks — for the hands that saluted it, the hearts that defended it, and the spirits that keep its promise alive.

To all Veterans — you are the guardians of our tomorrows.
And for that, we are forever thankful.

As a Veteran myself, I can only say I am humbled and honored to have given a part of my life to the freedoms we love.

There’s a shift in the air this time of year—the first whisper of autumn as the mornings grow crisp, evenings fall sooner, and the leaves begin their fiery transformation. For readers, this season feels like a personal invitation to curl up with a blanket, a steaming cup of tea, and a book that sweeps you away. For writers, it’s a call to lean into the mood of mystery, suspense, and reflection that autumn so naturally brings.

The chill of autumn is more than just weather—it’s atmosphere. It’s the creak of floorboards in an old house as the wind rattles outside. It’s the thrill of stepping into a story where the unknown waits in shadow. It’s the perfect time to lose ourselves in stories that invite goosebumps, whether they come from a heart-racing twist or a hauntingly beautiful line of prose.

Readers, this is your season to devour novels that match the changing skies: cozy mysteries, gothic romances, eerie ghost stories, or heartwarming tales set against golden leaves and pumpkin harvests. Writers, this is your season to lean into mood—let the shortening days and lengthening nights color your imagination. Ask yourself: What secrets are buried beneath the fallen leaves? What voices are carried on the cold wind?

Autumn is a reminder that stories, like seasons, shift and cycle. Some endings are inevitable, but every falling leaf hints at the promise of renewal.

So grab a book, light a candle, and let the chill of autumn wrap you in its storytelling spell. Whether you’re writing or reading, this is the season where imagination feels most alive.

When a company sees a decline, or even just a static year in business, they look for a strategy to improve.

Strategic planning is the first step to take you from where you are to where you want to be.

Use these 5 steps from The Book of Five Rings to improve any part of your life.

Keep in mind, if you’ve read the book (which I highly recommend) these are my interpretations, using the 5 strategic points given in the book.

It’s always good to look at something from a new perspective. Ask, ‘what if’ and ‘how else can I interpret this?’

Way (ground)

This is your starting point. What are your current strengths and weaknesses? This is where you stand right now.

Strategy (water)

Think of diving into a pool. You need to know how to swim. You should have a plan of where you’re swimming to and how long you want to be in the water. If you’re deep sea diving, you need the proper equipment and to know where you’re going. What possible dangers or pitfalls might lie ahead? Be prepared.

Homage to heaven (fire)

Respect those who have gone before you. Learn from other’s mistakes and successes. Listen to advice, study, research and make smart moves.

God (tradition — wind)

Be inspired, follow your spirit. Let yourself go-with-the-flow when the occasion calls for it. Follow tradition where it makes sense, but let yourself be guided by spirit to break the rules when necessary.

The void (that which is not)

Let go of your doubts and fears. Those are not truths. They are invisible lies that can hold you back, if you let them. You are surrounded by a field of energy at all times. Whether you charge your energy field with negativity or positivity is entirely up to you.

5 steps to achieve success:

Know what your current abilities are. Where to place your focus and what you need to work on.Make a plan. Have a goal. Be prepared.Don’t reinvent the wheel. Learn from what others have done.Listen to your heart and be open to new possibilities.Let go of fear and doubt. Don’t let what doesn’t exist in truth hold you back.

I was a WAC. Not wackadoodle, just WAC — Women’s Army Corps. Then we merged with the regular U.S. Army and I was simply a grunt. That’s what they called us low-ranking people in green.

A million miles from home, I was the Battalion Commander’s personal secretary, of the 71st Maintenance Battalion in Nuremberg, Germany.

But my story really starts one spring morning about a week before Easter. I woke up. The sun was shining brightly into the barracks windows, and I felt awesome.

No reason, I just woke up that morning feeling fantastic. Best mood ever! I got dressed, went to work, and got situated at my desk. The only one to beat me to work that morning was the Colonel’s driver, a young, tall spindly fellow with big ears.

We halted our early morning conversation when a loud rumbling thunder came towards us from the other end of the long hallway.

“Better look out, the Sergeant Major’s in a bad mood,” the driver said with a raised eyebrow.

“The Sergeant Major’s always in a bad mood!” We both chuckled at the truth of that.

CSM Middleton lived to terrorize the troops. It didn’t hurt that he was over six feet tall, built like a refrigerator, and never smiled. I used to think of him as Frankenstein’s monster. The only thing missing was the bolts in his neck.

CSM Middleton screeched to a halt at my desk and glared at me. “Have you made the Colonel’s coffee yet?” He roared.

“Nope, but I will.” I smiled up at him. I had a beautiful smile, too.

I was in a fantastic mood, and no one, not even Command Sergeant Major Middleton, was going to take that away from me.

I stood my ground.

“Have you organized his schedule for today?” Middleton roared even louder.

“Nope, but I will.” I smiled even bigger.

It was a stand-off. Him growling and me smiling.

The Sergeant Major spun around and stormed off to his office. And I got to work doing my duties for the day. Smiling.

The Sergeant Major left the office after that without saying a word to me. Obviously, he didn’t know how to deal with someone like me. Someone who was happy. Someone who stood up to him.

I walked over to the post exchange for lunch and saw a large greeting card with Charlie Brown and Lucy on the front of it. Charlie Brown said to Lucy, “You know what’s wrong with the world?”

Inside the card, Charlie Brown said, “There’s too much apathy.” And Lucy’s response was, “Who cares?” Typical Lucy!

I bought the card, along with a large chocolate bunny, since it was almost Easter, and took them back to the office.

Inside the card, I wrote, “I care, have a wonderful day.” And I signed it. Placed the card and the chocolate bunny on the Sergeant Major’s desk and went back to work.

This was a man who yelled at everyone and only looked for what was wrong. He was a friend to no one, only the terror that everyone feared.

He came back later that afternoon, was in his office for only a few minutes, then gone again. And he didn’t show up again until a week later.

CSM Middleton never acknowledged the card or the bunny. But there was a change in him when he returned the following week.

He may have still been a bully to everyone else, but to me, he was kind. He shared his pictures from his trip with me. He invited me to dinner with him and his wife. He began treating me like a daughter. Apparently, he did have a daughter about my age who was away at college.

And when I left Germany, it was the Command Sergeant Major who threw me a going away party.

I didn’t let him take my happiness away. Instead, I showed him kindness and made a friend.

Stand up for yourself. It might surprise you at what happens when you do.

You DO have a choice!

He rejected happiness as a personal pursuit of pleasure.

Leo Tolstoy, the renowned novelist and philosopher widely known for his masterpieces such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina, had a complex and nuanced idea of happiness that evolved throughout his life.

In his early years, Tolstoy believed that happiness came from living a life of pleasure, success, and social status.

However, as he grew older, he became disillusioned with this idea and began to explore deeper philosophical and spiritual concepts.

Later in life, he thought true happiness could only be found in pursuing a meaningful life and work, one dedicated to serving others and living in accordance with nature.

“I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good and who are not accustomed to having it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one’s neighbor — such is my idea of happiness,” Tolstoy said.

Tolstoy advocated for a simpler way of life, free from the distractions of modern society and focused on pursuing spiritual growth.

He believed true happiness could only be achieved by living a simple, virtuous life and helping others.

For Tolstoy, happiness was a way of life.

“Pierre was right when he said that one must believe in the possibility of happiness in order to be happy, and I now believe in it. Let the dead bury the dead, but while I’m alive, I must live and be happy, Tolstoy said.

His idea of happiness was deeply rooted in his Christian faith and his belief in the power of love and compassion to transform people and society.

Tolstoy’s ideas of happiness were closely tied to his philosophy of nonviolence and his belief in the power of love to overcome hatred and injustice.

He thought love is everything

“Love is the only way to rescue humanity from all ills.”— Leo Tolstoy

Love is the most important thing in life, according to Tolstoy.

It is what gives our lives meaning and purpose, and it is what connects us to others. “People are always happy where there is love, because their happiness in in themselves,” Tolstoy said.

Through his work, Tolstoy emphasized the importance of love in our lives, both in our relationships with others and in our relationship with the world around us.

He believed that love was the key to happiness, fulfillment, and a meaningful existence.

Tolstoy rejected happiness as a personal pursuit of pleasure

In his later years, Tolstoy rejected the idea of happiness as a personal pursuit of pleasure and material gain. Instead, he emphasised the importance of leading a life of virtue, simplicity, and compassion.

He believed in the importance of simplicity and frugality and advocated for a more egalitarian and communal way of life.

He argued that true happiness could only be achieved through serving others and working towards the greater good.

“Joy can only be real if people look upon their life as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness,” says Tolstoy.

He thought everyone had a responsibility to contribute to society and to help those in need and that by doing so, we could find true meaning and fulfilment in life.

He emphasised that pursuing happiness was not just a personal goal but a collective one that required us to work together to create a more just and peaceful world.

Live in harmony with nature

“One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken.” — Leo Tolstoy

One of the key elements of Tolstoy’s idea of happiness was the importance of living in harmony with nature.

He observed human beings were meant to live in a state of balance and harmony with the natural world and that a disconnect from nature could lead to feelings of isolation, emptiness, and unhappiness.

Tolstoy was deeply critical of modern civilisation and its disregard for nature. He observed industrialisation and urbanisation had led to a detachment from nature and that this had led to a sense of alienation and emptiness in people’s lives.

He saw the natural world as a source of inspiration, healing, and spiritual renewal and believed that we must protect and nurture it to find true happiness.

Tolstoy thought happiness was closely tied to the pursuit of truth and knowledge. And that true happiness could only be achieved by seeking to understand the world around us and by living in accordance with the laws of nature and the universe.

In summary, Tolstoy’s idea of happiness was rooted in a deep sense of spiritual and moral purpose, a commitment to serving others, living in harmony with nature, and a belief in the power of love to transform individuals and society.

His ideas continue to inspire and challenge us today as we seek to live more meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Finally, remember what Tolstoy said, “If you want to be happy, be.”

 

 

The secret sauce for authors and bloggers, and all who need Email followers.

Follow these 18 steps to success in order to grow your email list.

Add an opt-in form to your website. This asks people who visit your website to sign up for your newsletter. If may also offer an incentive to do so. You can see mine here: sherrybriscoe.com.Share a link to a Pinterest board that tells a visual story about your book (or a character). This is a great way to incorporate colors, locations, moods, themes, etc. bringing your story to life for those visual learners.Write a monthly (or whatever suits you) progress report of your journey. Make it meaningful for your subscribers by sharing lessons learned, inspirational moments, or challenges to be overcome.Surprise your subscribers with more than they were expecting. A bonus chapter, an additional guide, or an extra service.Check your email and blog comments frequently, and answer your readers’ questions, follow-up on their comments. I always make sure to write their name in my response (when it’s given).Include updates on your news, a new book release, book awards, price promotions, book signings and appearances. Your readers want to know the latest!Repackage older, but evergreen posts. Create image quotes with them. I use Canvaand BookBrush. Both of these offer free accounts.Use Reader Magnets. Free downloads of short stories, a sample chapter preview, guides or checklists for subscribers only. When people subscribe to my newsletter, they receive a free download pdf of a short story.Share a review of a book you read and loved that you feel your readers might also enjoy. I post all my book reviews on Bookbub, but also refer to them in my newsletters.Poll your readers and get their opinions on future projects or book cover ideas. I often poll readers for my book titles and cover images. It helps me know what resonates with my readers.Allow subscribers a peek behind the curtain and share a bit more about you. My newsletter has a section titled About the Author, where I try to share something personal from my life. It helps them to know you’re human!Share a list of books or resources that you recommend.Maybe you can offer a free training or mini-course to your subscribers. This is especially great for non-fiction authors.Use an email service to set up autoresponder messages. I use MailerLitefor my newsletters. Aweberis also another great provider. However, there are many providers available. Review the costs, the pros and cons of each before you choose one.Share your manifesto. I recently read Octavia Butler’s manifestoand was blown away! If you don’t have your own manifesto — create one.Offer a promotion code for a discount on your latest book. I run free or 99 cent specials all the time.Insider info. Give your readers exclusives and even ‘reader appreciation gifts’.Share a sneak preview of your next book. Many authors create a special post with the ‘cover reveal’ of an upcoming novel.

Overall, there are many steps to creating and building a valuable email list.

Start with a solid website offering an easy sign-up form.Be consistent in your writing. My newsletters go out once a month.Know your audience and give them what they’re looking for. Specials, inside information, sneak previews, tips for their own business.Reward your followers with Reader Magnets and occasional reader appreciation gifts. I’ve given away amazon.com gift cards and even some Kindle e-readers.Make sure your writing is visual, well-crafted, memorable, relevant, and compelling to your readers. Give them value.