 A gentle gaited horse I was just at the Tony Hillerman Writers Weekend in Santa Fe, where Wordharvest (http://wordharvest.com) announced the revival of the Hillerman Mystery Short Story Contest in 2011, this time with New Mexico Magazine (http://www.nmmagazine.com/featuredauthor_fein_dec10.php). There was also talk about the Left Coast Crime mystery writers’ conference (http://www.leftcoastcrime.org/2011/), which is coming to Santa Fe in March. Valerie Plame Wilson gave a fabulous keynote speech at the Hillerman Weekend, where she recalled writing her book “Fair Game” at the rate of 1,000 to 1,500 words each day, then her travails with the CIA Publications Review Board which led to her suing them (with a lot less money to pay her attorney than they were paying theirs), and then publishing the book with the censor’s marks visible as blacked-out words.  A curious Arabian My favorite conversation was with mystery writer Judith Van Gieson, now running ABQ Press (http://www.abqpress.com/). She said she’s in a phase where she’s opening herself up to what the universe brings her, instead of trying to make things happen. I’ve always been a big proponent of making things happen instead of relying on fate (although fate did slow me down when I was looking to buy a new horse and I ended up glad it did—not that my equine attraction has faded, but the time wasn’t right). Fate deals the cards, but we play the game. What do you think? Are our life paths determined more by free will or fate?
2 Comments
monika
11/18/2010 09:24:33 pm
The curious arabian, as you call him, at the end of your question about fate vs will is perfect-- makes me laugh. I think the curious horse in all of us helps us hold the question and live with the both sides of this paradoxical tension in life. I know for myself in my 50's it has been so clearly both-- work like a dog for what I love and aim for and also surrender utterly -- let go-- and let the tapestry of soul life unfold. Thank you, Wolf, for playing here with this tight rope we all walk in some ways and I say, YES-- lets keep it going with the inner attitude of the curious horse! Leave a Reply. |
