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Elaine Ambrose

Bestselling Author, Ventriloquist, & Humorist

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You are here: Home / Archives for #confidence

#confidence

Join Us for “Writing Against the Wind”

June 26, 2025 By Elaine Ambrose Leave a Comment

This writing workshop can help you gain the confidence as a writer to share your voice and believe in your message while ignoring bullies and critics. The event will be in Eagle, Idaho on September 20, 2025. Cost is $100 plus fees. Click here for details:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1403132369689?aff=oddtdtcreator

Are you hesitant to write and publish your work because critics will attack you? Have you posted comments on social media and received hostile reactions from bullies? Do you have self-doubts about expressing your authentic voice through your written stories? Do you appreciate the differences between writing humor, satire, and unnecessary nastiness?

This workshop is for you! Three established writers will offer advice, share personal examples, and describe writing exercises to help strengthen your confidence.

  • Learn from professionals who have survived the slings and arrows of misguided critics.
  • Write and read your work in a non-hostile environment.
  • Participate in engaging discussions and connect with like-minded individuals who share your desire to write against the wind!
  • Enjoy a lively discussion about the differences between humor and satire.
  • Receive one-on-one reviews with professional writers.
  • All participants will receive tote bags, books, and writing assignments. Lunch and afternoon appetizers are included.
  • Spaces are limited.

Please Notice: This workshop will be in a private residence in Eagle. The actual address will be emailed after receiving a paid registration.

Agenda

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM

“Fearless Writing” – Christine Flowers, Syndicated Columnist, Attorney

11:20 AM – 12:20 PM

“Tame Anti-Social Jerks on Social Media” – Donna Tagliaferri, Entrepreneur, Ghost Writer

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Lunch and Table Topics

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

“Write from the Heart” – Elaine Ambrose, Bestselling Author, Humorist

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Forum – Speakers and Participants

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Libations and Laughter on the Patio

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-against-the-wind-tickets-1403132369689?aff=oddtdtcreator

Speakers:

 

Christine Flowers graduated from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania with a degree in French, and then Villanova Law School.  She has been practicing immigration law in Philadelphia for 30 years and writes a weekly column for the Delaware County Times, which is syndicated nationally through the Cagle syndicate.  She is a regular panelist on a political and cultural roundtable at Philadelphia’s local ABC affiliate known as Inside Story. One of her Super Powers: She smiles as she destroys online critics.

 

Donna Tagliaferri is a business owner of a fabulous catering company in Las Vegas. During her eclectic career, she has been a blackjack dealer, county planning commissioner, a ghost writer, a writer, and a charming dinner partner. She has been married for 47 years and is the mother of four and grandmother to seven almost eight. She has a talent for growing green plants in the desert. One of her Super Powers: She manages to remain positive on social media.

Elaine Ambrose is the bestselling author of 14 books in three genres with a dozen international writing awards. She is a writing coach, ventriloquist, viral blogger, humorist, and independent publisher. She’s an actor in the local community theatre and can cook a splendid chicken Parmesan. She is a third-generation Idahoan and lives in Eagle with her patient husband and near her children and grandchildren. One of her Super Powers: She can make crabby people laugh.

Filed Under: blog, events Tagged With: #confidence, #Idaho, #socialmedia, #writer, #WritingWorkshop

Good Advice for Bad Reviews

October 19, 2015 By Elaine Ambrose

bad book review

If I’m feeling a bit too confident and need an instant dose of humility, I read some bad reviews about my latest book Midlife Cabernet. This self-inflicted pain is sure to temporarily destroy my positive attitude and slaughter the pretentious belief that I am a writer. To prevent myself from trading my computer for a clown costume and running away to join the circus, I’ve discovered a convenient technique to overcome the humiliation: Spy on the reviewers.

My book has almost 700 reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads, and 78% of them are positive. But, I can’t resist peeking at the negative comments. For example, a few months ago Donna gave the book a 1-Star rating out of 5 stars. Here is her review:

“Stunk”

I couldn’t glean any helpful suggestions from this nasty comment, nor did I determine how to please Donna. I investigated her other reviews and noticed she had written only eight comments and had given three 1-star ratings. I decided that Donna is too high-maintenance and doesn’t deserve my sparkling humor.

McNay, a prolific reviewer, also gave the book a 1-star rating and wrote that she returned it for credit because she couldn’t finish reading it. I inspected her biography and noted that she gave 5-star ratings to a digital meat thermometer and a cuticle clipper she had ordered from Amazon.com. I can’t compete with those products.

Ronald Seiberton wrote a terse comment about the book:

“Not that funny”

I discovered that he had written a grand total of three reviews and had given five stars to a book about the Dalai Lama. I have to wonder why he even purchased a copy of Midlife Cabernet.

A reviewer named Cocoa’s Mama gave the book a 2-star rating and wrote, “This book did have it’s humorous moments, but all the five star reviews have me baffled. This book was not at all well written.” I smugly noticed that her review wasn’t well-written either and contained at least three grammatical errors. But, she did give a 5-star review to a reversible puffy vest for dogs.

The reviews on Goodreads were also humbling. Maureen gave the book 1-star rating and wrote:

“I couldn’t force myself to finish this book. It is full of insipid one-liners which are fine for 10 minutes.”

Maureen, please admit I amused you for ten minutes. That’s all I need. I also noted that Maureen gave a 3-star rating to George Orwell’s 1984. So, I’ve got that going for me.

Rhonda LeRay gave the book a 1-star rating, but I noticed she read and liked a book titled, 101 Things to Do with Popcorn. I don’t want Rhonda to like my book.

I began to whimper as I read through more bad reviews. Sheri Slomnick gave it two stars and wrote that she was in her 30s and didn’t find the book as funny as advertised. Sheri, sweetheart, the subtitle is “Life, Love, & Laughter after 50.” Read it again in 20 years and write a better comment.

Finally, a man named Guy gave the book another 1-star ranking. His profile notes that he is a corporate director, merchant banker, and strategic advisor. Perhaps a book titled Midlife Cabernetshouldn’t be included on his must-read list.

I don’t think reviewers realize how devastating a 1-star rating can hurt sales (and feelings.) Was it really that bad? Have they ever written anything beyond a few lines of criticism? There’s only one action to do after wallowing through the condemning, vicious comments. Meekly return to the 5-star reviews and find reasons to live. I linger on this one:

“This book was one of the most funny, endearing books I’ve read.”

The quote is from my friend, but that doesn’t matter. I believe in my heart that she is correct.

 

 

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: #confidence, #humor, #midlife, Amazon.com, book reviews, Goodreads, humility

Why Funny is Always Fashionable

October 6, 2014 By Elaine Ambrose

 

old woman laughing

You know you’re at peace with yourself and the universe if you can enter a crowded social function, scan the room, and then join the group creating the most laughter. After a certain age, you don’t waste time with pseudo-intellectuals, plastic-faced divas, or over-styled drama queens; especially if they’re your relatives. Just trot your sensible, low-heeled shoes over to those having fun and then laugh until you snort.

Over the years, most women have endured numerous charity galas, corporate soirees, and elegant events that required dressing in more than a “This Wine is Making me Awesome” t-shirt, Yoga pants, and flip-flops (my favorite outfit.) In our twenties and thirties, we started preparing weeks in advance; trying on various outfits, scheduling hair and nail appointments, and crash dieting to lose a few pounds. By our forties, the routine became less rigorous unless the occasion was a dinner party with our boss or a romantic evening with a significant other. Usually, those events did not involve the same person.

By age 50, however, we said screw the rules. We gauged the importance of an event by the need to shave our legs or not. What to wear came down to what garment would hide last week’s lasagna binge. There was a time when identical outfits would have caused one of us to retreat to the coat closet and desperately paw for something to throw over our shoulders. Now if I’m attending a fancy function and see another woman wearing a replica of my dress, I congratulate her on her exquisite taste. If she’s over 50, she’ll laugh and say, “Got it on sale for only $150!” We high-five and sashay to the wine bar.

Another scene to avoid forever is the Sugar Daddy with Arm Candy couple. She’ll be giggling about play dates and nannies and he’ll be sweating and adjusting his pacemaker. If the hostess seats you next to such a twosome, feign a sudden onset of gastrointestinal flu and discreetly find another table, preferably with a middle-age couple who are holding hands and laughing. It doesn’t matter if they came together.

High fashion is not my top priority. I usually wear classic, quality clothes that have timeless appeal, such as my favorite 10-year-old St. John knit jackets. They cost a fortune new but I’ve worn them for years and they always look good. And, I’m a strong advocate of the simple black dress adorned with fun accessories. And there is no way these well-traveled feet will ever again feel the inside of a high-heeled shoe. That just won’t happen because high-heels are painful and I choose not to hurt. An elongated calf perched on a $300 strip of leather just doesn’t matter that much.

While laughing with new and old friends at a society event, it’s tempting to sneak a peek at the younger, more perfect women. They arrive with a flair of confidence, pause to pose on their six-inch heels, and jut their tiny, sequin-covered bodies into the spotlight. Yes, they are proud of their flat-stomachs, bobbing cleavages, and toned arms. Their hair, makeup, and nails are flawless, and heads turn in appreciation. I immediately start humming “The Girl from Ipanema.”

When she walks, she’s like a samba

That swings so cool and sways so gentle

That when she passes, each one she passes

Goes “A-a-a-h.”

I never was that woman, not even on my most magnificent occasion. But, I’m finally happy in my own skin, every wrinkled, spotted inch of it. I’d much rather be with the witty group, the ones who are telling humorous stories, and the ones who know that Ipanema Girl someday will be fifty. Then she, too, will know that funny is fashionable.

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: #confidence, #fashion, #gala, #humor, #midlifecabernet

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