An email about The Bucket List has been making the rounds.
While it's kind of fun to check off the things on the list that I have done, it isn't really my kind of list.
I can't check off "been bungee jumping" or "hang gliding" or "camped in a tent," and the thing is I don't want to do any of those things!
Oh, there's nothing wrong with doing any of those things. They just aren't anything I want to do.
The kinds of things I would like to do while I still have time are to read more books and write more books. To make at least one person smile every day. To laugh and make others laugh. To savor my quiet moment in the morning when I open the door when it's just getting light out. To really enjoy each minute I have with family and friends.
So let others look forward to climbing that mountain or tossing a football around with Peyton Manning or being an extra in a blockbuster movie. I'd rather just look forward to enjoying more of the "little" things in life.
(But if someone wants to give me their box seats for the Kentucky Derby one year, I'm game. ;D )
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Second Day of Spring? And it is Still Snowing? What is This?
Here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon it hardly ever snows. At all. A few flurries are cause for excitement. An inch closes the schools (because the city has very little equipment for taking care of snow).
So to wake up to seven inches of snow, and it is still coming down, is quite a shock! There are several branches down in the neighborhood, some of them large. I went out and knocked the snow off of shrubs and lower branches of the trees and those branches sprung right back up. Of course, I am soaked now, lol!
Kids are out playing and sliding in the snow. The birds sound bewildered (I can hear them, but I'm not seeing any). I think we have enough food for the day if I can't get to the store as I had planned.
I hope the plum tree in the back yard, which had already started blooming, will recover and bounce back up again.
Meanwhile, I watch out the window and enjoy the beauty of snow while also wishing that it stops falling really soon!
So to wake up to seven inches of snow, and it is still coming down, is quite a shock! There are several branches down in the neighborhood, some of them large. I went out and knocked the snow off of shrubs and lower branches of the trees and those branches sprung right back up. Of course, I am soaked now, lol!
Kids are out playing and sliding in the snow. The birds sound bewildered (I can hear them, but I'm not seeing any). I think we have enough food for the day if I can't get to the store as I had planned.
I hope the plum tree in the back yard, which had already started blooming, will recover and bounce back up again.
Meanwhile, I watch out the window and enjoy the beauty of snow while also wishing that it stops falling really soon!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Create a Character
Stories need characters readers will care about.
Writers need to get to know their characters, so the readers will also get to know them. Start by describing as much as you can picture. What is the hair color, eye color? How tall? Fat or fit? What is your character's favorite food? Sport? Music? Or does your character hate sports? Or like ancient chanting, while everyone around him loves bluegrass?
Pick a character from a book you love and describe him/her. This will show you the kind of details you need to know about your character to make him come to life.
You won't know your character all at once. You'll learn about him as you write, discover things you never thought of. Once you really know and care about your character, the odds are your readers will too.
Writers need to get to know their characters, so the readers will also get to know them. Start by describing as much as you can picture. What is the hair color, eye color? How tall? Fat or fit? What is your character's favorite food? Sport? Music? Or does your character hate sports? Or like ancient chanting, while everyone around him loves bluegrass?
Pick a character from a book you love and describe him/her. This will show you the kind of details you need to know about your character to make him come to life.
You won't know your character all at once. You'll learn about him as you write, discover things you never thought of. Once you really know and care about your character, the odds are your readers will too.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Love is Grand!
Love is grand!
Divorce is a hundred grand. *************************
Time may be a great healer,
But it's a lousy beautician.
***************************
Conscience is what hurts
Conscience is what hurts
When everything else feels good.
*************************
Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand.
***************************
Even if you are on the right track,
You'll get run over if you just sit there.
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Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand.
***************************
Even if you are on the right track,
You'll get run over if you just sit there.
***************************
In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.
***************************
I plan on living forever. So far, So good.
***************************
I plan on living forever. So far, So good.
***************************
Practice safe eating -- always use condiments.
***************************
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A day without sunshine is like night.
***************************
It's frustrating when you know all the answers,
It's frustrating when you know all the answers,
But nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
***************************
***************************
The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time,
but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
***************************
Age doesn't always bring wisdom.
Sometimes it comes alone.
***************************
Life not only begins at forty,
It also begins to show.
*************************
*************************
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Getting Your Work Critiqued
After you've written your story, polished it and think it's "ready to go," that is the time to have your work critiqued.
Find at least two, better yet, three people who have experience in the same area of writing, be it picture books for the very young or non-fiction for the most serious adult readers. You might find these people in person or online, through writing groups, word-of-mouth or online searches. They might be other writers (aspiring or published) with whom you can do a manuscript exchange.
Or you can find a former editor or agent or author who does professional critiques. You'll have to pay for these, maybe as little as $30, maybe more than $300. Again, check with friends, writing groups and/or online searches.
Be open to the criticism, but remember that it is feedback and the story is yours. If everyone says your main character is weak, you'll really need to consider that. If you get three widely different opinions, you need to decide which, if any, resonate with you and your story.
It takes courage to ask for criticism, but it will help improve your writing.
Find at least two, better yet, three people who have experience in the same area of writing, be it picture books for the very young or non-fiction for the most serious adult readers. You might find these people in person or online, through writing groups, word-of-mouth or online searches. They might be other writers (aspiring or published) with whom you can do a manuscript exchange.
Or you can find a former editor or agent or author who does professional critiques. You'll have to pay for these, maybe as little as $30, maybe more than $300. Again, check with friends, writing groups and/or online searches.
Be open to the criticism, but remember that it is feedback and the story is yours. If everyone says your main character is weak, you'll really need to consider that. If you get three widely different opinions, you need to decide which, if any, resonate with you and your story.
It takes courage to ask for criticism, but it will help improve your writing.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
In hot water--I wish!
At first I wasn't worried. I wasn't getting hot water, but no big deal, I figured. Just go out in the garage and push the reset button on the water heater. I undo the panel, pull aside the insulation and press the button. Fine. But as I put the insulation back in place, I notice that it is slightly damp. Not a good sign...
I start looking at the bottom of the heater for water. I don't see any. But just to be sure, I run my finger along the bottom. In addition to ending up with a dusty finger (sorry, I don't usually dust around my water heater), I felt a trace of water. Hmmm. Time to call the plumber.
He says it is time for a new water heater. Fortunately, this is a plumber I have called many times, he does great work and I TRUST him! Since it was late afternoon and not an emergency, he asked if he could come at 8 the next morning. That was fine with me. He told me to turn off the water at the top of the water heater and to go in the house and turn on a hot water faucet to relieve some of the pressure.
After I did that, I noticed I could now see a little water under the water heater. I put a washcloth there. A couple hours later it was all wet, so I replaced it with another one. That one got soaked, so before I went to bed I put an old beach towel down and hoped for the best.
In the morning only about half the beach towel was wet, so it had done its job. At 7:45 I pulled my car out of the garage and parked it on the street. Just as I got out of my car, the plumber pulled into the driveway. 15 minutes early! :)
The plumber is now draining the old water heater and will install the new one, which he had picked up. It is precious indeed to have a great plumber to call, and I am so glad I have one!
I start looking at the bottom of the heater for water. I don't see any. But just to be sure, I run my finger along the bottom. In addition to ending up with a dusty finger (sorry, I don't usually dust around my water heater), I felt a trace of water. Hmmm. Time to call the plumber.
He says it is time for a new water heater. Fortunately, this is a plumber I have called many times, he does great work and I TRUST him! Since it was late afternoon and not an emergency, he asked if he could come at 8 the next morning. That was fine with me. He told me to turn off the water at the top of the water heater and to go in the house and turn on a hot water faucet to relieve some of the pressure.
After I did that, I noticed I could now see a little water under the water heater. I put a washcloth there. A couple hours later it was all wet, so I replaced it with another one. That one got soaked, so before I went to bed I put an old beach towel down and hoped for the best.
In the morning only about half the beach towel was wet, so it had done its job. At 7:45 I pulled my car out of the garage and parked it on the street. Just as I got out of my car, the plumber pulled into the driveway. 15 minutes early! :)
The plumber is now draining the old water heater and will install the new one, which he had picked up. It is precious indeed to have a great plumber to call, and I am so glad I have one!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Distractions from writing outside my window
Everyone wants a writing office with a window with a nice view, right?
And that makes sense. Who wants a crummy view, or worse, no view at all? But that nice view can have its downside when trying to concentrate.
I mean, who can't help but pause when seeing the 5-year-old from across the street is learning to ride her new two-wheeler? Dad holds the back of the bike, girl peddles happily. Girl notices Dad is no longer holding onto the back of the bike. Girl panics momentarily, wobbles, then peddles harder. Girl realizes she can do it on her own! Now that was worth a break from writing.
Birds are good distractions, too. It's always fun to spot a finch or flicker or woodpecker coming to the feeder. Their chirps and colors brighten any day. One blue jay likes to peck at the roof of a small popout addition that I can see from my window. Even if I couldn't see him, I can hear him!
The weather can be a distraction, regardless of what it is. A beautiful blue sky can trigger daydreaming. A few snowflakes in an area where it rarely snow sparks excitement. It's easy to take notice of even the rain. It's raining so hard! Or, ah, rain, we've been needing some rain. Or, rain? Again?
I suppose I could pull the shade, or place my desk where I can't see the window. But what fun would that be? Sometimes a little distraction is just what I need to return to my writing full of energy and inspiration.
And that makes sense. Who wants a crummy view, or worse, no view at all? But that nice view can have its downside when trying to concentrate.
I mean, who can't help but pause when seeing the 5-year-old from across the street is learning to ride her new two-wheeler? Dad holds the back of the bike, girl peddles happily. Girl notices Dad is no longer holding onto the back of the bike. Girl panics momentarily, wobbles, then peddles harder. Girl realizes she can do it on her own! Now that was worth a break from writing.
Birds are good distractions, too. It's always fun to spot a finch or flicker or woodpecker coming to the feeder. Their chirps and colors brighten any day. One blue jay likes to peck at the roof of a small popout addition that I can see from my window. Even if I couldn't see him, I can hear him!
The weather can be a distraction, regardless of what it is. A beautiful blue sky can trigger daydreaming. A few snowflakes in an area where it rarely snow sparks excitement. It's easy to take notice of even the rain. It's raining so hard! Or, ah, rain, we've been needing some rain. Or, rain? Again?
I suppose I could pull the shade, or place my desk where I can't see the window. But what fun would that be? Sometimes a little distraction is just what I need to return to my writing full of energy and inspiration.
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