-
#AtoZChallenge: A mouse’s point of view
Actual note found in outgoing mouse mailbox. The tenants asked that we add the stamp… Dear mom, My move to Indiana has been great! I found a deluxe apartment on the north side of town. I have many roommates, so I’m never lonely. It’s furnished and we even have daily food delivery, although the variety is a bit sparse. The landlords deliver cheese and peanut butter to us in black plastic food stations. It’s so nice they are covered so our food stays fresh. They seem new but already the front doors are broken. When we eat, one of us has to hold the door open for the others, as…
-
IWSG: Chicken or the egg?
What comes first, the chicken or the egg? The question I’ve been asking myself lately in the same vein is, should I go to a writer’s conference this year, to help motivate me to finish my first book, or, should I commit to finishing the book and then reward myself with a writer’s conference? Having the discipline needed to write consistently is something I’m struggling with, so I feel like I shouldn’t invest the money to attend a conference until I’m willing to put in the work. However, going to a writer’s conference (like Bouchercon, Killer Nashville or Malice Domestic), may give me the encouragement needed to move my story…
-
Wildlife car rental
Update: A mouse’s point of view I was driving to work today and had just driven up my street a bit when out of the corner of my eye, a little gray mouse ran from under the passenger side seat and up under the dashboard. At first, I wasn’t sure what I saw but then it registered. Yes, indeed, I saw a mouse inside my car, while driving. I pulled over and got out of my car. I called my husband, Joe, and related what had happened. He first said, “Outside the car?” I then repeated, “Uh, no. Inside the car. With me.” He then asked me what the noise…
-
#CTST: Fresh berries!
Celebrate the Small Things: I am celebrating fresh berries! They are a favorite of mine. Add them to pie crust and they are just about nature’s most perfect food. I like Grand Traverse’s Mountain Berry Crumb pie and enjoy a slice anytime I can. Over the weekend I was craving fresh berries (in pie form) and found this wonderful recipe online from Feeling Foodish. I had to try it, to see if it even came close to GT’s pie. Do you know what? It did! The recipe calls for frozen berries but I used fresh and it was awesome. I’m afraid that frozen berries when thawed are too mushy. And, I substituted…
-
IWSG: What writing rule do you wish you’d never heard?
When I went to journalism school at the University of Colorado, Boulder, we were taught to report the facts – the who, what, when, where and how. And, to get that information into the first paragraph (the “lead”). So, when writing fiction, it’s nice to have more leeway in including emotion and description into my imaginary stories. Fewer rules result in more creativity! However, there are a few rules that still drive me to drink (or at least to ponder a glass of wine). One of the rules that I’d wish I’d never heard of was to never begin a sentence with “And, …” In marketing and creative writing, it…
-
Baking and Christmas memories
My family doesn’t have many Christmas traditions but I treasure the ones we have. Baking sweet treats during the holiday is one of my favorites. My Grandma Rose was the master baker in our family. She played bridge with ladies each week and they took turns bringing a dessert. Between her friends and Grandma’s eagle eye for yummy recipes in the newspaper, she acquired the best recipes imaginable. When I was little, I’d sometimes stay overnight with my grandparents on Friday, and Saturday morning my Grandma and I would make cookies together. This was after she served her famous Swedish pancakes (crepes) for breakfast! She knew most of the recipes…
-
IWSG and CTST: Favorite aspect of being a writer?
Celebrate the Small Things – Being a creative writer! Entry for November’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group: If you enjoy writing, which I do, there is nothing in the world like the feeling of writing fiction. There is something magical that happens when I begin to think about a story idea, then imagine characters and what their lives might be like and then proceed with the plot. It’s my favorite aspect of being a writer. I’ve written short stories and then, years later, re-read those stories and it’s like I’m reading them again for the first time. Some days I can’t believe that I’ve written them. Let me be clear – it’s…
-
Visiting Lincoln’s boyhood home
I’ve lived in Indiana for more than 11 years and didn’t realize that Lincoln’s boyhood home was a few hours south of me. I’ve heard all about the memorial in Illinois and plan to visit it in the future but I hadn’t heard about our own historical jewel. My friend and her husband let me tag along on their trip. Lincoln spent his formative years in Indiana, having moved with his family from Kentucky when he was 7 years old. He lived in Indiana for 14 years, until he was 21, when the family moved to Illinois. We enjoyed the Memorial Visitor Center, the introductory film, bookstore and museum exhibits.…
-
IWSG: When do you know your story is ready? 5 tips to consider …
Entry for October’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group: Although I haven’t had a fiction story or novel published, I have published “for hire” articles in B2B magazines. One article was for Energybiz magazine on the benefits to companies of offering recurring online charge payments for things like utility bills. Another article discussed the challenges to Florida public safety communications during a hurricane. In my personal and professional writing, I know my article is ready when: · I’ve reviewed it and taken out as many extraneous words as possible. I write my first draft and then go back and only keep what is absolutely necessary. · I feel like all the questions…
-
8th wonder of the world – elephants! (CTST)
Note: This is also my Celebrate the Small Things entry for the week, although that’s a bit of a misnomer, since elephants are large and amazing! Recently, two friends and I went to visit three beautiful, amazing African rescue elephants who were spending their summer vacation near French Lick, Indiana, at the Wilstem Ranch. We love animals so when the opportunity to “give them a mani-pedi” came to our attention, we had to go. You could choose either an educational hour with the elephants or you could choose to learn about them and give them a bath, including cleaning and moisturizing their feet. When will you ever have the opportunity…
