Motivation. What a word. It can mean so much to so many people, yet what motivates us is all so different. Just like our fingerprints are all different, so is the motivating power behind what we do. For me, what motivates me to keep writing on this website is my daughter. I can write about the good times and the bad. When I'm feeling lonely or have a need to write down the thoughts that swirl around in my brain like a tornado. To hear comments or replies to things I write will always have … [Read more...]
Day 84: How to Be a Writer
There's an age-old saying that says "patience is a virtue." However, God skipped the boat with me on that front. Sometimes I can feel the frustration boiling up to where my lid could blow a hole through the roof. I know my voice can suddenly shoot up to screaming in a second. This has been a flaw of mine since I can remember. Through all of this, God decided in His infinite wisdom that I could handle a blond hair, Caribbean blue-eyed beautiful little girl who happened to have severe classic … [Read more...]
Wow, Three Months Already
It's hard to believe that only three months ago I started my 365 day quest of writing on Mari's site. It's been really fun to do. In this past month we have been getting ready to move to Anchorage, Alaska, to start a new adventure. We've heard nothing but good things about living there. I can only imagine all the things we can do and see once we are there. I sit here on the couch in my in-laws house and it's kind of quiet and nice. I've missed being away from everyone so it's nice to know … [Read more...]
Day 83: Retyping the Best
This is an interesting concept. Have you ever thought about taking one of your very favorite books and retyping it out? That's right, the entire thing. Nope? Well, I hadn't either until I read about today's phrase. Here is a small excerpt from the book: "When Donald Ray Pollock turned forty-five, he decided he wanted to do something different with his life; he was going to learn how to write. He began by retyping stories by writers he liked —John Cheever, Richard Yates, and Ernest … [Read more...]
Day 82: Finding a Genre
I'm a romance nut. I started off reading teen romances by the time I was 13 or 14 years old. I eventually graduated to he adult romances. The ones I like the most are historical romances set in the UK somewhere, but mostly in London. I also like to read historical romances set in the US. Once in a while I will read a contemporary romance. The point is, I love my romance books. So, when I had my first book idea pop into my head I was sure that I'd be writing a romance. I began to write my … [Read more...]
Taxes, Oh What Fun
I meant to get this written back on April 15 but with the move to Alaska things have been a little bit busy. Almost two years ago my husband and I took full legal guardianship of our niece Athena and our nephew Trevin. Trevin came to us on July 17, 2011 and Athena came on August 2, 2011. And guess when the cut off time for being able to claim them on our taxes? That right, June 30, 2011. My brother was fine with us claiming them because we spent a lot of money to not only get them here with … [Read more...]
Day 81: Writing on Water
You might be asking yourself, "What in the heck is she talking about?" Well, here is a quote from the book that I think speaks volumes: "Annie Dillard in an interview once ranted that computers can create huge mushrooming paragraphs. Sometimes with these computer keys I feel like I’m doodling on a piano or writing on water. It’s too easy to revise, to slash and burn without letting the writing cool, or even worse, to blither on and on into lethal mushroom clouds of words." When I read that … [Read more...]
Day 80: The Strip Club
I like to think of this as more of the strip club of our life. When we write we are opening ourselves to others. We tend to put a part of ourselves, no matter how big or small, into our writing. In order to be good we have to be willing to strip down some of those internal layers so we can write what needs to be written and not just what we want to write. Think about that for a moment. In order to do that we have to leave ourselves partially vulnerable as we write. Not everyone can do this. … [Read more...]
Starting Our Cross-Country Trip Heading to Alaska
It's hard to believe that we have officially moved out of our townhome, cleared housing, made the drive to our first stop in the Chicago area where we are visiting family for the next week. It almost seems like yesterday when Keith came home from work and told me he was offered a guidance counselor position at the MEPS in Anchorage, Alaska. He asked if I wanted to go there and I said absolutely. He got his orders on September 18 and then the move came up and now our stuff is on its way to Alaska … [Read more...]
Day 79: What Does Your Mother Think?
I have to admit that when I write about anything personal that I try not to write something that might hurt my mom's feelings. For me, my writing is important to me and I try to be as free as I can. However, to put something down on paper that might later hurt my mom, even if what I say is true, I don't feel it's worth it to hurt her if I can help it. The bottom line is she's my mom and always will be. Has my life been this picture perfect life where my childhood was something other people … [Read more...]
