Category: musings

8 Reasons to Read 1

musings

8 Reasons to Read

The other day I had a drop-in book event at the Edmonds Bookshop. During quiet moments, I looked around, watching people browse the array of books this gem of a bookshop stocks. It made me wonder why they browse/select/buy/read certain genres. I made a quick list and came up with this random collection of generic ideas: 1. It’s fun, informative or both. 2. It takes you to worlds you’ might never visit otherwise. 3. You are led to see images in new ways. 4. It’s often relaxing. 5. It opens you to new perspectives. 6. You meet interesting story characters...

Write on the Sound Conference 0

character development / details in writing / Letters to Follow / musings / writer reminders

Write on the Sound Conference

Writers never stop looking for ways to improve their writing. One such way is conferences. Our local conference, Write on the Sound, is a perfect place to gain ideas and techniques while meeting with fellow writers. And, as good fortune would have it, we had a perfect weekend of weather, classes, and vistas from the Plaza Room at Edmond’s Francis Anderson Center (formerly the place where I began my teaching career half a century ago). Ouch. that sounds ancient; maybe it is! The conference strictly showcases writers as presenters with no agents or publishers making presentations. Listening to fellow writers...

Found Poetry – Fun for Everyone 0

musings / poetry

Found Poetry – Fun for Everyone

I want to share this notion with you because it only take a few minutes and it creates amazing results.   O.K. so what is ‘found poetry’? A friend who loves words, writing and reading brought this to my attention. As I understand it, you need a book of your choosing, paper and a pen or pencil. Now comes the fun: open the book to any page and touch a sentence at random. Write it down. Now repeat this action two more times. You will end up with a strangely clever poem. Consider taking more lines from various sections of...

Quotes to Ponder 1

musings / quotes

Quotes to Ponder

Small ideas often make stories more memorable and often give us pause: If I cannot accept the real as real, how can I accept a dream as a dream? Night Gardening by E.L. Swann comment attributed to the 12th century priest/monk Saigyo   The grooves of his life were deep and rigid. Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston   It turns out impatience is the thief of serenity. Chicken Chronicles by Alice Walker   (talking about life events) … the kind that looks like nothing except through time’s rear view mirror. The Walk by Richard Paul Evans  ...

Writing as an Everyday Activity 0

musings / writing

Writing as an Everyday Activity

I write every day. Mostly it’s on pages for my upcoming book. Sometimes it’s for one of my 3 blogs (Educating America, Goodreads and this one about Writing). I also find myself spending time writing classroom newsletters, math games and book publicity. I enjoy the variety of writing activities and sometimes I find myself switching from one type of writing to another when my brain needs a chance to rethink or sift through an idea before I make a final decision. I’ve tried to step away from writing some days, but I get edgy and need to work with words...

Upcoming Book Events for When the Music Stops-Dance On 0

interviews / marketing / musings / When the Music Stops

Upcoming Book Events for When the Music Stops-Dance On

When the Music Stops-Dance On has a publication date of Sept. 15th. To celebrate the release of this, book two in the ballet series, I have events planned and YOU’RE INVITED! *** Thursday, September 24th 7 PM at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park *** Thursday, October 15th drop-in between 5 and 8 PM to the Edmonds Bookshop (It’s Art Walk Thursday!) *** Saturday, October 24th at 2 PM at the Barnes and Noble in the Kitsap Mall (Silverdale) PLUS: Invite me to your book club meeting, live or via Skype, most anytime over the next months. If you’re...

Julie 2

musings / new works

Julie

I have a wonderful friend I’ve never met face-to-face. Her name is Julie; she’s my web and product designer. I met her through Tendril Press where my books and materials are designed. Most Mondays at 6 AM I have a conversation with her. Some are five minutes; some are longer, especially when we get talking about her other business: creating handbags for Allison Clothing Company, a shop in West Reading, PA (also online) or when we start comparing who’s got the worst weather. (Her winters win every time!) I feel indebted to Julie for her patience.  As she finishes one...

What Colors Rule Your World This Day? 1

details in writing / musings / quotes

What Colors Rule Your World This Day?

Color: the presence of life as seen through different lenses. Each day we select the way we’ll see our world. The following quotes provide different views/moods/images within a story.   The brilliant sun had disappeared, its last flickering rays painting the rim of the sky with liquid crimson, bleeding into saffron and amethyst and the palest lilac before dropping down behind the dim horizon. The Women in His Life by B.T. Bradford p.167   The mist enclosed them, making straight-ahead visibility almost non-existent. Up above was another story; the fog was pinned to the rivers and lagoons, barely higher than...

Even New York Times Authors Write Wrong 2

book reviewing / details in writing / editing / musings

Even New York Times Authors Write Wrong

I have several favorite contemporary authors I enjoy when I read to escape for awhile. Recently I read a book by a well-known NYTimes author and almost choked on one of her glitchy sentences. See what you think. (The following is one sentence with the character names changed to protect that author from embarrassment as she writes another 2-3 books before the end of the year.) She walked out to get the phone, and heard, as she assured Hannah the baby was fine, was sleeping like an angel, had been no trouble at all, the front door close behind him....

Writing a Pain-Free Review 1

book reviewing / musings / When the Music Stops

Writing a Pain-Free Review

Author are needy people. We seek validation from our critique groups, mentors and our readers. I know, that’s almost pathetic isn’t it? Why do authors seek validation? We work to create interesting stories, but without comments (reviews) we don’t know if we’ve succeeded. That’s where you come in. We hope what we write strikes a favorable chord inside you. That it informs or entertains, startles or amuses you and leaves you feeling satisfied. But, what should a reader mention in a review? (Please read to the end for a suggestion to ease any stress this section stirs up inside you.)...