Today my neighborhood mockingbird flew into my garage and sang for me. He comes every now and then to perch on my white tub that holds my garden tool. He always arrives on a day when I might need a special bit of a lift. Today I was finally ready to take my taxes to my trusted AARP accountants, opened the big garage door, turned back into the kitchen to grab my sunglasses, and then I heard his sweet song. He always sings Oriole and Cardinal for me, my favorite UpNorthy bird songs. Once I even heard him sing the Robin's song, which amazed me because I never see Robins here. They don't live in Southern Florida. That day I asked him how long a road trip he'd been on! Yes, I talk to him, never scares him off.
When I step closer to him, he always sings one extra long song for me, then leaves. Magical. Today of all days, magical. With those crappy tax forms beside me, I actually drove off with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.
Life can be good, exceedingly good.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
When I write, if...
I write everyday; don't quite get why it is taking me forever to development a blog habit. I will keep giving my self recriminations. 'Bout the time I have a gazillon follows, I will have illustrated my trusty, fun, helpful writers' blog-a-tips and silly snips.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Talking It Over
One of the greatest joys of being a writing coach is my writers/students actually ask questions and anticipate a fruitful discussion. Last night, in the middle of a Scrabble match, Brian chatted in the game's bubble, "I have a question about my novel." Three or four exchanges later, with my final entry offering him two possible ways to get out of the spot where he was stuck, he typed, "Okay, I know what I'm going to do now; guess I figured it out myself."
Plotting is Planning
That was music to my ears. When I taught high school and adult ed, one of my goals was to provide my writers with myriad exercises that led to 'thinking it through'. As coach, similar exercises, examples, suggestions lead to thinking 'plot'. Brian knew what he wanted to convey about plot in that chapter, but the number of characters he had brought in took over the dialog, and he lost his protagonist's Point of View (pow) in the process. By the time we got back to concentrating on our Scrabble board, he had sorted out what was wrong, how many characters to write OUT of the scene and felt confident his protag would regain control.
Like I said, it's always a joy for me to watch a writer leap forward in skills. I'm still grinning today just remembering the pride, and releif, he took in his own discovery last night. Two heads are better than one; when it comes to writers, every time you can brainstorm with lots of brains the more you grow.
Writing is Goal Oreintated
If you're not in a writing group that lets you read and discuss at least 5 - 10 pages a week, see if you can find one that does. Know what you want to accomplish. With 52 weeks in a year and if you commit to writing 10 pages even 40 of those weeks, you'll have a 400 page rough draft of your book before a year passes. Yes, it's a formula for turning attainable short term goals into one of the most satisfying super big goals of anyone's life. Even if it's not a best-seller, and even if you think it might suck, it won't. You will be very pleased with your growth throughout the process. And, our technology makes writing a book less painful than its ever been.
I'm just sayin'....
Try meetup.com and type in your zip and and several 'writer' words; you'll find some. And, even though they usually schedule only one meetup a month, each group will know of weekly classes you may want to check out.
And keep Write On!
Plotting is Planning
That was music to my ears. When I taught high school and adult ed, one of my goals was to provide my writers with myriad exercises that led to 'thinking it through'. As coach, similar exercises, examples, suggestions lead to thinking 'plot'. Brian knew what he wanted to convey about plot in that chapter, but the number of characters he had brought in took over the dialog, and he lost his protagonist's Point of View (pow) in the process. By the time we got back to concentrating on our Scrabble board, he had sorted out what was wrong, how many characters to write OUT of the scene and felt confident his protag would regain control.
Like I said, it's always a joy for me to watch a writer leap forward in skills. I'm still grinning today just remembering the pride, and releif, he took in his own discovery last night. Two heads are better than one; when it comes to writers, every time you can brainstorm with lots of brains the more you grow.
Writing is Goal Oreintated
If you're not in a writing group that lets you read and discuss at least 5 - 10 pages a week, see if you can find one that does. Know what you want to accomplish. With 52 weeks in a year and if you commit to writing 10 pages even 40 of those weeks, you'll have a 400 page rough draft of your book before a year passes. Yes, it's a formula for turning attainable short term goals into one of the most satisfying super big goals of anyone's life. Even if it's not a best-seller, and even if you think it might suck, it won't. You will be very pleased with your growth throughout the process. And, our technology makes writing a book less painful than its ever been.
I'm just sayin'....
Try meetup.com and type in your zip and and several 'writer' words; you'll find some. And, even though they usually schedule only one meetup a month, each group will know of weekly classes you may want to check out.
And keep Write On!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Our Youth of the World
These Olympic games inspire me to dream of writing with dipped-ink pen upon scrolled, fragile paper endless epistles of ecstacy and glory, whose fragrance of contentment we breathe in, hold and never have a need to expel.
iow--I like 'em!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Busy is a Blessing, but...
Wow! I'm a busy writer/poet/writing coach in real life, but I also want to be a great resource/coach online for all aspiring writers. So, I don't offer an excuse for my long absence from this blog. I'll be more determined. However, at this moment, I have to watch the women's team gymnastics. Let's grab that Gold!
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