Being Open to Change

       A decade ago, I was a firm believer in the paper and pen... at least when it came to the beginning of a piece. I would proclaim, "I cannot write on a computer in the beginning. I must write it in longhand until I get into a real groove."

       I believed it and stuck to it.

       However, time is like gold these days. The computer is much faster, and my first draft, tapped out on my keyboard, ends up being just like the paper and pen version in one way: it is less than stellar. I know it, and I accept it.

        Yesterday I wrote and submitted two pieces. (It was a productive morning.) They were conceived on my laptop and birthed there as well.

         What do you need as a writer? How has your writing process changed over the years? Tap-tap-tapping minds want to know...

That's Why...

... there's six different kinds of pie in a restaurant. 

       That's a phrase I heard frequently when I was growing up. My grandparents and parents weren't usually talking about dining out when they said it, either. For them, it meant that everyone has their own preferences, their own likes and dislikes. For example, my grandpa loved to fish but I thought it was horribly boring. Sitting around. Not being allowed to talk. 

       That's why there's six different kinds of pie in a restaurant. That's why there are lots of different activities to choose from.

          When I visited France this summer, I spent most of my time in Nay, a small town close to Pau. At the market, the cheese shop offered many, many varieties of cheese to choose from. Some were made from cow's milk. Some from goat's milk. Some from both. Some kinds were sharp in taste... some were mild. 

           I tapped away at my WIP last night. I'm at 70,000 words and some change (but just a few pennies' worth of change... I'm not talkin' 'bout some quarters' worth). And I thought about all the different kinds of books that are sold these days.

           Chick lit appeals to some. Collections of short stories are enjoyed by many. Cookbooks are savored by lots of people. But what if a book was a combination of all three?

           My WIP--right now--straddles several different genres. I hope it appeals to people if it ever sees the light of day when it is finished. I hope there are readers who appreciate it. I hope there are people who rave about its flavor.

            What is your favorite kind of pie? Pastry-obsessed minds want to know.

Idle Hands

        I've been seeing some posts lately about things writers do when they need a break from writing. You know, when you need a half an hour of something different so your fingers can catch up with your mind?

        Might I offer up the art of zentangle? If you search for it online, you'll find countless pattern ideas. And the wonderful thing is: you don't have to be an artist to create crazy-wonderful art via zentangling.

         Zentangle books are popping up everywhere, but if you snag the ideas off the internet, they're free. Once you're completely addicted, then you can get your fix satisfied by purchasing a book now and then.

a zentagle I'm working on for my son...

             See? Everybody can doodle. Everybody can draw curvy lines and squiggly lines and straight (or semi-straight) lines.

             At least for me, breaks from the writing are necessary. Pee breaks (because I try to drink a lot of water when I'm in a writing groove). Breaks to read for 20-30 minutes. A zentangle break.

             Do yourself a favor and check it out. Your next break could be zany amounts of fun. (Zentangling can also make unbearably long meetings bearable.)

It's All in the Eyes

          I've been resistant about watching the series Game of Thrones (GOT), in spite of all the hype over the past few years. George R. R. Martin wrote one of my all-time favorite books--Fevre Dream--and it's very different from the series of books that GOT sprang from. I felt like I'd be betraying Fevre Dream if I slummed and watched the Martin television series. 

         I finally succumbed, and now am playing catch-up. (I'm into the 2nd season, so don't tell me what happens in the 3rd, 4th or 5th season, although my son jokingly texted me "Spoiler alert: everybody dies.")

        The character that keeps me captivated is "the imp" played by Peter Dinklage. He provides the most levity, so that accounts for some of his appeal. However, he has expressive eyes that speak volumes. 

        As I work on my WIP (or think about working on my WIP), I hope that I'm making my characters appealing. I hope they will someday captivate the reader's attention. I hope that at least one of them will be memorable.

        Are you into Game of Thrones? Have you ever read Fevre Dream? (Yes, it's a vampire novel, but unlike any vampire novel you've ever read.) And if you avoided a book/series and finally surrendered, what was it--and what was the result?

Close to Your Heart

         This summer, I found a tiny antique journal while traveling in France. It's made of some kind of metal. Silver? Something else? I'm not sure. It's a lovely way to remember the trip and is a perfect way to express how important writing is to me.
 

Nothing is written inside. Unfortunately,
John Hancock did NOT take notes in this journal when
the drafting of the Declaration of Independence
was done... Otherwise, I'd be retired right now.
Instead, I'm just tired...

          I'm planning on getting a chain so I can wear it as a necklace.

          I love writing.  I love arranging and rearranging lines. I love reading others' words. I love getting feedback (constructive criticism) on my writing. 

          What memento from a trip or an era do you have that you hold close to your heart? Sentimental minds want to know...

Turkey Dogs? Or TurkISH Dogs?

     In about two months a few Love a Golden volunteers are going to Chicago to meet some international canines... to meet some goldens from Turkey, so we can drive them back to St. Louis, so they can soon find forever homes.

     It's an expensive endeavor. The plane fare. The vet care (done in Istanbul). The sending back of the crates. The rental of a vehicle that will hold four people and three extra-large crates.

     But it should be a blast. And soooo rewarding.

     If you click on the link below, you can find out more about the project, along with the problem that's rampant in Turkey. Atlanta has gotten a bunch of goldens already (Lisa and Cathy--yahoo for Atlanta) and many other cities have already gotten some goldens as well, or are in the process of getting some. (I wrote the text for the Go Fund Me page, so I'm gonna keep this short.)

     Clicking on the link will also enable you to--if you so desire--donate to the cause. Every little bit helps.

     Go Fund Love a Golden Rescue Getting Dogs From Turkey


     And if you'd like to see a video about this project that has spread all across the country, check out this piece about the work Atlanta has done so far...

       And if you have a dog or cat, whisper to them, "You're so lucky to be in a loving home..." Because they are.