Monday, December 26, 2011

Transitions


Photo courtesy of Free Artistic Photos

As a writer, I think a lot about transitions. When I’m working on a story or article, I want things to flow smoothly from one scene or idea to the next, always trying to make the ride less bumpy for my readers. But transitions in life aren’t always so smooth.

Last week, my father passed away, just two days before his 77th birthday. We had been planning a big party for him with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Instead, we laid him to rest four days later, on my birthday.

It’s hard to believe he’s really gone. Perhaps I’m still a bit numb. But I’m grateful that I’m surrounded by a loving family, and through us, his legacy will live on.

I am wishing you all a new year of smooth transitions, in writing and in life.



Sunday, December 4, 2011

Freight

Our life experiences influence us every day, as do the experiences of those close to us. Some call this baggage. In his new novel, author Mel Bosworth calls it Freight

Photo courtesy of Free Artistic Photos
As writers, it’s likely that some of our freight makes it onto the page. And it should. It’s meaningful stuff and readers can relate because they live these real lives too. French author Marcel Proust said: “We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the full.” Perhaps part of that process is writing about it.

Mel Bosworth's novel is a small book about the big things we all carry around inside of us. “This unflinching, quirky novel follows a flawed yet lovable everyman as he searches for Home. We never learn his name. Nor do we learn her name – the woman whose freight is still too much for him to carry. But we know he likes soft things. We know he works through pain. We know his childhood still clings to him, despite his graying hair. And through knowing him and all his freight, ours is easier to bear.” (From the back cover.)



Photo courtesy of Free Artistic Photos

There is something freeing about finding the right words to carry our burdens onto the page. When we get the words right, they take some of the weight from our shoulders. Again, from the book: “At some point we become a bulging hose or a screaming faucet. We stand in the yard or we hunch at the sink and we have to turn the spigot. . .we become the water, spilling all over the place, and into ourselves. It’s the release we crave, the release we need so we can make more room inside ourselves. . .”

Photo courtesy of Free Artistic Photos


When I read a story where the characters go through something that I’ve been through, it helps me to feel less alone. There’s a Bible verse that sticks in my head, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galations 6:2) Perhaps God has given us the gift of writing as a means of sharing our burdens, and in the process, lightening the burdens of others. On a planet where more than seven billion people inhabit less than 2% of the Earth’s surface, there’s no reason why anyone should have to feel alone. Maybe we just need to open up more, and share our freight.


Do you put your freight onto the page?



Friday, November 25, 2011

Fictional Distraction

Image courtesy of AarinFreePhoto.com
I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving! I had intended to post yesterday, but the day got away from me. Today, if you're looking for a little fictional distraction from the sales and the crowds, I hope you'll visit Every Day Fiction and read my story "Dinner Plans" (And consider joining the lively discussion in the comments section.)

Also, if you'd like a chance to win two books by Holly Black, my daughter is hosting her first giveaway over at Born Bookish.



Until next time, I hope you find lots of great Black Friday bargains and enjoy plenty of delicious turkey leftovers!


Sunday, November 20, 2011

Going Through the Motions

Photo Courtesy of Studio7Designs

Do you ever feel the hours slipping away? Hear the days whooshing past you as one rushes into the next? Feel the years slipping through your fingers like water? Sometimes it’s hard to get a hold on things and it feels like I’m just going through the motions, meeting my obligations, checking off my responsibilities on some huge check list. In the quest to get things done, it’s easy to lose sight of the meaning behind the task or the joy that’s to be found in the journey.

This week our oldest daughter bought a house. I’m proud of her for being so focused, hard working and determined. And although the first thing friends and family say when I tell them her news is “Are you sad?” I feel like we’ve really made the most of our time together over the years.  I know I’ll miss her terribly when she moves out, but right now I’m caught up in her excitement. And I’m thinking that’s just the way it should be.

Photo courtesy of Studio7Designs
It’s easy to get caught up in the big picture: dreams, goals, and wishes of “someday.” For writers it’s easy to focus on getting published, landing an agent, or finishing that book. The struggle is not to forget how much potential each day holds on its own, as we travel in the direction of those goals. 

I just started reading Hope Will Find YouMy Search for the Wisdom to Stop Waiting and Start Living by Naomi Levy. In it, the author addresses how common it is to get stuck in holding patterns as we wait for life to begin: when we get that house, that contract, that new car. “The reality is, every life just as it is right now has its own unique power and lesson to teach. Every day has its story. Every dream holds a lesson.”

Photo Courtesy of Studio7Designs
I know there are big changes ahead in the upcoming months, so my goal for right now is to enjoy every moment, to hold onto the days and to make sure I don’t just go through the motions. Today is exciting, rewarding, full of hope and opportunity. I’ll worry about tomorrow when it gets here.



Do you ever have to remind yourself to make the most of each day?



Sunday, November 13, 2011

Measured Steps

     
This week I thought a lot about measured steps, progress, forward motion. Most likely because it’s November and oodles of my online friends (and several real life friends) are NaNo-ing. (I am not.) With so many people focusing an entire month on meeting word counts each day, it got me thinking of production output. For some, the NaNoWriMo challenge sparks creativity. For me it does the opposite. I get to feeling like a machine – spitting out a set number of words in a day, a week, a month, but losing the enjoyment of it in the process.


I am a slow writer. Ideas need to simmer in my subconscious before I can work them out on the page. If we’re measuring, maybe that means less rewrites later on, or maybe not. Who knows? In any case, that’s the way my brain works.

I’m all for setting goals, but for me, what works are goals that exist in the background. They keep me motivated to stretch myself and see what I’m capable of, but they aren’t burdensome.

Photo courtesy of Free Artistic Photos.

I spoke a few months ago about a book I was reading called The Art of Possibility, in which the authors propose that our focus doesn’t have to be on measured steps. It can be about embracing the fact that we are active participants – in life, in writing, in whatever.
                 
I love this quote from the book: “The life force for humankind is, perhaps, nothing more or less than the passionate energy to connect, express, and communicate. Enrollment is that life force at work, lighting sparks from person to person, scattering light in all directions. Sometimes the sparks ignite a blaze; sometimes they pass quietly, magically, almost imperceptibly, from one to another to another.”


Whether you find that spark through NaNoWriMo this month, through the friends you connect with via blogging, or any of a million other possible ways, I hope you find that passionate energy that keeps you going.                              



What is the spark that motivates you?

Monday, October 31, 2011

Exceeding Your Limits

This week I exceeded my limit for social outings that I can comfortably handle. By the time Thursday approached, I wanted nothing more than to hole up in my house until Monday and write, clean, read, cook – anything that wouldn’t involve making conversation with real live people. Then I got a phone call –a last minute invitation to dinner that I just couldn’t refuse. But something unexpected happened. I enjoyed myself. Socializing didn’t feel like work and by the time we left, I felt invigorated, and even went to my writing group after dropping my husband off at home. I inwardly acknowledged that I was making strides towards my goal of becoming more social.


 But even so, by the time Friday afternoon came, I was feeling taxed by even my normal responsibilities. When I finally got home, I closed myself in the bathroom and cried, followed by a quick fix of chocolate and then – I sat down and visited some of my favorite blogs. I know, I know, this is a form of socializing. But it’s one that I actually enjoy, and it even soothed me to be around others who understand what it’s like to favor words on a page.


So, no, I haven’t given up on socializing, even the old-fashioned, face-to-face version. But I have learned that I need to take it slow. We all have our limits.



What limits have you done battle with lately?



Sunday, October 23, 2011

Voices of a Love/Hate Relationship

When my children were small, the only time we listened to the radio was when we rode in the car, so I always had command of the controls. My goal was to teach them to be discerning listeners, explaining why I flipped the station each time something inappropriate came over the airwaves. I was guiding them, providing a voice for them, until they began to hear and listen to their own inner voices.

As a writer, I often have a love/hate relationship with voices. I love when the muse whispers to me. I love when my characters seem to write themselves onto my heart, demanding that I put them down on the page. But then there are the voices that tell me I’m not good enough, I’m delusional to think I could ever really do this. That’s the hate part of the equation. But in the end, we all choose who we listen to, don’t we?

I’m thinking about voices a lot this week as I return to my WIP after an eight-week cooling period. In an article I read by Writer’s Digest’s Brian Klems, he shares The Geyser 5-Step Approach to Revision. Step Two he calls Invite the Flow to Return. This was a perfect reminder to me that revisions are not just about addressing the technical issues. It’s about recapturing the feeling you had when you were writing, and letting your characters talk to you again.

In honor of characters who speak to us, I’m sharing on of my favorite songs: Voices.  Enjoy!




Do you have a love/hate relationship with voices? How do you decide which voice to listen to?


Speaking of voices, I’m trying out my reviewer’s voice this week. My daughter, Amanda, invited me to share a book review over on her blog, Born Bookish I hope you’ll check it out!



Sunday, October 16, 2011

Moving Forward Without Fear

A while back, I read a story about a man with an extreme case of OCD. As a small boy, he recalls his father yelling at him for having left the lid off of a jar of jelly. That same night his mother dies. And in his young mind the two events become linked. He begins to think that his “mistake” of leaving the lid off actually caused his mother to die. 

An overwhelming fear grips his life, as he comes to believe that one small misstep from him will cause loved ones to suffer or die. He becomes paralyzed – sometimes standing in place for hours – for fear of making the wrong move.

At its worst, Ed Zine's OCD kept him a prisoner in his own basement for years, unable to move forward in his life. His case is extreme to be sure, but to some degree we can all relate. How many times have we let fear stop us?

When Ed strays from his normal, “safe” daily routine, he performs elaborate rituals to “rewind” time to put himself back before the misstep took place.

You can’t read his story without thinking about your own life. Who hasn’t had regrets? Who wouldn’t want a do-over every now and again? Yet, life’s not really about going back. It’s about making mistakes and learning from them as we move forward.

I’ll be delving into revisions this week. It’s been nearly two months since I’ve set eyes on my WIP. I think I’ve safely come through the dreaded “hate stage” and am ready to look at revisions not with the negative outlook of going back to fix mistakes, but with a hopeful eye toward moving forward, and getting closer to the goal of a finished manuscript.

How do you view the revision process?  
















Photo courtesy of Free Artistic Photos.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Conspiracy Theories & Trusting the Process

Five years ago, I took a writing class at the local night school. Upon completion, instructor Jamie Cat Callan presented each of us with a diploma: a scroll, tied with ribbon, containing the following quote: “Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you.” – Mahatma Gandhi

At the time, it felt like a personal confirmation. I had decided to take up writing again and by putting myself out there, taking that class, I was putting forth my clear request. And indeed, good things did come to me. I was invited into a wonderful writing group. I began writing regularly, submitting my work, and the acceptances started rolling in.


This summer, children's author Anna Branford blogged about what she called positive paranoia: a belief that the world around us is constantly plotting and conspiring to make us content, successful, and surrounded by beauty.

Which is something like one of my favorite Bible verses. “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28

Sometimes we bask in all the good that surrounds us. And other times we lose sight of it and need to be reminded. Currently, between nursing a case of carpal tunnel and trying to dig myself out of the "hate stage" with my current WIP, I realized it might be a good time to remind myself of all of the positive points along my writing journey, as well as the good that I trust will ultimately come of all of it.

I have a lovely leather journal full of handmade paper that I've been saving for "something special." Aside from flipping through the pages to rub my fingertips over the delicate yellow petals and tiny green stems within the paper, the journal has remained untouched for years. 


This weekend I finally began putting down in ink reminders of the good that surrounds me, on my writing journey and otherwise. Call it positive paranoia, trusting the process, or simply counting my blessings. But I have a feeling these pages are going to fill up fast.



In what ways do you remind yourself of the good things in your life?



Photos courtesy of Free Artistic Photos

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Dreaming of Trees

I have this thing about trees. They show up in my stories as the inadequate shelter to a young victim of abuse, as the unlikely friend to a lonely the child, on the aged skin of a man as a sprawling tattoo. And in my paintings half leafless, encircled in vines, or perched on the edge of the world. They even influenced the theme of this blog.


I tend to fixate on things. I get stuck on songs, listening over, and over, and over. I have a good friend who tells me that there’s a message I need to take away from the lyrics, and when I do I'll be able to move on. Maybe it's like that with the trees as well.

I was in a small jewelry shop last weekend where I saw a necklace that featured the tree of life. The meaning of the symbol was explained this way: we are deeply connected to nature, our branches embrace life and our roots keep us grounded. I like that. Maybe the trees that show up in my work represent something as simple as that- a constant state of living with arms raised to God, while still remaining firmly grounded in this life.


Whatever this thread of connectivity means, as long as the trees show up in my subconscious, I'm willing to put them down on the page.

Do you have a common thread that runs through your stories?












Photos courtesy of Free Artistic Photos

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Something Like Sabotage

I’ve always been a color inside the lines, play by the rules kind of girl. But sometimes, with those lines we draw and those rules we decide to follow, we can actually sabotage ourselves. I realized recently that by labeling myself a short story writer I’d created my own limits. I’d boxed myself in and narrowed my world to a particular area that felt comfortable.

When I read a post on author Linda Urban's blog last month, where she talked about a book called "The Art of Possibility," I knew I had to read it for myself. In it, authors Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander introduce a different way of looking at the world and our relationships. It’s all about expanding our boundaries and opening ourselves up to unlimited possibilities.

In taking on writing a YA novel this year, I’ve stepped outside of the lines that I’d once drawn for myself and have entered the world of possibility.

On the days where I flounder, the temptation is to doubt myself, wonder if I’ve taken a misstep, debate going back to the comfort of shorter projects. But what this book reminds me is that I’ve embarked on new territory. The way may not be familiar, but that doesn’t mean I need to turn back. This is the world of possibility, and I think I’ll see where it leads me.

What world do you live in?

Monday, September 19, 2011

Thick Skin, Random Facts, & Giveaway Winners




Thick skin – elephants are born with it. We human beings on the other hand, have to work hard to develop it. For me, in everyday life, as well as the writing life, a big part of toughening up was allowing myself to be human. Giving myself permission to make mistakes, experience failures, and even to speak them out loud or put them down on the page.

I was quite possibly one of the most pitifully thin-skinned people ever. A disgruntled motorist flipped me off in traffic, I would cry. The mailman scoffed as I greeted him, I would cry. The bank teller responded to me with sarcasm, I would wonder what was wrong with me. I’ve come to grips with the fact that I can’t control anyone else. I can only control my reactions to my circumstances. If I’m feeling offended, it’s because I’ve allowed myself to feel offended. If I’m feeling discouraged, it’s because I’ve allowed myself to feel that way. And really, it’s not me against the world. It’s us – in this hugely overwhelming thing called life – together. That realization helps me in my writing life to persevere with submissions, and in my everyday life it helps me survive.

Do you have a thin skin/thick skin story to share?

* * *


Two of my lovely fellow campaigners have nominated me for awards I'd like to thank Alynza Smith for passing along the Irresistibly Sweet Blogger Award and Ms Saba for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award.


 









 
By accepting the awards, I agree to:

1. Thank and link to the person who nominated me.
2. Share seven random facts about myself.
3. Pass the award on to 5 blogger friends.
4. Contact and congratulate the nominated blogs.

Here are the seven random facts about me:

1. I get stuck on music for long periods of time. I listened to Keane's Hopes and Fears for so long that my sister couldn't stand to ride in my car anymore.

2. I like fast food just as much, (if not more) than fine dining.

3. I grew up thinking I was a good cook because my father always loved everything I made. I now realize he was kinder and more generous than I ever realized.

4. Before this whole carpal tunnel thing I could type 90+ words per minute. Now – I don't even want to think about it.

5. When I eat PB&J, I spread peanut butter on one slice of bread, fold it in half, spread jelly on another slice of bread, and fold that in half. The two never come together. Then I eat them by alternating – a bite from the peanut butter, then a bite from the jelly. I have never actually tried putting the two together. I don’t know why.

6. Villette by Charlotte Bronte is one of my favorite books ever.

7. I like tiny snacks because I can eat lots of them without feeling guilty. M & Ms, Skittles, Chocolate Chips, Jelly Beans. . . yummmmm.


I’d like to pass these awards on to:


Carry Us Off Books – Claudine talks about books in ways that make you think about them even more than you already did.
Carrie Boo – because she cracks me up.
Julie Farrar – writer, photographer, every day mom, and wife, who –even though I just met her through the campaign- makes me feel like I'm sitting across the table having a chat with a good friend.
Jen Klein – posts that are short on words but big on personality.
Junebug – because those cute little ladybugs appear next to every comment. Could there be anything cooler than that?

* * *
Now, to everyone who joined in the celebration of my daughter's book blog launch, I offer a great big THANK YOU!
The winners of the book giveaway are:


Awaken goes to:  Abby!

The Book Thief goes to: Dawn Malone!

A Crooked Kind of Perfect goes to: Caroline Tung!

CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for helping my daughter and I celebrate Born Bookish!

I will be contacting the winners later today.

For another giveaway, visit MG & YA writer, Marcia Hoehne's blog where she's holding a critique giveaway!



Sunday, September 11, 2011

Television Addiction and Three Great Books Up For Grabs

Last winter my television addiction was Primetime: What Would You Do? Now that fall is in the air I find myself checking the Friday night lineup looking for its return. If you've never seen it, it's a hidden camera show. Reporter John Quinones and his crew set up volatile situations of racism, bullying, parenting dilemmas, etc. using actors and actresses to see how ordinary passersby will react when they witness an injustice or a fellow human being in trouble.

I think I get so emotional when I watch because I doubt myself. I don't know what I'd do in most situations. I'm afraid I wouldn't do the respectable thing, the admirable thing, the right thing. I'm afraid I'd revert to my "I am an island"  thinking and slink away.




But I keep watching the show because the people who speak up without a second thought or a selfish thought inspire me. And I always hope that I'll surprise myself one day and be a better person than I think I am.

What television shows, movies, or books have led to soul searching for you?



* * *
YA & MG Book Giveaway

There's still a week left to get in on the action.
Check out the details here.
* * *


In other news, I'm just giddy with all of the blog love and support I've received this week. I'd like to thank Kelly Hashway for giving me the Liebster award. I received this award just a few weeks ago, but am happy to choose five more worthy blogs to pass it along to. The goal of this award is to spotlight upcoming bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers.

My choices are:
Terrie Hope's Write What Your Heart Desires. Terrie is a wonderful encouragement and support to so many of her writer friends. And she's currently posting a photo tour of Jane Austen's house - need I say more?
Gary Gauthier's Literary Snippets, I found Gary's blog through the campaign and it is the most enchanting mix of literature and art. You will be glad you checked it out.
Fellow campaigner, Coleen Patrick.
Children's writer, Allyn Stotz.
Horror, fantasy writer, Courtney Rene.


The rules of this award are:
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top five picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all - have bloggity-blog fun!


Alynza Smith was sweet enough to award me the Irresistibly Sweet blog award, and Ms Saba nominated me for the Versatile blogger award. Because I'm nursing a case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I'm going to put off posting my nominations for those awards until I get my Dragon (speech to text program) trained. Hopefully, next week!

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Buried Treasure & A Book Giveaway

The unexpected reward I received for tidying up my desk today was uncovering a slim paperback titled “We Really Do Need Each Other,” by Reuben Welch. I think I picked this up as a library discard years ago. It’s a tiny 160 pages of truth about the ways human beings connect.


Tomorrow I’m taking my mother to an appointment where the time spent in the waiting room is never under an hour and a half. Instead of getting upset about the wait, tomorrow I’m going to feed my spirit with these words.

What do you do to nurture yourself throughout the week?

YA and MG Book Giveaway

In celebration of my daughter launching her brand new book blog, I'm holding a giveaway. Up for grabs are three books: one of Amanda's favorite YA books, Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky




One of my favorite YA books,The Book Thief by Markus Zusak



And a MG book we both absolutely adore, A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Lisa Urban


To enter:


You can increase your chances of winning by:

Leaving her a comment (+1)

Following this blog (Out on a Limb) and leaving a comment to let me know you want to be entered (+1)

Spreading the word about this contest on your blog (and letting me know you've done so) (+3)

Winners will be contacted on Monday, September 19th.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Transparency

I'm posting early this week because if Irene lives up to the forecasters' predictions, we'll likely be without power by tomorrow. Please say a prayer for everyone in her path.

First I'd like to welcome all of my new visitors, followers, and fellow campaigners. I'm participating in Rachael Harrie's Platform Building Campaign and it's already a whirlwind of blogging activity. Talk about connecting. . .what fun! There's still time to join in, but the deadline to get on board is August 31st, so don't delay.

Transparency. We've heard that word a lot lately in reference to the actions of our political leaders. But I'm talking about a different kind of transparency. What makes you connect with a character? For me it's seeing their flaws, identifying with their weaknesses. I think this realization has helped me in my own life, to see that I don't have to try to be perfect (always coming up short is bad for the self-esteem anyway.) It's in sharing my weaknesses that I find connecting points with others.

Memoirs are even more remarkable when you remember that the MC you're reading about is also the author. A few YA memoirs that I've read lately are: Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas, I Don't Want to be Crazy by Samantha Schutz, and The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon. The bravery of these authors blows me away.



Who are some of your favorite transparent characters or brave authors?






Sunday, August 21, 2011

Shopper's Rage vs. Random Acts of Kindness

Some days I hate doing errands. Between shopping for my own family and running errands for my mother, who no longer drives, I’m always running somewhere for someone and it’s usually at the end of a hectic day. I’m tired, cranky, and putting another charge on the credit card with a balance that looms like a gaseous cloud from Mt. St Helens. I don’t always feel like smiling. I’d rather zoom in and out of the store without making eye contact with anyone. But I’m making a conscious effort to be the person who smiles, even when the checkout girl is rude, or the undisciplined toddler who shouldn’t be driving a shopping cart runs up my heels.

Both of my daughters worked in the food service industry as teens. They tell me that 90% of customers are mean, rude, or entitled. I don’t want to be counted among them.

Living in a tourist town, it’s hard not to get a little crazy when thousands of “extra people” descend, and running out for a gallon of milk turns from a five-minute errand to a twenty-five minute test of my patience. Recently, as traffic inched along on a blistering summer day, I stopped to let someone pull out into traffic and they started blowing me kisses. I laughed out loud. Kindness is like that. It’s catchy.                


“Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.” –Eric Hoffer

What small act of kindness can make your day?



Sunday, August 14, 2011

Appreciation, Serendipity, and the Liebster Award

In a post on the Dream of Things blog, publisher Mike O'Mary shares a note he received years ago that changed his life. His simple story is powerful encouragement for us to let the people around us know that they're appreciated, that they've done something special or made an impact on our lives.

In April, he launched The Note Project a campaign to make the world a million times better by helping people share notes of appreciation.

I had an English teacher in seventh grade who always wrote supportive comments on my compositions. Long into adulthood, those notes gave me the courage to keep writing and submitting my work for publication. Years later, I wrote her a note of thanks, told her how much her support meant to me, and enclosed a copy of a magazine containing one of my published articles. You never know which of your actions someone will remember you for.

How will someone know that they've impacted you if you don't tell them? Watch the clip, but have a pen handy; when it's over, you're going to want to write someone a note.



Teacher, parent, neighbor, friend - who will your note be to?



After I drafted this post a few days ago, the kind people over at Cabinet of Curiosities nominated my brand new blog for a Liebster award. (Translation: Beloved) I love the serendipity of that. A huge thank you to Pat Esden, Suzanne Warr, Becca Fitzpatrick, Laura Andersen, and Ginger Churchill.

The goal of this award is to spotlight upcoming bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers. The rules of the award are:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all - have bloggity-blog fun!

My five choices are:

1.  Poets Marie Elena Good & Walt Wojtanik, Across the Lake, Eerily
2.  Fantasy writer Katrina DeLallo, The World Crafter
3.  MG & YA writer Mikki, Word Painter
4.  PB writer Miranda Paul, Miranda Paul Books
5.  Children's writer Dawn Malone, Here's the Story

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Breaking Out of a Bubble Life




Relationships are difficult. Communicating with others effectively can be trying. Everyday human encounters are wrought with misunderstandings and hurt feelings. But if we try to avoid these things we become solitary. My husband likes to say that I live in a bubble, and I’ll admit there have been times when I’ve been happy to live a largely solitary life.


My sister and I used to have a theme song. We would call each other up after a trying day and sing Simon & Garfunkel’s “I am a Rock.”

It’s a great song, and I still love it. But it’s not a fitting theme song for me anymore.
Possibly the most important thing I’m learning as a writer is how to connect with others – and I kind of like it. And so I find myself stepping out of my comfort zone in life and in my writing, where I’m tackling a YA novel after years of remaining in the comforts of short stories.

I’ve built lots of walls over the years, but Out on a Limb is my attempt at tearing them down – one word at a time. I hope my words reach you, wherever you are.

Oh, and I’m currently in the market for a new theme song. =) I’m thinking maybe The Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends.”



What’s your theme song?