Category: On Writing

Have We Learned?

wild flowers

So now we are in June and I have completely wandered through May hardly making a dent in accomplishing anything. But wait—I learned in some history class that we Americans feel we must be doing and working and accomplishing all the time. It is part of the Puritans in us. Maybe, reckon this crisis has caused some of us to rethink our urge to always be working and accomplishing and doing? 

Reckon we should enjoy some small things like good health and being able to clean our house and mow our lawn? Reckon we can enjoy being with ourselves? Read the following, which was written by Nadine Stair of Louisville, KY over thirty years ago, and see what you think.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

I’d dare to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would take more trips. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I’m one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments and if I had it to do over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the Spring and stay that way later in the Fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.

  • By Nadine Stair of Louisville, Kentucky when she was 85 years old.

Chin Up

Many of my friends have stopped watching the news. It’s depressing and after you’ve heard a dozen variations on virus  symptoms, dangers, treatment, etc., it gets even more depressing with repetition.

What to do? What to do?  As a writer, I wish I could write funny novels-nothing roll-in-the-floor funny, but light with a giggle or two. It’s beyond me. Sigh.

I can’t even remember jokes for over an hour, even though I do love jokes. And, let me be clear, I am still frightened, but I have got to think about something else in order to survive.

So, I will pass on some of the “doings” that help me keep the chin up.

1. Meditate. I try for three minutes and hope to get to more as I get better.

2. Count my blessings. I know, I know,that is such a cliche, but as someone who didn’t know four years ago how long I would live, it’s truth.

3. Throw the ball for my dog to fetch and understand how happy  he is with  that simple action.

4. Eat a bowl of ice cream and enjoy how creamy and sweet and absolutely decadent it tastes.

Persevere

Once in my past I would have thought that if I’d been confined to my house, for whatever reason, that I would easily write that great novel that is inside of me.  Alas, that is not  true. I am flummoxed and astonished at the difficulty I am having in composing one sentence, let alone enough for a novel.

The circumstances of this confinement are not good.

Finally, I heard or read, that I am suffering from grief. And from expectations that far outweigh my strength right now. Because I am sad, not sleeping well, like many people in this world, I feel worn out.

The help is to be kinder to myself. That may not cure everything but it will help.

Quit demanding too much of your self. Understand that you are grieving. Rest, watch a sunset, read a book, walk the dog (Maxx would agree to that), but take care of yourself.

We will get through this. It will not be quick and painless, but we will survive and laugh and love again.

New Year, New Idea!

I don’t know about you but I saw sunshine today and got giddy.

I also made a huge decision over the last week and started  a totally different manuscript for the next Nightingale novel.  This is important because I will continue the Nightingale series. The manuscript I spent several weeks on was a prequel.  That, alas, is no longer a good idea.

To anyone who doesn’t write, this is important because now I have a plan, a guide, a light to work toward.  I’m excited and I guess I can blame it on the sunshine:)

Blog versus Novel

Have I told you that I’m writing on the new Nightingale book, but writing in  a blog regularly is difficult?

I have great admiration for folks who publish regular blogs. If I split the discipline I use for working on the novel with writing a blog, my problem should be solved.  Not really.

I think I would only accomplish giving myself some guilt and not getting much done  on the novel. The novel is fiction. It’s a story that I love to work on because I make it up. My blog really comes from my day to day observations and joys and worries. It’s nonfiction with a big non on the front.

I’ve been told that meditation would help. We’ll see. I’m not making resolutions, so we’ll see.

Rest & Thankfulness

Maybe, just maybe, I need to hibernate. I’ve been sleepy ever since December got here. Maybe I’m falling for the new study that says we all need more sleep. We’d be healthier and happier (read less grumpy) if we got more sleep.

I’ve got to agree. Of course, Maxx agrees also, but then most dogs can sleep many more hours than their humans.

I met a lady once who said that according to the stars, we were supposed to do much like the animals and in December we should get more sleep. I like to think I’m more creative when I get enough sleep. So, there is the excuse I need–more sleep will help my writing.   Happy Holidays!

Received three great reviews from Reader’s Favorite. Now for that nap:)

New Nightingale

The book is out in paperback and I would love to have reviews. I’m almost over the euphoria of getting it finished. Does that excitement ever fade? I need to ask someone who has published many books if the joy goes away.

I am enjoying reading other books and catching a movie or two. But I’m also getting into the next novel, which will be a prequel to these first two. Not so much political intrigue, but still a lot of conflict.

 

Breathtaking

Just when I think I’ve sort of got a handle on finding out what is really important in life, someone, in this case Maxx, makes me see that I don’t have a clue.

I’ve been rushing around trying to finish the next book and Mother Nature hits us with a winter freeze. Now, what those two things have in common (the book and frigid weather) is that many people are affected by this weather, and no one is affected if my book doesn’t make it to Amazon immediately.

The result is I have slowed to consider front and back matter in the book. I actually meditated today. And Maxx has chased the ball a lot but will do more tomorrow.

What happened—it’s those big brown eyes that shows a dog does have empathy, and he does need attention, and he gives big returns on love.

Proofreader

My manuscript is now with a proofreader.

I used to be a professional proofreader and I never met anyone who valued the profession like I thought they should. But I have watched people read over mistakes in their own writing because we (humans, that is) have a hard time seeing our own mistakes.

So after editor comes proofreader and then beta readers.

I hope to have Not An Ordinary Death on Amazon before the end of the year. I’m trying to do all the right things to help it along.

One of the best reviews I had on A Promise of Water was from a lady who thanked me for a book that had definitely been professionally edited and had few, if any errors. She also liked my writing, which was a plus.

Maybe I’ll have a cover when I post again.

Off to the Wizard

Finally, Not An Ordinary Death is off to the editor for the second edit. This is for polish only but the last third of the manuscript is rewritten, so quite a bit of work remains.

The first day after sending it, I was depressed. And then I decided, “Just move forward. What will the next book be about?” After that decision, I’ve been walking around doing chores like mopping the floor while trying to  visualize what is in store for Ranger Nightingale.

Photo from Unsplash by Annie Spratt

And I’ve been going over things I’ve learned.  I have a great editor. She holds nothing back and gives me reasons for choices as she goes through the manuscript.

Isn’t it odd that I want this book to be amazing, just like I wanted the last one to be amazing? And of course, I’ll want the next one to be amazing. I’m not kidding myself–I am no Mark Twain or John Grisham. But, it is part of the human condition (I think) to want your creations to continue to be better.