Rambling Friday: Preparing for Spring

I love flowers.

I love beauty.

I love when things I've wanted forever is finally ready to be done! 

Thankfully, I have a husband--who is always busy--who works with my wants as best as he can. 

That statement leads me to this:  We have a steep bank, cause we live on a mountain top--just kidding, but it is a nice-sized hill. The picture depicts some of the hill and some of the plans I have for it. Fall transplanting and fall bulb planting will, hopefully, produce a beautiful display of plants throughout next summer. 

It's only the beginning, but it's a start. Wish us luck! 

Serious Wednesday: True or False: Becoming a Writer...

True or False:  Being a writer is lots of fun! 

True! It is. 

Seeing the progress you make on your document or novel, 

• seeing your piece published in a magazine or newsletter... 
• or holding your book in your hand...
• and reading the readers' interest/love/emotion in their comments and reviews are satisfying and encouraging. 

But, wait! It's also false! Because? 

• It's hard work to become an accomplished and successful author
• You'll reach plateaus where you think you'll never get off of
• Cruel or supposedly helpful remarks and critiques will discourage you
• You'll learn you have to grow a tough skin
• You have to do a lot of research
• You'll have to edit...edit...edit...and edit some more. 
• Publishers will reject your work.

But eventually, if you're determined enough and work hard enough, follow solid advice and do all you can to make a dream become reality, you'll see results. 

And all the work won't matter anymore...

At least until you begin another article or book. 

But it's all worth it when you type those words: THE END! 

Keep Writing! 

Serious Wednesday: Reaching Your Goal

 Don't kid yourself. Writing is hard work. But, oh my, when you've reached your goal for the day--
the week--or finished that goal! What a feeling. 

Relief. Relaxation. Happiness. 

But...you can't reach that relief, relaxation, happiness stage until you get there. Tips on getting there?

Here goes:

1. Whatever you're writing, you need to plan ahead of time. Whether you're a by-the-seat writer or a plotter, you have to have some idea, form, or outline--at least in your head--for how you're going to proceed. What's your story or article about? Where are you headed? What will be the problem for your character? How will he/she handle the situation? How will the problem be solved? What genre are you writing in? How long will your book be? 
2. Research is a big part of writing fiction (or nonfiction for that matter). Do it with due justice. Make sure you know what you're writing about. Sometimes on certain things, you will have to do extensive research. Other times a quick check on google will give you the answer you need. Don't skim on this one. Research is important. 
3. Who are your characters? Jot down all the information about these people you might need to remember throughout your writing. That includes major and minor characters. Their coloring--eyes, hair, skin, etc. Where they work--if they work. What they enjoy doing--their hobbies, food tastes, habits etc. Who are they? Their personalities. their employment--even if they work. 
4. What is the problem in the book? How must the protagonists overcome it? How are the antagonists causing the problem, and why? Jealousy? Anger? Greed? Love? Money? 
5. How will the problem be resolved satisfactorily? Writers end their books in different ways. Most have a good, happy ending. Some leave the reader with a question, some with a teaser for more coming. Make sure you know what you want to do to give your characters--and your readers--that feeling of satisfaction! 

Whatever you do, don't try to get around these areas of importance. Embrace these thoughts, make them a part of your writing. And enjoy your journey! You'll be glad you did when your readers can't wait for the next book! 

Wednesday Question: 

What are some hints you use in your writing? 

Enjoy your writing! 

Sunday Morning Sunshine: Memories...

 Walking the ocean shore at the crack of dawn...

Holding hands with the man I love...

Loving the flowers hubby gives me, tame or wild! 

Watching our grandboys work...

Enjoying fruit...

Loving my Flag! 

Good memories...

And so much more.

Serious Wednesdays on Passionate Writing

On Passionate Writing

What do these quotes tell you?

If you start with a bang, you won’t end with a whimper. – T.S. Eliot

Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river. ― Lisa See

You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page. ― Jodi Picoult

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. 

– Ernest Hemingway

If a story is in you, it has to come out. – William Faulkner

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

— Louis L’Amour

So...what do these quotes tell you?

That...writing is hard work.

Those who want to write books must remember that to do so,

you must work at it.

But, if you have it in you,

you will work at it.

You will write.

Happy writing!

Rambling Friday: Swimming is No Picnic!

Swimming is no picnic. At least for older people. Here's the story:

I never, ever had a swimming pool (that I can remember) growing up. So, of course, I didn't learn to swim. After I was married, hubby tried to teach me numerous times, but I was just too scared of the water, even knee-deep, and hated the water in my face. Crazy?

Yep. 

BUT...this year--and I'll never know the reason, while at the lake house, watching my grandboys swimming like fish, I found myself wishing I could be that free in the water. 

So after they left, I told hubby I wanted to learn how to swim. It was so easy...

Not true. But true to my nature, I was hesitant and afraid. 

Hubby was patient with me. He gave me goggles to wear, held on to me for security (mine), instructed and encouraged me, giving me little tidbits of advice at a time so I could feel more comfortable in the water. 

It worked! 

With tiny steps, I ventured more and more into the swimming. By the time that session was done I was dog-paddling fairly well. The next day I shot for active swimming and did okay with that too. 

I loved it! In fact, I stayed in the pool longer than hubby. :)  

I'm sure I'll forget some things and have to re-learn the next time. I may never swim in contests (lol), but for enjoyment and exercise, I hope I continue to have that desire to swim a little. 

New accomplishment this summer for me.

What have you done that's totally out of your comfort zone?

So-You-Want-to-Write-Rant

Ha.
It ain't no piece of cake, folks.
It's a lot of work, dreams, work, disappointments, work, rejections, work.
Got the idea?

To succeed, you've got to write a piece of work that catches some editor's attention, somewhere. I mean, how would you like 76 rejections? Got tough enough skin to survive?

What you gonna do when you reach that horrible, depressing place about a third way through a 45 thou novel, and you can't think of another word to write. What cha gonna do?

Write, write, write.
Just keep writing one word at a time, one line, one paragraph, one page.

Ah, did you know: one page a day, should harvest out to be about a book a year. Now that sounds doable, doesn't it? Thanks to Kelly who brought that to our little, finite mind.

And, that's not all. You get to go to expensive conferences. You get to do tons of research (for your novel so it can be realistic, and for your proposals so they can be appropriate). You get to mingle with people far more important than you are at your present state. You get to beg (well, sort of) for editors and/or agents to look at your novel.

Still want to be an author?

Then, dig in, cause if you've got the determination, the grit, and the desire, you can do it.

Work? Ah, who cares about that? It's the glory of getting that new idea, the beauty of writing those first words on a page, the luxury of typing "the end" to a completed manuscript, the joy of obtaining an agent who believes in you, the screaming, hilarious wonder of signing your first contract--and every other one after that.




Quote:
Either I will find a way, or I will make one. --Sir Philip Sidney

Blessings

Fried Green Tomatoes and All That Stuff

We had fried green tomatoes tonight.
And canned beets put up awhile back.
And fresh red tomatoes.

The other night we had fresh green beans with just a hint of bacon lard (forget the cholesterol. Groan.)

Before that we had fresh frozen corn. Yum.
The fresh frozen peaches tasted pretty good too.

Friends gave us the green beans last Saturday. Could have what we wanted if we'd pick them. So . . . Hubby agreed to help and we "went and done it."

Whooee. Forgot what I was getting myself into.

You say Monday was Labor Day. Ha. That's a tongue-in-the-cheek holiday. We worked our tails (if we had any) off that day canning 32 quarts of beans.

Not much you say?

An all day job practically. Thankfully, hubby helped. You'd probably been reading my obituary in the papers if I'd had to do all them by myself.

I know, I know. I use to do all kinds of canning. Canned anything I could get my hands on. But . . . years and experience has taught me a few things.

It's hard work to can your own food.


But, it sure tastes good when you eat it.

Like our friends son said, "I don't like to do the work (picking the beans) but I sure like to eat them!"

I called him the little red hen's friends. Still not sure if he knew what I meant.



Quote:
How difficult it is to be simple. --Vincent Van Gogh

Blessings