2018 A - Z Challenge - Reflection - Say Cheese!

Let’s be honest, after publishing your final A – Z Challenge post on the morning of April 30, 2018, who didn’t breathe a sigh of relief, dance a little jig, or flash an irresistible grin at your reflection in a mirror? I can’t think of a more enjoyable and satisfying way to sharpen your writing skills than through social engagement, can you?  And who, besides me, is already thinking about next year’s challenge?  Congratulations, Survivors!

Congratulations, as well, to everyone who attempted the challenge but for some reason didn’t finish. The challenge of writing every day can seem formidable; given life’s propensity for interference at times, but all it takes is a toe in the water to decide you want to get your feet wet. Next thing you know, you’ll be swimming!

My theme this year was Things We Appreciate, but in reflection, I’m compelled to mention the people behind the concept:  Arlee Bird (founder and blogger extraordinaire), as well as congenial and gifted assistants such as John Holton and J Lenni Dorner who do so much to make this annual event such a success!  

For anyone who may be harshly judging themselves by the number of visitors and/or comments they receive, I offer this (loosely) coined phrase by Ben Jonson (playwright and poet) “Happiness consists not in the multitude of friends but in a few well chosen.”  And while the Challenge has ended, the blogs (and bloggers!) remain – go visiting!

Personally, I find the timing of the A to Z Challenge to be an added bonus as nature provides an incentive in springtime inspiration to keep on blogging, keep on writing, don’t you? Were your fingers restless when it was over? Good! We’ll be seeing you around, then ;-)

In closing, I’ll share a fun fact I learned while camping with kids one year - Wintergreen Lifesavers visibly spark in the dark…but so does any hard (sugar) candy when crunched ;-)

Happy Trails this summer!

IWSG - Be Your Own Hero

Welcome Writers! And a Happy Creative Beginnings Month to everyone! 

There is so much to celebrate this month, and not the least of which is today, and here’s why:   Take a look around our awesome group by clicking the links below and check out the extensive list of writing tips and resources offered by the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by Alex Cavanaugh, right here and right now on this first Wednesday of the month, when IWSG members convene through blogging, Facebook, and Twitter to talk about whatever is on our writing minds and agendas. See what we’re all talking about here. 

As for me:

I successfully completed my third April A – Z Challenge! In addition, I wrote four chapters for a memoir project, and two newsletters. Through it all I asked myself only once if perhaps I’d overestimated my own capabilities, and who’s going to care if I do or if I don’t? That’s when my inner-voice whispered, “Be your own hero; it’s worth it.” So I did, and it was. ;-) It’s been an exhilarating month! 

On behalf of the young companions I’ve had since school has been interrupted, tomorrow is Two Different Colored Shoes Day, and we hope you’ll all be inspired! I think I’ll just Get Caught Reading a Mystery ;-)

Happy Springtime Writing!

2018 A - Z Challenge - F

F      Things We Appreciate

“It takes a long time to grow an old friend” ~ John Leonard

Happy Friday, Everyone! Though I’m not on a full-time work schedule anymore, I doubt I’ll ever stop appreciating Friday for much of what it stands for; the end of a school or work week, the beginning of the weekend. Most of the time, the anticipation alone could get me through the work week. Even if I had no plans.

 

But, who needs plans when something is always going on? For instance, unexpected snow flurries during Fireside chats, Folklore whispered in the glow of a Flashlight in a backyard tent or Flying Kites in Fragrant meadows. Meeting Friends and/or Family for French Dips and Fries is one of my favorite things to do.

 

Unless, of course, I’m discovering a new “must-see” Arizona destination. Fossil Creek is one such place. From its springs near the Mogollon Rim, headwaters emit upwards of 20k gallons per minute year-round, making it the 4^th largest producer of Travertine in the United States.

Then again, I don’t mind filling up a Flash drive with photos and thoughts while the boys go out with their Fiberglass Fishing rods and bring back something for dinner. By that I mean Fried Chicken from Eddie’s Market ;-)  

 
 
While efficiency may have been foremost on his mind, safety wasn’t far behind when, in 1741 Benjamin Franklin created the Franklin stove, a revolutionary innovation he declined to patent, which was later improved upon by David Rittenhouse with the addition of a chimney. It was during that same time that Franklin also established America’s first Fire Insurance Company.   

 
By the way, those stickers they put on fresh Fruit at the grocery store aren’t edible. Not that I ever thought they were, but it’s recently been confirmed by a young close friend ;-)

Any thoughts? Can you add to the list of things we appreciate that begin with the letter F?

Odds and Endings

Hi, Everyone! Now that it’s “National Get Caught Reading Month,” can anyone recommend a good mystery to read beneath a full Flower Moon next week? I’m guessing there are a lot of A to Z Challenge Survivors out there – Congratulations! If you find your muse has left you without a word or ransom note, you can always sharpen your writing skills with any of the many great resources offered by the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by Alex Cavanaugh, right here and right now on this first Wednesday of the month, when IWSG members convene through blogging, Facebook, and Twitter to talk about whatever is on our writing minds and agendas. See what we’re all talking about here.

I’m taking full advantage of the (optional) uplifting question of the month, “What is the weirdest/coolest thing you ever had to research for a story?” because who wants to dwell on rejections, right? Besides, this question calls to mind all the fun of the writing journey!

Since I’m one to wander off the beaten path, it’s no surprise I tend to do that in research as well. So once upon a quest for knowledge of how to handle being lost at sea (terrifying, isn’t it?) I came across the true story of a family on a dream vacation voyage in the Bahamas during which the Captain, having been caught in the act of murdering his wife (for the insurance policy he’d recently purchased), then proceeded to end the lives of all but one of the family who'd been alerted to the scene of the first crime by the screams of the Captain’s wife. It was nearly fifty years before (then eleven years old) Terry Jo, the only surviving family member, was able to tell her harrowing story in a book entitled “Alone: Orphaned on the Ocean.”

For another story I was writing – and researching, I was checking out hypnosis. Since there are quite a number of characters (in my story) under the influence, I wanted to know if there could be adverse reactions. And sure enough, there could. It’s called “Inadvertent suggestion acceptance”; sometimes concretely, sometimes literally. For example, You can dance your feet off, or You can eat anything that moves…oh, the possibilities!

Not that I’m a fan, but one story led me to a most disgusting insect called a Tumblebug. Not even my cat would go near it. Out here we call it a Turd Roller because that’s what, and all, it does. Scientists, on the other hand, are quite interested in the only non-human ‘animal’ known to be in existence that uses the Milky Way for nocturnal orientation.

So, what’s in your notebook? On your agenda? Have you ever been lost at sea, hypnotized, or seen a Tumblebug?