Zip! Zoom! Bang! Crash! Sob! Sigh! I guess a bit of onomatopoeia pretty much covers my writing life in the past few months. I have gotten some done. Actually, I did a lot of poetry. Poet Robert Brewer runs a poetry marathon twice a year (November and April) and I make every effort to participate. This past month's effort was mostly done on paper. I did post about ten poems on the website, which is a failure in terms of my wishes to do it up. However, I did write to all but two or three of the prompts and have some handwritten still and some typed and saved in word. I did pull several out to put into book form and sent it to him, hopefully following his specs to the tee. So that is an accomplishment for me, when I think of what this past two or three months has had in store for me/us.
My six-year old granddaughter, Nadia, has been making efforts to adjust to a new set of everything. Her dad is in Iraq and Nadia and her mom moved in with my husband and me. Along with them came a plethora of dogs and a cat. My daughter, Cindy, is enrolled in UMA, trying to finish up a degree. There was also a litter of five AKC Registered Maltese pups born to her female and they have all been placed. What an ordeal! In the meantime, she was on her way home on Black Friday, in the rain, having delivered a pup to a client, when a car zoomed across the middle of the road going 55+ MPH and hit her almost head on. Both cars were totalled. Cindy was taken to the hospital and thank God, is now home and ok-ish. Her body took one hell of a beating, but all-in-all, she is alive and well and that's really all that matters. The driver of the other car was taken home by her husband who was driving behind her in another vehicle. That's a long story in itself. However, trying to deal with insurance, rental, and getting another car has consumed all of us.
Now it is nearly Christmas. I am so NOT ready and it's next week. I don't want to talk about it!
In the meantime, I am going to try and get back in the fiction and non-fiction writing groove after the holiday passes us by. I am pretty happy with my poetry efforts. I want to enter a non-fiction contest and I am needing to clear off the dust from two manuscripts...one a chapter book for reluctant readers, which I want to make into a series and the other my so very dusty YA SCI-FI MS.
Over and out...
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
End of October
Once again, the time has whooshed by me. I guess that has to be my mantra. Whatever the case, the time has been well spent making memories with my daughter and granddaughter. I have written little, which is a shame, but there are only X-number of hours in a day. Between laundry, dishes and just trying to cut my way through the busy clutter and hectic schedules, it's amazing to me that I am still upright. I do, however, feel the need to check in to my blog, which has turned into more of a journal than anything else, and write something. There are virtually no followers, so I am writing to me. Maybe one day...
I recently received a beautiful tome, "The Path," with my poem in it, entitled "Summer Child." The publishers are Silver Boomers Press and they did a wonderful job with it all. I am very proud of it and plan on getting several copies for family and friends. :-)
On November 21st, I will be attending a writers' bootcamp in Shapleigh, Maine, hosted by Brenda Sturgis. I just sent out a ms that I am in love with to be critiqued by Lisa Wheeler, who is the author who is going to do the workshop. I have entitled it, "How do you Hide a Dragon?" (book one of the series, "The Adventures of Annie and Blaze").
Rather than carry on, (blah blah blah), I will end and save this entry. Even though I have no followers, maybe one day I will. I need to be true to my blog!
I recently received a beautiful tome, "The Path," with my poem in it, entitled "Summer Child." The publishers are Silver Boomers Press and they did a wonderful job with it all. I am very proud of it and plan on getting several copies for family and friends. :-)
On November 21st, I will be attending a writers' bootcamp in Shapleigh, Maine, hosted by Brenda Sturgis. I just sent out a ms that I am in love with to be critiqued by Lisa Wheeler, who is the author who is going to do the workshop. I have entitled it, "How do you Hide a Dragon?" (book one of the series, "The Adventures of Annie and Blaze").
Rather than carry on, (blah blah blah), I will end and save this entry. Even though I have no followers, maybe one day I will. I need to be true to my blog!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Mid-September
Time really does seem to be speeding "up." Since time apparently does not exist, I find it difficult to put that together. So, what is, in fact, speeding up? Something is!
I have had little time for writing. However, I have gotten some more done on my ya sci-fi ms. It's coming along. I sent in a poem to Horticulture Magazine. That's a wait and see, as all submissions are. I will be attending a bootcamp in Shapleigh, Maine in November, where my cb ms will be critiqued (for a fee). Actually, I am sending it to the presenter ahead of time for her critiquing. It should be an interesting day. I am nervous about finding not only the place where the workshop is being held, but Shapleigh itself! That's about "it" for my writing of late.
Our small dwelling has swelled with energy and activity. My daughter's husband in now in Iraq. My daughter, granddaughter, three small dogs and one cat (one got runover, which was traumatic for all of us) are all here "with bells on!" I will adjust. I haven't yet, completely, but I am getting there. I'm not so sure about my poor husband, who is overwhelmed by it all. Once we are in a routine, with household jobs better delegated, things will smooth out. Yes, they will. Seriously. They will! Please!!!!
I really want to get my ya ms completed. I am having such fun with it.
I have had little time for writing. However, I have gotten some more done on my ya sci-fi ms. It's coming along. I sent in a poem to Horticulture Magazine. That's a wait and see, as all submissions are. I will be attending a bootcamp in Shapleigh, Maine in November, where my cb ms will be critiqued (for a fee). Actually, I am sending it to the presenter ahead of time for her critiquing. It should be an interesting day. I am nervous about finding not only the place where the workshop is being held, but Shapleigh itself! That's about "it" for my writing of late.
Our small dwelling has swelled with energy and activity. My daughter's husband in now in Iraq. My daughter, granddaughter, three small dogs and one cat (one got runover, which was traumatic for all of us) are all here "with bells on!" I will adjust. I haven't yet, completely, but I am getting there. I'm not so sure about my poor husband, who is overwhelmed by it all. Once we are in a routine, with household jobs better delegated, things will smooth out. Yes, they will. Seriously. They will! Please!!!!
I really want to get my ya ms completed. I am having such fun with it.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
September? No Way!
Since this format is writing only, one cannot see my red face. What has happened to me?! I honestly feel as though I am in the presence of the as yet to be fully imagined gravitational pull of a black hole! All things are zinging by me in a blur and try as I might, I can't seem to grasp anything on my way in to slow the momentum, let alone stop it. Is this what it is like to become elderly? If so, it sucks. If not, then "what the....!"
August? You mean it's gone? I vaguely remember intense heat and humidity to the point of wishing myself away. I guess it worked. During that month, my daughter Cindy, granddaughter, Nadia, three dogs and two cats arrived for a long term "visit." Husband/Daddy deployed to Iraq. It's been a serious adjustment. During that time, daddy left and one kitty, Rajah got run over. It has been a series of traumas for the little Nadia. Mommy has been using her energy to try and keep the Nadia person emotionally upright. Me? I managed to create a poem to submit to Horticulture Magazine. I really liked it. I hope that they do as well. Other than that, I have thought about my ya sci-fi ms and actually read it again and added a bit. I like that one as well, but it has a long way to go. I have a couple of pb ms's that are ready for critiquing. There's a day-long workshop in Shapleigh, ME in November that I have signed up for. It's extra money for critiquing, but I am going to go for it. I just need to find out where the heck Shapleigh is...
Nadia started grade 1 yesterday. She was so very nervous. She met her new teacher, Mrs. DeCarolis, along with her classmates, outside on the veranda of the school in the morning. The teacher then escorted the children to her classroom. Nadia looked so beautiful in her little purple dress that daddy got for her. She also looked terrified. Her grandfather, Peter (she calls him "Gah") took her hand and walked with her. It was beautiful. She had an amazing day and couldn't wait to go back this morning. The people who work at Crescent Park School are angels in human form. I should know. I worked with most of them for many many years as a classroom teacher. They will all look out for this child. Life is good.
I really hope to do more with this blog. It would make a big difference if anyone were to visit it! Let's see what September brings!
August? You mean it's gone? I vaguely remember intense heat and humidity to the point of wishing myself away. I guess it worked. During that month, my daughter Cindy, granddaughter, Nadia, three dogs and two cats arrived for a long term "visit." Husband/Daddy deployed to Iraq. It's been a serious adjustment. During that time, daddy left and one kitty, Rajah got run over. It has been a series of traumas for the little Nadia. Mommy has been using her energy to try and keep the Nadia person emotionally upright. Me? I managed to create a poem to submit to Horticulture Magazine. I really liked it. I hope that they do as well. Other than that, I have thought about my ya sci-fi ms and actually read it again and added a bit. I like that one as well, but it has a long way to go. I have a couple of pb ms's that are ready for critiquing. There's a day-long workshop in Shapleigh, ME in November that I have signed up for. It's extra money for critiquing, but I am going to go for it. I just need to find out where the heck Shapleigh is...
Nadia started grade 1 yesterday. She was so very nervous. She met her new teacher, Mrs. DeCarolis, along with her classmates, outside on the veranda of the school in the morning. The teacher then escorted the children to her classroom. Nadia looked so beautiful in her little purple dress that daddy got for her. She also looked terrified. Her grandfather, Peter (she calls him "Gah") took her hand and walked with her. It was beautiful. She had an amazing day and couldn't wait to go back this morning. The people who work at Crescent Park School are angels in human form. I should know. I worked with most of them for many many years as a classroom teacher. They will all look out for this child. Life is good.
I really hope to do more with this blog. It would make a big difference if anyone were to visit it! Let's see what September brings!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
...end of July
June flashed by me and I guess July did as well. It has been a busy summer, despite the drizzly, rainy, humid, depressing weather. The big event has been the arrival of my daughter, granddaughter, three dogs and two cats. Husband/Daddy will be deploying to Iraq for a year during the first week in August. The girls and furry family members will be staying here with me, my husband, one dog, four cats and a rattie. It will be a potentially life-altering set of circumstances. It should give me a plethora of ideas for children's stories, however! I just hope that I have time to write them!!!!
That's "it" for the moment. Over and Out.
That's "it" for the moment. Over and Out.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
It's July! June got rained out...
I have been a bad, bad blogger. I am so sorry that I have let my huge numbers of followers down by not posting! serious wink here
It has not been at all productive, in terms of writing. My mind has spun out a few, but never to be captured on paper or epaper. I like that word...epaper. :-) I haven't heard from anyone else whom I sent things out to. I guess I should at least jiggle a chain or two. My promise to me is that I will get back at it as soon as I complete some tasks that need to be done on the physical plane. The mental will have to wait.
My daughter and granddaughter will be moving in with us for 12-15 months while husband/daddy deploys to Iraq. He has been told that his company's mission will be to work on rebuilding the city and they shouldn't see any combat. I have noticed that the violence is escalating in Iraq as our combat troops move out. That is not good. We will worry about him and pray for his safe return. In the meantime, the girls will stay here, along with three small dogs and two cats. We have one large dog, four cats and a rattie. So, my energy has gone into culling and organizing and cleaning and basically wearing myself out. It has been raining here in Maine "forever." It is unreal. The rain has kept me inside, doing my hard physical labor. However, the lack of sun has made things all dreary, damp, dank, and depressing. How's that for a bit of alliteration?
I felt the urge to get a post in, as I made a promise to myself that I would try to make this a blogsite. It has turned into a journal, but I guess it is what it is. I'll never get a following if I don't seriously break into print. I'll never seriously break into print if I don't write!
Sigh! Over and out.
It has not been at all productive, in terms of writing. My mind has spun out a few, but never to be captured on paper or epaper. I like that word...epaper. :-) I haven't heard from anyone else whom I sent things out to. I guess I should at least jiggle a chain or two. My promise to me is that I will get back at it as soon as I complete some tasks that need to be done on the physical plane. The mental will have to wait.
My daughter and granddaughter will be moving in with us for 12-15 months while husband/daddy deploys to Iraq. He has been told that his company's mission will be to work on rebuilding the city and they shouldn't see any combat. I have noticed that the violence is escalating in Iraq as our combat troops move out. That is not good. We will worry about him and pray for his safe return. In the meantime, the girls will stay here, along with three small dogs and two cats. We have one large dog, four cats and a rattie. So, my energy has gone into culling and organizing and cleaning and basically wearing myself out. It has been raining here in Maine "forever." It is unreal. The rain has kept me inside, doing my hard physical labor. However, the lack of sun has made things all dreary, damp, dank, and depressing. How's that for a bit of alliteration?
I felt the urge to get a post in, as I made a promise to myself that I would try to make this a blogsite. It has turned into a journal, but I guess it is what it is. I'll never get a following if I don't seriously break into print. I'll never seriously break into print if I don't write!
Sigh! Over and out.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Ta-Da!
OMG! I am about to become a published poet! On my son's birthday, no less, I got a message from Silver Boomer Books about a poem, "Child of Summer," that I submitted ages and ages ago. They want to include it in their upcoming anthology. I am going to link their blog to this blogsite as soon as I figure out how. I can include the URL, and that's what I will do now... www.silverboomerbooks.com
I got a REAL contract and even though I am but one piece in the book, this is a real "MOMENT" for me. I am thrilled!
A "lesson" is forming itself in my brain even as I write this. The biggest expenditure of my creative energy goes into writing fiction and/or non-fiction for kids. I belong to GROUPS, I READ, I STUDY, I LEARN how-to's and not how-to's, and I SUBMIT! I get rejections. Now, my poetry? That comes from WITHIN. The lesson is continuing to form itself. Right now, it is misty and wispy. You see, I DO need to know the industry, in terms of writing prose. Really. But I am trying so hard to do it RIGHT. Am I leaving myself out of the formula in the process? I need to really chew on this one!
In the meantime, I have to say that I feel so happy today. Linda, the Poet! OMG.
I got a REAL contract and even though I am but one piece in the book, this is a real "MOMENT" for me. I am thrilled!
A "lesson" is forming itself in my brain even as I write this. The biggest expenditure of my creative energy goes into writing fiction and/or non-fiction for kids. I belong to GROUPS, I READ, I STUDY, I LEARN how-to's and not how-to's, and I SUBMIT! I get rejections. Now, my poetry? That comes from WITHIN. The lesson is continuing to form itself. Right now, it is misty and wispy. You see, I DO need to know the industry, in terms of writing prose. Really. But I am trying so hard to do it RIGHT. Am I leaving myself out of the formula in the process? I need to really chew on this one!
In the meantime, I have to say that I feel so happy today. Linda, the Poet! OMG.
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