Writing Free

Hello! Are You Listening

There is a conspiracy out there, and I am a victim. I mean, I am a senior citizen, and manufacturers of every product want to make sure we seniors can’t get into what we need to get into! At least, not without great effort and frustration! Let me be blunt: the seals on most products are put there with one purpose in mind—Get Granny!

My first encounter was when pharmacies put my meds in childproof containers. Hello—I can’t take the med if I can’t get into it! I had to sign a waiver at the pharmacy in order to get normal lids which I could open!

Then came the jar lids, the kind that don’t screw off but rather must be pried off while listening for the “safety button” to pop. Hello—do you realize that glass jars can be broken while trying to remove the lid with a flat knife when the lid won’t turn?

And just this morning, for perhaps the millionth time, I spent too long trying to remove the taped seal on a bottle of chocolate syrup—and still had to open the top and remove the seal inside! If it hadn’t cost me $6+, I might have chunked the entire brand-new bottle.

How about the non-edible products sealed in plastic that has to be cut away from the product? Hello—do you realize that nice protective plastic can inflict cuts as deep as a switchblade?

I am a senior citizen, though a Mimi and not a Granny. But my body bears the trauma of trying to access everyday products which I need to get open sooner than next week!

Hello! Are you listening out there?

~~~~~

On the Road Again…

     No, not on the road as in traveling, although I’ve been thinking of a short hop or two. Finally I sat down and finished uploading six—that’s right, 6—books which have been sitting on my computer forever. I edited, proofed, and formatted, and then got a mental block when it came to uploading.

     But they’re done, and the proof copies are on the way, scheduled to arrive tomorrow and Wednesday. Then a friend (shall I say, a discerning reader) volunteered to be my second set of eyes. My proofing will begin on Wednesday, cozily ensconced at my favorite place—the Bearded Barista—with ruler and red pen. My friend will just read for fun and mark anything that jumps out at her.

     So, look for these coming soon:

• The Legacy of Diamond Springs (Diamond Springs Book 1--tweaked)

• The Flames of Diamond Springs (Diamond Springs Book 2)

• The Dust of Diamond Springs (Diamond Springs Book 3)

• Hotel Homicide

• What Are the Prickly Pear Hiding?

• Keeping Promises

     I’ll be offering some freebies on Amazon, AND—if anyone out there is interested in doing a review, I’ll send you a paperback absolutely FREE. (Contact me: judynickles@gmail.com)

     I have five more books to edit, format, and upload, and then I’m DONE. Oh, not done writing. I don’t think I could stop if I had to. But from now on, I’ll be doing articles and short stories and submitting them here, there, and yonder for possible publication.

     And, of course, I’m still researching Forgotten Faces and Places of San Angelo (my home town) and hope to make that available to a limited audience soon. As old cowboys die in the saddle, I’m sure I shall die with a pen in my hand (or my fingers on the keyboard) and a smile on my face. 

Was Naming My Website Writing Free Life Prophetic?

     In the July-August issue of Writer’s Digest Magazine, one of the first articles jumped out at me because it seemed to catch the theme of this website!

“Permission to Write Freely”

by Karen Krumpak

     She started off by asking about our hidden stashes of notebooks and journals, and my mind fled in guilty haste to the top drawer of my filing cabinet. Yes, there are plenty already filled up and sitting on the shelves in my office, but sometimes I think I hear all those beautiful unused ones calling for freedom from the dark recesses where they’ve spent far too long.

     While you really need to find this issue and read the entire article, I’ll share a pertinent quote from Karen:

Writers are known for struggling against perfectionism and imposter syndrome… Stop holding yourself to an impossible standard that every word you put on the page should be ‘worthwhile’. Give yourself the permission to write badly, freely, without any discernible point beyond filling up space.

     At last! I really can do what I want (need) to do without feeling I’ve disgraced my writerly identity! Thank you! Thank you!

     I do keep a writing journal in which I start from a prompt and write the beginning, middle, OR end of a short story. Then I jot down how I’m feeling about my writing endeavors on that particular day. But I neglect this journal. Is it because I know the few minutes I spend don’t always produce a perfect piece? Or am I just lazy?

     Whatever—writers write, and if I call myself a writer, I need to write… “badly, freely, without any discernible point beyond filling up space.”

     Thank you, Karen Krumpak, and I vow to do it!

     Be sure to read the entire article in the July-August issue of Writer’s Digest. You can likely find it online through your public library if not on their shelves. Then, without fail, read more of Karen’s excellent advice from past WD articles HERE.

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Being Nice to Yourself

     The schedule several todays ago called for me to start working on the back covers of the six books I need to upload. I didn’t do it. Instead I did my regular chores and then sat outside for prayer/devotional time instead of staying inside and thinking about everything that needed doing later.

     The schedule also called for my regular massage appointment, which I wouldn’t miss. It was time for lunch when I got home, so I prepared that and sat down, enjoyed some great documentaries on TV, and then bestirred myself to put in a load of laundry as well as take my library book outside in the evening air.

     So now it’s shower/bedtime, and I haven’t done a lick of work on those covers.

     Didn’t Little Orphan Annie sing, “Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya, Tomorrow...you’re only a day away!”

     Sometimes Tomorrow is being nice to yourself Today.

     Or something.

~~~~~

If I Had Another Lifetime…

     I don’t watch many movies, although I recently spent time weeping yet again over Mrs. Miniver (1942) with Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, and Dame May Whitty. Documentaries are my choice most of the time, and they make me wish I’d chosen a different path when I was starting out.

     The problem is, there were so many paths to choose from! Unfortunately, at that time, the female sex did not engage in these pursuits.

     Watching a series called Dr. G, Medical Examiner, made me want to solve the mysteries of the morgue.

     Secrets of the Neanderthals sent me into the fascinating world of anthropology.

     Cold Cases had me excited about being a police detective. (And, indeed, when I was growing up, that was exactly what I wanted to be.   However, as I said, in those days, girls didn’t pursue such vocations, alas.)

     Watching lost civilizations dug up and brought to light makes me think that I could have spent my life traveling as an archaeologist.

     Other series, too many to name, makes me wish I’d pursued history as a major, not a minor.

     My high school journalism teacher encouraged me to go into journalism, and I often wish I’d listened to him.

     Instead, I became a teacher. I married and raised two boys. Now I’m retired, and I write—but you’ll certainly find all my unfulfilled dreams in my books. I live vicariously.

     Hotel Homicide incorporates a medical examiner and the pursuit of a cold case in a derelict hotel—which, if its walls could talk, would have plenty to tell! It’s coming soon.

     The three book Diamond Springs series incorporates a lot of history, mystery, and a cold case or two. The last two books are also coming soon.

     Of course, there are no more choices to be made in life, except, perhaps, which can of cat food to open in the morning for my two furry freeloaders. Or perhaps whether to feed the birds first or water the hanging plants. Or write in my office or at the cozy coffee shop a few blocks away.

     But there’s always Amazon Prime where I can live vicariously in the worlds I never experienced.

     And I can always spin a new story. At my age, perhaps that’s enough.

~~~~~

Why Research Before You Write?

     Perhaps the question should be: Why research at all? Isn’t fiction by definition a made up story? Well, yes and no.

Obviously non-fiction and some types of fiction such as historical fiction must be thoroughly researched. But fiction in and of itself? Who cares if you get it right?

     Readers care. And somewhere sometime, a reader—or perhaps multiple readers—will run across something that doesn’t ring true and say, “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

     When I wrote the Penelope Pembroke Cozy Mystery Series, my main character happened to be Catholic, about which I knew nothing. I even took a class on Catholicism at my local church to be sure the settings, actions, and dialogue incorporating Penelope’s beliefs was accurate. I also consulted a fellow author who grew up Catholic and was still active in the Church.

     You may be a writer with top-notch skills and the ability to mesmerize your reader with a unique plot and realistic characters, but write one inaccurate word, and you’ll hear about it from someone and go, “Ouch.”

     With the internet (not to mention great libraries which do, by the way, still exist), there’s no excuse for getting it wrong.

Research what you don’t know before you even put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. That gives you a starting point. You’ll also continue to check things out as you go.

     Don’t get caught with your pants down, your foot in your mouth, or your ignorance showing!

~~~~~

WHY DO WE DO IT?

    The other day, a writing friend who was struggling to tie up all the loose ends in a novel which she has carefully researched and crafted, asked me “Why do we do it?”

    I had no answer. Why do writers tear their hair and gnash their teeth and bemoan ever starting a story which, though planned in advance, runs away with itself? I don’t know.

    Is creativity a good gene or a curse?

    Is imagination liberating or imprisoning?

    Beats me.

    I have 107 pages left to proofread before I can declare all six books ready for formatting and uploading to Amazon. (These will, of course, be indie-pubbed books.) Meanwhile, I missed writing in my prompt journal on Sunday as well as organizing my writing planner.      How can I do any of that when these pages are screaming for attention?

   But the worst is still to come: formatting, uploading, ordering a proof copy, waiting for it to arrive, and then arming myself with a ruler and a red pen for the inevitable slasheroo. Line by line by line, one more time… I’m not sure even a pleasant coffee shop environment will lighten the task ahead.

    Why do I do it? I don’t know.

    Why do you do it?

    PS: As of this blog posting, all six books are proofed as well as ref0rmatted for the second time! I am on vacation, at least until Monday when I will start uploading them for publication, ordering proof copies, and going them them again as mentioned above. But today, tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday, I am in chill mode.

    WHY DO I DO IT?

~~~~~

Things to Do, Places to Go, People to See

     I remember my grandmother wearing those awful black lace-up old-lady oxfords and mostly sitting around when she wasn’t cooking or doing another household-type chore. She was only 50 when I was born, so she wasn’t that old while I grew up. She didn’t drive. She had the occasional visitor. About the only time she got out was the weekly trip to the grocery store three blocks away, and my mother facilitated that.

     How will my grandchildren remember me? Sneakers, sandals, jeans, tee shirts, sweaters or turtlenecks, hoop earrings, makeup, a backpack with my laptop, and the car keys in my hand. I have things to do, places to go, people to see. I don’t even waste my time going to the grocery store—I make an online order and pick it up!

     Times have changed, of course, but the one thing which hasn’t changed is that life is a learning experience. I am convinced that one only grows old when one stops learning. There will come a time, of course, when I can no longer drive safely, and my physical world will shrink.

     But the mind has no limits. None at all. I’ll still have things to do, places to go, and people to see, if only in my mind!

~~~~~

How Am I Doing Off Facebook?

     As of July 21, my account is supposed to have been removed from FB. I haven’t been in to check, but I probably will just to be sure.

     So how am I doing without it?

     So glad you asked! And the answer is—GREAT! I don’t know how to explain the feeling. Freedom maybe? Social media can be addictive. But more than that, it can be soul-crushing. Reading posts from people one considers good friends and kindred spirits can be like being suffocated in a thick black curtain.

      I will also admit to getting more “piddling” chores done around the house. Tweaking this, reorganizing that...all of which leaves me with a satisfied feeling at the end of the day.

     And, of course, there’s the writing. When I boot up the computer in the morning, it’s for one purpose: check email, news, and get busy on the day’s writing goal which also now includes my website.

     When I post a writing tip or a writing prompt or a new blog or short story, I feel as if I am giving something rather than focusing strictly on myself. And giving back is what it’s all about.

     So, as of July 21 (according to FB Admins), my account should have been totally deleted. Apparently they were giving me a month to change my mind. But I didn’t hit permanently delete account lightly. Decision made. Moving on.

     There are disadvantages, of course. The traffic on this website hasn’t taken off, but it’s picking up. I don’t have a good way to get the message out about the website or the six new books which will be available by September.

     But I’m at peace and enjoying every new day in a brand-new way. I recommend it—not necessarily getting off FB and other social media, but rather making decisions to rid one’s life of anything standing between total enjoyment and nagging guilt.

     It’s an individual choice, and I’m glad I finally got the guts to make it.

~~~~~

Say What?

     Most of my unwanted emails go directly to the spam folder, and I delete them several times a day. The scams—I’ve won a prize; I’ve been awarded money in a lawsuit; I have a free gift waiting; my account has been blocked...one can move past those tired old chestnuts. But the others…

     I know the emails are sent automatically, but honestly, why do I need treatment for my prostate when I don’t have one? Then, of course, there are the other things that can be treated...which I don’t need either.

Yeah, these spam emails are definitely gender neutral.

     The problem is, too many of these emails catch the attention of vulnerable populations and get them in big trouble. They click...they read...and then they’re hooked. It’s like answering calls on your cell phone when you don’t recognize the number. Once you answer, “they” know you’re there, and they’ll keep knocking until someone lets them in...figuratively speaking.

     For writers, there is another threat: I’ve read your book, and it’s wonderful, and I want to publish/make a movie...ad nauseum. Rein in the ego and hit delete. Please.

     So far, I haven’t gotten taken. I hope I can mention that to St. Peter when I reach the Golden Gate. I’d hate to have him shaking his head at me and saying, “Judy, Judy, Judy…”

     I know—that’s really bad.

~~~~~

I Want to Be a Writer—Really?

     “I want to be a writer giggle giggle giggle.” I hear this from young aspiring writers too often. There’s more to writing than that—giggle giggle giggle.

     Why do you want to write? Do you think you’ll probably/definitely be the next New York Times best-selling author? Do you want to earn enough to quit your day job? Nothing wrong with those ambitions, but first things first.

     First, you have to learn your craft, and writing is a craft. Just having a good story idea isn’t enough. You must learn to weave your plot, create your characters, and do your research so that a reader won’t say, “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!”

     So how do you learn your craft? There are many books out there written by good writers who can give you some solid advice. If you get hold of a book that doesn’t speak to you, put it down, and go on to the next one.

     For me, the best reason to write is having a story to tell. The next-best reason is getting the story down and re-writing and editing until it’s the best it can be.

     Writing is a creative process. It can be a career or a hobby. But, like anything, you have to know what you’re doing, or you’ll (1) make a hash of it and (2) burn out.

     Here’s a link to some good books on writing for beginners, and here is another link for more advanced advice. Check them out. If you don’t have time, maybe it’s time to rethink being a writer.

~~~~~

The Lazy Writer

     I confess: I am that lazy writer. Not that I don’t write, because I do. I love writing! I’ve stowed away more ideas for novels than I’ll ever live long enough to write. The problem is that once written, these books sit on my computer because I absolutely despise writing blurbs, formatting, uploading, and sitting with a ruler and red pen to proof yet again in the proof copy. About the only part I enjoy about getting a book ready for publication is designing the cover, and that can get frustrating, too.

     But this spring I determined to resurrect all the unpublished novels just waiting to see the light of day. As of today, I have six ready to upload. I actually thought about finding a proof reader until I discovered that the going rate is between 1-6 cents per word. That doesn’t sound like much, but multiply that times a 50K-60K book, and the grand total spells disaster for a retiree.

     So...I’ll do it myself. Hopefully, I’ve been over all the books enough times to catch most of the typos and other errors. (You do know, don’t you, that first drafts stink? It’s never one and done, the end, send it flying into the literary world.)

     Fortunately, since moving home three years ago, I’ve discovered the perfect place to spend several hours most days doing my writerly thing! It’s three minutes away from my cozy patio home in a retirement community, and if I arrive at the optimal time, I can get a parking spot right in front!

     I’ll be spending a lot of time there once I end up with six proof copies to look at!

     At least the atmosphere is fun even if the task at hand isn’t!

~~~~~

A Few Writing Tidbits Based on Been There Done That

     As of next May, I’ll have been retired for twenty years. Although I’d always wanted to write—and had dabbled with various short stories/novellas/novels, I knew it was time to put up or shut up. So, I spent about a year learning about craft, searching out publishers, and then getting started on the first novel I was really serious about publishing.

     Seven books later, with three publishing companies, I turned to indie publishing, not because I was dissatisfied with the publishers, but because when one looks at a year between contract and a published piece, it seemed to me that indie publishing was the better option. I wasn’t getting any younger—and I’m still not!

     Do I miss my fantastic editors from The Wild Rose Press which published five of my books? You bet! One particular editor did four of the five books and taught me so much. After receiving a contract for the first one, she contacted me and said, “Get rid of the thats and then we’ll talk.” Gulp. To this day, I feel her looking over my shoulder every time I write the word!

     I met her face-to-face for the first time while my third novel was under consideration. Her first words to me after I’d introduced myself were, “Well, we’re going to give you a contract, but the reading committee thinks you’ve introduced your male protagonist too late in the story.”

     Feeling much like a child called to the front of the classroom for one of those teacher-behind-desk chats, I asked meekly, “What do you want me to do?”

     Her look said it all, but her words put the icing on the cake. “Fix it.”

     I did.

     What I’d like to say to aspiring writers is this: you have to learn your craft. Yes, writing is a craft. You can’t just say, “I want to be a writer,” and then with the next breath take off on another tangent.

     Also, I’d add that you never stop learning, not if you want your tenth book to be better than the previous nine. You learn from online workshops, sharing ideas with other writers, writing websites, authors’ blogs, and everything that smacks of writing which comes across your computer screen.

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Look for the Freebies

     I just signed up for another free computer class at my local library. Actually, this will be the second time I’ve taken the class, but once wasn’t enough. It’s a beginning tutorial on using Canva for making posters, book covers, charts, and a myriad of other illustrations. I’d been using if for several years, not realizing how much about it I didn’t know!

~~~~~

     Do a search for writing sites online. Most are free, and they’re chock full of ideas for writing, publishing, marketing and all things related.

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     Do an online search for events in your town. Not only are some a good break for hard-working writers, but they’re also full of ideas for blogs, short stories, and even full-blown novels.

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     People watch. Trying to visualize your character? Take your coffee or soft drink and your writing notebook to an outdoor cafe—or even a bus or train station of airport lobby—even a student center at the local college—and look around. (I wouldn’t recommend actually snapping pictures with your cell phone!) You’re bound to have a eureka moment in which you recognize the face and form of the exact character you’re struggling to write!

~~~~~

     Do an online search for free or low-cost graphics to illustrate your blogs or other writing. Just remember to give credit where credit’s due! 

~~~~~

 What Do You Do on Triple-Digit Summer Afternoons?

    When I was in grade school and junior high, I often took refuge under the old swamp cooler with my latest stack of library books. If I got lucky, a trip to the swimming pool might happen a couple of times a week, after which I’d return to the book-in-progress while enjoying a tasty Firestick bought from the pool’s concession stand. I haven’t seen those things in ages—but I’ll stock up if I ever do!

     There was also cleaning up the kitchen after lunch and retiring to iron the laundry I’d taken off the line, sprinkled, and wrapped in a ragged beach towel. In those days, everything got ironed except maybe for towels, underwear, and socks!

     Fast-forward to now. My current “schedule” calls for a couple of hours at the local Bearded Barista where I write, edit, or proof the current WIPs. Then it’s home for lunch, a little chill time, and finally into the office where I take care of assorted personal business and/or writing tasks.

     With the curtains closed, the house is cozily dim and cool. The kitties have had their noon treats and retired who-knows-where, likely under a bed or in a dark corner. They’re weird felines. I’ve divested myself of the more modest jeans I wear outside my home and opted for shorts. It’s quiet, and I stay busy for as long a time (or as little time) as I want. Retirement hasn’t equated to boredom for me!

     As of this writing, I’ve composed two blogs (this being the second) to save for future reference, started the set-up for a new page on my website, signed up for an online (free) class next week, printed out something to send to Son #2, paid a bill online, and debated whether to do a little more proof reading on the WIP. The verdict’s not in yet.

     It’s hot outside, but life is good.

~~~~~

How Many Short Stories?

    Recently I cobbled together from various drives all the short stories I’ve written since retiring almost twenty years ago. Grand total: one hundred eighty-five!

    You read that right. One hundred eighty-five short stories.

    Are all of them good? No.

    Are some of them good? Absolutely.

    Are some of them blah? Unfortunately.

     Have a few of them been published? Uh-huh and hallelujah!

    What am I going to do with one hundred eighty-five stories? Well, for starters, some of them will be rewritten. Those not salvageable will be trashed. Others will find their way to the I’ll Tell You a Story page on this website, hopefully once every couple of weeks or so.

    So stay tuned...check back here regularly...and feel free to comment positively or negatively. Writers learn from constructive criticism.      If we don’t, perhaps we need to rethink the whole career/hobby of writing.

~~~~~

Nothing’s Off the Table aka Anything Goes

     In 1934, Cole Porter wrote a song called “Anything Goes” for his feature show by the same name. You’ll enjoy reading all the lyrics here and contemplating how what he wrote some ninety-two years ago is worse than true in 2026!

But even worse than the fact that there don’t seem to be any taboo topics these days is the accompanying hypocrisy. For example: the bleeps on television with blocks across the mouths of the speaker to keep us from reading lips; the words written with letters left out—as if we can’t fill them in; the “sincere apologies” dragged from those who have intentionally offended and aren’t sorry at all.

     Come on, folks, we all know the score. If you want to be a you-know-what, at least be an honest one!

     An excellent article from the July-August issue of Writer’s Digest inspired this blog. “Tackling Taboo Topics Through Independent Publishing” by Christopher Stollar. I’d recommend getting hold of the magazine and reading the article in its entirety.

     I’m currently proofing one of my books prior to publishing, and I’m torn about just leaving it to molder away. It’s called Keeping Promises, the story of a young woman stripped of her family at the age of eleven and moved through fifteen foster homes before she was eighteen.

     Nadine “Deenie” made a silent promise that she would find Naomi, Norma, and baby Neil and bring them home again. Now, though she has a good career in nursing, she is still obsessed with that vow, so much so that she can’t move on even with the man she loves.

     So far so good, huh? But this is the grittiest story I’ve ever written. While it’s not graphic (I don’t write dirty for effect), it deals with some seriously taboo topics as far as I’m concerned: sex outside marriage, abortion, and the evils of the child welfare system.

     As I read through the pages looking for errors, I wonder if the biggest mistake is simply the story itself. I’m torn between moving ahead and just consigning it to the dark recesses of my computer where it’s been for several years. If it dies there, no one will ever know.

     Anyone want to weigh in with ideas, thoughts, advice? I’m open to it all.

~~~~~

Writing Magazines

     Once upon a time, I subscribed to three writing magazines. Two went kaput, and I was left with The Writer’s Digest. It went woke IMO. I stopped subscribing when most of the articles had nothing to do with what I was writing. (I didn’t even understand what some of them were even talking about!) However, I always visited the local bookstore to look at the new issues, and if the cover/table of contents promised something useful for my writing life, I forked over the money for a single copy.

     Fast forward to a move three years ago where none of the bookstores here sell magazines. But the local library had an entire section of same—including The Writer’s Digest. Once a month I took myself with notebook in hand and spent an afternoon reading and making notes. It worked for me.

     Then one day I arrived at the library to find that the only issue on the shelf was the same one that had been there the month before. The desk was unable to find a current subscription. Now what?

     I checked the magazine’s website, and I can subscribe digitally. Since I don’t want to pay for an issue filled with material not useful to me, the cheaper digital price may be my answer.

     I’m still thinking about it.

     Meanwhile, I’d like to find out why it went extinct in the local library!

     AND HERE’S A FOOTNOTE: I just found that I can borrow a digital copy of Writer’s Digest from the local library for 21 days...so though I prefer leafing through a print magazine, this will most certainly do! 

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Moving On

     It’s been on my mind for a while that it was time to move on—that is, off of Facebook and onto my website which has languished without much attention from me. So the time is now, and my goal is to shut down my FB page no later than July 15.

Some posts needed to be saved—personal memories, recipes, historic pictures of my hometown, and other “saves” I’d squirreled away for future reference.

     All of which brings me to the reason why I feel it’s the right time to exit Facebook.

     Several years ago I began to see more than I wanted to, and those negative posts have increased—probably doubled or tripled. I’ve had one rule for myself, which was, “If I don’t agree with/like the post, I’ll scroll on by.” Unfortunately, too many people didn’t accord me the same courtesy, and it left me feeling unsettled. It’s not that I couldn’t roll with the punches of negative comments, but that negativity reflected on the person posting and left me feeling disappointed people I considered friends.

     Finally, in the last year, I’ve had people I cared about and respected post really nasty things. There’s no other word for it—just nasty. Barbed. Designed to wound. Posts more like attacks than just sharing their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. I want to continue to care about and respect them, so I had to put some space between us until those posts fade away somewhat.

     So, it’s time to move on.

     And I’m doing it. 

~~~~~

Writing Journal + Writing Prompt =

A Short-Short Story

     I’ve blogged frequently about keeping a writing journal and using writing prompts to scratch out the beginning, middle, or end of a story. It might even turn into a complete short-short story in itself.

     Whether or not you feel like writing, you can fill a 5x7 lined page in a few minutes, and then you can say, “I wrote today.” And someday, needing to fill a page for a blog (like I need to do right now), you can thumb through the pages and find something that someone somewhere will enjoy reading as quickly as you wrote it.

     To wit:

The Fortune Cookie Prediction

     You will find good fortune. I chuckled over the strip of paper plucked from a discarded fortune cookie. Would that were true. I’d just lost my job. My rent was due. The pantry was almost empty. And I’d salvaged the fortune cookie from the street in front of the Chinese restaurant I was passing. (The aroma emanating from it made my mouth water.)

     Tossing the broken cookie and its laughable prediction in the nearest trash receptacle, I walked home and crawled into bed.

     Over weak coffee and a piece of dry toast the next morning, I scoured the want ads in yesterday’s paper salvaged from a table in the foyer of my boarding house. Receptionist, general go-fer. Safe, pleasant office, salary depends on qualifications, experience.

     I stood outside the address within the hour.

     After a half-hour interview in which I’d explained losing my job through no fault of my own, presented my business school and advanced computer training certificates, and demonstrated my skills, I was hired at an unbelievable salary.

     “Now,” my new youngish boss said, “this is a safe place. No disrespect or harassment tolerated. You dress modestly, speak courteously, and do your job. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the staff, and then—because it’s Friday—I’ll order in lunch. My treat.

     He paused and smiled. “Do you like Chinese?”

~~~~~~~~~~

     This took about ten minutes to scribble down in my journal. Does it need tweaking? Certainly. Could it be the beginning of a longer story or the middle of one? Possibly. Does it qualify as writing? Most definitely. Give it a whirl yourself!

~~~~~

The Perils of Being Lost in Time

Having consigned Blest Be the Tie to my writing partner for some good stiff beta reading, I turned my attention back to a recent piece of fluff I’m calling What Are the Cactus Hiding? I’d done three edits, and it still stunk. Mostly, it was a disconnected story with a good plot which never quite came together.

So, I started through it again and found myself stuck like a fly to flypaper. It was going nowhere. Zip. Nada. Zilch. Why?

Then it hit me—I was writing a mystery with history, but I hadn’t made a timeline, so my dates were totally messed up.

Pause for the timeline.

However, because I’d neglected it to begin with, trying to sort out my characters—who lived when—who did what and when—because an exercise in frustration.

But not futility. Eventually, I persevered, printed it out and used it to grease the wheels of yet another edit. Now I’m getting somewhere.

Of course, there are two kinds of writers: plotters and pantsers, but IMO it’s the in-between that yields the most creativity and productivity. Having a basic framework saves time, not to mention much weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth and the danger of consigning a good story to the dark recesses of the documents folder.

So the story, with much editing is now on its way.

Will Lauren and her brother Don figure out the mystery which surrounds the ruins of the original house on their parents’ property? They know their mother covered them with a large bunch of transplanted prickly pear which has run wild. What was she hiding? Why did she take Lauren’s childhood stash of buried treasures—blackened silverware, broken china, and a woman’s old-fashioned tortise-shell comb—at the same time as she planted the prickly pear, thus guaranteeing nothing else would ever be unearthed?

What rift became a chasm that tore their family apart? Is there anyone still alive who can make sense of it? If so, who are they, where are they, and can they be persuaded to give up the secrets still lurking within the foundation stones of the ruined mansion? And are those secrets linked to Lauren and Don—or to the descendants of the original owner of the house?

All will be revealed.

PS: Prickly pear are species of cactus! 

~~~~~~

 ‘Way Down South

     When one thinks of the “Old South”, sprawling plantations with magnificent columned houses comes to mind. Indeed, the antebellum homes of this region are its treasures.

     Antebellum means “pre-war”, specifically the time after the American Revolution but before the Civil War and is associated with the southern United States. More specifically, antebellum is used to describe a particular type of architecture of the 19th century: Georgian, Neo-classical, and Greek Revival.

     Many of these homes have fallen into ruin, but others have survived to be listed on the National Historic Register. You can scan these images and research more about any which spark your interest. Many, purchased and restored by new owners, have become bed and breakfast meccas for tourists in the South. The Spring Pilgrimage in Natchez MS draws hundreds of visitors to view homes with evocative names such as Longwood, Melrose, Rosalie, Stanton Hall, and Magnolia Hall. (Mississippi celebrated its tricentennial in 2016!)

     Here’s a list of books you might want to consult if you’re writing in this period and want to go in depth:

     1)  Architecture Glossary:  Illustrated Dictionary for Architecture Words

     2)  Top 9 Books About Plantation Houses

• Great Houses of the South (Rizzoli, 2010)

• Plantation Houses and Mansions of the Old South by J. Frazier Smith/This book is a reprint from the original in 1936 and includes floor plans for many of the houses.

• Under the Live Oaks: The Last Great Plantation Houses of the Old South by Clarkson Potter (2002)

• Architecture of the Old South (Abbeville Press, 1993)

• Marvelous Old Mansions and Other Southern Treasures (John F. Blair, publisher, 2000)

• Vestiges of Grandeur: The Plantations of Louisiana’s River Road (Chronicle Books LLC, 1999)

• Virginia Plantation Homes by David Gleason (LSU Press, 1989)

• Plantation Homes of Louisiana and the Natchez Area (LSU Press, 1983)

• Georgia’s Grandeur: Georgia’s Lost Antebellum Homes and Plantations (Donning Company, 2012)

     Many of these books are quite pricey. I’d imagine they are “coffee table books” put out for browsing. But the second one, which is what I rely on a great deal because of the added bonus of the floor plans, was reprinted in soft-cover, and I found it used at a very cheap price. The other books may also be available that way.

     3)  What is Antebellum Architecture? by Jackie Craven at About.com

     4)  Wikipedia: Plantations in Mississippi (List plus links!)

     Besides being useful for writers researching a setting, these books whisk away the reader to places she’s never been and may never go. Writers need credibility--and all of us need to have our imaginations roused to greater heights! 

~~~~~

Welcome, 2026!

      For some reason, I have a warm, cozy feeling about this coming year, although I can’t explain why. The news is bad, but what’s new? Prices are still high, but I’m okay. The West Texas weather is more like spring than winter, and I hope these balmy days aren’t a precursor to a very bad winter when it finally arrives. I’m a year older—one year past four score and ten—and motivated (but not driven) to make the most of every single day.

     With the annual January clean-out done (every closet, drawer, cabinet), my conscience was clear as I took myself off to my favorite writing spot, the Bearded Barista, located where I used to go see Santa as a child and look at toys. I spent a productive two hours with a peppermint hot chocolate and the faithful lappy, Penelope, before heading home for a quick lunch and the semi-annual dental appointment.

     Lots of plans on the list—books to edit, books to finish, books to write, and hopefully, to find a group of writers/aspiring writers who want to help each other learn their craft and keep each other on our toes. A local bookstore is already thinking about hosting the group if I can get it together. Having never done anything like this before, I’m trying to think it through and plan carefully before putting out the brochures.

     My Facebook writing page Vintage Romance/Romantic Suspense/Cozy Mysteries is being tended to regularly, hopefully sharing information/links for other writers.

      I hope to add a short-story page to this website in addition to once-a-week blogging, so keep an eye out.

It’s a daunting prospect for an old lady who should be rocking on the front porch. Maybe that day will come, but it’s not here yet!

~~~~~

Welcome to a New Year! 

     A new year is upon us with all its promises and possibilities, so make it your promise to yourself to write that story, article, or book! If you're already writing, then finish something and get busy rewriting and editing and rewriting again. In the process, start thinking how you want to publish your creation! Do you want to find a publisher for your book? A print/online publication for your story or article? Do you want to publish independently? Whatever fits your plans and dreams--don't wait! Do it! 

I WILL WRITE 500 WORDS

AND 

I WILL WRITE 500 MORE!