Breaking the Rules of Writing… If There Are Any
26 May 2012 2 Comments
in Writing Tags: how to write a novel, rules of writing, writing
I am breaking the rules of writing a novel… If there are any rules, that is.
See, I always believe in educating yourself on anything. Any craft. Any interest. Anything you may attempt or simply wish to know more about. The problem with educating yourself on how to write a novel is that for every novelist you speak to, you gain a completely new method of writing. For every article/book/blog you read about writing, you learn a new way of doing it. Because everyone does it differently, in their own unique way that works best for them. I love that about the world of writing. But that also makes it difficult in a way. When I get stuck, that means I have to figure out my own way of digging myself out of the problem. I have to untangle the knotted ball of threads (thought threads, that is) in my own way, on my own.
That’s why I love meeting with other writers. Not to get or give advice, but to get and give support. There is no other person in this world (besides God and my husband… And believe me, both are very mighty men) that understands the insanity of writing than other writers. They wince when you tell of your hardships. They applaud your successes. And most of all, they are wading through the thick mud of writing right along with you. The crazy part is that they are just as crazy about writing as I am.
In other words, they GET IT.
So, most likely, it will be other creatives/writers that will be nodding their heads and whispering “yes” in agreement at this post. If you have already done that, then congratulations, you are a creative and/or writer.
The “rules” of writing that I am officially breaking are as follows. Because they are simply not working for me. And they are killing my creativity, not to mention the fun.
1. No more consecutive chapter writing. I will now write whatever part of the daggum story I want. I like it that way. I find consecutive chapter writing boring and frustrating. It’s easier and more exciting for me to write whatever scene has just struck my fancy. I may do the middle, then go back and do the beginning, then jump forward and write the end. That’s okay. It’s the perfect method for me. It’s like building a human (stick with me, folks–this will make sense in a moment). Start with the bones. The skeleton (beginning, middle, and end). Add some muscles (character development). Throw in some nerves (motivation, reasons, relationships). Add some skin (scenes to connect all of the above). The coloring of the hair and eyes is the fun part (polishing the finished product). Then BAM, you have a person. Er, I mean, a story. You may not know what the person (finished story) may look like when you begin, but you have to start with the frame and bones first, then flesh out the other parts. See? Perfect sense.
2. I will write longhand in a notebook for every stitch of creative thought. It is so much easier to write in a notebook rather than other means such as a computer while chasing around a one-year-old little boy. Besides, trying to wait for some dependable “writing time” to write (sitting uninterrupted in front a computer for a long period of time) is not working. I am not sorry if you are talking to me and I grab my notebook to jot something down. You may cuss me in your head, but please, for my sake, just smile. Cuss words hurt my feelings.
3. I will work on more than one story at once. I tried to stick to just ONE story until it is finished before attempting other things. The result has been destructive. I get bored with one story, and other stories formulate in the back of my mind while I focus on that one. If I switch between writing projects, it will keep them fresh. It makes it more fun for me. It will also help that “other” story from knocking down the walls of my subconscious. They tend to do that. They are not patient. They do not wait their turn. So I will entertain more than one at a time. I am very excited about this.
4. I will not feel guilty for sleeping. Seriously. I love naps. I love sleeping. My dreams are pretty incredible. They often work out story issues and blocks for me. Have you ever had a job that literally went to work for you while you slept? Well, I do. That’s just one more thing that makes writing so awesome. It’s not laziness. I am not ill or depressed. I just like sleep, and for whatever reason, God created me to need a lot of it. Not to mention, writing (for me, anyway) is exhausting. It takes so much out of me that I feel like I’ve just completed a triathlon. Maybe it IS a triathlon, in a way. Because writing requires body, mind, AND emotion. A trifecta of effort. Hm…
I am a writing rebel. 
I am a born rule-breaker.
I am … I am… sleepy.
Thanks for reading.
Successfully Unproductive
18 May 2012 2 Comments
in Family Tags: successful, tired mom, Unproductive
Today has been a day of tired bliss.
And no, that is not an oxymoron.
Between Little Son’s top teeth starting to punch through the gums and a diaper rash from straight out of Hades, neither one of us have been getting much sleep at night. And I’m sure those little legs are sore by the end of the day from the miles that he’s been walking. Nap times for him equal nap times for me.
That means the house is an absolute train wreck. I burn the bread at dinner. I spill things and save the mess for later during a crisis. From lack of mental energy, I have been saying things completely backwards. I made coffee this morning and carried the cup around with me as I followed the Little Son from room to room, but didn’t have the brain power to actually think to drink it. When it became cold, I was too tired to reheat it. We are out of groceries.
Basically, I have been the most unproductive person I know.
However, I have also been very successful.
During the meltdowns in the middle of the night, I have successfully comforted my warm-cheeked blonde son back to sleep. Additionally, I have gone about it in a way that doesn’t wake my husband. It’s important to me that his sleep go as undisturbed as possible. After all, he is our breadwinner. He needs the energy and brainpower to go to work day after day, so that I have the privilege of staying home with the little animal we named Wesley. He may come home to a messy house, but I have been immensely successful at loving that man with every ounce of my being. I may burn the bread at dinner, but at least dinner is cooked, and my family is fed. That means I’ve been successful at nourishing my family. I may leave sticky messes here and there, but I’ve been successful at resolving the crisis. I may say things backwards, but I was successful at making my husband laugh at my mistake. Wasting coffee is not successful or acceptable in any way at all. So I’ve got nothing there. We may be out of groceries, but I’ve been quite successful at making do with what we have on hand.
See? Successful, yet completely unproductive.
It’s been a good day.
My Mom
13 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Family Tags: Mom, mother's day, my mom, my mother
She has dark brown hair, brilliant hazel-green eyes, a smile that warms you from deep within. She is the most beautiful woman in the world.
She is my mother.
She reads stories better than anyone. “Hush, Hush, It’s Sleepy Time” was always my favorite as a child. She would lie in our bed between my little sister and I, and open the book. I would lean on one shoulder while my sister leaned on the other. Her soft whisper uttering the phrase “Hush, Hush, it’s sleepy time” at the end of each page never failed to make me yawn, drowsiness sinking in with the warmth of her voice. The scent of Oil of Olay moisturizer was her trademark.
She has an embrace that heals. As a child, as a teen, and as an adult it is a salve to every emotional wound. There is a strength that can be drawn from her arms, because it simply says “I love you” better than any other expression she can give. Those arms comforted my aching body on many sick nights. Those arms held me while I wept with a broken heart. Those arms surrounded me when I felt lost.
She has a tenderness that makes things grow. Everything those hands touch blossom and bloom, from children and grandchildren to flowers and gardens.
She has the heart of a warrior, the soul of a Proverbs 31 woman, and the spirit of an angel.
The most amazing woman I’ve ever known is my mother.
Music Professor Mystery
02 May 2012 Leave a Comment
The college coffee shop had been quiet all morning. The only sound was soft music from a music channel on the tv across the room and the clink of dishes as I wiped each one with a towel, trying to remove the water spots and stains.
The bell on the door jingled, and Dr. Keever strolled in. In two strides of his long-legged gait, he reached the counter.
“Good Morning,” I said to him, surprised to see him so early. I was even more surprised to see him a the coffee shop, a hot social gathering place. Naturally a private man, he spent most of his free time alone in his office.
“Morning,” he answered, drumming an impressive rhythmic beat on the counter with his fingertips. “Espresso, please.”
I filled the portafilter with grounds, packing them down, and hooked it into the giant machine. I grabbed an espresso shot glass to catch the tar-colored liquid as it began to pour.
“How would you like it?” I asked. “Cappuccino? Latte?”
He shook his head and waved his fingers in a fluid motion as he reached for the glass. To my surprise, he began to sip.
“Straight up?” I asked.
He nodded and smirked, his gray goatee curving upward. “Straight up.”
I picked up the hand towel and began polishing the glasses again, watching him from the corner of my eye. He stood, shoulders square and back erect, facing his reflection in the mirror behind the counter. He took regular, delicate sips, setting the cup down onto the counter each time. I winced when I noticed the brown crack along the side and the chip on the edge. I desperately wished we had a nice set of shot glasses and matching saucers for him to use.
I wondered what thoughts were occupying his mysterious, focused mind. Was he thinking about music? He was the school’s Music Theory professor. Surely someone with such a mixture of art, creativity and mathematics would have a brain constantly firing with ideas. Or maybe this was simply his moment of solitude. A few minutes to quiet his mind and allow the strong espresso to dominate the senses.
But his expression remained placid, his blue eyes sharp and fixated.
He drained the last drop and slid the cup across the smooth wooden counter toward me. “Thanks,” he said.
“How was it?”
He shrugged, digging change out of his pocket.
“On the house,” I said.
He nodded and thanked me again, then left.
I watched the door close behind him, with no more knowledge about the man than I had before, except that he had a taste for fine espresso.
ADT Humor
26 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
This week an ADT guy came to our door selling security systems. We had been wanting to get one, and this was a great deal. We sat at the table and filled out paperwork, my husband matching the sales manager in equal seriousness and professionalism, while I sat there reminding myself not to sit with my feet in the chair. And wondering what I should cook for dinner. And noticing that it was almost Wesley’s bath time. And worrying about his fever that had not yet gone down. And trying to remember if the dogs had been fed.
I came back to reality just in time to hear the sales manager ask, “What would you like your password to be? It’s what you will give the operator when they call if the alarm is ever tripped.”
Without hesitation, I said, “How about ‘I love you’?”
The room grew quiet, then everyone burst out laughing. Kris just shook his head. Then the sales manager proceeded to hold his hand to his ear like a phone and say, “I love you too, but ma’am, your alarm is still going off.”
More laughter.
Then the moment was gone, and we got back to paperwork. But later, I revisited the question about the password. I thought about it probably longer than I should have. To my own internal amusement, I imagined humorous scenarios of having an off-the-wall password.
Ring, ring.
Me: Hello?
Operator: Yes, this is Quintessa with ADT Security. We received notification that your alarm is going off. Could you please provide your password?
Me: Password.
Operator: That’s correct. I need your password, please.
Me: Password.
Operator: [voice strained with frustration] No, I don’t need you to repeat me.
Me: I’m not repeating you.
Operator: Ma’am, I just need your password.
Me: Password.
click.
Me: Hello?
Or how about this one?
Ring, ring.
Me: Hello?
Operator: Yes, this is Arnold with ADT Security. We received notification that your alarm is going off. Could you please provide your password?
Me: Die.
Operator: Excuse me?
In one word, things could turn confusing:
Ring, ring.
Me: Hello?
Operator: Yes, this is Lisa with ADT Security. We received notification that your alarm is going off. Could you please provide your password?
Me: Again.
Operator: I said, this is Lisa with ADT Security. We received notification that your alarm is going off. Could you please provide your password?
Me: I said, Again.
Operator: For the third time, this is Lisa with ADT Security. We received notification that your alarm is going off. Could you please provide your password?
Me: I heard you the first time. Again.
[long pause]
Operator: Ma’am, are you okay?
The possibilities are endless. Here are a few more I came up with for your entertainment:
Never.
Gotcha!
What?
Racist.
Whatever.
Moron.
Goodbye.
Bummer.
Maybe.
I’m sure many of you have some good ones. Humor me with yours!
Recipe for the Best Trail Mix EVAR!
14 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Family Tags: boy scouts, camping, trail mix
When getting ready for a camping trip, my husband speaks fondly of his boy scout days, and the trail mix that his mother would brilliantly make and send with him. Yes, Denise Cone has started more than one tradition or trend my husband and I gladly share and continue. The Trail Mix is one of them.
It is really quite simple to make. And on those days that you’ve been trail blazing, riding bicycles, chopping firewood, birding, or whatever it is that you like to do on camping trips (as we will be doing next week!!), The Trail Mix is a most refreshing and energizing snack.
Here’s what you’ll need: More
I made a Crib Rail Protector!
21 Feb 2012 2 Comments
in Personal Adventures Tags: baby chewing, crib, crib rail, crib rail protector, crib saver
I am not a Pinterest addict, but I do browse to get some ideas or tutorials or instructions when I am looking for something specific. I began my search for a “crib rail protector” when wesley started standing up in his crib and sucking and gumming the edge. The finish began getting a little light on the corner, and I forsaw more damage in the near future. He may only have two teeth, but there will be more, and there will be chewing. So…
I did a search for “crib rail protector” and found this totally awesome blog, and modified it to make my own. Here’s the finished product:
Mystery of the Missing Maltese
05 Feb 2012 3 Comments
in Writing Tags: kaitlyn thornton, maltese, missing maltese, Mystery of the Missing Maltese
by Kaytlin Thornton
It was a beautiful day in the city of Mobile; I was outside with my owner Kaytlin (I am a dachshund). We were expecting a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Doveland our neighbors but, when Kaytlin’s mother called us in, she told us that the Dovelands could not make it for dinner because they were looking for their Maltese dog, Sassy. Sassy meant the world to the Dovelands because they never had children and at 54 years old they needed a companion so they got Sassy. Sassy was my friend so I knew her very well and I knew she would never run away, so I knew something was wrong. For the rest of that beautiful day all I could think about was where Sassy was. The next day Katylin’s mother called the Dovelands and asked if they had found Sassy yet. I was hoping for a “yes” but, when Kaytlin’s mother hung up she announced to the whole family that they had not found Sassy yet, but they were not going to give up hope. More
Winner of Mrs. Watt’s Fifth Grade Class Contest!
05 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Writing Tags: fifth grade class, fifth grade class contest, Mrs. watts
Okay guys,
Here is the much anticipated winner of the writing contest that I gave to Mrs. Watt’s fifth grade class.
Drumroll please…..
Thank you… More
Java, Java, Java…
01 Feb 2012 3 Comments
in Just Thoughts Tags: coffee, coffee face, java
I drank so much coffee today. Black coffee, sweet coffee, pumpkin coffee…
And as I sipped and contemplated the world, I began to wonder about my “coffee face”.
You know, my coffee face. Everyone has a coffee face. A certain expression as they take a sip. Happens every time. Watch someone while they drink their coffee. You’ll know what I mean. More
