tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38162841720490572772024-03-05T15:55:08.971-08:00Tales From the Darkling ForestA writer's search for a clear path through the publishing wildernessMary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-4185023124584187162015-01-27T13:24:00.002-08:002015-01-27T13:24:59.289-08:00An Angel Makes His Debut<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
He's here! My grandson, JUDE CAMERON, floated down from heaven on January 15, 2015. A day to remember. A gift to cherish. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fQcztu28y4OojnbAlZxWSQtiwpKVkuEsLxfRwTD_VGWEzj63ZWbI25a8x6xF2qlrALcsxWJIpow6VZs3Atak9JB-xNlBmNwnf0xWj63T-0FACN8LeeZJJH9q-3ynnEF8TtJlaqY5E74/s1600/Baby+Jude+one+day+old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fQcztu28y4OojnbAlZxWSQtiwpKVkuEsLxfRwTD_VGWEzj63ZWbI25a8x6xF2qlrALcsxWJIpow6VZs3Atak9JB-xNlBmNwnf0xWj63T-0FACN8LeeZJJH9q-3ynnEF8TtJlaqY5E74/s1600/Baby+Jude+one+day+old.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Jude, one day old</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
And our son is going to be a father too! Another little angel boy on the way. We are blessed.<br />
<br /></div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-49413336777979680432014-05-14T14:03:00.000-07:002014-05-14T14:11:34.678-07:00Apologies Apologies Apologies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img src="http://a121.g.akamai.net/7/121/21164/20080918162211/content.fromyouflowers.com/images/corporate/business-apologies-image.jpg" height="188" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 20px;" width="200" /></div>
Sorry sorry sorry to anyone who comes to this blog and then realizes it hasn't been updated since September. I started working full time last October and that's my main excuse. In addition, I'm doing freelance research for a friend's books about Hollywood. In between, I'm trying to find time to complete my own novel (I'm almost done. Really. I know I've said that 9, 992 times before, but it's really true this time. I promise.) And family, did I mention family? Love them, great to have them, but, boy, are they a distraction. So I guess it will be a while before there's a real update. <br />
Also, I have to find a new name for this blog. I changed the name of the forest in my novel so now <i>Tales from the Darkling Forest</i> makes no sense. (I know, newbie mistake naming the blog after a work-in-progress. I'll never do THAT again.) If anyone was has any brilliant ideas for a new name, let me know.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, thanks for stopping by.<br />
<br /></div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com115tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-33432618073459422672013-09-24T06:00:00.000-07:002013-09-24T06:00:03.806-07:00Working it Out in the New Economy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I saw it coming in 2005. </span>I was working at a small TV production company, not getting paid all that
much, but it was a steady job with benefits—health insurance, vacation pay,
retirement, sick days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a job I enjoyed,
in a field I had trained for and aspired to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV51fco7I4LhVQxxEGDlphA2mgAS658PWpitv3DxvvxqUNs8gMWNp0pvUh9_E7oe_X7XbIcE9XYyoXsogJ5qbGcR0V4irWaljXICanhyphenhyphenD0y79boR4xqFsz4aVT2pwkpHfcqPEb5NkLqo/s1600/0A_MONEY_v2_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV51fco7I4LhVQxxEGDlphA2mgAS658PWpitv3DxvvxqUNs8gMWNp0pvUh9_E7oe_X7XbIcE9XYyoXsogJ5qbGcR0V4irWaljXICanhyphenhyphenD0y79boR4xqFsz4aVT2pwkpHfcqPEb5NkLqo/s320/0A_MONEY_v2_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://theholmpage.com/-/theholmpage/" target="_blank">Dan Holm</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My boss had recently become a follower of Thomas Friedman and his “earth
is flat” philosophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day the boss told me he
was going to start hiring on-line transcriptionists from overseas for a fraction
of what he was paying now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It was all
part of this great new economy, where we sent all the low-skilled jobs nobody wanted to do overseas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I asked, if those
jobs go overseas, what about the people doing those jobs here? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Outsourcing was going to free us all to become entrepreneurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everybody would have the opportunity to be their
own bosses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was skeptical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
everybody is equipped, by training, natural talent or inclination, to be an
entrepreneur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he assured me it would
all work out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Up until then, our transcriptions were sent to a local
company that employed 8-10 people. They mostly did efficient, dependable work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there was a problem, you could pick up the
phone and talk to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people he
hired on-line were definitely cheaper, but they were also unreliable and sometimes
did shoddy work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They didn’t always
return emails or didn’t bother to finish assignments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within the next couple of years, the local transcription place went
out of business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the crash of 2008
hit, we lost a major client and our company, which for ten years had provided
steady employment for 15-20 people, went under too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lost my benefit-paying job and was cast
adrift with all the other free-lancers, independent contractors and day-laborers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No benefits, no insurance, no sick days, no
vacations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As my former boss predicted, I’d become my own boss.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My experience is a microcosm of what is happening all over America as our economy falters and spins out of control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Workers make less today than they did 25
years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The number of children living
in poverty continues to rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People at
the top are doing better than ever, while the people at the bottom see their savings shrink, their opportunities dwindle and their dreams die. Yet, people still
listen to Friedman’s flat-earth clap-trap and keep pushing the idea that all we
need is to get out of the hole is more individual achievement and freer markets, when really for most of us, it's all been a
great big dud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The good news is that in a week, I’ll be eligible to sign up
for Obamacare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least I’ll be able to
see a doctor again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, Tom Friedman still has his job at the New York Times
so somebody’s still working.</div>
</div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-35773225980989540282013-09-20T22:04:00.001-07:002013-09-20T22:04:04.562-07:00Stuck in a Good Book Blog Hop Gievaway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr_navLp4t_fOtzFG88Sgqnpm1mPwZVoeXLwHRcIUjjSKq8kXhYtHWk-hog8eh5Fh58ubUdHXAa7BASLxfHTyBeJ1gIx7CJxSc9CGH_eRA37hiN-SnUkGFuvufq5MuATuO9FwQWYNsrk/s1600/StuckinaGoodBook+Hop.png" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
If you like good books (I do! I do!) and if you like YA (I LOVE YA!) check out the contest at <a href="https://twitter.com/NatalieIAguirre" target="_blank">Natalie Aguirre</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Casey_McCormick" target="_blank">Casey McCormick's</a> <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/2013/09/stuck-in-good-book-giveaway-hop.html" target="_blank">Literary Ramblings</a> website. They've picked out a ton of great books and you get to choose which one you want to win. Contest ends September 25.<br />
<br />
If you gotta be stuck somewhere, I can't think of a better place than in a good book.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-6458263458787901342013-09-18T06:00:00.000-07:002013-09-18T06:00:02.450-07:00My Writing Space<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everybody needs a place where they can work, be inspired and dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t matter if you
write in a mountain cabin, or a beach house on the ocean, or your bedroom in
suburbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The important stuff’s going on
in your head anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that fresh air
and beautiful scenery would only be a distraction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:.5in;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafvUJSac0EdBt2E1JRHL3-bRAzr2J6j9IBiwekV7GOALsptZSbtxHM9xGzJRJYt5rqfjQpATItn4YW4SQ2d7bhAHBfrIGRiJUQgv141FR6W4m9PZf5Kkjlt4HQjhEN6RDlr_4fhlI0NY/s400/DSC02736.JPG" width="300" /> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yeah, it's a mess, but when I'm "in the zone," I don't even notice.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxiEcK1Ifg3SuhFZFMTiSzxgaFa7DbpJGLBjpj9TIenX0o_-tKke6_6OsgLNiDIOK8nrxplffnUb37ah6yde928LSR5KXeWmkARw5uM0VZ-iawJk9UjWOsU3wxXjrA18CkcE9QMWpMhg/s1600/DSC02734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxiEcK1Ifg3SuhFZFMTiSzxgaFa7DbpJGLBjpj9TIenX0o_-tKke6_6OsgLNiDIOK8nrxplffnUb37ah6yde928LSR5KXeWmkARw5uM0VZ-iawJk9UjWOsU3wxXjrA18CkcE9QMWpMhg/s400/DSC02734.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
My friend Chuy made me this sign so I won't forget what I'm supposed to do.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-43339753040109977192013-09-17T06:00:00.000-07:002013-09-17T06:00:04.304-07:00Clamp Down, Stand Firm or Move On?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
Sometimes I feel like the Pete Rose of writers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the most talented player on the team, but
the one who’s willing to hustle and work her tail off to succeed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll keep working on a project for as long as
it takes, sitting at my computer until my back aches and my butt goes numb.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKwOosDqfigh0RYCgkVe8goTFRnDm33jgdjcKjo8Nnl85C51Xk1DY6NDIFUuM7R2fXR9V_X9EwLumR_6TRL4MrUq_invEl2DY48eiHzwfZyi-dYlFE6ZZp10nLZPZGOlGGp03mkdgtPM/s1600/a_DSC_1000_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKwOosDqfigh0RYCgkVe8goTFRnDm33jgdjcKjo8Nnl85C51Xk1DY6NDIFUuM7R2fXR9V_X9EwLumR_6TRL4MrUq_invEl2DY48eiHzwfZyi-dYlFE6ZZp10nLZPZGOlGGp03mkdgtPM/s400/a_DSC_1000_640.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://theholmpage.com/-/theholmpage/" target="_blank">Dan Photo</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I won’t say how long I’ve been working on my current "work in progress." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Not even if you stick
bamboo shoots under my fingernails or make me listen to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unchained Melody</i> over and over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m tenacious when I get a manuscript between my teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t stop until it’s absolutely right. I'm just a girl who can't let go.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m starting to think this is not such a good quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes, I’m told, discretion is the better part of valor.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be smarter to give up on a
project that’s sucking the life out of me and live to write another day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it’s hard to let go when it’s a project I love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t seem right to leave the characters
in a lurch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">How can I </span>walk away until I know for sure how
the story ends?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writing a novel is complicated. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many moving parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much can go wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many ways to make it just a little bit
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I just add one more plot
twist, or kill off one more character or change the wording of one more
sentence, it will be perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But of
course, it never is. There’s no such thing as perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perfect is the enemy of the good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I promise to get through this one last
rewrite and then I’ll move on to other projects, other journeys, other dreams.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As soon as I take care of that hinky paragraph on page
173.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are you the type of writer who moves easily from project to
project?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or do you clamp down on a story
with the jaws of death and hold on until you reach the end?</div>
</div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-49494055936157567972013-09-16T17:08:00.001-07:002013-09-16T17:20:46.685-07:00The Other Side of the Story: Real Life Diagnostics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LBffWK5CN_aGum-srP9qR366qlG4ZxursFpp-GpOMMNarLSJJ6Wp24NNdkeYQBc9_aO98LWgO6cVxXawrbcVeDfp6IrQ7rPDFDdBdgyv5iyBxP489oQLaz1F5nfQIVUJ9NFbGvNPOQg/s1600/Janice+Hardy+RGB+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LBffWK5CN_aGum-srP9qR366qlG4ZxursFpp-GpOMMNarLSJJ6Wp24NNdkeYQBc9_aO98LWgO6cVxXawrbcVeDfp6IrQ7rPDFDdBdgyv5iyBxP489oQLaz1F5nfQIVUJ9NFbGvNPOQg/s200/Janice+Hardy+RGB+72.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/Janice_Hardy" target="_blank">Janice Hardy</a>'s awesome blog <i><a href="http://blog.janicehardy.com/" target="_blank">The Other Side of the Story</a></i> is one of my favorite writing resources. I love that her lucid explanations and vivid examples make difficult concepts easy to grasp. Sometimes she answers my writing questions before I even realize they need answering.<br />
<br />
On her weekly column, Real Life Diagnostics, she takes a snippet of a work in progress and diagnoses it on her blog. Usually it's a weekend feature, but starting today, she's diagnosing all week.<br />
<br />
Today it's my turn! <br />
<br />
Click on the link below to check out what she said about this version of the first page of my novel, <i>The Fatal Crown.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/09/real-life-diagnostics-developing.html#more">The Other Side of the Story: Real Life Diagnostics Week: Developing Conflict and Character in an Opening Scene</a></div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-64221440303895596932013-09-04T06:00:00.000-07:002013-09-04T06:00:04.870-07:00Vanquishing Self-Doubt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->It's that ugly little voice that whispers nasty
lies in your ear when you’re most vulnerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> You’re not good enough.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> Everyone else is better than you.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> Your writing is uninspiring and cliché.</i><i> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> You’re delusional to think you can do this.</i><i> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> You can’t even type.</i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The negative feelings feed on themselves growing bigger and
scarier until they threaten to gobble you up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihS6AO5ryrMpacrfH5Kb_PazmGYaPmrkYFfYU_53jar-OtyzWeGoxTCAXuOFyxFA_Q1_WDwh_N63Sl-cUn1GT_1Eojy77BRfKH_q1qxnUzqUympBn4vMWG8HtiqhRFi1DDZ8tibAE8E0E/s1600/1207201337151peek_a_boo_640.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihS6AO5ryrMpacrfH5Kb_PazmGYaPmrkYFfYU_53jar-OtyzWeGoxTCAXuOFyxFA_Q1_WDwh_N63Sl-cUn1GT_1Eojy77BRfKH_q1qxnUzqUympBn4vMWG8HtiqhRFi1DDZ8tibAE8E0E/s320/1207201337151peek_a_boo_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://theholmpage.com/-/theholmpage/" target="_blank">Dan Holm</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When self-doubt engulfs me like a dark cloud, my gut freezes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brain hardens like concrete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing the simplest sentence feels like
climbing an insurmountable mountain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
that’s covered with sink holes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
sticker bushes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And flesh-eating
bacteria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Self-doubt cramps my view of
what’s possible and obscures the road behind, blotting out the memory of how far
I’ve already come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For writers, it’s a pretty common complaint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing can be lonely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just you and your keyboard and that
blinking cursor you’re supposed to be pushing across a white page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To deal with self-doubt, I have to make myself ignore <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">toxic</span> voices</span> and keep writing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to convince myself my goal is possible,
and remember that, no matter how difficult if feels right now, I’ve done it
before and can do it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writing buddies and critique groups help in this regard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They keep me grounded and provide encouragement
when the bridges fall away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the ogres
won’t let me pass.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes it only takes a little break in the gloom to get
moving again—finding an inspiring quote, coming up with a fresh idea, gaining a
small insight into a difficult plot twist, receiving a kind word from a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I’m back on road, writing stories that I
hope will someday carry my readers on their own magical journey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #38761d;">“If you hear a voice within you say <em>'you cannot paint,' </em>then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”
<br /> ―
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/34583.Vincent_van_Gogh">Vincent van Gogh</a> </span></h4>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s how I cope. And it works.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Most of the time.
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How about you? What do you do when the self-doubt beasties start
nibbling at your heels?</div>
<br /></div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-23389299129130802612013-08-13T03:00:00.000-07:002013-08-13T03:00:05.703-07:00Kidlit Writers Gather at WriteOnCon.com<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
One of my favorite times of the year is finally here! It's <a href="http://writeoncon.com/">WriteonCon.com</a> time!<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<center>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/writeoncon.com"><img border="0" height="150" src=" https://archive.org/download/Writeonconbutton/writeonconbutton.gif" width="150”" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
--if you write for children,<br />
<br />
--if you've always wanted to attend a writer's conference but never had the chance,<br />
<br />
--if you want to be part of the hottest on-line happening, check it out.<br />
<br />
Keynote addresses, agent panels, and lectures are presented as blogs,
vlogs, moderated chats, webinars, podcasts, and livestreaming.<br />
<br />
And yeah, it's all on-line and it's free!<br />
<br />
Sign up and post your work on the <a href="http://writeoncon.com/forum/" target="_blank">critique forums</a> where real life ninja agents will be sneaking around to pop in and do some critiques and maybe even request to see your work. (Yes, last year, it happened to me!)<br />
<br />
So check out <a href="http://writeoncon.com/program/" target="_blank">the schedule</a> of awesome events. Maybe we'll run into each other at the virtual snack bar.<br />
<br />
<br /><br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-23684204315578201592013-07-31T06:30:00.000-07:002013-07-31T06:30:04.418-07:00Things I Do When I Should Be Writing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Procrastination. I know should be writing, but when I hit a wall, it becomes easier to occupy my mind with something else. The harder I try to focus, the worse it gets. I'll look for any excuse to get away from the keyboard. If I just stick with it and keep my fingers typing, I can usually work through my writer's block. But instead I find ways to distract myself from the task at hand...<br />
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Like I might get the urge to play a little ball. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAZ-fn8IsGjttRmCyBnW_c7dDgWvZIgGHMrTTDkjQ7FdYuY3UaKAFGl1jpm07M3D75kJLQFjwOTWSOB8yhfDLjNek6sw0al_yHOzp2OcOCAUvcBCwUMI7Xcr6q_0ryFTjryXzx8iYwog/s1600/266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAZ-fn8IsGjttRmCyBnW_c7dDgWvZIgGHMrTTDkjQ7FdYuY3UaKAFGl1jpm07M3D75kJLQFjwOTWSOB8yhfDLjNek6sw0al_yHOzp2OcOCAUvcBCwUMI7Xcr6q_0ryFTjryXzx8iYwog/s400/266.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Go out for a bite.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93cHKzpVXEysf_6gx90nxdwlf_W9oXDDgd_yfy6L1wUzQcEZb5CD6fmD9ohFyI7N9rhpOpyrBY9wCUlBUji_76MnDCIriC3-eYLCD7sJ3WinSMkAKpm4SZVGBLtUa4EGy6CS43RGaEgo/s1600/20130314_155607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93cHKzpVXEysf_6gx90nxdwlf_W9oXDDgd_yfy6L1wUzQcEZb5CD6fmD9ohFyI7N9rhpOpyrBY9wCUlBUji_76MnDCIriC3-eYLCD7sJ3WinSMkAKpm4SZVGBLtUa4EGy6CS43RGaEgo/s400/20130314_155607.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Have a long soak in the tub.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P_rnA-EpRMT8a-KQLXyjI8ZMuBq5FDLVvcq-I1QkURoRdo0ASMgbgeoJACi7JQ-gP095mPcxbeJKEtkdX6t2UJTOhBmbXUpEEQPw1dMMVKDVB89v3fWD0WrZnbKYgpVG5q4XgKT6KBo/s1600/273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P_rnA-EpRMT8a-KQLXyjI8ZMuBq5FDLVvcq-I1QkURoRdo0ASMgbgeoJACi7JQ-gP095mPcxbeJKEtkdX6t2UJTOhBmbXUpEEQPw1dMMVKDVB89v3fWD0WrZnbKYgpVG5q4XgKT6KBo/s400/273.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Try on snazzy new outfit.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOcBk30WLeD5xR2gD6LaL7aYTOKW6nY6d3BWLAc6UFM2j-zGfuM-k82CCjvvLMPOrQTtQukDx2hyphenhyphenlFHhgaPErZaTqvNxsvAR8IMmukA8NwRsjcMq3cJ-gVGo3pXpE3GTqNoyVYWGA8zo/s1600/423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOcBk30WLeD5xR2gD6LaL7aYTOKW6nY6d3BWLAc6UFM2j-zGfuM-k82CCjvvLMPOrQTtQukDx2hyphenhyphenlFHhgaPErZaTqvNxsvAR8IMmukA8NwRsjcMq3cJ-gVGo3pXpE3GTqNoyVYWGA8zo/s400/423.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">Go for long walks in the park.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAahdLmCi9Nnc9-uOO_80lRKk6HPbo5l3vPbB_RpAggnwaDIVwcqoyZ2bU6b88LVC5pHcjOiUTvHrN2TFbWZnVSgmY6wkMvdZl9TM5Rutnqvf3vWizetxpMSX722TCCbhPbo07Bo9lh4/s400/Amanda+and+Finn+in+the+Park.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Or spend time with a friend.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZczFfo4M7sTNNevcL1mMucGCGxsJMMz4Y5_hp9M_hC-oYgdRiE4fPcF9GU9I2YmDGhM7tpviuf1yYDaTb7CJD_4HRCX7J_DtuQhRxOZHiFazGouxeuUYAqo5Z9yCZ7F7eNa6jZbnViLU/s1600/Dan+and+Finn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZczFfo4M7sTNNevcL1mMucGCGxsJMMz4Y5_hp9M_hC-oYgdRiE4fPcF9GU9I2YmDGhM7tpviuf1yYDaTb7CJD_4HRCX7J_DtuQhRxOZHiFazGouxeuUYAqo5Z9yCZ7F7eNa6jZbnViLU/s400/Dan+and+Finn.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Then suddenly, I'll be dog tired. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8VAIy-zGj5m2_rdKRSw064iOIiVIs517b55qyGO7Aw7fOElagH3C_sqCXA6WepTpXQTEfecyprp_SwdBi5Kdai4tSPR-8JIA_utDUSsOHIge5mWGqfKCrAcS8W1SEJFUq2Nmkwmouvs/s1600/314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8VAIy-zGj5m2_rdKRSw064iOIiVIs517b55qyGO7Aw7fOElagH3C_sqCXA6WepTpXQTEfecyprp_SwdBi5Kdai4tSPR-8JIA_utDUSsOHIge5mWGqfKCrAcS8W1SEJFUq2Nmkwmouvs/s400/314.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
How do you procrastinate and what strategies do you use to get back to work?</div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-26892007515638524662013-07-24T06:30:00.000-07:002013-07-24T06:30:02.094-07:00It's a Weird, Wonderful, Fruity World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
My trip to my local market turned into a journey of discovery. I've never seen fruits and vegetables like this. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxotb9AoHtVWmZ15YOTn0YfQy7nWd2DeeEPvg2eIfLJvfB0piwgvippttaXUxsXVl9KOIRv69QqnlFnCm4V_XwWyPPMYduZypW7_kHEodQMohzZ4aj_8mC6aXGXIR3Ft7HFdSpj5MrkoQ/s1600/IMAG0096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxotb9AoHtVWmZ15YOTn0YfQy7nWd2DeeEPvg2eIfLJvfB0piwgvippttaXUxsXVl9KOIRv69QqnlFnCm4V_XwWyPPMYduZypW7_kHEodQMohzZ4aj_8mC6aXGXIR3Ft7HFdSpj5MrkoQ/s640/IMAG0096.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jackfruit,</span> </span>from Asia. A staple in much of the world. To
me, they look more like Jack the Giant Slayer Fruit.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ts6LfGy8nK3d2TYe04z2BsRcLTVj5ZnDzXQxGjYp0sRZMQKt4mF6Jbg4PIDzMfvw-T6ROFCkMuJVQLEKUB3Z6w79fRaueACxU63YjcsWDKwal2oD9wukc37QqAsJNkGZso4hxe8JMco/s1600/IMAG0097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ts6LfGy8nK3d2TYe04z2BsRcLTVj5ZnDzXQxGjYp0sRZMQKt4mF6Jbg4PIDzMfvw-T6ROFCkMuJVQLEKUB3Z6w79fRaueACxU63YjcsWDKwal2oD9wukc37QqAsJNkGZso4hxe8JMco/s640/IMAG0097.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Daikon Radishes</span></span> from East Asia. Used in variety of dishes, like Ponzu or Oden. They're as long as my arm and that's a lot of radish. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZiVxE78zCtaGjVwGt-AcmP4TOiyokje_p-Ru4z9W_dzfAThWehMMnazezIOh86jghjdwIBq_fMCuV5sS3yXSoGPX4uHJPxdQqYpjacNi-3SvuHVYQA3LOWXF9D_Eyhcv4o9tusB6plQ/s1600/IMAG0098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZiVxE78zCtaGjVwGt-AcmP4TOiyokje_p-Ru4z9W_dzfAThWehMMnazezIOh86jghjdwIBq_fMCuV5sS3yXSoGPX4uHJPxdQqYpjacNi-3SvuHVYQA3LOWXF9D_Eyhcv4o9tusB6plQ/s640/IMAG0098.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Black Radishes</span></span>. A winter variety. Okay, they're not the prettiest vegetable in the store.<br />
<br />
Have you tried any of these fruits and vegetables? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-70408053259704748782013-07-17T06:30:00.000-07:002013-07-17T19:01:57.573-07:00Coffee Laced with Plant Food and Other Writing Hazards<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The other morning, I was stumbling around the kitchen with my
head wrapped around a plot twist that needed unraveling, as I made a pot of coffee.
It wasn’t until water was already dripping through the filter that I realized I’d
just used the jug with “tap water” scrawled on its side--the one I use
to water my plants. Needless to say, I had to throw it all out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t make me feel any better to know the water I’d been sipping since the previous night came from the same jug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if plant food is
harmful to humans, but I'll let you know if I suddenly have the nagging urge to dig my toes in the
sand and follow the sun across the sky.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOsvNbrd1LzNKrzQu8ktXmXYZaA94pTGv15bTc6yQbT7Gp5fsczKiod0BNw8980ix9_W5QmME7Q4ejFRYcbyBBRwr6gSOLRcREsTIrrTnax1LkXD9WDPE_LyTa2aAE7Dp5mTmY0spBTs/s1600/0705080005411day_dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOsvNbrd1LzNKrzQu8ktXmXYZaA94pTGv15bTc6yQbT7Gp5fsczKiod0BNw8980ix9_W5QmME7Q4ejFRYcbyBBRwr6gSOLRcREsTIrrTnax1LkXD9WDPE_LyTa2aAE7Dp5mTmY0spBTs/s320/0705080005411day_dream.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by<a href="http://pixandposts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Dan Holm</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This isn’t the first time my breakfast has suffered because of my inattention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While busy contemplating a character motivation,
I once plopped a raw egg into my coffee mug instead of the frying pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t even mention the time I stuck my cell
phone in the refrigerator or drove three exits past my destination before
I noticed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve done all kinds of crazy things while my head was busy
someplace else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s one of the hazards of
being a writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spend a lot of time
in my head and for much of the time, that's exactly where I want to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">NO PLACE LIKE MY HEAD</span></h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"> </span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
When I’m in my head, I might be exploring worlds that never
existed, or walking beside a character who's about to take the wrong path or puzzling about the
best way to describe an oak tree’s gentle sway or the color of the sky after
a storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter that I’m supposed to
be vacuuming, or washing the car or chatting with friends at a dinner party,
I can’t resist the temptation to spin tales or mull over possibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how much it annoys my family and
friends, daydreaming is an unavoidable part my writing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Unfortunately this tendency conflicts with another trait
important to writers: paying attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">BEING PRESENT </span></h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"> </span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a paradox that we who most want to escape into the
space between our synapses, are also the ones who most need to pay attention to
what’s happening in the world around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Writers need to be observant of details and to bring those details into
their writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to interact with the
world and to understand the people who populate it. Only then can we bring this
insight to the page and infuse our made up stories with relevant kernels of truth and authenticity.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We must listen, observe, and drink deep of our lives if
our stories are to resonate for the people who read them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's all the harder for me since, like so many writers, I'm an introvert. Unlike my more extroverted friends, I'm perfectly happy
submerged in the pages of a best-seller or hiding behind walls made up of my own thoughts and musings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of
eating chips and guacamole and trading barbs with friends at a Superbowl party,
I’d rather be hunched at my desk tinkering with yet another edit of my Work in
Progress. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
But somehow, I know a gentle balance must be struck.<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:.5in;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
table.MsoTableGrid
{mso-style-name:"Table Grid";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-priority:59;
mso-style-unhide:no;
border:solid black 1.0pt;
mso-border-themecolor:text1;
mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;
mso-border-themecolor:text1;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid black;
mso-border-insideh-themecolor:text1;
mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid black;
mso-border-insidev-themecolor:text1;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:.5in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 156.1pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border: solid black 1.0pt; height: 156.1pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 172.25pt;" valign="top" width="230"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">‘Drink your tea slowly and
reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward
the future. </span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Live the actual moment.<br />
Only this moment is life.’ ~Thich Nhat Hanh</span></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">IN THE WORLD AND OF THE WORLD</span></h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"> </span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being present is a zen concept. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>For writers, it means stepping outside of our
heads and taking the time to focus only on what’s in front of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means concentrating on the scenery we pass when we walk in the
woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means making the effort to really
get to know the people we interact with everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means striving for an effective balance
between being part of the world and just writing about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between truly living a life instead of just
daydreaming about one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s tough for me to do these things, but I know sometimes it’s
what I need most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it would make preparing
breakfast a lot easier too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you find yourself neglecting other facets of your life to
focus on writing or reading?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you strike
the gentle balance and keep yourself present?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-86163142250504394042013-07-10T06:30:00.000-07:002013-07-10T06:30:02.408-07:00Fiction: Bringing Order to Chaos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
Real life is random. It’s boring, chaotic, imperfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dangerous. That’s why it’s so temping to
retreat into the comfort of a good book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A story gives shape to the disorder of human experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means something.<br />
<br />
To create stories that capture and intrigue us, a fiction writer takes a
series of events and gives them context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She puts them in a frame and tells us what to focus on, which details
are important. Which are not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27dtTqyNS5t3oQDLU_F66gbFweEng07n-h3Ky0JkS8YaVOTKa1rG_MhtVK70kt9HkSN0bUZal0YFJzUFpnxhhmYrASSdb5u9Be73sq2i2T-C2ft979uNYuBcyOmOYj6LMAfv2DUtKmiI/s1600/0601250009231all_walks2_web_size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27dtTqyNS5t3oQDLU_F66gbFweEng07n-h3Ky0JkS8YaVOTKa1rG_MhtVK70kt9HkSN0bUZal0YFJzUFpnxhhmYrASSdb5u9Be73sq2i2T-C2ft979uNYuBcyOmOYj6LMAfv2DUtKmiI/s320/0601250009231all_walks2_web_size.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://dan-holm.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank">Dan Holm</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<br />
In his book, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12743473-the-storytelling-animal?ac=1" target="_blank">THE STORYTELLING ANIMAL: HOW STORIES MAKE US HUMAN,</a> Jonathan
Gottschall says our storytelling mind “allows us to experience our lives as
coherent, orderly and meaningful.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Randomness
makes us so comfortable, our minds look for patterns in everything.
This capacity isn’t without its drawbacks, because the tendency for us to crave
pattern also makes us vulnerable to getting it wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gottschall says our brain is “a factory that
churns out true stories when it can, but will manufacture lies when it can’t.”<br />
<br />
That's why I mostly find most "reality" TV shows unwatchable. In
order to connect with the viewer, a reality show needs to tell us a coherent story.
But since a series of events by themselves don't make a story, no
matter much action is packed in, it's up to the producers to create
one. To achieve this, they pump up the conflict between the participants,
take events out of context, and warp the meaning of unimportant details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Participants are steered in directions they
might not ordinarily go, act in ways they wouldn’t normally, act and say things
they’ve been told to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, OK, it's compelling,
it's interesting, but it's not reality.<br />
<br />
Fiction is made up, but at least you know that going in. If you look
at it that way, and a novel is way more honest than any reality TV show.<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--></div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-30979410470071780502013-07-04T06:30:00.000-07:002013-07-04T06:30:04.588-07:00Celebrating the Fourth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
After he signed the Declaration of Independence, John Adams
wrote his wife, Abigail, a letter predicting that this momentous event would be
remembered and celebrated as a great festival for generations:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews,
Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this
Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI37v4R2bX0xIuexqlxd3AIXepmXHGVa1pqT9jhJ6b3asvcDpbdnqBQNJONJa0a81oKIMo-7ZCe447qPe3Ydqsr1QXHOC-RY43XsKRCH-D9_-8mBT917x7bE2vkBpDIOpWiNUIZVGL9sI/s210/0607110015261nova_web_t.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI37v4R2bX0xIuexqlxd3AIXepmXHGVa1pqT9jhJ6b3asvcDpbdnqBQNJONJa0a81oKIMo-7ZCe447qPe3Ydqsr1QXHOC-RY43XsKRCH-D9_-8mBT917x7bE2vkBpDIOpWiNUIZVGL9sI/s320/0607110015261nova_web_t.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theholmpage.com/" target="_blank">Photo by Dan Holm</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sure Adams would be pleased to know we’ve taken his
advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We celebrate the 4<sup>th</sup> (not
the 2<sup>nd</sup>, despite what Adams said) with picnics and pool parties and
fireworks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, of course, Independence Day is about more than
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about how a brave, audacious people
stood up to the mightiest power of the age to claim their inalienable rights.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s easy to take the success of our democracy for
granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We forget how hard it is to
make this form of government work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Democracy
is about endless discussion and compromise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about finding balance between public and
private, state and federal, the state and the market, the needs of the individual
and the needs of the many.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By its nature, our form of government is frustrating, tedious,
and fragile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, if the founding
fathers (and mothers) had wanted it to be easy, they’d have given us a king
instead of a constitution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Ben Franklin said, they gave us: “A republic, if you can
keep it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve kept it for 237 years so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we sing patriot songs and watch the
rockets light the sky, we ought to commit ourselves to work together to protect
our rights and our privileges, to find the balance, no matter how hard it may
seem, and to ensure our laws and practices guarantee ALL a chance for life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, from this time forward and forever more. </div>
<br /></div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-59707382313573218732013-07-02T06:30:00.000-07:002013-07-02T08:17:12.982-07:00Feed Your Head: Why Your Brain Craves A Good Story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Without a good story, beautiful prose is just empty calories . <br />
<br />
Lisa Cron examines this idea in her book WIRED FOR STORY, one of the best writing books I've read in a long time. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3rmzcWAZRPt8W4i0lfcAOnQiSJIgkGZ-GzEQJn3dpdAF8uGFxZfhPZECPcDs-x_ZKj_0cPfczAGFtXb_G7vCjQRNcX15S7DC9tizT7cDWWyRmVNwcjKCzNjUir0o3DMU2zlX-yyuewY/s320/Wired+for+Story+Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13126099-wired-for-story" target="_blank">See it on Goodreads</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love Cron's book because it talks about how recent breakthroughs in neuroscience help us understand what our brains are hungry for and how writers can use this knowledge to tell better stories. <br />
<br />
I'm fascinated by brain science. I love to know how the mind works, why people act the way they do, how the structure and mechanics of our brains influence the way we act and think. Applying it to writing is the next logical step.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">It's all in your head </span></h2>
<br />
In her book, Cron asks, why do humans naturally crave something as ethereal and seemingly unimportant as stories? The answer: survival. We evolved to love stories because they help us simulate and learn from experiences, without actually having to live through them. So if we're ever captured by pirates, chased by flying monkeys or lost in the Sahara desert, we'll know what to do. While reading or listening to a story, subconsciously, we continuously ask ourselves, what would I do in this situation? <br />
<br />
Like a harrowing ride on an upside down roller coaster, stories provide the chills and spills and adrenaline of a threatening situation, with none of the risks. We play out the scenario in our minds, so we won't need to face a charging elephant stampede to anticipate how we might react. <br />
<br />
It's especially true in the social realm. We need to know what other people might be thinking. Why do they act the way they do? How do I deal with them?<br />
<br />
The connection is so subconscious, we aren't even aware of it. We feel what the protagonist feels and experience the story, just as though it's really happening.<br />
<br />
In order to engage this hard-wired response in our readers, writers have to tell the right kind of stories. <br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"> Now that's a good story</span></h2>
<br />
A good story triggers our desperate need to know what happens next. Our curiosity is aroused, and the mechanisms in our brains drive us to find the answers. And when we finally do, our brains reward us with a little charge of dopamine.<br />
<br />
Haven't you felt it? You're reading a fast- paced thriller or a heart-breaking love story and feel compelled to know how it ends. You skip lunch, stay up late, neglect your dog, just to read a little bit more. And when you finally figure out who committed the crime or learn the secret that's keeping the loving couple apart, it feels great <br />
<br />
That's the reaction every writer is after. A story that gets into a reader's head and rewards her with the "aha" moment she's craving. To achieve this, the first thing a writer has to do is to make the reader care.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">Make something happen </span></h2>
<br />
Something must be at stake from the first page. No matter how exquisite the descriptions or scintillating the dialogue, if there's nothing at risk, there's little reason to pay attention. <br />
<br />
Cron says, a story is the telling of events that affect someone in some way and causes them to change as a result. "Not only must something be happening, but there must be a consequence we can anticipate."<br />
<br />
A story with no consequence is flat and uninteresting. The higher the stakes, the more the reader is engaged. <br />
<br />
To achieve this, someone in the story has to want something. To find the hidden treasure. To catch the bad guys. To win the bowling trophy. To earn a father's approval. To save the world. Something. Even in a "literary" novel, characters must have a goal.<br />
<br />
Figure out what the main character wants and create obstacles to keep her or him from acheiving it and you'll have the reader eating out of your hand.</div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-85786929461393181632013-06-28T22:53:00.003-07:002013-06-29T14:07:31.639-07:00Cruising Altitude 2.0: WRiTE CLUB - Last Call<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Get ready to rumble!<br />
<br />
Sunday is the last day to enter DL Hammons's awesome head-to-head writing contest, WRITE CLUB.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6z8H-fLPlc-HvYnryazbpe66zXWPEzLOJ0rcIUDxAvwuItXWSvbwN1VzKKr0AMxYnP363rWQIJLiQi4E0zxP4_g3EH-FfMBjrlDWfLC1MJxiVJTpzVvfotQ77Pmnog5yuLa0hzOXhi8/s699/gloves-dan-holm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6z8H-fLPlc-HvYnryazbpe66zXWPEzLOJ0rcIUDxAvwuItXWSvbwN1VzKKr0AMxYnP363rWQIJLiQi4E0zxP4_g3EH-FfMBjrlDWfLC1MJxiVJTpzVvfotQ77Pmnog5yuLa0hzOXhi8/s200/gloves-dan-holm.jpg" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/dan-holm.html?page=17" target="_blank">Dan Holm</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The contest features twice-weekly bouts where the winners advance to the play-offs, leading ultimately to a single champion. To enter, you just submit a 500-word writing sample under under a pen name. A panel of ten celebrity judges (agents and writers and such) will read the entries and pre-select 32 of the best writing samples to climb into
the ring, and face off, two at a time. Winners are chosen by the blog's readers. Check out DL's blog, <a href="http://dlcruisingaltitude.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cruising Altitude</a> for more info. Good luck! I hope to see you in the ring. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-85591018927620787882013-01-20T14:12:00.000-08:002013-01-20T14:16:49.337-08:00To B of A Who Wants to Take Our House<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
To my Dear Friends at Bank of America:<br />
<br />
My family says that it's futile to appeal to the feelings of a cold, monolithic, bureaucratic, multinational corporation, but I know they're wrong. The Supreme Court, in its infinite wisdom, said that corporations are people too. That's how I know you'll want to sympathize with my sad story.<br />
<br />
(It's true we didn't originally pick you as our mortgage company but please, don't
let that hurt your feelings. Our mortgage was sold to Countrywide and
then sold to you, but that doesn't matter. In America, we all have to deal
with the servicer we're sold to.)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ9zU44xMyTr_uxZFp1ruLNI7e0UJbDtAZUy9UihcU58RIQsYcY7e6-Pvho0UzljazUOMXLeXrW7v4BheR8adz35QBHY0WeH0sdUV1zp0M9QyC6xF3rn-uMjph_LPvUMTZGZtpavLpDk/s1600/DSC02550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ9zU44xMyTr_uxZFp1ruLNI7e0UJbDtAZUy9UihcU58RIQsYcY7e6-Pvho0UzljazUOMXLeXrW7v4BheR8adz35QBHY0WeH0sdUV1zp0M9QyC6xF3rn-uMjph_LPvUMTZGZtpavLpDk/s320/DSC02550.JPG" width="320" /></a>There are many reasons we are in this situation, and since you and I have been talking for a while, you already know most of it, so I won't bore you with all the details. Suffice to say, it all started way back in 2008, right before the housing bubble popped and slimed the residue all over our economy. My husband and I suddenly found ourselves without jobs.<br />
<br />
This is where you came in. After struggling mightily to keep up with our mortgage payments we went to you for help. I know how badly you wanted to be there for us in our time of need. Unfortunately, you told us we had to be three months behind in our payments before you could help. So we got behind. And then we got further and further behind. You finally did help, a year later. You came through with a modification that RAISED our payments. I must tell you, though you meant well, it wasn't that much help. Then, there was the modification you suddenly sent us that you later refused to acknowledge. Oh, I'm not blaming you. You had us talk to all sorts of different people who tried to help and afterwards none of them returned our calls. But it's okay. I know they were busy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMCLY5n2CS9inCZa0EJDzQhYQPRj3k44Bd8JvxwldgEfiwgjbQHS2HPxtBwkor5v7kuN1W7lhu6PFYtt5yNBFFR9hiC7ME9sHpHm4R4HaqaowlcNMzxQKrrpGgKjS5LqeoxqQvXldPQ0/s1600/DSC02548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMCLY5n2CS9inCZa0EJDzQhYQPRj3k44Bd8JvxwldgEfiwgjbQHS2HPxtBwkor5v7kuN1W7lhu6PFYtt5yNBFFR9hiC7ME9sHpHm4R4HaqaowlcNMzxQKrrpGgKjS5LqeoxqQvXldPQ0/s320/DSC02548.JPG" width="320" /></a>So now, 4 1/2 years later, you have your heart set on taking our house. I'm sorry we have to quarrel, but that's how it is sometimes with friends. I know if you really think about it and search your heart, you'll change your mind. Taking our house would mean taking the orange tree that I planted in the backyard. I just picked a basketful of fruit and the oranges are so sweet. It would mean taking away the sunny window where my African violets bloom best. You should see them, bursting with blossoms of bright pink and deep velvety blue. And taking our house would mean taking away the rose bushes I planted--one in each color: pink, red, yellow and orange. I chose them because they had names like Burning Desire and Cardinal Song. What about the fireplace where our children waited for Santa? We were hoping our grandchildren might do the same some day. And the lovely bay window we installed in the front bedroom and the brushed pewter chandelier we saved up to buy that hangs over the kitchen table? I know you wouldn't want to take all that away from us. After all, corporations are people too.<br />
<br />
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story. I wait hopefully for your response.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
A customer<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-40671824597808603112012-10-15T00:27:00.000-07:002012-10-20T01:03:06.584-07:00Riding the World's Shortest Railway <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last weekend, my family and I drove into downtown LA to celebrate my birthday. I had lunch at Perch, an awesome rooftop restaurant, curtsey of my awesome daughter. And we took a ride on Angel Flight.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J_oUs0kuVqNl_Ul68HcB5nZc_6J0Yp-y4XQ1XTg39oAAMeGKuF9VgkLIvL3GAX5BqNWjrt7sXcnza8IxZgqqwxRSciV8nXas2G_idQtnIvk06y2e_kdT4StCf_lIzSYEkSLVi1b25Fw/s1600/DSC02449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J_oUs0kuVqNl_Ul68HcB5nZc_6J0Yp-y4XQ1XTg39oAAMeGKuF9VgkLIvL3GAX5BqNWjrt7sXcnza8IxZgqqwxRSciV8nXas2G_idQtnIvk06y2e_kdT4StCf_lIzSYEkSLVi1b25Fw/s200/DSC02449.JPG" width="200" /></a> <br />
"For just 50 cents (or 25 cents for holders of valid Metro Passes) you
can board one of the two orange and black incline railway cars and ride
"The Shortest Railway in the World." This funicular dates back to 1901,
when Bunker Hill was one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in Los
Angeles and the cars, Olivet and Sinai, ferried prominent citizens up
and down the steep slope between Hill and Olive streets. The beloved
landmark was dismantled for "urban renewal" of the area in 1969. In the
early 1990s, the Railway was refurbished and relocated a half-block
south, reopening adjacent to California Plaza in 1996. As short as it is
(298 feet), Angels Flight<sup>®</sup> is an essential Los Angeles experience."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_rwau32bL7aMEHB2C850_vorPYnvT1POg2_yqZuixG7g-eVIEwtMhRI3hSGpNQ7bUTZ9kO6fbEhGuzEvkOa75L9IKGCa1DEy9gpwdu_49kOUHNJP8jwifL-tWSr8iWFoj68pe0JrN_g/s1600/DSC02456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_rwau32bL7aMEHB2C850_vorPYnvT1POg2_yqZuixG7g-eVIEwtMhRI3hSGpNQ7bUTZ9kO6fbEhGuzEvkOa75L9IKGCa1DEy9gpwdu_49kOUHNJP8jwifL-tWSr8iWFoj68pe0JrN_g/s320/DSC02456.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
To learn more about this historic railway, visit their <a href="http://angelsflight.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. </div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-17116674717659249832012-09-03T18:23:00.002-07:002012-09-03T18:23:43.515-07:00GUTGAA: Getting to Know Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://deanabarnhart.blogspot.com/2012/07/sign-up-time-for-gearing-up-to-get.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="Deana Barnhart"><img alt="Deana Barnhart" height="197" src="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m216/deanabarnhart/Untitled-2.jpg" style="border: medium none;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Good day, friends and cyber-neighbors!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm taking part in the <a href="http://deanabarnhart.blogspot.com/2012/07/sign-up-time-for-gearing-up-to-get.html" target="_blank">Gearing Up to Get an Agent Blog Hop</a> or as it's fondly called in writer circles, GUTGAA, now happening on <a href="http://deanabarnhart.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">the amazing Deana's Barnhart's Blog.</a> This is a six-week event, culminating in agent pitch contest and a small press editor pitch contest. So, in the interest of full disclosure, transparency and getting to know me better, I shall now bear my soul. Well, not really. I'll just answer a few questions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>-Who are you?</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My short bio is to the right. But I will add, that I grew up in Chicago and currently live on the west coast. For my day job, I'm a documentary researcher and production coordinator. I love writing and I love researching and when you write novels, you get to do a lot of both. Win-win!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-<b>Where do you write?</b> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Mostly in the tiny cramped little room that used to be our son's bedroom, and is now known as "the office." It's messy and dusty, filled with bookshelves, my husband's photo equipment, and </span><span class="Apple-style-span">papers waiting to be filed</span><span class="Apple-style-span">. It's cluttered, because to keep the rest of the house clean, we dump all the junk in here. As usual, you can't see my desktop right now. My husband's desk, where he makes his own magic happen, is to the left of me. There's a window to my right that looks out on the path that leads to my front door, where I can watch for delivery people and advertisement flyer distributors. My family wonders how I can spend so much time in this room, and I remind them that, while my butt's in the chair, my imagination is carrying me off to faraway fantastic places.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-<b>Favorite time to write?</b></span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Anytime, really. My life's too chaotic to stick to any kind of schedule. Morning's probably best--but not too early. I need to be fully awake before the creative juices start circulating. But not too late or I burn out. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-<b>Drink of choice while writing?</b> </span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Hot Tea. English Breakfast usually. And I like it sweet.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-<b>When writing , do you listen to music or do you need
complete silence?</b></span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Oh no, I need silence when I write. Occasionally, I might put on some classical music. Or my husband plays jazz. But nothing with lyrics because that's distracting. It's too hard to write while I'm singing.</span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-<b>What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and
where did you find it?</b> </span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">DARKLING was inspired by the characters. I wanted to write a story about a feisty, kick-ass girl, and a flawed, not-so-heroic hero, trying to make amends, and the story took off from there. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">-<b>What's your most valuable writing tip?</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Anything from Stephen King's book <i>On Writing</i>. He says: Read, read, read. If you don't have time to read, you don't have time to write. Also, I like the advice from Ann Lamott who urges us not to be afraid to write shitty first drafts. This is a good way to thwart the overbearing perfectionist in all of us. The idea is to get started, put the words down, no matter how crude or unkempt. You can always go back and pretty them up later.</span></span></div>
</div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-74289170608136132892012-09-02T15:01:00.000-07:002012-09-02T15:01:14.466-07:00Outliners, Outliers and Hitting Brick Walls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I'm writing the first draft of this amazing story. (Amazing to me, anyway.) I have wonderful characters, an interesting setting, and great conflict. Suddenly, as I'm headed to the finish line, I slam into a brick wall going a hundred miles per hour and everything stops. 47,000 words, flowing like smooth honey on a hot summer day, and I suddenly I've got ice cubes in the middle of a Canadian blizzard. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vZnfJ1JVQ3ovlRXSKsXaFSkv5LH5Y1ALl0ct1qohAiKhFIx03pvObLmoD_HUJwkiykpPapTUhEppQXiliBzO6DG0EpU9SYHH1kbfEIylK1BDEL2fW4YcQTUz0F_v3M09LlJU2Ws3oE4/s1600/Group+of+pencils-straight+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vZnfJ1JVQ3ovlRXSKsXaFSkv5LH5Y1ALl0ct1qohAiKhFIx03pvObLmoD_HUJwkiykpPapTUhEppQXiliBzO6DG0EpU9SYHH1kbfEIylK1BDEL2fW4YcQTUz0F_v3M09LlJU2Ws3oE4/s320/Group+of+pencils-straight+up.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo by <a href="http://theholmpage.com/" target="_blank">Dan Holm</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And I have no idea how to proceed.<br />
<br />
A fellow writer once asked me: "how can you even start writing anything until you know how it's going to end?" But, you know, that's how I roll. I'm an intuitive writer. Outlines are an anathema to me. I shun them as I would a chunk of rotten pineapple at an Hawaiian luau. When I write, I usually give the idea a little forethought, take a few notes, then plunge right in. Even though I might end up running myself smack dab off a cliff. <br />
<br />
I can't help it. It's the way my brain works. I've tried to change. But when I sit down and make myself try to outline, I come up dry and unsatisfied. I need to feel the story, be in the moment. I like to watch the scene play out in my head, hear the characters talk and see them do things I never imagined they were capable of. <br />
<br />
It's my theory that there are two types of writers in the world--the Outliners and the Outliers. The left-brained Outliners are the ones with the clean desks. Their pencils are always sharpened and their pen holders are always filled with working pens. They plan, they plot--they construct character studies until they know what side of the bed each character likes to sleep on and who they voted for in the 1976 election. <br />
<br />
Outliers like me, on the other hand, are right-brained and kind of loosey-goosey. Our desks are piled with magazines and old letters and parking tickets we forgot to pay. We make it up as we go along. We feel our way through a story, groping for plot twists, grasping for meaning. And basically flail around and flounder until we find something that makes sense. <br />
<br />
Which of these two methods is better? Well, Outliners are more efficient, I'll give them that. They get through their stories with far fewer dead-ends, much less beating of the chest, and pulling out of the hair. But don't ever let anyone tell you this is the only way to write. There is no one way to write, and anyone who tells you there is, is blowing smoke up your... chimney. In reality, every writer has to decide for him or herself what works. It all depends on what is suited to your own particular flavor of brain.<br />
<br />
Now, back to my amazing novel, which I left hanging precariously in story limbo: I had a breakthrough. Or at least I've found a useful tool, a writer's-helper, to unclog my stopped up story-pipes. I followed the recommendations of <a href="http://taliavance.com/" target="_blank">Talia Vance</a> in her wonderful <a href="http://writeoncon.com/">WriteOnCon.com</a> presentation, <a href="http://writeoncon.com/2012/08/the-revision-checklist-by-author-talia-vance/" target="_blank">The Revsion Checklist.</a><br />
<br />
Yes, Taila's method includes writing an outline, but only after you write the first draft. It's a way to graphically lay out the story so you can organize your thoughts and see the big picture in front of you. <br />
<br />
Using this method, I came up with a plot twist I hadn't thought of before. It's a small step toward crafting the second half of the book, but at least it's a start. Check out Taila's great article for more advise on revising and completing your own manuscript "from big picture to small details."<br />
<br />
So what do you think? When you write, are you a plotter and a down-to-the-last-detail planner? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants? </div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-39171499460761927912012-08-23T14:24:00.000-07:002012-08-23T14:24:16.497-07:00Query Me This<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A month ago, I decided to get serious about querying. I've struggled with my query letter for years. Along the way, I had help from my critique group, a kind-hearted published writer, a how-to pitch seminar, my husband, my daughter and at one point, I may have asked the mailman for his advice. Writing a query is about the hardest writing I have ever done. Finally, the hard work has paid off and I have a query with promise. <br />
<br />
To my family's chagrin, I'm now spending practically every waking moment on my computer. (Yeah, I mean more than usual.) When I'm not writing, I'm scouring the internet for likely agents or doing critiques or commenting on other people's posted work. I'm entering every contest on every blog I can find. <br />
<br />
It is paying off. I won an honorable mention in the Teen Eyes Query Contest on the <a href="http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2012/08/teen-eyes-contest-taryns-winner.html">Miss Snark's First Victim blog</a>. I got great feedback and some actual interest from publishers and an agent at <a href="http://writeoncon.com./" target="_blank">WriteOnCon.com.</a> At this moment, my query is up for critique on three different blogs. The past few weeks have showed me what I can accomplish with sustained, focused effort. I've always known this to be true but this has really made it clear. <br />
<br />
Getting published requires a ton of sweat and toil and a little help from your friends.<br />
<br />
You can stop by and check out my queries on the these wonderful blogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://brenleedrake.blogspot.com/2012/08/query-workshop-b-7-darkling.html" target="_blank">Brenda Drake Writes...Under the Influence of Coffee, </a>currently holding a Query Workshop<br />
<br />
<a href="http://theqqqe.blogspot.com/2012/08/mary-holms-current-query.html" target="_blank">The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment,</a> wherein writer Matt MacNish posts and critiques queries and invites his blog followers to chime in.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://unicornbell.blogspot.com/2012/08/query-workshop-17-darkling.html" target="_blank">Unicorn Bell </a>is running a query workshop, with a contest coming over the weekend.<br />
<br />
The internet writing community is amazing. Is there any other on-line
community of people that is so helpful, supportive and giving of their
time? I can't imagine any. </div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-57072756973954704942012-08-15T16:57:00.000-07:002012-08-15T16:57:16.219-07:00Scholastic Book Club<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoz2Y0wPFzaaeV5M4FOot3sPv9ABV0-TOnmskQuX9sdy0-tmToF1_Svq1Hr4Vws42PUjKzOqy_hZeO2Ykv9RsnXbtyiPSYs5dy7EWBfoEACbw693PlkMPuttZHLJs4Ktre-7mHqB0u0M/s1600/2454474921_7a244b2b1e_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoz2Y0wPFzaaeV5M4FOot3sPv9ABV0-TOnmskQuX9sdy0-tmToF1_Svq1Hr4Vws42PUjKzOqy_hZeO2Ykv9RsnXbtyiPSYs5dy7EWBfoEACbw693PlkMPuttZHLJs4Ktre-7mHqB0u0M/s200/2454474921_7a244b2b1e_o.jpg" width="136" /></a>In my grade school days, the Scholastic Book Club was one club that always wanted me as a member. I love books and the opportunity to pick my favorites was irresistible. Come on. Who can resist a new book? I remember reading the short descriptions on the paper order form and getting all excited over a story. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGftR8HDjO0Ry9-toBKrNmy-QTqprKjBC131jJD2hMVvIuCt7SMGgxsC-tLpniBtMR-UO96Kr84c3yDkNaIm5PtSeSCp3dqnnKiZyLHaXbpaPgKUxt-2otzf9RuYDKQAZ8Uayj0PzCxE/s1600/1340260102_3411abb0bf_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGftR8HDjO0Ry9-toBKrNmy-QTqprKjBC131jJD2hMVvIuCt7SMGgxsC-tLpniBtMR-UO96Kr84c3yDkNaIm5PtSeSCp3dqnnKiZyLHaXbpaPgKUxt-2otzf9RuYDKQAZ8Uayj0PzCxE/s200/1340260102_3411abb0bf_o.jpg" width="138" /></a>Back then, the books were only about 50 cents. I'd go through the list and tick off all the ones that sounded the least bit interesting and end up with over a dozen choices. That's when parental frugality would come into play and I'd have to pare the wish list down to three or four favorites. After that, I only had to make sure I brought the money to school and turned the form in on time. With me, things like that were never a foregone conclusion. <br />
<br />
Then came the magical day when the books arrived and I waited for the teacher to call my name so I could claim my stack of crisp, shiny new books. I'd peek over at what my neighbor's books and think, "Oh, I wish I'd ordered that one too." <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyXwe0_T_LRodaz3EWVLCNi57LE0eaHjdOPqD4VG2zcnMarzfxaq_LnF9hqoTyo0bdLKewqjVUPkO1Xn3k_88uuKIf4ppPz9Il3ecMXrRkaa6lEN5eDaTV39FPpeHAq2jGwEogX5Cijw/s1600/2247125832_a011d96671_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyXwe0_T_LRodaz3EWVLCNi57LE0eaHjdOPqD4VG2zcnMarzfxaq_LnF9hqoTyo0bdLKewqjVUPkO1Xn3k_88uuKIf4ppPz9Il3ecMXrRkaa6lEN5eDaTV39FPpeHAq2jGwEogX5Cijw/s200/2247125832_a011d96671_o.jpg" width="137" /></a>I carried those sweet little paperbacks home in my bookbag, tromping through the snow in snowboots and stocking cap, wearing those thick snow pants that make shooshing noises when your legs rubbed together. I'd read lying on the couch, while sipping creamy chocolate milk from a carton, or while rocking in our huge green vinyl rocking chair--the one that would tip over if I rocked too hard, and I'd end up reading while lying on my back with my feet in the air. I liked it that way. And sometimes on the weekends, I'd just lay in bed all day and read. Just thinking about the Scholastic Book Club makes me smile.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8NIA9H8zxCF2uBYXQqB6kgsyMJx2fQb_K7J5_-aq-eF8BUOvQb-BJkyA_2nW1TegJmqKYRKEmf-nt2b_kZMsk-6b-89IG0w_GM_kswfuMb1WjV0SrUO2Q5Eawn2_xNkTUoImGQVuQzo/s1600/1340281234_c9bc918899_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8NIA9H8zxCF2uBYXQqB6kgsyMJx2fQb_K7J5_-aq-eF8BUOvQb-BJkyA_2nW1TegJmqKYRKEmf-nt2b_kZMsk-6b-89IG0w_GM_kswfuMb1WjV0SrUO2Q5Eawn2_xNkTUoImGQVuQzo/s200/1340281234_c9bc918899_o.jpg" width="136" /></a> These are a few of the books that sparked my imagination back then. They're classics now. Click the link below to see a lot more books and more wonderful memories. What were some of your favorites? <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jl-incrowd/sets/72157601903080963/">Nostalgia for the Scholastic Book Club, circa '60's & '70's </a><br />
<br /></div>
Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-80531336825751897622012-06-17T16:05:00.000-07:002012-06-17T16:14:53.283-07:00Remembering Dad on His Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got my love of books from my dad. My father, John Taglieri, grew up in an Italian
immigrant family during the depression, the youngest child in a family of ten. His dad, Roger, owned a barber shop on
Chicago’s south side. His mom, Assunta, cared
for the large brood. As the baby of the
family, Dad was his mamma’s boy. Dad
loved to read and he loved adventure books most of all. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tarzan</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Treasure Island</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Robinson Crusoe</i>, and his favorite, Jack London’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Call of the Wild</i>. He spent his summer evenings reading on the
porch until it was too dark to see.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN6p7M7g4_sbEbFwgb8caOI7vrH95d7DrDuGjGJIeQDnY9MPk25dvR0-GW5psFKU6V3ObRFcYq41s9QUg-3ni7TkhjhBcPDAFONPf9X6XbICZTFX3oKw1rq9rLoK7yLtWtl71KQVtjN4/s1600/Mary+and+Dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN6p7M7g4_sbEbFwgb8caOI7vrH95d7DrDuGjGJIeQDnY9MPk25dvR0-GW5psFKU6V3ObRFcYq41s9QUg-3ni7TkhjhBcPDAFONPf9X6XbICZTFX3oKw1rq9rLoK7yLtWtl71KQVtjN4/s320/Mary+and+Dad.jpg" width="248" /></a>Some of my earliest memories are of Dad tucking me into bed,
then sitting at my bedside to tell me bedtime stories. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Three Bears</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hansel and Gretel</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Three Little Pigs</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cinderella.</i> I couldn’t sleep unless Dad told me a fairy
tale. Lying in the dark, listening to his
soft voice charged my imagination and made me love fairy tales and fantasy. Dad often told me stories about his life
too. About the hardships of growing up
in a large family during the depression.
About being picked on by his older brothers. He told about serving in the Army Air Force
in the Pacific during World War II. He
told his stories over and over until I knew them all by heart.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I grew up and started writing stories of my own. I wrote
my fantasy trilogy and let Dad read the first two books. It meant so much to me when he told he liked
them. Every daughter wants her father to
be proud of her. I was reworking the third
book of the trilogy when Dad started fading.
On a snowy midnight, the second day of March, 2007, at the age of 86, Dad
passed away, with the extended family who loved him gathered all around. I held his hand and whispered good-bye. I think about him all the time and often wish
I had the chance to hear more about his life.
I wish I could ask his opinions about the events of the day or hear one
of those old army stories one more time.
And I regret that he never got to see how my trilogy ended. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Father’s Day, Dad.</div>
</div>Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-41959521514674645242012-04-11T00:06:00.001-07:002012-04-11T00:08:30.433-07:00The Hunger Games<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Husband and I saw THE HUNGER GAMES movie last weekend. No, I won't be writing a review. I'm not the arbiter of What is Good and What is Bad. Being a writer myself, I don't like to pronounce judgements on a work of art that someone just poured her heart, soul and guts into. Although, on the other hand, I don't mind telling you my opinion if I feel strongly about something.<br />
<br />
And, yes, I do have a very strong opinion about THE HUNGER GAMES: I absolutely love it. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSrkWhW5uJqtc4e2XnAO4hxQ6N_I7WM_iFXuN3QHAHfodAqazlm_3J95A1-2y2Or0jzaGkwyVy5K5XwqijD-Cr7rK0EfjU1tG_QGgJh6kK3uV-7WJ3xiC3g2PDDoU-M5BOtVUqIIgBD0/s1600/Katniss+Everdeen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSrkWhW5uJqtc4e2XnAO4hxQ6N_I7WM_iFXuN3QHAHfodAqazlm_3J95A1-2y2Or0jzaGkwyVy5K5XwqijD-Cr7rK0EfjU1tG_QGgJh6kK3uV-7WJ3xiC3g2PDDoU-M5BOtVUqIIgBD0/s1600/Katniss+Everdeen.jpg" /></a></div>That movie was awesome. Not perfect. Some of those shaky cam close ups made me dizzy. But the film stayed mostly true to the original story and presented the novel pretty much the way I had imagined it. The actors, sets and costumes were great. HUNGER GAMES is the biggest YA book to come along since TWILIGHT and HARRY POTTER so I'm happy to see it turned into an intelligent, well produced film.<br />
<br />
What I really love about HUNGER GAMES, both the movie and the book, is its strong female lead: Katniss Everdeen. She's a rich, multidimensional character. She kills people when she has to. She falls in love when she needs to. She questions the world she lives in. She survives. Writer Suzanne Collins allows Katniss to be who she is. She didn't follow the same old precepts about girls that we've been taught to expect. Yet, she didn't shy away from giving Katniss a nurturing side.<br />
<br />
I write YA novels that feature strong female lead characters so it's wonderful to see something like HUNGER GAMES be so successful. And it's a good sign that so many recent movies have featured assertive girls: WINTER'S BONE, TRUE GRIT. (Another of my favorite novels.) Maybe mainstream media will loosen up a little and realize that girls in stories can have more than just two dimensions. They can have longings and desires and flaws and goals of their own. They're not just eye candy for the boys. And power shopping isn't their only ability. <br />
<br />
I haven't read TWILIGHT yet, but it's on my list. Now I'm thinking I'd better get to it. TWILIGHT has its many fans, but it has its detractors too. Mostly they complain that Bella's character isn't a strong, independent individual. I'm curious to see which side I'll come down on. Although to be fair, I'm not that interested in vampire stories so TWILIGHT has a mark against it already. </div>Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3816284172049057277.post-32496263384409680012011-08-28T15:41:00.000-07:002011-08-28T15:41:37.484-07:00Back to Writing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It's finally over. My son got married last week and he and his new bride flew off to Cancun for their honeymoon. My mom and her sister, who'd been staying with us for the last two weeks, left yesterday and are safely back home in Chicago. At last my life can get back to what passes for normal. Finally, I might have a little time to pay attention to my writing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4vUzPPHOnwW0O44xId5Xhx8ZdUBFcmjuKJLuqn9190_xm46sdeOcTy8oOmpqhQTbHAVR8i6-MIQsc2SrM9zdOVEArhWGD2TwzKBcr_3jOxaChGhCY8zYiXvcBP4btpz3YPBuAzHDNeM/s1600/Wavin%2527+them+good-bye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4vUzPPHOnwW0O44xId5Xhx8ZdUBFcmjuKJLuqn9190_xm46sdeOcTy8oOmpqhQTbHAVR8i6-MIQsc2SrM9zdOVEArhWGD2TwzKBcr_3jOxaChGhCY8zYiXvcBP4btpz3YPBuAzHDNeM/s320/Wavin%2527+them+good-bye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>August turned out to be a pretty intense month. Besides the wedding preparations and the out of town visitors, my daughter and her fiance moved into their new condo. It was non-stop planning, shopping, visiting and grooming. Meanwhile, I missed out on a bunch of wonderful events for writers this month. The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference (SCBWI) took place, practically in my backyard, but I was too busy with family obligations to attend. And Writeon.com, a fantastic on line conference for children's writers rolled out last week without me. <br />
<br />
Worst of all, my writing has been on hold for most of the summer. I'm really starting to feel it. If you're a creative person, you know what I'm talking about. It's this restless, uneasy feeling I get when I haven't written for a while. Something's not right. I can't hold still. I want to eat something but nothing sounds good. I want to read but I can't concentrate. There's nothing good on television and I've already see all the movies I'm the least bit interested in. I'm suffering from writer's withdrawal. All I really want to do is get back on the keyboard and pour my heart into a story. It's the only thing that will make me feel whole again. <br />
<br />
Well, the weekend's here. It's my time now. I'm finally here in my office, sitting at the computer. I can open up the file that holds my latest work in progress, and (gigantic sigh of relief) write.<br />
<br />
Except, now my stomach's growling and I just realized I never had lunch.<br />
<br />
And my son and daughter-in-law got back from their honeymoon last night and pretty soon I have to go over to their apartment and watch them open their presents. And my daughter just called and she wants me to come over and help with the unpacking.<br />
<br />
It's always something. </div>Mary Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413720275477716972noreply@blogger.com1