Writing Seminar

Last week, I workshopped my middle grade underwater fantasy novel through William Bernhardt's Level 3 Intensive Writing Seminar. What a great week it was. We focused on our book endings, reviewed each others's work and revised, revised, revised. Needless to say, I had more than a few late nights. You'd think we'd look exhausted, but we're so happy with our progress!

I learned so much and gained great insights from Bill and my other writer friends. What a great way to spend the week. During the three-hour drive home, I brainstormed ideas for my website (in progress) and tied down loose plot threads. Now I'm tightening up the middle of my novel in preparation for pitching to agents at the OWFI conference in early May.

Writing can be an all-consuming passion. I'm grateful for the patience of my family and friends when my thoughts are swimming through the Pacific Ocean or soaring over Terovelian Peaks.

What hobbies or work do you feel passionate about and why?

Valentines Day Zebra Box

Happy Valentines Day!

This week, my daughter's class is hosting a Valentines' Box Contest. As you can see, she wanted to make a zebra box. This took us about a week for us to make and was a blast!

It was a very time intensive and creativity intensive project since we were just kind of figuring it out along the way. (Directions are at bottom of post, for those who want to try it out.)

But this is one of the things that she and I will always remember. In the course of our project, up to our elbows in papier mache, glue or stripes, we bonded more than paper to frame. The time and effort we put into our zebra is well worth the payoff in our relationship and memories down the line.

This is a perfect example of the principle that anything worth having is worth working for, and I'm not talking about the zebra, although I do rather like Mrs. Zumbabwe. Sometimes it takes extra effort to plan an activity, read to our kids, find time to journal, write, or serve others. But the extra time and effort bring long-term rewards to all involved.

What joys have come your way through hard work and time well spent?

 

ZEBRA VALENTINES BOX

Supplies

Flour
Water
Balloons
Paper (newsprint or anything you'd like to recycle)
Elmer's glue
paint and paint brushes
glitter
googly eyes
fake eyelashes
zebra napkins ($2 at Oriental Trading Company for a pack of 16. We used 15)
sharp knife, scissors
black feather boa ($5 at walmart in sewing area)
aluminum foil
masking tape
2 empty paper towel rolls
Clear coat spray
3 inches black ribbon

Procedure

1. Blow up balloon for belly and smaller one for head.
2. Mix 1 c flour with 2 c water. Tear paper into strips. Dip one strip at a time into mixture, wiping off excess. Apply to balloons, building up to a  thickness of 2-3 overlapping strips. leave a hold in each balloon where they will connect together so that valentine cards can slip through the head into the belly. Let dry overnight.
3. Make a neck out of foil. Attach to belly. Balance small balloon on top and secure with masking tape. Make a foil ball for snout and tape to head. This will not hold long, so be prepared to apply papier mache as described in step #2. Let dry overnight.
4. Make arms and legs by cutting paper towel rolls in half and taping to belly. Make foil ears. Papier mache over all, paying close attention to joints. Dry overnight.
5. Tear napkins. Apply to zebra form using slightly thinned out glue and paint brushes, leaving hooves and snout uncovered. Paint hooves and snout black. Let dry. Use pink leopard napkin borders for heart and trim. Apply several layers of a clear coat spray for gloss and added strength.
6. Using sharp knife, cut slit in top of zebra's head. Cut flap in bottom of zebra and attach black ribbon so it can be easily opened.
7. Cut black feather boa into lengths fitted for a mane and a tail. Attach using a hot glue gun.
8. Glue googly eyes and eyelashes using hot glue. Add a little pink paint and glitter for nostrils.

Shout hooray!

Skiing Catastrophe

Well, I have to apologize that I've neglected blogging for so long. I tore out my ACL and meniscus (apparently essential knee structures) over the Christmas holidays and have been trying to keep up with life when I can barely walk. I know, poor me.

My reconstructive knee surgery is at the end of this month, so I figured I better knuckle down and get blogging. No sense waiting until rehab is over since that could take a year. I plan to spend all my resting moments either reading or writing.

On the upside, I now know what it feels like to toboggan down a mountain in a body bag. Surely I can fit that in a novel somewhere!

What crazy experience in your life do you think ought to be in a book?

Practice makes perfect

Friday night, my hub and I took our family to see SIX, a men's a cappella group in Branson, MO. Before we went, the kids announced that they'd rather swim at the hotel pool. When the show started, they quickly changed their minds as revving engines morphed into Boston’s “Don’t stop believin’.”

It was hugely entertaining. The six men (brothers) produced astonishing sounds using only vocals: electric guitar, trumpet, all kinds of drums, engines, horses, a storm. Their voices were incredible, too. 

Near the end of the program, they talked some about their childhood. You might think that since they’re brothers, their talents came easy, genetic gifts requiring only a little polishing. Au contraire. While growing up, they practiced every day for hours—eight hours a day when there wasn’t school. Every. Single. Day.

So it is with anything worthwhile. Daily practice, or in my case, daily writing. A favorite quote of mine is by W. Somerset Maugham who said, “I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”

 

What is your writing routine and how do you stick to it amid the whirlwinds of life?

Hectic Holiday Cheer

This is a very busy and festive week for me and my family. One of my daughters played the role of Annabelle (Ariel equivalent) in her school’s production of Little Mermaid. My other daughter is performing in a Medieval Feast and Christmas Concert this weekend, while two or our sons will be marching with the school band in several parades, and a third has a basketball game on Monday. Thank goodness our youngest child is not involved in much yet!

Yep. You counted right. Six wonderful, demanding, delightful (did I mention demanding?) children! As you can imagine, the Christmas season is hectic for me, between kid’s activities and programs, work, hosting visiting family, hosting church youth group activities, shopping for my humongous family. And trying to fit in writing. That is a priority for me, right? Definitely.

I may not be able to write as often or for as long as I’d like during this time of year, but I find that when I do write, I’m a little calmer and better equipped to tackle (cough), I mean enjoy, the holiday cheer. This really is one of my favorite times of year. 

How do you carve out time for yourself (and your sanity!) in the busy holidays?

Autumn fun...life dreams

Family and friends sharing the joys of autumn. While helping some friends move, our kids found these wonderful piles of leaves and jumped right in. I love how they live life so fully. They worked hard and played hard, something we all should do!

These little sweeties are one of the reasons I’m a writer. I hope to share with them the love I have for life. My hope is to write novels that transport readers to new worlds—real or imagined, and to provide exhilarating adventures that, when finished, will inspire readers to tackle their own lives with spirit and courage.

What hopes or dreams do you have for your writing or other work or hobbies?

Happy Thanksgiving!

My youngest son, playing with his food! Gobble Gobble...Happy Thanksgiving! Today I'm grateful for my family, good friends, a safe country to live in, sunshine, music, good health...the list goes on and on...

What are you grateful for today?