If Stuck, Go to Bed

Story ideas - especially story beginnings - constantly vie for my attention. Inspiration just comes. Maybe a certain level of thankfulness, love, hate or other passionate emotion must be nurtured, but material is all around. And that's a good thing, I think.

Problem is, sometimes one story situation or character scooches over into the territory of another. Things don't run so smoothly when that happens. Events and people play hide and seek with the page. They switch around like it's their business instead of mine. Aren't I the author here? And isn't that supposed to be a sort of God-like position? I could pull my hair.

Like maybe Shoplifter Sue wants to hop in the suitcase of Cora Do-gooder and go to Hawaii, instead of staying in that Kansas small town where she belongs. I've already assigned Sue the little white house on Dewberry Lane, where she resides with her cat, her German Shepherd, and a bird named Desmond TuTu, but no, she vacates the place. It's a nice Sunday evening. I've claimed some writing time. Got my coffee. Turn on the monitor and ...where is my lady? She's gone, gone, gone, off to Hawaii. Not the plan.

Characters ever get you confused and in a tither over what happens next? Ever stare at the screen for half an hour, without blinking an eye? Did a bag of corn chips become empty, but you swear you didn't eat even one? Well, I hope so--because that means I'm not alone. Truly, if any of this craziness ever happens to you, I've got one good piece of advice--Go To Bed.

Sleep. Your roving characters and their big ideas will look better in the light of a new day. Maybe your Shoplifter Sue, or other wisecracker you've got in your files, knows the story best. Try letting her do her thing.

Have fun with your writing. Don't pull your hair. If it's not bedtime when the characters drive you mad, do something else instead. Like go for coffee or to a movie with a friend. Those blasted live-wires will be there when you return. Thank Goodness.

Here's to your prosperous writing day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's hoping everyone's hearts are out there singing songs of love and affection for someone or many someones. I want to give a sweet shout-out to all of my WACKO buddies, my Monday night family, my Family family, my dear neighbors and friends of now and those I miss seeing now but have you in my heart always. I love you all! I love everybody.

Okay, for real. I'm thinking hard now, and there are a few people who I do wish I'd never, ever met.

What does the Bible say about that?

Well, Love is of God. God is love. Love one another. Unless you have love, your good works are worthless. Forgive seventy times seven. Do not treat one person as better than another. When someone slaps you on the face, turn so he can slap the other side as well. Give food and drink to your enemy. Give and it will be given unto you. As you sow, so shall you reap, For God so loved the world that he gave His only son...

Oh, so that's how it is--the entire Bible is about love. But it's about REAL LOVE.

Let us love EVERYONE, this Valentine's Day, let us love perfectly, as in unconditionally, through God's grace. Let us take back a word that the world has twisted and turned every which way and reclaim it for the original intent.

Let us Love.

God is Good

It rains outside my window now and the weather is expected to stay this way for a while. Some plants will thrive, others will wash away. I don't understand why things happen in such seeming incongruence, but I agree with what my mother has said during the darkest valleys of my life,"God is good all the time. All the time, God is good." Hard things have happened to my mother. She knows what she's talking about.

This morning my husband voiced his disappointment that on this day, a day he took off work to begin making a road at our farm...well, you know...it rains. And I don't fault him his complaint. We're human. We get disappointed.

But everything in this life is a matter of perspective, something we gain more of with each rainy, cloudy, hot, humid or perfectly sunshiny day. Our plans happen -- or they don't.

Here's a little perspective for you. I once visited a home, ten minutes from where I live, which had a non-working toilet on top of a hole in a broken down front porch. The people who lived there did their business into this thing and the poo or pee dropped through and onto the ground below. I saw this because I was taking a crack addict prostitute mother of a four year old back to her home after she had stayed at my house for a couple of days in between jail stints. She wanted to return there because this was all she'd ever known. She ended up strung out and back in jail within weeks.

We've all seen some things in this world. The next time the toast burns or someone cuts in front of us in traffic, or it rains, maybe it's time to pause and give some of the things we've seen some thought.

May each situation you face today be viewed through the lens of a thankful heart.

Yikes! End of Summer Already!

Well, as we can all tell, I've been quite busy this summer - NOT BLOGGING! Uh-oh. Maybe not many of you truly care about this fact, but I do. I'm mad at myself and have to make amends. Especially after two viewings of "Julie and Julia." I know I will buy this movie and watch it many times. If you haven't seen it, go now. Well, go now if you either a. love cooking b. are a writer c. love a cook or d. love a writer. If you check yes to any of these, then buy a ticket now. Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and the rest of the cast deserve an Oscar as far as I'm concerned. And Julia Child is surely pleased up in Heaven. If you're a writer working on a project that seems to go on forever and toss and turn nights wondering if your dream will ever come to fruition, then I warn you, take tissues. For you, it's gonna jerk a few tears. Don't ask how I know. But the soothing company of my dear husband, who took me for a lovely dinner after the movie, and this morning's prayers brought me here, to you. I think the problem with our relationship, yours and mine, is that I don't drop in regularly, and maybe you'd like something a bit more focused from me when I do. Maybe I need to get on a course of thought or recorded action and stay there for a while, like the author of the Julie/Julia book. Maybe I also need a daily "regimen" (quoting Amy Adams character). Yes. This is coming. Stay posted. Love and Kisses, Rhonda

Carried

Okay you guys, I talked about planting things in the dirt before. Well, my sweetheart and I officially planted a little garden on the farm. From planting day and eleven days forward, I've suffered chiggers—the enemy of all mankind! If you ever get this - God help you! Tell me and I will pray. In the end, Listerine, Benedryl by mouth and Caladryl lotion became my closest companions. Amazing how such a little thing can throw a person's life into tilt mode. But I'm good now.

Working through edits on my book, which is a memoir once again, and readying for a conference at the end of this month. I'll attend with my friend Jeannine, who has completed her amazing memoir, done all the homework, even been on talk shows and taught classes on her topic. She's ripe to engage an agent and sell that thing! I'm mentally ready to be finished and begin marketing in earnest—but still in progress.

In reference to my memoir, my critique group, WHACKOS, and my book doctor, Robyn Conley, are literally carrying me across the finish line, so "Thank you! I love you!"

Since it's been a while, here's a peek into my life: I'm training as a nurse and counselor for Pregnancy Assistance Center North; getting ready for a much-awaited visit with my son Cliff and his family; Caleb, my youngest son—who you may read about at 247autism.blogspot.com, has been in Austin State Hospital for seven weeks; The colossal master bathroom remodel is due to conclude soon; I joined Melaleuca and got hooked on their stuff for life; My grand-daughter Annie turned 7, and had a delightful spa party put on by her loving mom (see Johanna and all of her babies on my pictures page ♥) and The talented Jonah (8 yr old grandson) played a "lost boy" in Peter Pan! Oh, I can't forget this—I joined Facebook and found five long-lost, much-loved cousins! ♥ You know it goes on, but I'll stop. ☺

I hope your summer is an especially memorable one and that it includes no itching whatsoever. ☺ May you feel complete and happy and may you fully appreciate the love of God, friends, and family as YOU are carried from one season of your life to the next.

Good surprises wait just around the bend, my friend. I'll keep you posted, and hope you'll do the same.

Love,
Rhonda

Cliff Hudder is a great teacher!

I'm taking a creative writing class at the local community college this semester. Only three sessions to go. Here's my take on the experience:

1. Assignments with deadlines spark creativity and zap the doldrums.
2. Getting to know other writers and routinely sitting around the critique table with them is yummy, yummy, yummy. (This I've known for a while, but fresh faces = increased inspiration - especially across generations!) Love it!!
3. The more I read good stuff, the more I want to write - so I write more. And then that amazing little cycle repeats. A class turns me into a writing machine!
4. Free critiques! Detailed edits from my teacher! Man it's the life. ☺

Can you tell this has been a very cool deal?

Try a class!

Hello!

Hi guys and gals,

I'm back so soon and having to admit that I didn't plant one thing in the dirt. I didn't even pull a weed. Well, there was some fence clearing on our land, which felt so much better than any workout in front of a video. Fresh air; sore muscles; the occasional thorn; birds chirping all around — you know you're alive. I needed that.

And I needed the humble pie I've eaten lately, in the form of notes from many of you, informing me that I'm not the only one in cyberspace who sometimes feels alone. Thanks. I need to spend some time learning how to get this little blog known so that more folks will dialogue about the writing life, or life in general. Maybe the blog should become more focused as well.

At any rate, I've work to do. I've decided to do it, rather than whining about being alone. I couldn't stay away from you.

I hope someone out there reads this today and realizes that he or she is also not alone. I read blogs and hardly ever respond myself. Maybe I ought to re-think that as well...

Here's a little writing prompt for today - An older gentleman finds himself on a bus, going the wrong direction, almost late for an appointment...Where is this man going? Who is he? Where is he coming from? Will he arrive on time or change plans?

Try using this situation as a timed exercise. You may be pleasantly surprised at how far you want to take it. Let it sit a bit and go back later, if you like. Feel free to send the timed part to me and let me know if you'd like it published online. You just might encourage a writer who's been stuck, to get un-stuck.

I love you people! Keep writing, keep smiling, and keep being you.

Love,
Rhonda