The Poetry War..

New week, new insults on the fridge. From one of the boys:

My response:

So, who's winning?

Stayed tuned for next week's insults and digs...

Char

Using the Magic Words

Sure does feel like this 'self-distancing' is lasting forever. At least for me because I've been conscientious about and practicing it for a while now. With 3 out of 4 of us home, things can get tedious. Until you cause a little mischief....

I got this magnetic poetry words set for my boys. I thought the magnets would interest them in writing and words.

No.

They hated it.

So much so, they would mess up any phrase or sentence I would create.

Grrrr.

So I gave up and put the magnets in a junk drawer.

The other day I came across them in the junk drawer and decided to bring them out. Now, instead of frustration, I laugh at the antics my two boys, now grown, pull.

The yellow word is "poetry" so "poetry burns" 

My sons are wise guys- I was a teacher for a short while

It's hard to photograph against a shiny fridge- it says "no get-togethers" and "children inside"

I had put up: "Men don't share emotions" but that didn't stay long... I'm looking forward to each insult- both to read theirs and post mine.... ;)

We're all in this together and we have to keep our sense of humor.

Hang in there, and this too, shall pass. Stay healthy and happy.

Char

How A Writer Spends Her Time When the World is Dangerous...

Photo by Lina Kivaka from Pexels

We're doing our part for social distancing and hunkering down during the pandemic. The hub is working on projects; repairing a bathroom wall, reworking the backyard walk, and cleaning the garage (although he hasn't gotten very far on the garage).

After being on vacation for a week, then being sick (I have a bad G I tract, not the corona virus), I'm getting back into my routine. With bell practice, church meetings, and book events cancelled, I have more time. In one week I've reworked one novel, and finished up revisions on another (except for the ending....). But too much time on the computer gives me migraines, so I need to step back. This is what I've done:

* Went through some stuff in the basement and designated which goes to the yard sale

* Went through some Christmas boxes and organized them

* Listed bedroom sets and H O train set for sale on Craig's List

* Sorted through some of my Dad's pictures of fighter planes and such (he worked at Grumman's) and listed them on Nextdoor for free.

* Checked in with NFL Network to see if Tom Brady and the New England Patriots worked out a deal (so far, no)

* Uncovered and scrubbed off the patio table and took dead plants out of my flower pots. Swept back porch/walkway to pool

What I have planned (because who knows how long we'll be in this situation):

*  Revise 2 other manuscripts

* Write some short stories

* Go through more stuff in basement- what goes to yard sale, what to keep

* Hopefully start cleaning out my gardens

* Bake

* Read

* Paint repaired bathroom wall

* Maybe start on repainting living room

* Connect with readers on social media (call/contact me....) to chat

Something else may come up (I'm almost sure it will), so I have enough to keep me busy, and enough variety to keep from getting bored with one thing.

What are you doing? Got a better suggestion? Hit me up! Let's all help each other to keep our chins up and everyone as safe as possible.

Char

The Bestseller Dilemma

When I go on vacation, I take several books. This year, I took two from one of my favorite authors. I quickly read them. My cousin finished her book (only 1????) so we switched. There were several things that both books had in common:

Both were written by bestselling authors.

Both authors were world known.

Both authors wrote 30 books or more.

And they shared another aspect; the more famous the authors became, the less editing was done on their books. Both books had numerous repetitions; not just two, three times saying the same thing, but almost every chapter.

I find that so annoying. Being a bestseller shouldn't make you immune from good editing. What's required from new writers- conciseness- should be required from established authors. I have noticed this among other bestselling authors (no, I'm not going to name them and commit author suicide). It's like laws that the average citizen has to obey, but somehow politicians and the very rich think don't apply to them. Makes you mad, right?

I finished the books because one was a favorite author, and the other because I wanted to know the ending.

And after snorkeling, dancing, partyboating, dining, swimming, and sunning, what else was there to do?

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Till next time....

Char