Before It's Too Late...

 Yep, it's crazy time with the first term of grad school coming to a close, but I wanted to take the time to 

1- Thank my friend, Darlene Beck Jacobson 

for featuring many wonderful books on her blog, including mine. 

2. And tell you to get over there and browse and buy! Go here and leave a nice comment too, okay? 

All these authors work so hard and the pandemic has hit us- no in-person events, which we love because we get to greet and meet book lovers and fans. 

3. Ask you to please leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon. Most of us depend on reader reviews, we don't have a publicity person. 

4. And have yourself a nice holiday. Look for news of forthcoming events here, on Kidlit Authors Club on Facebook and Twitter, on the Smack Dab in the Middle Blog and on the individual authors' pages. 

Happy Holidays! 

Char

The Sure Fire (I Think) Way to Succeed (In Writing)

 Photo by Artem Podrez from Pexels

Yep, it's been a while since I've put up a new post. I've been busy with all the papers for my MFA classes. Then I was sick with bronchitis, things with the 'rents and other issues. So, I'm still alive! Now with the holidays closing in, things will get even crazier. One thing I skipped this year was NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) because it would just be too much. The things I learned in NaNoWriMo, though, are helping me during my quest for my MFA:

    1.  Make it (school) a priority. Just like with trying to get the daily word count in for NaNo, getting the papers and schoolwork done has to come before exercising, socializing, and yes, sometimes even family. They don't need me to cook every meal, fix every little thing.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels

    2. Don't wait till the last minute. I didn't start my daily NaNo writing at 8 p.m. when I was tired after a full day of family and home. Some assignments are posted early, so I start them as soon as I can. The rest are posted on Monday, by which time I've finished the other assignments. Basically, I'm a half week ahead. Life comes up and emergencies happen. By working ahead, I'm not caught off guard. 

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    3. Get supplies and resources ahead of time. Whether it's books or sticky notes or a daily calendar to keep word count, have everything at hand. That also means eating before you sit down and getting your water bottle filled. I have everything I need when I sit down to work. The only reasons I get up: bathroom, doorbell, and to stretch after sitting so long.

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    4. Do the prep work. For writing, that means the research so once you sit down, you can write without having to stop when you're in the midst of a scene. For my MFA, it means reading the resources ahead of schedule so when I start my assignments, I'm familiar with what I need to do and have an idea what I'm going to write.

    

Photo by Ivan Samkov from Pexels

    

    5. Make a punch list or simple outline. When I write a novel, I always make a list of things that need to happen. This way, I always know where I'm going. With MFA papers, I have a guideline when I list the things I need to address in my papers. 

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So that's my secret for success. Feel free to copy my formula. I'll keep ya posted...

Char 

P.S. I've gotten all A's so far, so I really believe I can do this! 

Check Up Time!

 Yes, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Day, so go GET CHECKED! Get that mammogram! You may just save your life, and encouraging others may save theirs!

But what I was referring to was rather checking in on how it's going with my MFA. I've always wanted to get my Master's, as I may have previously said, but jobs, marriage, kids, and life got in the way. But I made the commitment. 

Honestly, I thought about dropping out after the first week. It has been decades since I was in school. I didn't doubt my intelligence (my mom says I'm smart), but I doubted my ability to handle the tech aspect. I had to learn how to navigate different software programs, and since this degree is online, everything is electronic, from discussions to book groups to chatting with your professors. Several times I had to reach out to younger classmates, my professor, and my advisor and admit my confusion. 

Well... I never expected the encouraging support I got. It really humbled me. All the times I'd spent encouraging other writers that they could finish their novel, that criticisms were meant to help them, that the journey may be arduous but worth it- I now received that encouragement back. I'm feeling more comfortable with my progress (I've gotten 3 A's!) even though at the beginning of each week (they're called modules), I have that momentary panic attack. I tell myself to sit down and write something- that it can be fixed later. After a day or so to mull over my draft (actually, I think about it all day and sometimes into the wee night hours), I know what I have to do. Strictly following the rubrics of what is expected in each assignment keeps me on track. Every Monday a new module begins, but I don't wait until then to start; some writing assignments are posted already because resources need to be read and analyzed. So, by Wednesday, I have half the work done for the following week. Staying ahead by a few days allows me to feel no guilt for biking/hiking/swimming, going out to dinner, etc. 

July 2023 is graduation, and early starter that I am, I'm already thinking about what to wear when I walk across the stage to get my diploma- and what my gift to myself should be. (I'm thinking a nifty little sports car....but in red.)

Photo by SevenStorm JUHASZIMRUS from Pexels

Char

Things I Don't Understand...

 This world is a strange, beautiful, confusing, amazing, and weird place. And sometimes very annoying. This is what's bothering me today:

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

1.  HOW MANY TIMES DOES MICHAEL MYERS HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE HE'S REALLY DEAD? What are we up to, like Halloween 6? Enough. There are so many great authors out there with fabulous scary stories. Make one of their books into a movie and move on from Michael, Jason, Freddy, the Blair Witch, etc. 

2. When you record a show, like, say the Buccaneers vs. Falcons game (Go Tom Brady!), or, a favorite TV show like Manifest, and it goes over a few minutes, the last few are cut off so I MISS THE ENDING!!!!!! I hate that. It made me say some bad words. Cut out a few commercials so it doesn't run past time! (At least I can watch it online... but still!)

3. How come we don't see more women like Halle Berry, Angelica Houston, Bette Midler, and other greats? These women are fabulous, yet... we see all roles played by 20-30 somethings. 

4. Why are most people ignorant when it comes to using apostrophes? "...more record's will be..." NONONONONONONO. NO APOSTROPHE! If it's plural, just add an s. If you're showing possession, like "Mikey's car" then yes, apostrophe and s. For all that's (contraction of that and is so yes, an apostrophe!) holy, LEARN THIS! 

5. WHY do my cats just nibble their food, then walk away, only to sneak back to eat from the other's bowl? IT'S THE SAME FOOD. EVERY. DAY.

There are a lot of things that annoy me and I don't understand, but I'll stop here. Next post, only positive things, to balance the energies.

Till then,

PEACE!

Char

Ready....Well, Almost

  Before I start diving into academic reading, writing, and angsting, there are a few things I need to do first. 

Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

1. Clear the calendar. I've resigned as a trustee from my church, left the critique group I started years ago. I've declined volunteering opportunities. I've alerted people that I need as much time for schoolwork as possible. 

2. Clean out. The office, old files, and junk on my computer have all been tackled. I don't want to wade through stuff I don't need or use.

3. Buy it now! As soon as I know what books and supplies I need, I'll get them that day. It will give me time to not only make sure I get everything I need, but look over things and start reading and assignments early.

4. Plan for the unexpected. Homework and quizzes are due on 11:59 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. I have handbell practice on Tuesday (I had to keep one social activity), so I need to make sure that I don't wait to the last minute in case something comes up. 

5. Believe and breathe. I know I can do this, but I have to keep believing, especially when things get tough. When things get tough, and they will, I have to breathe through the panic and push ahead. 

I think I'm ready.

Char   

Round 2: Don't Do This To Me...

 Ok, I've finished the book I was reading/critiquing. I'm happy to say that it did improve. BUT... still a few things to rant and whine about:

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

1. During a love scene, too many authors have their female characters make a 'mewling' noise. What the hell is that? Does she have cat DNA? There are groans, moans, grunts, gasps, whimpers, whines, murmurs, sighs, pants, gulps, and breaths. The Oxford American Thesaurus doesn't even list 'mewling' and Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language lists 'mewl' as: "verb, the sound of a crying child." Soooo not what should be used in an adult love scene. Please authors, stop using it, it sounds wrong on multiple levels.

2. I understand there are regional and cultural trends for some words, like y'all for all of you, and some authors don't use swear words (after all, your mom or kids could be reading your work), BUT... don't use stupid words: freakadilly, freakadilly circus (really, you had to go there twice?) crapple, and Christmas on a cracker. And if your alpha male character uses them? I'm liking him a little less. If you can't use the milder 'damn' or 'hell' then be nebulous- "He swore" and save us the cringe. 

3. If a character, male or female, constantly lectures, I'm out of there. No one likes a nag. And to have a strong male character sit still for two or more pages of being lectured and nagged means he isn't so alpha. And, honestly, I think he's a twit. Who would stand for that? I love my parents, but I didn't listen to that much nagging. Ok, the character needs some tough love and brutal, honest words, but after a while, I wanted to tell the lecturer to shut up and look at her own life. She was sounding like a mother, not a lover. And life always comes down to learning the hard way; few of us learned our lessons by being lectured into a coma.

4. Even after a thorough lecture, what character or person has instant understanding of their psychological or emotional issues? If it were that easy, every person with an issue could go to someone to lecture them extensively and fix the problem. Self-realization. Takes. Time. 

5. This one issue irritates me not only because the author used it, but because she should know better: misused clichés. The saying is NOT "eat on me." It is "eat at me." Again, there may be regional or cultural differences, or even current slang that change a saying, but this one is just WRONG. 

I finished that book and went on to the next one. Here are two more things that irk me:

1. When I submitted a romance story, I had two editors tell me that the romance/attraction had to be immediate. 

No.

1- Many readers and authors, even other editors and agents, hate the 'insta love' aspect- falling in love immediately. I can see attraction, but I refuse to do it in the first chapter because I need to show readers who the main characters are; a little background, a little trouble in their life, etc. I refuse to have two characters meet in a dumb way- like the overused 'spills his coffee on her' trope. I need at least 2 chapters to set the scene. A great number of books don't get to the romance/meet/attraction for several chapters and that feels more 'organic' to use a cliché. Heck, even Cinderella and Snow White didn't meet their true loves for at least two or more chapters. 

2. Covers. I have heard many times that the cover should accurately reflect some aspect of the novel. Don't show me a cover with a guy/gal on the cover who doesn't look anything like the character described- wrong hair/skin color, or a setting that doesn't appear in the book, wrong dress for the era, etc. I feel like the publisher cheated; offered me something and pulled a switcheroo. 

Okay, I think I'm done with my criticisms, rants, whines, and desk poundings. 

Wishing you all sunshine, unicorns, world peace, and great hair days-

Char

Don't Do This To Me...

 I'm doing some fun reading before I delve into required reading for school. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

I'm annoyed.

I understand authors have different styles from mine, but there are certain habits that just irritate me to no end. It doesn't matter if the author is a newbie or a world famous figure. The book I'm currently reading boasts that the author is a NY Times bestseller, and the category is contemporary romance. To set the scene, it's 'alpha male, self-made rich CEO type.' Here are my Yes - Def No notes:

YES - alpha male, muscular, tough, worldly cowboy. 

NO - I just met the character and I KNOW he would NOT use a word like "freakadilly." That silly word is more suited to the effervescent, optimistic female main character. If the reader can pick this up, why didn't the agent/editor/copyeditor?

YES - Describe the scene, the mood, the thoughts, the kiss, etc.

NO - Don't stay stuck in the 3 -3 pattern: 3 lines of 3 adjectives. That's a total of 9 descriptive adjectives (especially when you repeat them....). Overkill and tedious.

YES - Show the kiss.

NO - Diminish the tension because we're so in her head that there was no kiss back action from her. this gorgeous guy is giving her a lethal kiss and she's.... contemplating. 

YES - Tell us he left town ten years ago; we get a picture of a strained homecoming, tense relationships.

NO - Don't keep repeating it, we remember.

YES - Close eyes during a kiss.

NO - Don't give me 2 pages of thought and action before she closes her eyes. Is she staring at him the whole time? 

YES - There are always doubts about a budding relationship.

NO - Please don't make the 26-year-old female character sound like a high school teenager: yes he likes me, no he doesn't, yes, no, yes, no constantly. 

Also,  the punctuation and sentence structure didn't always jive; too many times the sentences were choppy and there were too many unnecessary exclamation points. It made the text read as juvenile. 

Purple prose. Too many times the prose got out of hand and I found myself skipping ahead a few lines.

Crepuscular? Who uses that word? As Beatrix Potter (Tales of Peter Rabbit) said, "the shorter and the plainer, the better."

I get irked when a love scene is so dragged out with too much thinking; the character is stopping in the middle of physical action to give us a treatise on life, love, and the future. 

I'm barely halfway through the book. I don't think the second half will be much different, but I'll finish it with the hope that it will improve. I'll let you know how it goes.

Char 

The End of Summer Vacation

 The end of August brings a few last hurrahs; swimming on the more rare hot days, planning the last summer BBQ/party for Labor Day, enjoying the final theatrical production of crickets and fireflies. Soon to come, if not already, there are chilly nights, back-to-school and work routines, and gearing down to indoor living. 

Those changes are happening in our house. Two sons return to college in the next few days, we're planning when to close the pool, and fall cleaning will soon commence. The biggest change for me will be that I will work for one year and nine months on one novel. No #NaNoWriMo this year. That one novel will be the project for my MFA- my Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (emphasis on speculative writing- Science Fiction and Fantasy- with a minor emphasis on Romance). It's long been a dream of mine to get my Master's and with the chaos, uncertainty, and upheaval in the publishing sector (like many other sectors), I feel this is the time. My boys are pretty much independent and my husband retired, so this is 'me' time. I'll still be doing my blog, although I can't promise a better regularity. It may even get worse... I've cleaned out my office and files, set up new files for coursework, and have resigned from several groups, one being my critique group. It feels strange to pull back from them, but I know the demands of school will make me glad I did withdraw. 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

I will make one final book event appearance, at the beloved Collingswood Book Festival on October 2, 2021 (info https://www.collingswoodbookfestival.com/ ). It will be great to see old friends, make some new ones, talk writing, sign books, and generally have fun. I hope to see you there.

So, wish me luck, and I wish you all luck in your upcoming endeavors, and don't be afraid to send chocolate for those hard days to come.

Char

Judgement Days

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The controversy surrounding Simone Biles' decision to withdraw from several events at the Tokyo Olympics has shown all too clearly how many judge her. Without discussing any merits (or lack thereof), Simone and other public figures face the same thing authors do- constant judgement. 

In no way am I equating the difficulty of her position nor the harshness of public commentary to what other authors and myself receive, but it's akin. Authors are constantly judged: by editors, agents, bloggers, libraries, booksellers, review organizations, readers, other authors, and even family and friends, to say nothing of our own judgements. Too many people say "toughen up" to athletes, artists, authors, and others in the spotlight because we "chose" to be in the spotlight. 

Um, not necessarily. Like Simone, I want to use my talent. She does impossible, death-defying leaps and flips, I write stories. Just because we exercise our talents and the world views them, doesn't mean that we should be open to any and all criticisms. Yes, it comes with the job, but no, that's not a free license. While most of the criticism and judgement I've received as an author has been constructive and made me a better writer, not all of it was, even by industry 'experts.' Sometimes it felt patronizing, condescending, even cruel. Kind of like a middle-aged broadcaster sitting on his butt who never excelled in anything athletic telling Simone that she's weak and an embarrassment and she needs to toughen up mentally because he doesn't understand the sport or the situation. Armchair gymnast. But she has shown herself to be graceful, poised, and defiant. A class act all the way. That's the lesson, hard as it is to bear (trust me, I know), that authors, especially beginning ones, need to learn. We are creating an entertainment and as such, it opens us up to criticism from all sides. Some can deal with it, others can't. Even with a bestseller, there's always commentary from those who don't write about the next success, the next achievement, and how long till then, and what the public expects. One can study and memorize all the moves a gymnast makes, but in the end, without having performed them, the person criticizing is not a total expert. Likewise, one can read all the books, write critical essays and point out flaws, but if it's from the perspective of someone who doesn't write, well, it's not the absolute. I've been given bad advice from experts, but the thing to remember is the perspective- it's theirs and it won't necessarily be the best from my perspective. 

I'm not going to tell anyone to get a 'thick skin' which new writers are constantly advised. Take from the criticisms what you will, what you agree with, what works. In the end, it's your journey and sometimes you have to ignore the noise from the crowd and do your own thing. 

Keep writing- and believing in yourself. Be a Simone Biles.

Char

If Not Now, When?

 

My posting has been sporadic, but hey, pandemic, now it's summer, things are opening up again (at least for now), and I'm considering some life changes. I'm not going to say now because I'm only in the thinking stage, but no, I'm NOT going to:

Move.

Give up writing.

Enter a nunnery.

Divorce the hubs.

Join a biker gang.

Renounce all worldly possessions and live off the land.

Fly into space.

Sometimes, we need change; it wakes up the emotions, makes us feel vital, gives us a needed charge, or gets us out of a stale situation. Drop in and check up on me. 

In the meantime, do something for yourself, I'm sure you deserve it. 

Char 

Be Happy, Dammit!

 

Photo by Cleyder Duque from Pexels

I don't know where I got this list from, (apologies to the author) but it bears repeating. It's been a tough almost 2 years for all of us, although some people have suffered more. Mere words like "Be Happy!" seem almost like cruel platitudes. 

Nevertheless... I firmly believe (having learned the hard way) you can't get true happiness by depending on others; it has to come from within. Here are 6 precises for a happier life:

1.  Don't let the past haunt you; the mistakes have been made. Learn the lesson and move on. (Just don't forget the mistakes and repeat them!)

2.  No one can make you angry, unhappy, resentful, bitter, etc. unless you let them. (yeah, I struggle with this one too because of all our relationships and interconnectedness, but I try.)

3.  No one controls your life or destiny. It is in your hands. Take and maintain control. (Another tough one because of bonds with others.).

4.  Your future can always be changed. You are not stuck anywhere if you don't want to be. 

5.  You are not dependent upon others for your life; use your brains, talents, ambitions, and soul to find your own path.

6.  Nothing is guaranteed in life- not love, health, success, friendship, or luck.

There are things I do every day to be happy: I write, I collect my strawberries, I work in my garden, I go biking, hiking, and swimming, I laugh with my family, and I take some solitude time to read, care for myself, or just be. Discovering what makes you happy can lead you to many new things.

Happy exploration!

Char

In the Garden of (a Writing) Life

 My meditation garden looks FABULOUS! this year. 😁 I've worked hard on it, but I do every year. Whether I'm contemplating going on strike because the males in my house are making me insane, or killing off a character, I find that putting my hands in the dirt and planting flowers, pulling weeds, and trimming bushes helps me think. Here are the results of my gardening:

 My Star Gazer Lilly

Snow white Yarrow

Sunny Day Lillies and Coreopsis

My purple Irises finally bloomed!

Perky Purple Petunias

Pretty Pink Astible

Hosta (or as 2-year-old son said, pasta!)

Classic Marigolds

Mini Daisies, one son's big favorite

The lustful Ferns

Cool Coleus

Um, I forget 

Yeah, forget this one too

My garden is kind of like my writing life; some days/years are better than others. Sometimes plants- and novels- die. Or are too weak and I have to remove them. Others, like the lusty fern, take over and have to be trimmed. Some plants, like some manuscripts, just never thrive and the next year I have to try something else. Plants such as marigolds are always dependable- like a good character that gets a sequel. Yarrow, which some might consider a weed, has beauty in my eye, like some of my stories, even though others may not see it. Coleus is a new plant I'm trying this year, like a new idea for a novel (series?) I have percolating. Going through my files, I find stories that I'd forgotten, like the plants I have and I don't remember their names. 

My writing, like my garden, requires constant attention, although there are times when it's best to let both rest and go fallow, storing energy until its time. 

So today I will pull a few weeds- in both the garden and an old manuscript so both are pleasing to the senses. 

Of course I'll be doing one of them poolside. With a cold drink. 

Happy Summer!

Char

To Boldly Go...

 Photo by Jens Johnsson from Pexels

In a new direction. 

(And yes, I know that's grammatically frowned on- split infinitives. It should be: Boldly, to go... or To go boldly.... Humor me).

First, I went to Home Depot and my library without a mask. I'm fully vaccinated and there weren't many people in the buildings. I felt like a rebel, or even one of those people who selfishly buck CDC guidelines. Even with relaxing guidelines, I still felt BOLD. 

My new writing direction is romances. I still have some sci fi, paranormal, young adult, new adult, and middle grade novels to be pubbed, but they are on a back burner for the time being. The reason for going with romance? It's one of the largest selling markets. Humans just love the idea of being in, falling in, and staying in love. That's reason enough to venture into this market. I'm as big a sap for a good love story as anyone. But another reason is there seems to be (so far) less politics. The companies that publish romances have such a broad base that there's room for everyone. I'm not saying that they shouldn't broaden their diversity- I'm just saying there's alot of room. And, it seems that so far (fingers crossed) celebrities are sticking to writing children's books. So while there are a LOT of romance authors, we don't have to worry about a celebrity stealing the spotlight and money that could benefit a number of authors for whom writing is their livelihood.

I'm hoping to hear from a publisher soon about the trilogy I've just finished. I'll keep you posted. Wish me luck.

In the meantime, wishing you all LOVE, in whatever form makes you happy-

Char

For the Love of Science Fiction

 Photo courtesy of Pexels, Inc.

Is anybody out there?

I love Sci Fi (science fiction); I write it, read it, and watch it on TV/movies. My dad worked at Grummas, building the Lunar Module which eventually took Neil Armstrong and the others to the moon and I was fascinated. Like anything else, choice is personal, but here are my fave Top 5 Sci Fi stories (not in order of preference):

1- The Martian (by Andy Weir). Matt Damon plays an astronaut stranded on Mars trying to survive while NASA works out a plan to save him. Great cast performances, the science is believable, the effects and characters sterling.

2- Indepdence Day (by Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich). Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch, and Randy Quaid are hysterical and quirky in this story about alien ships invading Earth. The special effects and fast pace keep you glued to your seat.

3- Alien (by Dan O'Bannion and Ronald Shusett). Holy smokes, this movie about an alien invadingn a space freighter and hunting the crew gave me nightmares for a year. Sigourney Weaver was the unexpected hero and the special effects- i.e. the Alien- still make me shiver! 

4- The Empire Strikes Back (by George Lucas). Iconic for all time. Luke. Darth Vader. Leia. Han Solo. And the Droids. Everyone knows the story. If you don't love it, we can't be friends good.

5- The Matrix (authorship unclear- the Wachowskis or Sophia Stewart). While Keanu Reeves is fantastic in any movie he makes, I think the Matrix is his best work. The whole premise- that humans are 'power cells' for a giant hostile computer matrix is mind bending. I wish I could conceive something this brilliant. 

There are tons of others that I love- the first in the Dune series, Edge of Tomorrow, Terminator, Star Trek (2009), I, Robot- there are so many to love! 

And it makes me want to go write a sequel to my original sci fi- Lethal Dose. (I plan on doing that anyway....) 

Happy Reading and Reaching For the Stars! 

Char 

A Poem at Month's End... And a Warning to Editors...

 In honor of National Poetry Month, I'm posting a revised edition of a poem I wrote a number (too many to admit to) years ago. At the time, it was a contest winner on the Write Side Out blog/website (which no longer exists). For everyone who's tried or is trying to get a traditional publisher, this is for you:

Mr. Mink is looking at you, Editor 

Dear Editor, I Have Your Cat

Dear Editor,

I have your cat.

What, no contract?

To Monserrat,

I'll ship your cat.

Refuse to deal?

There's no appeal,

cat's fate you'll seal.

I swear, for real.

Oh, change your mind?

Your cat you'll find

once contract signed

and deal we bind.

Don't want too much,

just fame and such,

fat check to clutch,

then lunch- NO DUTCH.

Ignore this note,

and this I quote,

cat packed on boat,

and then I'll gloat.

What can you do?

Except boo hoo.

Choose- cat or you.

My book debut...

Exclaimer here, I have two rescue cats currently and would never hurt any creature (except spiders that invade my personal space, i.e. inside my house and alligators in my pool). So I'd probably only steal the cats and secretly keep them. ;) 

Char

Stepping Back

 It's all overwhelming - things going on in the world when most are beyond our control, things we've got to or want to or need to do, and simple exhaustion from it all. So this week, no rants, no advice, no trying to motivate or cheer. Sometimes we need to just...be. So here's greenery, stillness, nature, and the quiet hush and promise of a spring day. 

Remember to take care of YOU. 

Wishing you moments of peace, clarity, and confidence.

Char

Springing out in Spring

 

 Photo by Taryn Elliott from Pexels

When I was a kid, every spring my father would cite one of his favorite poems:

Spring is sprung, 

the grass is rizz,

I wonder where the flowers is.

Absolutely awful poetry, but Dad wasn't one for flowery prose. He was more of a non-fiction type and I think he gleefully recited this poem to irk my grandmother, who for many years, was the only person to have earned an almost perfect score on the New York State Regents English exam. (She was told that no one could get a perfect score, so they witheld a point just because.) You did NOT want to play Scrabble with this woman. Even as an author with a college degree in English (okay, yes, I graduated with Honors and also have a degree in Journalism), I refused that challenge. But reciting this terrible, grammatically incorrect, and almost grating bit of poetry every spring is a ritual. 

And now that that's done, it's time to do other spring things:

House: 

1. Clean and refresh my gardens

2. Wash house windows

3. Gather stuff for the garage/yard sale

4. Plant veggies and flowers

5. Think about and plan a vacation/family visit (now that we'll all be vaccinated. Safety first!)

And it probably annoys some people, but I have a list for my writing. (I love lists- I'm so much more productive):

1. Weed through my manuscripts. Some for total overhauling, some for putting back in the draw for another time, and some for sending out on submission.

2. Clear out my office. I'm getting rid of clutter- old draft copies of pubbed novels, like the Sirenz and Blonde OPS books. They're published and now out of print (but ebooks are still available!), and it's been a few years so I don't have to worry about someone falsely claiming that the work is theirs. Also, I move my plants outdoors for a bit of fresh air. Oh yes, and I get rid of books that no longer bring me joy.

3. Plan and make notes for the novel I write over summer. I like to write on my patio or poolside. (This is a different novel than the annual #NaNoWriMo project.)

4. Look at my calendar for book events, like the Collingswood Book Festival. As events and places start to open up, I'm anxious to get out and talk to PEOPLE again. I'm so done with virtual events (which while they sound like a nice idea, aren't really well attended and even after all the work you put in to make a good presentation, sales don't happen).  

5. Review what my writing focus is going to be: writing new novels, revising existing novels, or subbing out novels.

Spring, with the sunshine and warmth, flowers and greenery, gives me such energy. I feel a pressing need to bike for miles and hike new paths. Mostly, I want to Get Things Done. Summer, with its lazy and hazy days of high temps tends to make me a bit languid by noon. I want to swim in my pool, have friends over for a cool drink, and lounge by the firepit.

So, I'm going to ride the wave of energy for as long as it lasts, although with this pandemic, now that we're approaching 'normal' again, I don't want to be distracted by all the things I can do once more, like going to a restaurant with friends/family or a theater. 

Hoping spring brings you all kinds of good things, good people, good vibes, good energy, good intentions.

Char