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

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

The Vacation That Pays...

Yep, I was absent last Monday but again, I have a good excuse.

Oak Island, NC. Alas, too cold for a swim, but we saw dolphins! 

I was on vacation.

I was spending quality time with the 'rents.

As my parents age, I feel an almost desperate drive to see as much of them as I can, to spend time with them. And that means sacrificing writing time.

As a writer, I struggle with abandoning my writing for 8 days, but as a daughter, I say, "Screw that, I can write day and night when I get home."

And that's the way it will be this week.

But there was an advantage to getting away from writing. I relaxed, did some fun things, shared secrets with my mom.... and resolved a plot issue for a rough draft I'm working on. I'd written it years ago and put is aside when I realized there was a plot issue- one that wound its way allllll through the book.

Now? Not a prob.

That's a vacation worth having.

Now I'm back to the grindstone. Plotting, planning, purging, and preparing.

Keep writing, or doing whatever your passion is,

Char

Happy Labor Day!

Because the Federal government declared this a holiday from labor, I am being a good citizen and observing the law.

I wish you all a day of rest (since tomorrow is the start of no-more-vacation/summer). If you have to work, I wish you a day of nice people, easy tasks, and tomorrow off! Sitting poolside,

Char