If You Give A Writer Wrapping Paper

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HINT For Beth’s Birthday Hunt Clue #4

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(also, the blog address is in my sidebar :))

You guys are going to be so proud of me!

I have squeedged my way through my office door!  And let me tell you, it wasn’t easy!

Not only that, I have cleared a path all the way from one side to the other!  (I know.  It boggles the mind.)

“Hello, my friends!” I said to my beloved writing books as I saw their colorful spines for the first time in weeks days.  “Greetings!” I called to Phyllis and Woolliam (who were sleeping in my school visit bag and did not appreciate the interruption!)  “Achoo!” I sneezed, just because I felt like it and not because there was even the tiniest speck of dust in the air.

So now, let’s just be happy with a little progress in that department and not talk about the fact that the path is very narrow, piled high on either side with Christmas presents and wrapping paper and piles of books that need to be shelved and writing/school visit paraphernalia of all kinds.  Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Let’s talk about something else entirely.

I work very well with deadlines.  But if there appears to be plenty of time, I am the queen of procrastination.  I shall give you an example.

I’ve got all these Christmas presents to wrap.  Christmas is 4 days away.  If I start now, and wrap a few gifts at a time, I’ll be done by a reasonable hour on Christmas Eve.  But that is not the way I work.

I squeeze into my office (still thrilled that I can get in – it’ll be a while before that wears off!) with the honest intention of wrapping.  But there’s a lot to wrap.  Which present should I do first?  I look around and see the gift I picked out for my niece and nephew, and it reminds me of when my kids were that age, which reminds me of an amusing anecdote, which gives me an idea for a story, and the next thing I know I’ve found a scrap of writing paper and I’m jotting down notes for a story on the back of it because, really, I’ve still got 4 days to wrap, and if I don’t write down an idea when I have it, I might forget!  This is what happens when you give a writer wrapping paper.  She uses it to write, not wrap.  The same holds true for napkins, ATM receipts, and the inside of the red part or the foil part of a KitKat wrapper, although the outside of the foil is useless.  In case you were wondering.

A person who is a writer can turn any occasion into an opportunity to write.  That is because we are creative!  And what better way to use our creativity then to turn a mundane task like wrapping, vacuuming, or closet organization (stop that – I hear you snickering!) into a useful time to think up a new story?  And write it on the back of whatever comes to hand, whether it be an old grocery list, a corner of the english muffin box, or that speeding ticket field trip form…

So, I have a sneaking suspicion that Christmas Eve will roll around and I’ll be up wrapping until 4 AM.  I know this because it happens every year.  But if I’m lucky, I might have a couple new story ideas come Christmas morn 🙂

Feng Shui Writing

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HINT For Beth’s Birthday Hunt Clue #3

Really?  Okay 🙂  Look in the mirror 🙂

I need to Feng Shui my house.

Seriously.

At this moment, I cannot actually get into my office.

Which is why I am writing at the kitchen table.  (Also, it’s sunnier here, but that is just an added bonus.)

I would take a picture, but I’m afraid the visual would be so frightening that it might take you weeks to get up the courage to return to my blog.  Also, I’m not sure I can even fit the camera through the office door…

This whole clean-up-the-office thing will have to be addressed imminently because that’s where the Christmas presents are, so I’m going to have to get in there and wrap.  But it will have to wait until I’m done with this.  And a few other things.  Which is probably why I never seem to get around to it…

Feng Shui, in grossly oversimplified western terms, has to do with de-cluttering.  In actual fact, Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese system for improving life by receiving positive energy, and it has more to do with auspiciously orienting objects in space than with cleaning up.  Either way, it can be applied to more than just my house.

Think about picture books.  Some of the very best have spare writing.  Where The WIld Things Are could not be much simpler, yet its message has resonated with children for decades.

Think of poetry – how a few choice words can convey such beauty and emotion.

All the best writers have learned to pare their words down to the necessities and to orient their ideas in the most auspicious ways.  And if you are a writer of picture books, this is a valuable and necessary skill indeed.

I have a ways to go, but I am getting there.  In the beginning, my picture book manuscripts rarely came in under 2,500 words (yes, I know how completely ridiculous that is!)  Now, almost without exception, I can bring a first draft in under 800 words.  Progress!

I hope you’re impressed with how I managed to turn cleaning my office into a discussion of writing.  I think that was a prime example of auspiciously orienting ideas 🙂

And now, pay attention, this is important and the most auspiciously oriented part of the whole post:  tomorrow, (or possibly Wednesday, depending on the speed and efficiency of her web designer), we will be having a guest!!!  None other than the multi-talented Kathy Troidle Jackson, poet/author extraordinaire, who writes Haiku!  Now I realize, of course, that Haiku is Japanese in origin, not Chinese, but I think it fits admirably with the discussion of Feng Shui because Haiku is also about sparity (an invented word herein meaning that which is beautiful and spare, evoking emotion with few words:)  Anyone who can think of a better invented word than sparity is free to contribute!)

And now, since this post is threatening to become VERY wordy, after I just told you how much better I’m getting at not being wordy, I will end here.  But please be sure to check back in the next couple of days for Kathy’s interview.  It’s very interesting and full of helpful tidbits!  And cute pictures of her dog!

A Ram In Writer’s Clothing

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HINT for Beth’s Birthday Hunt Clue #2

A  B  C  D . . .
Z  Y  X  W . . .

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I have the exact wrong kind of personality for being a writer.

I hate waiting.  I’m a total plow-ahead type.  I’m impatient and overly fond of instant gratification.  I’m liable to act first and think later more often than I care to admit.  And I want results now!  (Come to think of it, I sound a lot like a preschooler, which may explain why I write for that age group :))

I blame it on my zodiac sign.  I’m a ram, after all, and they are not known for their tiptoe-along-the-sidelines approach to life, but rather for barging headlong at whatever is in their path!

Anyway, take all that burning impatience and match it up with a career that requires months and months (well, let’s be honest, often years!) of waiting – for the writing process itself, which takes time; for my agent to decide whether a new ms is good enough to submit; for editors to read and ponder and pass or accept; and if they do accept, for an artist to be chosen, and then draw/paint the book; and then for printing, shipping, and finally publication if I’m lucky –  and you’ll see why I should really stay away from caffeine 🙂

But I’ll tell you why I stick with being a writer, in spite of the frustration, the waiting, the lack of guarantees.

It’s because I love to write and can’t imagine doing anything else.

It’s because every now and again, a little idea I had becomes a new book, and that book makes its way to classrooms and homes where it hopefully brightens the day a little, whether by encouraging a child to believe in himself the way Phyllis does, or help a child know she’s not alone in her conflicted feeling about the arrival of a new sibling like Rose, or just learn about something new that they find interesting, like freight trains or airplanes or construction vehicles.

It’s because sometimes, when I visit kids in classrooms, one shy hand will go up and its owner will give voice to the dream he or she has of becoming a writer, and the fact that he or she has had the chance to meet a writer makes that dream feel more possible.  And that writer is me.

So the next time I’m banging my head, ram-like, against the wall in frustration and proclaiming that I’m not cut out to be a writer but should go get a job at the local Stop-and-Shop, you may feel free to tell me sharply to knock it off and get back to work!

Because a writer is who I am.

Ideas

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HINT for Beth’s Birthday Hunt Clue #1

athisy  list  ban  thinto

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I stayed up way past my bedtime last night.

No, I was not partying!  (It was Wednesday, people.  In my house, that’s a school night!)

But the end result is that at this point in the evening I can barely string enough words together to make a sentence and my eyes are threatening to close in spite of strict instructions to the contrary.

So we’ll keep this short and simple.

My friend, Kathy, (and yes, I have five friends named Kathy, four of whom are writers, and I’m not going to try to explain which one!  The Kathy in question will be able to recognize herself by the details to follow!) but anyway, one of my five friends Kathy posted a comment on Face Book a little while ago.  She said she was riding on the train, and an older gentleman across the aisle from her was taking a picture of a stuffed animal looking out the window.  Right away, she wondered what lucky child would be the recipient of that photo, or whether he was taking the photo for a scrapbook of his own.

The very fact that she would notice, and wonder, tells you she is a writer.

On school visits, one of the questions I get asked most frequently (right after how old are you? how much money do you make? and what are your dogs’ names? – serious writing questions all!) is where do ideas come from?  I answer that ideas are all around (because they are!)  You just have to keep your eyes and ears open.  And you have to wonder.  About everything.

I dropped a note back to Kathy:  write the story!

I hope she will, and I hope she’ll share it with us!

Contest Contest

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My poor little contest from last Wednesday is suffering an inferiority complex.

Here’s how a contest works, my friends.  You have to ENTER!

Thus far (and today being the original deadline), only 2 brave souls have ventured entries – not enough for a contest.  And so my little contest feels sad and unloved 😦 and is threatening to sulk and possibly gnaw the furniture.

I find myself wondering, do you, my faithful readers, not like contests? or was the prize not motivating enough? or was it the wrong kind of contest?

Please share your thoughts!  I want the contests to be fun!

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I have a bit of a competitive streak.  I myself cannot resist contests, games, or challenges of most kinds (although if anyone challenged me to join a Polar Bear Club – you know, the kind where you cut a hole in the ice on New Year’s Day and take a swim? – I would turn that down no problem!)

Because I like contests, I am announcing a NEW CONTEST – a contest contest if you will:  submit ideas for contests you think would be fun and prizes you think would be motivating.  Whoever wins, we’ll use your ideas and I will credit you by adding your name to the contest title (e.g. Mary’s Famous Character Contest)!

Meanwhile, I will extend the deadline of the original contest (see post from December 8) through Sunday Dec. 19.  If I wait any longer than that, the winner won’t get their prize in time for the holidays.  Please brighten my sad little contest’s day by submitting at least a few more entries.  You can think of it as your daily contribution of holiday cheer!

Looking forward to your ideas!

*#@*! or What To Give?

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It’s 11 degrees on Blueberry Hill this morning.  Snowflakes are falling steadily, frosting the trees and feathering down into enough fluffy ground cover that we’re having our first 2-hour delay of the year.  It’s as tranquil and lovely as the days leading up to Christmas should be.

Should be, but aren’t, because somehow holiday shopping gets in the way of tranquility.

Traffic.  Crowds.  Trying to find a parking space at the mall, searching for the perfect gifts for you family and friends, but also for the school bus driver who you don’t even really know…  Definitely not a recipe for peace of mind!

Don’t worry, though.  I am here to help!  I have the perfect answer to everything and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your pajamas!  Ready?  Here it is!

Mother Reader

I found this link via The Reading Tub Blog and what a gem it is!  I love giving books and I love getting books, and Mother Reader here presents fantastic (and easy!) ideas of how to jazz up your book-giving.  Best of all, you can order your perfect gifts right from your couch – no travel on treacherous roads, no traffic, no parking headaches or mall crowds, no temptation to indulge in McDonald’s french fries just because they’re there… You will find fabulous gifts that everyone on your list will love.  And, as promised, you can even stay in your pajamas!  What could be better than that?

Happy Shopping!  (…and you’re welcome :))

Sing A Song of Story

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Today I will share a little known fact about me:  I’m a closet songwriter.

(Although I have to confess, I’m playing it fast and loose with the concept of “songwriter”!)

I cannot write music.  But I do like making up words to other people’s songs.  Hence, Phyllis and Woolliam and Captain Bright and the Train Engineer all have songs to go with their books.  (The Train Engineer doesn’t have a name, by the way, and I think that needs to be remedied!  She looks like Peppermint Patty to me, so that’s how I think of her.  But I digress…)

Phyllis’s songs are cleverly titled The Groundhog Day Song #1 and The Groundhog Day Song #2.  Catchy, no?  Woolliam’s song is The Counting To Sleep Song (can you guess what it’s about?), Captain Bright’s song really isn’t his – it’s called “I’m A Little Airplane” (bonus points to anyone who can guess the tune) and the Train Engineer’s Song, much like the Train Engineer herself, doesn’t actually have a name, so feel free to suggest one.  It’s about an engineer driving a train – not a great leap since that’s what the book is about 🙂

Making up songs serves two purposes.  #1 it gives me something fun to do with the kids when I go on school visits.  Kids are very willing to join in the fun of a silly song.  #2 it makes me feel multifaceted as a writer if I can claim (however inaccurately) to be a songwriter, and a little self-esteem boost never hurt anyone right?

I may be able to just squeak by passing myself off as a songwriter, but I could never pretend to be a singer.  So I let Phyllis and Woolliam do the dirty work.  No one seems to mind if a groundhog or a sheep have less than pleasing voices.  In fact, it just adds to the fun 🙂

Feeling inspired?  Suggest a name for the Train Engineer and/or her song!

Holiday Book Drive!

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Yes, I realize it’s the crack of dawn.

I also realize it’s Saturday, which is not a usual posting day for me.

But I have something important to share that couldn’t wait, so here it is:

Lit World, in partnership with the International Book Bank, is having a children’s book drive for the holidays.  Please visit KidLit for full information.

I know you’ll visit KidLit and get all the details there, so I won’t bore you with repetition here.  I just want to say, this is a very worthy cause, and I encourage everyone to donate used picture books they no longer want to the poverty-stricken children in Liberia and Sierra Leone, children who will get such joy out of them.  Added bonus: your house will have less clutter in time for the influx of new holiday gifts!

Thanks for reading and considering a donation.

Now, go have a great weekend!

Prime Time

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I’m practically a caveman.


Well, a cavewoman, I guess, if you want to get technical.


Why, you may ask?


Because I don’t have cable or satellite.


Sheesh!  I heard that gasp of horror all the way up here on Blueberry Hill!  Calm down before you start hyperventilating.  It’s not that bad.  Think of all the commercials I don’t have to watch!


And remember – I do have internet which, in addition to allowing me to chat with y’all and waste time playing Sporcle,  lets me indulge in my secret addiction to Grey’s Anatomy the day after it airs 🙂


That is not the point, though, and I do have a point, somewhere.


Oh, yes.  My point was that a lot of television is a wasteland and we should all spend more time reading. And especially we should encourage our children to read so they don’t grow into a generation of people who don’t know what a book is 🙂

Lane Smith’s book is both funny and a little alarming because, with the advent of Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPhone aps, etc. it’s beginning to seem very possible that a time could come when books as we know them might not exist.
I have no problem with ebooks up to a point.  I actually have a few.  In terms of environmental friendliness and the fact that I won’t have to build a new wing on the house to store them, they have some positive sides.  But I’d hate to see books go out of style altogether.  No matter how high-tech an ebook might be, how engaging on a certain level, in that format it’s not the same thing.  I hope we will never lose the ability to sit with out children or grandchildren in our laps and hold a book in our hands, feel the paper, smell the ink, turn the pages, and allow words and art to fire our imaginations.  To me, that is prime time.
What do you think?  Are ebooks good?  Do you like the experience of reading them or do you prefer traditional books?  Do you find them easier or harder on the eyes?  Do you think sharing an ebook with a child is as good, better or worse than sharing a traditional book?  Please share your thoughts!  And while you’re at it, share the title of a book you’ve read recently that you really liked.  I’ll start in the comments 🙂

Now, Here’s A Challenge!

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Hi Folks!  I had a totally different idea in mind for today’s post when I stumbled across a game!
I cannot resist games!  So, I’m passing the fun along to you!
The game was started by Michelle McLean:
In 100 words or less, write a story using the words ride, post, soulless, local, dehydrator, girdle. Your story may take on any form you wish. The only two rules are 1. you can’t simply list the 6 words; you must actually craft them into something creative, and 2. you must use ALL six of them.
Wow!  Some challenge, right?  Here’s my attempt:

It was 3 AM when Betty’s car conked out.
“Darn this cold!” she groused.
She posted a note on the windshield for Sheriff Goodbody, then she pulled her hat low, wrapped her scarf an extra time around, hitched up her girdle, and started walking.
Clunk!  Cough!  Hank Bowman’s beat-up pick-up emerged from the darkness and grumbled to a stop beside Betty.
“Need a ride?” he asked.
“Much obliged!” said Betty.  “The local bakery can’t be without holiday cookies on Christmas Eve!”

The truck was hot as a dehydrator, playing soulless music on the radio.  Betty switched to carols and smiled.  (100 on the nose!)
You can add to the fun by seeing what other people wrote.  Check out Shannon, Cole, and Abby!
Then make it even more fun – write your own and post it in the comments.  I can’t wait to see what people come up with!
Ready, set, GO!