My Dream Writing Space #OpenBook Blog Hop

June 26, 2023

Describe what your dream writing space would look like.

There’s a log cabin with a wrap-around porch facing a lake near the top of a mountain. The bedroom-turned-office has a picture window facing the lake, and deer and elk wander by. Two of the walls are lined with bookshelves that are overflowing. My cup of hot chocolate never goes dry-at least, when I empty it, my husband brings me more. When it snows, the roads don’t close and the high-speed internet never goes down. Of course, the words flow like water in the springtime snowpack melt..

Okay, so that will never happen. But I’m pretty darn happy with what I have right now.

We’re living in a small town- more like a village-in the hills of Appalachia in northwestern PA. I have a room all to myself as an office. It’s on the second floor, and the two windows overlook our yard and the well-maintained empty lot next door. There are no elk, but deer drop by for a visit sometimes. Then, there is a nice assortment of birds. Plus, I’ve counted over fifteen varieties of wildflowers on the properties.

The room itself is comfy and peaceful. It’s like a warm blanket I can wrap up in on a chilly day. Everything I need is handy, from a bookshelf for reference materials and whatever books I am reading,  and a stereo for background music. The two windows face east, flooding the room with light on a sunny day.

Best part is the quiet. No constant sirens. Little traffic. It’s rare to hear an airplane. I can actually hear the birds sing.

Oh, and the internet connection, while not perfect, is somewhere between pretty darn good and excellent.

(I took this picture before I’d finished decorating, but this is close to what it looks like now- just add dragons.)

Words still aren’t flowing like the springtime snowmelt in the Rockies, but I’m moving along on my WIP.

To read bout more dream writing spaces, check out the other authors on this hop. Just follow the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.

June 26, 2023

Describe what your dream writing space would look like.

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 


What Subjects Am I Good At? #OpenBook Blog Hop

 

June 19, 2023

Besides writing, what other ‘subjects’ are you good at?

Now that I am retired, there are a lot of things I don’t care as much about as I used to. Math is one of those. I used to be a math whiz – I could do fairly complicated mathematical problems in my head. Now, my needs are more basic and I rely on a calculator for most of them. Shoot, the program I use for taking credit cards at book signings will calculate sales tax for me now, instead of me having to figure it out. I prefer making my prices a round number. That way I don’t have to deal with change!

On the other hand, I am learning and relearning skills I had when I was younger regarding gardening and nature. I never knew that robins sunbathe (It’s good for their wings) or that blue jays eat butterflies. But the butterflies know, because I’ve watched them try to hide when a blue jay is nearby. Other birds don’t like the blue jays either, and larger ones will chase them off.

Spring was a joy. I spent a lot of time wandering my yard to find out what new flowers popped up. At one point, I counted over fifteen varieties of wildflowers – and then I lost track. If you follow me on Instagram, I posted them on that platform. I don’t remember seeing that many kinds when I lived in this area growing up.

But the number one subject I’m getting better at? The art of relaxation.  I’m no subject matter expert yet, but I’m learning to take more moments to just breathe.

pink forget-me-nots

What subjects are the other writers on this blog good at? Find out by following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe

June 19, 2023

Besides writing, what other ‘subjects’ are you good at?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 


To Sit and Think #OpenBook Blog Hop

June 12, 2023

How do you keep from overthinking your story?

“No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.”—Voltaire

Recently, I had an old acquaintance describe me as “intense.” I can’t disagree, and that bleeds into my writing. Overthinking my story? I plead guilty.

Even minor details can become sticky points as I consider whether they belong in the story.. Does it matter what posters are on the walls of the gym? They could be a nice touch to the setting, but they could also just be a distraction and slow down the pace of the action. It’s possible that I will spend ten minutes creating them, only to rip that section out and move it to my outtakes folder. Overthinking at its finest.

When I write by hand, I don’t have the same problem. I may spend more time pondering a single word, but less time trying to figure out the plot. It seems to flow more naturally. (But then editing takes more time.)

In my current work in progress, I’ve been spending energy trying to figure out the romantic subplot. When will I introduce it? I know I want there to be one, and who should be involved, but I’m not sure how to make it happen without seeming forced. Yes, I am overthinking it.

But it shouldn’t be a surprise, because I overthink life in general. Expecting overnight guests? I figure out which set of towels to wash and set out for them a week in advance. Trip planning is a whole production, and I won’t share the appalling details.

Still, I can be laid-back and spontaneous, and when I tap into that side of me I do perhaps not my best writing, but my fastest writing—the most words in a sitting. I love those times, when I can stop overthinking and just write. Sadly, I have no hints on how to achieve that state.

What about the other authors in this hop? Find out how they battle overthinking by following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

June 12, 2023

How do you keep from overthinking your story?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 


What Muppet Would I Look Like? #OpenBook Blog Hop

June 5, 2023

If you were a muppet, what would you look like? Are you a person, monster, animal, something else?

There was/is so much talent in the designs of Jim Henson and his team, as well as the many folks who emulated his designs, that I can’t imagine that I could come close to their greatness. From Sesame Street to Fraggle Rock (I still have a plastic Fraggle on my desk) to the Dark Crystal, the genius lives on.

But I can tell you about my favorite, which I would design myself after. But first, the runner-up.

Janice from the Electric Mayhem band. She’s sweet and kind, a little naïve, and extremely talented. What’s not to love? There are parts of her that remind me of what I’d like to be but I could never match her amazing talent. I even named a character after her in one of my never-to-be-published books.

 

But the character I’d like to be modeled after? Animal. His overwhelming energy and enthusiasm is role-model material. How he tackles problems head-on. (Although sometimes he doesn’t get all the facts first) And he never has a bad hair day. .He understands what is important in his life and strives to honor it.  All of this while never saying a word.

I’d have to change that part to be me, of course. I’d have to have words.

What would you look like if you were a muppet? I’m curious to find out what the other authors on this hop would look like. Jin me in finding out by following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

June 5, 2023

If you were a muppet, what would you look like? Are you a person, monster, animal, something else?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.