Category Archives: books

Reveries

I’ve been seeing so many people from my past lately—I mean the past past, hazy-rocketing back to elementary school and working up from there—and it’s affected my dreaming. I have hosted reunions in my dream homes, welcoming total strangers to parties … Continue reading

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, books, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, ocean related, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quote For The Weekend (Early Edition As Leaving Town For Environs W/No Internet)

If you believe, as the Greeks did, that man is at the mercy of the gods, then you write tragedy. The end is inevitable from the beginning. But if you believe that man can solve his own problems and is … Continue reading

Posted in Adult writing, books, Fiction, Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tra La La

And now there is no time to be afraid of anything as tomorrow my son and I once again head N.O.R.T.H. Our beach awaits. As do sisters and cousins and beachside cafes and grilled cheese sandwiches made by someone other … Continue reading

Posted in books, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, ocean related, Santa Barbara, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Watermelon People, For Instance

My head and my brain are still at the writing retreat, clicking away, processing vitals, etc. I hope they are enjoying themselves. I returned home with my son to a house packed with visitors both human and canine, dinner for 8 … Continue reading

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, books, Faction, Fiction, middle grade, ocean related, Santa Barbara, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Baby Blessing (With Writers)

So the baby blessing took place in my mother’s faintly overgrown backyard, guests’ heads thunked by falling trumpet vine blossoms (they are as large and as heavy as some sandwiches), the mingling of shadows and vines and succulents forcing the … Continue reading

Posted in books, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, ocean related, Santa Barbara, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When I Write

I might wake up many times during any night due to: Nightmares involving fedora-wearing aliens intent on making off with my son. The certainty that I have heard a loud noise, which means rising from bed and checking my son’s room and the rest … Continue reading

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, books, dog, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quote For The Weekend

PS. They’re real “I need an hour alone before dinner, with a drink, to go over what I’ve done that day. I can’t do it late in the afternoon because I’m too close to it. Also, the drink helps. It … Continue reading

Posted in Adult writing, books, Fiction, fish, Me and Us, ocean related, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing | Leave a comment

Quote For Saturday

Easy reading is damn hard writing.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Posted in books, Fiction, Writing, WTF | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Notes From Here

Beach as mental equalizer (despite persistent wind). Impossible to crack open a book or uncap a pen here (though not because of wind). The way the sand is riled, looks as though whole, transportable cities (twirling towers of particles) are whisking … Continue reading

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, books, Fiction, Me and Us, ocean related, Santa Barbara, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Contest Winner

In a previous post I mentioned the YA Muses were holding a very generous contest. Winners would have the first 15 pages of their WIP or NIPR (novel in perpetual revision) read by one of the Muses. The grand prize … Continue reading

Posted in books, middle grade, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Help

 Kathryn Stockett on her rejections and perseverance in More.  Memorable quotes: A year and a half later, I opened my 40th rejection: “There is no market for this kind of tiring writing.” That one finally made me cry. After rejection … Continue reading

Posted in Adult writing, Book Club, books, Fiction, Writer's Angst, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

New Muse

A kitten after my own heart. We have a new muse around here since Mother’s Day. He was this writer’s huge, completely unexpected, big-deal surprise. I’d forgotten how much joy kittens bring, endless chuckles for both adults and a little boy excited to … Continue reading

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, books, Me and Us, To Explain, Writing Progress | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

YA Muses Contest

If, like me, you welcome critique on your WIP, which is actually a complete novel you can’t stop revising, then visit the YA Muses and participate in their contest. The prizes are very generous. I hope I win. Something. Thank … Continue reading

Posted in books, Fiction, middle grade, Parakeet, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Finished

Perhaps it’s in bad form to compare this novel to the Twilight series, but I am struck by how much more horror-packed credible dystopia is than books with credible, contemporary vampires and their various friends and foes. Yes, I’m still … Continue reading

Posted in Adult writing, books, Fiction, Writing, WTF | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Chalk Speaks

Posted in Adult writing, Book Club, books, Fiction, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments