Say Anything

 

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Word nerd alert: My fascination with slang continues...while researching Irish colloquialisms for a new project, I went down a rabbit hole (which I seem to do quite a lot these days. Is it just me, or does anyone else have the attention span of a gnat lately?) Following the "show, don't tell" rule, I was looking for a way to demonstrate a character's Irish heritage and found some fun stuff.

It's endlessly fascinating to me that people who speak the same language, using the same words, can assign them such vastly different meanings. Here are some of my new favorite Irish words and expressions:

Up to 90

This phrase is most often used to mean flat out busy, but might also refer to being really angry.

Banjaxed

Used to describe something or someone that's not working or broken. I may start using this one. A friend and I often chat about the adjustment we've had to make in our vocabularies since getting government jobs, (she worked in radio, a very Tower-like environment). I'm always on the lookout for office-appropriate ways to express frustration. This friend often says she'd like credit for what doesn't come out of her mouth.

C'mere to me                                                                                                           This one just feels charmingly Irish to me. It can literally be a request for someone to come over to you, or if you want someone to listen to you. Not sure I can remember my grandfather saying it, but it seems like something he would say. It also reminds me of when my oldest niece coined the phrase, "Get away to me," when she was three.

Manky

Used to describe something that's dirty, as in unclean, not R-rated. (Although honestly, it sounds as if it could be either).

Minus craic

This term was completely new to me, and is used to describe a person or situation that's no fun. It might have helped if I'd known that craic means a good time or enjoyable social activity.

In any fictional endeavor, creating authentic characters is crucial. Writing dialogue that sounds like real people talking is a solid step toward that authenticity. It's not just what your characters say, it's also how they say it.

Opposites Attract

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Even with as little time as I spend on social media and my active avoidance of the news, I still encounter an insane amount of random bits of information online. It really shouldn't be surprising, given the research rabbit holes I routinely fall into, but still—there's so much.

Fortunately, enough of those random bits delight my word nerd heart, like discovering a list of contronyms. Merriam-Webster.com defines contronym as a word having two meanings that contradict one another, such as bolt, which can mean to secure or to flee, and cleave, which can mean to adhere or to separate. Contronyms are also know as antagonyms, autoantonyms, or Janus words, so named for the two-faced Roman god of doors, gates, and transitions. Even more word nerd delight—a definition that leads to another rabbit hole!

Here are a few more words with contradictory definitions:

1. Apology: a statement of contrition for an act, or a defiance of one
2. Bound: heading for a destination, or restrained from movement
3. Dust: to add fine particles, or to remove them
4. Fast: Quick or stuck or made stable
5. Left: remained or departed
6. Peer: a person of nobility or an equal
7. Sanction: to approve or to boycott
8. Weather: to withstand or to wear away

Fun stuff, and enough to keep me entertained, and yes, distracted, when I should be writing, or at least doing research to lend whatever I'm working on an air of authenticity. Which feels like my own form of contradiction, as I try to power through without getting distracted while wanting to keep finding those gems of word nerdiness. Guess that's just the Janus nature of my writer brain.

The Inner Light

 

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"Nothing is matter-of-fact for a writer. Everything is a matter of life." – Danielle LaPorte

Long before I thought of myself as a writer, I knew on a gut level that writing is the introvert's way of making sense of the world. Before I knew the why behind anything I attempted to write, or gained anything resembling the confidence to share my work, I instinctively knew that putting pen to paper would help me process events large and small as they unfolded around me. The path from "I enjoy writing" to "I am a writer" was anything but linear, but I now understand that I traversed it exactly as I needed to.

From writing ad and web copy for day jobs, to freelancing, to finally getting serious enough about my own work to publish a novel, each step happened in the order it needed to. And despite advice from stacks of books and people who wrote for a living, it was a path I needed to travel on my own.

The brilliant Danielle LaPorte says our life is our content, which is true for everyone, introverts and extroverts alike. Artists of all stripes pull from their experiences to put forth their creative endeavors and express themselves with words, music, or visual arts. But writers quietly observe what goes on around us, carefully choosing the right words to illustrate events and convey, in the best—and sometimes only—way we can, the feelings that result.

In a world that grows louder and moves faster seemingly every day, writers side-step the noise and, from their solitary vantage points, put the pieces together. The observations may not be earth-shattering, the events not fascinating, but it doesn’t matter—the stuff of everyday life makes the best stories.

Memories, Dreams, Reflections

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"I would find myself laughing and wondering where these ideas came from. You can call it imagination, I suppose. But I was grateful for wherever they came from." – Amy Tan

I recently watched Amy Tan's Master Class, Fiction, Memory and Imagination. (Yes, here's yet another mention of Master Class, and yes, I still think it's worth the price of admission and then some). And while I'm not necessarily inclined to write the type of fiction that has earned Ms. Tan a huge number of literary prizes and acclaim as one of the most successful contemporary fiction writers of her time (my forays into anything resembling biography tend to be brief), I learned plenty from the class.

Whether we're writing about cultural and familial traditions or not, the emotions attached to our memories can be a powerful force in the creation of a story. In fact, those emotions help make our stories ring true. Fiction, by definition is not true, of course, but it must be grounded in reality to resonate with the reader. Amy Tan said, "Fiction is actually one of the best ways for finding truth." I've absolutely discovered that to be so as I've found my voice as a writer.

No matter what kind of story we're driven to share, we'll connect with readers if we start with the emotions behind said story. And the deeper the emotions, the more charged the connection. Researchers have discovered that our memories of traumatic or dramatic events—often referred to as 'flashbulb memories'—are hardwired in our brains and therefore tend to be more reliable than happy memories, which contain more sensory details. Those memories, rooted in our senses, often seem more positive in retrospect. We can actually change memories by how we talk about past experiences and with the words we use to describe them, making the warm and fuzzy even more so.

Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung, upon deciding to tell his life's story at the age of 84, framed the events of his life and work with the emotions of his inner world. To Jung, the psyche was a profound reality. "Nights through dreams tell the myths forgotten by the day," is my favorite of his quotes.

Creative types talk about our muses quite a bit. Ethereal beings aside, what is a muse if not imagination steeped in memory with a healthy does of creativity? And the stories summoned are reflections of our personal myths, our memories, our dreams. 

I am From...

                                            
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...a little town in the mountains of Southern California. I carry with me a nostalgia for quiet streets, neighbors who feel like family, and snow on Christmas Eve.

My childhood was made of climbing trees, building forts in vacant lots, snowball fights, bike rides all over the neighborhood, and stories in front of the fireplace.

I left that small town, but carry the best of it within me.

I am from...

...parents who taught me the importance of keeping my word, to believe in myself, and that kindness matters.

Throughout my life, I've called upon the lessons they taught me. I haven't always acted as they would want me to, but I've built upon their foundation as I slowly figure out who I am and who I want to be.

I am from...

...grandparents who were total bad-asses. My grandmother held her family together when Germany occupied Belgium and she, my grandfather, and my little six-year-old mommy moved into their cellar. Each time my grandfather left, she didn't know if he'd come back. Yet she made living in the cellar as normal as possible for my mother.

Near the end of the war, my grandfather was captured by German soldiers, and on his way to being worked to death in a German factory. With steely resolve and ice water in his veins, he saw one chance to escape, took it, and lived to tell.

I am from...

...the combination of my genetic material, behaviors that were modeled, and a drive to live up to what came before.

From A to Z

 

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As illustrated by the lack of recent posts, I've had nothing to say as of late. Like, literally, nothing. I’m beginning to wonder if I should file a missing person report:

Missing: One Muse, last seen in October. Fairy wings and a mischievous smile. Prone to appearing and disappearing at will.

Silliness aside, I started thinking about the wondrous, elusive, addictive, and maddening process that is writing. Where, exactly, do ideas come from? And what is it that compels us to capture those ideas in writing and share them?

Humans are storytellers, and while it might be tempting to imagine we developed a system of symbols to preserve our stories, that's no more than a romantic notion. The truth behind the development of writing is more mundane. In ancient Mesopotamia, the Sumerians and the Akkadians lived in the same region, but spoke completely different languages. In order to do business, they needed to keep reliable records. The oldest examples of writing found are clay tablets with inscriptions believed to represent sacks of grain and heads of cattle.[1]

Perhaps it's even more amazing then, that we took those ancient symbols created to keep agricultural records and morphed them into a way not only to pass traditional stories along to future generations, but also to create and share new stories.

From the first alphabet, a cuneiform script, developed in the 14^th century B.C. in Syria,[2] to Johann Gutenberg's mechanization of printing in 1440,[3] modern writers owe a debt of gratitude to our predecessors who saw the possibilities in clay tablets and movable type. Shouldn't we do right by them and keep it up?

---

[1] Georges Jean, Writing: The Story of Alphabets and Scripts, (Abrams, 1992), 11-13

[2] Jean, Writing: The Story of Alphabets and Scripts, 52

[3] Jean, Writing: The Story of Alphabets and Scripts, 93

An Introvert Steps Out...of the Comfort Zone

 

A few months ago, in a moment of very atypical INFP behavior, I reached out to Capital Books, a lovely independent bookstore in downtown Sacramento to set up a book signing event. Said event took place yesterday, and I'm happy to report it was a success. It was also a lot of fun. The store holds their events in the Flamingo Lounge, an inviting space on the second floor with a picture window that overlooks K Street. It's the perfect space to sip tea and talk about books.

I organized literally hundreds of events at Tower, many with local authors, and a good number with big names, including favorites like Robert Crais and Sue Grafton. Just the idea of being on the other side of the table was a bit surreal. Even after the date was confirmed and I began promoting the event, it still sort of felt like I was talking about someone else's book signing.

Right before the owner (with whom I'd crossed paths many years ago at Tower) introduced me, I had a moment of, "Am I really doing this?? Who thought this was a good idea?" Then I took a breath, looked around the room, and saw the friendly (masked) faces of those who had come to support me, ranging from a childhood friend, to my Tower tribe, to my new work family. What an amazing feeling. I read an excerpt, then answered questions, and instead of freaking out over the fact that I was speaking in public, I realized I was just talking about a book with a room full of friends—right in the middle of my comfort zone.

It's been quite a while since my Tower days, and the road to finally finishing a book and getting it published was long and winding. But I did get there. And there has been no shortage of people rooting for me along the way. Getting a book published and having an event was certainly a dream come true, but staying connected with my tribe? Priceless.

Paperback Writer—for Real

I've been waiting SO freaking long to use this title in this way, and I finally can. I wrote a book. Then I edited, scrapped part of it, rewrote other parts, edited some more, and then it was finally done. And someone published it. Just typing those words is downright surreal. I've purchased thousands and thousands of books, as both reader and buyer, but to hold one in my hand, with my name on the cover, is completely mind-blowing. Telling people where they can buy my book is even more bizarre.

So now what? Good question. Now comes the phase that strikes terror into the soul of every introvert: self-promotion. A thing I am not even a little bit good at. Sure, I can crow about it on social media and tout it here, as I am doing. But what I should do is talk to the buyers at local bookstores and ask if they'd consider putting my title in their local authors section. I might also ask if they'd consider doing a book signing event. As the very thought of that makes me break into a cold sweat, my brain shrieks, "Why would they do that?? No one would show up!!"

And then I think about how many local authors I set up events for at Tower and realize it's not about how many people show up, or even how many books I sell (but yes, I DO want to sell books) it's about believing in the story enough to read through countless drafts, slog through every last edit, turn over the final version, and say, "Here it is. Here's this thing I conjured from my imagination." So, dear readers, here it is...

Wonderous Stories

 

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"In the end, we'll all become stories." – Margaret Atwood

Humans are storytellers, a fact I've mentioned many times in this space. As English Professor, Jonathan Gottschall, explains in The Storytelling Animal, stories make us human. We love make-believe, shape everything from sporting events to criminal trials into narratives, and Gottschall theorizes that we use stories to prepare us for real life events. Is all the world really a stage? Maybe so.

What about your story? Would you live your life differently if you knew someone was going to write about you? What would you want as the lede in the story of your life? Thanks to social media, we’ve all gotten used to posting what I think of as our highlight reels (and ignore or pretend the outtakes didn't happen). What would you want captured by a skilled writer, or what would you submit as your greatest hits?

That likely depends on how you define success. Is it a great job with financial security? A beautiful house, or health for you and your family? How do you define happiness? Does what made you happy twenty years ago look the same or different today?

It's an odd thing for a writer to contemplate being written about (for me anyway). But asking myself the above questions, I can say how I define happiness has definitely shifted over the years. As far as my highlight reel, getting paid to write is certainly part of it. But what has become even more important is settling into a comfort in my own skin and truly being grateful for all I've been given.

Maybe it's as simple as leading with kindness and gratitude, and then you can be sure your story will be a good one.

Word Forward

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As I was thinking about this post, I was going to use yard work as a metaphor for writing, in that planning and thinking is all well and good, but nothing happens until you stop thinking and start doing. And that's where the metaphor fell flat, because that's true of literally everything. Duh.

I tend to spend much more time on this blog in the fall and winter, because there are fewer reasons to be outside, and my publishing schedule can be somewhat regular. Then spring comes, the outdoors beckon, the yard needs attention, and the schedule falls apart. I remember reading that Dilbert creator, Scott Adams, said he published on his blog "approximately whenever I feel like it."

I've always liked that...it works for me. Although it might be more accurate to say I publish when I have something to say. Self-promotion is a daunting task for an introvert, and social media a necessary evil. I started this blog to have a place to point potential freelance clients who might want to see for themselves that I can in fact string words together in a coherent fashion. But one can't launch a blog in a vacuum, so then comes the sharing on social platforms, and it starts feeling less and less like what I really want to do. It also takes away from what I think of as actual writing time.

I want to write stories, not write about myself. And yet...why do any of us write? Are we all writing about ourselves in some way because it all comes from our perspective? Is it possible to completely leave your personal point of view behind? Who knows? I don’t. What I do know is that I'll keep writing as long as my muse sees fit to appear. And that will be my way forward. 

Box Full of Letters

 

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"A story is a letter that the author writes to himself, to tell himself things that he would be unable to discover otherwise." - Carlos Ruiz Zafón

This quote caught my eye because Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind hooked me with the first beautifully-written sentence: "I still remember the day my father took me to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books for the first time." This literary mystery introduces Daniel, son of an antiquarian bookseller who finds solace in a "forgotten" book that leads him to discover one of Barcelona's darkest secrets. If you love books and mysteries, this one will captivate from the start and stay with you long after the final line.

Beyond admiring the author's work, I'm intrigued by the idea that in writing a story, the author is writing herself a letter. The more I've thought about this, the more I like the concept. I can sit down to write, and whether it's a short story, or a longer piece, I invariably take some detours and make turns I didn't plan on, and in fact didn't know were there until I was upon them. When rereading earlier-written parts of a longer piece, they can sometimes seem a bit unfamiliar. Perhaps that’s a result of the muse taking over.  

I exchange actual handwritten letters with a few friends. Writing those letters is like creating a story each time in that the pleasure is in the telling. And invariably, between answering questions posed in a letter I'm replying to and telling the recipient what I've been up to, I'll take a turn I didn't anticipate. Humans have always been storytellers, from the days of scrawling on cave walls. Turns out, we often tell those stories to ourselves.

Beyond Expectations

As a reader, you form a unique and intimate relationship with the author of a beloved book, especially one you fall in love with as a child. Norton Juster, author of the book of my childhood, The Phantom Tollbooth, passed away at the age of 91 on Monday. Learning that fact left me a little sad. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Juster, and yet I feel as though I lost a family friend.

Besides further cementing my lifelong love of reading, the adventures of Milo and Tock the watchdog ignited my imagination and first planted the idea that writing could be fun. What an incredible gift. I'm guessing other writers and voracious readers felt the same way: graduating from picture to chapter books was a big deal. We were really reading, and we felt ready to take on anything.

For those unfamiliar with this charming, enduring story, Milo is a little boy bored by everything, until the day he finds that a tollbooth has mysteriously appeared in his room. (For the record, this SoCal kid had no earthly idea what a tollbooth was). Because he has nothing better to do, Milo sets off to the Lands Beyond, meeting wonderfully eccentric characters along the way, including Tock, the watchdog who ticks, the Humbug, a witch named Faintly Macabre, and the warring Kings of Dictionopolis and Digitopolis.

The book was published in 1961, but not everyone in the publishing world embraced it, claiming the ideas were beyond children and the vocabulary was too difficult. Seriously? Juster's reply to such ridiculous criticism was to say, "There is no such thing as a difficult word. There are only words you don't know yet — the kind of liberating words that Milo encounters on his adventure." Well said. Rest in peace, Mr. Juster, and enjoy your journey to the Lands Beyond. 

Show Me the Way

 

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"Description begins in the writer's imagination, but should finish in the reader's." – Stephen King

"Show, don’t tell" is advice often given to aspiring writers. It certainly makes sense, as the writer wants to paint a picture in her readers' minds. But when you sit down to write, to tell your story, it's easy to fall into just that—telling.

What's an aspiring writer to do? Learn from the pros. I've mentioned Master Class in this space before, and am still of the opinion that it's worth every penny. I just finished David Baldacci's class on writing mysteries and thrillers, and am once again walking the line between being incredibly inspired and convinced I have no idea what I'm doing. At least I'm consistent.

I do take some solace in the fact that even my favorite author, Robert Crais, often faces a blank page with uncertainty. I recently reread an interview in which he said that every time he sits down to write a new book he thinks, "Can I pull this off?" And that's after numerous awards and more than twenty novels. Some days I wonder if I can pull off a blog post.

But back to showing. In his class, Baldacci walks would-be thriller writers through his outlining process—emphasizing that it's ever-evolving, creating compelling characters, crafting dialogue, writing action scenes, and much more. Good stuff. His readers definitely see his stories unfold. And while it's clear how hard he works at his craft, it's also clear how much he enjoys it, simply stating that "he can't not write."

So where does that leave me? Starting to play with an idea for a new story, coming up with new ways to summon my muse, and knowing I'm not alone when I think I can't possibly write another book. But I think I can. I'll show you.

In the Pocket

 

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I'm late to the party on this one, but I just found out about kangaroo words. According to dictionary.com, a kangaroo word is a "word that contains its own synonym, with the letters to spell that synonym already placed in the correct order." WHAT?? Maybe it's a side effect of it being month eleventy-five of the pandemic, but I think this is so cool!

The letters can be consecutive, like act within action, or spread out, like male in masculine. And to continue with the word play, those shorter synonyms inside of a kangaroo word are called joey words. Methinks Kanga and Roo would be pleased.

I'm a bit dismayed that I didn't learn about kangaroo words in grade school. Had I been made aware of this bit of language nerdiness around the time I discovered The Phantom Tollbooth, my eight-year-old head surely would have exploded (in a good way). Kangaroo words were popularized as a word game in the 1950s, in The American Magazine, and later appeared in Reader's Digest. Then, I suppose, they just faded away.

For you serious word geeks out there, a twin kangaroo contains two joey words, such as container, in which both tin and can appear. Want more? An anti-kangaroo (is it just me, or does that sound like a political party that would appear in a Monty Python sketch?) contains its own antonym, like overt in covert. And the finale? A grand kangaroo contains two joey words, one of which is in the "pouch" of the other, such as alone, which contains lone, which contains one. Mind. Blown.

Word play will always be fun for a certain segment of the population. I just hope that enough of us are passing that sense of play along to future generations. Wouldn't Kanga want us to?

W is for Where

 

Writing fiction is an interesting endeavor. The writer creates a world in which to tell her story, but it must have elements of truth—things that will be relatable to the reader. Walter Mosley said he writes fiction so he can "make stuff up." And yet, the Los Angeles of Easy Rawlins is vividly gritty and instantly recognizable. Done properly, the setting of a novel becomes a character. Sometimes, the principal character.   

So, how does a writer decide where to set a story, in cases where the setting isn't a given, like Raymond Chandler's LA? In the early stage of a story I recently finished, I considered going the Sue Grafton route and making up a town, like Santa Teresa, so it wouldn't matter what I put where. But as the story progressed, I realized I'd need to stop and map everything out or be at risk of continuity errors. Does my protagonist drive into or away from the morning sun on the way to work? How long does it take her to get to said job? How far away does her best friend live? Ultimately, I decided to set the story in Sacramento, and had Google maps open on a browser tab while I wrote.

Julie Smith, author of the Edgar Award-winning New Orleans Mourning, sees the fiction writer as a reporter when setting the scene, recording the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells, then taking readers on a tour. And, bearing in mind Elmore Leonard's rule about never opening a book with weather, the right detail, from nerve-jangling Santa Ana winds to the silence of snowfall, can place readers in the story like nothing else. Hello, Sacramento valley tule fog.

Sacramento may not have the romantic allure of San Francisco or the contrasting glitz and grit of Los Angeles, but there are plenty of features with which to anchor a story. Stately trees and homes in Land Park, the American River bike trail, little towns on the delta that seem stuck in time. If a writer takes care in setting the scene, readers will notice. And they'll hopefully want to come along for the ride.

Ten Things I Learned Last Year

 

Introvert that I am, my social habits didn't change all that much during the pandemic-driven quarantine last year. But forced solitude is a different matter, and I had to adjust to not seeing friends and family in person. I had to rely on phone calls (I've never been a big phone talker, even as a teenager), texts, and emails more than ever, and at times, just retreated from everything.

It would be easy to paint the entire year with a broad tar-filled brush, but there were a few unexpected bright spots, along with more time to just be with my own thoughts. So, in no particular order, here are ten things I learned last year:

1. My cats sleep at least 18 hours a day.

2. Never underestimate the power of a sky break.

3. My day job doesn't belong in my house, but I can make room for it without losing my muse. In fact, the two can complement each other.

4. I rediscovered the simple joy of writing a letter and anticipating a reply.

5. Forced solitude is different than chosen, but it's okay.

6. Social media is even more annoying during a pandemic.

7. Good lighting is your best friend on Zoom.

8. A 15-minute department phone call is good for at least 1500 steps.

9. "If not now, when?" is a very powerful question.

10. Never underestimate the power of going for a drive and listening to music.

This year didn't begin well, prompting some to wonder if it's the thirteenth month of 2020. When will things begin to look up? No one knows, but I do know that I want to respond to chaos differently this year. And I don't want to forget last year, because I want to continue to learn from it. I want to continue to practice bending without breaking, and I want to feel lighter. I can't change what's going on around me, and in the world at large, but I can change how I react.     

    

A New Year’s Restart

 

Jokes about rebooting aside, it does feel as though we need a great restart after the end of this exceedingly long, exhausting year. And while I don't expect to begin 2021 with any less snarkiness (sorry—not sorry), there are some things I'd like to leave behind, like worrying about that which is completely out of my control and the heavy weariness that came with fearing the unknown.

I'm not in the habit of making New Year's resolutions, but I do think about setting intentions, so I'll consider this a mental reset and focus on what was good about this year, and what I'd like to do more of in 2021.

Write more letters

What started with buying stamps to support the Post Office turned into sending postcards and writing actual letters, reconnecting with old friends, and rediscovering the simple joy of putting pen to paper.

Go for more walks

I was in the habit of walking with friends at work, but after my office closed and I started working at home, I remembered how nice it is just to walk around my neighborhood or take an evening stroll by the river.

Plan for a brighter future

It was far too easy to focus on what we couldn't do this year, and how much we missed out on. I once worked with a woman who used to say that hunger is the best sauce. Anticipation can indeed be delicious, so I'll focus on how great it will be to see my extended family (and meet my new great nieces!), visit with friends, and see live music. 

So the answer to the query, "have you tried turning it off and on again?" is not yet, but I'm about to.

Mastering Your Craft

 

                                                                  

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So the coronavirus is surging, my county is under a stay-at-home order, it finally feels winter-ish, and it's even raining today...what better time to take advantage of my Master Class subscription? Full disclosure: I'm not affiliated in any way, nor being paid, this is just an honest plug. Master Class is well worth the price. From Arts & Entertainment to Wellness, there's something for just about everyone.

I'm currently in the middle of Aaron Sorkin's screenwriting class, which meshes nicely with watching The Newsroom (HBO, 2012-2014). I don't see myself writing a screenplay, but at the nuts-and-bolts level, writing is writing, and in my opinion, Sorkin is brilliant. An added bonus is that he uses scenes from The West Wing, A Few Good Men, and Steve Jobs to illustrate points.

I've completed Malcom Gladwell's writing class, Margaret Atwood's Creative Writing, David Mamet's Dramatic Writing, and Neil Gaiman's Art of Storytelling. Next up, Walter Mosley's Fiction and Storytelling. Each time I watch a class. I'm left equally inspired and wondering if I know what the hell I'm doing. And according to the pros, that's as it should be. Writing is work, and it's not supposed to be easy. Glad I've got that part down...

Besides the pure enjoyment of hearing those who are successful talk about how they approach their craft, it's gratifying to know that even the pros often face a blank screen and blinking cursor and think they've written every word they know and are out of ideas. But they keep going.

Will I ever "master" writing? Most likely not, but that's hardly the point. I won't stop trying.

For the Record

 

Like most voracious readers, I've devoured my share of books this year. I got antsy like everyone, as the lockdown continued, but I have to admit my social calendar didn't change all that much. Like any introvert, when staying home with a good book is the right thing to do, I'll call it a win.

I did notice my innate reflex was to reach for entertaining fiction almost exclusively, as I haven't had the attention span or energy for anything much heavier. So I was delighted to find not only a fourth, but a fifth volume in a series by British author, Andrew Cartmel, who pens novels featuring a self-described vinyl detective. Besides being well-written, the books check several boxes for me: they're fun and clever, set in England, and feature music and cat lovers.

I'm often of two minds when I'm reading fiction that really captivates. I want to drink it all in and enjoy, but I also want to study and analyze everything from the style to the characters. How do you do all of that so well?! I'm especially interested in how authors keep recurring characters fresh and interesting over the course of several books. One of the best, in my opinion, is Robert Crais, who has now written eighteen novels featuring his signature characters, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.

Granted Mr. Cartmel had an advantage with me from the beginning, as his vinyl detective could theoretically be any number of guys I worked with at Tower. But beyond that, Cartmel has created a compelling, likeable character, and other than his hobby-turned-occupation of finding rare records, and a business card reading, "Vinyl Detective," we know very little about him. Music and cat lover, coffee snob...and that's about it. We don't know what he looks like, or even his name. But as readers discover the colorful characters who hang out with our detective, and the adventures that ensue, they'll also discover storytelling at its finest. Cartmel and his nameless detective are in the groove...

Please Mr. Postman – Putting Pen to Paper to Keep in Touch

 

                                            Photo credit: Pixabay, via Pexels

We've all had to adjust our social habits and find new ways of keeping in touch with friends and family this year. And as winter approaches and it's becoming clear that normal is still off the table and the pandemic is going to continue to dictate our behavior through the last few weeks of the year, staying in touch is even more important.

Back in the spring, about a month or so into the shelter-in-place order, I bought some vintage-design postcards, thinking it would be fun to send them to friends as an alternative to a social media ping. (It also became a way to support the post office, but that's another story). It was an enjoyable distraction while I got used to working from home and began to realize just how different this year would be.

An interesting thing happened the more postcards I sent. I stopped thinking of them as an analog answer to a Facebook post, and started thinking about crafting an actual message within the tiny space provided on one half of a postcard. Mark Twain is credited with saying he didn't have time to write a short letter so he wrote a long one. I get that, and I like it. The less space you have, the more important each word becomes. And physically writing a message feels so much more personal than typing a few words on a screen.

So I'm going to keep at it. If you'd like to hear from me this way, text or PM me your address. I'll put pen to paper and let you know what's going on with me. Maybe some of you will even write back.