If you are looking for a good mother's day gift, consider Love Lives Here, by Maria Goff. Love Lives Here is a sweet and encouraging read - sort of like a portable retreat. Throughout the crazy busy of the last few weeks, the book has helped keep me at least partially sane. What appealed to me: I love the … Continue reading Love Lives Here, by Maria Goff
Good writing, like a favorite pair of jeans
I think that a person's favorite kind writing is like a favorite pair of jeans. Everyone has a different style. Anyway, I've been trying to determine what I think makes for awesome writing so that I can mimic it. {BTW, do you have book recommendations? I'm especially looking for 3rd person POV. Probably YA. Probably fantasy. … Continue reading Good writing, like a favorite pair of jeans
Camp NaNoWriMo
Today, I accomplished my goal of writing 50,000 words for Camp NaNoWriMo! Things didn't go as planned: I'd started Camp NaNoWriMo with a fresh new outline of Mirror of Sparrows, and I envisioned myself writing a complete first draft based on that outline. What a convenient vision! About half way through, I realized that my outline had … Continue reading Camp NaNoWriMo
Starbucks, Kam Shopping Center, on a Saturday morning
6:15 am: An old man walks through the parking lot absentmindedly. A young man almost runs him over while backing up his white, shiny BMW. Nobody is hurt. 6:38 am: Don't know if she's his girlfriend or his wife, but she yells at him for a long time. He listens, maybe? He hardly says a word. They head out. He acts like she doesn't matter - checking … Continue reading Starbucks, Kam Shopping Center, on a Saturday morning
Fidget Spinners
While I realize that fidgeting is a big help for students with ADD/ADHD, fidget spinners are invading my classroom and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Are they helping students to focus, or causing a distraction? Initially I thought the former, but now, I'm not so sure. The main reason is this: fidget spinners are … Continue reading Fidget Spinners
Logan
After unsuccessfully trying to see Logan three times, at long last the fourth try worked out. The persistence was worth it. Besides the bloodiness and the swearing (a lot of it), I loved the movie. Here are my thoughts on the story (from irritating to good): Plot: the plot was pretty predictable, but met my expectations … Continue reading Logan
When your goals are greater than your capacity
This is what scenes in a novel consist of: goals that are beyond the capacity of the character. The character wants something, a major obstacle stands in the way, the character attempts to overcome. Life can be the same way: we want something, obstacles are in the way, we attempt to overcome obstacles. But sometimes the obstacles … Continue reading When your goals are greater than your capacity
How to figure out what your dream is…
After a previous video I made, three benefits to pursuing your dream, several people asked, "what if you don't have a dream?" and "how can you figure out what your dream is?" Here are some thoughts I have on those questions: 1) Maybe you don't have your full dream or vision, but do you have … Continue reading How to figure out what your dream is…
Christian Bale, Kristen Stewart, Joaquin Phoenix, and Colin Firth?
Some writing advice blogs suggest finding picture of what you think your characters look like; therefore, I've been having a little bit of fun with this.
Why I like to write in the morning, a poem
I like to write in the morning, before reality - sets in. I like to write in the morning, before I recall what - logically, probably, certainly - ain't happenin' I like to write in the morning, when they day is - still untouched. Then, anything is possible, And any dream's attainable. I like to write … Continue reading Why I like to write in the morning, a poem
Vanessa Fowler 