Llamentations

It is rather wet and muddy in my world these days. Odd fronts have made their way all the way down to South Texas, clashing with the tropical moisture and causing some rather brilliant storms. It is summer. I'm accustomed to sizzling hot weekends at the beach and cloudless blue skies, but instead the skies stay overcast. The good news is that the entire State of Texas is no longer in a drought - the first time in over a decade. Also, the lakes in Texas are all full. But there is the flooding and the mud and the gray skies. Perfect writing weather.

Kindred has been accepted for publication for the RHF Chronicles. The historical article and I may be a featured author in this quarterly release. If not this one, then the editor asked for a detailed biography for the next issue. This means I have been invited to write more articles for the publication.

In the meantime, I would like to give a heads-up for fellow writers and all Dreamers out there. Cezanne's Carrot is hosting a writing contest for their Winter Solstice issue. The theme is 'Return to the Light'. They look for positive, enlightening stories and featured my story Blue Period for the Autumnal Equinox edition last year. Does this topic inspire you? If it does, start clicking away at those keyboards.

Stole this from Domy:

(pictured above are my nephews Luke and Jess - chillin' with some friends on a hot southwest Texas day)

Some traditions are not the product of decades. Some just happen. Like Happy Wednesday.

Before Happy Wednesday was a tradition in my family, there was an elderly man who came to the courthouse where I worked back the 80's. He was somber on Mondays and Tuesdays, kind of hard to engage in a conversation. But on Wednesdays he usually smiled and there was an extra jaunt in his step and he told me (and everyone else who would listen) about Over the Hump Day - only two more days until the weekend.

The joy in his face when Wednesday rolled around was something I looked forward to and in many ways still carry with me.

More recently, my god-daughter, Miranda wanted a party. She wanted cake and balloons and flowers. We explained to her that it was not her birthday and it was not a special occasion, so we couldn't have cake, flowers and balloons. She did not understand. And frankly, neither did I when I tried to explain that it was just an ordinary day -- nothing that merited such festive activities. Why not? The innocent question haunted me. Well indeed, why not? But how could I throw a party and not confuse everyone? It was just a Wednesday after all. Yet, off to the store I went. I bought all the stuff to make a cake. I bought some brightly colored balloons and tied them to the backs of the chairs. We picked out pretty carnations and put them in a vase. We invited friends, neighbors and family members to come by the house for cake also. And thus, Happy Wednesday was born, because we shouldn't forget to celebrate every moment we can. So I wish everyone who reads this a Happy Wednesday! And a Happy Thursday. And a Happy Friday . . . etc. . .

This is where I was several weeks ago. During that time, I took time for some serious soul-searching. I have learned about love, desire, tenderness, beauty and simplicity. I also experienced the pain of self-illusion, the breaking down of walls I've carefully constructed over the decades and some new truths about myself. And I survived it all.

For the past two days, I've been busy putting out fires others have created. It is difficult to walk in the fire when others are inflammatory, disrespectful and hurtful to others. The phrase, "Fu*k it, we don't need them," may seem like a truth to those who utter the words so carelessly. They do not realize yet, that we all need each other and isolationist behavior usually brings more bitterness, lonliness and pain. So, I've walked through this burning rage others ignited and came out in tact, with no burns or scorch marks. I can breathe easier, knowing that I did what I could.  But someday, the hatred needs to cease.  It is that understanding that helps me to breathe easier and know peace throughout my days. 

"When the trees thinned out and the dust blew, I asked my mother, why we were so despised to have to leave a place of beauty and come to a place where we could not breathe? She told me not to use the word, for hatred is not our family way. And we kept walking.” – Tears of a Thousand Troubles, cghoelscher, 2007.

Tonight the full flower moon will rise.  Will some stop to notice?  To my friend, Robin whose birthday is today -- do you feel extra special that your day will close with the this amazing event?  Actually, I hope you feel special everyday.

So today I'm busy clearing a path.  I'm clearing clutter from my desk, from my car, from my house and from my mind.  By letting go of the things I've accumulated (and no longer need), I'm making space for new memories, new thoughts and new experiences.  I'm ready for that now.  

One might say it is a form of 'reinventing' oneself, but I don't think so.  I think it is merely shedding layers and finding something that I've lost or forgotten.  With each item, I question myself, "Is this important to me?"  If it is not, I can discard it.  I'm also realizing that things I once thought were important are not so significant to me anymore.  

Life is a journey.  Pack lightly.  

After a full day of family activities yesterday, I still fulfilled my commitment to finishing up my three act play - Risk Takers and Merry Makers. I was up until midnight proofing and making sure the manuscript was neat. Then I signed on the the Without-A box site and registered my project. I still have a few questions on how stage play manuscripts are submitted to the various festivals, but hopefully by the end of the day I will have the answers I need and will be able to proceed with submitting the play.

I wish I would have kept a log of the actual hours I have poured into this labour of love. It began as a birthday present for my friend Jane who turned 70 this year and celebrated with a new tatoo on her tailbone! She is an inspiration. I also believe that there is an emerging market for "senior" literature. I have been blessed to run around with a group of girls who are twenty and thirty years my senior, but who embrace life's adventures and handle life's curve balls with grace. They have been through the hard times. They have lost loved ones and friends. They have struggled through financial worries and insecurities, yet they have emerged secure in who they are and with a sense of well-being which I envy. And best of all, they do not keep their secrets all to themselves! They share generously, allowing those of us who are stuck in our own mess at the moment to see what we can become if we just have faith in ourselves and have a few good friends. They do have fun and I always enjoy the times we get together for an adventure or two.

So now the play evolved. At first, I just wanted to capture a typical evening of friendship -- like a time capsule or a word photograph so that the evening would be made immortal. But, while scratching down the scenes, I realized these women and their experiences which spoke to me would also reach out and speak to audiences everywhere. So, I decided to elaborate on the situations, the events, the frustrations, the dreams, the goals and finally the resolve these women have.

After many months of laboring over the stage play -- and I knew from the beginning it had to be a stage play, because of our love for the community playhouses--I've finally finished a project which I feel honorably represents the girls (ages 55-70).

I cannot tell you how good I feel about the project and how deeply honored that the women entrusted me to do this. Now, I only hope that I've gotten it right. That the story will transcend generations and gender and speak to people everywhere.

Merrymakers everywhere: Unite! Flutter the colorful feather fans as a banner for everyone to take a moment to be frivolous, to be colorful and most of all, to live brilliantly as often as possible!

Okay, now back to work on the submission process.


01.27.07 Act One (Revised) 3,951 words
01.27.01 Act Two (Revised) 3,108 words
01.27.07 Act Three (Revised) 3,074 words

Total word count 10,133 words

+1,103 new words

Today was a special day. My Aunt and good friend came from out of town and I hosted a special brunch for them. I cooked up a storm and I truly enjoyed seeing them, even if it was only for a few hours.

On a positive note, I received a rather encouraging response to a query I had sent to Dream River Press. I had taken my research from an Arctic fable and turned it into a children's book format. One of the editors wrote me back and said that he was not in the market for children's book at the present time, but he remarked that the story was magical and he said he would get back to me if we would be able to proceed in any way. His comments on my story were very encouraging. I am truly delighted that the story drew such a favorable impression from someone in the publishing business.

For the better part of this day, my bottom has been glued to my office chair. Risk Takers and Merry Makers is complete. Finally. I have finished revising and believe that the play is in the best form possible. I'm going to lay it aside for a couple of days and then proofread once more. Then I am going to take the plunge and submit it to the Moondance Festival. I still need to complete the logline and the synopsis, and that is going to be a challenge, because it represents the entire work. It needs to entice people in the industry to read the script. I'm very much aware that a lot of attention must be paid in this detail of the submission process.

I would like to thank the volunteers who read the play for me. You know who you are and your feedback was a great help. I revised the play quite a bit after that evening and feel that the dialogue flows much better and the elements are firmly in place.

Happy Writing everyone and have a truly brilliant weekend.

After more than a week of dreary cold weather, the bright Sun has come back. It is a beautiful morning, filled with potential. I brewed a cup of Empress Gray tea and walked outside to see all of the seeds that I've planted popping up, stretching in the lovely warmth.

I have company coming tomorrow, so I need to make this day a major work day, since I will not be able to work much tomorrow.

Priority today: Merry Makers. I want to get it sent off to Moondance next week. I won't send it off until I know it is ready, but I'm eager to see the logline and synopsis posted on the Moondance Festival site. I'm edging out of my comfort zone and submitting my work to a professional and truly public venue. So, it is a big deal for me. Especially when I go to Moondance and network with people who are dedicated to their careers as writers, producers, actors and directors. I feel networking is the key in almost every profession.

I'm also researching another avenue for Wings of the Hawk. I was given the name of a reputable e-book publisher that a colleague of mine used and seems very happy with. I will need to do some research on them though. It is a writer's reponsibility to do their homework before contacting companies.

So, here's to another day.

Happy Writing Everyone.

the weather is gray and dreary, and my nose is red from blowing my nose. But I was able to do a little work today. I dusted off a very old piece that I was working on entitled The Reindeer Spirit and polished it. Then I took the plunge and submitted it to a new publisher called Dreamriver who is accepting foreign fables, environment, health, spirituality type of material for all ages. This is an article that I had written in creative writing 101 at the University and I've turned it into a picturebook format because I believe the story has a universal theme of generosity.

I had to adapt the Arctic tale a bit because in the original tale, man does not learn his lesson and the Reindeer Spirit kills him. But in my story, the once wealthy man learns his lesson and all of the members of the community benefit.

So, I have six submissions out in January and a request to write a 1,000 - 1,400 word non-fiction article on the Civil War. So, I do not have time for red noses (even if they aren't on reindeer) or dreary, cold weather. I have to keep up with the work and drink lots of green tea.

Reindeer Spirit +1,709 words

My weekend in Spicewood filled me with inspiration and renewed energy. I do not think, however, that one has to drive four hours and spend an entire weekend away from the desk to experience this. I do believe that there are times when writers need to step away from the desk and go somewhere - a favorite coffeeshop, a park, or take a walk to get back in tune with our muse. Sometimes the muse realizes that we are in a rut -- that the same routines, scenery and even our postures as we sit in front of the glowing screens can hinder our thoughts and creative process. I believe that we need to step away, even if it is only for a half an hour or hour.

With this in mind, I've had my little adventure. This week's goal is to revise and polish Merrymakers and send it off to Moondance. There are some scenes that need quite a bit of revision and I'm thinking of scaling down the cast of characters to make it more budget friendly for community productions. It may not sound like much, but it is quite a bit of work, so I should begin right away -- while I'm focused.



Risk Takers and Merry Makers
Beginning word count: 9,030 words