Tag Archives: writing

Try Something New

19 Feb

Via Pinterest by weheartit.com

I’ve been commissioned to try something new and then write an article about my experience with this new thing.

Easy, right?

Well, not so much.

It’s the “new thing” that can get tricky.

via Pinterest by quickmeme.com

I have an idea.  I’ve even started work on it, but I thought I should broaden my horizons.  Just in case.  You know?  I’d hate for my “one thing” to turn into a total flop.  Then all I’ll have to write about is a one-flop failure.  No fun!

So here’s where you come in.

I’m asking you nicely.

Please suggest something “new” for me to learn to do.

If your suggestion makes the cut, I will…I’m not sure yet, but you can at least know you’ve saved a girl from failure.  That’s enough reward, isn’t it?

I love you guys.  Be kind with your suggestions.

Throwing Red & Pink M&M’s Your Way

1 Feb

Hey Peeps!

Ok, I never say peeps, but I have marshmallow chicks on the mind.  I am dieting you know.

Let’s kick this month of love off the right way, with Romance on a Budget.  That’s what I’m talking about today at An Army of Ermas.

Come visit me and I promise you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll love…ok, so maybe you’ll just snicker, but it’s still worth a click over.

Now here’s where the favor comes in…

Do you ever get sick of me asking for favors?

Of course you do, but this is just one more.  I promise!

*fingers and toes crossed*

When you visit me at the Ermas site, please leave a comment over there and not on my blog.  Well, you can leave two comments if you wish.  I do enjoy some comment love, but it’s not necessary.  The only way to know if a certain article is well received or not is to to judge it based on comments.  That gets confusing if half the comments are here and half there.

I hope you understand.

Now go visit An Army of Ermas. :-)

Throwing red & pink m&m’s your way,

American Print Media Obsessed

26 Jan

I have no right to be a critic.  I am under skilled and over (or is that overly?) opinionated; however, my love for print media sometimes leaves me longing.

America obsesses with cutting fat and self-help.  Don’t worry ladies, I’m not even hinting at cutting out chocolate and potato chips.  I’m talking about fat in writing.

I’ve sat through all the college classes that taught me to cut unnecessary words (obviously I pay no mind to those rules) and eliminate ‘fat’ from our articles.  Heaven forbid our story is a size 14 instead of a size 4.

Most editors would die of fright if they were assigned my blog or yours.  They like neat little concise gifts of journalism in 500 words or less.

We’re losing something.  As we cut fat, slivers of meat follow.  Suddenly our writing is skin and bones, absolutely boring to look at and tiring to read.

Magazines are filled with countless self-help articles.

How My Woodstove Ruined My Nails in 300 Words

Help Johnny Overcome His Fear of The Toilet in 5 Flushes

10 Ways to Say I Love You, but I Hate Your Dog

Be Bikini Ready in Time for Your Grave

Don’t even tell me you only read Christian literature, because it’s just as bad.

Knowing God’s Will in Ninety Days

7 Ways to Raise Kids Who Will Attend Church

12 Envelopes to Financial Freedom

How To Masquerade as a Proverbs 31 Woman in 31 Days

We’re obsessed with these heartless, but neatly wrapped articles that help us do everything from birth a baby in a bathtub to walk the streets of gold in stilettos.

Is anyone else tired of reading this gibberish?

Maybe it’s just me.  I kind of long for the days when slighty wordy short stories, written by aspiring writers, appeared in monthly magazines.  I’d like for people to stop fixing me and start entertaining me with words, or challenging my depth of knowledge without planning my next 10, 30, or 90 days.

I honestly do not think most magazines are worth the $4.95 we are asked to pay for them.

Don’t even get me started on newspapers!

I’m always amazed when I read an article, glom all kinds of superficial facts and have no idea what is really going on or why the article was written in the first place.

Most of our print news media is self-help or tabloid, and I include CNN in that tabloid lot.  Take a gander at the headlines.

Come to think of it, I should have written this article in the format of -

8 Ways The Media Failed Me and My Fat

Alas, my rant is over in less than 500 words.  My editor will be pleased.

Thoughts and comments welcome, as long as they are in 3 Easy Steps or Less. ;-)

NaNoWriMo: 50,000 in November

2 Nov

I jumped write (pun intended) in and joined over 200,000 other writers world-wide for  NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month.  The point of NaNoWriMo is to write a 50,000 word novel in one month, November.

It almost seems like an impossible task, but I think that’s what will keep me motivated for the entire month.  It’s like the greatest brain challenge I’ve had in long time.  This project is giving me a purpose for November greater than simply finishing every last piece of Halloween candy.

The best part is that by December first, I’ll have a novel written.  Oh, now I know there will be re-writes and all that, but I’m choosing to live optimistically, at least for a month.

Can you imagine how great writing The End will feel?

And it will only take 30 days to get there!

You know the start of my story.  I’ve already let you read the first few pages.  I choose to hope that you’ll finish reading this story holding a paperback book with my name on the cover.

I’ll probably be a pretty lame blogger over the next month, but please understand, it’s for a good cause.  It’s so I can say, I’ve written a novel.

Wanna join?  It’s not too late.  I only made the decision yesterday and I already have 6,521 words.

Come play.

Fiction Friday – Picture This

26 Aug

“For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.”  ~ Judy Garland

 Chapter 4

 Tony sat on a park bench, far enough away not to get in the way, but close enough to see the curve of Lacy’s bottom in her designer jeans.  This isn’t the Lacy I know, but I sure do like her, he thought.

Lacy became another woman when she had her camera in hand.  Usually shy and quiet, she directed the three boys in active play, running after them and capturing spontaneous fun with click after click of her camera.  She must have taken two hundred pictures and they’d only been at the park for twenty minutes.  A middle-aged couple, her with her fancy clothes and he with his golf shirt, stood nearby.  They were at least twelve or thirteen years older than Tony, but you wouldn’t know it by their faces.

“Maybe it’s all the child energy surrounding them.”  Tony muttered, running a hand through his thick curls.

There were days when he already felt ready for retirement, especially this last week.  He thought moving from fighting fires to driving the emergency truck would give him a little break, but things were busy lately.  Last week he assisted in treating and transporting three heart-attack patients and Mrs. Horrender.

Stretching his legs out in front of him, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes.  Sleeping on the couch left him with knotty muscles and droopy eyes, but he’d do just about anything to be close to Lacy.

An hour or so later, Tony sensed rather than heard Lacy plop down on the bench next to him.  He lifted his head, running a calloused hand over his face.

“Looks like you may have gotten a bit too much sun.”

“Felt good.  I don’t see nearly enough sun in the north country.  No wonder you like it down here.”

Lacy leaned back, sighing contentedly.  Finishing a photo shoot always calmed her, focused her thoughts, and quieted her memories.

“You done with those pictures of yours?”

“For now.  I’ve still got a couple of hours work at home, uploading and tweaking the pictures in Photoshop.  I can’t settle for good enough when it comes to my pictures.  I feel like I owe the families more than that.  I want them to look their best.  More importantly I hope every one of my customers loves their pictures.”

“That’s why you’re so good at what you do.”  Tony said.  “How’d you get into photography anyway?”

————————————————

I’d love for you to grab the Fiction Friday button and link your fiction up with mine.

Just click on the green Mister Linky logo and then add your specific URL.

This is designed as a time to encourage writer, wanna-be writers, and anyone who wants to take on a little challenge.

Go visit the others who link and be generous with your comments.

It’s always interesting to see your writing through someone else’s eyes.

Fiction Friday with The Domestic Fringe

Cannot wait to read your work!

They are watching me! ~Fringe Vanilla Giveaway.

11 Aug

Today I’m writing with Mama’s Losin’ It.  Here’s my prompt.

The Police said it best when they said, “Every breath you take/And every move you make/Every bond you break, every step you take/I’ll be watching you”. Write about a time you believed someone was watching you.

My life has been a little crazy lately – crazier than usual and that’s saying a lot.  It’s the police.  They are watching me and my family too.  I know I look guilty, but things are getting a little creepy.

It all began early one morning, before the mist lifted over the mountaintops.  I rolled out of bed and into the shower.  Twenty minutes and zero cups of coffee later I had two children corralled in my car.  We were headed for a routine trip to the hospital where an always happy and bouncy nurse would give us our allergy shots.  The hospital is a block and a half from my home. There’s no time to break any laws.

Our suspect is said to wear a disguise...

A police officer in a squad car followed me into the parking lot and circled.  I felt like prey.  He threw his vehicle in park and watched me as I ushered my kids across the street and into the hospital.  When I glanced over my shoulder, he was looking in the car.

Fast forward a few weeks…

My family spent a Saturday afternoon barbecuing with friends.  Their town had fireworks that night and their backyard happened to have front row seats.  After the last sparkle of colored light faded into the dark sky, we packed up and headed home, only the police were blocking traffic.  They pulled us out of the line of cars and guided us to a nearby parking lot.

I thought the worst.

My husband’s outstanding warrant was finally coming due.

No, not really.  I am KIDDING peoples!

It was a mistake.  They didn’t really want us.

We breathed a sigh of relief and headed home.

A week later I sent my daughter outside with a plastic grocery bag and told her to rid the backseat of all crumbs, wrappers, empty Gatorade bottles and dirty napkins.  I should have given her a contractor bag.

The police came and questioned her.  They asked what she was doing, if she had a brother, where she lived, if our neighbors were home.  She was a bit shaken.  I’m certain she had visions of handcuffs and trips to the county jail.

So when the police said,  “Every breath you take/And every move you make/Every bond you break, every step you take/I’ll be watching you”, they were talking about me.

I am innocent I tell ya.  I am!

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In other news…

The Fringe Shop is open for business.  Yippee!!!

You can purchase your very own bottle of Fringe Vanilla by visiting my Etsy shop.  There’s a link in the top left hand corner of my sidebar or you can click HERE.

Currently I am only shipping in the US.  I am trying to find a way to economically ship to Canada.  If you have any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.  I love you my Canadian friends and I don’t want to leave you out of the fun.  I will find a way, you have my word.

(UPDATE: Fixed the shipping problem and Fringe Vanilla is now being shipped to Canada!  Visit my Etsy shop to place your order.)

If you order after Sunday, August 14th, I will not be able to ship your vanilla until Tuesday, August 23rd.  We’ll be out of town.

Because we are going away, I won’t be blogging for a little while, but you know I’ll share the best of the best when I return.  Our trip is business pleasurable.  You’ve heard of business casual?  This is similar in a totally different way.  If you think of it, please say a prayer for safe travel and I’ll see you when I return.

Now I have an itty-bitty ginormous favor to ask…

Since I’m trying to spread the word about my Fringe Vanilla, would you be kind enough to click one of the buttons below and share this on Facebook, Twitter, or wherever you socialize online?

Thank you SO very much!  You guys and girls are the best.  My heart is smiling. :-)

———————————————————-

GIVEAWAY

I will be gifting one 4 oz. bottle of Fringe Vanilla.  It is 100% Pure Vanilla Extract made from 100% Certified Organic Vanilla Beans.

All you have to do is leave a comment and I’ll pick a winner when I return on the 23rd. 

You may leave an additional comment for visiting my Etsy shop, sharing on Facebook, and Tweeting.

And yes, I’ll ship this one Canada too. ;-)

Lots of love,

An Army of Ermas Day

9 Aug

Do you know what you call those who use towels and never wash them, eat meals and never do the dishes, sit in rooms they never clean, and are entertained till they drop? If you have just answered, “A house guest,” you’re wrong because I have just described my kids.
Erma Bombeck

Last Christmas a friend and fellow blogger, Janna of Something She Wrote, alerted me to a contest over at An Army of Ermas.  I submitted a ridiculous story about splurging for ugly at Christmas and my Christmas trees always being skinnier than I am.  By some Christmas miracle, I won the chance to become an Erma.

I definitely feel like a freshman wanna-be writer in a crown of accomplished seniors, but being an Erma is a blast.  Everyone rallies with kind words and funny comebacks, making me feel right at home.

No one is more supportive and encouraging than our editor Stacey Graham.  She is an amazing woman, mom, and author.  She gets more work done at home with her kids running around than just about any other woman I know.  I both admire her and want to learn from her.

One thing I appreciate about Stacey is her sense of humor.  I guess that’s why she’s the mother of all Ermas.  She has a knack for being lighthearted even when she has to correct you.

So on this An Army of Ermas Day, I want to say a big Thank You to Stacey for keeping a smile on our faces and humor in our hearts.

Thanks Stacey!  We appreciate all your hard work.

———————————————————————

When I began writing this blog, I never dreamed I’d have the honor to be named among the Ermas.  I simply wrote to tell my story.  This is a post from my first month blogging…

Last night I dreamed that I was riding a bicycle in a triathlon. I awoke so excited! What a breakthrough!

This means that since I’ve begun exercising in my subconscious, it’s only a matter of time before my innate desire for athletics permeates my conscience.

Things are looking up!

I’ll have to check my calves and see if they’re subconsciously tightening.  While I’m talking fitness…Have you heard of the “Fit-Flop?”  I hadn’t until yesterday when a woman walking her black lab stopped me and asked to see my flip-flops.

Imagine my surprise.

After all I wasn’t wearing my fancy, canary yellow flip-flops. I was wearing my generic rubber, pink Speedo flip-flops. Now these aren’t as grungy as the foam flat flip-flops (the kind that are about as thick as a slice of cheese), but they’re not in the sandal category either (not like my canary yellow flip-flops).  They are, however, quite sporty and after all the exercise I’ve getting in my sleep, it was appropriate I wear them yesterday.

When somebody asks to see my shoes, of course I oblige them.  I lifted up my pants leg (jeans are always too long on me and I despise hemming) and wished I didn’t have dirt between my toes already. It was still too early in the day for toe dirt.

Disappointedly this dog walker says, “Oh, they’re only Speedos.”

Suddenly I’m flashed back to middle school when I wore fake Keds…the kind you bought in the grocery store for a few bucks.  Such sadness.

She goes on to say, “I thought they were FIT-FLOPS”.

Now she’s talking my language.

It seems these fit-flops provide extra exercise while performing normal activities such as walking through the grocery store.  I have to own a pair!  Maybe two.  Why with a triathlon workout by night and fit-flops by day, I’ll be twenty pounds thinner and in a bikini before the snow flies.

—————————————————————————

Have you ever read Erma Bombeck?

What’s your favorite thing she wrote?

P.S.  I still don’t have a pair of Fit-Flops.

P.P.S.  I still wish I had a pair of Fit-Flops.

P.P.P.S.  I’m still only exercising in my dreams.

I’m Torn Between Hate & Love

29 Jul

Not to stray from today’s post before I’ve even begun writing it, but last Sunday my daughter dressed her sock monkey and took her to church.

It’s kinda, sorta funny and yet a little bizzare all at the same time.

************

At this moment in my life, I’m hating Fiction Friday and it was my idea.

That’s pathetic, but I cannot help it.  I’ve written about 200 words since the last Fiction Friday, but that’s it.  I should be posting a portion of Chapter 4 today, only I’m not so into it.  I have it written – chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6, chapter 7 – all done.  I’m working on chapter 8 now.  I use the term ‘working’ very loosely.

I just don’t know if I want to share anymore of this book.  It’s such a tragic story, I feel like I’m being depressing on my own blog.  I don’t want to be a downer, you know?

In writing this book, I’m drawing from all my experience in dealing with women and their issues.  It’s the worst of everything tumbled from my fingertips into a few characters.  I do hope my main character Lacy will show that she can overcome all the sins committed against her and live a happy life, free from the bind of evil, but yet I hesitate.

Maybe this book should be more meaningful, have a greater purpose and all that noble stuff.  Maybe it’s just a lame first attempt at fiction.  I’m not sure.

So it sits.

Maybe I’m just over thinking things.  I’m a professional at that.

Meanwhile I am in all out overflowing love for a plant.  Her name is Roxanne.

Yes, I named my plant.  Do you find that unusual?

I spent a whopping $20 on this jewel of a plant last summer.  When I brought her home, she was thick with branches and dotted with pink and purple blooms.  Her beauty drew me from the lumber section of Home Depot, all the way outdoors to the Garden center.  I went googly-eyed in love.

So I brought her home where she promptly dropped all of the blossoms on my living room floor.  Shocked by her nerve, I put her outside on the porch; however, her delicate leaves and dainty branches broke and splintered to the ground.

I wept bitter tears.

Not really, but I did regret wasting twenty bucks.

Roxanne lived naked and sickly in my living room this past winter.  Many questioned my choice of dead plant decor, but I told FringeKid to say nice things to her and I hoped.

This spring, little green buds formed on her stick branches, so I set her outside in the sun.

Today I am proud to show off her buds and blooms.  I couldn’t be more pleased with my Roxanne.  She’s slowly returning to her former grandeur, giving myself and the world hope that we can once again bloom beautiful.

We sit on the cusp of this weekend and we have a choice – give up on beauty or sit in the sunshine till we bloom.  I am going to sit in the sun (with sunscreen of course).

Yes, I know that last paragraph made absolutely no sense because we are not plants, but it sounded good in my head.  That shows you the state of my brain.

Happy Friday friends!

If you were more productive than I, please join Fiction Friday and leave your link.  Please, thank you, and you’re welcome.

Now be truthful, have you ever named a plant?  And do your children dress up stuffed animals for church?  Or is my kid the only odd duck?

Fiction Friday, 10th Edition – It’s all I’ve got

15 Jul

I didn’t think this was good enough to show you last week and sadly, I haven’t changed one little word in it all week.  I haven’t even read over it.  So, forgive me for giving you the rough and undone.  It’s all I’ve got.

Chapter 3 continued from week 8…

“One of Mason’s boys gave me the address.  Since you wouldn’t answer your phone, I had to come tell you the news in person, and it wasn’t easy.  The traffic on the Whitestone Bridge cost me nearly two hours and a quarter tank of gas.”

“What news?”  She asked, pulling herself to a sitting position.  The thought of more bad news sent the Chinese food into a tummy tumble.

Taking one of her soft hands in his rough, fire beaten hand, he looked into her eyes.  “They found the murder weapon.”

“Where”

“Mason’s boys went combed the area down by the pond and they found Hirum’s old walking stick.”

She grabbed her stomach, doubling over in pain.  Chinese food would forever mean death to her.

“You ok?”

He took his free hand and rubbed her back with short swirling motions.

“I don’t feel so good.”  She said.  “Why didn’t they find it that day, when Mason went by and found Mimi?”

“I don’t know, really.  Mason said with all the downed limbs from this winter’s snows, the stick just blended in.  They must have missed it.”

Lacy ran a hand through her mousey brown hair.  It caught in the tangles.  “Where would they get the walking stick?  It doesn’t make sense.”

“I know.  That’s what Mason’s boys said, but he thinks somebody was breaking in looking for easy cash and grabbed at whatever they could use for a weapon..  Then they must’ve run into the woods and dropped the stick among the brush.  I’m sure they thought no one would find and it and they were right.  Almost.”

“You drove all the way down here to tell me that?”

“Well, not just that.  Lace, I couldn’t get you off my mind.  I had to come.  You left without even saying goodbye.  Besides, I wanna see New York.  You could show me around.”

“You’re staying?”  Her eyes turned wide as saucers.

“Oh, uh, Tony can have the couch tonight.”  Both Tony and Lacy turned to look at Jane.  They forget she was in the room.

“Ya, the couch is great.  I love couches, especially if you want to stay on it with me.”  Tony winked at Lacy’s shocked face.

Jane’s laughter filled the room.  “Lace, you keep a lot of secrets, but I can’t believe you haven’t told me about this guy.  You better wake up before you lose him.”  Turning a wide smile on Tony, she said, “I’ll show you round New York tomorrow.  I’m sure the school can find a sub for me.”

“That’s it.”  Lacy said getting to her feet.  “Tony, you get the couch.  I have a shoot scheduled tomorrow afternoon, but you can tag along and I’ll show you the city after.”

“You,”  Lacy said turning to Jane, “will go to school tomorrow.  And, I wasn’t hiding Tony from you.  It’s just that up until a few days ago, I hadn’t seen him in ten years.”

“Well, I’m here now and you’ll be seeing a lot of me.”  Tony said.  He spread out  and pulled the couch blanket over him.  “You ladies have short blankets.”  The bottom half of his shins, ankles, and boot clad feet stuck out from the little snowmen on the blue fleece blanket.  “But, I think this will do for tonight.  Lace, you sure you don’t want to join me?”

Lacy rolled her eyes while Jane laughed all the way to her bedroom.

********************************

Welcome to the 10th Edition of Fiction Friday!

So glad you’re here. It is my hope that many of you will join us by linking your fiction post. Please read many of the links and be generous in your comments.

I cannot be responsible for the writing linked.  Fiction Friday is open to anyone and I’m not policing links, just encouraging writers.

Help us share the opportunity by grabbing a Fiction Friday Button and proudly displaying it on your blog. We’d also love a tweet or stumble or facebook share. Some of the most skilled, prolific writers are bloggers, so let’s help each other out. Thank You!

Fiction Friday with The Domestic Fringe
Fiction Friday with The Domestic Fringe

The rules are as follows:

  • Write fiction.
  • Provide a link back to my Fiction Friday post right here on The Domestic Fringe.
  • Add your specific URL to the green Mr. Linky
  • Read other blogger’s fiction and give some comment love.
  • Throw caution to the wind and take a chance.

Remember: Each of the linked works of fiction are original (Including my own!). They are not to be borrowed, copied, or reprinted in any way. Thank you for respecting each author’s original writing.

Now it’s your turn.  Link up your fiction and we’ll come read!

Writing Inspiration – Fiction Friday #9

8 Jul

Today is Fiction Friday, but I’ll be honest, I’m not ready to share any more of my fiction.  It’s just not where it should be.  It’s riddled with mistakes and I don’t have the time to fix it right now.  I haven’t written anything on my work in progress (WIP) in almost a month.  Isn’t that terrible?

I’m trying not to freak out over it.  There will be other times to write, but currently life is getting in the way a bit.  It has a little to do with the kids not having any schoolwork to do and a lot to do with the sunshine.  I just want to be outside and feel the warmth of the sun burn freckles into my skin.

I want to enjoy my summer.

I also want to be more disciplined and get my book finished.  I already have another idea in the making and it’s killing me not to multi-task.  I just do not think my pea-brain can handle writing two completely different stories at the same time.

So today I offer you some encouragement.

Here’s Stephanie Meyer’s advice for writers.  If you’ve been living in a cave without media for the last couple of years, she’s the author of the Twilight Series.

If you know you want to write, but don’t know what to write about, here’s some advice from Mary Higgins Clark.

If you’re wondering how to write a novel, watch this.

Ok, so I think I’ll take her advice and just go write.

Happy weekend lovelies!

Hope all your dreams come true.
*************************************

Welcome to the 9th Edition of Fiction Friday!

So glad you’re here. It is my hope that many of you will join us by linking your fiction post. Please read many of the links and be generous in your comments.

I cannot be responsible for the writing linked.  Fiction Friday is open to anyone and I’m not policing links, just encouraging writers.

Help us share the opportunity by grabbing a Fiction Friday Button and proudly displaying it on your blog. We’d also love a tweet or stumble or facebook share. Some of the most skilled, prolific writers are bloggers, so let’s help each other out. Thank You!

Fiction Friday with The Domestic Fringe
Fiction Friday with The Domestic Fringe

The rules are as follows:

  • Write fiction.
  • Provide a link back to my Fiction Friday post right here on The Domestic Fringe.
  • Add your specific URL to the green Mr. Linky
  • Read other blogger’s fiction and give some comment love.
  • Throw caution to the wind and take a chance.

Remember: Each of the linked works of fiction are original (Including my own!). They are not to be borrowed, copied, or reprinted in any way. Thank you for respecting each author’s original writing.

Now it’s your turn.  Link up your fiction and we’ll come read!

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