To Trace a Line of Delicate Green

I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a rose of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mosses from and Old Manse


and I thought I was the only one...

Teddy Bear Sunflower

Thanks to Kelly for letting me know that "puffy sunflower" is really a variety called Teddy Bear. Check out her food blog, I could get lost there for hours. I'm just waiting to get some local Palisade peaches to make the homemade peach ice cream.
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Puffy Sunflower

I don't know the name of this variety of sunflower, I just call it puffy sunflower. I can see it from my office window every morning.

1000 Beautiful Things

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”

Ashley Smith


I found this book, One Thousand Beautiful Things at a library sale, its cover torn but intact, its pages clean but brittle. Published in 1947, it is a compilation of prose and poetry from the world’s best literature. Two years after WWII ended, I imagine it was a popular book in many American families bookcases. Patriotism, as it is today, is a familiar subject throughout the 400 pages.

More than one hundred years after Longfellow wrote the passage Indian Summer I read the words and I am there. That is the power of language. Great language makes the sense of place leap from the pages and I am lost in the chapters. A good short story like a good poem is hard to forget.

Short stories are my favorite genre. Authors including Raymond Chandler, Lorrie Moore, Flannery O’Connor, Alice Munro, and Dorothy Parker have inspired me to write in the genre. When I am done reading a good short, I am left with a simplicity and thoroughness that many full-length novels seem to miss. Classic shorts such as Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery and Guy de Maupassant The Necklace seem timeless in their choice of theme.

To study the genre I recommend classic short stories like Ernest Hemingway’s In Another Country or Flannery O’Connor’s Good Country People. Many of the classics can be found online. Poe, Joyce, Hawthorne, Twain and many other early writers all wrote in the short story genre to develop characters, hone their writing, and enchant their fans. They also had a market that supported their craft.

For modern shorts, I like The Best American Short Stories collections that is published every year by Houghton Mifflin Company. These stories are nominated to be in the collection. They are chosen from award winning literary magazines and popular magazines such as The New Yorker, Harper’s and The Atlantic Monthly.

Does your writing have all the elements of a good short story? Conflict, plot, language, insight, character, theme and setting are necessary elements. Will your readers get lost in the pages? Are your characters original and thought out?

I’m putting One Thousand Beautiful Things on my writing reference shelf next to my Writer’s Market, my thesaurus, and my dictionary. I hope that it will inspire me to write passages that will transport my readers to another place.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Falling in Love with your own words...

You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke. ~Arthur Polotnik

In editing my short story this weekend I cut my favorite lines. Yes it was painful, I thought they were brilliant when I wrote them but after many critiques the reality was they stood out and many readers thought they were too clever, too contrived.

Many editors will say you need to cut your favorite lines, they are often just fluff where the real stuff is hidden underneath. In Steering the Craft, Ursula LeGuin has a powerful exercise in editing. Take a piece of writing (anything over 400 words) and cut it by half. Cut it in half but keep the "narrative clear and the sensory impact vivid". She suggests that by cutting the dialogue in half (if there is any) you will see what your characters are really saying. Today, try this exercise, what is left? Is it strong powerful writing? Anton Chekhov's advice in revising a short story throw out the first three pages! Now get back to work!


Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Far Away In The Sunshine...

Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see the beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead.
-- Louisa May Alcott


Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Even the Woodpecker

“Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head and keeps pecking away until he finishes the job he starts”
Coleman Cox

When we moved into our house 9 years ago I would be the first to admit it wasn't for the backyard. It was an ugly square of a yard with a cement sidewalk running straight through to the garage, brown patchy grass, and other than a lilac tree and a Mock Orange scrub not much life.

We didn't do anything quickly, it was small steps every year, a flagstone patio put in small sections at a time, raised planter beds, a fence, a couple of perennials every season, a few rose bushes, a small Concord grape vine,... last night lying in the hammock watching the woodpecker take a bath in the bird bath, doves, finches, and Blue Jays visiting, butterflies and bees working over the sunflowers, it has become a sanctuary.

For me finishing work is where I get stuck. I'm very motivated in the beginning, struggle through the middle and usually abandon all hope towards the end. In Mari Messer's creativity book Pencil Dancing she talks about the fear and anxiety that keeps many creative people from starting or finishing work.

Here are just 3 Early Warning Signs of Fear and Anxiety from her book.

"Feelings of panic and resistance.
Diminished enthusiasm and enjoyment.
Procrastination."

How to overcome them? Well for me it is recognizing that it's fear and then plowing through to the end. It's also thinking about other projects I have finished. Knowing that I felt the anxiety before and kept working at it until it was finished reminds me like my garden, little steps, just like Anne Lamott's "bird by bird". Today, look for your unfinished projects, if you're not ready to tackle them are you ready to let them go? What steps could you take today that will clear your desk of unfinished projects. Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Feel Blocked...Don't Write, Create

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. ~Henry Ward Beecher

One of the biggest lessons I learned my first semester is that by using other mediums to create I would often open up my writing blocks, for example when I was doing collage the words came easier. Recently I tried my hand at making artist trading cards with a group of friends. The small scale of the card took away a lot of the fear of the "big blank canvas". There are only two rules for this medium.

1. The size 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
2. Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) should only be traded never sold.

More info and an ATC gallery.

Today, consider making your own ATC's, use them as business cards for your blog or website. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

The 2 Most Engaging Powers of an Author

The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar and familiar things new. ~Samuel Johnson

Mad With Joy

Cocoa contemplating watering the garden before another 90 degree plus day.







People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us. ~Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat

Summer Kitchen Collage

I need to loaf...

Loafing is the most productive part of a writer's life. ~James Norman Hall

I just turned in my final paper for the semester and I love this quote. I need a day off today, yes I believe in writing everyday but the last 15 weeks have been challenging. I've already planned a celebratory dinner tonight and after a few chores around the house, I'm going to do nothing...

Today what would you do if you could have the entire day off to loaf and money's no object. Where would you be? I think I would be on the river in a canoe with someone else paddling or maybe in the Greek isles, Santorini with someone planning my lunch, or a cafe in Florence watching tourists go by and eating a gelato, maybe back in Ireland sitting by the river planning which pub to go to for a pint. Another thought on my parents couch listening to the lull of family in the kitchen. I'm sleepy now, I think I'll head for a closer venue the hammock in the back yard watching the finches and gazing at the sunflowers starting to open.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Blueberry Boy Bait for Breakfast

"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast."
John Gunther

I just put a coffeecake in the oven, an old-fashioned recipe called Blueberry Boy Bait that I found in Cook's Country. This is an unusual occurrence me making breakfast, I'd much rather drink coffee, work on some writing and then at the last minute grab something before I pedal off to work. A leisurely breakfast happens only once a week on Sunday.

Finally Good Short Story Advice

I just finished Ron Carlson Writes a Story-From the first glimmer of an idea to the final sentence and I'm motivated to do some rewrites.

This small book, only 112 pages walks the writer through Ron Carlson's "a master of the short story" process. Page by page Ron gives practical advice by using his short story The Governor's Ball as an example. When I was done I had some great ideas for my struggling short. What I really liked about the book is how he worked through each sentence, each paragraph and each bit of dialogue. How do you move the story along, how do you build character, how do you end it?

I also liked how he wrote about his struggles and wanting to get up from the desk. His advice "the most important thing a writer can do after completing a sentence is to stay in the room." When you are faced with temptation to just go get a cup of coffee, see what's on t.v. or weed the garden Ron says refuse the outside distractions. Easier said than done, yes but after reading this book I felt empowered to stay in the room. I think this book is a keeper, I will reference it again.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Congrats to Kay Ryan-Soon to be Poet Laureate!

Poet Kay Ryan will be named 16th Poet Laureate.

Entrecard gives bloggers exactly what they need

I joined Entrecard when I started seeing the little calling cards on my favorite blogs, I didn't know what it was all about but I figured it was a good way to discover some more writing and creative art blogs. I've never been a power dropper, some Entrecard people drop 100-500 cards daily. I use Entrecard to visit my favorites, find new blogs and see what other bloggers are up to.

This week Entrecard and SezWho announced a partnership.I think this is the next step that bloggers like me need; it's not enough to just randomly drop cards just to earn points. With SezWho the object is to get more involved in the blogs you visit by commenting and developing relationships with other bloggers, it is important to have a voice. I look forward to seeing how this new partnership develops. If you're an Entrecard user how do you think this will change Entrecard?

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

What an author whispers...

What I like in a good author is not what he says, but what he whispers. ~Logan Pearsall Smith, "All Trivia," Afterthoughts, 1931

Since I've been reading so many writing/poetry craft books lately it's hard to keep track of all the good information I found. On average this semester I read 5 books a week which drumroll please is.....approximately 75 books I've read and referenced in my first semester. WOW. Even for a voracious reader that's a lot.

I originally was using index cards to write down book recommendations, or websites to go back to, or quotes I loved but that got a little out of hand, I was finding little index card notes everywhere and I'm sure I left a few of them in library books. I think I'm going to use the summer break to get my stuff more organized. I could have a file for quotes, a file for books to read and a file for further study.

Today think about the way you organize your writing life. Is is chaotic and hit or miss? Or do you have an organized system in getting your reference work done. Can you find the notes about the article you were going to write immediately or do you have to take more time to do more research because you misplaced all of your reference work? Comment on your writing organizational system and I'll write a new post on the top 7 comments with a link to your site. Creative writing sites only please.Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

The Life that is Waiting For You

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
E. M. Forster

Without Hope or Dispair

Isak Dinesen said that she wrote a little every day, without hope and without despair. I like that.
Raymond Carver



Raymond Carver is my favorite short story writer, but I have only recently been reading his poetry. This weekend I have been reading Ultra Marine which was published in 1986. What I like most about his poetry is what I like about his short stories, the language is simple, direct and the words memorable. He writes about universal themes but he uses little slices of ordinary life. When I read his work I think I can write poetry about anything, there are very few poets that make me think this. You can read some of his poems here.

Today write a poem about writing a poem as Raymond Carver did in his poem, An Account, let what's going on in your life today weave its way into the poem.

His poem starts:

He began the poem at the kitchen table,
one leg crossed over the other.

Halfway through it reads:

Last night he'd heard an account
of Frank's death from Ed, another neighbor

Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Genius Dressed in Working Clothes

“Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882)

In the last two days I have read two working class books by two very good writers. One on recommendation from Lauri the other I picked up because of my work in the restaurant industry and the fun cover.

The first, A Broom of One's Own, features great essays from author Nancy Peacock that tell a lot about the human condition and her writing life through her housekeeping jobs.
The second, Dishwasher, is a very funny entertaining book about "zine author" and professional dishwasher Pete Jordan as he tries to complete his goal of washing dishes in each of the fifty states.


What I loved about both of these books is that the authors took their jobs seriously and didn't make excuses for what they did as a profession. If you ever worked in either of these industries, cleaning or the restaurant industry you know its a tough, underpaid (for the most part), invisible and under appreciated gig.

As someone who has worked in the restaurant industry and cleaned houses through high school and collage I have often thought where might I be if I choose another "more professionally respected job". Well, for one I wouldn't have met my husband and also I think the people and situations I've been in are unique and have given me so many characters and situations to write about. That being said, don't let what you do for a living define you as a person. Where ever you are right now is a good place to start if you want to write. Don't let your lack of education or job experience hold you back.

Today write a one page scene where your character is in an invisible profession. How would he or she act or think? Use lots of description and make the reader feel for the character. Now get back to work.

Lovingly,

The Writing Nag

Christmas in July

Looking to get published in an anthology? Saw this on Word Strumpet, one of my favorite creative writing blogs. While you're there check out some of her other writing posts. A good source of inspiration. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Wild Rhododendrons, County Galway, Ireland

Ink on Paper

Ink on paper is as beautiful to me as flowers on the mountains; God composes, why shouldn't we? ~Audra Foveo-Alba

Farmer's Market Gazpacho

Gazpacho is a farmers market favorite. With a base of tomatoes which are high in cancer-fighting lycopene and an abundance of other fresh vegetables, it’s a quick nutritious cold summer soup.

Gazpacho

1 clove garlic—chopped
½ small red onion—chopped
½ red pepper —deseeded and chopped
½ green pepper —deseeded and chopped
2 roasted chile peppers-chopped
1 cup peeled, deseeded and chopped cucumber
1 cup chopped, roma tomatoes
4-6 cups tomato juice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Tabasco
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Chill in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. I think gazpacho tastes better the next day, so prepare ahead of time. Set out additional bowls of chopped veggies to garnish the cold soup.

Key to Writing Success-Write More?

This article suggests the key to writing success is quantity over quality? What do you think?


Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

My Favorite Video

Everytime I watch this it makes me happy. Do what you love and the money will follow.

Writing the Tough Stuff

Writers are just people who have a whole lot on the inside that they need to get to the outside, with pen and paper as their preferred method of transport. Same with dancers, artists, and singers - all the same urges with differing transportation. ~Graycie Harmon

In my last packet of work I wrote to my adviser that I was having problems writing the tough stuff, there are some things you want to write that just aren't pretty but you still want the story told. Hurtful feelings, loss, pain, death are all familiar themes in poetry; doing it well without sounding maudlin is challenging. Poetry is a way to connect with people and we all share common experiences. When I went to Tempe in the spring I brought one of those poems and the teacher said "this poet is not ready to deal with his or her feelings yet, the emotion is too raw so they just let the end drift off". Yep, that's what I did.

I tried to work with that poem in the last three weeks but I kept wanting to write the pretty stuff. Yet, I can't forget that poem. Today set the timer for 10 minutes and brainstorm about the tough stuff. What things are so difficult to write about that you keep pushing them back? If anyone is an example of this it would be Anne Frank...she said "I want to write but more than that I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in my heart..." The good stuff and the painful stuff. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Writing Scams

Before you submit check out this link.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Writing Distractions

There's only one person who needs a glass of water oftener than a small child tucked in for the night, and that's a writer sitting down to write. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

Today, I'm caught up with my paperwork so my plan is to spend at least four hours working on my creative writing. I have a poem to rewrite, some submissions to send out and a chapter to outline. If I sat down and did four solid hours of writing I would accomplish a lot...but this quote spoke to me. First I'd need some coffee than 14 minutes into my writing I will notice my pencils need sharpening, oh and I really should organize my writing books, perhaps a little filing would clear my mind and then I should have eaten more at breakfast I will wander out to the kitchen for a snack or another cup of coffee. How do you let distractions from keeping you from writing?
I use a timer. Using a timer can keep you focused and help you accomplish short goals. I'll set the timer for thirty minutes to work on my poem. After the thirty minutes is over, I can take a 10-minute break timed of course or set the timer for my next task. Using the timer can keep me accountable and avoid hours of mindless web surfing. I can decide to spend thirty minutes on mindless web surfing and use that as a reward when I'm done my real work. How do you deal with writing distractions? Today, try the timer method and let me know what you think. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

How Hard It Is To Be Yourself

“Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.”

John Jakes

Home from Santa Fe

To create one's own world in any of the arts takes courage.
Georgia O'Keeffe

On my quick little weekend jaunt to Santa Fe and back I had to stop and visit the Georgia O'Keeffe museum again. The museum owns 1/2 of Georgia O'Keeffe's 2200 works so every time you go there you'll probably see something you haven't seen before and this exhibit with Ansel Adams was worth the visit. Seeing another artist's work is always an inspiration to me, especially two great American artists that really showed the beauty of the country. Because they often traveled together it was interesting to see his photos juxtaposed with her art. Many of her tree painting were on exhibit this time, these are some of my favorites. I learned about their friendship during the years, when Ansel Adams died at 82 Georgia O'Keeffe was said to have said "He never did take care of himself" She wanted to live to 100 years old, she was 99 1/2 at the time of her death.

Today considerer another medium in which you could embrace your creativity. Could you use your words along with photography or collage or painting. Many writing teachers suggest when you are feeling blocked with writing you practice another form of creativity. Sometimes taking the pressure off the words is enough to get your words flowing again. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

M.F.K. Fisher-Food Writer

“. . . gastronomical perfection can be reached in these combinations: one person dining alone, usually upon a couch or a hill side; two people, of no matter what sex or age, dining in a good restaurant; six people . . . dining in a good home.” M.F.K. Fisher

The 4 Essential Sentence Questions

A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

George Orwell (1903 - 1950), "Politics and the English Language", 1946

In Honor of Hemingway

For a long time now I have tried simply to write the best I can. Sometimes I have good luck and write better than I can.
Ernest Hemingway

Forget your personal tragedy. We are all bitched from the start and you especially have to be hurt like hell before you can write seriously. But when you get the damned hurt, use it-don't cheat with it.
Ernest Hemingway

I read this morning that on this day in 1961 Hemingway committed suicide. My favorite Hemingway work is A Movable Feast a nonfiction book of his time in Paris before he was famous. Many critics think this is best work to me it's his most honest work. I wonder what Hemingway would have written next if he chose to live, he was struggling with writing after a serious of plane crashes in Africa and self-medicated with alcohol. He also had shock therapy to try and relieve his constant depression. A sad ending to a great writer's life.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Win Free Tickets to Criss Angel

I think I went to Las Vegas at the wrong time of the year...it seems like this summer all of the great acts are playing in Vegas. My favorite illusionist, Criss Angel is now playing at the Luxor. If you've never seen his show you're missing out on in my opinion the greatest illusionists and escapologist alive. Like Harry Houdini Criss Angel is a master of mind manipulation but he differs in the way he personally draws the audience into his magical world, the show is aptly titled Believe. It's obvious that he's worked tirelessly to get the illusions perfect, you will be a believer. If you've ever seen his television show you know that Las Vegas is where his magic belongs. I can only image how amazing his illusions will be combined with Cirque Du Soleil's theatre and the Las Vegas atmosphere. In his new show Criss' character is a Victorian Noble who encounters different characters throughout the performance. Dancers, performers and the Cirque Du Soleil experience combine with Criss Angel's surreal imaginative world. The Victorian mood and emotion work well with Criss Angel's magic, I'm sure this will be "sitting on the edge of your seat entertainment".Unlike his television show, where he does one illusion after another similar to Houdini; these illusions will be interwoven into the story, so you won't know where and when the stunning illusions will be presented.I wonder if he chose the Victorian character to play homage to the great Victorian illusionist Houdini, another magician and escapologist who was ahead of his time. Fantastic showmanship and unbelievable magic.
More about his new show CRISS ANGEL Believe. For a chance to win 2 tickets to CRISS ANGEL Believe Text 'Believe' to 22122.