The Writing Nag

What if Christmas doesn't come from a store

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:45:00 +0000

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

Dr. Seuss

I published this post last December but think it is even more timely this year. This year my husband and I are just doing stockings. We are grateful for all we have when so many people last month lost jobs, family and homes.

It's easy to get wrapped up in packages, boxes or bags. Last night we went downtown to pick up a few Christmas gifts and the lights, music, rushing people, and general holiday atmosphere made it hard to stick to our small list. I wanted to buy gifts for everyone.

Today, think about the gifts you received this year, which ones stood out.

For me, it was the gift of time and memories. A friend's advice, a cup of coffee, a meal out with family to celebrate a special birthday, a phone call from a long-lost friend, an email from someone who read my blog and just wanted to let me know they liked it, a card or letter from family or friends, these gifts I remember. It's hard to remember the physical gifts. What if Christmas didn't come from a store this year...what would you give? what would you like to receive? Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

ink in my veins

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:03:00 +0000

"The coroner will find ink in my veins and blood on my typewriter keys."

C. Astrid Weber

Another packet of work is due on Monday and then I'm officially halfway through this semester. And Christmas is here in six days! I don't feel as stressed as I usually do since this year Christmas is pretty low-key. We are cooking dinner for family so we don't have to do any traveling and our menu is really simple.

The tree is decorated and I brought my favorite Christmas candle (Frasier Fir) yesterday, so the house really smells like Christmas. This is not an inexpensive candle but the smell of sandlewood, fir needles and cedarwood is so beautiful and since this candle is only available during the holidays I've bought one the last few years. If you don't have a real tree this is the closest scent that I have found to making the house smell like you do.

What smells, sounds and tastes of Christmas or the holiday season would you miss if you didn't have them? Take 15 minutes and brainstorm the holidays...take your list and work those memories into a poem or a short story. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

The Best Christmas Candle Ever in my opinion!

Words Overflown By Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:13:00 +0000

Winter at the Zoo

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:34:00 +0000

Giraffe Cam at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Refresh the page.

But Like Of Each Thing That in Season Grows

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:28:00 +0000

"At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth;
But like of each thing that in season grows."
William Shakespeare

So what Shakespeare is really saying is he's dreaming of a white Christmas? I don't know if we will have one here. With four days of snow and bitterly cold temperatures the city has been slowed down to a crawl...but today the sky is blue, the sun is shining and warmer temperatures are on the way.

I also like what each season brings. I want snow at Christmas time and tulips and daffodils in the spring. With the extra time off this week the Christmas tree went up decorated with tiny white light and my snow-people came out of hiding. Today I will decorate the tree and maybe it will feel more like the holidays.
Last year at this time I was writing about celebrating your successes based on this quote by Wodehouse. I think its something we often forget to do.

Success comes to a writer, as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and realize the heights to which he has climbed.
P. G. Wodehouse

Why is it so easy to celebrate a friends success but when it comes to our successes over the year we tend to dismiss them. It is the consistent small successes in our quest that we should celebrate. Don't wait for the published book, celebrate today!

Today, take time to write down all of your successes over the year. Maybe you finished a story you have been struggling with for months, or you got a poem published, or you showed up for every meeting of your new critique group. Maybe you achieved your writing goals this year or maybe your successes are all personal. It's so easy to talk negatively to yourself about what you haven't achieved...today is a day for celebrating what you have!

Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Need More Brain Cells?

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Now you can just buy them...

Thanks to Yvonne for pointing me in this direction!
Aren't they cute?

I found out yesterday I passed my Progress Review for school with my 18 page science paper on feeding and walking the muse. This is my very condensed article on what I learned, most likely I'll be adding to it after the holidays.

The Care and Feeding of Neurons

Lovingly,

The Writing Nag

Music in Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:14:00 +0000

Yesterday morning I sent in a entry for Poetic Shutterbug's Music in Nature's Contest, this morning I was very pleased to read that I won an honorable mention. Read the winning poems here.
Thanks to Joanne for the fun contest!

Breast Cancer Awareness

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:31:00 +0000

Now that this video has had over 4,000,000 hits, the company that makes
the pink gloves is donating

money for women who can't afford mammograms. Good job
Portland St. Vincent Hospital!

Down

Generation Pink Vinyl Powder-Free Exam Gloves

Christmas Song Traditions

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:53:00 +0000

I've just made posting this song my blogs Christmas tradition. What Christmas songs make you melancholy for spiced cider, hanging stockings, falling snow, Christmas lights, fir trees,writing Christmas cards, snowmen, and celebrating the season?

Christmas Songs

What Do Writer's Want for Christmas?

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:33:00 +0000

Last year I wrote an article on the best gifts for writer's. And this year I am asking you. What do you want for the holidays as it relates to your writing? Please post your answers in the comment section and I'll post all of the answers as I receive them.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Jessica wants a bigger corkboard...that book with all the plots in it...a set of 10 muji pens...a new day planner...poetry magnets...a bottle of inspiration!

Susan wants want more people to join the Trevolution and buy my books.

On a pure craft side, I want the clarity to fix what's bugging me about the current WIP, the ability to fix it seamlessly (okay, seamlessly after a few editing passes) and a fabulous story that'll win me new readers.

But that seems a lot to ask for, so I'll be happy with books sold.

Sunday Morning Musings on Year's End

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:43:00 +0000

"Now the seasons are closing their files on each of us, the heavy drawers full of certificates rolling back into the tree trunks, a few old papers flocking away. Someone we loved has fallen from our thoughts, making a little, glittering splash like a bicycle pushed by a breeze. Otherwise, not much has happened; we fell in love again, finding that one red feather on the wind." Ted Kooser, Year's End

I got up really early this morning 4:00 a.m. (couldn't sleep) and read some blogs that I haven't had time to visit the last few weeks. A good reminder that I haven't been blogging myself lately, with a full time job and part time school there seems to be little time for personal fun writing. I also spent some time on Duotrope looking at the free submission tracker and realizing how little work I submitted last year a paltry two submissions and one was Monday. I justified not submitting work because I was concentrating on craft, revision and working on my collection of poetry that will be (fingers crossed) my senior project. But I think 2010 will be different, I'd like to get my work out there, let it go, and write some new poetry. I think the feedback will be good for me and it's something I missed this year.
With 25 days left in December, I thought Ted Kooser's Year's End was an appropriate start to my post this morning. December will be a difficult month for many but soon we have a new year full of promise, hope and beginnings.

How will 2010 look for you? What will change? How will you grow? What will you learn? What will you accomplish? How will this new year be different?

Today, write a letter to yourself. Tell yourself all the wonderful things you are going to accomplish in 2010. Be specific. Think of how even the smallest steps will bring you closer to your goals. When you're done seal it and tuck it away to be read December 31, 2010.

Now get back to work!

Lovingly,

The Writing Nag

January 24-hour writing contest $5.00 to enter

Santa loves a reader-Win You Better Not Cry!

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:01:00 +0000

It's not easy to write funny but if you want a great example of prose that can make you laugh and let you feel your past Christmases weren't so bad consider reading You Better Not Cry this holiday season. I'm pretty sure that even your worst Christmas won't compare to Augusten Burroughs moving and nostalgic holiday stories.

If you're a fan of Running With Scissors, Wolf at the Table and Magical Thinking you will want to check out one of my favorite author's, Augusten Burroughs. His new book, You Better Not Cry, from St. Martin's Press is a collection of poignant and hilarious Christmas tales written in the inimitable style that is only Augusten Burroughs. And yes his holidays get progressively worse.

Not surprisingly here is how he launched his new book.

Today, consider rewriting about a past Christmas that wasn't too fun. Turn the negative memory around and write funny, now don't you feel better? and then enter the sweepstakes to Win a copy of You Better Not Cry for yourself, a friend or a family member, as the video says "Santa loves a reader."

Now get back to work!

Lovingly,

The Writing Nag

A Poetry Link

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:11:00 +0000

A link poets might enjoy, on how poets connect with other poets.

How to throw yourself into relaxing on Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:17:00 +0000

My parents new cat, Kenny, who they rescued.

A Room Where I Want To Go

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:42:00 +0000

"I often think of a poem as a door that opens into a room where I want to go."
Minnie Bruce Pratt

I am so grateful for another day off this week, I have a lot of schoolwork to complete before Monday and just as much editing work due the same day. Thanks to Glynis for posting a video on procrastination which I found when I was procrastinating writing my essay. As part of our senior study we are required to write an essay entitled "Writer in the World," which explains to your writing community who you are as a writer, why you write and how you add to the writing community.

Today, consider the answer to these questions. Why do you write? What do you add to your community and/or the world as a writer? How do you think your writing will influence other people? Who influences your writing? Who is your audience? Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

George Orwell's Essay Why I Write

Black Friday Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:24:00 +0000

I don't go out and attend the Black Friday sales, too many crowds and too many impulse buys. This year the e-retailers have some really great deals online including, Amazon's Black Friday deals.

Black Friday Deals

And I always check Ebates before I buy anything online, just by signing up and clicking through from their site you get cash back from the retailers. Here's a sign up link. I've been using Ebates for two years and I regularly get quarterly checks back for my online purchases. Happy Shopping!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

May You Have a Generous Slice

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Comments on Comments

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:53:00 +0000

I'll most likely be back this evening with a writing post. The #1 reason I approve/reject comments SPAM. But just wanted to remind the dear, sweet people who comment saying lovely things like "writing nag is the best blog ever" and "I read writing nag every day" and then includes their link to payday loans, debt reduction plans, weight loss programs and the other links that I won't even mention but I'm sure you can all visualize/imagine. There's not a chance it will ever be published, so why waste your time? Anyways if you have time to waste, I have time to reject your comment.

I'm grateful today for the real people who read, legitimately comment and stop by to visit the writing nag. Thanks!

Lovingly,
The "Loves to Reject SPAM comments" Writing Nag

Thoughts on Thanksgiving...

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:13:00 +0000

"For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Less than a week to Thanksgiving. Once Thanksgiving is over...Black Friday hits and the swift countdown to Christmas and the holiday season begins. And once again I find myself thinking where did this year go? And did I accomplish my goals?

Last Thanksgiving our house was full of friends and family, there was a lot of excitement a year ago this week preparing for their arrival but this year we are celebrating by ourselves. Sunday I will make a big batch of cranberry chutney for Thanksgiving dinner and for Christmas gifts, bake my Nana's raisin bread, pull out the holiday decor and the house will begin to smell and look like the holidays.

Today, consider starting a new tradition in your family, get together and write a collaborative poem to be read on Thanksgiving Day. Brainstorm together on what Thanksgiving means to you, what are you grateful for this year, how is this year different? What hopes do you have for next year that you can express poetically? Now get back to work!

Lovingly,

The Writing Nag

My new favorite vintage postcard

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:15:00 +0000

Concrete Couch

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Colorado Springs residents learn more about volunteering in a creative way.

Thoughts on being creative

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:57:00 +0000

This is long, almost 20 minutes but very good, interesting words from the author of Eat, Pray, Love. So you might want to clean your office and just listen.

Sunday morning snow

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:44:00 +0000

Sunday morning, view from my screened in office door.

An Early Christmas Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:25:00 +0000

I posted this last season but for those creative artists who missed it, another chance.

Download a FREE copy of the Artella eBook, Stunning and Simple Seasonal Salutations, an eBook featuring 10 beautiful handmade cards, complete with photos and descriptive "how-to" instructions, showcasing a variety of techniques such as rubber stamping, collage, and innovative paper and mixed media arts.Download your copy here!

On Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Writing Nag) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:34:00 +0000

READING

"My eye frees what the page imprisons:

the white the white and the black the black."

Ibn 'Anmar of Silves

One of the first things every creative writing teacher will tell you is that you must read to be able to write. You must read across genres and eras, read the classics, read your contemporaries, read, read, read... And there are writers that don't heed that advice because they don't want to be influenced by other writers. I don't trust writers that don't read.

During the times I'm at school I read a lot. Sometimes 5-6 books a week, but I still can't wait for the semester downtimes when I can pick up a book to read strictly for pleasure. I don't need to remember any of it, or annotate it, or quote it in a critical essay. Those are the books I treasure. I think the first books we read can be life changing, they can change how you feel about reading and writing. What early books influenced your life? How does reading help you in your writing? Now get back to work!

Lovingly,

The Writing Nag