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1,000 Words of Summer, Day Four

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Day Four: Done. 1,034 words, divided over two sections of the manuscript.

I continue to be amazed at how this story is developing as I push myself to write more. Shortly before the pandemic, I’d discovered a pair of new characters, but I didn’t know what to do with them. Now, because I’m committed to adding a thousand words to their tale every day, I’m finding out so much about them and how they interact with my main character.

It’s like all those articles say: don’t wait to be inspired. Sit down and start putting words on the page, and the ideas will show up. Thanks, #1000wordsofsummer!

How are you doing? Have you written your 1,000 words yet today? If so, let us know!

1,000 Words of Summer, Day Three

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How I feel right now

Day Three: Done. 1,011 words on my novel-in-progress.

If it hadn’t been for this challenge, I wouldn’t have written today. Spent five hours on billable work, plus time checking social media for updates about the protests, and the to-do list is still long—pay bills, feed cats, do submissions for contests and journals with midnight deadlines, put away laundry, take out garbage and recycling for pickup tomorrow morning, fix dinner—and that’s just what’s coming to mind now, at 8:46 p.m.

Nope. No way I’d have written without this challenge, but I’m glad I did because the story is taking an interesting turn. Thanks, #1000wordsofsummer!

1,000 Words of Summer, Day Two

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It’s spring, and the toilet paper is (finally) in bloom!

Day Two: Done. 1,016 words on a potential blog post.

It’s a glorious day here on the back porch, and I’d love to keep writing. Alas, I need to mow the lawn, do the laundry, and do billable work to replenish the bank account after this morning’s grocery expedition (see above).

How did you do on Day Two? (If it’s Day One for you, no problem–just keep your own count.) Let us know in the comments!

#1000wordsofsummer

Sunday Afternoon in the Neighborhood

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blue sun hat

I’d be lying if I said staying at home for the past two months has been a hardship for me. I love being at home. It’s peaceful most of the time, except when something malfunctions or the outside world intrudes. When everything’s working properly and nobody bothers me, it’s heavenly. Continue reading →

Word by Word

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writing spot 5-8-15

We’ve all read by now that Shakespeare wrote King Lear during the plague. The takeaway seems to be that public health emergencies are conducive to great (albeit really, really depressing) art. Continue reading →

Reading Alone Together

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Gigi and Little House

Last week, I signed up for a remote silent reading party hosted by the Stranger, a Seattle-based publication. I’d never heard of such a thing, but apparently this goes on all the time in Seattle: people gather at a local hotel, and they read silently together while a pianist provides background music. Continue reading →

Potsticker Soup

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IMG_6031

Everybody has their own version of comfort food. Sometimes it’s something you make because it’s what your mother made. Other times, you buy it from a favorite store or restaurant. Occasionally, the best comfort food comes about sheerly by accident, something you make up from random ingredients that are hanging around in your refrigerator and freezer.

Potsticker Soup is one of those recipes. Continue reading →

Good Things

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Mask - poster without Cher

Long ago, there was a beautiful movie entitled Mask. It is a biographical drama about Rocky Dennis, a boy with lionitis, and his free-spirited mother. In the final scene, we hear a voiceover of actor Rocky reciting a poem written by the real-life Rocky: Continue reading →

Olivia and the Present Strangeness

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IMG_5818 - edited

To say this is an odd time is an understatement. Better adjectives might be strange, bizarre, or surreal.

Exhibit A: Olivia is sitting on my desk. The last time she sat here voluntarily was at least a decade ago. Granted, I lifted her up since she can no longer make the leap, but she’s stayed. Continue reading →

Lessons Learned about Working From Home

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writing spot 5-8-15

I’ve been working out of my home since 1997. Last year, I applied for a job that would have required me to work in a regular office. You know, the kind where you dress like a professional, show up at a particular time, and deal with co-workers.

This was not a selling point. Continue reading →