The New Path

            A year ago today; Chris was driving the girls and me to our favorite bike-riding path and telling us about a dream from the night before.  "This tall woman, she could have been a queen, came to me," he said.  "She made some kind of pronouncement like, 'Your orders have changed.  You are now on a new path.'  Then she walked away.  Weird, huh?”

"Wonder what that means," I said, flipping through a magazine, my foot on the dashboard. 



Minutes before the accident

Four hours later, an ER doctor announced Chris had broken his back and fractured his neck.  He had tumbled off his bike in what seemed like a harmless accident, but clearly was not.  Mere millimeters stood between Chris and paralysis, or death.

That day was a blur of phone calls, surgery, prayer, and deep gratitude that Chris had survived.  Friends and family were amazing.  Neighbors Megan and Larry Jowers drove almost two hours to the Destin Hospital to get our house key so they could let the dogs out.  They took the girls to dinner, and were a huge comfort to me while Chris was in surgery.  

My brother Dave drove in from Atlanta, arriving at eleven at night, to take the girls home to our house.  He stayed with us for days, helping take care of Chris while I tried to wrap my head around what had happened. 


And now it's been a year.  Chris has recovered almost completely, and much of it has to do with his own strength and will.  He had great doctors and physical therapists, but treating himself as if he were his own Personal Trainer, working hard to recover, has been downright inspirational.

The experience changed us both, set us on a new path.  Chris and I are more grateful for our dear family and friends, and more aware of the precious gift that is good health to enjoy this life.  So today we look back, with a little trepidation, then forward with gratitude.  We're going on a commemorative bike ride this afternoon.  Join us!

 

 

Words on a Runway

"So it's going to be a matter of taste, which you have absolutely no control over," he said, studying the garment with one arm crossed over his dapper Armani, a finger at his lips.  Then, somewhat off the cuff, he paid the designer his highest compliment: "This couldn't be more you."
I love Project Runway.  I love watching the designers make it work or get Auf'd.  I love to hear Tim edit their creations with his thoughtful observations.  And although they work in fabric and color, styles and sketches, and I work with words, there are similarities in our vocations. 

-We can listen to lots of advice, but in the end, it's our own choices that make the cut.   
-We can lose an idea in the details or be too literal with our work, but we can also pull together something amazing without even being sure where it came from.
-We can not make anyone love what we do.  As the venerable Tim has said, it's a matter of taste. 
-We keep working, hoping someone will get it, and we keep trying to get it ourselves.  They wield scissors and I wield a pen as we search for the elusive ideas we want to share, the ideas that make Tim Gunn say, "This couldn't be more you."  That's when we know we nailed it.
Oh, and there's one final similarity:  we get to have meltdowns just before showtime.  "Thank you Mood!"

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SpiderMines and HeartCells

Over the years I've developed a writing process that works for me.  I sit at my computer with a cup of coffee and check my email, Facebook, and Pinterest.  Then I turn on my writing playlist which is mostly jazz because it provides light background noise, and I play a game of Hearts, Spider Solitaire, threeish games of Minesweeper, and one game of FreeCell.  I don't deviate from the order of these games or my morning is screwed.  Then, with a sigh, I pull up my document and stare at it until it tells me what to do. 
I don't dare figure out how much time I waste with this routine because those games get my head where it needs to be so I can write.  I figure it's time well spent.  Gotta run, time for Hearts!
Here, play with me!   http://www.freeminesweeper.org/

We Have A Winner!

Gema, dear friend since grade school, I am happy to announce that you are the winner of the Clinique moisturizer for being the first to read my manuscript!  And you have also won my undying devotion for saying, "I spent the day reading your book and loved it!  Congratulations!"

As you know, dear reader, I have been hard at work murdering darlings.  Only a few superfluous phrases and unnecesary scenes are stepping forward to be liberated from my novel, though, and the rest are hiding behind important plotlines and setups.  How to keep at the editing?
I'm glad you asked.  Sometimes I have to stop trying so hard.  When I am not consciously thinking about my manuscript, ideas of ways to make it better just come to me.  The following game has been a fun way to get unconscious :)  Just click and drag the blue guy up, drop him, and see what happens.   
http://www.funbrain.com/brain/SweepsBrain/Games/Game.html?GameName=DesertDive&Brain=kidsandparents&Grade=0&GameNumber=1
Fair warning:  it's addictive, so only do this when your brain really needs a break.

Murdering Darlings

Okay, it's time to go on a shooting spree.  No, I'm not that kind of crazy, I've just been looking outside myself for help in tweaking my work, and I'm realizing it's an inside job. 
A guy named Quiller-Couch said it best, but I wouldn't want to be him.  Many a writer has cried over his words:  "Murder your darlings."  Yes, murder them.  Kill off all the writing that is self-serving, the stuff that takes the reader out of her fictive dream. 
Strange, but part of me looks forward to strapping on some shining armor and a really cool sword.  I'll slay my own dragon, the dead wood in my manuscript, and this novel and I will be better for it.  Maybe I'm feeling confident because I wished upon a star at

( http://www.mylifetime.com/astrology/free-readings/enchanted/wish-upon-a-star-game ), and my star said I would succeed.  Well, by the third wish it did, anyway.

Week One; We Wait

So I’ve shared my novel with a few friends and David Henry Sterry - Mr. Book Doctor, and  now I wait.  I have a sneaking suspicion that people aren't reading my novel, but I’ve been there myself.  People who have written manuscripts tend to have a scary look in their eyes:  part desperation, part manic insanity.  I've run the other way myself, just like everyone seems to be doing with me, and I know why.  No one wants to deal with people who are so egotistical they believe they can write a novel.  No doubt it’s a manifesto of some sort, anyway since those  writers are a crazy lot, right?
Meanwhile, I’m floundering without writing.  I don’t like not writing.  Even yesterday, when I got a massage from the Chinese Acupressure guys with the massage chairs in the mall, I felt uncomfortable.  What?  No one gets massages from these guys?  That explains a lot.  Anyway, after my massage, I picked up my free gift with purchase at the Clinique department in Dillards.   I’ve been looking forward to owning yet another pretty bag and $65 worth of makeup I don’t need, but after the initial rush of excitement, my gift seemed meaningless. 
A free spray of Chanel No 5 lifted my spirits, as did a  Starbucks iced caffe mocha, but the truth remains; I’m only going to be happy when I’m writing.  This stage of the process – the sales and marketing part – is a necessary evil, though.  I’m showing the world I believe in what I’ve written enough to fight for it.  I’m showing the world my determination.  And yes, I’m showing the world just how crazy I really am.
Meanwhile, the first reader who returns my manuscript will get a bottle of Clinique moisturizer (you didn't think I'd give away the whole bag did you?).

Manuscript? Check! Tea Leaves? Check!

I did it!  I finished my manuscript today!  Actually, I finished yesterday.  Today I changed one word, and now I'm wondering if I should change it back.  No matter; there are 91,370 words total, so I'm going to leave the word for now.  It's time to celebrate! 
Alas, two minutes into my crazy girl dance, a list has generated itself in my mind of all that needs to be done now that I am rejoining the rest of humanity.  It's time to pay some bills, call my mother, and return those overdue library books.  But first on my to-do list is updating my blog. 
The last time I blogged was two years ago, just before Nanowrimo of 2010, when I set everything aside to write what became the rough draft of my young adult novel, "The Existence of Pity."  Now, on August 31, Blue Moon Day, I can finally say the project is complete. I want to thank the dear ones who made it possible:  my sweet husband Chris, my darling daughters, and wonderful Diane Skelton.  Without them, there is no way I would have crossed that finish line.  My family offered comic relief and delicious dinners while Diane was a constant source of enthusiasm and motivation.  Thank you all so much!  New cars all around!
But wait, Olivia just showed me this link, http://www.mylifetime.com/astrology/free-readings/chinese/reading-tea-leaves and my tea leaves say I haven't crossed the finish line.  No, I've only stepped up to the racing blocks.  I've written a manuscript, but now it's time to get it published, and my tea leaves tell me I'll need lots of patience.  I don't have patience!  All I can say is I hope Chris, Olivia, Natalie, and Diane will stick around.  They've been so patient with me, maybe they can show me how it's done.