B is for BREATHE DEEP #AtoZChallenge

For this year's challenge, my theme is The Fun in Writing. Each of my 26 posts for April is aimed at illustrating fun parts of an author's day. A writer doesn't only write. Creating a story or an essay requires research, revision, editing, and lots and lots of coffee and chocolate.


B is for BREATHE DEEP

 

If you've ever gotten into a bind with your story line and wondered why you ever chose to write novels in the first place, you are in good company. Most writers, at one time or other, walk away from the computer to take a few deep breaths to clear their mind.

 

A fun writing experience I encountered was totally unplanned until the idea popped full-blown into my head. If you need a change of pace from writing your latest story, why not breathe deep, and switch gears? I took a break from writing murder mysteries to create a series of poems. Once the poetry was written and edited (very lightly), I formatted the collection and published the little book as a birthday gift to myself.

How's that for discovering

The Fun in Writing?

 

With the project completed, I was eager to return to my mystery writing!

 

 

One of the more fun, and light-hearted poems in ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING is:

 

#27

Breathe Deep

 

Apple pie

baking in the oven;
 

Lilacs

in bloom;

It only takes a moment to breathe deep.
 

Ocean breezes;

L’air du Temps;

Fresh bread cooling on the rack;

Baby’s powdered skin.
 

Breathe even deeper.

Spring

after another hard winter.


*****  *****  *****
 

 

The following is the next entry in my series of Sunday posts

 

Beginning October 18, 2015, and each succeeding Sunday for 70 weeks, my internet blogsite will feature a poem from

ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING. A short observation, sometimes informative, other times humorous, will accompany the poem, along with a complementary photograph.

 

 

The sense of smell is a strong trigger for memories. Who doesn’t get a warm feeling when reminded of a special food cooking on the stove or apple pie baking in the oven as you walked in the door after school? But how did you feel about the guy in the next cubicle at the office who wore too much aftershave? Did you need an alarm clock to wake you when bacon was frying in the kitchen?

 

When someone says, “The nose knows,” everyone nods an acknowledgement. Not all “bad” odors are bad, evidenced by a newborn baby’s soiled diaper. You’re just glad the baby is so healthy! Bed wetting, on the other hand, may conjure up completely different emotions.

 

Fragrant flowers (such as: Lilacs in bloom) recall a wide variety of memories ranging from weddings and birthdays to funerals. There is the carnation fragrance of a wrist corsage from your favorite prom date; the Hawaiian plumeria lei tossed in the ocean at the end a fantastic second-honeymoon vacation; the flowers for your son’s bar mitzvah; the table bouquets at your daughter’s baby shower.

 

During the editing process of writing a story, the writer is urged to embellish scenes with greater use of the senses for description. When the reader is drawn into the scene with their senses, they become much more emotionally involved in the story rather than being a mere observer.

 

With food, smell and taste often go hand in hand. What non-food odors, aromas, or fragrances are readily recognized and generate an immediate emotional reaction in you?



 

A is for APRIL A-TO-Z CHALLENGE MONTH #AtoZChallenge

What is the April A to Z Challenge?

 

The brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing it Out, the A to Z Challenge is posting every day in April except Sundays (we get those off for good behavior.) And since there are 26 days, that matches the 26 letters of the alphabet. On April 1, blog about something that begins with the letter “A.” April 2 is “B,” April 4 is “C,” and so on. You can use a theme for the month or go random – just as long as it matches the letter of the alphabet for the day.


For this year's challenge, my theme is The Fun in Writing. Each of my 26 posts for April is aimed at illustrating fun parts of an author's day. A writer doesn't only write. Creating a story or an essay requires research, revision, editing, and lots of coffee and chocolate. For me, the chocolate part keeps me going like an energizer hare (although, between hair touch-ups, a more appropriate analogy might be old grey mare!)

*****   *****   *****

One of the most fun things a writer can do is to participate in the annual April A to Z Challenge. You will accomplish a valuable goal. And, as a blogger, you encounter a new writing technique.

By blocking your inner editor, you allow thoughts to rise from your subconscious. You have a plethora of information stored in your mind that has been accumulating since before you were aware of thought processes. Allowing thoughts to flow freely onto the page/computer screen is comparable to opening a water faucet. If you stop in mid-stream, starting to write again becomes more difficult. Thoughts that only started to surface may sink and be lost forever.

As long as you don't obstruct the stream of words, more will come.

This means not editing while you are writing the first draft of your blog post, essay, short story, or novel. The story is in your head. Let it flow onto the page.

 

BUT ... BUT ... aren’t you supposed to

Edit! Edit! Edit!

Isn’t writing all about editing!?

Yes, ULTIMATELY.

But you can’t edit what’s in your head. You need to see it on paper!

 

Writing 26 posts for the month of April is a terrific way to begin writing faster, and an excellent method for developing a new habit, one that will serve you well throughout your writing career.

 

If you want to be a writer, you must write . . . regularly.

The best way to do that is to discover

The Fun in Writing

 

Davy Crochet having fun with April A to Z Blogging Challenge

 

 

A to Z Theme Reveal Blogfest

For this year's challenge, my theme is The Fun in Writing. Each of my 26 posts for April is aimed at illustrating fun parts of an author's day. A writer doesn't only write. Creating a story or an essay requires research, revision, editing, and lots and lots of coffee and chocolate. For me, the chocolate part keeps me going like an energizer hare...


Luv this colorful bunny crafted by close friend, Kristen.
The multi-hued hare energizes me!

 

 (...although, between hair touch-ups, a more appropriate analogy might be old grey mare!)

 

Yes, I know this doesn't look like a mare, and it's not grey,

but you have to admit, he is really, really cute!

 

You may have noticed the predominance of the color brown in this post.

That's because my mind is always thinking:

 

CHOCOLATE! CHOCOLATE! CHOCOLATE!

 

In one word, my theme is FUN.

What is your theme for April, in one word?

 

Just leave one word below, and I'll visit your site to check out your theme plans.

 

 



CHERRIES JUBILEE Sweet Fun & A Tantalizing Experience

My Cherries Jubilee book blog tour has been great fun and a tantalizing learning experience for me as a writer. Like the branches of a bonsai cherry tree, I have branched out in unusual directions to meet new friends and to expand my field of knowledge.

Why would I use the word "tantalizing" to describe the tour? After all, the word derives from Tantalus, the mythical Greek king who was punished in Hades by having to stand up to his chin in water that receded whenever he bent to drink. That is how I felt during the tour, as though so many wonderful readers and fellow authors were tempting me with something I had only considered a pipe dream . . . the possibility of emerging as a viable writer. With such encouragement, I look forward to fulfilling that goal.

To everyone who interviewed me on their blog sites, to those who offered reviews of my novel, and for those who hosted my guest blog or an excerpt of my book, thank you from the bottom of my writer's grateful heart!

The winners have been announced for the Goodreads book giveaway, of FOR EVERY ACTION There Are Consequences. Congratulations to Barb and Nicky. Thank you to the other (would you believe!) 650 entrants who, by entering the contest, demonstrated their support: of Goodreads and of me.
http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/15490-for-every-action-there-are-consequences

Also, congratulations to everyone who received a free Smashwords ebook download of my novel during the tour. I hope you find the story an enjoyable and suspenseful read!

May all your days be of CHERRIES JUBILEE quality! Today is my birthday and I am now off to celebrate!