Stephanie Verni's Blog, page 67

No More Blues with Blue Skies

The sun was streaming through the windows of our home this morning, and I snapped a shot…the blue sky was amazing.

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How do you get rid of the winter blues? You get blessed with a rich, blue sky, and stop for a moment to appreciate it. Today’s is extraordinary. It’s not warm just yet, but the buds are on the trees—some are even blooming, flowers are beginning to grow, and life is starting fresh again. The Easter season and spring bring a sense of renewal. It’s a time to make peace with yourself and with others, push yourself to be even better than you were last spring, and forge ahead as you make new memories. Consider doing some of those things on your checklist—go visit places you want to see, spend time making memories with your families, sit on the porch and read those books on your bookshelf, and take walks and explore. Maybe even ride your bike. Like a kid.

I can’t wait to ride mine…

I snapped a shot of the lawn in between my office and the library on Stevenson University’s campus this morning. The grass is as vibrant as the sky, and the buds are making their appearance.
This is my cute bike in a shot from a hazy, summer day last year. I may even take it for a short spin this afternoon when I get home…
Filed under: On Life Tagged: beachcomber bikes, blue skies, Easter, Featured, renewal, ride your bike, spring, springtime

Gawking at HGTV’s Show “Tiny Houses”

An example of a tiny house from Tiny Houses on HGTV. Photo credit: HGTVSo, the other night after tiring of watching primary election coverage, I flipped over to HGTV. I’m not sure why I’m back on my HGTV kick—maybe because our home renovation project is coming to a close and I have to live vicariously through other people, or perhaps because I have a genuine interest in renovation and design, or maybe both. Nevertheless, it’s back, and I clicked over and watched an episode of Tiny Houses. Then, I watched another episode. Somehow, this show becomes addicting, and I think it’s all because we cannot imagine living in something quite that minute.

Throughout the entirety of the show, I pretty much do two things: shake my head in disbelief and gawk.

I’m a tiny person, standing barely 5’1”, and I can promise you, these houses are too small for me. Never mind that some of them are lacking a stove or a proper refrigerator. Never mind that there’s barely storage (maybe just a small cubbie) for your clothes. Never mind that a small person like me wouldn’t be able to stand in the lofts in these structures, but would have to crawl on hands and knees to get around. Never mind that you would have to suck in your gut to fit into the shower. Never mind that when you want to get dressed in the morning, you would have to do it horizontally rather than vertically.

I sit and I wonder and I cannot imagine wanting to do this…actually opting to do this. My amazement grows as I listen to these homebuyers talk about the reasons they have chosen to “go smaller,” but in the back of my head my practical side is screaming — Will these tiny house purchasers actually not kill each other while confined to these petite dwellings? I don’t know about you, but if my family and I were confined to that small a space, I’m pretty sure we’d all want to strangle each other within a day of living within those walls. We are fortunate enough to live in a home where we can escape each other by going into different rooms (this is not a statement about love, of course, but a statement that we all need to have our own sanctuary—a place to go to be alone with our thoughts, hobbies, or books or magazines.) Having your own hideaway is certainly not the case in these tiny houses. Quite simply, there ain’t nowhere to hide in these tiny houses. The best you can do if you need some freedom or begin to suffer from a severe case of claustrophobia is to go outside, and you better pray your tiny house is located in a place where there is decent weather. (As someone who tries not to get caught up in the hype of the weather, but who sometimes gets sucked into The Weather Channel, these tiny homes worry me should there be a flood, severe thunderstorm, or tornado. If damaging weather rolls into town, you can pretty much expect to rotate in the twister along with Dorothy and The Wicked Witch.)

When the camera paned to the kitchen area, my sensibilities went on high alert. Seriously, where in the name of God do you put your groceries in these tiny houses? These people can’t possibly go to the supermarket every day and buy things for dinner each night. One Tiny Houses episode featured a family who relocated from Virginia to California. They owned a nice colonial style home in Virginia, rode in an RV to get to California, and now the husband, who is military, and the wife, who is a doula, want a house on wheels. Amazing. I kind of got their sense of spirit until I realized they had four kids—three boys and a teenage girl. When they picked Tiny House #2, I nearly screamed at the television, demanding to know why…why…why the hell did they pick that house??? Couldn’t they see that House #1 was perfect for them if they wanted this tiny lifestyle? They claimed that #1 was too big. The daughter would have had her own room in #1 and would not have ended up in a loft where she couldn’t sit up in her bed as was the case with #2. The boys—three of them—ended up sharing an area that had two bunks and they added another bed to it. This is all fine and dandy for now, but what the hell happens in a couple of years when these young boys grown into teenagers? Surely, as they grow, this tiny house will become positively miniature.

This one is SOOOOO tiny! Photo credit: HGTVPlease hear me clearly—I know the show is trendy and this idea of smaller homes with little to no mortgage is appealing. My family’s home is moderate size…we do not have a living room or a dining room, so we don’t live in a gargantuan McMansion. But these tiny houses…I just can’t fathom it.

Living in a Tiny House might be fun for a week, maybe, as a little “adventure,” but these people who live in these Tiny Houses…I have to applaud their mettle.

What they need to do is a follow-up show to see how many of them actually made it and lasted more than a year.

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Featured, HGTV, HGTV TIny Houses, living in a small house, small houses, Tiny Houses

Please Don’t Squeeze the Charmin or Do Any of THESE Things

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I’ve been toying with the idea of this post for a few days now, and it’s based on some recent and past behavior I’ve come across; I just didn’t know how to begin. Then, like a flash, I remembered the great television commercial from the 1970s with Mr. Whipple squeezing the Charmin. It’s funny to think about people talking about toilet paper in this glowing way back in the 1970s. Charmin must have really tapped into something, because the catch phrase, “Please, don’t squeeze the Charmin,” became incredibly popular.

Mr. Whipple didn’t want people squeezing the Charmin, despite its irresistible softness.

I, on the other hand, don’t mind if you squeeze the Charmin, but I do mind if you do some of these things that I find rather irksome. I’ve seen some behavior over the last few days that prompted me to write this snarky post. Forgive me for blowing off some steam.

#1–Please don’t grimace and curse in your car because you have to let pedestrians and bikers pass on the crosswalk. The other day, my family and I were on our way to dinner when we were stopped at a light near the B&A Trail in Severna Park. A woman became quite enraged that she had to stop for pedestrians, and she didn’t hold back her potty mouth, allowing all sorts of obscenities to fly because she had to stop momentarily. I was hoping my daughter didn’t see her behavior, but unfortunately, she did. It’s generally not a good idea to get that mad over a situation like that. If she becomes agitated by that, what the hell else does she get mad about?

#2–Please don’t connect with me on Instagram or Twitter (I accept readily unless the party is in question or is vulgar or not PG-rated) only to turn around 24-hours later to disconnect with me so that you build up your followers account. If you are in it to solely bump up your followers and do not want to reciprocate the follow, it’s phony, and I don’t have time for that. Some of these people who have 21,000 or more followers and reach out to follow you hoping you will follow them back will only turn around and unfollow you days later. Do you follow? It’s so obsequious and annoying.

#3–Please don’t bring your whole family into the library and TALK LOUDLY AS IF THE WHOLE WORLD SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON YOU! I was in my local library yesterday grading papers when this woman, her kids and husband walked in with the decibels turned WAY UP! People were trying to work in the library, and while I know kids have a kids area and can be loud there (this is fine…I have no problem with this at all…I do remember what it is like to have small children), in this particular case, it wasn’t the kids who were loud, but the woman. She came in the door almost shouting at her kids. I think everyone in the place was a little stunned by it.

#4–Please don’t yell at me for letting an elderly woman go in front of me in the express grocery store line. If I choose to let a woman hop in front of me who is a senior and who is clearly struggling to accomplish the task of getting a few items from the supermarket, shame on you for trying to reprimand me publicly for being a Good Samaritan. You can wait the extra three minutes for the sweet woman to purchase the seven things in her cart so she can get home. Luckily, I have a mouth that works, and I told the aggressor to shove off.

#5–Please don’t tell me who I should vote for…ever. I am quite capable of making up my own mind, as are millions of other Americans. I spend countless hours dissecting the issues and comparing the candidates. Additionally, I don’t need the media to try to sway me or to bad mouth candidates, either. As someone who teaches journalism, it is a sad state to see media outlets with agendas–no matter which side you stand for–and to watch the deterioration of news coverage as it becomes more and more slanted and subjective and less and less objective. All I need are the facts; I can take it from there.

#6–Please don’t make my child feel inept for missing a ball in the infield, or for anything else he or she does when trying hard. A few years ago, one of my son’s coaches yelled “lazy” when my child missed an infield pop-up. It was Little League ball, for God’s sake, and my kid was a competent, scrappy little player who always tried hard. I didn’t handle this well. This sort of humiliation is why team sports get a bad name sometimes. Remember coaches: These are kids just out there to have fun. ESPN was not waiting on the warning track to do a live remote.

#7–Please don’t ever tell someone they can’t do something or make them feel small for trying. As a teacher, this is probably one of my biggest pet peeves. So much of what we do or what makes up our goals comes from our heart and our own belief in ourselves. Once you kill someone’s spirit, unless he or she is tough as nails, it could have long-lasting negative effects. Some can rise above hate-mongering or being belittled for dreaming and reaching for the stars, while others may need more nurturing and guidance. People who enjoy bursting other people’s bubbles are probably insecure themselves, however, think twice before you say something that might discourage someone from really going for it.

I think I’ll stop there. Sorry readers—I haven’t written one of these in a while and it felt good to get a few things off my chest.

I feel better now.

:-)

 

 

Filed under: On Life Tagged: blowing off some steam, Featured, getting some things off my chest, Please don't, snarky, writing about things

All The Books We Want to Read | Building Your Summer Reading List

My Spring & Summer Reading Pile of Books | Steph’s Scribe

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Today is my last weekday of spring break, and I’m about to finish up some spring cleaning and attack some final grading. Additionally, I stacked up my summer reading list; that is, I have made a pile of books I want to read this summer. It gives me something to look forward to—seriously. I thoroughly enjoy summer days spent by the pool or beach reading.

I’m currently reading After You by Jojo Moyes. It is the sequel to Me Before You. So far, I’m enjoying it. I’m a big fan of Jojo Moyes, and I don’t expect to be let down at all. Her easy, yet vivid writing along with punchy dialogue makes her one of my all-time favorites. On my CD in the car (I have a 40-minute commute to work each way), I am listening to Adrianna Trigiani’s The Shoemaker’s Wife. I know I will love this one as well. After I finish After You, it’s on to this month’s book club book our group picked—a lighter read, as we have read a lot of heavy WWI and WWII books lately—Sophie Kinsella’s Can You Keep A Secret? That should be fun.

The books on my list are pictured above. There are so many more I’d like to add to the list, but for now, this is the starting point.

If you are reading this and had me as a writing professor, you can hopefully answer this not-so-trick question: How do we become better writers?

We become better readers.

Just read. Read a lot. Read what you like.

But always be reading.

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If you’ve read anything lately that you thought was outstanding, fun, light, or intriguing, help me grow my reading list by offering some suggestions. I love to hear what you are all enjoying.

 

Filed under: On Life Tagged: books, Featured, keep reading, reading and writing, reading list, summer reading list

Springtime in Annapolis

This morning I decided to do a little research for the novel I’m working on—yes, I’m writing again, and I’ve got two chapters under my belt thus far. However, despite the fact that I’ve lived in the Annapolis area for quite a while, I wanted to take a stroll along some of the streets I don’t normally walk around when my daughter and I shop down there. We typically hit Main Street and the Annapolis Dock, get an ice cream or coffee, and wander around the shops. Today, I stayed up by St. John’s College and Maryland Avenue, popping in and out of Prince George Street, King George Street, East Street, and College Avenue. I was looking for some inspiration. When I write about something, I need to have a good image in my head of the setting–of exactly where my characters will live and breathe. With help from a lovely woman I met this morning named Jenny, who offered up some history of the area and some people with whom she thought I should meet, I’m getting really excited about this novel.

So with my Nikon in hand and the quiet streets of a weekday morning in Annapolis at my feet, I’m sharing the photographs I took from a morning’s walking tour of Annapolis…

My first book was set in Annapolis. I guess the old adage is true: write what you know.

Beneath the Mimosa Tree, my first novel, is set in Annapolis.
Filed under: On Life Tagged: Annapolis, Beneath the Mimosa Tree, city of Annapolis, Featured, historic Annapolis, Maryland, State Circle, writing a novel

5 Sure-Fire Ways To Boost Creativity

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In the textbook I co-authored with Dr. Leeanne Bell McManus and Chip Rouse about Event Planning, we have an entire chapter dedicated to creativity. This is one of my absolute favorite topics to discuss—with friends, with fellow writers, with students, with my children, and with colleagues. Maintaining a sense of creativity is important in so many careers; in fact, there are very few careers that do not value some sort of creativity and innovation.

However, the tricky part comes in when we, as people who can often be stretched balancing work and family/friends life, find ourselves zapped of creative impulses and notions. If this describes you right now, don’t despair. It has described me countless times before as well. Luckily, your creativity will find it’s way to you in good time. It’s cyclical—it comes back around. But how can we foster it and encourage it to return?

For years, I’ve been reading articles on creativity, from one of my favorite articles called Creativity and the Role of the Leader from the Harvard Business School to writers who discuss fostering creativity. There is so much still to learn about creativity and how to nurture it and develop it, but over the years, I’ve found several things that work for me and I thought I’d share them with you today.

#1: Read a Lot

No matter what career field you find yourself in presently, you should always be reading up on innovations within your area of work. If you are a teacher, read publications, blogs, books, and websites that could offer you information and help spark your creativity. For example, just the other day, I read a fascinating article from The Chronicle of Higher Education about how to end the last few minutes of class and help students remember the key points that were made during that lecture. As a college professor, I never quite thought about ending my course in this manner; however, now that I’ve read that piece, I am keen on giving that particular tip a try. Ideas are shared everywhere, and it’s your job to tap into those readings that can help you with your creativity. As an author, I read a lot of other writers—reading their work helps me spark ideas for my own fictional writing as I observe plot, characters, dialogue, setting, and more as I delve into each particular novel I read.

Photo credit: Discover.point.edu

#2: Get Out of the House

When you are sitting at a computer or trying to create a project and things are not going the way you planned or you are staring at a blinking cursor, get your butt out of the chair and go for a walk or run, visit a museum, have lunch in a sidewalk café, stroll the aisles of a library—do whatever it takes to change the scenery. I know that frustration can sometimes get the better of me, so just moving my body away from it for a few minutes invites clarity and perspective to return and helps me continue along with my project.

#3: Brainstorm

Brainstorming started back in 1953, and the idea was coined by Alex Osborn (we have a whole section on this in our textbook). Brainstorming is a great way to start a project when you feel stuck. Putting a lot of ideas to paper, putting them on a chalkboard, writing them in your journal, or creating a mind map are all ways to begin the brainstorming process. The best part about brainstorming? At this early stage of creativity, the best part about brainstorming is that NO IDEA IS A BAD IDEA. Sometimes the craziest notions become the strongest contenders. Push yourself to facilitate some quality brainstorming—you may just come up with the most innovative idea you’ve ever had.

Photo credit: JSHA.com

#4: Believe in Your Own Creativity

As an educator, I cannot tell you how many times I hear students say, “I’m just not that creative.” I’ve even heard people who are writers say, “I just don’t know if I can finish this thing—I’m really not that creative.” While it’s true some people are just naturally gifted with creativity, it doesn’t mean that you are not. It’s like anything else in life: if you believe you can achieve it, you probably will. Shoo those demons out of your head that tell you that you aren’t creative; ignore the comments you may hear from others; dig down deep within yourself and believe that you not only can be creative, but that you already ARE creative. This belief will carry you through any project that requires a great deal of creativity.

#5: Have Fun with Creativity

Way too often, we put pressure on ourselves that everything we create must be perfect. Good Grief—if I thought everything I created had to be perfect, I never would have published my two novels (trust me, I could still be editing Novel #1 if I didn’t finally say to myself, “It’s done. Put the sucker out there.” At some point I had to let it go.) Creativity is not an end-all-be-all. It’s a continuum, a circuitous path we must embrace. Sometimes our creativity will be at an all-time high; at other times, it may not be as stellar. But guess what? It’s all okay. We are mean to have fun with it. Keep going, keep having fun.

 

I won’t deny that it took a ton of creativity to write these books, but as with all projects, there are highs and lows. You just have to stick with it, believe in yourself, and have fun with it. You CAN do it.

I hope these ideas help you embrace creativity, when it comes, when it doesn’t, when it’s frustrating, and when it’s amazingly stellar. We’ve all had bouts of highs and lows with our creativity.

The important thing is to persevere. Creativity is meant for you, after all.

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Baseball Girl, Beneath the Mimosa Tree, Cal Ripken Commemorative, Creativity, Creativity and the Role of the Leader, education and creativity, Event Planning: Communicating Theory and Practice, Featured, finding your creativity, tips for creativity, writers, writers and creativity, writing

The Unending Appeal of The Book Store & Wine Bar

Photo credit: Capital-Gazette

In today’s world of hustle and bustle, working late hours and weekends, barely finding time to do our laundry or run to the grocery store, there is something that is still appealing: the thought of plunking our butts in a chair at a local bookstore, enjoying some down time, and drinking a cup of coffee. The idea of the local, independent bookstore harkens back to a simpler time when there was a place to gather and provided a sense of community. While the large national bookstores are great and definitely serve a purpose, there has been something lacking from our cities and towns: a place to gather and share a sense of culture. The good news is, these indie bookstores are popping up; to read more about their resurgence, click here to see a previous post I wrote recently about this particular subject.

The Annapolis Book Store on Maryland Avenue

In Annapolis, we have The Annapolis Bookstore on Maryland Avenue in the historic area. If you are planning a trip to our lovely city, I suggest stopping in to browse some books and have a cup of coffee. While this is one example, it is the only one in Annapolis. Our outlying suburbs could use more of these types of places, and I long for one in Severna Park. If only I didn’t have a really good job and kids to get through college, I might consider opening up one of my own…

Likewise, the appeal of the wine bar—a relaxing place to hang out with your friends and eat small plates, drink a glass of wine, and enjoy an intimate atmosphere—continues to develop. As an alternate to a traditional bar, independent wine bars tend to be popular with ladies and couples, and offer another type of night out, especially for people like me who may not want to listen to hammering music or a live band, but prefer softer music or an acoustic performer which allows conversation to take place without shouting over the music.

In my hometown of Annapolis, there are three very good wine bars: Red Red Wine Bar on Main Street in Annapolis, Vin 909 in Eastport on Bay Ridge Avenue, and Grapes Wine Bar of Annapolis on Forest Drive. Each of these places offers customers a place to gather, drink wine, and share an evening together.

Red Red Wine | Annapolis
Grapes Wine Bar | Annapolis
Vin 909 | Eastport | Annapolis

For those of us who live in the suburbs but don’t mind going out in our cities, we are thankful for the bookstores and coffee houses that are there for us and act as a source of entertainment. Sometimes we just want to get out of the house, and the only thing I’m hoping for is that this trend will continue to grow and offer us even more options, even in the suburbs.

 

 

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Annapolis, bookstores, coffee houses, Featured, Grapes Wine Bar Annapolis, Maryland, Red Red Wine Bar Annapolis, Severna Park, Vin 909 Annapolis, wine bars

Missing Downton Abbey? 10 Light Period Films to Help Fill The Void

Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott in Ever After.

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As Downton Abbey is gone and we are all missing the engaging period drama that filled our lives for the last six years, I thought I’d try to help fill that void for you by offering up some of the 10 best period films. Mind you—this list does not include all the heavier period films that can make us cry or bring on a bout of depression. Films such as Atonement, The English Patient, and The Remains of the Day are not on this list.

Instead, this list encompasses the lighter period films similar to Downton Abbey whereby a little bit of drama blends with a lot of light fun. All of these are appropriate for families, so if your family enjoyed watching Downton together, perhaps you can snuggle in with some of these wonderful period flicks.

I’ll be counting down to my favorite, starting with number ten:

10. A Month By the Lake, 1995

A light, romantic comedy starring Vanessa Redgrave, Edward Fox, and Uma Thurman. In 1913, a spinster named Miss Bentley (Vanessa Redgrave) enjoyed spending her summer holiday in Lake Como, Italy, with her father before World War I. In 1937, she decides to return to Lake Como after the death of her father for a month’s holiday where she meets a bachelor named Major Wilshaw (Edward Fox) and becomes enamored with him until a young American girl arrives (Uma Thurman).

9. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, 2008

This sweet story of governess Guinevere Pettigrew, played by Frances McDormand, will pull at your heartstrings. Miss Pettigrew is middle-aged and out of work, seeking food from the bread line. When she initiates a quality job out of desperation, things begin to change and happen for Miss Pettigrew, including a little bit of romance.

8. Miss Potter, 2006

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I adore this film about author Beatrix Potter. It’s a fast-paced film that allows you to quickly get to know this writer, philanthropist, environmentalist, and independent woman. Acted beautifully by Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor, the sweeping scenery and romance of the film will quickly take you into the charming world of Beatrix Potter.

7. Ladies in Lavendar, 2004

When two spinster ladies find a young man near death on the beach and realize he is a famous violinist from Poland, a bit of melancholy and infatuation take place. If you are missing Violet from Downton Abbey, look no further. Maggie Smith and Judi Dench play the sisters in this lovely, sweet drama that takes place in a fishing village in Cornish.

6. Anne of Green Gables, 1985

Shame on you if you haven’t enjoyed this adorable period piece based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s book of the same name. You’ll follow Anne, played by Megan Follows, and crew as she gets into all sorts of trouble, blaming it all on her red “carrot” hair and the fact that she is an orphan. You will be touched, laugh, and enjoy all of Anne’s antics. Set on Prince Edward Island, some of the scenery shots will take your breath away.

5. Ever After, 1998

Somehow, I never grow tired of this film. Drew Barrymore portrays the kind of Cinderella I’d like to have been, giving her some gumption, grit, and hard-core determination. The relationship between Cinderella and her evil stepmother, played by Anjelica Huston, is quirky, yes, but Huston does a magnificent job of portraying a stepmother full of resentment. In the end, you’ll love the Prince, who has a few things to learn on his own. We are even treated to the character of Leonardo di Vinci, as he is a part of the story as an added bonus.

4. The Young Victoria, 2009

Emily Blunt is fantastic as Queen Victoria. While this one is not as lighthearted as the others, it is a well-done film that depicts the extraordinary loving relationship between Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, of Belgium, played by Rupert Friend. This film moves quickly, and I remember wanting more of it when it was all over.

(Blogger’s Note: Here come the Jane Austen films…)

3. Emma, 1996

I know many people think this is Austen’s best work—and I do like it very much—but it would be my third favorite of the films. Emma is a matchmaker who wants the best for her friend, Harriet, until she realizes that maybe the friend is in love with the man she, herself, is in love with. This adorable movie stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma and Toni Collette as Harriett.

2. Sense and Sensibility, 1995

What could be better than Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, and Greg Wise? Not much. In this Jane Austen adaptation, we find two sisters, along with their mother and other sister, after the loss of their father and left with no inheritance. The story follows Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as they triumph in love…with a few bumps along the way. Greg Wise plays a fantastic Willoughby.

1. Pride and Prejudice, 2005 OR, Pride and Prejudice, 1995, Mini-series

I give you two choices with this one, and both are excellent. If you love Colin Firth and want to spend many nights with him, pick up the mini-series. If you want a beautiful, shorter version and are fans of Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen, then watch that version. Both follow the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy well. You will be engaged and besotted with both versions as I am—I find it difficult to pick a favorite between the two because I think they both do Austen proud.

Or maybe, just watch them both.

Wrap Up

I know I’ve probably missed some of your favorites, so if I have, please let me know. I’ll orchestrate a list at some point of my favorite DRAMATIC period pieces, as opposed to these that are a little lighter. But if I know Downton fans as I think I do, we don’t really want to be sobbing for hours at the end of the films.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Downton Abbey, entertainment and films, Featured, films, lighter films, lighter period dramas, movies, writing about movies

A Really Short Story Told in Text Messages—Friday Fiction

Leaving

She picked up the cellphone. The text message simply said, “Very clever.” It was his response to the previous text she had sent which stated, “It took me all this time to lose my mind…what on earth made you think I would want a piece of yours?”

She could picture him standing there holding his phone looking at her words and smiling. She liked the image of him doing that.

The funny thing was, she didn’t feel very clever in general. In fact, she felt quite inept, singularly stupid, and deliriously daft. She had only known him for a few weeks. What was she thinking? How could she have become so enamored so immediately? This behavior was unconscionable, ridiculous, juvenile. It went against every feminist bone she had in her body—her successful job, her financial independence, and moreover, the ability only to have to answer to herself.

“I’m not so sure how clever it is,” she typed.

“You know u r…and beautiful 2.”

She placed the last bit of stuff into her luggage and zipped it shut. She took a look around at the boxes that filled the apartment one last time, sat on the edge of her bed, and cried.

“Not so sure about anything, actually,” she typed into her phone.

“You r. U r just scared,” it beeped back.

***

This week’s Friday Fiction began with this short sentence prompt: The text message simply said, “Very clever.” I wanted to write a super short one to challenge myself to set a scene and feel a mood.

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Featured, Flash Fiction, leaving, life as a text message, love, love story, short stories, stories, story in text messages, suitcases, text messages

That Magic Moment When It All Clicks—Writing A New Novel

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Here’s how this story goes…

I published Beneath the Mimosa Tree in 2012. Baseball Girl followed three years later, and this week I am celebrating it’s one-year anniversary as it launched last March 6. At the time I began writing my first novel, I had simultaneously started writing another bit of fiction. When I had to make the choice between the two in which to fully invest my time, I picked Beneath the Mimosa Tree because it had been a story that had lodged itself in my brain for 20 years. I have no regrets about publishing it, and I always feel a sort of sentimental sweetness about that book.

After Beneath the Mimosa Tree was published, I went back to the “other” piece of writing. Standing at about 43,000 words (which pretty much equates to almost half of a novel), I stopped writing. Something wasn’t working for me. That is when my dear friend, Julie, said to me quite frankly: “I don’t know why you don’t write a book about baseball.” You see, Julie and I worked in baseball together for many years at the Baltimore Orioles and were both directors of departments. The idea whet my appetite, and I found myself abandoning the other 43,000-word work in favor of what became Baseball Girl, a multi-layered love story about a female professional who secures a job in professional baseball in the front office of a baseball team after the loss of her father. I was thrilled to write this storyline because I could base some of the characters’ stories on real-life work experiences that my friends and I had while working in the sport while fictionalizing much of it as well. It was great fun, and I’m pleased with the result of that work.

But now, finally, all these years later, something has clicked, and I have dusted off that neglected manuscript that I put aside twice. I know exactly what I want this story to be, how I want the characters’ lives to unfold, and I feel a real sense of purpose for this project. I attribute this light bulb’s illumination to the fact that I’ve been reading a lot again for pleasure, and this breadth of exposure and interpretation has helped me form clearer ideas for the arc of the story, the depth of the characters, the humor I want to infuse into their situations, and the picturesque quality I want to bring to the storyline. I am not afraid of deleting much of what I have already written and blowing it up and starting all over again.

Ideally, this should be the life of a fearless writer–and a good editor. Get rid of shit that is not working and start all over again. And so, the job is in front of me, and I welcome it with open arms.

As writers, sometimes we sit and wonder when the big “ah-ha” moment will come to pass. If we sweat about it too much, it may never flutter down from the creative hemisphere and grab us and shake us and say, “Um…hello! There’s a big idea here and you better grab it before it goes off searching for someone else to write it.”

 

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Baseball Girl, Beneath the Mimosa Tree, Creativity, editing a novel, Featured, fiction writing, writers, writing a novel