Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 67

An introspective Monday

Hello, Write Edge readers! I hope wherever you all are that you’re safe and healthy, that you’re practicing social distancing and washing your hands, and that you look to the healthcare experts for cues on when it’s safe to return to normal. People in power may have opinions and special interests driving their decisions, but I think, when it’s about your life that could be on the line, it makes more sense to listen to those who have studied and practiced medicine for decades and know the facts. We can all argue with ideology. We can’t argue with the numbers of infected and dead.

Please listen to reason instead of rhetoric.

[steps off soapbox]

And now, on to our week of content. First, I have this week’s motivational quote. Many times, when we’re pursuing a life passion, it’s because we’re driven to do so. But I’ve seen and heard many people (in my case writers) complain that they don’t have time for those passions. Do a little digging, and you realize it’s because those people have invested their time elsewhere.

That’s fine. No one said you could only pursue one hobby or life passion. By all means, enjoy many interests. Just don’t try to gain sympathy points for not having enough time. If you don’t believe me on this, check out this week’s quote from one of the all-time greats.

“Writing is work. Nobody is making you do this; you chose it, so don’t whine.”—Margaret Atwood

As for this week’s Workshop bit, this haiku just kept following me around all day. So instead of writing the story I had in mind, I decided to submit to the lyricism of haiku. The result is poetry. (I know, right? Me writing poetry.) Here’s an excerpt:

The bite in the air may say

To wait. But the sun

 

Shines to remind us

That time passes; that nature

Will not stop nor wait.

Read the full poem now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

In the middle of the week, I’ll share a brand new book review for you. On Wednesday find out what I thought of Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel. Check out the review on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

At the end of the week, it’s back to Instagram. In all honesty, I have no idea yet what I’m going to be sharing. We can find out together. That’s on Friday!

Have a fantastic day and week, readers!

E.R.G.

Parenting adventures up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest parenting adventures for you. Wondering what we’ve been up to in these last two weeks of staying at home? Here’s a quick excerpt:

In the past two weeks:

*We’ve played Checkers (where Thirteen beat me in four or five games, and I had to muster every brain cell—really—to beat her in two games.) This girl is really, really good at this game.

Read the whole post now on Growth Chart!

Stay safe, stay healthy, and continue to stay at home, readers! Early indicators show that shelter-in-place is actually working in places. Let’s keep beating this thing together.

Have a great weekend!

E.R.G.

Book review up!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on the new release Strike Me Down by Mindy Mejia. Here’s the opening to my post:

A woman must force herself to remain professional when she’s hired by a former lover for a job. The more she investigates, however, the hard she finds it to keep her personal life out of the investigation. Author Mindy Mejia delves into the fascinating world of forensic accounting and pairs it with the sporting world in her excellent new release Strike Me Down.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a fantastic day, readers!

E.R.G.

Swinging into April

Hello, Write Edge readers! We’ve made it through the first quarter of the year, although I’m sure most of you would agree with the thought that we wish we could fast-forward through this quarter. COVID-19 has challenged our world and communities in unbelievable ways. I wonder how it will shape our futures.

One way that people cope with trying times is art. The best art takes what we know and stretches it so that it encompasses all of us. This week’s motivational quote hints at this, and if you’re a creative person I would urge you to stick with your artistic pursuits. If you’re not, give something creative a try. It’ll make you feel better in ways you can’t even anticipate right now.

“Children know perfectly well that unicorns aren’t real, but they also know that books about unicorns, if they are good books, are true books.”— Ursula K. Le Guin

I’ve also posted this week’s short fiction for you. I’m in the middle of reading a book that is part spy novel, part dystopian, which probably influenced where my brain was headed for this week’s story. Here’s a quick excerpt:

He rolled his eyes.

“You and the police,” he said. “That’s all anybody talks about. ‘Did you remember anything, Max?’ ‘Who hit you, Max?’ ‘Why were you running across the street, Max?’ ‘What’s your real name, Max?’ The questions are starting to get old.”

Read the full story now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

In the middle of the week, I’ll have a brand new book review for you. Tomorrow sees the release of Strike Me Down by Mindy Mejia. On Wednesday I’ll let you know what I thought of the book. Come back for my review on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

On Friday it’s back to parenting adventures. I’ll share with you some of the highs and lows of these restricted times due to the coronavirus. Find out how our family is coping on Growth Chart.

Stay safe, wash your hands, and take care of one another, readers. We’re all in this together. Please remember that as you make decisions about social distancing.

Have a good week!

E.R.G.

Instagram updated!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest Insta-pics for you. They include a possible new novel idea and some ways I’ve been keeping busy. Find them now on Instagram with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page.

Have a fantastic weekend, readers. Stay safe and healthy!

E.R.G.

New book review up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! In this bizarre era of COVID-19 (oh, how I wish I could say it was an April Fool’s joke,) I’ve got another book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen. Here’s the opening to my review:

Two young women make an awful discovery and must decide whether they should speak up or stay quiet. Their personal challenges and the ill fate of the city where they live make their choice that much harder. If they speak up, they might expose the unsavory parts of their lives to the world. If they do nothing, people may die. Author Caitlin Mullen presents readers with the melancholic backdrop of a failing Atlantic City in her overlong novel Please See Us.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

(If you haven’t gotten kicked off the internet, that is! :D)

Stay safe, stay healthy, and wash your hands, readers!

E.R.G.

From March into April…

Good morning, Write Edge readers! Social distancing, shelter-in-place, and sincere efforts to restrain COVID-19 continue. I hope you’re all doing your part to contribute to flattening the curve. It’s hard, sure, but think about it: the entire world is in this together. Literally. So you’re not alone, even if you are.

To that end, a little motivation goes a long way. Here’s this week’s motivational quote, reminding us that even the hardest of times can be productive.

“A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.”—E.B. White

Next, it’s the last Monday of the month, which means our writers’ showcase. I’m sharing some poetry, some haunting stories, and a nonfiction article published a month ago that seems to fit our current times more than anyone could have imagined. Find all of these pieces now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

In the middle of the week, I’ll post a new book review. This Wednesday you’ll find out what I thought of Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen. Come back for that review on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

On Friday, we go back to new Instagram pics. Given the interesting times we’re living in, I honestly don’t know yet what I’m going to post. I guess we’ll all find out together, won’t we?

Parenting and podcasting

Happy Friday, Write Edge readers! I hope you’re spending your time inside learning new skills, binging on all those shows you missed, and giving one another lots of grace and love. That, more than anything, is what we need.

First, a follow-up to an announcement earlier this week. As I mentioned on Monday, I was asked to contribute to a brand new podcast that just launched today. Author r.r. campbell has started a series on The Writescast Network for writer stories, so that we can encourage one another and cheer one another one.

The first episode came out this morning, and I’m thrilled to share it with you here. Listen to my spot as well as two other writers as we talk about how we overcame our doubts to pursue our writing dreams. Listen, like, and share the podcast, especially if you a writer or are one yourself!

Second, this week’s parenting post. I’m sharing a peek into our family’s life and how we’ve managed these first two weeks of the governor’s shelter-in-place ruling. Here’s an excerpt:

“Coach was going to start me as forward,” she said, disappointment in her face and voice. “We were going to send off [all the senior players]. This was going to be their last season.”

The more she let all these things out, the more stunned she looked. It was as if she hadn’t gotten around to counting exactly how many life events had skewed to “abnormal” during this time.

Read the full post now on Growth Chart!

Have a fantastic weekend, readers! Stay safe, stay healthy, and wash your hands!

E.R.G.

Book review now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on the historical novel And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton. Here’s the opening to my post:

A young woman becomes a household name as the wife of an up-and-coming politician who gets elected president. She deals with her husband’s ongoing infidelity and helps him through the stresses of his political career, only to have it all snatched away from her in an instant. Author Stephanie Marie Thornton uses her meticulous research methods to give the world an inside look at the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the well-intentioned but long novel And They Called It Camelot.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a wonderful day, readers! (Make sure to wash your hands. :>)

E.R.G.

Crawling back toward normal…

Hello, Write Edge readers! It’s a dreary Monday afternoon here in Central Illinois, but around our house the mood is upbeat. The kids are back to school — online, that is — and they’re excited to be in touch with their teachers and friends in a structured setting again. The best part? I didn’t have to change out of my PJs all day to drive them places (well, I might have driven to school in my PJs anyway, but that’s beside the point.)

Getting back to something resembling a normal routine means we get to jump back into the fray with our regular content here on The Write Edge. First, though, I have a special announcement. On Friday, I’ll be a guest on The Writescast Network as part of their Profiles in Encouragement series! Check out this quick one-minute teaser for the podcast. I’ll be sure to let you know when it goes live later this week.

Now, on to our regularly-scheduled program. :>

First, our motivational quote. Some of what we’re hearing from around the country and the world sounds like it’s straight out of a sci-fi novel. The best stories, as many have said, come from the truth, and this week’s quote can attest to that.

“Fiction is…made-up stuff, lies, but it won’t let you lie about the important things. If you lie about the important things…it will spit it out and let you know it.”—Bipin Aurora

Next, on to this week’s short fiction. I have to confess, the inspiration for this one came from the house construction happening next door. Combine that with a little bit of research, and, well… Here’s an excerpt:

For once he wished he could climb into the basement hole and just lie there. Just enjoy the feel of the earth around him, its coolness crumbling over his fingers and face. Just breathe in the scent of nature without the smell of smoke.

That’s enough, Artie. No thoughts about smoke today. You need to leave.

Read the full story now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

COVID-19 may have kept may of us indoors, but that’s actually a bookworm’s dream come true. This Wednesday I’ll share the review of a brand new book with you. Come back to find out what I think about And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton. You check out that review on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

On Friday I’ll give you an update on the kids and what we’re up to during this time of social distancing. It’s my COVID-19 installment of Growth Chart at the end of the week!

Have a great day and week, readers. Keep calm and stay at home!

E.R.G.