Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 73

A week for gratitude…

Good morning, Write Edge readers! It’s the week of Thanksgiving and a week of giving thanks. My day started with the news that a story I’d submitted to a writing contest didn’t make the cut. It didn’t even get an honorable mention. It saddened me, but then I was reminded (by my children, no less) that I can still be grateful.

And I am, truly and deeply. Without the Internet, I wouldn’t have met so many incredible writing friends. Without WordPress, I wouldn’t have taken myself seriously as a writer. Without the inspiration from others doing exactly what I’m doing, I wouldn’t be so dead set on working my novel every day.

So I’m grateful for that rejection. It’ll make the big acceptances later that much sweeter.

To that end, I’m sharing this week’s motivational quote. It actually hearkens back to this idea of gratitude and not winning in this moment. Because it’s when we lose in the short term that our resolve gets tested. For those of you pursuing life passions, be deeply grateful for those losses:

“I need to tell a story. It’s an obsession. Each story is a seed inside of me that starts to grow and grow, like a tumor, and I have to deal with it sooner or later.”—Isabel Allende

It’s the last Monday of November, and that means our monthly writers showcase. Right off the bat, I’m sharing with you the winner of the contest that I referenced at the top of the post. I didn’t place in the contest, but many other immensely talented writers did. Check out the first-place winner as well as other writing, including a poem and an inversion of an old fairy tale, from across the web on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

In the middle of the week, I’ll share my latest book review. This Wednesday I’ll let you know what I thought of Mary Higgins Clark’s latest novel Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry. Come back for that on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

And speaking of those kids of mine, we go back to Growth Spurts this Friday. Come back at the end of the week to find out what we’ve been up to in my house on Growth Chart!

Have a wonderful week, readers, and be sure to take a moment to be grateful for something in your lives!

E.R.G.

Insta-pics posted!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest pictures on Instagram. Find out what I’m reading, where I go to write, and how I plan to take over the world.

Book review now up!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on Lisa Scottoline’s newest novel Someone Knows. Here’s the opening to my post:

Twenty years after witnessing a horrific event in secret, a woman goes back to her hometown. This time, however, she’s determined to face the others involved in the secret and make things right. Author Lisa Scottoline stretches the limits of plausibility in her latest thriller, Someone Knows.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.

As the weather becomes grayer…

Hello, Write Edge readers! What a gray, gray day in Central Illinois today. It reminded me of my years living in the Pacific Northwest. Summers were beautiful (as you can see from the header image above,) but winters provided a challenge because of the endless stretches of rainy weather without the sun appearing for weeks, and sometimes months on end. Today reminded me of those years.

Sometimes, though, the grayness can be a blessing. It can offer a blanket above us to keep us from being distracted from our life passions. The sunshine is beautiful, invigorating even, and also enticing. It can lure us away from the big goals. You know, those pursuits that make us wake up first thing in the morning with excitement or that sustain us through — what else? — gray days.

That takes us to today’s motivational quote. Once again, it’s about writing, but, really, you could substitute anything for “writing” and the quote could apply. The point is, anything worth having is worth working for.

“Writing something is almost as hard as making a table. With both you are working with reality, a material just as hard as wood. Basically very little magic and a lot of hard work are involved.”—Gabriel Garcia Marquez

And now for today’s short story. I came across this writing prompt the other day, and it immediately brought to mind my novel. Although I’m knee-deep in my second draft, I wanted to share a scene with you that is an extra. This isn’t in the book and won’t be, but it provides a little insight into the story. Here’s a quick excerpt:

The sun cleared the tops of the buildings in the village square. For a moment Quinn stopped and blinked against the morning light. How could a new day start with such terrible news?

Hmm. Maybe sun-filled days aren’t necessarily the best after all.

Parenting adventures posted!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest parenting adventures for you. Here’s a quick peek at what you’ll find:

Are you tired of your current career? Do you feel like your friends are moving up the ladder faster than you are? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to spend time with contentious middle schoolers?

Introducing our brand new training program called “Parenting Tweens!”

Read the full Chart (and all program details :D) on Growth Chart now!

Have a fantastic week, readers!

E.R.G.

A little something extra to keep you warm

Hello, Write Edge readers! It’s Wednesday, and, yes, I know I was supposed to be here two days ago for you. Between the kids having the day off on Monday for Veteran’s Day, the snow coming down in torrents, and me working on my novel…well, it was a day when some things (like meeting my novel writing goals for the week) got done and others didn’t.

It’s still pretty cold here in Central Illinois, and as meteorologists tell us most of the country is experiencing some sort of chilly effects (even if that means it’s 60 degrees where you’d normally have 80!) To that end, I thought I’d give you something a little extra to keep you warm — all the content I would have normally posted so far in the week here today.

First, this week’s motivational quote. Hey, just ’cause it’s Wednesday doesn’t mean we couldn’t use a little bit of inspiration, right? Hopefully, writers, it’ll make you smile and also think at the same time:

“The writer who breeds

More words than he needs

Is making a chore

For the reader who reads.”—Dr. Seuss

Next, I’m posting this week’s short story. I know, I know, it’s not Monday — what’s UP with all this?

Instagram posts!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve updated my Instagram posts for you. Check them out with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page (which also has other fun content.)

Have a great weekend, readers! (And stay warm. It’s chilly out there!)

E.R.G.

Book review now up!

Good morning, Write Edge, readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on the newly-leased novel The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. Here’s the opening to my review:

A woman, adopted at a young age, finds out the truth about her identity and receives an inheritance all at the same time. As she digs deeper into her past, however, she begins to realize that its secrets are darker than she could have ever imagined. Author Lisa Jewell returns with her latest thriller that will keep readers guessing until the end but leave them hanging in her new novel The Family Upstairs.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a lovely day, readers!

E.R.G.

And we’re into November!

Hello, Write Edge readers! Can you believe it, the penultimate month of the year? (I love that word, “penultimate.” It just sounds so fun when you say it. :D) In other words, we’re almost to Thanksgiving. Which is almost to December. And Christmas. And family and good food and time off…and snow. Okay, so maybe I’m not a big fan of everything this time of year has to offer, but there are plenty of good things.

Like good writing. I’ve been going gangbusters on my novel, and I’m having way more fun than should be allowed. I get excited to sit in front of my computer every day, and I’m grinning when I’m done. So, hopefully, if this novel ever gets sold and published, you’ll be able to enjoy all the excitement with me. But in the meantime, I have plenty of other good content to keep you engaged.

First, this week’s motivational quote. I love this in particular, because it’s a reminder that most events in our day are really not going to make or break us. They may discourage us; they may motivate us to shoot higher. But in the end, it’s what we do with those events that determines whether our dreams come true.

“If you get a great review, it’s really thrilling for about ten minutes. If you get a bad review, it’s really crushing for ten minutes. Either way, you go on.”—Ann Patchett

Next, this week’s short story. If you read it, you’ll know that I was having way too much fun envisioning this scenario. I don’t know if my friend in law enforcement would nod his head at the fact that it sounds somewhat plausible or just roll his eyes at me. Either way, it was a blast to write. Here’s an excerpt:

Clara pushed past me and ripped her purse open at the same time. She held up her gun. My heart was pumping so hard, I was afraid I’d die of cardiac arrest right there. Forget the backup, I needed an ambulance.

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

On Wednesday, I’ll offer you a brand new book review. This time I’m sharing my thoughts on the upcoming release The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. Find my thoughts in the middle of the week on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

And on Friday, we’re back to Instagram posts. There are some dreary days lined up for Central Illinois this week, as for much of the country, so I hope my posts brighten up your day. Find older Insta-pics with my handle @EktaRGarg or on my Facebook author page (where you’ll also find other fun content that I don’t post anywhere else.)

Have a fantastic week, readers!

E.R.G.

Newest Growth Spurts now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest parenting adventures for you. Here’s a quick excerpt:

“Can you imagine doing this without cell phones?” Eleven asked.

“We did,” I said. “We didn’t have cell phones when I was a kid.”

Read all of the Spurts now on Growth Chart.

Have a great weekend, readers!

E.R.G.