Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 89
October 17, 2018
Midweek postings
Good morning, Write Edge readers! Yes, I realize it’s Wednesday and not Monday. I could have posted on Monday and I could also come up with a fancy, convoluted reason why I didn’t. Truth? I was goofing off a little bit.
Yes, even dedicated writers do that once in a while. :>
But I’m back, and as part of my penance I’ve posted both Monday and Wednesday’s content. Before that, however, it’s time for our Monday Motivational Quote (yeah, yeah, not Monday. Motivation is just as valuable in the middle of the week as it is at the beginning of it.) While Maya Angelou talks about writing, you can substitute any life passion you’re pursuing in the place of the words “to write.” No matter what goals you have or what path you follow, you need to do it with full heart.
“The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides right through the brain and goes straight to the heart.”—Maya Angelou, American poet and author
Next comes this week’s short story. I had no idea, when I sat down to write it, that I would hit upon the holidays. That’s part of the magic and mystery of crafting stories! Here’s an excerpt:
The sting of her loneliness refused to soften, however, and she kept fighting the urge to get angry at Tony. She’d spent so much time getting angry at so many other people. Part of her didn’t see the harm in adding another person to the list; another part of her didn’t have the energy to do so.
Read the whole story now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
Last on the list for today is this week’s book review. I read Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris. Here’s the opening to my post on the book:
A reporter makes a choice that changes his career and threatens the livelihood of a family. When he decides to reverse his decision, he’ll need to use all of his skills to make things right again for all involved. Author Kristina McMorris transports readers to the depths of the Depression and makes 1930s New York City and Philadelphia come alive in her excellent novel Sold on A Monday.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Which leaves Growth Chart this coming Friday. Which will get posted. :>
Thanks for your patience and support, readers! Talk to you again in a couple of days!
E.R.G.
October 12, 2018
Newest parenting adventures posted!
Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest parenting adventures for you. Check out this excerpt:
“Tomorrow’s going to be the worst day ever,” Ten said. “An orthodontist checkup and a dentist checkup in the same week?”
“Well, they weren’t in the same week,” Twelve reasoned. “Your orthodontist appointment was last Wednesday, and the dental cleaning is tomorrow. On Thursday.”
Read all the Spurts now on Growth Chart!
Have a wonderful day, readers!
E.R.G.
October 10, 2018
Latest review posted!
Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest review for you to peruse. Here’s the opening to my review on A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult:
A gunman takes hostages in a women’s health center to make a statement about abortion. The hostage negotiator learns that his daughter is inside the center and fights to keep his composure. The gunman, the negotiator, his daughter, and the other people in the center live through the most tense day of their lives as the hours unfold. Author Jodi Picoult brings her strengths as researcher and compassionate listener to a sensitive and timely issue in A Spark of Light, a book that, unfortunately, doesn’t live up to her previous novels.
Find the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Have a great day, readers!
E.R.G.
October 8, 2018
Hello, Write Edge readers! Another week of writing, both ...
Hello, Write Edge readers! Another week of writing, both online here at The Write Edge and offline in other projects. I have a great quote for you today from one of the most beloved authors of all time. Use this to motivate you for your own writing or any other life passion you’re pursuing:
“If you are interested in something…go at it full speed. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it…become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good.”—Roald Dahl
Every time I sit down to write, I try to follow Dahl’s advice and embrace the few minutes or (when I’m lucky) the hour I have to write. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t. But the intention is always there, and when I go back and read older works of mine I see the growth of that intention.
With that in mind, I’ve posted this week’s short fiction. Here’s an excerpt:
I snuck a look at my hands a few times when the other guys weren’t looking. Sure, I didn’t build the whole thing all by myself. If I had, it would have either taken about 15 years or it would have started tilting to the side and hit bottom the same way I did before I got help. But I was a part of making a building.
Read the whole story now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
In the middle of the week, I’ll share a brand new book review with you. Bestselling author Jodi Picoult is back this month with her latest novel, A Spark of Light. Come back on Wednesday to The Write Edge Bookshelf to find out what I thought of her newest work!
Finally, I realize I failed to post last week’s Growth Chart, but that won’t happen this week. I’ve got some new Spurts to share. Join me on Friday for my latest parenting adventures on Growth Chart!
Have a wonderful week, readers!
E.R.G.
October 3, 2018
Book review up!
Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review. Here’s the opening to my thoughts on #FashionVictim by Amina Akhtar:
A woman obsessed with her coworker must compete with her for a promotion. She’ll stop at nothing to reach that higher level, even if that means resorting to murder. Author Amina Akhtar shocks readers and invites them into her bizarre world that hits all the right story elements in her debut novel #FashionVictim.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Have a great day, readers!
E.R.G.
October 1, 2018
Revising indifference
Hello, Write Edge readers! I hope you’ve had a lovely start to your day. I would have posted this earlier today, but I hadn’t finished with my short story for this week yet. More on that in a moment.
First, let’s start the week off with some motivation! Here’s your quote to encourage you through the week, no matter what life passion you’re pursuing. I saw this on a billboard here in town and loved it right away:
“Stay afraid, but do it anyway.” —Caren Kreger, artist, via
#goodtypetuesday challenge
Now on to that story. I wrote the first drafter earlier in the day and let it sit in the back of my head as I went through the rest of the day. It kept bugging me, although I couldn’t figure out what. When I sat down to read it again, I realized what bothered me about it: it across as indifferent.
I started picking at it. I began editing, revising, brainstorming. All of a sudden, I started having fun. The result is something I think you’ll enjoy even more than the original draft. Here’s an excerpt:
Topher chuckled real loud, as if trying to catch out the dudes who had planted the book. It had to be plant, right? For one of those reality shows the lowest losers watched? The bag patrol may have labeled him a loser, but even Topher knew he wasn’t a lowest loser. Those kids were a special breed all their own.
In the middle of the week, I’ll have a brand new book review for you. Earlier in September, the novel #FashionVictim by Amina Akhtar released. Find out on Wednesday what I thought about this snarky thriller. You’ll see the review on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
At the end of the week, of course, we’ll go back to my parenting adventures. This week is a full post. Come back on Friday to find out what my kids and I are up on Growth Chart!
Have a great day, readers!
E.R.G.
September 28, 2018
Growth Chart now up!
Good morning, Write Edge readers! You know, on most days I love being a writer. During a week like this, when I’ve practically lost my voice to laryngitis because of a cold, I love it even more. :> Because even though I can’t talk to people face to face, I can still talk to all of you (and my online writing friends.)
Speaking of talking, the kids and I have talked a lot in the last couple of weeks, and you know what that means: new Spurts! Here’s a quick excerpt:
“Well, if it’s due tomorrow and it’s that hard, then maybe you shouldn’t go to the game today,” I said, steeling myself for the reaction that would come.
Silence, first.
Read all the Spurts now on Growth Chart!
Have a great day, readers!
E.R.G.
September 26, 2018
Second review posted!
Hello again, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my second review for today. Here’s the opening to my thoughts on The Boy from Tomorrow by Camille DeAngelis:
A pair of 12-year-olds living a century apart in the same home form a friendship. When one of them gets in trouble, the other does everything possible to help despite the hundred-year gap that separates them. Author Camille DeAngelis charms readers with likable characters who share an endearing relationship in the lovely middle grade book The Boy from Tomorrow.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Have a great day, readers!
E.R.G.
September 25, 2018
First of two book reviews posted!
Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted the first of two book reviews for you. The following is the opening to my post on The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Badani:
After experiencing a troubled time in her marriage, a woman travels to her cultural homeland to learn more about her family. What she discovers will change what she thought she knew about her mother and herself. Author Sejal Badani revisits the topics of identity and family in the unsuccessful novel The Storyteller’s Secret.
Find the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
I’ll be back a little later with the second review for today. Thanks, readers!
E.R.G.
September 24, 2018
Writers showcase and more!
Good morning, Write Edge readers! I hope you’ve had a lovely weekend and a great start to the fall season. Our daytime temperatures in Central Illinois still warm up, but the evenings have begun cooling off. Autumn has arrived!
The change of seasons may mean shorter days, but my work here on The Write Edge continues. Here, then, at the start of the week is your weekly motivation for whatever goals and passions you’re currently pursuing:
“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”—Wayne Gretzky, hockey legend
It’s the last Monday of the month, which means our writers showcase. This month I found pieces of varying lengths and genres, but all of them compelling. They include a death avenged, the trouble with guilt, and a secret society. Read all the stories now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
In the middle of the week I’ll share two book reviews with you. First, I’ll let you know what I thought of the new release The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Badani. Then I’ll offer my review on The Boy from Tomorrow by Camille DeAngelis. Get those review on The Write Edge Bookshelf on Wednesday!
Then, on Friday, it’s back to parenting adventures and the fun quips from my girls that keep me entertained. Find out what we’ve been up to in the last week by coming back at the end of the week to Growth Chart!
Have a fantastic week, readers!
E.R.G.
