Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 90

Newest Growth Chart posted!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest Growth Chart. Here’s an excerpt from today’s piece about dealing with tweens:

I don’t know if Twelve will continue writing in the future, if she considers it a hobby or actually wants to pursue something more serious with it. Either way, I’m thrilled to help her with the process. So maybe this time, she didn’t need all the cheerleader tricks I use to bolster spirits. Maybe it was enough to lay it on the line so she could toe it and discover another layer to her story.

Read about the latest adventure now on Growth Chart!

Have a great day and weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

Second review posted!

Hello again, readers! I’ve posted my second review for the day. Here’s the opening paragraph to my thoughts on Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding:

A woman thinks she’s found the ticket to the social scene at her son’s private school when one of the “cool” moms befriends her. One of the two women is hiding an enormous secret, however, and the other will need to deal with the fallout from the secret when it comes to light. Author Robyn Harding brings back the familiar themes of longing for social inclusion and incredulous antics by young people in her new novel Her Pretty Face.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a wonderful evening, readers!

E.R.G.

First review of two now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! As promised, I’ve got two book reviews for you today. The first is now up. Here’s the opening paragraph to my thoughts on Leave No Trace by Mindy Mejia:

A speech therapist becomes the only hope for a teenager after his return from life off the grid. As she tries to find out what happened to his father, the therapist will face questions that have haunted her for years about her own past. Author Mindy Mejia follows last year’s successful release with another commendable thriller in Leave No Trace.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Check out the next review a little later today. Have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.

Halfway through September

Hello, Write Edge readers! We’re halfway through September and that much closer to fall. Has the air turned crisp where you are? Not here in Central Illinois, and certainly not in the southeast where friends and family continue to battle the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Thoughts of strength to all of you there.

Maybe this is a great time for some motivation. Today’s quote comes from a celebrity talking about working in the arts, but I think with a little tweaking it can be used to mean any life challenge. Here it is:

“The idea in any creativity field is to not be scared, and if you can manage that then you have a bit of an edge.”—Saif Ali Khan, Bollywood superstar

I’ve posted this week’s short story. Here’s a snippet of this week’s exercise in fiction:

That’s okay, Roxy thought, her mind as still and as calm as it became right before she shot her abusers. I can take care of this person too.

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

In the middle of the week, I’ll share two book reviews. Both of them fall under the category of thrillers. Come back on Wednesday to find out what I thought of Leave No Trace by Mindy Mejia and also Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding; you’ll find those reviews on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

At the end of the week, my parenting adventures return. Find out what happened when I had a conversation with my tween about pursuing excellence in a task. Check it out on my latest Growth Chart this Friday!

Have a wonderful week, readers!

E.R.G.

Parenting adventures posted!

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

She grinned. “[Ten] is going to have so much fun with this. Ever since we came back from [Myrtle Beach,] she’s been complaining about how much work we have to do.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah, and since I’m the one who’s nearest to her, guess who she complains to?” she said. She didn’t roll her eyes, but the suggestion appeared in her face.

Read all the Spurts now on Growth Chart!

Have a lovely weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

New book review up!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! It’s so nice to be posting first thing in the morning like normal. I’ve missed the early mornings with all of you. :>

Today I have a brand new book review for you. I’m sharing my thoughts on Vox by Christina Dalcher. Here’s the opening to my review:

After an extremist government legalizes the silencing of half the population in the U.S., one woman decides to fight back. She will do so for the sake of her daughter and future generations, all while dealing with her own feelings about a colleague. Author Christina Delcher offers readers an incredible concept that doesn’t get the support it needs from either the story or its characters in her convoluted debut novel Vox.

Check out the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a lovely day, readers!

E.R.G.

Preparation

Hello, Write Edge readers! Happy Monday once again. It’s a lovely day here in Central Illinois, although I know the weather has become more tempestuous there in the southeast. I lived there for 22 years; I remember well the rhythms of hurricane season. Here’s hoping all of you are taking proactive measures — preparing, that is :> — to stay safe!

I’d like to give you this week’s motivational quote. It comes from a well-known figure in our country. We all have a variety of passions and goals among us. In the end, as many successful people will tell you, there’s no secret sauce. It’s really just as simple as the following words:

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of hard work, preparation, learning from failure.”–General Colin Powell, former National Security Advisor

I’ve posted this week’s short story. Here’s a quick excerpt of it:

I had never used my license to euthanize a parent before. Today I would add that category to my list. And every minute between the first plunge of the syringe and the last draw of breath would crush me.

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

In the middle of the week, I’ll share my newest book review. Our current political climate lends itself to dystopian fiction with quite ease. This week’s book review focuses on a novel that projects into the near future. I’ll share my thoughts on Vox by Christina Dalcher. Find my review this Wednesday on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

At the end of the week, it’s back to more parenting adventures. With both kids in double digits, there’s always something exciting going on here. Find out what my tween and I are up to this Friday on Growth Chart!

Have a fantastic week, readers!

E.R.G.

 

Growth Chart now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! Happy Friday! Finally, I get to say the words some of you have probably longed to read:

Growth Chart is back. :>

Here’s an excerpt from today’s piece about being a soccer mom:

I kept talking, and bit by bit her body began to soften. She wouldn’t consent to a hug—she had to save some face, at least—but she didn’t seem quite so mad either. I folded her in another hug, which she didn’t quite return but that was okay. I knew the conversation could have been much worse.

Read the full post now on Growth Chart!

Have a lovely weekend, readers! And if it’s raining where you are, just like it is for us, try to stay dry. :>

E.R.G.

Confession: the DNF pile does exist

Hello, Write Edge readers! I promised you a review of How to Write A Sentence and How to Read One by Stanley Fish. Unfortunately, I had to relegate the book to my DNF pile.

What is a DNF pile? I’m glad you asked. Go now to The Write Edge Bookshelf and find out.

And I hope I have a full review for you next week. But sometimes…well, you’ll understand when you read the post.

Thanks, readers!

E.R.G.

And it’s September!

Hello, Write Edge readers! Have you turned the page on your calendars? (For those of you who still keep paper calendars around. :D) I can’t believe we’re two-thirds of the way through the year. It’ll be Christmas before we know it! (Which I love here on the blog, because it snows. It’s lovely.)

It’s Monday, which means our weekly motivational quote. This week’s quote comes courtesy of the amazing writing group Authors’ Tale. If you like to write, come check us out. If you like to read, the group publishes an anthology of short stories written by its members every year in March. It’s pretty awesome. :> AT is, among other things, a group where we motivate and inspire one another, and I’m sharing the quote from the AT Twitter feed:

“Your success is not final—nor is your failure. You may always begin again.”—George Matthew Adams, syndicated columnist

No matter what your passion or interest in life, apply this quote to that area. Take it to heart. Keep striving to be the best.

Speaking of striving, after a whole summer off I’ve gone back to my personal writing workshop. This is a story idea I’ve toyed with in the last couple of weeks, so when I saw the prompt I decided to give it a shot. Here’s an excerpt:

                That’s when I first found out about the U.N.’s unanimous decision to end all new childbirths. Apparently the year after I was born was the last year any babies came into the world. All men and women—every single one of them—went to the doctor for what my father called “a little procedure.”

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

In the middle of the week I’ll share my thoughts on a book that is geared more towards those of us who delve into the craft but I think could be appreciated by anyone who enjoys reading. Recently I heard about How to Write A Sentence and How to Read One by Stanley Fish. Come back on Wednesday to The Write Edge Bookshelf to find out what I thought about the book.

As for Friday, I know I didn’t post my Growth Chart last week. The irony of having children is that the older they get, the busier I’m getting. As much as I enjoy sharing their antics with all of you, I find it harder to carve out time to do so. That certainly doesn’t mean the end of Growth Chart, just that I need to reimagine it a little. But my intention for this week is the same as last: to share my parenting adventures with you. We’ll see how the week falls out. In the meantime, you’re more than welcome to enjoy past parenting posts on Growth Chart.

Have a safe and lovely Labor Day, readers!

E.R.G.