Into a new month!

Hello, Write Edge readers! Here we are into a new month, the second month of the year. Can you believe it?

After last week’s deep dive into bone-shattering cold, I’m glad we’re back to a “balmy” 30 degrees or so here in Illinois. I’ve actually seen people jogging in shorts these last couple of days! Not quite swimsuit season around here, but if the weather stays like this it wouldn’t surprise me if I see a few of those as well.

With better weather, of course, comes a better mood and a renewed sense of energy. Those of us pursing careers and life goals in the creative fields, of course, find ourselves invigorated. We’re able to mine our imaginations for new possibilities, new stories to tell. Here’s a quick reminder, in this week’s motivational quote, that you don’t always have to dig so deep as that either:

“I urge you: Don’t hesitate to beg, borrow, and steal from your own life. There’s richness there.”—William Luvaas, novelist

I’ve also got this week’s short story to share with you. Because it’s the month of love, I thought it might be fun to do stories with romantic overtures for the next couple of weeks. Here’s a quick excerpt of this week’s offering:

My cheeks started burning again, but I didn’t look at him. Not right away. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ellie look up and then back at me. She nudged me with her elbow—hard—and then I had to look.

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

This week I’ll also have a brand new book review for you. The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib releases tomorrow, and I’ll share my thoughts on it this Wednesday. Find out what I thought of the book in the middle of the week on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

At the end of the week it’s back to more parenting adventures. Find out what my kids and I have been up to on Growth Chart!

Have a wonderful day and week, readers!

E.R.G.