Last full week of January!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! I hope you’ve all had a lovely weekend. Here in Central Illinois, we’re bracing for snow — in the Chicago area, they’re supposed to get anywhere from 6 to 9 inches! — so we’re definitely in the throes of winter.

Here on the blog, though, our regular schedule is in full swing. It’s the last full week of January; can you believe it? We all trudged through 2020 as if we were wearing concrete shoes and moving through molasses, but here a month of the new year is almost over. Fingers crossed this means things are going to get better in the coming weeks.

First we start today with our weekly motivational quote. In difficult times, artists turn to their creativity to make sense of the world around them. Those of us who consume that art — particularly stories — can find a measure of solace in it, because we’re reminded that someone, somewhere has endured what we’re experiencing and worse.

“We don’t turn to story to escape reality. We turn to story to navigate reality.”—Lisa Cron, Story Genius

Part of art, particularly the art of writing, is sharing one another’s work, and since it’s the last Monday of January that’s what I’m doing today. Check out the monthly writers’ showcase, where you’ll find the possibilities of stories that haven’t even been written yet along with other pieces that will make you think. It’s all up now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

In the middle of the week, I’ll come back with a brand new book review. Earlier this month, Chris Hauty’s political thriller Savage Road came out. It’s the second book in the Hayley Chill series. Does it live up to last year’s Deep State? Find out on Wednesday on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

And on Friday we go back to Growth Chart and parenting adventures. Also, if I can swing it, I’ll have a surprise for all of you at the end of this week…but more on that later.

Wear a mask, stay socially distant, wash your hands, and bundle up, readers! Have a fantastic day!

E.R.G.