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Henry Ward Beecher
The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
William Faulkner
Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.
and because I simply could not resist....
Q. What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter?
* answer below
Inspiration is where you find it, and where you consciously look for it. Holidays being what they are, are ripe with potential details, descriptions and moments to add spice to your writing. I am fyndorian and I offer you a bountiful feast of an opportunity! |
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As here in the States most of us get ready to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday, my thoughts turn and tumble over Thanksgivings of the past. Fun Thanksgivings with grandchildren and adult kids overflowing the living room and standing in line doing the 'bathroom dance.' Times wondering just when did our dining room table shrink? Sad Thanksgivings when a Mom or Dad, Grandparent or Child was missing and oh so missed. Round-robins at the table with each person adding to the 'What I'm thankful for' list. Turkeys done way before the potatoes are finished being peeled or the realization there isn't enough silverware for everyone.
Always a tired, crying child. Always one of the adults is cranky and tired too and says something they shouldn't. Always hugs are freely passed. And always, always everything works out somehow and someone declares that 'this year' was the best Thanksgiving ever.
Preparing a dinner for 'the family' is often a stressful experience as it is only natural that we want everything to be perfect. And it never is, but we get through it and everyone overeats, and crashes on the couch instead of helping to clean up the mess of a meal that took four plus hours to cook and twenty minutes to inhale!
Yet the whole of the day is to celebrate what we have, what we are thankful for and we always seem to find the positives.
Now, for a moment, step sideways. Envision yourself floating up near the ceiling, invisible, outside of all the goings one. Imagine you do not know all those crazy, laughing, cranky tired people. Try to write about the best or the worst moment. The funniest moment. The craziest story told (probably the one you've heard umpteen times before.)
Holidays, those stressful, funny, zany, tiring, loving, or lonely and quiet times are bursting with wonderful odd moments to write about, or use part of in your writing. Take them and embellish them, change endings, twist them slantways and you will have a plethora of family moments that can find their way into your writing adding that sense of real and vivid.
There's nothing like a dose of reality slightly skewered to add details and fresh vision. It is a grand exercise to write about the dinner showing the reader enough details to make their mouth water and send them scrambling for the cranberry sauce or the candied yams.
Your details as a writer will spark memories in your reader of holidays past: of the year the turkey slipped off grandmother's platter landing splat on the kitchen floor, when somehow a food fight erupted, or when the family pet got to the table first.
Holidays are absolutely chock full of moments to stash away and unearth later for details in your writing. Conversations, how little Molly's pigtails were tied up in red, velvet ribbons, how Uncle John looked stretched out on the couch enjoying his tryptophan fog or Tommy and Sam's water fight while washing the pots and pans. How better to nail down the 'guy talk' over the big game or the maiden aunts' discussion of the only 'right' way to make green bean casserole.
This holiday season, keep this in mind. Pull it out when things go great...and remember. Pull it out when things don't quite go as planned, and remember ...letting the writer take over from Mom or Granddad for a few may well distance you from immediate grief and tension. Looking at how you might use a particular moment can totally change how you perceive the scalded gravy or your son showing up from college with blue hair.
Let your mental camcorder collect the conversations, photos and moments and you will have a cornucopia of details to use later! And that, is something else to be thankful for!
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First thing's first...the reasons why...
The gathering...
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The preparation:
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Giving Thanks
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The main course...
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and for desert......
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game time..
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the journey home...
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*Answer: Pumpkin pi.
Reflecting back to my newsletter focusing on Robert Frost...
Bernie Thomas 
This was an EXCELLENT newsletter.
Thanks for sharing.---Thank YOU :)
Puditat
Wow, what a privilege to have the input of such a well-known writer. How even more precious to have the wisdom and loving attention of your grandmother. Thank you for sharing this experience with us.----It was an awesome experience and one I was happy to share!
lulubelle
I really like Robert Frost. I am jealous that you were able to actually meet a great author and speak with them. That is something I think that every author wants to do; speak with someone they look up to and love. Thank you for your newsletter. It was great!----Of course, at the time I was much too young to appreciate the scope of the experience, sure wish I could have had the opportunity about fifteen years later!
BreenaRose
Robert Frost is one of my favorite poets. I read "Nothing Gold Can Stay" for the first time while reading "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton. That's one of my favorite poems. Stephen King also said that if you want to write well that you must read a lot. So I wanted to tell you, awesome newsletter. ---Reading is essential!
susandudzinski
Awesome, awesome story fyn! Thanks so much for sharing. Truly a golden moment for you to reflect upon and now for me too!--- Those types of moments are a gold mine for writers!
rayburk01
reading about your experience with Robert Frost. Even today, he is still one of my favorite poets, and his poem, Nothing Gold Can Stay is my all time favorite. Thank you for that peek into your time with a true master of poetry.--- So glad you enjoyed!
Tehanu
What a lovely memory to have! This week's NL article made me feel as though I'd started to read a children's book - something like, The Secret Garden. Your encounter with a famous poet seems so surreal and enchanting. Thanks for sharing your cool experience.--- wow! Thank you!
Zeke 
What a wonderful experience you related. Robert Frost is also one of my favorite poets. Your first hand experience with him must have had a profound impact on your future.Thank you for telling us about him.Your gold may be lasting longer than you think.---What a lovely thing to say! As to impact....yes it did! It absolutely got throught the idea that my first efforts would always benefit from revision!
Seisa-sleepingcatbooks.com
Fyn, what a fantastic summer your nine-year-old self had! I must admit, even though I'm not a poet, I'm rather jealous. I've never read much poetry, but I did use his "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" (set to music) in a solo contest in high school. I've always loved that poem. I can't even imagine what it would have been like to have the man himself recite it to me!--- At the time, I think, I was more impressed to hear him read mine out loud! But looking and hearing back, I can still hear the deep, deep granite voice...
heartofahawk
Wow. This newsletter inspired me. Thank you so much for sharing your extraordinary and unique experience with us.--- If my words were able to inspire you, then I am so very happy!
dusktildawn
OMG! What a memory to have, sitting under that tree, reciting poetry together with ROBERT FROST! Nothing Gold Can Stay is one of my favorite poems, and reading it with ROBERT FROST! What a wonderful story to tell you own grandchildren. Wow! I'm in awe!---*grin*
Vivian 
Thank you for sharing your meeting with Robert Frost. He is one of my favorite poets, and how marvelous to know someone who actually met him. Thank you for sharing with us. --- He is still one of my favorites too!
Lou-Here By His Grace
Thank you for the Robert Frost words. Excellent letter as always!--- So glad you enjoyed!!! |
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For Authors: November 21, 2007 Issue [#2078]
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