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This week: Bleary-eyed Observations Edited by: Fyn  
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Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself.~~Walter Anderson
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.~~Helen Keller
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.~~Abraham Lincoln
Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward.~~Henry Ford
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Observations...descriptions. My mantra. being observant, noticing the things that you can, at some point, incorporated into your writing to make it more visceral, more in depth, more...real and true.
For example...both hubby and I are smack in the midst of the flu. Amazingly, we have different versions and are thus suffering in different ways. One thing we share is that neither of us has the wherewithal to get those 'super-sealed-kid-proof-need dynamite to open the packaging' pills out of their containers. I mean, seriously, it took a knife, foul language and threats of violence to get them out of their 'blister pack tamper proof' packaging. We even discussed if it would work if we swallowed them, plastic and all! Joking of course, but when you can barely stand up, fighting to take a pill is exhausting. It'll be funny next week. Right now, frustrating. Point is, characters can get sick, have red noses, temps and have to think while coughing their heads off. They are human and can catch the bugs that go around. Makes for interesting character development, humor or sympathy.
Snow lands, fluffy or with pellet iciness. It builds up on trees, driveways, cars and sidewalks. It requires shoveling, scraping, snow-blowing and salting. High heels and ice. NOT. Critters need to go out and bird feeders need filling. Four inches (or four feet) of snow not withstanding, the mind numbing freezes or swelters of the flue having nothing to do with it...the dog still needs out and needs a place where the level of the snow is less than the dogs head! Think of the opportunities here!
Coffee. Requires water in the pot, coffee in the filter. Most of the time, hubby and I do the coffee dance in our tiny kitchen without so much as brushing against each other. This morning, the water ended up in the filter basket, the coffee got dumped where the water goes and we stood there laughing (and coughing) as we supported ourselves on the counters. Somehow, by next week, I think having stray coffee grounds will matter more, right now, the coffee got strained through a strainer. It is hot, it is coffee and it, after several days without, finally tastes good. My mind is half-way functioning because, as we all know, life goes on...sick or not. Newsletters have deadlines...or jobs or projects. We muddle through, best we can. Hopefully with a sense of humor. Got to admit though...laughing as hard as we did this morning...did NOTHING for the headache I've had for the last three days. Still, we will giggle about this for years. Especially when we feel good enough to really appreciate it.
Point is, mess with normal and everyday, brain-dead, 'no thought required' chores become epic hurdles to overcome. Getting dressed? Forget it. Thank goodness for jammy bottoms and my WdC hoodie. Taken a few steps further, getting dressed with a cast on or three days after chemo is an accomplishment to be proud of. Been there, done both. Never really thought about it til just now. Coffee ala flue should have been a snap. Not, though. Add in a couple of kids under age ten who are home from school (snow, remember?), a boss who thinks calling in is akin to the end of the world and running out of tissue embedded with lotion and, well, it makes me glad I work for myself and that the kids are all grown and gone! Hubby called in to work, which is goodness. He gets to deal with the snow. Expect it will use up all of the energy he may have for today...and the next day or two as well...but better at 28 degrees than the -1 it will be later on today. Because if he does clear it out, we won't need to go anywhere. Murphy, being mean and miserable--and probably also suffering from the flue--, will make sure it becomes necessary to leave if the driveway stays full of snow!
Our granddaughter is due to deliver our first great-grand child in the next day or so. She lives a good hour away from the hospital. Thank goodness for four-wheeled drive trucks! Unfortunately, we won't get to see her right away thanks to the flu, but again, details that will be filed away for future reference! Maybe she'll be late, and we'll be healthy. Don't want to miss this special occasion. Then again, being old enough for a great grand-kid makes my 'feeling like I've been hit by a Mack truck' feeling even worse! Some days, you just. can't. win. So we laugh about it, because what else can you do. Yet, different people react different ways and exploring how a character might react will, if nothing else, gives you additional insight into that character.
One thing I've learned as I muddle my way through life, is that whatever life throws my way, good, bad, marvelous or horrific, eventually, it finds its way, in some shape or form, into my writing. Whether to define a character's motivations, move a tale forward, add detail or perhaps, a bit of humor, even the day to day miseries or pathetically laughable moments can add nuance, layers or 'character' to your characters!
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Bikerider  writes: Hi Fyn. Thank you for another helpful newsletter, and thank you for highlighting my story, "A Magical Christmas"
The angel Christmas tree ornament in the story actually exists. My wife and I lived in Germany while I served in the army, and we did own a red Volkswagen Beetle that we drove all over Europe. And just like in the story, one night we drove into Nuremberg and found ourselves at the Kris Kringle Market on the grounds of an ancient church, where we bought a tiny angel Christmas ornament. The angel ornament still graces a prominent spot on our Christmas tree 46 years later.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. And thank you for your time and efforts in providing helpful information in your newsletters, ~Bikerider
Love stories like these!!!
Elfin Dragon-finally published  says: "Sweating the small stuff", is so very true. I'm not really sure how many times I've gone back to edit, re-write and edit again certain stories, poetry, or my main novel. But I'm always finding something I could do better. I think the key is once I've written it to let it rest for at least a day, if not more, before going back to it. It refreshes the mind so I can have a clean look at it. Or to go ahead and have someone else look at it first before I look at it again. Fresh eyes and perspective always changes my own view.
Excellent suggestion. I always try to let a story 'simmer' a bit and then go back for a fresh look!
Angus  adds: That story about the older couple in the store buying presents and Christmas ornaments for the family whose house had just burned down brought a tear my own eye, and I'm a pretty tough nut to crack!
Thanks for sharing that lovely little tidbit in the Newsletter! ~Angus
Was too good not to share!
LinnAnn -Book writer  comments: loved your Christmas at the store story. brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing it. Also, send your town Christmas decorator to our town. It's pretty skimpy on decorations, no parade, nada, zip.
Awww....next year head to our town!!!
Callie hears Angels these days  says: Ah. This was just lovely to read. It's been a hard couple of years. My mom died on Christmas Day two years ago and I divorced my husband of 25 years and have moved away from my hometown to make a new start in life. You touched on that very peculiar and wonderful joy that true gifts from the spirit can bring- to the giver most of all. I thank you for your gift of sharing.
And you, as well! Sharing is a bit like a gift, eh?
Thanking the others who appreciated last time's newsletter as well!! I appreciate the feedback!! I think all the editors do...sometimes, it feels like we write into a hollow void...so the feedback is very reaffirming! |
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For Authors: January 14, 2015 Issue [#6772]
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