received a little reminder in the mail this week.
I think it's true. Do you?
Have a good weekend!
Can You Keep a Secret?
My husband's late sister, Lena Faye used to say "If you don't want something told, don't tell me." I have two secrets. One I let slip a few times, only because I didn't realize it was a secret. But now I do and I won't tell another soul until it's time. The other I was told today. And I haven't shared it. Cross my heart, I haven't. I won't until my friend says I can. And when I finally get to, I'll tell those secrets to you.
Secrets can be a wonderful storytelling tool. When I go to schools, I tell kids don't talk out your stories or you'll never write them. Pretend the paper is your best friend and you're telling that friend a secret.
Not That You Asked, but
this is my Friday morning mug.
Have a good weekend!
Discipline
I'm training to walk a half-marathon. In case you're wondering, that's 13.1 miles. The most I'd ever walked before was six miles. I figured if I could ever reach mile seven, I'd be certain to reach mile thirteen. Saturday I walked seven miles. Now how do I feel about that assumption? Seven miles is not 13.1 miles.
Finishing a novel is not so different than trying to finish a half-marathon. You start off with a big idea and much like a first short training session, your enthusiasm carries you for a while. It might last for a paragraph or a few chapters, but eventually the joy of the process turns into dread. You wonder what was so great about that original idea.
At risk of sounding like a Nike ad, this is where the tough get going. Stick with your story. How? Show up. Grab your pen. Move it around the page until your squiggles become words. They may not be the words you'll end up using, but soon the right words will be there. Just because you showed up.
Congratulations, Erin Shaw!
It's always great when someone receives a well-deserved honor. Congratulations, Erin Shaw of Greenbrier Middle School for receiving Arkansas Media Specialist of the Year! You are amazing!
Erin Shaw, Media Specialist with Greenbrier Middle School
Read all about it here.
For All You Educators
I think you're special. Have a victorious school year!
The History of Things
Do you ever look around the house at your things? There are stories there. Some are true. Some can inspire a story that sounds true. Here's a true one about friendship. It has to do with the floral needlework on a bookshelf in our home library.
The talented Lola Schaefer gave it to me years ago when I read one of her manuscripts. Having the honor of reading her manuscript was enough of a gift, but Lola said her mother had done a lot of needlework when she was alive. She wanted to start giving away some of those pieces to special friends. Now it's one of my treasures.
Front Porch Time
If there is anything living at the Dandy Lizard Cottage has taught me, it is to not underestimate the power of taking a little break. Good things can come to creative people by staring out from the front porch.
Georgy-Girl knows this, too.
Companion Books
I'm reading Rosemary Verey, The Life & Lessons of a Legendary Gardener by Barbara Paul Robinson. It's a juicy bio for gardening sort of folks and maybe for folks who are not so inclined to pick up a shovel.
But now that I've reached the part in the book where Rosemary has decided to get her hands dirty, I decided to grab another book. Rosemary Verey's Making of a Garden is the perfect companion to her biography.
Just curious--Have you ever read a book with a companion one?
The Dandy Lizard Cottage
We've seen so many green lizards in our yard that I told Jerry, "We should name our home, "The Dandy Lizard Cottage." I guess the word got out. Found this little fellow scampering around the family room door.
During the chase, he took refuge in my purse. Sorry, the Dandy Lizard Cottage is not a B&B.