I bought these today. Well, I bought the Moleskines. I meant to buy a timer, but I forgot. This is my kitchen timer. Vintage Cracker Barrel. It actually crows. It will do until I buy one that better fits my writing room decor. Anyway, I’ve been thinking over last week’s post and comments, and I’ve […]

It’s been brought to my attention (by me) that I am not using my time wisely. In fact, I am even (gasp) wasting time. Don’t even mention Bejeweled Blitz. I need a plan. A system. A schedule. I used to be a good multitasker, but now–not so much. I’m not even a very good start-and […]

I transferred from a small school (50 students K-12) to a big school (about 83 graduates) in my sophomore year. Gaylord had a band. I loved football Fridays. I loved the half-time shows–the drums, the horns, the cymbals, the marching,  I wanted to join that band! Bad. Really bad. But I couldn’t play an instrument. […]

Last night I sat here for three hours and couldn’t think of a thing to write. And to think that followed my post on head pain! Oh, I had lots of ideas. But nothing I thought anyone would really care about reading. I flipped through page after page of writing books looking for inspiration. Nothing. […]

They pelt my head like little needles. Batter my brain. Tease me. Sometimes I see them dancing on shampoo bubbles. They dart in the shallows like little minnows and nibble at my toes. Then they swirl away. Gone. Down the drain. Sometimes they laugh at me and leap over the edge. I jump out after […]

“Too much reading is very bad indeed.” Yep, you read that right. That’s what Dorothea Brande said in her classic book, Becoming a Writer. Say what? She says writers tend to take too many “busmen’s holidays.” In other words, they tend to spend their “off time” doing writing-related activities (such as reading or talking shop), […]

Tracking submissions the old-fashioned way I excavated some memories from deep within the burial grounds of an old filing cabinet. Here’s an example of how I used to track article submissions. This little devotional (saved on white carbon tissue) had some adventures and ultimately found a home at Living With Hope for a grand payment […]

The church bulletin bloopers posted over at Author Culture last week inspired me to collect some from the medical world. Luckily we know the true meanings. Or do we?  1.  Apparently the next day she developed this rash on her hands, and the feet had gone away. 2.  The patient left the hospital feeling much […]

Note: This is a repost from my Beholding God blog. In the bottom drawer of a file cabinet, I just discovered a thick folder filled with “poems and inspiration.” I thumbed through it as I searched for examples to use in my message for ladies Bible study. Out fell this green card. It’s signed “Beverly.” […]

Gracee has a problem with focus and staying in her second-grade seat. I say she’s observant and creative. She also talks a lot. I say she’s social. The psychologist says she has clinical ADD. Attention time for something not particularly interesting? Five minutes. Tops. I help out in her class on Thursday mornings, reading with […]