Don't Call it a Resolution

Our New "House"

         Hello? Hello? Is there anyone out there? It’s been so long since I’ve posted, I’m not sure if anyone is reading. If there is anyone out there, let me start by saying, “Happy New Year!” If you’re one to make resolutions, may you have the wisdom to make good ones and the strength and support to keep them. I tend to make my resolutions in the fall. For at least twelve years of our early lives, that’s when the new beginnings start and I’ve always found it a good time to start new projects and work on things in my life.
         The projects I started this past fall are a big part of why I’ve done so little writing lately. I am the Vice President of a community theatre group. This year we moved into a new space.  It was an exciting, challenging and time consuming adventure.  I also signed on to the committee to help select plays for next year. Since August I have read dozens of plays and (for the first time I can remember) absolutely no novels.
         In September I began teaching children’s drama classes at a local music and arts school. There has been a huge amount of prep work for the classes, but the teaching part was rewarding beyond words. More than any job I’ve ever had, I feel like I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.
         Of course, I still have my day job and plenty of family obligations. Both of my children started new schools in September. And of course they have music lessons, scouts, and sports (they even have a drama class with this crazy teacher). The boys are happy where they are, but the new routine is tiring.
         This was a particularly long Christmas break for the boys, with very few commitments. Entire days went by when I didn’t put on shoes or get in my car. I’ve read three novels for pleasure. There was nothing especially “literary” about them--they were pure entertainment. I even began working on my long-neglected manuscript. I found that I really missed writing. At first, I thought I just missed my readers and fellow writers. But I also missed this weird creative outlet. So here I am, back at my computer. I’m not one to make resolutions, but if I were, I’d resolve to get back to my writing.
         As we speak, the snow is falling and our vacation has been extended by a couple of days. I have soup stock simmering in the slow cooker and plans to bake bread later in the day.  And of course, there will be snow to shovel. Lots of snow. The craziness will begin again on Monday. The boys will go back to school and I’ll have auditions for my next adventure. The routine will start again. Hopefully, I’ll make some time in the routine for writing.
        Happy 2014 everyone!

It's Been a Long Week

 

                   The first thing I do almost every day (after hitting the snooze button three or four times) is write in my journal. It's there on my bedside table. I write before I get my coffee, before I feed my kids, before I get dressed. But not this week. My last journal entry was written Monday morning. I have not written one single word about the events of the Marathon bombing. Not in my little green journal. Not on my blog. I have read dozens of pieces others have written. There are some gorgeous things out there—sad and angry and beautiful at the same time*.

                   I've thought about things to write of course. In my head I've composed many odes to the heroes of the day, laments to innocents lost, essays about how Boston has shaped me, and even angry words to those who would commit such evil. But I haven't written it down on paper. Maybe I haven't wanted to rip the band-aid off. Maybe I don't want to make this be about me. Most of my non-fiction is very personal. I wasn't there that day.  Everyone I know who was running or in the crowd walked away. Thank God. But for a city, Boston is a very small town. We all know someone who was affected. We all know someone who ran. We all know someone in law enforcement. It's hard to not take it personally.

                   My Facebook and Twitter feed are strangely silent this morning after the insanity of yesterday. Even the news sites are quieter.  I think everyone in the greater Boston area is sleeping off the adrenaline of the past few days. As for me, I'm writing again on this rainy Saturday. It's a rambling blog post for certain, but I wanted to let you know I'm here. I'm well.  And of course, I'm Boston Strong.

*If you have some time, read these posts. They couldn't be more different from one another, but they are perfect in their own way. From my cousin Beth writing about the Boston of her childhood:

http://www.bethpratt.com/up-and-down-california/2013/4/15/a-lament-for-boston-can-i-ever-go-home-again.html

From Jim Dowd on Boston stereotypes and why messing with Boston is a bad idea. It's funny because it hits so close to the mark.

http://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/jim-dowd-responds-to-the-attack-on-the-boston-marathon/

                   And now for a little official business. My giveaway! So my friend Cam wrote this book called Buck's Landing and we're giving away a copy. I tossed all the entries into my little Red Sox hat and pulled out Jessica's name. Congratulations Jessica! I'll get in contact with you about receiving your book.

Blame it on The Ides of March

 

            Hi there! Sorry I haven’t been blogging a much lately. I thought for sure I’d be blogging all over the place once Moon Over Buffalo closed. But somehow, other priorities snuck in and took up a lot of my time. I know there have been Tuesdays without Thrifty Tasty Tuesday and a few Fridays without any fiction. But a few things have kept me from blogging, although not from writing.

            The first distraction has been an avalanche of projects, standardized testing, and Scouting commitments for my kids. It seems like every week there is another book report, diorama, or science project due. And I’ve been desperately trying to offer support and encouragement without taking over the project. I find stepping back to be one of the tougher (but most important) aspects of parenthood. It’s a tricky balancing act, but I think we’re getting there. Anyone else have trouble with this?

            Second has been the weather. You’d think lots of snow would make me hunker down to the keyboard. Alas, it made me want to crawl under the covers with some of the books that have piled up on my nightstand. I’ve been having a wonderful time reading some of books written by friends. In fact, I’m going to start a new feature on this blog called, “So My Friend Wrote this Book...”  Watch for the first edition next week—I’ll even be doing a give-away. If you have a book you’d like me to talk about, drop me a line.

            Another distraction is the result of all that reading. I’ve been inspired by my friends who’ve published their words—on their own, with traditional publishers, and some have even started their own imprint. A couple of weeks back, I opened up the novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo in 2011. It had been months (maybe even a year) since I had looked at it and I wondered if it had the potential to be published. I came to the conclusion that it isn’t the “great American novel”, but it’s a good story with interesting characters. So, instead of writing anything new, I spent some time making changes, did a little editing, and this week I sent it off to be read by two people I trust to be honest with me. Hopefully, they’ll remember to ply me with bourbon before they get too honest.

            Finally, the least interesting reason I haven’t been blogging is my need to get myself back in shape. It isn’t just about fitting into my favorite jeans anymore. Last summer I started having problems with my back. It’s nothing terribly serious—we all get a few aches and pains in the years after we turn thirty-nine. You know how it goes—I didn’t exercise because my back hurt and my back got worse because I wasn’t exercising. I got to the point where I was popping ibuprofen like M&M’s. My back even froze on me a couple of times. Thanks to my chiropractor, yoga, floor mats at work, and yes, exercise, I’m on the mend. I’m down to taking anti-inflammatories once or twice a week instead of four or five times a day. I even managed a four-mile jog yesterday. It’s a huge relief to be feeling better, but it has been a time-consuming process. Yet another thing to balance, but I’ll get there.

            So if you’re reading this, thanks for hanging in there. Next week, “Thirty-nine for the First Time” should be back to its old self. On second thought, next week you’ll see a new and improved blog. I have a new Thrifty-Tasty-Tuesday in the works, the first edition of “So My Friend Wrote this Book...”, and hopefully a little fiction thrown into the mix. See you then!

Places Everyone

 

The actors are cast

Movements blocked

Lines memorized

A thousand details to be forgotten (or not).

Flats to paint

Nerves to soothe

Take-out dinners and too much coffee

Three week until opening night

 
            I’m linking up with the Trifextra prompt. We were asked to write 33 words about a new beginning. I’m in the midst of directing a play that opens three weeks from tonight. One of the best things about being involved in theatre is that many of our new beginnings start with a round of applause. One of the worst is how little time I have left for writing!

Where's Vic?

        It's been a while since I've posted anything. Post ideas have flitted in and out of my head: posts about gratitude, posts about my distain for Black Friday, posts about wanting to give Thanksgiving its due before we steamroller it with the Christmas machine. Alas, I haven't worked up the motivation to write. I'd love to tell you that I've just been too wrapped up with writing or editing a novel to write. Alas, there has been very little writing that has made the journey from my brain to my finger tips lately. So if you're still out there and reading this post. Thanks for sticking with me.

        I woke up this morning and wrote in my journal. It was little more than a detailed “to do” list. But it had been a while since I did that. It felt good to be writing again. My life is only going to get busier in the weeks ahead. I've begun a new chapter in my creative life. Last week I had auditions for a new play. The turn out was beyond my expectations. I can't wait to start rehearsing this fantastic cast.

        But I really don't want to stop writing. I love the connections I've made with this blog. Two years ago I had never shared a piece of my fiction with anyone. Because of the this blog I began showing that side of myself to the world. The response was so encouraging and I have not intention of letting that slip away. So watch this space. I've slowed down in the blogging world. But I have no plans to stop.

Wordless Wednesday: Published

Now available from Amazon.

Fiction Friction

 

            I haven’t written much this week. I don’t have writer’s block. I know exactly what I need to write and I don’t want to go there. Last week I wrote a storyline in which my new favorite character Karen sleeps with her boyfriend Henry. The timing was right. The poor girl had been through so much and needed some comfort—a moment of joy in a tough life.

            But now I have this fear. Remember how the sitcom “Cheers” turned lame after Sam and Diane slept together? The writers kept introducing new characters to make things interesting. Same thing with “Moonlighting”. That show was great until Maddie and David “did the deed”, then it sank like a stone. Sexual tension creates humor and drama. What have I done? What have they done?

            Here’s the other thing. Karen was born after an interaction I had with an unpleasant customer. I started writing about what led this person to become the grumpy older woman who reported me to a manager. The more I delved into her past, the more I liked her. Karen’s story starts with a childhood in which she faces many trials, but she keeps on going. Pour on the heartache and she’ll work hard to get past it. But we know it doesn’t go on forever. Right? The very first pieceI wrote about Karen was a Christmas dinner she shares with her neighbor in the elderly housing complex. We know this doesn’t happen if she has a country club wedding with Henry. We know something dark has to happen soon.

Damn. I really wanted her to be happy.

The Tale of the Lazy Blogger

            I have been a neglectful blog writer and reader lately. I’m not alone. At least three of the bloggers I read regularly have written posts apologizing for being absent lately. Like all of them, I’ve had my share of distractions. But when I consider how busy I was over the wintertime and into the early spring, I’m no busier than I was before.

            So what is eating my time? Sure, I’ve had dental work, kitchen appliance drama, baseball games and end of school year activities thrown into my schedule for the last few weeks. But all in all I’m no busier than I normally am. I am no thinner—so it can’t be that I’ve been spending a lot of time at the gym or running. I don’t have a tan so I couldn’t have been lounging around in the sun or doing work in the garden. I’m feeling no less stressed so I haven’t been investing my time in yoga and meditation.

            Perhaps there is something in the summer air that sucks the motivation to sit in our writing spaces and get the job done. Maybe time speeds up when the school year winds down. Or maybe I’ve slowed down a bit since the temperature has begun to rise. Whatever the reason dear readers, I will endeavor to get back in the writing mode this week. Tomorrow’s memoir topic from The Red Dress Club is affection—a topic I’ve learned so much about since my children were born. I have no excuse not to write about that! Heaven knows I’ll have the time this morning as I wait for the refrigerator repairman to arrive. Have a good week everyone!