Word Games

I love word puzzles. Crosswords. Word seek. Crostics. Pretty much any word puzzle there is. Well, most of them. There are a few I don't care for, but I still try them when I run across them in the puzzle books I purchase. I started doing them as a child with my dad. I was a reluctant reader (yeah, me). Dad was hugely into crosswords so he'd sit me beside him and get me to help him. We also did word games when we were waiting - usually he'd pick out a long word on a sign and tell me to pick out as many words as I could from that one word. And we played Scrabble. And I blossomed into a lover of words.

In talking with friends over the last couple of weeks, I find there are people out there who don't share my love of crosswords. Gee. Go figure. But that's okay. Everybody has their own form of enjoyment. I dragged my husband into crosswords. He used to hate them, but now has his own crossword puzzle books. And has discovered something I found out a long time ago. As he's done more of them, he's become more adept and increased his vocabulary and spelling ability.

I take them with me when I'm going somewhere where I know I'll be waiting a while and need something to relax with (like a doctor's waiting room), as I did Tuesday. I did seven crossword puzzles while I was waiting. Okay, so they were easy ones, but still... seven?!

Another thing I do is use pen. Always. Even with the hard ones where I know I'll probably make a mistake. Doing a puzzle with a pencil is just so wrong for me. It has to be a pen. Another legacy from my dad.

Think I'll go find a good challenger puzzle and relax a little.

Today's thought: "The greatest stories touch on the sacred, that moment when the head and heart and soul combine." - Jane Yolen from "Take Joy"

Challenge: write a poem or scene that involves tea and a special teapot.

Jane Yolen and Take Joy

I have a book on my shelf (all right - I have tons of books, but I want to talk about this particular one) by Jane Yolen called "Take Joy". Now, for those of you who don't know who Jane is, you must have lived in a vacuum. She has written over 300 books and has won more awards than I can name, including the Nebula (science fiction) and Caldecott (children's). I have loved Jane's books for years and read them every chance I get. In addition to her fiction, she also writes non-fiction and that is what I want to talk about.

In this book, she encourages writer's to take joy in what they do. In the art and act of writing. And gives the writer's quotes, pithy essays, and "interludes" to help them reconnect with the joy of writing.

Too often, we writer's become bogged down in the work of writing. Plot the story. Create the characters. Build the world. Select the correct words. Edit. Rewrite. Submit. Rewrite. Promote. And so on. We lose sight of the reason we write. We lose the joy of writing. Ms. Yolen helps get that back.

One chapter in the book I especially love is the one titled "Out with Outlines". In this chapter, she takes famous books and boils them down - "Crushed Classics". Here are just a few - I hope they make you laugh as much as I did:

The Scarlet Letter - Hester Prynne was a bad girl. Still, she got an A

Jane Eyre - Mr. Rochester had a bad wife. And a good wife. One set fires. One ran for her life. Run, Jane, run.

MacBeth - Mr. Macbeth and Mrs. Macbeth got their hands dirty. Out, spot, out.

Lord of the Rings - Yo! Fro! Give the mountain the finger.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Jane Yolen's "Take Joy" from Writer's Digest books, 2006 copyright. You'll be glad you did.

Thought for today: Joy increases as you give it, diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greather than you ever believed possible. - Norman Vincent Peale

Today's Challenge: Try writing your own "Crushed Classics" - take any books you know well and boil them down to just a few words. Good luck!

Teaser 12-28-09

Today's Author Birthdays: Mortimer J. Adler, Rod Serling, Manuel Puig

Thought for the day: Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor. - Paul Hawken

Teaser and challenge: What makes you buy a book? Is it the cover? The blurb? The first page? The writer's name? A friend's recommendation? Or something else?

Your challenge: Pick a book you know well and describe a book jacket you would have designed for it, then write a two sentence blurb that would entice someone to buy it.

A Free Game - Heartwild Solitaire

Over the past few months, some friends and I have been playing this incredible solitaire game called "Heartwild Solitaire - the game for romance readers" - it's a beautiful game with stories attached. And now, there's a free version!!!!

Check out the link at: http://www.orchidgames.com/heartwild_solitaire_classic

You really should check it out because:

1. It's got gorgeous graphics

2. It's got seven stories by some of my best writer friends: Misty Simon, Megan Hart, Natalie Damschroder, Vicki Smith, Dee Tenorio, Sherry Thomas, Kimber Chin

3. Every time you win, it unlocks another story

4. It's Free!!!

5. It's a great way to relax and get rid of some stress.

Enjoy.

Are you serious?

When you work in a position where you must answer questions and help customers, you get some interesting queries. The following fall into the category of "are you kidding me?" These are real queries from real customers. Thought you might enjoy a few chuckles.

Today in the bookstore where I work:
Customer: I'm looking for a book. It came out about two years ago. It had horses running across the front of it. (The customer knew neither title or author - just the horses). Unfortunately, I was not able to help her.

At a car repair shop: A young woman who actually worked at the repair shop called in late one day because her car had a flat and she needed to wait for help. When she finally got to work, she brought the flat in. When told she would need a new tire, her comment was that it was only flat on the bottom.

At a toy store:
Clerk (very late, Christmas week): May I help you?
Customer: I'm looking for a toy.
Clerk: Can you tell me about it?
Customer: I saw it on TV. It takes batteries and does stuff.
I'm happy to say both clerk and customer survived the encounter.

At a University library:
Customer: I'm looking for a book.
Clerk: Can you give the title or author?
Customer: I don't know either of those, but I know it was green.
Clerk: sigh.

At another bookstore:
Customer: I'm looking for a book I saw in here a couple of weeks ago.
Clerk: Do you know the title or author? Or subject?
Customer: Not. but you had it on one of these tables here a few weeks ago.
Clerk (trying to be nice): Was it a hardback or paperback?
Customer: I don't know. I didn't pick it up.
Clerk (with smile pasted on face): Do you remember anything about it?
Customer: No. But I was in here looking at it, you saw me.
Clerk: I saw you?
Customer: Yes. You asked if you could help me and I said no. But now you can.
Believe it or not, but the clerk actually found the book - only because she figured out what books were on the sale table over the previous few weeks.

From a Computer Help Desk:
Caller: My computer's not working.
Help Desk: Is it plugged in?
Caller: Yes.
HD: Are there any lightls flashing?
Caller: I don't think so. It's kind of hard to see.
HD (getting a bad feeling): Why is it hard to see?
Caller: Because the power is out.
HD: Okay, tell you what. Wait for the power to come back on and see if it's working then. If not, then call me back, okay?
Caller: I have to wait until then?
HD (who's not above a little revenge): I'm afraid so. Once the power is on, we'll send a repair program over the lines that should fix everything for you.
Caller: Oh. You can do that? Thanks!

There are more, but I think I'll save them for another time. In the meantime, should you ever go into a bookstore or library looking for a specific book, please do the poor clerk a favor and at least have a title or author to go by! Thank you!

Feeling the Season

There's been so much difficult stuff happening in my life right now that it's been hard for me to get into the spirit of the season. Usually, I love this time of year. The excitement, the anticipation, family (at least some of them) coming home, the little ones... but this year, it's been a challenge to feel that same sense of peace and joy. Until today.

Today, I put on some holiday music and I finished a project I've been working on for my daughter. I'm happy with the way it turned out. Then I baked chocolate raspberry meringues and other goodies, packed up boxes for my daughter and son so they're ready to go out in the mail tomorrow. I wrapped gifts for the little ones. I turned on the tree lights.

And, for a little while, I found that happy place. I imagined the surprise and joy on the two of my childrens' faces when they open their packages. I will miss them, but am comfortable that they have their own lives to live, though far away. The other two will be here, as will other family. We will eat too much, laugh, play, and enjoy our time together.

Which is good.

With all the busyness coming up in the next couple of weeks, I don't know if I'll get back to the blog. If I don't, I'll take this time to wish you all a Merry Christmas. May you find that spot of peace and joy and love that will keep us going through the coming year.

Working in a bookstore

Darkness is falling, as is the snow outside. Inside, we have hot tea and books. Lots of books. Thousands of books. Fiction, non-fiction, old, new, big, little, hardback and paperback. I sit here, surrounded by books and can't choose what to read.

Do I read a classic like Mark Twain? Probably not. I've read all of them and want to find something new.

How about a cozy mystery? Love them. And romances. And thrillers. And have even been known to read a western or two. Science fiction and fantasy? Oh yes.

Admittedly, I don't read many non-fiction unless I'm doing so for a particular reason - research or a particular interest in the subject.

I've read a lot of the children's books - they are so wonderful. Sitting here at my desk, I can see copies of ones that I read to my children when they were little and now they read to theirs. I love it when people come in and say "Oh! I remember reading this as a kid."

The "teen" books are good too, though most of them are so full of darkness and angst, they're often difficult to read. But I guess that fits with those years.

So what should I read? What would you read if you had your choice of anything in the store?

Where do you find your ideas?

Where do you get your ideas from?

What writer hasn't been asked this question? So what's your answer? A simple one is "Everywhere." The more complicated one is "Everywhere."

For a writer, ideas may come to them from a snippet of conversation overheard, from a headline in the news, from a dream, from reading the back of a cereal box. There is no book, no reference work or website (okay, there may be - but I haven't looked) where we go to get our ideas. Ideas come from our daily lives. I have a friend who is an ex-cop, ex-city council member, and now writes computer security manuals - she'll probably end up in one of my stories somewhere. Not her exactly - I would never do that to anyone - but parts of her. Several years ago, I took a fall and shattered my ankle. Another time, I fell while rollerblading and hurt my shoulder (yes, I'm a klutz). Both of these events have figured in stories I've worked on.

Writer's are thieves. We steal personalities, styles, houses, looks, everything and anything and throw them in a bag, mix them up, and come out with characters and settings that are uniquely ours. The trick is to keep them around so we'll have them when we need them. For me, I keep notes on both the computer and in a huge three-ring binder. When I need a story idea, I've got dozens there just waiting for me.

Everything is fodder for a story - and I can't wait to find the next one.

Today's Thought: "We will go to the moon. We will go to the moon and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard." - John F. Kennedy

Today's Teaser: Where do you get your ideas? And once you have them, how do you keep them so you can use them at a future date?