Sunday, February 26, 2012

Tag...I'm It!

Well, it finally happened...I was tagged last Wednesday, by Stephanie.  On
Thursday, I was surprised to discover that I was tagged a second time...by
Traci!



It's a game we Campaigners play to bring traffic to our sites, stretch our writer's muscles and encourage creativity.  When we are tagged, we answer the questions the tagger has given us, then, tag others, and develop another set of ten questions for the new "tagees".
What to do now?  Answer all the questions?  Only one set?  I liked the one suggestion I was given: Mix and match them.

Okay, here is a mix and match of Traci's and Stephanie's questions, and, of course, my responses:




      What color best describes your personality and why?

I used to like blue as a child, and I'm not sure why.  Maybe I felt stress in my life at that age, and blue calmed me down.  But, as an adult, I suddenly am attracted to green. Bright greens, like lime, pistachio, spring and sea foam green.  They describe how I feel in this fifth decade of life: alive, alert, fresh, growing and learning!

     Which would you rather do, go to the dentist or watch a Pauly Shore movie?


I don't mind a visit to the dentist...and I have bad teeth!  So bad, that on the average, one tooth cracks each year, so I spent quite a bit of time in the chair.  In fact, a wedge shaped piece of my molar just fell out a couple of days ago, so I'm off to my 'teeth healer' again.
I've never seen a Pauly Shore movie, but, from what I've gathered from google, I wouldn't bother!


     If you were forced to travel back in time to live out the rest of your life, when would you prefer to end up (you have to go back at least a hundred years)

That's a tough one...I love history!  Each century has its good and bad points, but in general, I'm fascinated with the Renaissance and Reformation. Even so, I would choose to live in the time of Jesus.  Imagine sitting at his feet like Mary, and hearing the Words of life in person!

     Are you a seat of the pants writer, or do you plan out every detail?

It depends.  If I am participating in a contest, and need to come up with a piece quickly, I write by the seat of my pants.  If I have time, I plan out the details.

     What, besides writing, do you love to do in your spare time?  

I love to travel, so, I'm naturally the one to plan our mega family field trips. We've travelled to every continent but Antarctica!  Did I tell you that we home educate our two teenagers?  I have a sparse amount of spare time...

     How far would you need to travel to get to the mountains? 



I'm closer to the Adirondacks than the Rockies...about a thousand miles.


     If cheap, safe space travel were possible, would you hop on a ship or stay firmly planted on Earth?

I'm afraid of heights, so, I would have my feet planted on Terra Firma!

     Why did you decide to start a blog?  

I wanted to share the amazing things we saw and learned on our family travels.  But, what began as a travel blog, is morphing into a journey through the Writer's World!


     How many books/short stories/poems/songs etc. have you written?

I have written five PBs...four based on Scripture, and one, a hedgehog.  Two
are being considered for publication at this time.


     What genre is your current wip? 

A non-fiction picture book about an incident which took place during the smallpox epidemic in the 1800's.


     Do you write what you know, or stretch your imagination, or both?  

The challenges I have participated in; PiBoIdMo, 12x12 in 2012, A to Z Blogging, and the Writer's Platform Campaign have forced me (in a good way) to stretch my imagination, especially in the area of fiction.  I have a tendency to read and write non-fiction, so the stretch is good for my literary muscles!

     Who would you like to see on a coin/money?  

I'd love to see those that were martyred for their faith, such as missionary Jim Elliott, honored in such a way.  So many people who gave their lives for their God and country deserve to be recognized...


     What’s your favorite place to write and why?  
If I can't get away by myself to a quiet, scenic outdoor location (which rarely happens), I like to settle into my comfy high-back chair in my own Victorian sitting room.

     If you could move anywhere in the world where would it be?
What a difficult decision from one who loves to travel the world!  Someplace quiet, I would say. Probably a little cottage in the Cotswolds, or tiny house in the French countryside.

     What book (craft or otherwise) have you learned the most from?
I have to honestly say "The Bible".  One can never run out of things to learn.  It's like looking in a mirror within a mirror within a mirror...endless!





Now, for my questions:

1. Did you know when you were a child, that you would be a writer?  If so, share the moment...

2. Would you order a meat dish or go vegan at a restaurant?

3. What was your favorite subject in high school?

4. When you are working on a story, which do you find most difficult: writing a beginning or ending?

5. Do you have more trouble with grammar, or finding just the right descriptive word?

6. What would you not want to leave undone before you left this world?

7. What makes you laugh?

8. Are you an introvert or extrovert?  What about your characters?

9. If you were limited to writing and publishing only one book, what would  the subject be?

10. If you wrote your autobiography, what would you entitle it?




Who will be answering the above questions on their blogs?  Who did I tag?


The winners are:   Ruth Schiffmann  and Jodi Su...Congratulations, Ladies!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

First Campaigner's Challenge

Rachel has come up with a challenge for us, and here it is from her website, 'Rach Writes' :



Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count. 
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:
  • end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)
  • include the word "orange" in the story
  • write in the same genre you normally write
  • make your story 200 words exactly!


 Well, I took the challenge, and below, is my piece. I also kept to exactly 200 words, used the word 'orange' in the text, and ended with "everything faded":                                        



                                                      THE CLIMB


 Shadows crept across the wall as I stood in the dark room.  It had been 14 years since I visited the old homestead.  But, this time it was different.

Gone were the carefree days of youth, when the wind caressed my face as I swung higher and higher, seated on an old board secured on both sides with a rope.  My favorite tree, a strong and sturdy oak, had thick limbs reaching in all directions, hearty enough for a makeshift swing. I would run to that swing when I was troubled, and needed to think, or, at times, talk to God.

I danced and twirled as I made my way through the field of orange poppies, almost tripping as I went. The anticipation was too much.  Wanting to beat my last record, I attempted to swing higher than the day before, stretching my toes to meet the sky. I had carved marks on the trunk of the massive tree to commemorate my climbs.  At one point, it occurred to me that I could reach so great a height, that as I leaned back, it would cause me to flip backwards and spin through the air.  I did.  Then, everything faded...


 There it is...something I have never done before! I'm accustomed to writing for children, or sharing my thoughts in a devotional. So, Rachel's challenge has stretched me. Thanks, Rachel! What do you think? I'd love any comments you might have to help me hone my craft...

Saturday, February 11, 2012

On A Roll...or, Driving Myself Crazy?

As I told a fellow 12x12 in 2012 challenge member, I must be crazy for adding another thing to my proverbial plate.  In November, it was PiBoIdMo, which encouraged me to write down a picture book idea every day for 30 days...I did it!

This year, I've joined the 12x12 in 2012, which is quite a step up from the November challenge.  This contest of sorts, gives you the motivation to complete 12 picture book manuscripts in a year, using the 30 PB ideas from the PiBoIdMo contest.  I've finished my January ms...11 more to go!

Building my Writer's platform, (to ready me in the event that my picture book is published, and allowing me to promote my book to the world), has been in the forefront of my mind for at least 9 months.  So, I discovered the Writers Platform Building Campaign, which promises to help me in my quest.  This involves short spurts of energy and time on my part, during the next few weeks.  The signup ends this Wednesday, February 14th.

And last, but certainly not least, which will help me with all of the above, is the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, held during the Month of April.  Thirty days of blogging, each day, the theme of my post is to begin with a letter of the alphabet.  On the first day, the post theme or title will begin with 'A', the second day, 'B', and so on.  Wow...that will get me going!

Does anyone want to go with me?  Crazy, I mean?

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Fourth Writers' Platform-Building Campaign

Rach Writes...: Fourth Writers' Platform-Building Campaign

Another journey into the unknown...but I'm game! Rachel has hosted three of these so far, and is doing a fourth, beginning now.

If you are interested in developing your writer's platform, so others can find you, and desire to share your journey with others, join us!

From what I have seen, participants in the past have really benefitted from this encouraging group...and learn to build their platform together with others on the same road.

Check the link above to learn more...but, beware...the signup ends Wednesday the 15th!

Journey into the Promised Land

Journey into the Promised Land
From Egypt to Israel