A Work in Progress

Somehow, in one way or another, I end up writing (even if in brief) about coffee in my blogs. This is a habit (not just the writing, but drinking) for a lot of writers, because it really may be the only thing keeping us in our chair -- trying to do what we were called to do -- but suffering horribly at times because of that enormous wall called “writer’s block.” But this post isn’t about walls, and blocks and such. It’s again, about the coffee. Did you know that Swedes (as in the folks of Sweden) are the highest coffee drinkers per capita in the world? My maiden name is Swedish, even though I’m a mix of all things European. And a whopping ¼ of me is Finnish. Though Finland isn’t Sweden, it IS next door to it. And I think that counts as a good explanation as to why I love the black gold so much. This picture is of my most favorite coffee mug in the world. My blog friends Erica and Christy are having a blogfest about coffee cups today. Each blogger is supposed to post their favo

So, this post is about music. Why? Because author extraordinaire Alex J. Cavanaugh  is doing a music blogfest. For those who chose to sign up and write about this subject, like me, we get the opportunity to muse about the top ten songs that have inspired us the most over our life. This is a rather subjective and varied blog idea, because sometimes the strangest music can inspire us, or move us, or allow us to remember a time or place or moment or person ... for the rest of our lives! And that is also why it is such a grand idea to make a list of the most inspirational songs: to remember, to pontificate, and think about such like: Wow, that song was awful, but I sure loved it! Warning: This list is going to be majorly filled with eighties music. Why? Again, for the reasons listed above. I was age "ten and up" in the mid-eighties. Talk about an inspirational and impressionable time of anyone's life! Because of that, I feel the eighties were good to me. And I don&

Okay, so as my second resolution stated from the January 1st post, I don't wish anyone to acquire carpel tunnel from writing. That's not only painful, but really sad. However, if you did happen to get sore wrists, say without the Carpel Tunnel, then that may be a good thing for this year. Why? Because it means you are spending a whole lot of time doing what you told yourself you should do: write! The literal act of writing is probably one of the hardest things anyone will ever do--even for "authors" too (crazy people who want to make a living through writing.) But, take your plumber, or your firefighter, or your teacher and make them sit down to write a book, and really, they're not going to want to do it either. Writing, creating a world, visualizing dialogue and characters, scenery and hidden plots, well that's practically like coming up with an organized way to take over the world. It's that complicated. Yet, it isn't impossible (the writi

Remember how my last post listed "resolution" type blessings on your writing life? Well, I want to get into those blessings with a little more detail. This week, it's the "May your minds be full of creative, change-the-world-with-your-story- ideas " aspect. I know. You may think I'm kidding, or that I wrote that one as a joke. But as far-fetched as it sounds, it isn't a joke. Realistically, a change-the-world story is a crazy concept. We don't necessarily know what and how to change the world; or if what we write will make a difference to anybody. Can we change the world? Should we try to change the world? Well, if you are passionate about what you write, then (and this is the kicker) it doesn't matter. What you have to do-- as a writer wanting to write something worth ... something -- is make sure that your words are as truthful, honest, heart-felt and real to what you feel and believe as possible. If you are happy with this, if you ar

Wishing you a wonderful new year for all of you writers, readers and bloggers. May your minds be full of creative, change-the-world-with-your-story- ideas. May Carpel Tunnel Syndrome not set in until late, like after Thanksgiving, of this year. May everything you write have that "just what the editor was looking for" quality. May editing be your favorite --well, at least one of your favorites --hobby this year. May reading "for fun" actually happen more than twice this year (and not  while at the dentist). May your new year resolutions have something to do with writing an actual letter by hand ! May your coffee (or tea) pot remain full, pressed in, running over and never-ending. Now seriously, blessings and God's favor on your life this year.