If Mom put as much thought into my birthday parties as she did for my three sisters, kids at school might pick me third or perhaps second when we played basketball. My two older sisters and I believed Mom treasured Jillian the most since Dad’s first words after her birth were, “Alright, that’s it.” The… Continue reading Friday Night Simple Samples: Elliot McSwean, Finding Cinderella
When We Wrote Letters
Courtesy of http://christianschoolstoday.com We forget history inspires. We forget it lends something to writing, but history also asks something of us. History asks us to dig. It might require you to search through old papers or your memories. I remembered a time when letters were still important, and then I recall they are still important. We write letters in:… Continue reading When We Wrote Letters
Courage to Face the Ocean
Journalists require the who, what, when, where and how. Writers need inspiration. Inspiration does not need to be place and time, but a photograph, portrait or a beautiful memory painted in the mind. Writers will work with it. Sometimes the task seems too big and rejections too many. We do not realize all we need… Continue reading Courage to Face the Ocean
The Mommy Scribbles: How do Mommy writers manage time?
The debate about whether working mothers or stay-at-home moms are better parents continues on television. The world is large enough for all mothers. Homemakers who write and working parents who write all have a place with their words and children. I have been a homemaker and writer and now a working mom and… Continue reading The Mommy Scribbles: How do Mommy writers manage time?
Writing Goals in 2013
A writer begins with more than one goal. Goals for a writer's blog cover more than one territory. They could be, in the words of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord Elrond, "scattered, divided, leaderless." Each writer's personality, style and multiple goals are their own. It is up to us to pull those ideas together. If you are… Continue reading Writing Goals in 2013
The Bannisters: A New Beginning
Part 4 of The Bannisters April 1877 Joey Langston tried to forget his wife. When his daughter, Adelaide, moved from Missouri to Bamberg; the memories returned. She looked just like her: fawn eyes and dark brown hair. Little ringlets brushed Adelaide's neck. Mrs. Langston liked ringlets. An occupying Union soldier stopped Mrs. Langston on the… Continue reading The Bannisters: A New Beginning
Les Misérables Review
Television broadcasters and movie reviewers recently commented on the length of movies released during the holiday season. During the time of Old Hollywood, movies like Gone with the Wind and Sound of Music featured an intermission. The audience had a short break. Beginning in the 1980s, movies lost something. They lost minutes. They lost audiences, and… Continue reading Les Misérables Review
The Son I Raised
Son, I loved you from the moment you were born when they flew you on the helicopter to Charlotte. I drove and rushed to your side praying you'd be alright. Two-and-a-half years ago, I broke your trust. You and your brother will not speak to me. You will not acknowledge me on the street. Today… Continue reading The Son I Raised
What are 5 Reasons Adults are Thankful Christmas Comes Once a Year?
Courtesy of http://thumbs.dreamstime.com The holidays fill our hearts with ___. You fill in the blank. The holiday reality brings a variety of emotions to the forefront of our minds. For parents, they want to surprise their children and get extra sleep. For young adults, they're trying to figure out where the childhood magic of Christmas… Continue reading What are 5 Reasons Adults are Thankful Christmas Comes Once a Year?
Our Time: How We Celebrate Love
John and I on a short vacation to the Smokey Mountains in July 2012. Love is one of the hardest subjects. How do you approach love without composing corny clichés? What can you write to make your story real? Sometimes pieces and parts of your relationship(s) sneak into your writing. When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the… Continue reading Our Time: How We Celebrate Love
Corrie's Season 