Memories in the Making

Today marks the start of half-days for my youngest. Half-days that will last until school officially closes at the end of next week.

There’s a part of me that’s looking at the clock trying to figure out how I’m going to cram a day’s worth of work into half the time. But there’s another part–a larger part–that’s determined to do it. So we can enjoy our time together. And I treasure it, I really do.

There may be things in life I wish I could change (my self-confidence at the top of that list), but when it comes to time I’ve spent with my kids…I have no regrets. Except, maybe, that it went too fast.

Today, I think I’m going to meet her at the bus stop with a picnic lunch. Maybe we’ll make a yummy dessert together, too…

And since I have seven more half-days ahead of us, tell me something special you’ve done with your kids. Don’t have any kids? Then how about a special memory shared with a parent? Maybe we can give it a whirl, too.

~Elizabeth

The Prized Collection

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of signing books at Chicago’s annual Printer’s Row Lit Fest. If you’ve not been (and you love books), you should add it to your must-do list. Being around that many booklovers is–in a word–exhilerating.

Being there, watching people try new authors, chat up strangers, and search for particular books, I began to think about my own books. The special ones.

Just this past summer, while getting ready to box up my life and start if over in New York, I was faced with a need to conserve space. Which meant giving things up. I spent days bagging up old clothes and taking them to Goodwill. I gave my next door neighbor (also a single mom) stuff I knew would help her out. And I boxed up my complete collection of Mary Higgins Clark hardcovers (minus the first three titles as I could only afford them in softcover) and donated them to a local assisted living facility. 

I know that those books are giving others enjoyment but, I’ll be honest, I miss them. I’d purchased them all on the day they came out…year after year. But what’s done is done, right?

Aside from those books, my other prized collection of books is the Little House series I got for my First Communion when I was eight. Those I still have…and always will.

So how about you? Do you have a prized book collection?

~Elizabeth

**Hey, check this out! My Southern Sewing Circle series earned a mention as a favorite “Crafty Read for your Vacation!” Click here to check it out.

**Oh, and one more thing…I’ve just announced a new contest on my “latest news” page!

On Second Thought…

I interrupt my normally scheduled Dreamer Monday post to bring you this news…

I’m guest blogging (with a contest) over at Fresh Fiction today. I’d sure love it if you’d stop by  (Click Here).

~Elizabeth

One of These Things is Not Like the Other…

 No, this isn’t a post about hot dogs but it’s the best I could do to illustrate the topic for today’s Bits & Pieces…

Oddities

1) What’s the oddest collection you ever had as a kid?

2) Who is your oddest relative (names optional to protect the innocent) and why?

3) Do you have any odd physical characteristics? What?

4) If you could do one crazy (and, yes, odd) thing wherever you are at this very minute (with absolutely no repercussions whatsoever), what would you do?

~Elizabeth

P.S. I’m off to Printer’s Row Lit Fest in downtown Chicago for the weekend. If you’re in the area, I’ll be signing at the Big Sleep Books tent at noon on both Saturday and Sunday! Stop by and say hi!

Critique Group, Anyone?

This week’s Writing Thursday question comes from Dru…

Q: How do you pick a critique group?

A: Dru, I’ll be honest, I no longer do a true critique group. In the beginning it was useful because it allowed me to see what I was doing well/what I was doing poorly. And when surrounded by other writers at your level or higher, that’s priceless. The thing to watch out for, however, is members who aren’t at your level. If they listen and take comments well, you’re still learning, too. But when they don’t listen or continue to make the same mistakes time and time again, you have to question if the squeeze is worth the juice.

These days, when I’m writing three to five books a year, I can’t afford to spend too much of my writing time doing anything other than writing. That said though, I have two dear friends who I can count on for honest feedback. I also engage in friend-to-friend goal setting on a weekly and monthly basis. We send daily emails about our word count, weekly emails about our goals for the coming week, and a monthly phone call where we essentially answer for how we’ve done and plan for the month ahead. I’ve found it helps with accountability and I think Lynn agrees.

But if you’re at a point where you feel as if you’d benefit from a critique group, there are several ways to find one. First, you can join a professional writing organization (Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of American, Romance Writers of America, etc..). Very often these groups have local meetings where you can find others interested in improving their craft. Second, consider taking a writing class at a local community college. During the course of the class you’ll undoubtedly find people interested in writing the same thing you write as well as people at a similar level. Finally, consider posting a sign at your local library. You may find the group doesn’t work for you…in which case you move on. But you may find it’s the best thing you could have done for your writing.

Thanks, Dru!

The mailbox is now open. Fire off some more questions, everyone!

~Elizabeth 

Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five…

I’m going into space today. 

Okay, maybe not truly, but kinda. Sorta.

My fifth grader is going to a space mission simulator with some of her classmates and I volunteered to go along (really, who can resist a chance to pretend something so cool as space travel?!?!?). If I understand correctly, the kids will get to see what a mission into space truly entails. While there, they’ll perform the tasks that a real team must perform every single time we go into space. There will be kids who get to be the astronauts, kids who get to be the communication officers, kids who get to work with the gear, etc.  You know, a real hands-on learning experience that will make them see space exploration in a whole new way.

Now, I realize I’m only there as an extra set of eyes for the teacher, but I have to tell you…I’m more than a little excited. I mean, really, how many times in life (as an adult) do you get to experience something so cool through the eyes of kids (one of which is your own)?

So, since I’ll be learning space jargon and all the buttons you’re not supposed to push, I leave you all to carry on a conversation together. As for a topic? How about the coolest field trip you’ve ever been on (as a student or a chaperone) and what made it so cool…

~Elizabeth

Shhhhhh…

After much prodding from an old elementary school buddy, I’ve finally begun reading THE SECRET. Like most of you, I’d heard about this book a few years ago yet never made an attempt to check it out. Until now.

I’m still reading, but I’ve read enough to get a broad feel for what it’s teaching. And while it’s hard to imagine that the simple act of adjusting your mindset and having faith can sell millions and millions of books, it has.

There are some parts of this book that really make you think…about the way you sabotage your own success and dreams by hanging onto doubt. It points to Scripture and professors and all sort of sources to highlight the importance of believing in yourself.

And by believing, we mean no doubts, no second-guessing, no negativity.

Which got me thinking… Can attitude really make things happen (wealth, health, relationships, etc.)?  If you start out having a “bad day” can it truly continue simply because you’ve dubbed it a “bad day” in your thoughts? Can you achieve great things by believing you can and imagining yourself already there?

I believe it/you can.

Does that mean everything I ever wish for comes true? No. But I also know I don’t always believe it will.

So how about you? What do you think? And for those interested in giving it a whirl, consider your wishes from yesterday. Try believing–really believing–they will happen. It can’t hurt, right?

~Elizabeth

Three Wishes

 Think for a minute (no knee-jerks here, okay?)…

You get three wishes.

What are they?

~Elizabeth

(These will coincide with tomorrow’s Reading Tuesday post, so give ‘em some thought)

Improvements?

There’s a plus and a minus to change. And sometimes it’s hard to know which was better–the original version or the new and improved version.

In just my four decades (sounds better by decades than years) on this earth, I’ve seen a lot of changes. The squiggly chord I used to wrap around my finger while talking on the phone…gone.  Replaced, instead, by phones we take with us–some not much thicker than a piece of paper. Having this option has made us safer and certainly helped with convenience, but it’s allowed people to reach us everywhere. Even when we might not want them to.

Then there’s music. Instead of saving up our money to buy records, we buy CD’s. Instead of carrying boom boxes to the beach, everyone has ear plugs in their ears as they listen to favorite songs downloaded to Ipods. And while there is certainly a plus to this (not buying an entire album for one good song), the negative is missing out on some great album art.

Then there’s cameras. We no longer have to save up our rolls of film to take to the camera store. We can, instead, see them instantly via our computer screen. But since the dawn of digital pictures, I can’t tell you the last time I held a print in my hand…or put one in an actual album.

And then there’s good old fashioned outdoor activity like kite flying. Sure, we don’t have to head to the beach just to enjoy such an activity (saving gas/time)…but do we really enjoy the same experience via a Wii?

Thoughts to ponder, certainly. And a topic of some Bits & Pieces questions for all of you…

1) What’s something you miss about the past (technology wise)? Why?

2) What’s something you miss about the way things were done in the past (not specific to technology) that you miss? Why?

3) What’s something you absolutely couldn’t live without now that you  have it?

~Elizabeth

The Lasting Word

I’d be lying if I didn’t say computers have made my job, as a writer, far easier. To be able to back space and delete, copy and paste, save in various places… Well, you just can’t beat it. 

But there are drawbacks to the computer-written word, or, more specifically, the computer-written email as opposed to a good old fashioned letter. Letters, you tend to save. Emails you tend to save for a few weeks and then delete. You just do. And the story behind a yellowed letter that’s been unfolded and folded time and time again? Not really one that can be replicated with an email.

Which got me thinking. About letters I’ve written and letters I’ve received over the years. The saving kind of letters.

One I sent? That would be a thank you letter to my history teacher on the day of graduation from high school. Mr. Filo was the Dean of Discipline and thus, not always a favorite among the students (at least the ones who saw him on a frequent basis). Mr. Filo also taught a senior level history class. Prior to his class, I despised history. Mainly because we seemed to learn the same stuff year after year, always stopping around World War I…as if nothing important happened after that. But Mr. Filo? He asked us what we wanted to learn. And then he taught it. Not from a book. But by making it come alive through his words. He made a difference for me that year and I wanted him to know that. So I wrote him a letter. A real letter. Mr. Filo died two weeks later. To this day, I’m glad I took the time to sit down and say, “thank you.”

One I received? There’s been lots. From my kids, from the girl scouts I led for eight years, from friends… They’re all treasured. And saved. Why? Because someone took the time to let me know I mattered.

So how about you? Any letters you’ve written and/or received that stand out as keepers?

~Elizabeth