Teaching the old dogs

Old dogs bark.

Old dogs like to sleep.

Mostly, old dogs sleep.

Lucky, filling in for me… but you get the idea, right!

I've been having a hell of a time at the SIWC. 

I'm liking my bed - it's big, comfy and oh so fluffy. 

Did I say it's comfy, oh yeah, I see I did.

Mostly old dogs sleep.

And bark.

Last night the old dog barked.

Old dogs bite too.

But that's another story.

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Right now, I'm giving you a teaser… 

the new, and improved, opening line of a piece I'm working on.

After an awesome start to Friday's set of classes, this one titled: 

Creating Narrative Drive, by Roberta Rich. 

I have learned something.

You can teach the old dog.

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Here.

Here's the first line of a Short Story I'm working on…


Death by bus would have been easier, now she would have to wait.

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That's it.

The old dog needs to leave her big, comfy, oh so fluffy bed.

A new day dawns.

Knowledge awaits, and the old dog is eager.

Like a young pup.

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How's your battery these days?

Old and worn?

Young and eager?

Cheers, Jenny

SIWC - decision made. FEATHERS - great writing stuff.

The Master Class options for the upcoming SIWC are impressive.

There are two awesome choices in the time frame that fits my schedule.

It’s been a while now since my superpower (of being in two places at the same time) stopped working so, like you mere mortals, I was forced to choose.

Choose I did.

I chose door number two - the class given by Donald Maass, titled The Emotional Craft of Fiction. 

I was leaning toward the class given by Sean Cranbury, on Owning Your Online Space. I had the pleasure of having coffee with him the other day and, given he resides in my fair city, I felt I could book subsequent time (at a fee of course) for some one-on-one time to address how best to use social media (his specialty).

He’s also giving other classes, at the SIWC, which I will be checking out.

So, you see, since Sean Cranbury is readily available for consultation here, close to home, whereas Donald Maass is located in New York - just a bit out of the way - my choice, thought difficult, was based on geography. 

My final decision was further based on my immediate interest in all things emotional - namely the current state of emotional unrest my characters are experiencing - they've requested I seek immediate help. Some characters are so pushy.

Decision made!

✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻

I was out on a run the other day. I ran into a cemetery and found all the makings of a great story. 

So… I ran with it!  Oh gosh… it’s getting late and I’m running into a brick wall (aka writer’s block) - or maybe falling headlong into a freshly dug grave.

Have you ever seen feathers after a bird fight… here, look at these.

You know the drill, if you click on the photos they will get bigger… wow!  Really!

From a distance, as I entered the cemetery - I thought it was the remains of a small fire.

Up close, look at the feathers, the way they are thrown into the ground… weird.

See the crow - he circled me, like I was some kind of prey… (fool)

Just as I was leaving the cemetery, this caught my eye - truly beautiful… but still eerie!
It looks like a book, right, but it was a solid object.
Click on it to read the verse - it's touching.

Here are a few extra photos I took on my run… one always needs to balance the weird with the normal… right?

While having a coffee I thought my new runners deserved a little attention!
Now they are immortalized… 

Where do you find material for your writing - deep within the recesses of your mind, or out in that oasis called reality?

Cheers, Jenny

SIWC - cute picture - EPIC BLOGGER - your blog's status!

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho it’s home from work I go…

Source

All right.

Seems like HAPPY is joining me this evening!

Why?

Because I’ve signed on for the SIWC. In October I’ll be rubbing shoulders with fellow writers, published authors, agents and publishers.

The last time I attended the SIWC was back in 2006 - and, dare I say, it was epic. (yes, yes… gotta love epic!)

SIWC has been around a long time - this LINK will take you to their ‘History’ page if you’re inclined to want a little more meat on this bare bone. Suffice it to say it’s year 22 and they are still going strong.

If you want to see what I've been doing to help promote the SIWC check THIS out.

But, there’s more to the Why?

Happiness is:

I’ve had the pleasure of reading a blog out here for over four years; a blog that runs the writing gambit from posts on gardening (which are colourful and educational); to posts with snippets of works in progress; to posts bearing the tragic tales of life’s cruel and unforgiving hand.

The blog I speak of recently reached the 500 post milestone and is still as entertaining and full of great writing as it was back when I started reading it.

I am pleased to call the writer of this blog my friend and writing buddy. His compassionate, kind words have bolstered my spirits, as of late, as I journey uncharted roads. He is epic - in every sense of the word.

He is also embarking on a journey, a writing adventure, on which he has posted his thoughts HERE, eloquently and as he often does, in a short story to set the stage. Worth taking a moment to pay him a visit, you'll be glad you did. 

I give you

BUSHMAN 

the creative force behind

The High Cost of this Low Living 

blog. 

Thanks to Bushman I have not given up completely on my blog and have found the passion deep within me to fire it up again and continue what I started. 

There is no mistaking the journey I am now on is a different one, filled with a reality that is disconcerting yet, in its own way, enlightening. In the midst of my hurricane lives the calm eye, it is in this calm I presently find myself taking up residence. 

For how long? 

All we ever have is today so it is a pointless question. Not worth the asking, not worth searching the endless tomorrows for answers that may never come.  

I will be here, now and then, mostly then… as for now I am busy dancing on my keypads with wily fingers itching to tell a tale of long ago and far away… in the world of dreams, and nightmares, where I have know the cast of many that make up the uncharted realm of my mind.

Well… it’s off to sleep I go… Heigh, Ho!   Maybe what I really need is a map-maker!

Cheers, Jenny

Have you ever attended a writers’ conference? Share the details - any suggestions - any insights?

Footnote: A special thanks goes out to Tex, over at the The Tex Files, for inspiring this post with her own witty and extremely informative (giggle) post on the topic of “10 Reasons Your Blog Sucks”. A must read for every blogger! Thanks Tex.