Developing Plot in Scrivener, and Then . . . A Synopsis!
A few weeks ago I had to write a synopsis of my current work-in-progress to submit it to a contest. I hate writing synopses. My novels are over 100,000 words, and I’m supposed to capture the plot and essence of the story in under 1000 words? Nevertheless, I found this synopsis easier to write than […]
A Reflection on Diversity
I’ve written before that my children taught me many lessons about diversity as they grew up (see here and here). This post is the story of another time I learned something from my son about diversity. This occasion happened within a few months of my son’s third birthday. Exactly when it happened I don’t remember, […]
My Son’s First Birthday Party
Today my son turns thirty-seven. As I’ve been going through boxes, trying to declutter, I found some pictures of his first birthday party. Obviously, I would never throw these pictures out. In fact, I find it very hard to throw out any pictures. Finding these snapshots completely stopped my decluttering while I reminisced. The big […]
On Punching Up and Pizzazz
I met with my real estate agent for three hours one afternoon last week. She’s a neighbor and a friend, so I knew I could be open with her about all the quirks and cracks and over-full closets in the house. Still, it’s a very vulnerable feeling to reveal your secrets to an outsider, the […]
The Chemical Reactivity of Metals: A Science Project
I rarely entered science fairs as a student, but when I was in the seventh grade, everyone in the class was required to submit some project to the school science fair as part of our Science grade. I moaned at home about needing a topic, and my father suggested I do something on how metals […]
Write Brain Trust Authors—What We Love (and Hate) About Writing
On my page for writers, I mention Write Brain Trust, a group of Kansas City area authors whose mission is “Writers helping writers with creativity, publishing, and marketing in a digital world.” In the seven years since we began, about thirty authors have been a part of the group. Recently, several of us started talking […]
Black-Eyed Peas: An Instant Pot Recipe
I reported earlier in the month that my husband gave me an Instant Pot for Christmas. Although it wasn’t at the top of my wishlist (nor, indeed, anywhere on my wishlist), I have tried to give it a fair opportunity. Here is a recipe for one of my more successful attempts: Black-Eyed Peas 1/2 bag […]
Ten Years Ago—My Life and Dreams
Every once in a while, I go back through old journal volumes to see where I was and how I’ve traveled to where I am today. Recently, I picked up a volume from ten years ago. Early 2009 was the end of the beginning of my retirement years. Throughout 2007 and 2008, I had relished […]
Logging in Oregon in the 1850s
When the pioneers reached Oregon, they found abundant old-growth forests with timber that had never been cut. But logging has always been a part of Oregon’s history. In 1805, Lewis and Clark built their winter shelter, Fort Clatsop, out of logs they cut. Hudson Bay Company built a water-powered sawmill at Fort Vancouver in 1827. […]
An Update on Our New House—I’m Trusting the Process
Our new home is still not much more than a hole in the ground. The foundation walls were poured in mid-December. By Christmas, some backfilling around the walls had been done. As of January 8, the garage hole had been filled in. (Did you know that garage floors can be made self-supporting, so it doesn’t […]