Monday, July 24, 2006

Longwinded

My most recent assignment for my Long Ridge course was a nonfiction article. I was under a time crunch because of our move, so I "cheated" and pared down my article about Adult Children of Divorce and sent it to her. The one that I poured weeks into, my heart into, when it was requested on spec from A Famous Christian Women's Magazine (ahem)--and was subsequently rejected, the pathos of which is recorded in this blog.

Anyway, after being chastised by my instructor for its being too long (over twice the assignment length, oy!), she did give me many compliments, and she also suggested I focus on writing articles rather than fiction. It is nice to have someone who's read both my fiction and nonfiction attempts and tell me what my strength is.

Come to think of it, the 'burg Writers' Circle did the same thing.

So, after my kids are back in school, and I have eliminated the Brown Cardboard Box decor from my house, I will buckle down and write. Write write write. Edit and pare down. Stop being so dang longwinded!

Affirmation and constructive criticism is easier to take from afar, I think.

New home, new life

We're in North Dakota now, and I have a cable broadband link. The internet is much faster now!

Preparing for a trip to California this week for a family reunion.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Blogging for Books

Please go see Joshilyn at her website for more Blogging for Books details:

BETWEEN

I feel like I'm between.

I'm between two states: Missouri and North Dakota.
I'm between two residences: the temporary living facility and the new house.
I'm between two friends who are adjusting to my move in different ways.
I'm between my two daughters as I try to help them get along during this time of transition.
I'm between two blogs: here and the one I've locked up at xanga.
I'm between two email addresses. I can't decide which one to use the most.
I'm between my old career as a teacher and a possible new one as a writer, but I haven't yet begun the latter, and the former is comfortable sort of like a pair of jeans that are slightly too tight.

I'm between my old life and my new one, and I can't decide whom to become.

While between probably isn't ideal, it's certainly interesting!