Word Magic

A Writing Analogy

2012-01-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

Hammer, saw, wood, instructions.

Needle, thread, cloth, pattern.

Pen, paper, ideas...... and a sort of hazy sense of how those ideas might be pointing towards the heart of a really good story and an inkling of how (maybe!) one might begin to put those words together.

Apophenia

2012-01-10T07:13:00.000-08:00

Trying to read the tea leaves of the universe ... and seeing them all pointed towards your current writing project.     Okay...the analogy isn't quite exact. And I do feel the universe is trying to gently show us a few currents that might be the best way to go.   (It's comforting to feel that way and heaven knows we all need a bit of comfort.)
    But it can be deadly in crafting a story. Adding things that don't belong just because you stumble upon them. Stopping much too soon instead of doing the hard work needed to get to the precious underlying areas where the story really lies.
Today may I be open to the tea leaves of the universe ... but not ruled by them. The quest for a good story deserves that. And so much more.

Around the World

2012-01-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

One of my books - with illustrations by Ruth Ohi - was recently mentioned in a totally interesting way on Momo Celebrates Time To Read. I'm not sure how to put the link to it here, so you'll see the blog's URL posted below.

Momo lives in Sydney Australia and mentioned that we met in Sundre, Alberta, Canada many years ago when she was on teacher exchange far from home and I was doing author visits close to my home...relatively speaking.
I remember meeting her! How wonderful to reconnect in this way. It's also spurred me into starting my own blog...we'll see how long it lasts. If nothing else, I'm happy to celebrate a reconnection and I'm delighted to pass along her blogs URL below to others who enjoy the great world of children's literature. Enjoy!

http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2012/01/nicholas-at-library-by-hazel-hutchins.html