WRITER'S BLOCK PROBLEM SOLVED!

I discovered why I had such debilitating writer's block! I was trying to write a story for the wrong book. Yeah, me! Can you imagine? No wonder I couldn't come up with the right words. 

My story would've fit quite nicely in the "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from Heaven," but not in "Miracles Happen." That deadline and publication date swooshed by ages ago, so I have no idea why or how I got the two mixed up.

~~~

Along with that discovery came another light-bulb-moment. In this case, the wrong book isn't just about anthologies. What I really want to do is to continue on with the sequel to my memoir! 

~~~

So in a winding, cosmic kind of way, I've gotten back onto the right path. I should know better. In fact, I do, but I have a tendency to believe I should also be submitting stories to contests, anthologies, and magazines. That is just putting way too much pressure on myself. Sometimes it takes the proverbial whack on the head to wake me up. And I can honestly say, "I have been awakened!" The sequel is my only priority. 

Thank you again to all the kind souls who took the time to offer advise and suggestions about my writer's block. 

~~~

* A side note: I received an e-mail from my contact at the literary agency. She said I... "will hear back in the next several weeks, depending on the schedule of those in the office." I'm grateful for that because although I don't know how many is considered "several," I do know I can relax, put it out of my mind for a month or more, and continue on. 

~~~

My quote for this evening is one I saw at my chiropractor's office last week. I liked it so much, I jotted it down because I knew I'd never remember it by the time I got home!



"I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense." -- Harold Kushner

* I'M DRIVING MYSELF NUTS *

I'm driving myself nuts. And yes, I know it's a short trip... Buh dum, dum.

Google source

It happens fairly often, and this particular case of nuttiness has been brought on by.....what else? Writer's block. 

Google source 

I've been attempting to write a story to submit to Chicken Soup for the Soul, for the upcoming anthology, "Miracles Happen." 

Google source

I have a story that is perfect for this book. I'm not trying to make myself write it. I really do want to write it, submit it, and I hope it gets accepted. The deadline is August 15th: that's NINE days from now. 

And the biggest part of the "driving myself nuts" has to do with the magnificent Oscar Wilde quote below. It has taken me DAYS to write the first paragraph - three sentences. Only I wasn't arguing with myself over a comma. I was trying to figure out what the word was that I'd been searching for, and as I scanned through various thesauruses, a word finally stood out. Ahhh, victory! At least for today. I now have 79 words (the first paragraph). 

I'd love to get some suggestions from other writers. What do you do for writer's block that usually works? Or what doesn't. I could use some laughs! 



"This morning I took out a comma and this afternoon I put it back again." -- Oscar Wilde

Thoughts on a Monday

Source: Dave's Words of Wisdom 

* WORDS ON WALLS - PART TWO *

Yesterday evening, about 3/4 of the blog post I'd written, disappeared after I received three comments. http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-happened-to-my-words-on-walls.html  I'm also pretty sure that those wonderful women who left the comments, didn't even read the entire post, just what was there after the mishap.  

If it hasn't happened to you before, let me tell you it was one weird feeling. But hey, look how my week began http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/2013/07/vern-bbg-grill-hazel-roseanne.html

So, I hope to remember the gist of my story and retell it here.

*To All Women*: 

Do you live with a husband, or boyfriend, or significant-other, or male roommate? Do they ever replace the toilet paper roll when the previous one is empty? If so, then I think you are very fortunate women. Or maybe you have "trained" them properly! For the past 30 years I can guarantee that The Ronald has never replaced one single roll. Not one. I don't know about you, but it just makes me nuts to see a brand new roll leaning against the wall, on top of the empty cardboard tube. But, it's one of those things I've learned to "live with." 

You know, Choose Your Battles. So, I came up with what I think would be a cute and witty idea. I'd love to have these words posted on the bathroom wall:

"Replacing the toilet paper roll will earn you extra special benefits." 

But I know it wouldn't really do any good, because:

1) The Ronald would most likely never even notice it.

2) If he did notice it, he'd either chuckle or groan, and go on never replacing it. 

But, I'd get a kick out of it and I'm pretty sure so would anyone else who actually read it. That's good enough for me!

~~~~~

That's all I can remember, other than my "welcome" and the quote below.

*Welcome to my newest followers, From a Writer's Kitchen and Mark Kooopmans. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! * 

"All men make mistakes, but married men find out about them sooner." -- Red Skelton

What Happened to My Words on Walls???

I have no idea what happened to my recent post! I posted it around 7:30pm, and I had comments from Val, mybabyjohn/Delores, and From the Kitchen!...I saw them on my Blackberry!! I just came upstairs to do some work on my laptop....and Hocus Pocus...it's gone!!

Has anyone had that happen?!?! 

I'm going to see if I can retrieve it from my Blackberry and somehow get it back on here, because the below words are all that was left..... L

*To All Women*: Do you live with a husband, or boyfriend, or significant-other, or male roommate? Do they *ever *replace the toilet paper roll when the previous one is empty? If so, then I think you are very fortunate women. Or maybe you have "trained" them properly! For the past *30* *years*, I can guarantee that The Ronald has *never *replaced one single roll. Not one. I don't know about you, but it just makes me nuts to see a brand new roll leaning against the wall, on top of the empty cardboard tube. But, it's one of those things I've learned to "live with." It's one of those... more »

* Saturday, August 3, 6:20am *
I'm going to attempt to rewrite what got lost.This may take a while....

Vern, BBQ Grill, Hazel, & Roseanne Roseannadanna

I've blogged previously about my clumsiness; falling down steps, bumping into furniture, and tripping over this or that. Well at 6:30am this morning, when Vern and I were outside, I fell and...

as Hazel would say, it was a doozy!

I took this picture from our deck, earlier this year. 

Do you see that tiny little silver spec in the grass?

Same picture. Cropped closer.

Do you see it now?

Same photo again. Cropped even closer. 

Yes, there it is. The Culprit. 

This is the drive-way & parking lot behind our townhouse. The decks are over the garages, and we have a beautiful and private view. Vern and I have walked along, and up and down, that little grassy hill zillions of times. He always knows when, and how to, back up and out of an area. Normally, if he sniffs too close or behind that BBQ grill, I pull gently on his leash, and he then backs out and trots along the front of it.

Vern!

Well, this morning he was quite a bit behind it, in the shrubs. So I decided to pull him out of there, but on the back side of the grill. He got confused and turned the other way, and so before I could lift the leash up high enough, he and I kind of "clothes-lined" the grill! 

As it began to roll down, I tried to stop it, and somehow slipped or tripped, bounced around a bit and fell down the little hill, landing on my back and derriere on the hard concrete. As that was happening, the grill's lid fell off and clanked, my glasses and baseball cap flew off my head, and my cell phone slid out of my pocket. 

I sat there for a few minutes and knew I hadn't broken any bones, thank goodness, but my left knee and left arm hurt quite a bit. 

I wondered if anyone heard or witnessed my tumble, but I really didn't care one way or the other. I was so glad I had on jeans, because I could tell my left knee was scraped and bleeding, and it would've been a lot worse with shorts on. 

Vern and I walked home. I cleaned up my scrapes and crawled back into bed. 

The Ronald wasn't a bit aware of it until a couple of hours later when he woke up and I told him all about my latest escapade, and added, 

"It just goes to show you, it's always something--if it ain't one thing, it's another." -- Roseanne Roseannadanna

Writers: Another Call for Submissions

My friend Kathleene S. Baker asked if I would share a call out from Publishing Syndicate, and I said "Certainly!" in my best Curly (of the Three Stooges) voice. *Yes folks, some women do like the Three Stooges and I am one of them. I grew up watching them on TV in the 1950s. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!*

But, back to today's topic. Kathleene still needs a few stories about pets. She provided the following info:

It's time folks...I'm needing stories for Not YourMother’s Book . . . On Pets! Don't procrastinate as I already have some terrific stories in the database.  Please share with other writers, writing groups, etc. It's time to put your pen to paper.

As you can see, most anything goes. The story must be true, humorous, wacky or downright amazing!

And now, my award winning poem! No laughing allowed. :-)

From chirps to quacks to cock-a-doodle-doo
Potbellied pigs and bunny rabbits, too
Goats or monkeys and cows that moo
Rats and lizards— even snakes will do!

If they have become a pet, we will certainly consider stories of
wild rehabbed animals unable to return to their natural habitat.

~~~~~

Thanks, Kathy! Love your poem. Your poetic quality is similar to mine. ☺

Click on Publishing Syndicate's link above for submission instructions. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment area, and they will be answered. 

Happy Friday and Happy All or Nothing Day! (see widget on right side) *Psst. Tandem Skydiving is one of my bucket list adventures!

Why I Love "Writer Unboxed"

If you're a writer, I certainly hope you're a faithful reader of Writer Unboxed. 

Used with Writer Unboxed permission

So many times I don't remember how I discovered a particular website or blog, but I actually do recall where and when I first heard about this one. In May of last year, I attended a one day seminar presented by MORWA (Missouri Romance Writers of America). Literary agent and monthly contributor to Writer Unboxed, Donald Maass, was the speaker. He referred to Writer Unboxed that day and I immediately began to follow it.

(Yes, I attended a romance writers workshop, and although I only write personal essays and memoir, I learned an incredible amount of information. I took 13 pages of handwritten notes....er, chicken scratchings. After I went through all of it, I typed up what turned out to be 4 pages of information, which I shared with friends in our Coffee & Critique group.)

One of my favorite contributors to Writer Unboxed is Chuck Sambuchino. He's an editor for Writer's Digest Books, a writer, and a playwright. See his website for more credentials.

So, just why do I love Writer Unboxed? It always has fantastic articles written by an array of contributors, plus author interviews, and Give-Aways! Shortly after attending the MORWA seminar, I left a comment on one of Chuck's posts where he had a give-away, which added my name to a list of 173.....and I won! My fantastic prize: Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, 3rd Edition by Chuck Sambuchino.

Along with reading it and another How To book I discovered on Writer Unboxed, How to Write a Book Proposal, 4th Edition, by Michael Larsen, I'm getting a handle on the correct way to submit requested info to literary agents.  

Stop by there today to read the newest articles, and also leave a comment at Chuck's newest give-away!

*Note 2:00pm: Chuck just informed me he'll be the Saturday night keynote speaker at next year's Missouri Writers Guild Conference in St. Louis! It's being held April 11 - 13, 2014. Hope to see many writer friends there. 

♫♪ ......Meet me in St. Louie, Louie....♫♪

(Sorry, I just couldn't help myself!)

"As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live." -- Goethe