Five Minute Friday – the writing challenge where you set the timer for 5 minutes and use a word for a springboard and see what comes out!
Join me today!
ONE
One. I am one, but I am not alone.
The story I read last evening at writing group called One of One. It is a story about grief and facing the perceptions of others. It was the largest group for this writer organization that I have seen since I joined last summer.
Starting at 2:25 p.m. today, I have ONE week of holiday break for Thanksgiving. I plan to read and write over this holiday in between bites of turkey, stuffing, corn bake, and pumpkin pie. I will spend the time with my family and am thrilled.
In an 8th grade English class today, I’m reading for her program FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY. The book is The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen. I am also reading ONE poem from Mary Oliver, The Sun.
The first snow descended yesterday as I drove home from work. The tiny flakes sprinkled my windshield and melted from the warmth of the car. It continued to happily come down throughout the evening. Dinner was pot roast and homemade bread which made for a perfect evening.
This morning the roads are shiny reflecting the lights of the cars as they plug along. The blue sky was light just before the sun came all the way up. The grass looks like it has powdered sugar sprinkled on it.
Snow makes me happy
Winter makes me happy and the coziness it brings.
As I pulled into the parking lot it rained leaves to remind me that we are still in fall, not yet winter.
Let’s sit with our coffee in large comfy chairs. It snowed here this week but didn’t stick. I hope that as we sit here that it starts to spit a few flakes.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that the progress on my novel seems slow but my word counts are fine. I am on track. I have to figure out a few things about the story though.
If we were having coffee I would tell you I read the short story Dimension by Alice Munro. It had some disturbing parts and then ending was different than I expected.
If we were having coffee I would tell you I read the short story Carpe Diem by Judi Walsh. You can read it here.
What do you think of these two stories? Have you read anything good lately?
If we were having coffee, I would tell you I finished reading VOX by Christina Dalcher today. I kept thinking about what it would be like to only be allowed to say 100 words a day. I cannot imagine how many words I actually speak in a day. I am not sure I want to know. Sometimes there are days I would prefer to speak 100 words or be silent all day. How do you feel about it?
If we were having coffee, I would tell you I worked out today finally. I had to go to the gym because it was too cold and windy to run outside.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you I went to a writing class at the library yesterday. It was interesting. The funniest part was that 2 other ladies from my writers’ group that I regularly talk to were there too! When we originally signed up we were all on the waiting list. We didn’t want to tell others about it and then them not be able to get in. It was a nice surprise to see them!
I hope your week went well! I am so glad we are able to catch up each week.
I participated in a virtual write-in on Thursday evening for NaNoWriMo. My online writing group who is awesome were on a Zoom call all together. If you haven’t ever used Zoom it is a video conference call free program. It is nice to be able to see everyone. There is a chat feature and video and audio controls as well.
We logged in, chatted a few minutes, and then got to writing. We did two 15 minute sprints. It is nice to write with people that you know. It is a comfort somehow that we are not alone. It was also oddly comforting to hear the clicking of other people’s keyboards.
Encouragement from my tribe is a good thing. They help me along.
Inspiration Number 2
I read a story but Kimberly Lojewski today about a hot air balloon, a strange island, and treasure called About The Hiding Of Buried Treasure. It is so well written and fun!
Inspiration Number 3
I had my 7th-grade writers group Thursday and they were wonderful! I started with them filling out a card with the sentence stem: I WISH PEOPLE KNEW… The responses were honest and raw.
Then we wrote to my prompt of requiring 4 words to be a major part of the story. The writing was the best I have seen from them.
If you would like a link to the cards I created just click below:
Everyone carries some type of burden. Sometimes they manifest as heavy ideas and struggles that affect our moods, decisions, and actions. I have recently left a long season of heavy burden and obstacles. I have carried some of them so long that the lifting and releasing of them has caused the happy outcome renewed mental and physical energy. I will gladly take this energy, even if it is not a daily occurrence.
The burden I feel now is what my next right thing will be. I sense a large positive change is coming. My intuition is tingling. The nature of this next thing is unclear. My focus has changed slightly professionally and I feel a new opportunity is in the wings. I am staying open and not burdening myself with the same old patterns of how I react of events in the past. There is new NOW and I need to honor it.
Part of my current job is to navigate around other people’s burdens – personal and professional. I have been taking an online class to help aid me to be a more effective coach. I am reflecting and becoming more aware of how I react to others.
I am taking advantage of this period of rest before a delicious storm where I will catch lightning in a jar. I will harness this power and use it in a positive way.
It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! We post the first Wednesday of every month. Our purpose is to share and encourage. I hope my post does just that.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions often offer advice or insight through personal experience. This month the question is:
November 7 question – How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?
I have always been a writer and interested in creativity. I think that I had a narrow definition of what creative meant even after all the creativity books I have read over my lifetime.
As I have lived I have opened up my perspective of what creative is and what it looks like. It doesn’t have to be a free spirit artist person – but it can be.
My evolution has expanded my thinking to knowing creativity is everywhere.
It is in the lines that come to my head for writing that I now write down.
It is the doodle I draw in my bullet journal.
It is the new recipe I try for dinner.
It is in the new thinking pattern I have from reading other blogs and other writers that fuel my own ideas.
It is the walk I take among the trees and the whispers I hear from them to fill my heart.
It is the way I look at paintings and short stories and novels and appreciate them and then how to unpack the elements to get inside the artist’s mind to learn something for myself.
Creativity is a beautiful lens to look through every day!
We have the patterns we engage in because we love them and patterns we follow because we have to. Ultimately, I understand that the “have to’s” are a choice as well but we don’t want to have an accident or get fired.
Daylight savings time is a break in the routine that is out of our control. I read the articles about how certain states are trying to end this practice. I had read someone state it was expensive that I thought was odd. There are added wages for certain jobs because they work overnight. Doesn’t that even out for the company when we spring ahead though?
I am not sure we are saving anything – why is it called that? Yes, there is the sun in my eyes on the morning commute now and it is dark when I come home. I didn’t save any sunshine. It isn’t in a bottle that I can open when I need it. It isn’t in a Sunshine bank account that I can withdraw from.
I have said before:
Daylight savings time is JET LAG with NO TRAVEL
As always, in life and in teaching there are adjustments to be made. In a week, I will be used to the new routine, but I will still be searching for the sunshine.
I originally started blogging with the intent to connect with other educators that centered their main responsibilities around coaching practices. Then I realized that all the areas of my life feed the others and I talk about all aspects now – my reading life, my writing life, my fitness life, my family life, and my teaching life!
I offer writing conversation and book recommendations. I also have many random thoughts that end up as posts as well just about everyday life.
Two Pieces of Advice to New Bloggers:
I feel like a new blogger still myself but my first piece of advice is to write what moves you. What you write is unique to you and you will find your readers. Don’t try to write to something you are not passionate about – we all will be able to tell.
Branch out to find readers. I use Twitter and recommend it. Use hashtags to help you find your tribe. #bloggerstribe #bloggerssparkle #bloglove are ones I use.
My Nominees for the Blogger Recognition Award
There are so many wonderful bloggers out there that I read every day. Here are just a few of the amazing people, whose content you should check out. Thanks for being you!
I am so glad you have joined me for coffee this morning! It is rainy and windy here today. The perfect day to sit in bed and watch movies, read, and write. I am in the mood for a vanilla latte this morning. It has a buttery smell from the steam as I drink it.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you this weekend we had a grand time playing all kinds of homemade games for the 12 year old’s birthday! Points were awarded on large tally sheets and many videos were taken. The laughter rang through the house. Friday we had great pizza and played a couple games. Saturday was busy with sports but then we had turkey bake (sooooo good) and played games later in the day.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you the birthday cake was a Golden Oreo Explosion cake which had delicious cream cheese and Oreo icing in the middle of the layers.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you my writing streak is going well with the novel. I was at my daughters gymnastics meet yesterday which gave me time to write in between events.
If we were having coffee, I would let you know that I am so happy you joined me today! We could do a writing sprint together if you like! Just 10 minutes! I want to hear about your week and your favorite birthday celebration!
I am sorry to cut our visit short this week but I have to write! I have 1700 words to write today!
