Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Mountain Men in the Wild

I just read a book that impacted me in more than one way. Keep in mind that I'm a fiction addict and rarely read non-fiction not related to my day job (i.e. Medical.)

However, once I began Wild-Lost and Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, I couldn't stop reading. I felt everything she felt, met and liked other hikers, was ready to knock-out a couple of hunters. I will never look at hiking, back-packing and food in the same way.

At the same time I admired the writing and was wrapped up in making it to the end of the trail, engrossed in nature along the way, I marveled at the structure as Cheryl wove in all the things that brought her to the trail. If you ever want to write a memoir, read this one as she takes one pivotal event in her life and links everything to it.

I not only learned about nature and the PCT as well as dealing with loss, anger and grief, but learned more about writing a riveting memoir than I ever have. 

If you haven't read this, go to  http://www.amazon.com/Found-Pacific-Crest-Trail-ebook/dp/B005IQZB14/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340832886&sr=1-1&keywords=wild  Beleive me, you'll be glad you did.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Penquins in the snow-a lazy weekend

I was lazy this weekend. I did laundry, played with a two-year-old, we looked at a Cherry Ames Cruise Nurse book together. I painted a new pastel picture, (see above.) Visited with friends, had Sushi with my daughter's friend and sent her off to Paris with a book about writing in Paris.

I painted penquins in a snow storm. But did I write? No. Did I plot? No. Did I get a rejection? Yes. Now I have to incorporate urban fantasy revisions, but I didn't do that either. I guess my brain thinks it needs a break, or I prefer to think, the writing cells are regenerating so that I'm ready to write.

I used a new painting technique for snow with pastel, called dusting. Doing new things will sometimes trigger plot ideas or story direction. Suggestions from an editor gave me ideas about revising another Urban Fantasy to make it better, build a more complete world. So, even when I'm not writing, the cells are working on material to tie in later when I'm putting words on paper (or on the computer.) Nothing you do is really wasted, from watching birds to seeing a child pretend to read a book that is too old for her. That child may read later because she was shown a respect for reading at two.