The summer of 2021 has been a rollercoaster ride in
every way. Covered by a heat dome, our little valley reached 40+ degrees Celsius,
an oppressive and unusually high temperature on the coast of the island. We
have moved on to temps in the mid to high teens, more like fall than late
summer. The one constant has been dryness. With the exception of a few hours of
light rain a week or so ago, we have not had rain since June 15th. Climate
change is at our back door, banging loudly, trying to grab our attention before
it's too late. Our serious drought conditions have sparked fires, devastating
forests and wildlife, ravaging homes and hopes.
And the world at large? Yikes! I'm hesitant to open
news feeds for fear of what I'll see. The heartbreak of Haiti, once again suffering
from the forces of nature, their plight overshadowed by the endless news cycle
that excitedly pounces on the next traumatic or dramatic event. The people of
Afghanistan, a seemingly endless war ending, yet they will continue to be torn
apart as their country gropes for equilibrium—the fear that it will forever be
out of reach and that women, in particular, will suffer for it. The US battle
for democracy; unrelenting images of unrest, violence, and racism—politicians
spewing hatred on all media platforms.
Closer to home, Indigenous nightmares exposed, people
crying out in horror and solidarity, then moving on to the next news item. Our
government seemingly insensitive to the plight of our forests, our waters, our
people. Calling an election when none is needed rather than using funds more
productively.
Those are the dips in the rollercoaster this
summer—scraping the bottom, sparks of anger and angst mingling with the weight of
sadness. But just as daylight follows night, a rollercoaster car climbs after
descent, right? That was the premise I opened with…a ride of ups and downs. I
planned on highlighting the climb by listing counterpoints for each negative
news story with equally large positive ones. Sadly, I couldn't think of any. At
a loss, I Googled, and could find no major good news stories in the past few
months.
Don't get me wrong. There have been many wonderful small
moments, mostly locally, mostly in my own life. In the valley, good deeds
abound and our charity organizations are well led and sustained. Local businesses are coming alive again, and
in my community, they reach out and support one another. While the weather has
created chaos, it has also allowed patios, outdoor markets, and outdoor activities
to once again thrive. We are now able to gather with a few friends, and I am so
lucky that my friends believe in science and are as diligent as we are in
thinking about the safety of everyone in our community. I haven't been anemic
for the last few years, so I was able to give blood for the first time in my
life and look forward to doing so regularly. We expected to say goodbye to one
of our pups last summer, but she's graced us with her presence for another year.
A beautiful new baby was added to our friend-family circle. I have a new book
coming out and several in the cooker. The goodness bounty is plentiful in my
small sphere.
But what of its absence on a larger scale? Is it
because media, social and mainstream, is powered by negativity and there is no
money in "good" news? Or am I looking at it wrong? A series of small celebratory
moments—active empathy, helpful deeds, personal successes, recognizing the
goodness in people, the wonder of our planet—surely adds up? Analogous to the
saying that a single twig breaks, but a bundle of twigs is strong, these small
celebratory moments, banded together and wrapped in a hopeful ribbon, become as
impactful as a single large positive event, don't they? Is it enough to power
that cart back up the track to the top of the rollercoaster?
I've been
absent for far too long. Not just from blogging, but it seems sometimes, from
life. Like so many people, with each ripple effect of Covid, my morale ebbs
further out of reach and with it, my motivation. A general malaise rides the
current, at times threatening to draw all optimism under. I've been diligent in
following rules and have led an insular life, my husband and my two pups pretty
much my sole companions. They are also my soul compadres, which makes me
incredibly fortunate.
I always
thought that I would enjoy a quiet life. The concept of moving to one of the
smaller islands and cloistering away from the larger world seemed serene and
ideal. But the appeal of some quiet time is an entirely different thing than
day in and day out of staid sameness. It seems interaction is not an optional
component of life for me, but a necessity. I'm craving it. I want to be with
friends and laugh. I want to sit in a park and watch children playing and teens
hanging out. I even want to be bumped and banged and irritated in a busy mall.
I want it all—the whole busy crazy mashup of humanity colliding.
I remind
myself constantly about how very lucky I am. I am secure. I am loved. I am not
mourning personal loss. These are gifts that an unfathomable number of people
cannot claim. However, there is an emotional toll for all of us and the tension
these days is both dissipating and swelling. A return to normal, albeit an
altered one, is just around the bend…yet still out of sight. The heart buoys at
the thought and sinks at the wait. Perhaps, because waiting is all we have been
doing. And doing is what keeps our
spirit up. That and people. People. People. People.
Hi everyone! Today I have something fun to share...a special chance to win some help with your writing bills. Awesome, right?
Some of you may know Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi of Writers Helping Writers. Well, today they are releasing a new book, and I'm part of their street team. I'm handing the blog over to them so they can tell you a bit about their Writer's Showcase event, new book, and a great freebie to check out. Read on!
Certain details can say a lot about who someone is, like a character's goals, desires, and backstory wound. But did you know there's another detail that can tie your character's arc to the plot, provide intense, multi-layered conflict, AND shorten the "get to know the character" curve for readers?
It's true. Your character's occupation is a GOLD MINE of storytelling potential.
Think about it...how much time do you spend on the job? Does it fulfill you or frustrate you? Can you separate work from home? Is it causing you challenges, creating obstacles, or helping you live your truth?
Just like us, most characters will have a job, and the work they do will impact their life. The ups and downs can serve us well in the story.
Maybe you haven't thought much about jobs in the past and how they act as a window into your character's personality, interests, and skills. It's okay, you aren't alone. The good news is that The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers is going to do all the heavy lifting for you. You'll be able to pick the perfect job for them and discover how to weave it into the very fabric of the story. (Here's one of the jobs profiled in this book:FIREFIGHTER.)
GIVEAWAY ALERT: THE WRITER'S SHOWCASE IS WAITING
To celebrate the release of a new book, Becca and Angela are running a giveaway from July 20th and July 23rd. You can win some great prizes, including gift certificates that can be spent on writing services within the Writer's Showcase. Stop by to enter if you like!
Resource Alert: A List of Additional Jobs Profiles For Your Characters!
Some of the amazing writers in our community have put together additional career profiles for you, based on jobs they have done in the past.
What a great way to get accurate information so you can better describe the roles and responsibilities that go with a specific job, right?
Keep in mind that I am not a huge fan of television and, as such, I am incredibly judgmental and easily disinterested.
We just finished watching the Netflix series “Rectify.” I will mourn its end, but will savour and contemplate it for weeks to come. For those who like a good film or show, it is a slow burn with exemplary acting and a solid story line.
For the writers who read my posts, buckle up. It is an endless lesson in craft. The dialogue is incredibly authentic. Simple and raw, it is peppered with the quietest sense of humour, bringing relief to the most angst-ridden moments. Conceptually it is metaphorical and philosophical, yet somehow remains grounded in earthy believability. The characters are drawn from (and the actors deliver) every man— people we all know...or someone we are. They’re thrown into this impossible “what if” situation. The writing has such contemplative depth and has the courage to let the space between the words speak for itself. It is a masterpiece of show don’t tell...both in the writing and acting.
That’s it. All I’ve got to say. Check it out. Hopefully, it will help fill the void many of you are facing these days.
(Warning: Spoilers in the Vulture Article linked below.)
And so it begins...bagging and boxing, hoping my treasures travel safely to their new home.
I found packing my non-fiction books depressing. At first, I thought it was because it was like saying goodbye to old friends, but then I realized it was something else entirely. It was depressing because I registered how little time I’ve spent in their company in recent years. I miss them. I miss researching historical events and stumbling across minutia that make my heart hum. I miss writing historical fiction.
So as I placed them in their cartons and methodically dragged the tape across the top, snugging them closed, I made a promise to them and to me. If I can write YA and contemporary romance at the same time, why can’t I add a third? History will once again become my present.
I know many of you have seen this already, but I’m not sure that everyone who follows the blog also follows me on other social media forma...
