I'm blessed to be in a wonderful critique group filled with outstanding writers, one of whom is multi-published author Lena Nelson Dooley www.LenaNelsonDooley.com
who writes for Barbour and Heartsong Presents. This tip of hers has helped me tons. She says to use your character's proper name every third or fourth pronoun because it personalizes them to the reader more. I think it truly does. Example:
She'd promised herself she'd never come here. Yet here she stood on the edge of the water, trying to make sense of it all. Was this the spot where he met death in the water? Or was it closer to the bridge where the current was swifter? She stepped off sandy banks until her enemy kissed her feet in rhythmic motion. She scanned the deceptive calm, the aqua blue and stepped further out. She let the waves wash over her feet, gently lapping as hot tears flowed down the planes of her face. He's not out there. Peace engulfed her. Sobs wretched forth as she dropped to her hands and knees, liquid grief mingled with the salty sea water. . .the water which pulled her husband from her arms one year ago today. 365 days of torment washed away in His powerful presence. Anger for never having found a body rolled off her heart like the waves off sand. Cleansing joy flooded her.
"He's not in the water." She turned her eyes to Heaven, finally resolved with his fate. . .and her tattered faith. "He's in the clouds, with You."
======
Stella had promised herself she'd never come here. Yet here she stood on the edge of the water, trying to make sense of it all. Was this the spot where he met death in the water? Or was it closer to the bridge where the current was swifter? Stella stepped off sandy banks until her enemy kissed her feet in rhythmic motion. She scanned the deceptive calm, the aqua blue and stepped further out. She let the waves wash over her feet, gently lapping as hot tears flowed down the planes of her face. Stan's not out there. Peace engulfed her. Sobs wretched forth as Stella dropped to her hands and knees, liquid grief mingled with the salty sea water. . .the water which pulled Stella's husband from her arms one year ago today. 365 days of torment washed away in His powerful presence. Anger for never having found Stan's body rolled off her heart like the waves off sand. Cleansing joy flooded her.
"He's not in the water." Stella turned her eyes to Heaven, finally resolved with his fate. . .and her tattered faith. "He's in the clouds, with You."
==========
Okay that was a bit rough, because I typed it really fast and no doubt it has POV violations but you get the jist.
============
Blessings,
Squirrel
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Monday, July 04, 2005
I FINALED IN NOBLE THEME!!!
Congrats to all finalists!!!! For those of you who did not final...big hugs and prayers, and I know EXACTLY how you feel right now.
Blessings,
Cheryl
Blessings,
Cheryl
CONGRATULATIONS TRAFFIC JAM WINNERS!!
Heather Tipton
Michelle Rodgers
Laura Hilton
Have made it through the traffic jam!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are still two prizes left.
Pamela James is in the runnng with 35 points at post # 385
Jeanie Smith Cash is in the running with 20 posts at # 385
Keep going girls!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have until Oct. 1, 2005
Squirl
Michelle Rodgers
Laura Hilton
Have made it through the traffic jam!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are still two prizes left.
Pamela James is in the runnng with 35 points at post # 385
Jeanie Smith Cash is in the running with 20 posts at # 385
Keep going girls!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have until Oct. 1, 2005
Squirl
WRITING TIP
When you're going through line edits, do a word search for these words because *most* of the time they can be deleted without changing the meaning of the sentence. This tightens your writing and cuts down on wordiness.
Just
That
Kind of
Always
Seemed
===========================================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
Once at a family reunion, my sister-in-law came up behind her husband's father, thinking he was her husband. She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his back, bringing her mouth close to his ear and saying, "Hey, Honey. Whutcha doin?" in one of those deep, throaty voices. . .then jerked away, morbidly embarrassed when the man turned around and was NOT her husband but her father-in-law.
Shew! It's nice be able to tell on somebody else's goofs for a change!
=============================================
VERSE:
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24 NIV Bible
=============================================
BORROWED PRAYERS:
God, thank you that you hear us. Help us to know if we have done something (or neglected to do something) that could hinder You from hearing our prayers.
=============================================
Blessings, Squirrel
Just
That
Kind of
Always
Seemed
===========================================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
Once at a family reunion, my sister-in-law came up behind her husband's father, thinking he was her husband. She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his back, bringing her mouth close to his ear and saying, "Hey, Honey. Whutcha doin?" in one of those deep, throaty voices. . .then jerked away, morbidly embarrassed when the man turned around and was NOT her husband but her father-in-law.
Shew! It's nice be able to tell on somebody else's goofs for a change!
=============================================
VERSE:
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24 NIV Bible
=============================================
BORROWED PRAYERS:
God, thank you that you hear us. Help us to know if we have done something (or neglected to do something) that could hinder You from hearing our prayers.
=============================================
Blessings, Squirrel
Sunday, July 03, 2005
PRESIDENT AND LAURA BUSH
I just want to say how thankful I am that the leader of our country has a close relationship with God. His faith is evident and I wish he could be president for the next ten terms. God bless the USA and I pray the USA blesses You.
I'm saying this one day early: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AMERICA AND TO FREEDOM.
I pray for the service men and women and for their families. God, protect them, help them win this war and come home soon to their families.
WRITING UPDATE:
I'm preparing for two writing conferences. You have to sum up your story in one to four sentences so that's what I've been working on. Preparing my things for that. Got my business cards (that I designed myself) last week. Can I just say THEY ROCK!!!!!!!
I love them. There's a soldier on the front with weapon aimed at camera. The caption says, "Aiming for Excellence."
I'm getting to know my characters more. The comments for the TARA were extremely helpful.
Have a safe 4th of July.
Blessings,
Squirrel
I'm saying this one day early: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AMERICA AND TO FREEDOM.
I pray for the service men and women and for their families. God, protect them, help them win this war and come home soon to their families.
WRITING UPDATE:
I'm preparing for two writing conferences. You have to sum up your story in one to four sentences so that's what I've been working on. Preparing my things for that. Got my business cards (that I designed myself) last week. Can I just say THEY ROCK!!!!!!!
I love them. There's a soldier on the front with weapon aimed at camera. The caption says, "Aiming for Excellence."
I'm getting to know my characters more. The comments for the TARA were extremely helpful.
Have a safe 4th of July.
Blessings,
Squirrel
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
CONDOLENCES FOR KELLI GOOCH...
....a gal I went to nursing school with who lost two of her four precious children this weekend in a car accident. Kelli, if you're listening....I cannot imagine the crushing grief of this tragedy. Please let God hold you and carry you through this. He loves you, and I pray the hope of Heaven that comes through the son of God who loved you and gave Himself for you will take root in your heart, in Jesus' name. I'm so sorry for your losses, Kelli. You, your remaining children, and your entire family are in my prayers.
Squirrel (Cheryl Wyatt)
Squirrel (Cheryl Wyatt)
Sunday, June 26, 2005
JULY PROMPT CONTEST
SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTER FOR JULY:
Write a story scene from a man's point of view, beginning with this sentence:
He never guessed in a million years he'd see her show up at the funeral.
Now, write a follow-up scene from a woman's point of view, using this sentence somewhere:
She knew he'd probably never speak to her again, but she needed closure.
PS: you can use proper names in the place of "he" , "she" , "her", and "him" up there if you want, although sometimes not putting a name down hooks the reader because they want to know who "she" is.
Happy writing! Contest ends 7/20/05 and winner will also be announced by 7/23/05.
Write a story scene from a man's point of view, beginning with this sentence:
He never guessed in a million years he'd see her show up at the funeral.
Now, write a follow-up scene from a woman's point of view, using this sentence somewhere:
She knew he'd probably never speak to her again, but she needed closure.
PS: you can use proper names in the place of "he" , "she" , "her", and "him" up there if you want, although sometimes not putting a name down hooks the reader because they want to know who "she" is.
Happy writing! Contest ends 7/20/05 and winner will also be announced by 7/23/05.
TARA FINALIST!!!!
Another story finaled in the TARA (formerly First Impressions) contest!!!
So here's the tally:
AMBIENT BETRAYAL: First Place Where the Magic Begins 2004
AMBIENT BETRAYAL: Touched by Love finalist 2005
CODE YELLOW: Finalist winning Second Place Heart of the Rockies 2005
COVENANT SEAL: Finalist in the TARA (formerly First Impressions) 2005
SEVEN STRANDS: Short story won Flash Competition-Steeple Hill Message Board 2004
It sure feels a heckuva lot better than coming in DEAD LAST, I'll tell you that much. By the way, if you've never entered a writing contest, you are only a number and not a name so don't worry if you come in last. No one will know it except for you, and possibly an extremely gentle and confidential contest coordinator (who would never, ever tell on you in a million, gazillion years.)
Squirrel
So here's the tally:
AMBIENT BETRAYAL: First Place Where the Magic Begins 2004
AMBIENT BETRAYAL: Touched by Love finalist 2005
CODE YELLOW: Finalist winning Second Place Heart of the Rockies 2005
COVENANT SEAL: Finalist in the TARA (formerly First Impressions) 2005
SEVEN STRANDS: Short story won Flash Competition-Steeple Hill Message Board 2004
It sure feels a heckuva lot better than coming in DEAD LAST, I'll tell you that much. By the way, if you've never entered a writing contest, you are only a number and not a name so don't worry if you come in last. No one will know it except for you, and possibly an extremely gentle and confidential contest coordinator (who would never, ever tell on you in a million, gazillion years.)
Squirrel
WHOOOPS!!!!
Can you guess what I forgot? To post June's Prompt winner yesterday. BIG congrats going out to A. D. for her entry.
I'll post July's prompt shortly so stay tuned and thanks for your patience.
Squirrel
I'll post July's prompt shortly so stay tuned and thanks for your patience.
Squirrel
TO DELETE OR NOT TO DELETE.....
...THAT is the question. Bleck. My favorite scene in a book...and I might have to let it go due to point of view issues. So I'm in mourning over it, but I'm praying for strength to do what needs to be done with it in order to make the story better.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(That was NOT your town's tornado siren...it was me, wailing in agony.)
BUT...(you knew there was going to be a but, didn't you?) every time I've had to endure the pain of letting something go, something much better has returned in it's place. This doesn't only apply in my writing, but in life. Wrong relationships, careers, motivations, goals, even dreams. Some things you give up for God, the rewards of that may not show up until you get to Heaven, but you can rest assured it's there, waiting for you.
BORROWED PRAYERS:
Father, help us to open our hands and release things to You that hinder us. Especially since it's going to hurt a lot worse if You have to pry it from our hands. So what ever it is, help us to relinquish control to You, trusting You know what is best.
VERSE:
He will be used for special purposes, because he is dedicated and useful to his Master, ready to be used for every good deed. 2 Timothy 2:21 TEV
BLUSH AND CRINGE:
Once at work I was chewing a blue pen and about the time I tasted the (permanent) ink, several coworkers gasped, pointing to my face in horror. My entire mouth-- tongue, teeth, gums, lips, EVERYTHING, were stained bright blue for days.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(That was NOT your town's tornado siren...it was me, wailing in agony.)
BUT...(you knew there was going to be a but, didn't you?) every time I've had to endure the pain of letting something go, something much better has returned in it's place. This doesn't only apply in my writing, but in life. Wrong relationships, careers, motivations, goals, even dreams. Some things you give up for God, the rewards of that may not show up until you get to Heaven, but you can rest assured it's there, waiting for you.
BORROWED PRAYERS:
Father, help us to open our hands and release things to You that hinder us. Especially since it's going to hurt a lot worse if You have to pry it from our hands. So what ever it is, help us to relinquish control to You, trusting You know what is best.
VERSE:
He will be used for special purposes, because he is dedicated and useful to his Master, ready to be used for every good deed. 2 Timothy 2:21 TEV
BLUSH AND CRINGE:
Once at work I was chewing a blue pen and about the time I tasted the (permanent) ink, several coworkers gasped, pointing to my face in horror. My entire mouth-- tongue, teeth, gums, lips, EVERYTHING, were stained bright blue for days.
Monday, June 20, 2005
JUNE PROMPT CONTEST OVER
Winner will be announced by June 25th. Thanks to all who entered! July's prompt will be posted this week.
Squirrel
Squirrel
BEWARE OF THE....
BLOG.
Specifically my blog if you're a stickler for typos. I promise, I really DO proofread these things before I hit "send" but I'm one of these people who doesn't proofread well by computer monitor. My advice if you're like me? Print your ms out. Most people tend to pick up more errors by paper than monitor. I recently viewed an author's blog (sorry, can't recall whose it was...it may have even been an editor's blog) that stated, "Edit-free zone." I really like that.
BLUSH AND CRINGE
I am in a writing course where you email your instructor assignments and they send them back critiqued. I was trying to multitask (another thing I don't do well by computer) and I had two different e-mail accounts open. One I was responding to a family member and the other was my instructor. Well, I also had three people IM'ing me, so those three windows were open as well, plus I had a word document open, critiquing for someone.
You can imagine how confused I got.
I was trying to wrap up the email to my family member-who was coming for a visit after just having back surgery and wondered if we had extra sleeping space. I typed in, "you can come stay at my house anytime, you can even sleep in my bed." Then MEANT to type, "Love, Cheryl" but hit send before I looked at the screen. When I looked back up at my monitor, I saw the unfinished email to my family member still staring at me from the screen and realized with a gasp of horror that I had tacked the last sentences (meant for my family member) onto my intructor's (who is a well-known editor in the writing industry) email. Frantic and hyperventillating, I pulled the "sent" message up, and nearly fainted with dread and embarrassment when I realized that not only did I write the wrong message in the wrong email, I must have hit the "r" as I hit the "e", ending my message (to the editor/instructor) "Here's assignment number 26. You can come stay at my house anytime, you can even sleep in my bed. Lover, Cheryl."
Yes. I immediately sent an explanatory email, apoligizing all over myself. He not only got a good chuckle out of it, he sent the message back proofread and edited. LOL!
I know. What a dork I am.
=====================
VERSE
God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Romans 5:8 NIV
=====================
BORROWED PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for sending us your spirit to teach, help and comfort us. Help us to know Him, know you. Help us to bless you as much as You bless us.
=====================
That's all for now.
Lover, Squirrel
**snicker**
I
Specifically my blog if you're a stickler for typos. I promise, I really DO proofread these things before I hit "send" but I'm one of these people who doesn't proofread well by computer monitor. My advice if you're like me? Print your ms out. Most people tend to pick up more errors by paper than monitor. I recently viewed an author's blog (sorry, can't recall whose it was...it may have even been an editor's blog) that stated, "Edit-free zone." I really like that.
BLUSH AND CRINGE
I am in a writing course where you email your instructor assignments and they send them back critiqued. I was trying to multitask (another thing I don't do well by computer) and I had two different e-mail accounts open. One I was responding to a family member and the other was my instructor. Well, I also had three people IM'ing me, so those three windows were open as well, plus I had a word document open, critiquing for someone.
You can imagine how confused I got.
I was trying to wrap up the email to my family member-who was coming for a visit after just having back surgery and wondered if we had extra sleeping space. I typed in, "you can come stay at my house anytime, you can even sleep in my bed." Then MEANT to type, "Love, Cheryl" but hit send before I looked at the screen. When I looked back up at my monitor, I saw the unfinished email to my family member still staring at me from the screen and realized with a gasp of horror that I had tacked the last sentences (meant for my family member) onto my intructor's (who is a well-known editor in the writing industry) email. Frantic and hyperventillating, I pulled the "sent" message up, and nearly fainted with dread and embarrassment when I realized that not only did I write the wrong message in the wrong email, I must have hit the "r" as I hit the "e", ending my message (to the editor/instructor) "Here's assignment number 26. You can come stay at my house anytime, you can even sleep in my bed. Lover, Cheryl."
Yes. I immediately sent an explanatory email, apoligizing all over myself. He not only got a good chuckle out of it, he sent the message back proofread and edited. LOL!
I know. What a dork I am.
=====================
VERSE
God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Romans 5:8 NIV
=====================
BORROWED PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for sending us your spirit to teach, help and comfort us. Help us to know Him, know you. Help us to bless you as much as You bless us.
=====================
That's all for now.
Lover, Squirrel
**snicker**
I
Monday, June 13, 2005
ROMANCING THE.....
Phone.
Pardon me if you're a telemarketer. I'm sure you have issues of rejection having heard, "put me on your no call-back list" hundreds of times. BUT.....I don't call YOU at home and I WISH you'd stop calling me at home.
It never fails. Every ten minutes, the phone rings. I hate it most when I have a family member who is ill, or I know any day some coordinator from some contest is calling finalists and I entered. When I see "Unavailable" or "Unknown" or "Private" on caller ID and he's home, I let my husband answer the phone.
Then I spend the next sixty seconds giggling as he torments the caller.
One time a long distance phone company called (for the THIRD time that day) asking us if we wanted to switch our long distance to them. My husband replies, "No thanks. We don't have a phone." The telemarketer says, "Oh, Okay. I'm sorry to bother you.....wait...if you don't have a phone, how are you talking to me?" Hubby answers, "Give me your name and home number and I'll call you back this evening and tell you." Telemarketer says, "I'm sorry, Sir. I cannot give out my name and number." Husband says, "Well you got mine, didn't you?" Telemarketer: "Click. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ."
That leads me into the BLUSH AND CRINGE
Groggy from napping, phone rings, I answer it without looking at caller ID. I hear a voice asking to speak with me. I automaticially assume the woman is a telemarketer. Now, my brain wakes up thirty minutes after my body, so at this point I sit up, but am not completely coherent. Wanting to go back to sleep and get the rest of my nap in before my kids get home, I interrupt her mid-sentence, saying, "I'm not interested. Please put me on your no-call back list." One second of silence and three muffled giggles later, she informs me she's a contest coordinator, calling to tell me one of my stories finalled in a contest.
=======================
VERSE
"All of my prayers for you are full of praise to God." Phillipians 1:3 TLB
=======================
Speaking of the Living Bible, the man who translated it died this past week.
=======================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Lord, help us to trust you with everything. When things seem out of our control, help us remember you are always in control.
=======================
WRITING TIP:
Begin and end chapters with a hook. (A sentence that will immediatelly draw the reader in, "hooking" them---making them want to read on...and on....and on....)
=======================
That's all for now!
Blessings!
Squirrel
Pardon me if you're a telemarketer. I'm sure you have issues of rejection having heard, "put me on your no call-back list" hundreds of times. BUT.....I don't call YOU at home and I WISH you'd stop calling me at home.
It never fails. Every ten minutes, the phone rings. I hate it most when I have a family member who is ill, or I know any day some coordinator from some contest is calling finalists and I entered. When I see "Unavailable" or "Unknown" or "Private" on caller ID and he's home, I let my husband answer the phone.
Then I spend the next sixty seconds giggling as he torments the caller.
One time a long distance phone company called (for the THIRD time that day) asking us if we wanted to switch our long distance to them. My husband replies, "No thanks. We don't have a phone." The telemarketer says, "Oh, Okay. I'm sorry to bother you.....wait...if you don't have a phone, how are you talking to me?" Hubby answers, "Give me your name and home number and I'll call you back this evening and tell you." Telemarketer says, "I'm sorry, Sir. I cannot give out my name and number." Husband says, "Well you got mine, didn't you?" Telemarketer: "Click. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ."
That leads me into the BLUSH AND CRINGE
Groggy from napping, phone rings, I answer it without looking at caller ID. I hear a voice asking to speak with me. I automaticially assume the woman is a telemarketer. Now, my brain wakes up thirty minutes after my body, so at this point I sit up, but am not completely coherent. Wanting to go back to sleep and get the rest of my nap in before my kids get home, I interrupt her mid-sentence, saying, "I'm not interested. Please put me on your no-call back list." One second of silence and three muffled giggles later, she informs me she's a contest coordinator, calling to tell me one of my stories finalled in a contest.
=======================
VERSE
"All of my prayers for you are full of praise to God." Phillipians 1:3 TLB
=======================
Speaking of the Living Bible, the man who translated it died this past week.
=======================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Lord, help us to trust you with everything. When things seem out of our control, help us remember you are always in control.
=======================
WRITING TIP:
Begin and end chapters with a hook. (A sentence that will immediatelly draw the reader in, "hooking" them---making them want to read on...and on....and on....)
=======================
That's all for now!
Blessings!
Squirrel
Sunday, June 05, 2005
ATTACK OF THE KILLER...
COMMAS.
I've figured out commas are one of the biggest grammatical speedbumps I trip over. I tend to leave too many in the sentence. And speaking of sentences...another weakness I have (I'm sure you've noticed if you know me) is that I write EXACTLY like I talk...so I have tons of way-too-long-complex sentences. I'm working on it. The other thing I'm studying as far as the craft of writing at the moment is about goal, motivation and conflict. If you are a beginning writer (more beginning than me I mean) your fictional characters need to have something driving them (motivation) toward something they want (goal) while creating obsticals (conflict) throughout the story to keep them from attaining that goal.
Even though I always write romantic tales with happy endings, when I write a story I set out to do everything in my power to make the reader think there's no way everything could possibly work out for the good for the hero and heroine, and create such havok that it seems impossible that they'd actually end up together.
See what I mean about my loooooooooooooooooooong sentences?
=========================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
That long sentence up there.
=========================
VERSE
With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
(Even Cheryl learning to write short sentences.)
=========================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Lord, help us to commit our works to you. Help us to use the gifts you've given us. Help us to teach others freely.
That's all for now.
Blessings,
Squirrel
I've figured out commas are one of the biggest grammatical speedbumps I trip over. I tend to leave too many in the sentence. And speaking of sentences...another weakness I have (I'm sure you've noticed if you know me) is that I write EXACTLY like I talk...so I have tons of way-too-long-complex sentences. I'm working on it. The other thing I'm studying as far as the craft of writing at the moment is about goal, motivation and conflict. If you are a beginning writer (more beginning than me I mean) your fictional characters need to have something driving them (motivation) toward something they want (goal) while creating obsticals (conflict) throughout the story to keep them from attaining that goal.
Even though I always write romantic tales with happy endings, when I write a story I set out to do everything in my power to make the reader think there's no way everything could possibly work out for the good for the hero and heroine, and create such havok that it seems impossible that they'd actually end up together.
See what I mean about my loooooooooooooooooooong sentences?
=========================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
That long sentence up there.
=========================
VERSE
With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
(Even Cheryl learning to write short sentences.)
=========================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Lord, help us to commit our works to you. Help us to use the gifts you've given us. Help us to teach others freely.
That's all for now.
Blessings,
Squirrel
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
May Winner and Squirrel's Story Starter for June:
The winner for May's prompt contest is Tracie P! Congratulations, Tracie!
==================
June's Prompt by Cheryl Wyatt
Pick a character ( or two or three :-)) and for each character, pick one attribute and one quirk for that character. Use any combination, or you can do what I do: put them in three separate jars and pull one out of each jar. . .matching that character with a quirk and attribute.
Characters:
A waitress
A teacher
A toddler
A business owner
A body builder
A single father
A daycare owner
A Captain
A dental assistant
A priest
A neighbor (fictional-ha-ha)
An elderly person
A judge
An Eagle Scout
A flight attendant
Attributes:
Compassionate
Faithful
Prankster
Peacemaker
Organizer
Leader
Courageous
Dishonest
Overbearing
Hearing impaired
Lonely
Driven
Charismatic
Controlling
Strong-willed
Quirks
Snaps gum
Always wears plaid
Can't stand to touch peaches
Sings when nervous
Never uses elevators
Faints when embarrassed
Always opens doors with a napkin
Eats out every Tuesday
Flips hair
Smokes imported cigars
Always drives in passing lane
Compulsive shopping of checkout line items
Sticks old gum on top of cups for recycling
Gives flowers to strangers
Can't stand Christmas carolers
======================
Featured Blog:
Flogging The Quill
======================
That's all for today---I'm beat!
Blessings,
Squirrel
==================
June's Prompt by Cheryl Wyatt
Pick a character ( or two or three :-)) and for each character, pick one attribute and one quirk for that character. Use any combination, or you can do what I do: put them in three separate jars and pull one out of each jar. . .matching that character with a quirk and attribute.
Characters:
A waitress
A teacher
A toddler
A business owner
A body builder
A single father
A daycare owner
A Captain
A dental assistant
A priest
A neighbor (fictional-ha-ha)
An elderly person
A judge
An Eagle Scout
A flight attendant
Attributes:
Compassionate
Faithful
Prankster
Peacemaker
Organizer
Leader
Courageous
Dishonest
Overbearing
Hearing impaired
Lonely
Driven
Charismatic
Controlling
Strong-willed
Quirks
Snaps gum
Always wears plaid
Can't stand to touch peaches
Sings when nervous
Never uses elevators
Faints when embarrassed
Always opens doors with a napkin
Eats out every Tuesday
Flips hair
Smokes imported cigars
Always drives in passing lane
Compulsive shopping of checkout line items
Sticks old gum on top of cups for recycling
Gives flowers to strangers
Can't stand Christmas carolers
======================
Featured Blog:
Flogging The Quill
======================
That's all for today---I'm beat!
Blessings,
Squirrel
Saturday, May 21, 2005
SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTER
...for May is officially over. Winner will be announced by 5/25/05. June's prompt will also be posted at that time. Thanks for taking time to enter! I'd dearly love for one of the scenes fashioned from one of these prompts to be turned into a full length piece.
==========
BLUSH AND CRINGE
I used to love to shop. That was B.C. (Before children.) Here's a scene from our last shopping excursion.
In the grocery store, I have the baby in the front of the cart and the two toddlers in the back. . .now let's see. . .am I forgetting anybody. . .no, we're good. Anyway, I'm pushing the kart full speed ahead, maneuvering expertly around stragglers, memorizing my shopping list perfectly proud of my expert multitasking, thinking THIS TIME the shopping trip won't cause me to need counseling like the last few have.
At the exact moment my 4 yo opened a LARGE bag of pinto beans, my 3yo preoceeds to hold a glass jar of olives over the side of the kart. . .and. . .
Yes.
Drops it.
So now I'm trying to skid to a stop, but the forward momentum doesn't let me stop in time to prevent running over the large, green defenseless olives. So now, we have several large olive hit & run's in progress, hundreds of hard, brown beans klinking through the little square holes in the bottom of the kart and coming to rest in a pool of green olive juice. I'm not sure if it was the sound of a thousand beans bouncing off the floor tiles, the nerve-jolting shatter of broken glass, or the horrible smell of escaped olive juice, but every customer in the store ventured over to...
Stare.
I snatched my kids out of the kart and headed for the doors with the "clean up in aisle number. . ." hitting me in the back.
========================
VERSE
Your love, Lord, means more than life to me. Psalms 63:3
========================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Father, when our day is hectic and things fall apart, help us look to You for strength and comfort. Most of all, help us to be able to laugh at ourselves. Thank You for the gift of humor, and incongruient-with-the-circumstances-joy that only comes from You.
========================
Blessings,
Squirrel
==========
BLUSH AND CRINGE
I used to love to shop. That was B.C. (Before children.) Here's a scene from our last shopping excursion.
In the grocery store, I have the baby in the front of the cart and the two toddlers in the back. . .now let's see. . .am I forgetting anybody. . .no, we're good. Anyway, I'm pushing the kart full speed ahead, maneuvering expertly around stragglers, memorizing my shopping list perfectly proud of my expert multitasking, thinking THIS TIME the shopping trip won't cause me to need counseling like the last few have.
At the exact moment my 4 yo opened a LARGE bag of pinto beans, my 3yo preoceeds to hold a glass jar of olives over the side of the kart. . .and. . .
Yes.
Drops it.
So now I'm trying to skid to a stop, but the forward momentum doesn't let me stop in time to prevent running over the large, green defenseless olives. So now, we have several large olive hit & run's in progress, hundreds of hard, brown beans klinking through the little square holes in the bottom of the kart and coming to rest in a pool of green olive juice. I'm not sure if it was the sound of a thousand beans bouncing off the floor tiles, the nerve-jolting shatter of broken glass, or the horrible smell of escaped olive juice, but every customer in the store ventured over to...
Stare.
I snatched my kids out of the kart and headed for the doors with the "clean up in aisle number. . ." hitting me in the back.
========================
VERSE
Your love, Lord, means more than life to me. Psalms 63:3
========================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Father, when our day is hectic and things fall apart, help us look to You for strength and comfort. Most of all, help us to be able to laugh at ourselves. Thank You for the gift of humor, and incongruient-with-the-circumstances-joy that only comes from You.
========================
Blessings,
Squirrel
Friday, May 20, 2005
FINALIST IN TOUCHED BY LOVE
I'm awed and humbled beyond belief!!!!! I got a call today that one of my wips (works in progress) finaled in touched by love!!!!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATS TO ALL THE OTHER FINALISTS!!!!!!!
For those of you who didn't final....I know EXACTLY what you're feeling right now, too. Been there, done that more times than I care to count and I'm sure I'll be there again faster than a speeding comma. So I'm sending great big cyber hugs and lots of cyber chocolate your way. I feel your pain and disappointment.
In fact, here's today's BLUSH AND CRINGE: the first few contests I entered in. . .I came in DEAD LAST! Thank goodness they don't list your name, you're only a number. Shew!!!!!!
BUT, because of the judges' comments, I began to learn (learning never stops, even when you're pubbed) what some of my weaknesses are as a fiction writer. In addition, I learned how to specifically improve particular entries. So I encourage you to keep at it and I promise it will more than likely happen to you one day. Hang in there. Remain teachable. Look for consistant comments...and don't be afraind of the DELETE or EDIT keys. Persistance pays off and God has a plan for your life. If you commit your works to Him, whether that be writing, or something else He's called you to, he will lead you and guide you, and best of all, encourage you and strengthen you in times of struggle and discouragement.
PS: Both entries that are now finalists in two different contests? Those were the ones that came in dead last when I began entering contests just last year. I know judging is subjective in nature, but you can glean from consistant comments despite scores that are all over the place.
===========================
VERSE:
"I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you," Isaiah 46:3-4 NIV
============================
Father, when disappointment comes our way, help us run your way. No matter what comes, don't let us lose faith. Use these situations to make us more like your precious Son.
============================
Blessings,
Squirrel
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATS TO ALL THE OTHER FINALISTS!!!!!!!
For those of you who didn't final....I know EXACTLY what you're feeling right now, too. Been there, done that more times than I care to count and I'm sure I'll be there again faster than a speeding comma. So I'm sending great big cyber hugs and lots of cyber chocolate your way. I feel your pain and disappointment.
In fact, here's today's BLUSH AND CRINGE: the first few contests I entered in. . .I came in DEAD LAST! Thank goodness they don't list your name, you're only a number. Shew!!!!!!
BUT, because of the judges' comments, I began to learn (learning never stops, even when you're pubbed) what some of my weaknesses are as a fiction writer. In addition, I learned how to specifically improve particular entries. So I encourage you to keep at it and I promise it will more than likely happen to you one day. Hang in there. Remain teachable. Look for consistant comments...and don't be afraind of the DELETE or EDIT keys. Persistance pays off and God has a plan for your life. If you commit your works to Him, whether that be writing, or something else He's called you to, he will lead you and guide you, and best of all, encourage you and strengthen you in times of struggle and discouragement.
PS: Both entries that are now finalists in two different contests? Those were the ones that came in dead last when I began entering contests just last year. I know judging is subjective in nature, but you can glean from consistant comments despite scores that are all over the place.
===========================
VERSE:
"I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you," Isaiah 46:3-4 NIV
============================
Father, when disappointment comes our way, help us run your way. No matter what comes, don't let us lose faith. Use these situations to make us more like your precious Son.
============================
Blessings,
Squirrel
Thursday, May 19, 2005
"WHO DREW ON THE BABY'S....
....HEAD WITH A DARK BLUE PERMANENT MARKER!!!???"
It's been one of those frazzled mommy days. The veins in my eyes are bulging, and my face hasn't stopped twitching since noon. Probably from doing the "mommy look" too many times today. Don't know if it's because the end of the school year is approaching or what, but SOMETHING has caused my children to strive to hurl me over the edge of sanity....
Short trip.
Too bad they're so adorably cute, otherwise I'd have to put them up for sale.
=======================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
At a department store yesterday, I was looking through the clearance pajamas. When I turned around, my baby had a silky leapard print bra over her head, each cup covering her ears like winter ear muffs. Of course I didn't notice it until a myriad of nearby snickers from the group of department store trainees alerted me that her tiny lightning-fast fist had snatched it from a rack...somewhere.
======================
CONTEST NEWS
SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTERS
One more day for the deadline for Squirrel's Story Starters--my monthly prompt contest. Scroll down to see May's Prompt contest. Get those entries in!!! I have a great selection of books for you to choose from this month.
TRAFFIC JAM...
in motion. There are four in the running as we speak and here are the tallies so far, count ending at post 109:
Pammer: 34
Heather: 39
Jeanie: 18
Michelle: 11
This contest goes 1. Until Oct. 1st, or 2. Until one of you send 100 people to sign the guestbook on my website. The first five people who send 100 people to sign my guestbook at www.CherylWyatt.com by Oct 1, 2005 will win one of my prizes (each valued at $200.00). For more information, email me at Cheryl@CherylWyatt.com and ask for information about the Traffic Jam, or sign up for my newsletter (The Acorn Connection) where the details will be emailed to you.
======================
VERSE:
Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13
======================
Lord Jesus,
Help us guard our simple devotion to you.
======================
Blessings,
Squirrel
It's been one of those frazzled mommy days. The veins in my eyes are bulging, and my face hasn't stopped twitching since noon. Probably from doing the "mommy look" too many times today. Don't know if it's because the end of the school year is approaching or what, but SOMETHING has caused my children to strive to hurl me over the edge of sanity....
Short trip.
Too bad they're so adorably cute, otherwise I'd have to put them up for sale.
=======================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
At a department store yesterday, I was looking through the clearance pajamas. When I turned around, my baby had a silky leapard print bra over her head, each cup covering her ears like winter ear muffs. Of course I didn't notice it until a myriad of nearby snickers from the group of department store trainees alerted me that her tiny lightning-fast fist had snatched it from a rack...somewhere.
======================
CONTEST NEWS
SQUIRREL'S STORY STARTERS
One more day for the deadline for Squirrel's Story Starters--my monthly prompt contest. Scroll down to see May's Prompt contest. Get those entries in!!! I have a great selection of books for you to choose from this month.
TRAFFIC JAM...
in motion. There are four in the running as we speak and here are the tallies so far, count ending at post 109:
Pammer: 34
Heather: 39
Jeanie: 18
Michelle: 11
This contest goes 1. Until Oct. 1st, or 2. Until one of you send 100 people to sign the guestbook on my website. The first five people who send 100 people to sign my guestbook at www.CherylWyatt.com by Oct 1, 2005 will win one of my prizes (each valued at $200.00). For more information, email me at Cheryl@CherylWyatt.com and ask for information about the Traffic Jam, or sign up for my newsletter (The Acorn Connection) where the details will be emailed to you.
======================
VERSE:
Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13
======================
Lord Jesus,
Help us guard our simple devotion to you.
======================
Blessings,
Squirrel
Sunday, May 15, 2005
CODE YELLOW WINS SECOND PLACE
In Colorado Romance Writer's Heart of the Rockies Contest. Thanks judges!!! Yay me!!! Now I wait until I get the judges' comments back and edit any needed changes.
BLUSH AND CRINGE
One day in nursing school, we had a mock disaster drill where we were assigned injuries and had to pretend to be whatever our injuries were. My friend was "unconscious" so all she had to do was lay on the gurney and feign sleep (only she REALLY fell asleep). The slip of paper I got said "compound fracture of the right radius and ulna bones, multiple contusions and bleeding lacerations of the forehead and right cheek." So I sat there in the chair while my instructor and fellow students put red makeup all over my face and drew bruises and cuts across my face with various colors of eyeliner. We'd had kentucky fried chicken for lunch. I was one of the most injured. The VA nurses and doctors had to figure out what was wrong with us without the use of the "injury slips" we got. So my makeup artists cut my shirt sleeve, taped four broken chicken bones to my arm, making it look like both bones in my right forearm were broken and poking through the skin (yes there was fake blood and all) and poured ketchup all over my shirt sleeve. After the disaster drill was over, my instructor wanted to take pictures back at school so she asked us not to fix our injuries just yet. So yes, I had to drive home like that. Fake bruises and blood covering my face, and those ridiculous stinky bones on my arms. I had parked in front of the national guard armory. When I got back to my car, there were about two dozen soldiers standing on the sidewalk. I had to walk through them to get to my car. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, two of them were sitting on my car hood when I got to my car. I politely ignored the snickers and stares and tried to get my key in my lock. After several attempts, my face is red without the ketchup. One soldier slips off my hood, walks up and asks if he could help me. "No. I've almost got it," I say. To my horror, he keeps standing there.
Laughing. "Are you sure you don't need help getting into this car?" he asks as the soldiers behind him laugh in chorus.
"No. I'm fine." I really wish he'd leave me alone. I mean, what does this guy think, that just because I'm blonde and female that I'm not capable of unlocking a simple car door? But then again, I wonder, why won't this stupid key work? And of course EVERYONE is STILL staring at me.....and snickering.
That's when I notice there is a ball cap on the dash that doesn't belong to me. Just as I begin to wonder whose cap is in my car, I wonder where the stack of papers, books, and various other clutter that should be in my car. I realize this car does not look like Sandford and Son's.
I realize this isn't my car at all. Now I'm about to cry because I'm so shy and these men are all laughing at me and I feel like a complete dork, not only because of the car but because I have Kentucky fried chicken bones growing from my arms like leeches, dried ketchup on my Dokken shirt and all over my face, smeared makeup because it sprinkled on the way back to my car, and a very bad hair day. (GImme a break, it was in the 80's. Every day was a bad hair day.)
Once more, the soldier asks, "Are you sure you don't need help getting that door open?"
With face, flaming red, I turn to face him, mortified. He steps over and opens the door.
"It's your car?" I ask. He nods. I turn on my heel and franticly search for my car, finding it three cars down, identical to his, exept for the license plate and the fact that mine could use a good washing.
=================
VERSE
For surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. Ps 5:12 NIV
==================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Dear Lord,
Infuse us with a hunger for time with you. Strenghten the bonds of our communication and communion. Help us to love you like you love us.
Blessings!
Squirrel
BLUSH AND CRINGE
One day in nursing school, we had a mock disaster drill where we were assigned injuries and had to pretend to be whatever our injuries were. My friend was "unconscious" so all she had to do was lay on the gurney and feign sleep (only she REALLY fell asleep). The slip of paper I got said "compound fracture of the right radius and ulna bones, multiple contusions and bleeding lacerations of the forehead and right cheek." So I sat there in the chair while my instructor and fellow students put red makeup all over my face and drew bruises and cuts across my face with various colors of eyeliner. We'd had kentucky fried chicken for lunch. I was one of the most injured. The VA nurses and doctors had to figure out what was wrong with us without the use of the "injury slips" we got. So my makeup artists cut my shirt sleeve, taped four broken chicken bones to my arm, making it look like both bones in my right forearm were broken and poking through the skin (yes there was fake blood and all) and poured ketchup all over my shirt sleeve. After the disaster drill was over, my instructor wanted to take pictures back at school so she asked us not to fix our injuries just yet. So yes, I had to drive home like that. Fake bruises and blood covering my face, and those ridiculous stinky bones on my arms. I had parked in front of the national guard armory. When I got back to my car, there were about two dozen soldiers standing on the sidewalk. I had to walk through them to get to my car. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, two of them were sitting on my car hood when I got to my car. I politely ignored the snickers and stares and tried to get my key in my lock. After several attempts, my face is red without the ketchup. One soldier slips off my hood, walks up and asks if he could help me. "No. I've almost got it," I say. To my horror, he keeps standing there.
Laughing. "Are you sure you don't need help getting into this car?" he asks as the soldiers behind him laugh in chorus.
"No. I'm fine." I really wish he'd leave me alone. I mean, what does this guy think, that just because I'm blonde and female that I'm not capable of unlocking a simple car door? But then again, I wonder, why won't this stupid key work? And of course EVERYONE is STILL staring at me.....and snickering.
That's when I notice there is a ball cap on the dash that doesn't belong to me. Just as I begin to wonder whose cap is in my car, I wonder where the stack of papers, books, and various other clutter that should be in my car. I realize this car does not look like Sandford and Son's.
I realize this isn't my car at all. Now I'm about to cry because I'm so shy and these men are all laughing at me and I feel like a complete dork, not only because of the car but because I have Kentucky fried chicken bones growing from my arms like leeches, dried ketchup on my Dokken shirt and all over my face, smeared makeup because it sprinkled on the way back to my car, and a very bad hair day. (GImme a break, it was in the 80's. Every day was a bad hair day.)
Once more, the soldier asks, "Are you sure you don't need help getting that door open?"
With face, flaming red, I turn to face him, mortified. He steps over and opens the door.
"It's your car?" I ask. He nods. I turn on my heel and franticly search for my car, finding it three cars down, identical to his, exept for the license plate and the fact that mine could use a good washing.
=================
VERSE
For surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. Ps 5:12 NIV
==================
BORROWED PRAYERS
Dear Lord,
Infuse us with a hunger for time with you. Strenghten the bonds of our communication and communion. Help us to love you like you love us.
Blessings!
Squirrel
Saturday, May 14, 2005
GOD's WILL/EDEN's GARDEN
Thanks for the comforting posts, guys. I've always used poetry to release stuff inside me and I was really, really mad at Death and the devil that day. Couldn't you tell? LOL!
Regarding baby's name. If the baby had been a boy, his name is Will. So he's God's Will. If the baby was a girl, her name is Eden since I had a dream the night I found out she'd died in my womb, that she was dancing in a garden with Jesus. It was so vivid and the greatest source of comfort for me. I tend to think the baby was a girl, but my children insist it was a boy. I guess we'll find out when we get to Heaven, huh? :-) Thanks for your suggestions, guys.
=======================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
When I was in the middle of miscarrying, I began bleeding so heavily my sanitary pads wouldn't hold everything, so in desperation, I grabbed one of my baby's diapers and used it in place of a pad. Then my doctor, concerned about the amount of bleeding, instructed me to come to his office immediately. I forgot to remove the diaper and when I shimmied my trousers down. . .there it was! I shrugged, ignored the urge to snicker and said to the nurse and my doctor, "Dont' worry. I changed my diaper right before I came here so you wouldn't have to." Even though the situation was sad, the moment was hilarious. I wish you could have seen their faces. They were trying so hard not to giggle. Then when I started laughing, they couldn't help it.
BORROWED PRAYER
Dear God, THANK YOU for the gift of a good sense of humor. Thank you for the blessing of laughter and supernatural joy. You are amazing.
VERSE:
Prov 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine.
Ecc 3:4: ...there is a time to weep and a time to laugh...
THANKS for stopping by! Come back often!!!
Squirrel
Regarding baby's name. If the baby had been a boy, his name is Will. So he's God's Will. If the baby was a girl, her name is Eden since I had a dream the night I found out she'd died in my womb, that she was dancing in a garden with Jesus. It was so vivid and the greatest source of comfort for me. I tend to think the baby was a girl, but my children insist it was a boy. I guess we'll find out when we get to Heaven, huh? :-) Thanks for your suggestions, guys.
=======================
BLUSH AND CRINGE
When I was in the middle of miscarrying, I began bleeding so heavily my sanitary pads wouldn't hold everything, so in desperation, I grabbed one of my baby's diapers and used it in place of a pad. Then my doctor, concerned about the amount of bleeding, instructed me to come to his office immediately. I forgot to remove the diaper and when I shimmied my trousers down. . .there it was! I shrugged, ignored the urge to snicker and said to the nurse and my doctor, "Dont' worry. I changed my diaper right before I came here so you wouldn't have to." Even though the situation was sad, the moment was hilarious. I wish you could have seen their faces. They were trying so hard not to giggle. Then when I started laughing, they couldn't help it.
BORROWED PRAYER
Dear God, THANK YOU for the gift of a good sense of humor. Thank you for the blessing of laughter and supernatural joy. You are amazing.
VERSE:
Prov 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine.
Ecc 3:4: ...there is a time to weep and a time to laugh...
THANKS for stopping by! Come back often!!!
Squirrel
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