Holiday Wishes & Lame Poetry

The year is coming to a close, and despite what the Mayans predicted, the calendar will click over to 2013. Crisis averted!

What time of year is it? Time for lame poetry, you say? You're right! Here's my 2012 attempt:

Full of laughter, full of cheer

Thankful for another year

Highs and lows, then side to side

Writing is a crazy ride

Every day, each writer knows

We're thankful for the gift of prose

The right word here, a comma there

Polish, send it, do I dare?

Of course you do, the world deserves

To delve into your worthy words

Beaten down? Then start anew

That dream of yours looks well on you

My kids are home from school again

I'll close the laptop, cap the pen

I wish for you what you love most

Let's raise a glass and make a toast

Friends and family, hands held tight

Bringing in the new year right

There you have it! I'll return to the blog on January 8th. As always, I'm so thankful for the joy and wisdom you've brought into my life. I sincerely hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and an exciting 2013.

What's your most special memory from 2012? And where will you spend the holidays this year?

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Unique Gifts Writers Can Give

As writers, we have the opportunity to give gifts that can't be bought. Here are a few ideas for unique gifts we writers can give:

1. A poem--Write a poem to someone you love and/or appreciate. A family member, a friend, or a teacher. Make it funny, make it inspirational, or make it short and sweet. I've done this a few times for my hubby--for Christmas and Father's Day--and he loved it. 
2. A hand written note--These days it's all about emails, and we've lost the art of the hand-written note. There's still something lovely about writing in script on pretty stationery. I plan to jot down short notes for each of my sons about what makes them special.
3. Character name--Name a character after someone you know. If they have a great sense of humor, and wouldn't mind, you could even make them the villain. Or the sidekick. Imagine them reading your story, knowing Uncle Harold was named after them. (Btw, my late Uncle Harold had a 2-quarter plumber's crack and played Boogie Woogie on the piano like nobody's business. Seriously.)
4. Character traits--Does a friend or family member have unique traits? Got a grouchy uncle who knits blankies? A friend who only washes her hair on Mondays? Use it! Heck, you can even create a cross blend of quirky character traits. The cousin who always smells their food before eating will get a kick out of reading about it. 
5. Record history--Know an elderly person who would like to record their personal history? Writers can experience the joy of preserving history for an aging friend or family member. Imagine the amazing stories they'd have to tell.
6. Pay attention--The best gift of all may be our time. We can set the laptop or notebook down and be in the moment. Sure, we can think about character or scene details, but when it comes down to it, the people we love want to know they matter most.

These are just a few ideas. Can you think of other ways writers can give unique gifts?

And if you've given a character the name or traits of someone you know, did you tell them? What did they think?

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The Gift of Patience

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, and scorn in the one ahead. - Mac McCleary

This holiday season, my wish for each of us is to receive the gift of patience.

Patience with the outside world

We'll drive through jammed streets, and battle for parking spaces. Some of us might visit a crowded mall and experience stressed out store clerks.

Patience with the writing world

We've all learned that the publishing industry moves at a glacial pace. Agents and editors are regular people with their own families and traditions to attend to. We might not receive the news we want at the time we want (a great post about this here).

Patience with ourselves

We do the best we can with the time we have. We may write about super heroes or extraordinary powers, but that's fiction. If we picture ourselves in slow motion, enjoying our friends and family, perhaps we'll cherish the season a bit more.

In the words of Benjamin Disraeli, "Patience is a necessary ingredient of genius." Do you struggle with patience at this time of year, or do you take it all in stride?

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