What Have I Been up To? (Wordsmith Studio Homecoming)

Three years have gone by? How did it grow up so fast? (Yes, I ask myself the same question about my kids.) Well, I'm still not a grownup, but Wordsmith Studio has come a long way. 

In February 2012, I signed up for an April platform challenge with Robert Lee Brewer (of Writer's Digest) to learn about how to market myself as a writer. His challenge benefited me in ways I never imagined; it mainly helped me to step outside my comfort zone(s).

Since I missed participating in last week's Wordsmith Studio blog hop, I am responding to those questions this week.  

Wordsmith Studio Q & A Interview

1. Are you a WSSer (a member of Wordsmith)? If so, sound off about how long you’ve been a member, your favorite way to participate, or anything you’ve missed if you’ve been away. We’re not your mother/father . . . there will be no guilt about how long since your last call.

I am one of the original Wordsmith Studio members (a founder as we call ourselves). As most of you already know, I served on the steering committee during the inaugural year, giving me experience and friendships I am grateful for. One of the features I most enjoyed at that time were the photography prompts Rebecca Barray was in charge of (she not only created many, but also found others to come up with prompts). I do miss those prompts. I feel they stimulated my creativity in a different way than my other usual creative outlets. I also miss the interactions with the regular participants of that challenge.


2. What medium do you work in? For our writing folks, are you currently working on fiction, poetry or nonfiction, or a combination? Anyone YA or mystery or thriller or . . . ?

Last year I earned my copyediting certification through University of California, San Diego. I began working as an independent contractor and have edited a variety of genres including children’s literature (picture book and middle grade), memoir, paranormal romance, mystery, horror, and non-fiction. I’ve been tweaking my editing website, Ink Tracks Editing, and figuring out how to tie it in with my literary magazine, MouseTales Press. For now, they remain separated.

Earlier this year, I studied middle grade and young adult writing with Virginia S. Loh (who has authored more than twenty books), and I hope to have my current work-in-progress, a YA novel, completed later this year. One of my other pieces, Do Not Disturb, is a cozy mystery that I continue to tweak as I seek a home for it.  

April celebrates Robert Lee Brewer’s other challenge, his Poetic Asides Poem-a-Day Challenge (also known as the PAD challenge). If you’ve read my blog at all this month, you’ve already seen my works for the challenge. 

I’m also happy to help Robert out as a reader for one of the days of the challenge. This means I’m combing through the poems from a particular day and sending my favorites on to him. I’ve participated twice before in contest selections through the PTSA at a local elementary school where I live, and I enjoy the process.

By the way, I appreciate any tweets or Facebook shares about my editing business, Ink TracksEditing! Thanks for considering.

3. What’s the name of your current project (ok multitaskers, give us your main one)?

Oops, I already went over this in my answer for number two.

4. What is your favorite detail, sentence, or other bit you’ve written lately?

Can I cheat and offer my favorite poem? I think this is the one I like best of all I’ve written so far—How You MournYour Own Life. 

5. Any obstacles or I-hate-this-chapter moments?

Always! But I try to write through them by telling myself that’s what editing is for.

6. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned lately from your writing?

I enjoy writing poetic details (such as metaphor) into my stories. Not every editor appreciates that though.

7. In what ways do you hope to grow in the next 6 months/year?

I hope to strengthen my organizational skills and become better at outlining. I recall I was great at creating backstory for my characters when I was acting. I would like to perfect this skill for the characters I write.

8. In what ways do writing friends and communities help you do that?

Hmm . . . I’m not sure about this, though talking with them sometimes helps me to clear my thoughts. And I’ve gotten great information from them (for instance, fellow Wordsmith Studio member K.M. Weiland’s books have been very helpful). 

9. What else should we have asked you, or what would you ask other writers?

I was once asked why I became a copyeditor if my goal is to become a writer. In my opinion, editing and writing benefit each other. It turns out that I love editing though, and imagine I will continue editing and writing . . . forever. And I really look forward to watching Wordsmith Studio continue to grow!

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Wordsmith Studio Member Posts 

Be sure to read the post Jane Ann McLachlan is sharing for our anniversary, Roots and Wings. She has a book launch on April 19!

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Whew! That was long. If you've made it down to here, my next post will most likely be back to poetry. Thanks for reading!


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What I'll Miss When You're Gone

It's funny, I've had that song running through my head off an on for quite a while now. You know the one: "Cups (You're Gonna Miss Me)."

Then the other morning as I was feeling irritable at the toothpaste splatters on my bathroom mirror, I decided that mess wasn't anything to be cranky about; one day when my nest is empty, I will miss it. Later I read the writing prompt at Wordsmith Studio: "What You'll Miss."

I love synchronicity. And from it, the below (rough draft of a) poem was born.

Empty Nest Syndrome and a Clean Bathroom Mirror

Shells Left in the Nest

I strain through tired
eyes and toothpaste-
splattered mirror to understand
how you have grown
from toddling babbler to spilling
teen, tall with confidence
for all you have become,
then shying away from all you are
not yet. Oh, beautiful trail-
maker, paper scraps dotting
the roads you’ve traveled, stirring
up grumbles from deep within
me. But in ten, I’m pretty sure I’ll be
longing to pick up your messes,
attempting to hide
I’m a mess
that you are gone.

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2013 Postcard Poetry Project - Day One - Left Behind

Thanks to my friend, Linda Hofke, for telling me about the Postcard Poetry Project, scheduled for August, 2013.

In preparation, last month I began making collage postcards out of recycled materials. I'd been dissatisfied for several weeks with the poetry I was writing, but I decided to carry on anyway since I'd already made the commitment.

This is the one I sent out for Day One:

Day One - Left Behind by Linda G Hatton

Collage Art by Linda G Hatton

    

It's turning out to be quite a challenge for me to come up with a poem I can hand write on the back of a postcard. My hands have gotten so used to typing.

This project and some advice from my wonderful group of writer friends at Wordsmith Studio have helped to pull me out of my writing difficulties. What a relief.

More to come!

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Do You Dog Paddle When You Skinny Dip?

Did that title get your attention? Well, I am writing about water after all.

It was an un-explainable summer. It started weird, became wonderful, and then got weird again. I won't go on about the strangeness. The recurring numbers. The messages. My interpretations.

Instead, I'm starting over from this moment, trying to let everything fall behind me. I had a wonderful time with family, but I feel backed up and dissatisfied with most of my writing from the past several weeks.

Driving is meditative for me. I had my best brainstorms while I was darting in and out of traffic. Unfortunately, I let those thoughts slip away like water over my fingers. Even the one below would not flow. No. Not even when the theme was water.

Invitation to Escape

Drowned

Water droplets inviting
yet off-limits, clarity sinks
inside overheated
emotions, streaming
thoughts pour, melding
with forbidden pool
below, too far
from reach, sub-
merged under tears,
uncertainty


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Wish You Were Here

I'm spending my summer trying to do things that make me a little nervous. This below photo says it all. Relaxation. 

It's hard for me to allow myself to follow through with it. Even as I took a rest on this hammock, I felt the urge to do something, so I got out my camera and snapped some photos.

The other day I grabbed these treasures from a used bookstore.

Strangely when I opened them, I read about artichokes in both books. This is significant for me right now. I'm peeling away my layers to get to my heart, self-protected for too long.

Here is one:

     Artichoke
      - by Joseph Hutchison

      O heart weighed down by so many wings.


Time is flying by, but I'm taking this summer vacation time to both have fun and look inside. I don't wish to be anywhere else at the moment.

(This post is in response to the recent Wordsmith Studio prompt, "Wish You Were Here.")

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Chasing the Moon

I dreamt all morning that I was running with my son from a tornado. We were going to get into my car, but then I decided there wasn’t enough time for us to get away. Instead, I looked for something sturdy for us to hold onto.We wound up finding a hole in the ground to hide inside and I woke up before it hit.

Perhaps I have tornado mind; thoughts that jump around from one subject to the next. Or maybe it was the lullaby of Santa Ana winds that brought on my dream.

In any case, it helped get me back in tune with nature. I tried again this morning to get a photograph of the moon; was it the wind that blew it out of my reach this time?

The other night I was driving and the clouds shifted into what looked like a profile of a face with the moon in the eye position. By the time I pulled over, it was gone.

I like the way this shot lined up though. Can you say "Moon Man"?

Moon Becomes Man

Some people chase tornadoes,
I run after the moon, playing
hide-and-seek at twilight
with giant eyeball in the sky, he looks
down on me then hides behind ruffled
mountains, clouds dissipating from face
to eerie darkness. Days pass
and he thinks I have forgotten.
Yet morning routine brings me back
to his pursuit, a hint of that guy
hiding in the light, too many
missed shots until finally I catch
him, the man and his body, posing
just this once. I turn away
and he is gone again.

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This photo was taken in response to Rebecca Barray's photo prompt.

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Homemade Vitamin Water in a Cup

This is the drink I carry around with me, pretty much every day, homemade fruit water. It's always in my favorite reusable Starbucks cup.

Reusable Starbucks Cold Cup

From where I sit, water, sea

of green sofa, animal remnants scattered

here and there, sunshine rains

down through open windows, 

thoughts swirl, a tornado

in my brain

This was written in response to Rebecca Barray's photo prompt at Wordsmith Studio.

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Obsession With Old Books

Last summer I was browsing in one of my favorite thrift stores in Seattle and came across a book in the glass case at the register. I wasn't sure I wanted to pay the $25 asking price, so I put a note inside my phone notepad with the intention of checking for it again later to see if the price had dropped.

But then I forgot to go back before leaving town.

Fast forward to Christmas when we were out shopping and looking for unusual items. I took my husband to this store where he looked around. He wound up buying that book—and later giving it to me as a gift.

He had no idea I had fallen in love with it six months before.

I guess the book was meant to be mine. When I flip through its fragile pages, I am in awe of the beauty inside.

The Child's Book of Fairy Tales - 1860 First Edition

It's a reminder to me that things that are meant to be together will eventually find their way to each other.

p/s This photo was taken for Rebecca Barray's book-themed photo prompt at Wordsmith Studio.

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What Does Rain Mean? (A Photo Prompt)

This post is a response to Rebecca Barray's photo prompt, Rain.

Like people, raindrops come in all different shapes and sizes, many clustered together in groups, like families, while others stand off to the side on their own.

And like people, some are beautiful as they are, while others distort our reality of what stands behind them. The water may cause problems such as making the road slippery or decreasing visibility forcing those who try to see through it to sharpen their focus if they want to get to where they are going. 

Still, no matter the appearance, rain's ability to wash away dirt and oil that has gathered on the road from countless tire treads is refreshing. 

And like people, rain comes and goes, leaving us with only a memory.

What about you? Do you like the rain?

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Baseball in the Springtime

When my son was younger, he played baseball for a few years until he moved on to soccer. I admit I was a little disappointed until I started understanding and eventually enjoying soccer. Now he's back to baseball and yes, I'm excited!

Really, it doesn't matter what he does. I like to watch him play or do anything. Isn't that just like a mom?

Anyway, I do now associate spring with baseball, so I have taken this photo, in response to the photo prompt (um, yes, written by yours truly) at Wordsmith Studio.

I have to admit, I do also love the excuse to eat. Break out the peanuts, sunflower seeds, and (veggie) hot dogs, too. Spring is in the air!


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