Isn’t that the cutest bobcat kitten? I took this picture at a state park, a year or so ago. Now the little kitten’s all grown up and back in the wild.
Now, I hope you don’t think I’ve gratuitously posted a kitten picture just to pique your interest. There’s a writing tie-in. Eventually.
So, last week, I decided to get my carpets cleaned. Not the way I usually clean them, with my steam cleaner mostly smashing dirt and such back into the carpet. Oh, no. I contacted Super Cleaner Guys who will move ALL your furniture and leave your home spic ‘n span.
That was Mistake Number 1. Because one has to get super-prepared for Super Cleaner Guys. I moved TONS of stuff out of rooms, into bathrooms and shoot, I said to myself, might as well take this stuff down to the basement rather than lug it back into the room where it’s just hanging out, collecting dust.
That was Mistake Number 2. Because everytime I moved something, I found more dust. Goodness, I said to myself, that’s a lot of dust. Actually what I said was more like, “RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! IT’S THE ATTACK OF THE GIANT DUST BUNNIES!
I survived. But I still had to move all the stuff back. Well, I said (and really, it was more like a growl) I should go through all this stuff before I put it back in the bedrooms and the offices.
I found quite a bit of stuff, writing and otherwise:
*My Michael Buble CD (Oh, Michael, I missed you and your honeyed voice!)
*The remote so I could turn on the CD player and listen to Michael Buble (Whew! I’m not gonna lie-I had a hard time figuring out how to operate remote-less.)
*A note with the words: Psalm 51 ( I think because “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew in me a steadfast spirit.” is within that psalm. It’s a very moving psalm. I’m glad I re-read it.)
*Notes from a talk that editor Cheryl Klein gave, almost three years ago. (She discussed the theme of the Harry Potter books and stressed how important it is that your plot support your theme. What lesson does your character learn through the plot?) But I wouldn’t have checked out her swell website today and found that she has a forthcoming book! On plotting, revising and publishing for children and young adults. Wheeee!
*Issues of Writer’s Digest from 2008 and other outdated kid’s magazines (which I recycled to friends). Amongst the WD articles I skimmed before recycling(because there’s always a few you don’t get to), I read one about giving critiques and the do’s and don’ts of critique etiquette. Which brings us to kittens.
Say there’s a member of your critique group who shares a piece of writing wherein you are so offended or so confused or so non-plussed, that there’s simply nothing on the positive side to say.
Give ’em a kitten.
Cathy C. Hall Writes 
How funny!Good advice about critiquing, but what if they already have a kitten?A few weeks ago I told a writer his 1500 word partial chapter could've been much better with about half the amount of words. Not a good idea. Guess I'll just mumble how much I liked that unusual verb on page 2–as in it was something other than was or were.
Hmmm…As I am actually in your writing group I'll know I'm in big trouble if you hand me a pic of that bitty kitty. So paranoid now.I did benefit from your clean-up, though, with that great Writer's Digest mag featuring my fave Sara Gruen. Thank you, Yoda, for sharing! š
Donna, all I can say is "Critiquer beware!" And maybe a chocolate cupcake would work as well as a kitty? :-)Lisa, you're welcome! Still cleaning-more mags to come! (And not to worry-you won't be getting any kitty pics š
Oh don't get me started about dust. Hubby recently bought and assembled ANOTHER book case for the study (aka the computer room). I could have stuffed a pillow with dust bunnies, okay a dollhouse pillow, but still! My find: I came across a manila envelope containing a complete manuscript I had written years ago about a lifelong friendship between my friend (who now has dementia) and me. Our life is all laid out in word. I am so thrilled. Oh, and for your finds too, funny woman.
If you gave me a kitten, I would find someway to talk myself into believing it was "all good." Such is my talent for denial.
Linda, that's wonderful, to find a manuscript like that! Feels like seeing an old friend, doesn't it?And Vicky, perhaps subtlety isn't for you. I'll keep that in mind if we're ever in a critique group together-:-)