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Cathy C. Hallhttps://cathychall.wordpress.com/I write, write, write. Then I rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. THEN I submit all those polished-up words out into the world and sell 'em. It's a plan that's worked pretty well.

A-Reading We Shall Go

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So, I had a stack of books I thought I might read during my mini-break. Reading’s easier than writing, I figured, when holiday havoc reigns.

But then I forgot all about the books that I invariably receive as gifts. Ooooh! A book about Charles Dickens! Ahhhh! A cookbook with a bonus CD! Yikes! A book of short stories I gave to one of the junior Halls with this one story I must read (and maybe one other short story…and look! I’ve always wanted to read that short story!).

Bottom line, I did read. Just not the books I thought I’d read. Oh, and I finally finished my sorta free copy of Boomtown, another book by Thomas Nelson Publishing. Which means my obligatory review follows.

(Wait! I just remembered that last night, I cracked opened Murder for Hire, The Peruvian Pigeon, which I won a few months back. I’m only on page 19, but so far, Dana Fredsti and her cast of characters have piqued my interest. Oh, and I made use of travel time yesterday, too, checking out Writer Mama and Getting Known Before the Book Deal (I won those books, too!). You know, Christina Katz has some good stuff. So, if I finish my holiday haul of books, plus these three books, I should be brilliant! (Or technically, brilliant-er!)

Five (Writing) Gifts Money Can’t Buy

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I can’t wait to start clicking away with my new digital camera! I’m not sure my photo-taking skills will improve, but those high-quality pictures are bound to help when I submit all those queries. That’s the writing gift I asked for this Christmas.
Then I started thinking about all those writing gifts that don’t cost a thing. Well, maybe a little teeth-gritting and imagination, or some of that splendiferous butt glue, but all in all, I think I can afford these gifts.
1. GOALS: The trick to good goals is making them challenging enough to give you a good push, but also realistic enough so that frustration/failure don’t become constant companions. So, I think I’ll pare down that $200,000 yearly income goal. But sending out two queries a week may be just what I need to meet a more er, reasonable financial goal.
2. PATIENCE: Yeah, I know. War and Peace wasn’t written in a day. (But then again, I’m no Tolstoy. Okay, Okay. I’ll grit my teeth and try.)
3. EQUANIMITY: You win some, you lose some. Which in writing terms translates to um, you win some, you lose some. And then you carry on.
4. PERSEVERANCE: That’s the “carrying on” part, the “picking up the bruised ego and trying again” part, the “just do it” part. I didn’t realize that gift came in so many choices.
5. LAUGHTER: What would “What Not To Do Wednesday” be without my writing goofs? (Probably “What To Do Wednesday”…but c’mon. What’s funny about that?)

Now that I’m looking at my list, it occurs to me that these no-cost gifts might be good for holiday stressed-out moms, or college graduates looking for a job, or even the most beneficent Mr. Hall. Who, speaking of holidays, actually pitched in today and ran a Christmas errand for yours truly. It was such a momentous occasion, I took a picture. (Wheee! Another gift money can’t buy!)