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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.

Finding Something Friday…Quotations

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I love synchronicity.

So when I realized that the two things I wanted to share on Finding Something Friday were totally related to each other, I may have commented in a sudden and loud manner. Whereupon Mr. Hall, who is underfoot on Fridays, said, “What happened?” or “What’s wrong?” or maybe it was just “What *******?” Whatever. Anyway, on to the synchronistically fantastic finds:

First found is a new little widget from Goodreads. (I’ve already extolled the virtues of Goodreads. Come to think of it, I’ve extolled the virtues of widgets, too. I’m still waiting for someone to extol my virtues.) Now Goodreads has added a “Favorite Quotes” widget that will scroll all of your (get ready for it!) favorite quotes! I’ve added it to my blog because A. I’m one of those people who collect quotes like pennies and B. I’m a sucker for little widgets. Best of both worlds, huh?

Second found is The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks. Which is seriously hilarious. And not just to geeky punctuation nerds like me. It’s not something that one can explain in words (even if one is a “so called” writer). To fully appreciate “unnecessary” quotation marks, you must see them in the samples regularly posted on this blog. Check it out here and hold your sides.

Quotes, quotation marks. It just doesn’t get any more synchronous than that. Unless I could somehow tie in Fame or Fortune or the Road to Publication. “The desire for fame tempts even noble minds.” Saint Augustine said that. (But I think he was talking about Cathy C. Hall.)

What Not to Do Wednesday: All Work and No Play

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Makes Cathy C. Hall a dull girl. And a dull writer, too. But maybe I should explain that part.

Remember the last time when you were typity, typity, typing away and then suddenly wham! You hit the brick wall. Or technically, the block. As in a writer’s block. Maybe it was a phrase that you fiddled with, tweaked, or picked at but try as you might it just wouldn’t come out right. (Ooh! I made a little rhyme!) Maybe it was a whole section of your stunning short story that you suddenly realized stunk. So you moved this, scratched this out, added a little here, took away a little there, and before you knew it, you had the same old stink.

Instead of fixing the problem, you sat there, agonizing over the stinkiness, and sabotaging any future Fortune. What you could have done instead is take a little break. Given your mind a rest so you could come back, intellectually renewed with vim and vigor! Pumped a little fresh air into the old grey cells. But what to do? How do you take a break when you’re stuck?

Maybe you’d like to listen to my old buddy, Bill, and his daily podcast here. He’s funny and free. You can’t beat that. Or maybe try a game here. I LOVE those tiny little Nitrome freakazoids. Or take a shower. (Don’t ask me why this works. All I know is that whenever I’m stuck, I take a little dip and voila! Not only do I have a great idea but as a bonus, I also smell nice and clean!). Maybe you have your own ideas about the perfect break. I’m all ears, if you want to pass it on.

Whatever you do, little grasshopper, don’t sit there banging your head against the keyboard. Talk about your breaks—