No Shortcuts For You!

2013-06-04 22.53.53As many of you regular readers know, my critique partners are also bloggers (and wonderful friends!), so we often sort of wander off into blog stuff while we’re supposed to be doing critiquing stuff. But that’s okay because there’s always something we need to figure out. I’m pretty sure that the folks who thought up blogging sit around and say, “Hey! What can we change today that will really put all the bloggers into a big, ol’ dither?”

So. Debra Mayhew has been making some changes over at her blog and she stopped by yesterday, laptop in hand, for a little hands-on help. Um…we sort of figured out the problem (possibly added a few more problems to work out–oopsies!), but more importantly, we talked about writing, we laughed about writing, we griped about writing. In short, we shored up our sagging spirits for the long haul of this business we’re in.

Because my-oh-my, writing is a long haul.  With no short cut to the success signpost. But there are a ton of writers out there who will join you for the ride, shoring you up. I read Kristen Lamb’s blog today about making it past the dip, and felt a teensy bit better about the manuscript dragging me way beyond a dip and all the way into a chasm.

I thought about my blogger critique buddies, too. Of Debra’s dip and how she keeps plugging away. Of Lisa and the new directions she’s fearlessly following.

And there are all of you, bloggers/writers I’ve never met but feel like I know so well. Probably because we’re all on the same journey. There’s nothing for it but to keep at it. And I’m ever so glad I have friends to keep me company.

For Me? You Shouldn’t Have! (But Thanks for the Compliment!)

sunshineawardToday is National Compliment Day, and I’d just like to say that I think Margo L. Dill is grand! She gave me the Sunshine Blog Award because she thinks I’m a “blogger who positively and creatively inspires others in the blogosphere.”

Now, that’s quite the compliment. And I have to admit I’m feeling pretty warm and fuzzy inside right now. But there’s more to this award than a warm and fuzzy feeling. There’s favorites to ponder!

Favorite Things!

 

  • Favorite color: Okay, that’s tough. Really tough. I love SO many colors. But I’ll say blue, as in a Georgia blue sky on a summer afternoon in July.
  • Favorite animal: SO much easier. Dog.
  • Favorite number: I’m tempted to say my birthday number, but I’m rather fond of 5. I don’t know why.
  • Favorite drink: Oh. My. Gosh. Favorites are hard. Okay, Coke. No, unsweet tea. (Yes, I know. But it’s still unsweet.)
  • Facebook or Twitter?: Facebook.
  • Your passions: My faith, my family, my friends, my writing, my sports teams. Not necessarily in that order if one of my teams is playing.
  • Giving or getting presents: Giving is probably the nobler answer, but…
  • Favorite day: FRIDAY! I work at home now, but old habits die hard. I still get excited when Friday rolls around.
  • Favorite flowers: Why must you torture me with this favorites thing??? If I must choose, I’ll say hydrangeas. But now I feel bad for wisteria and bougainvillea and daisies and magnolias and camellias and forget-me-nots.

And now it’s time to pass along the lovely compliment. I’d like to give the Sunshine Blog Award to Debra Mayhew and Lisa Ricard Claro. Their blogs always brighten my day and make me so very glad I stopped by for a read.

But honestly, all of you brighten my day. And I’d say that even if it weren’t National Compliment Day.