Month: May 2016

Writing

What Exactly is Poor Writing?

deborahanndykeman

Attention all writers and editors! This is an excellent post…and I wanted to share it with you. A lot of great pointers to keep in mind…scrapbook-1345381__180

 

 

 

 

Any of you who have editing experience can back me up when I say that it is a very tiring process, especially when the piece you are reviewing is poorly written. And while the perceived quality of …

Source: What Exactly is Poor Writing?

Just For Fun!

Tiny Topics

deborahanndykeman

I’ve always been enthralled with anything miniature. I think it’s amazing that you can make something out of itsy-bitsy items and it’s looks real.

So, as you can imagine…I love doll houses. I could get lost in studying a room like the two pictured above…each little detail.

I love the train displays…not because of the trains, but because of the little villages the track weaves through. I find it fascinating to see the wee towns and the ‘houses’ on the hillside.

After many years, I finally have a fairy village. No, I don’t really believe little people come and visit and night, (although I tell my grandchildren they do! ;)) I spent hours a couple springs ago, repainting my fairy village houses. What fun! Now that’s something I could do for a living! I received so much enjoyment looking up all the options for houses and accessories online. The possibilities are limitless!

I also have a Christmas village that has grown too big for my upright piano top. I originally set it there to keep away from little, exploring fingers. Someone would always lift them up and point out the ice-skaters on the little ‘pond’ made from tin-foil, the children sledding on the ‘hill’.

Tiny to me…is tremendous! Check out my Facebook post for today and you will find another petite puppy to make you smile.

Baby mice, hummingbirds, tiny table settings, white picket fences two inches tall, stone cottages for a tree frog, teacup chihuahuas, bistro for baby…and of course babies in general. These are some of my favorite things! Happy Friday to you!

A Day to Remember

Begins!

deborahanndykeman

It has finally arrived! Today is the last day of school here in our little town. Graduations have finished and now it’s…summer. For children, anyway. Can’t you just feel it? That sense of excitement and anticipation…no school for a couple of months. No getting up early in the morning, for school anyway. Going to bed later. Long, hot days that seemed as though they would never end…and that was a fantastic feeling!

Follow along for just a bit…relishing that period of time that was like no other. For me, as a child, every summer consisted of swimming lessons…early in the morning. Roll out of bed, put on a damp swimsuit from the day before and have a bite of yogurt and granola, (yes, my mother was very much into us eating healthy!) You would get to the pool, yawning and freezing, your towel wrapped around your shoulders. You would stand there shivering, dreading that moment when you would have to jump or dive in, knowing it was going to take your breath away for a second. Then the water would become liquid warm, gliding over your body.

Then we would head home, do our chores and have a sandwich. As soon as the pool opened in the afternoon, we were back again and stayed until the pool closed. Those days weren’t about the tanning for me, but practicing all that we had learned that morning. If we were very lucky, my parents or friend’s parents would pick us up and we wouldn’t have to make that trek back home. Although it was pretty fun to stop by the little building that sold candy and stock up for the walk. (And no, my mother would not have been happy about that!)

We managed to fit so much into our summer days! Bike riding, lemonade stands, and playing cards on rainy days.

My husband’s summer days included camp every year. When I became a teenager, we had moved to the east. The finish of school for the summer was just as filled with anticipation and excitement. But now the swimming was accomplished on pristine lakes with extremely cold water. Those shivering mornings were nothing compared to jumping in that lake in the Adirondack mountains on a sunny afternoon! After a few minutes, the water warmed and it just felt…delicious.

My teenage summers also included staying with a cousin at her parent’s cabin in New Hampshire. Those were the summers I learned to row a boat, making sure to stay clear of the lily-pad end. Having an oar tangled in that is no fun! Rainy days still included playing cards on the enclosed porch, listening to the rain beat on the roof. Sunsets were gorgeous, of course! Oh, the memories!

Sometimes I wonder about the youth of today. My childhood was filled with activity, special days, friends to play with and a sense of just…belonging. You knew your place in the world and what was expected. There was a time for work and then a time for play. You interacted with others.

So today…summer begins. Have a beautiful day with lots of sunshiny memories!pink-lemonade-795030__180

Writing

An Early Start

deborahanndykeman

I’m a creature of habit. Each day, I sit down in front of my computer and I have a list of ‘chores’ I do before  I allow myself the privilege to write. Some days, these ‘chores’ take so long that the writing never materializes. Maybe not a great way to go about my day…but I do have a sense of accomplishment when I have these ‘chores’ done. Throw in a bit of household chores like laundry, dishes, and cleaning…and yes, some days I even cook…and writing starts to take a seat on the back burner.retro-1291608__180

Every now and again, I have something that I have floating around in my head and I have to get it down on my computer. It drives me crazy until I do…and I love this kind of writing…those kind of days. The words come fast and furious and need very little editing, (in my humble opinion) and it’s usually pretty good. These days usually start fairly early in the morning because I can’t sleep until I get all those thoughts out of my head and through my fingers. If you are a writer, you understand what I’m saying. keyboard-621830__180

So now what do I do? The last few chapters came to me while I was waiting for my husband and daughter in the local grocery store. I love to sit in the parking lot and people watch. I’ve mentioned this before. So, the ending chapters were there…and my computer was not. For two days now those visions have been running through my mind…and I haven’t had a chance to put them to use. So, this morning I was up at 3:30 am. Do I have my list of ‘chores’ finished? You bet I do! Now it’s just before 7:00 am…those visions are pounding to get out. I think it’s going to be a great day! I pray your’s is as well! Happy Monday!

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Writing

Spring Rain…Again!

deborahanndykeman

It’s raining…again! I love the cool breeze and the birds are singing happily…but I miss the sun! Everything is so green and the flowers are lovely, but some sunshine would brighten my soul.

I also need tech help! I actually made a video of my yard, and I took some pictures to share on here. But I guess it was too green for the camera as well. It won’t send the file to my e-mail. It says it’s too big.

Help!

I was able to send it to my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216963165342784/ so I guess you will have to watch it on there if you are interested.

So, I just wanted to say ‘hi’ before I started ‘working’ today. I’m nearing the end of my third book in my Rubyville series. My goal is to finish it next week…early next week to start the editing process. Have a wonderful Friday everyone!

 

Writing

To Sequel or Not…that is the question

deborahanndykeman

Fast and Furious…not to my liking, but we have a couple guys in our family that would disagree. Star Wars…what number?darth-vader-1282288__180

 

 

 

Bourne...something? These are all movies that just spring to mind as I sit here. Movies that have sequels…and then more sequels…and then more…you get the picture.

Here’s an idea. What about a movie where a little girl and a little boy meet, and they are friends?peek-a-boo-696311__180

Next movie, they date,kissing-1149918__180

 

 

next one they are married,wedding-626020__180

 

next one have a family,sunsets-1328102__180

next one they are empty-nesters, and maybe the last one is life in an assisted living facility?old-690842__180

Does that make six movies? Not interested in seeing those? No, there would not be fast cars in all of them…but there could be in the teenage one. No, there wouldn’t be scary little aliens lurking about and speaking in a low voice and probably no guns. (As you can tell, I have not spent much time watching Star Wars!) Those are all things that sell and make big money. Those are movies people will spend time on and watch again and again. So, there are sequels…and lots of them.

Sometimes, in my humble opinion, it is best to just let a book or movie…go. There is a certain thrill and anticipation in wondering what happened. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Rhett Butler puts on his hat and strides down the sidewalk into the swirling mist. For many, many years, we didn’t think Rhett cared a fiddle stick for what happened to Scarlett O’Hara Butler. In the back of our mind we could wonder, what if?clark-gable-394520__180

Then came the sequel…and again, in my humble opinion, it was not good. It would have been a wonderful stand-alone story-line, but it shouldn’t have come after, Gone With the Wind. It somehow took away the wonder of that last scene in the book and the movie.

Should you write a sequel? That is the question.

 

Writing

Old Fashioned Review

deborahanndykeman

By now you understand that I am a bit behind the times…probably in many areas. I think technology has done wonders in the world today, but there are drawbacks to it as well.

Today I was reading a post about book reviews. We authors covet them and those that are self-published as I am…well they put the bread and butter on the table.

So imagine my shock and disgust when I read a post talking about people paying for 5-star reviews! Seriously? I have always been a very firm believer in hard work, being paid a fair wage for work  done. If I am going to receive a thank-you, clap-on-the-shoulder, thumbs-up…I want to have earned it!

This is the old-fashioned part of book reviewing. I love my reader’s feedback! I want to hear from you. Right now I am small enough to respond to each and every one of you…and I plan to continue that. You are important to me! You are the reason I write the stories I do. If you read my books, the old-fashioned word of mouth works wonderfully. If you like it…please pass it on, share it, recommend it. I would love a review on the sites that carry my book and there are many. But I will never pay for a 5-star review! Thankfully, the reviews I have so far are from people that have actually read my books and enjoyed them. I appreciate that so very much! If you read my books, tell me your honest opinion. That’s what I want to hear!

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Conclusion: reviews are extremely important. But the good, old-fashioned, word-of-mouth is still pretty fantastic! I’d love to hear what this guy is going to say!dog-734689__180

Our Christian Walk

Old Souls

deborahanndykeman

I think I have always been an old soul. I never felt as though I really fit into my generation. I generally gravitated toward people that were older than me. When I was a child, I was much more comfortable talking with older people. I would spend hours sitting on a front porch or in a living room, just asking questions to keep that person talking about life, ‘way back when’. general-store-219655__180

Old movies were a favorite and I read biographies, or I should say absorbed books about people. I read anything I could get my hands on about people’s lives and history. I even spent my lunch hours in high school in the library…just so I could have more time to read. Was I a geek? Or whatever that kind of a person is called these days. No, I really don’t think so. I did manage to stay involved in the life around me…but maybe that is a question better left for those I interacted with!

History and people have always fascinated me. I would love to just be plunked down in a small, abandoned town, and then ‘see’ it as it was 50, 75, or 100 years ago. I wish I could put that on a bucket list! I would make it happen. I’m not even that particular about what section of history I would like to adventure into. Any one would do.

When I became a nurses aid for the first time, when I was 19 years old, 30+ years ago, I absolutely loved it. I had found my little comfy corner. What better job than to be able to help the elderly, and then talk with them about their experiences! I met so many wonderful, interesting people that shared their memories with me. It was a privilege to be a part of that last little section of their lives!hands-737475__180

I talked with a feisty, tiny, woman from London. She had spent her teenage years as a prostitute on the docks, at the turn of the century. She had language to go along with it! The stories she could tell! She married an older man when she was 19, and they moved to America shortly after. She had a family, was married and had a ‘proper’ life.

One man had made hand brakes for the President’s car. Another woman was 104, that summer of 1984. Can you imagine the sights she had seen? I relished the conversations I had with her! I can still remember what she looked like and her name. Again, it was a privilege to be a very small part of her life. I learned to shave whiskers with a straight razor and how to sharpen it on a leather strap.I am still amazed that the man trusted me enough to have me do it! So many wonderful memories from the year before I married.

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So now, I have started working as a C.N.A. again, just part time, in the evenings. I worked at the same location a couple of years ago. But I worked the night shift for that year. I didn’t have the opportunity to talk very much with the residents.

I am excited to get to know the people there, and hear their stories. Although the age difference isn’t such a big gap anymore! I can actually remember some of the same things! It will take a bit of adjusting to get used to that one.

Please remember our older generation. They have a wealth of information unique to them. Take the time to chat and be interested in who they are. Someday…we will all be there. I want someone to care about me, and listen to my stories

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Writing

I’m a Little Blue Today, continued

deborahanndykeman

A few weeks ago now, I posted on my blue dishes and I promised some pictures of them. Well, life happened…again! Writer’s conference, a trip to Ohio to meet the newest grandchild, etc. put this promised follow-up on the back burner.

So, even though today is very cloudy and gloomy, no sun shining through my kitchen window to highlight the blue, I decided to take the pictures anyway. The light shining on the cobalt blue really is pretty.

 These dishes are very important to me. Not just because they are lovely and I adore the blue and white combination, but because they all have memories behind them. The largest blue vase on the top shelf in the first picture above, was given to me, from my husband. It was an anniversary gift, purchased in Branson while we were celebrating our Thirtieth Anniversary there. All the blue and white dishes on the shelves in the first picture and the plates on the wall in the second picture, are from Cracker Barrel. My husband gave me the first little teapot for a Mother’s Day gift back in 2002. My mother then followed up with the rest.

The pewter items: the pitcher and bowl in the second picture were my grandmother’s, maternal side. The yellow and pink pitchers on the top shelf in the third picture were also hers. I loved those items when I was a child. You can see the Currier and Ives plates in the third picture, top shelf. These are the ones I spoke of in my first post, and they are very special to me.

The ginger jars on the bottom shelf in the third picture were my mother’s jars. She kept them full of stuff when I was a child. The copper items were purchased by me, just before I was married. My dreams back then were to have the blue and white kitchen, with all copper pans. That dreamed changed a bit when I found out how difficult it was to keep them shiny! Now I use good, old stainless steel. I also love roosters…so here and there you can see one peeking out…all gifts from family and friends.

All of our homes are a collection of items, passed down through generations, filled with things we love for one reason or another. That is what makes a simple house, no matter how tiny or huge…a home. All my collections have followed me through numerous moves over the years, and they help give me stability and a feeling of ‘home’ when I display them. It’s not fun to pack them all up…but opening the boxes in a new place is just like Christmas! The loves reaches out and wraps me in a warm hug when all the memories start flooding my mind.

Have a great Monday and make it a terrific start to your week.

Writing

Lafayette Square

deborahanndykeman

Everyone has an imagination. Everyone dreams. Writers just imagine and dream a bit outside the box…writing down those thoughts and creating a story.

I really enjoy reading historical novels and biographies. I admire those people that can research all that material, and then weave magic with their words. I am probably not one of those writers.

When I write a story, it has come to me, usually in a dream. Then over a period of time, it builds until I have to get it down into real words. Since I generally write fiction, I make up characters and places. But I also use some actual locations.

So, think of my delight when I was able to walk on the very sidewalks I had imagined in my head!

The second book in the Rubyville series takes place in St. Louis, Missouri for the first half. I did much research online about that city, learning much about it that took place in the late 1800’s. I loved doing that research! But even better, was me being able to walk through Lafayette Square, and see the streets surrounding it, the houses that my characters lived in. That was very special to me and my husband and two youngest daughters were there as well to share in it. It was a day I will always remember. It was also very special to see the train station that Annabella Barton traveled to and from.

So, thank you St. Louis, Missouri. You made this writer very happy on May 2, 2016. And if you are from that area…be sure to read A Place of Refuge

and let me know what you think about the story I weaved around all that history.