Blog Archives
Begging my muse for help
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My muse got to laughing at me today. I don’t get any respect around here. I sat down to do some writing and she wouldn’t help me out.
“Now where was I?” I asked her.
“You snooze you lose.”
“Oh, come on I’ve been busy.”
She giggled and stretched out on the couch moving Patty to the floor. “I’m on vacation.”
“No you’re not. I need you to inspire me I have to work on two books today.”
She sipped a drink with a little umbrella in it. “Not gonna happen.”
“Hey, where’d you get the drink? At least you could share the beverage if you won’t help me work.”
“You couldn’t handle this. It’s not for mortals.”
“Then inspire me. Please?”
“It was a dark and stormy night…” More giggles from her.
“You’re real funny.”
“No seriously. Imagine the storm, the thunder, the lightning, the deluge of rain.”
“Had that yesterday any more brilliant flashes of insight?”
“You’re always telling me that your settings suck. I just gave you one to work with there.”
“Okay, let’s see. The characters are in a small town, it’s March…Hey, I think I’ve got it!”
“Good. Now leave me alone.”
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Keep the readers satisfied
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A story needs a beginning, middle, and an end. Without all three, it isn’t a story.
Beginnings flow like a river with easy to navigate deep pools and rapids that make the pulse pound. Beginnings can introduce your characters to your readers. They can give your readers a time and place. Most of all, beginnings hook them.
Middles are a writer’s bane. Screw up the middle of the story and you lose your audience. You will often hear writers complain about a sagging middle. That dull, lifeless section comes between the brilliant opening and the smashing end. Middles need to move the story forward, excite the readers enough to keep them turning pages, and they add tension. Middles must sparkle as bright as the beginning and drive onward to the end. This is not easy.
An ending wraps things up with a nice bow. Whether it is the solving of a crime, the saving of the world or the success of a relationship, it satisfies the reader. Keep the readers satisfied and they will keep coming back.
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
I need to de-clutter and organize
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Whatever happened to freestanding storage shelves? It seems that they are hard to find. I checked the two big name home improvement stores. One seemed to have no idea what I wanted, and the other had them but the prices gave me a slight case of sticker shock. It’s been many years since I bought any. They used to be cheap.
Now that I’m over the sticker shock, I will probably go buy them. I need two types, one an enclosed storage shelf unit and the other and open one. My back porch needs organization and de-cluttering. There’s entirely too much stuff sitting on the floor in the middle of it. We have one set of shelves out there now but that isn’t enough.
I figure if I put two more shelving units out there, that I might actually find the floor. I can see it now with everything organized and on shelves. The mixed in junk finally tossed into the garbage. Wow, I won’t know how to act.
Maybe once I do that I will continue and organize the entire house. Whom am I kidding? Only if Jackie volunteers to come help me, will that ever happen. Hey, Jackie I saw you duck behind your desk…
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Too much information
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A local plastic surgeon is advertising a new liposuction. “We can remove your belly fat and use it to enlarge your butt and enhance your breasts.”
Now, the truth be told, I’d love to have some belly fat removed. It’s always been a trouble spot for me. However, even though I have no ass, I have no desire to have my fat removed from one place and added to another. Besides, since I’ve never had an ass (I’ve known several asses in my lifetime but we won’t go there) I wouldn’t know how to act, dress, or sit on one. I’m used to my flat ass. I’m betting it would seem oh so weird having new fat back there. Would I have to learn how to walk all over again? Would I bounce out of a chair if I flopped in it? I have so many questions.
That brings us to the other part of the body they will inject the fat. I’d rather have a reduction in the boob zone than an enhancement. Mine aren’t overlarge but why not have my boobs reduced so in another decade or two they aren’t pointing at the ground? Little boobs stay perky.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
A little flag waving in honor of yesterday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After a day loaded with food, fireworks, and military band music, it was nice to take time to remember why we celebrate the 4th of July.
The freedoms we have are precious gifts given to us by those visionaries who fought hard to achieve the birth of a great nation. What an amazing accomplishment. Do not let their dream fade in apathy.
Hang tightly to those freedoms and be proud of who we are as a nation.
This is a great country. It is my country and I’m proud of it. I am grateful to be a citizen.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Jewelry, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Necklaces, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
The wrens’ picnic
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The last two days we saw a wonderful change in our weather. Things feel normal. We’ve had low humidity and cooler days and nights. Hooray, for good weather.
Today we had a lot of activity out in the yard. Not only were the regular robins, sparrows, finches, starlings, and grackles visiting but also a pair of wrens brought their sizable family over for a picnic. Watching Mom and Dad wren dash about to feed their six babies was a hoot. I dragged DH to the back porch so he could see the commotion.
“You’ve got to see this. There’s six baby wrens all lined up in the chain link fence and raising hell.”
He dragged himself from his chair. “Six baby wrens?”
“Yeah, Mom and Dad are scrambling to feed them.”
We stood on the back porch and watched through the window. The baby wrens were screaming for food, flitting about the next-door neighbor’s and our yards. Their parents looked frazzled trying to keep the babies in one place long enough to feed them.
“Wow, six babies. They must be catholic.” DH said.
“I’m going to tell G you said that. She’s going to hit you.”
“I’ll duck and run.”
“She’s faster than you are.”
Posted in my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Birds, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, feeding the birds, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Happy birds, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t (No I didn’t misspell it–read on)
Posted by doggonedmysteries
There are days where words don’t easily come to me. This is not a good thing for a writer. I would love to be able to sit down and have words flow from me like a river. However, the river has a problem. An insane beaver constantly builds dams to stop the flow.
I no sooner break through one dam than another one crops up to cause a deep pool of wordlessness. The insane beaver has a name. Life. Most days Life is kind to me.
However, when he wants to cause trouble he certainly can. Those are the other days. The days where Life doesn’t care if I want to work. He has his own needs. Therefore, he reminds me of them at the most inconvenient of times. Seconds after I get rolling on a great scene he slaps his tail against my head and makes me put the brakes on.
If you let him, he will cheat and won’t play fairly but we all know that Life is seldom fair. If you don’t know this then you haven’t met Life.
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
The old dog needs a new trick
Posted by doggonedmysteries
DH points a finger gun at the dogs. “Stick ‘em up.”
Patty’s paws shoot for the ceiling and she balances perfectly. She gets a cookie. Gavin raises one paw and gives a bit of hop with the other. That’s the best he’s going to give DH. He’s not fond of the trick since he can’t sit up and hold his balance. He gets a cookie anyway.
DH is bored. The dogs are bored. The hot weather is keeping DH in the house. TV sucks there’s nothing on worth watching during the day. DH wants to teach them a new trick.
I told DH to try teaching them to roll over because Gavin excels at lying down. He’s not getting any younger. Gavin will be nine in November. The poor dog is beginning to show his age a bit. His bully runs are not as frequent nor do they last as long. He not only takes naps but the dog goes to bed at seven in the evening.
This should be interesting. Patty is smart and quick on the uptake. Gavin figures if it isn’t give paw, down, or kennel up, it’s not worth learning but then again there is that promise of a cookie…
Posted in Dog related, hobbies, Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, dog tricks, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
G now holds the title of Queen Klutz
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Do you remember when I sprained both ankles after taking the tumble on the uneven sidewalk in our back yard? Then all the other Klutzy things I’ve done? I have been dethroned. I bow down to my dear friend G. She outdid me on Thursday night.
G and a friend went to a local college theater to see the Mikado. She was going to tell me all about it today, but when I didn’t hear from her, I thought I’d go over and visit. As I normally do, I walked through her back gate, up her deck steps, knocked on the screen door, and gave her a ‘yoo hoo!’ Imagine my surprise to see her limping to the door.
“What the heck did you do?” I stared at her.
“I tumbled down some steps.”
“What steps?”
“Over at the college by the theater entrance. I didn’t get to the play.”
“Holy crap, woman.”
“Yeah, I did a real good job falling.” She began to point out her injuries.
Her badly sprained, very swollen ankle, the cut on the outside edge of her eyebrow, the beginnings of a hell of a shiner, her left wrist—wrapped in an ACE bandage, and the shinbone on the other leg was looking quite colorful.
“Geez and I thought I held the record for klutziness.”
“I think I’ve got you beat. There’s more.” She showed me the bruise on her elbow and her chipped glasses.
“Egads! I do believe you’ve taken the title from me. Do you want me to get you a couple of fresh ice packs? Want to borrow my crutches?”
“No, I just iced everything.” She showed me a cane. “My hands are both so sore I have trouble using this so I don’t think crutches would help.”
“I don’t suppose they would. Can I get you anything?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“You let me know if you need anything.
“I will.”
“You know you’re my blog post tonight.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Anything for you.”
“Yeah. Anyway, they were very nice to me at the college. They wanted to call an ambulance but I said no. They even exchanged our tickets for a later show. We’re going to try to see the play again, next Thursday.”
“Stay away from those stairs.”
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, I lost my Klutz Queen title, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Surprise! A new look.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I thought it was time for a change. I hope you like it. One thing I noticed was the print is larger, which I like. However, it is lighter, which I don’t like.
I may have to play a little.
The Blogrolls are now on the bottom of the page along with everything else that isn’t a post. Not sure if I like that, but we’ll see.
This is going to take some getting used to. I hope you all like the changes. If not, let me know. I do want your opinions.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Fish, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Are we sanitizing ourselves into oblivion?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
When we were kids, we used to go outside and play…in the dirt. We’d come home so filthy you couldn’t tell us from the neighborhood boys, or the boy cousins, if we were visiting our grandfather’s farm.
Mom was lucky if we really washed our hands before dinner. We went swimming in lakes and stagnant ponds and went wading in drainage ditches and creeks.
There was no such thing as sanitizing wipes or antibacterial soaps. Do you remember the two-second rule for dropped food? Don’t forget to blow on it too.
We rolled in the grass, rode our bikes all day, played in the rain, and we seldom caught colds. Allergies? The closest I came to one as a child was a reaction to eating way too much fresh pineapple—I got a rash that went away the next day.
I have a novel idea…for the entire summer put away the kids’ computers, game boys, WIIs, X-boxes, cell phones, and other paraphernalia and take them outside to play. I mean really play and get filthy. They might get healthier.
In fact, moving around and doing something outside would do adults a lot of good too.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
Consistency in writing or brain farts can happen to the best of us
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I sent Dave a chapter to read where I must’ve been channeling my Grandmother because I used her first name instead of a character’s name. I have no idea why or how she popped in there. I’m glad Dave caught it so I could change the name to the right one.
I am writing several books at once. It isn’t unusual for me to have an ‘oops’ now and then. (Okay, Dave I admit it isn’t infrequent for me to oops it.) That’s why I have people such as Dave read and comment on my work.
Name errors aren’t the worst of it. I’ve managed to screw up time lines, had an entire chapter go missing, and other things too. I know I’ve truly goofed up when a chapter comes back to me with a large question mark and the comment WTF on the top of the page.
Brain farts can happen at the best of times. Mine happen when I have too many trains of thought derail in one day. The choo-choo can only go off the track so many times before there’s nothing left but rubble.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
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