Writing
“Riveting. A page-turner,” says my editor.
My editor emailed this comment to me over a week ago regarding the first section of my memoir manuscript. I should have been thrilled. I was thrilled. I AM thrilled.
Continue ReadingGrowth is in the hard things.
There’s a lesson in here somewhere. I always believe that. When I think about what I can learn from today’s dilemma, I realize it’s the same lesson I learned in having a child with a brain tumor.
Continue ReadingHow inaccurate memory is, even without brain damage.
At one of the final appointments before Matthew’s brain tumor diagnosis, Michael and I were both there, and we remember it differently.
Continue ReadingA special thankfulness this year.
I’m writing this on Thanksgiving morning, as I sit alone in the kitchen enjoying my coffee. It’s before Michael is awake and before Matt, our older son, comes over and we hop in the car to drive to Boston to spend Thanksgiving with Steve, our younger son.
I wasn’t going to write about Thanksgiving, but, well, maybe the spirit of the day has moved me. Or maybe it’s my special thankfulness today that has inspired me to conclude:
How can I not write?
Continue ReadingI've cut back on blogging. Have you missed me?
I’ve cut back on blogging to focus on one specific human interest story: the story of my memoir.
When I do post, it will be much more personal than my previous blogs, and that scares me. But if I’m going to put my memoir out into the world, I’d better get used to it, right?
Continue Reading
A bittersweet Halloween.
This may look like an ordinary Halloween photo of some kids. But that October 31st was anything but ordinary.
Continue ReadingWhat I’ve learned in a year of blogging
On October 13, 2016, with a deep breath, a prayer, and a mix of trepidation and pride, I hit “publish,” sending my first blog out into the great beyond.
Blogosphere, here I come.
I’ve written 48 posts since then. It’s been the hardest professional challenge I’ve faced and there’s no paycheck on Fridays. The compensation has been in personal growth. I could fill a book, but instead I’ll give you some snippets on what I’ve learned:
Continue ReadingThe muses in my head.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting my writing muses—my sources of (or against) inspiration. They’re distinct voices in my head which I didn’t know existed until they revealed themselves to me one at a time.
Don’t worry, I don’t need to call my therapist.
Continue ReadingI had to eat crow last week. At least it was nicely seasoned.
You know the saying “Be careful the words you use because someday you may have to eat them?”
I learned that lesson recently.
As a fledgling writer, I’ve discovered that I’m more protective of my written words than I am with other aspects of my life. I haven’t always stood up for myself, but I’ve easily stood up for my writing.
Continue ReadingKeep your eyes open to the little things. Avoiding a thankless marriage.
Years ago, I sat across a table from my new husband as we enjoyed a night out on our honeymoon. As we waited for our food to arrive, the wait staff appeared, singing Happy Anniversary, and delivered a cake with a single flaming candle to the couple at the next table.
Michael and I looked at each other with wide-eyed awe and said, almost in unison, “Wow. A whole year.”
It was hard to fathom being married for a year. Now, it’s been 35.
Continue Reading