Eat chocolate daily . . .

Time at Christmas:

Have you ever reflected back on a moment that you wished you'd given someone your time?

I think we all could answer that question with a big, YES.

In the rush of the holiday season, do stop for a moment and give your child, hubby, neighbor, grandchild or someone in a nursing home a moment of your time.

A gift of 'your' time could be the most memorable Christmas gift of all.

Eat chocolate daily . . .

Question of the day. How many books have you stopped reading and why?

If you're like me, your book shelves are bursting with books. Most of my books, I love, dust often, and treasure. However, there are several who take up valuable space and haven't seen the light of day for years. So, I ask myself, Why do I keep these books? What turned me off? Why didn't they keep me reading? I pulled four from the shelf and started to re-read. In one hour, I had my answer. All the authors started with BACKSTORY and SCENERY. I had no idea what was going on. No main character showed-up. No question of trouble brewing. How on earth could I get emotional involved? I had nothing to connect, too. A good beginning for me has to grab me emotionally with people doing something. I have to care. I want to know the story-worthy problem. Oak trees, lakes, birds flying, sun in the sky, doesn't do the job. Boring as hell!!!!!!!  Please, write me an opening scene with action. Stories are about one thing and one thing only, Trouble. The story simply doesn't exist before this point.

Remember: A good beginning could possibly buy you another page or two with your reader. A poor beginning can doom you story on the first page. 

Happy Writing, and I wish all my friends a very happy holiday season.
Sherry L. White

Eat chocolate daily . . .

Question of the day. Are you growing as a writer?

This question can mean many things to many people. I've asked myself this question for several months. So here's the deal for me. I decided if I wanted to grow as a writer, I'd have to change and so would my daily grind. No doubt, there's not enough hours in the day. With families, deadlines, sports, clubs, church, meetings, etc. The shit list is endless and can drive one to say dirty words. OOPS. Did I just say a dirty word. Anyway, I made a commitment to change a few things to help me grow as a writer and stop cleaning the damn house so much. OOPS. Sorry. Another dirty.   

I need to connect with writers who are smarter than me
I need to connect with beta-readers who can cut my words to the bare bones
I need to connect with positive people who encourage my dream of writing
I need to scale back on TV shows that waste my precious writing time
I need to read books that challenge my brain and stimulate my creative juices
I need to to make appointments with myself to sit and daydream
I need to learn to say, "No" to others who aren't considerate of my time
I need to post this list above my laptop and read it daily 

Wish me luck, guys. How about you? What would you change to spend more time on your writing.

Happy Writing,
Sherry L. White











                 

"Not Impressed"

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

Dogs aren't impressed by pedigrees. When a mutt meets a pure-bred with the name "Amber Britches from the Royal House of Winslow," he's not impressed. He's not intimidated nor does he behave differently. It just doesn't matter. It's no big deal. How unlike us. We get hung up on titles, prestige, power, position, status, and money. We're uncomfortable around some people because of all those so-called, qualities. But not a dog. A dog simply doesn't have the hangups we humans have. Maybe it's good that he doesn't know how much he doesn't know. And even if he did know, it wouldn't matter if he knew. He accepts us for who we are regardless of our pedigree. What would it be like if we did the same?-N. Wright

I would agree, the above writing is true. I would also like to say as a dog person, dogs are nicer than the average joe.

Tell your furry friend today that you love them.

Sherry

"Kentucky Bourbon Sauce'

1 cup brown sugar,
1 cup white sugar,
1 cup water,

1 lemon, juiced & zested

1 orange, zested,
1 cup strawberry jam,
1 cup pecans,
1/2 to 1 cup KY. bourbon,

Cook the first three ingredients in a saucepan until sugars are dissolved. Remove from heat. Grate the rind of the orange and lemon and add to mixture. Add strawberry jam, lemon juice, pecans and bourbon. The sauce is even better when refrigerated and allowed to blend. Warm before serving over pound cake. ENJOY!!!

Environmental Picture Books

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Sherry/www.treehugger-peninhand.blogspot.com

"Why Tell Stories?"

Storytellers are the direct medium between the story and the audience, able to change pace, alter or explain a difficult point, dramatize or play down an event, according to the needs of those listening.

Why tell stories?

To help children learn to listen

To enlarge the listener's vocabulary

To extend a child's knowledge of the worlds of fact and fantasy

To stimulate the listener's imagination

To create an appetite for words

To introduce the shared activity of storytelling from author or teller to audience.

Storytelling has always been a means of passing on traditions and codes of behavior and of maintaining social harmony. Through his or her skill, the storyteller can convey the mysteries of the natural world, reinforce the codes of behavior of a particular community, or transport the listener into an inner world of fantasy. (Children's Books)

Sharing a story with a child gives great rewards for the heart.

Happy Storytelling,

Sherry/treehugger-peninhand.blogspot.com

My Smudge. Thirteen and still my baby boy.

As I read, write, blog, tweet or knit, he sits by my side.

Today, I'm reading, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein. The man from Mars (Michael Smith) is truly a masterpiece for all to read who love science-fiction.

Smith is an intelligent creature with the ancestry of a man, but he is more Martian than man. Until we came along he had never laid eyes on a man. He thinks like a Marian, and feels like a Martian. He's been brought up by a race which has nothing in common with us. They don't even have sex. He's a man by ancestry. A Martian by environment.

Have a great day!

Best,
Sherry