"Why Do I Write?"

Have you ever asked yourself this question, "Why Do I Write?" Why do I spend hours upon hours, writing, researching, reading, editing, attending workshops, critique groups, querying agents and editors, blogging, tweeting, and face booking. Not to mention all the money I've spent on how to write books. The universe, only knows what else I've left out of this list.

I've thought about this a lot over the years. And maybe, just maybe, I have my answer.

Why am I on this roller coaster journey of writing? There's no promise of landing a super hero agent with my little darling being published. There's no promise of landing on the NY best seller list right under Dan Brown. There's no promise of making my book the next Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl Series. Hey, life offers no promise's. There's no perfect rose gardens, either. I write, because I have, too. That's who I am to the core. If I never land an agent, if I never make the NY list, that's okay (all though that would be lovely) I'll still call myself a writer. Why? Because I love the process. I love the art of storytelling. I love character development. I love creating something no one else has thought of before like my YA novel Hybrid.

Writing a damn good story takes a lot of study and hard work. I'm making a promise to myself today. I, Sherry White, promise to do the best I can, to write the right story for me. And write it like hell.

Why do you write? Is it a passion? Second job? Hobby? Or the quest for greatness?

Happy Writing,

Magdalena

"Four Paws"

Do's & Don'ts

Here are a few helpful hints for this summer with your furry friends.

Do: Watch for warning signs of fatigue. Be alert to extreme panting, and check if your dog's ears are back from his or her face. Also, check their pupils for dilation.

Do: Let your dog walk and run on packed wet sand. It's easier on the joints and may cause fewer injuries than dry sand.

Don't: Don't be a weekend warrior. Exercising heavily on a Saturday after a whole week off can aggravate arthritis and cause joint injuries and sore muscles.

Don't" Don't use a retractable leash. If it doesn't retract quickly enough, your dog can accidentally become entangled with bikes, strollers, and other dogs.

Don't: Don't tie your pet to your bike. Even if the leash doesn't get snagged in the spokes, your pup will tire before you do.

P.S. And don't forget, with the summer heat, lots and lots of fresh water.

Sherry/treehugger

"Savings by the Aisle"

Good info to save your pennies.

Look closely--prices on groceries can vary by the aisle.

1. Cheese sliced at the deli or gourmet section of your supermarket can cost twice as much as block cheese in the dairy case and may be no better.

2. Nuts in the baking section may be cheaper than those in the produce area.

3. Expect better prices on salsa in the condiments aisle than on the selection near the chips.

AARP (S. Kirchheimer)

Good info in this economy

Sherry/treehugger

"Hopefully"

Hopefully. Do you use this word? I never really thought about it much. But, after I read the following, I've given the word Hopefully more thought.

This once-useful adverb meaning 'with hope' has been distorted and is now widely used to mean "I hope" or "it is to be hoped." Such use is not merely wrong, it is silly. To say, Hopefully, I'll leave on the noon plane is to talk nonsense. Do you mean you'll leave on the noon plane in a hopeful frame of mind? Or do you mean you hope you'll leave on the noon plane? Which ever you mean, you haven't said it clearly. Although the word in its new, free-floating capacity may be pleasurable and even useful to many, it offends the ear of many others, who do not like to see words dulled or eroded, particularly when the erosion leads to nonsense. (Strunk & White)

Happy Writing,

Magdalena