Writing - the ups and downs

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0985259116/ref=rdr_ext_tmb Copy and paste to go to Ezra on Amazon I ran across this questionnaire from a few years ago. Probably when I was preparing Ezra and Other Stories for publication. The questions made me think and figure out exactly why I wanted to write the stories in the collection. Hope this will help you if you're writing a story of if you've read EZRA and want to know my process. What is your book's tone, and how do you want readers to perceive your text? Each story in this collection houses characters that are flawed humans dealing with both serious and humorous situations. My characters are humble people most living in West Virginia. They’re ordinary people going about their lives the best they can and in most cases succeeding in spite of the odds against them. Provide a summary of the stories in this book of eleven short stories. Each story is named after the main character. Mabel and the Garage Sale is about Mabel...

Ray and I at his favorite restaurant, The Ridge Inn, in Laurelville. He's been gone two years and 7 months. Perhaps someday I'll figure out the question that haunts me. Who am I now?  I’ve thought about this a lot lately - As I turn another year older this week. I’ve lived my life taking care of others. But that part of my journey is over. What do I do now? Who am I supposed to be? The familiar is unfamiliar.  I’m alone. No direction. No goals. No leader. I walk in circles. I aim for one place, end up in another. I belong nowhere. To no one. The odd piece  in a puzzle. One person’s death Took away my identity. Who was I then? Who am I now?                                           ****** Thanks for reading.   Comments welcome.

I'm enjoying the spring weather that has finally arrived in Ohio bringing blooming pear trees, red buds and tulip trees. How about you? Do you love spring as much as I do? I spent a day on the patio, putting out the table, chairs, umbrella. I painted a white wicker plant table and have decided it's too good for the patio. I plan to use it in the bathroom instead. Just when I thought winter would last forever, spring arrived with temperatures in the 70's. I noted buds covering my rose bush and a robin building a nest in the crevice of my chimney. I wanted to let them stay but they managed to leave so much debris at my front door that I had no choice but to shoo them away. Hopefully they've moved on to one of the many trees and bushes in my community, a more cozy place for raising babies. When I was a kid growing up in Putnam County, WV, I was outside at the first glimpse of the sun coming through my bedroom window. I ran through our yard, down through the orcha...

This piece has been revised from an earlier version. Apologies. What was an alabaster box or jar? Alabaster jars were often made from a precious stone found in Israel. This stone resembles marble, and were extremely expensive. These jars contained ointments, oils and perfume. The thick stone prevented the aroma from escaping and kept the perfume from spoiling. The shape of the jar often had a long neck and a sealed top. The top had to be broken to open, which allowed it to be used only once.  Some believe that women who owned these jars were usually prostitutes who used the smell to lure in men, or to cover up their own odor. However, several women owned many different types of perfumes. Sources for water were limited, so they used these oils and ointments for daily hygiene.  The story from Luke 2:27 is one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible. Jesus was having dinner with a pharisee (Simon) and a lowly woman came to him with her alabaster box of expensive...

Barbara signing books at Tamarack, WV with an avid reader. On Rewriting & Quotes On Writing Sometimes beginning writers say they don't believe in rewriting. They're afraid they'll somehow lose the excitement of the first draft. This is far from the truth. Rewriting is making the work better. You add, delete, and revise. What worked well in the first draft stays. Most professional writers know there is a sense of control that comes with revision. It's where one knows one has mastery of the writing craft. Not easy! Just remember - anything worth having is never easy. So if you'd like to start writing, or if  you're in the middle of a project, get busy. Time is wasting! "It is no sign of weakness or defeat that your manuscript ends up in need of major surgery. This is common in all writing and among the best of writers." - E. B. White "I don't write easily or rapidly. My first draft usually has only a few elements worth keeping. I...

What does Valentine's Day mean to you?   We each have our own unique story of love and how we met "the one."  Some have funny stories, strange stories, or simply humdrum stories that are special. Here's how I met mine. My cousin, Sue, married the guy's best friend, Bill. Sue and Bill had set me up on several dates that fizzled. I wasn't sure about this third one. However, I went along with it. AND fifty some years later, I can report that it was a success. He was exciting, tall, dark, and handsome. A world traveler who'd been in the Navy (a Seabee), traveled aboard ships, vacationed in Hong Kong, stationed in the Phillipines, visited Hawaii and lived on Midway Island as a swabbie. He was, in other words, exactly what I was looking for. Someone who would take me away from my childhood home where I thought my life was the pits. (How is it we learn after we mature that our lives were pretty darned good growing up! In fact, real good!) We started our ...

with apologies to Dr. Seuss Cleaning up after the holiday Isn’t quite as much fun, As on the day When the decorations were strung.  There was my family, all spruced, in the den, With an eggnog toast, and a cheer, “Let’s begin.” We set about bedecking every pillar and post, Window and mantle -  With ribbon, wreath, Santa, and candle. By the end of the evening The tree was aglitter. The windows were glowing WIth the candlesticks flicker. The children were happy  Mom and Pop, too. To think we did all this. You! You! and you! But, then, the week after Rolled quickly ‘round. No time to un-trim. We headed to town. To return all our presents. To see a quick show. What? It’s the first of January The trimming must go. Undo each ribbon. Undo each bow. Untie the wreaths Get that tree in tow. It’s out to the trash bin Arms loaded, we go. Away go the boxes. The cards and the letters. Out comes our list ...