Being Still and Listening

July seems like a good time to re-post advice I'm still working on.
Of course, it never hurts to be in a place where your choices for Internet Background Noise are limited.

My husband's great-grandmother hung this where she could read it every day during the summer months she spent in this quiet place.

 (Here's a reposting from two years ago.)
"The discipline of the writer is to learn to be still and listen to what his subject has to tell him."
                 Rachel Carson

This morning I read Candice Farris Ransom's post about switching off the internet and listening Here it is. What do you think? I don't think I can completely unplug. But I'll try to strike a balance.

I'm leaning toward the advice of Laurie Halse Anderson, 
in her blogpost about Social Media.

Cut the amount of time you spent on social media and reading blogs about writing and getting published by 75%. Yep. If you spent 10 hours a week on that stuff, then from now on, spend 2.5 hours. Use the time that you get back for writing your novel and for reading great books. That will make your chances of getting published much stronger than any Facebook post ever will.

Of course, I'd spent an entirely productive time cruising around on Laurie Halse Anderson's blog.  She's got some great advice and fantastic visuals so I'll be back.  She'll be in my 25%.

It's the other internet background noise I may be able to live without. 
It's a lot easier to be still and listen when the background noise isn't clutter.

Looking Ahead

In the spirit of BEGINNINGS (novels, revisions, years), I'm vowing to read more grownup stuff in 2014. I'm embarrassed to say, when friends bring up great new books (and even newish ones), I mostly haven't read them. Yes, I've heard of them, but I read so many middle-grade and even a few Young Adult novels, that my adult reading has gone by the wayside.

So, here's what's up on my Kindle. 
Donna Tartt's new book, The Goldfinch.
(I don't read everything via an ebook, but this one's so huge, I couldn't see toting it around, hardcover.)

I'm also going to read Sue Monk Kidd's new book, The Invention of Wings because I received an ARC from NetGalley. And because I loved Secret Life of Bees AND she's coming to Tampa soon! Inkwood Books is sponsoring her talk.

This morning, I found --totally haphazardly-- a new blog to peruse. 
And as so many blog writers are doing, he lists the books read in 2013. 
(I had a good plan to keep a list of mine, which failed miserably.)

I love the guest post on working with an editor. 
And Flannery O'Connor.
http://davidabramsbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-first-time-elizabeth-stuckey-french.html 

His "Bookstore of the Month" posts are fun, too.  Long, but fun.

If I'd just stop reading blogs, avoid Facebook, etc., maybe I'd find more time to read.

There's a resolution to consider for 2014...

Nerdy Book Club People!

I love this blog.
Guess who's their guest today? 
Me- Nerd for a Day!
Click over there and read a bit.

Here's the link:
https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/where-in-the-world-am-i-by-augusta-scattergood/

Happy Anniversary to my Blog!

Three years old!
My, my.
And I almost missed it. But while searching for a book title in the recesses of my blog, there it was-- my very first post.

I started this blog after a discussion following a Media Bistro class taught by editor Joy Peskin on Writing for Children. All present agreed that writers needed an internet presence. Prospective agents and editors do google!

(image courtesy of Eileen Harrell, Artline Graphics)


My original intent was to write book reviews and the occasional post about writing, writing activities, and the journey to publication. And I'm still here.

Maybe I have overwritten about a few things- Food, specifically pimento cheese...
And yes, I love quoting writers. I'm a big Eudora Welty fan. Sometimes I combine the two, like in this quote from Miss Eudora:

"When asked what kind of art would be for 'everybody' there can only be one answer: the best." 

I've blogged about libraries. I've blogged about my hometowns. I've done those book reviews and I've talked about writing conferences I attended. I got a ton of hits when I blogged about The Help. I got quite a few comments when I wrote about my dad. I've mostly tried to keep on topic so every post usually has a story attached.

Thanks for reading and I hope you'll stick around.