New Year's Traditions

People have various New Year's traditions. Most of them haven't made it past the "oh, that's a neat idea" stage for me. But I do have one thing that I specifically try to do on New Year's Day.

I write in my New Year's Day book.

     I made up the idea myself several years ago. I got a notebook and put it on my shelf, promising to write in it only one day out of the year. I picked New Year's Day because I was usually off work on that day, and our family spends the day very quietly. There are no presents, no parties, no expected holiday demands. It was a predictable time each year when I would be able to write something. And, since I only write in the notebook once a year, it becomes a sort of time-traveler book.
     There are no rules about what I should write in it. I tend to write a list of memorable events from the past year, but I don't have to. It's mostly important that I just write something in it and on New Year's Day only.
     What about you? Is there anything that you especially try to do on New Year's Day?

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More Snippets from Snow White Rose Red

One of the shadows moved. “Were you just going to chuck it in there with no thought for the poor folks on the other side?” Flip’s voice drawled out. It was a deep voice and it made my heart skip a beat. He moved away from the trees and came to stand in front of me. “Some hard-working fellow is plowing his field and then – whop! Out of nowhere, a poisoned apple flies out and hits him upside the head.” He clucked his tongue reproachfully.

A Short Story Break

via Pinterest It has been a while since I penned a short story. Usually it takes something like a "short story contest" to inspire me. But I have noticed my writing skills improve with each contest so there is something to be said for writing short stories. I say all this to lead into the fact that I am going to try another short story. There is no contest looming on the horizon, but it has been so long that I think I am due to write a short piece. Life cannot be entirely devoted to novel-length plots... I am rolling around different ideas in my head. There is no one to give me the first three words or a picture to base my story on. There are no restrictions, no props, and no judges. Methinks I will try something that is both epic and ordinary...something I have seen before. After all, personal experience, great things, and the expression of the ordinary are part of what makes a story.

The Countdown: Eight Days

Eight days. Do you know what that means? Barely over a week. Tomorrow will be one week from the announcement date. Are you excited? I am. So, today, I want to talk to those who wrote something for the contest, whether or not you entered it in the end. What made you start writing your story? What was the first inkling of an idea that tickled your brain? What was it that you liked about your premise? As you wrote, did you have a favorite character or a favorite scene? And are you glad you wrote it down? Do you feel like you learned and grew in your ability as a writer as you tried out things for this contest? And, if your story isn't included in this year's Rooglewood anthology (either because you didn't submit it or because it didn't fit with the other four stories selected), what will you do with it? Will you market it elsewhere? Or will you lock it away in a drawer?

The Pen of a Ready Writer

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