The Social Porcupine

Part two of an ongoing roadtrip series  After Grief Comes Nostalgia Fellowshipping with a group of ex-amish women over Thanksgiving in Lancaster Pennsylvania My only plan for November and October was to write. I wrote, and two new novels came to me. Beginning of November I met up in Asheville with one of my best friends. We found ourselves all the way down in Louisiana for the Blackpot festival, then up to visit friends in Mississippi: a pile of wild boys with the most dangerous ideas of fun. Somehow we lived and didn't want to leave.  Back in Asheville I did a bit of a work trade sewing a bunch of cushions to stay in at an artsy commune. My sunroof was also broken into. Nothing of mine was even rifled through. I figure they took one look at my hanging herbs and baskets of mugs and chopsticks and piles of wool and linen and thought it must be a witch's lair. Nothing was stolen. But ...

If you're a writer, you probably shouldn't read this. I will be speaking a lot of truth swaddled in satire. I will be telling you what you shouldn't be listening to as I tell you that you shouldn't be listening to anything. I humbly tell you now that I shall make a hypocrite of myself to save you from being a foolish beta reader (because, if we're all honest, knowing all the cool writing rules doesn't make you a better writer but a terribly annoying beta reader).  Show Don't Tell For all of eternity writers were paid to disobey this rule. And then we started cranking out cheap slave labor novels for Walmart shelves and suddenly everything had to be "show-don't-tell". Well, let me tell you something. I will never work in a factory for a dollar a week and I have no desire to be the next harlequin mass paperback author.  I am a storyteller, not a story-shower.  "But," you say. "It's always better to see the wedding t...

I've experienced responsibility much as Jonathan Button experienced age: rather opposite of most people, with an awfully lot at a young age and quite a bit less of it the older I've gotten. I'm turning into quite the gypsy, keeping my conservative appearances mostly because I like it. Some, mostly staunch conservative Christians have an issue with this. Why, I wonder, when it is they who sing old hymns such as  Wayfaring Stranger  and keep a copy of The Pilgrim's Progress next to their Bible.  They chide me on my wild ways, "You must have a home church. "  But this world is not my home. I am not meant to sit still, or to wait at home for the coming of some man or of the Messiah. We are all meant to be as children: wild and loud and happy. I should be able to pick my own flowers, thank you very much, without being accused of feminism.  I sometimes find churches to attend while traveling. Looking back on them I feel as if I experienced the same so...

Once upon a time a knight in shining armor saw a princess drop her handkerchief. He went to help her. But an evil witch had whispered lies into his ears, about how young girls did not need men.  "You can get it yourself,” he told her. He took off his armor. "Princess, wear my armor."  She looked at her soft hands and suddenly felt ashamed for not having gotten her own handkerchief. She tried to pick up the armor. It was too heavy.  Bitterly the knight laughed. "You must not be a real princess," he said.  He left, and she knew his words must be true.  The same witch came to the girl and proclaimed more lies. “You are a strong girl. Why do you care about him? You do not need him. You can pick up your own handkerchiefs. And now you have armor.”  The Princess picked up her handkerchief and cleaned her eyes. She had never craved power before, but now she knew empowerment. She didn’t like how it felt… how it made her feel like a knight. Sh...

I've written several serials for my blog now, two fiction and many nonfiction. And I've finished them all ... something that has resulted in many of my friends asking me, "Please, share your secret!?" And because I don't want it to be a secret, I have decided to share. 1. Have an idea worth finishing First, know what you want to write. It's all good and fun to know that you want to write a serial, but make sure before you start writing that it's actually serial material. Inspired to write something, but been putting it off because it's just not quite good enough or appropriate for a traditional novel but you're in love with it anyway?  Ask yourself if your current reader base would like it ... don't write horror if your readers are a bunch of Christian 14-year olds. Try to make sure the content still fits your blog.  All of my serials were ideas I was passionate about.  The fiction ones,  The Lawrence Children  and  Susan...

I always considered myself a bookworm. I used to bring a book everywhere, reading every chance I had (such as in the car) . I lived in the world of fiction, breathing impossibilities and oblivious to what was around me. I loved the worlds outside of my own. I have also always been very extroverted; so, many people didn't actually see me reading. But it was still obvious to all that I loved books because of how much I spoke about them and how I always had some book to recommend. I'd ask people questions (get to know them) and then I'd know just what sort of books they'd like and should be reading. Some of the first books I remember reading are all the old Nancy Drew books (my dad gave me most of  his old copies, still treasure books of mine) and a small book called Caterpillar Green. This book is still special to me, and now as I try to learn German I have bought a German translation. But as time passed I did not want books to control me. They were wonderf...

Today I am taking a quick break from satire to let you all know that I was invited on a podcast! This evening at 7pm Eastern time (5pm Mountain) I'll be joining Parker J. Cole to talk about all things writing and you are invited to listen! I would be beyond honored if you would join the conversation. Details can be found here : If you join, feel free to come back and let me know what you thought! It should he recorded so you can listen to it later, too, I think. Thanks y'all!! UPDATE If you're just reading this and afraid that you missed out ... don't worry, there's a recording!

All the books I've accidently acquired in Germany. Another tag from the Doorman , and here are his rules: Las Reglas parra Tag:  Regla Uno:   Thank the blogger who tagged you and provide a link to their post.  Regla Dos:  Answer the inquires, including any added ones by means of "Regla Seis".  Regla Tres:  Always use your own characters. No exception, unless you don't actually have sibling characters (in which case you need to go write up some) or you don't write (in which case you need to start ASAP).   Regla Quatro:  Tag three other bloggers.  Regla Cinco:  If you happen to have any siblings who blog, they are automatically tagged and cannot count towards your three. Regla Seis:  Add one question or prompt to the list of questions the person before you answered relating to siblings and/or characters. Answer the question, and provide a list of all the questions of that you answered so far (So, for example, some...

Rules of this tag:  1. Link back to the person who tagged you. I hate tags, but since I have to ... thanks, Doorman ! 2. Include the graphic. 3. Answer the questions. 4. Tag three other people. 1. Dust Bunnies and Plot Bunnies: Reorganize Your Writing Goals (Or Make New Ones) Ever since I've become serious about my writing, I'm currently in the weirdest place ever. From writing hours every day and telling everyone, "Just write a bit every day" to being like ... I could write, but I'm not writing. And so, maybe this tag is good for me. In the back of my mind, I know what I need and want. But I need to remind myself. And what better way to do it than to do so publicly? So, my goals are centered around the six months of me being in Germany: Give myself a small writing, break, not because I need it, but because I don't want to have to need it. I do not go brain dead learning German.  But always keep in the back of my mind my next two novels, Mor...

Inspiration is what gives passion to story. No, it is what births a story worth writing. It's the idea, the concept behind the words. It's what breathes life into our words so that what we write aren't mere words slopped onto a page, but something that will leave the reader feeling like they read magic.  But inspiration doesn't write stories.  People do. Or to be more accurate, fingers and dead brains trying to grasp at fizzling inspiration that won't stay long enough to be translated into words. Inspiration, that loved but hated the  thing that mysteriously fuels every plot bunny and big idea. Inspiration, that thing that laughs and says, "You may have me only if you give me all your blood and tears." But how many of us are willing to make the trade? And is the trade even worth making? And here we come to my questions: Is inspiration a tool or a crutch?  Must we be inspired to write? Is inspiration even necessary?  Of course, that in...