by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Brian collects pocket change throughout the year in a pink and teal container (the colors were not of his choosing). Come December, the money is carted off to the local Coin-Star where it’s exchanged for an Amazon gift certificate, which is then tucked into my Christmas stocking. This past year, a record breaking balance of $67.81 yielded a bundle of literary delight–one being The Literary Ladies’ Guide to the Writing Life by Nava Atlas.
Inspiration and advice from twelve celebrated women authors cover 180 sleek pages. Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott and Madeleine L’Engle just to name a few.
Chapter topics include:
Excerpts from personal writing journals, literary work, and interviews provide “a treasury of intimate glimpses into the unfolding creative process across twelve brilliant careers.” Illustrations and rare photographs bring each author to life.
Lift those couch cushions and turn your pockets inside out. The Literary Ladies’ Guide to the Writing Life is worth every penny!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Natalie Goldberg’s Old Friend From Far Away, The Practice of Writing Memoir grabbed me from the get-go.
You may never aspire to write a memoir, but recalling the details of our lives is a worthy endeavor—for ourselves as well as future generations.
Snippets from today’s prompts (go ahead, give it a try!):
- Begin with the words “I Remember…”, writing 10 minutes without pause. Be specific. Do not correct grammar. Just write.
- Write a memory of your mother, aunt, or grandmother for 2-3 minutes without pause. Be specific. What color lipstick did she wear? Did she have an interesting habit?
- Share about a meal you loved. Where were you when you ate it? What was the weather like out the window? Who were you with? How old were you?
Pithy writing prompts interspersed with practical advice earns this old friend a place on my bookshelf for years to come.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
clut·ter: A confused or disordered state or collection; a jumble
One episode of Hoarders leaves me feeling like Martha Stewart on a bad hair day — while you won’t find feline skeletal remains buried beneath half-drained paper cups in my house, I doubt Martha would stack her books to the point of toppling as I sometimes do.
Let’s face it. House clutter kills more than cats, including:
- spontaneity (sure, drop by any time! not.)
- energy (does anything sap it quicker than disorder?)
- beauty (even one who beholds would have to agree with me on this one)
- peace (there’s always something to move, clean, or peep over)
Did you know it can also kill your creativity?
If you could use a boost of decluttering confidence despite your own toppling towers (am I alone here?), tune into an episode of Hoarders. You’ll be tweeting your own organizational tips in no time!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Asking a blogger to choose their ten favorite blog posts of the year is like asking a parent to choose a favorite child, but here goes (in no particular order):
Beauty in the Mundane
Flash Poetry
A Temporary Tug
A Story Board for Inspiration
Reflections from My Word Pool
The Battle for a Five-and-a-Half-Inch Space
No Tissues Necessary!
Brokenness in the Sand
Sandy Patterned Snapshots
God is the God of Open Doors. Or Is He?
Two Sentimental Favorites:
Proud Parent Alert!
No Hoops Required
Thank you for sharing the two most precious commodities with me — your time and your thoughts.
God bless you! I look forward to our 2012 journey.
– image courtesy of IHRG
