I watched my first Punch and Judy puppet show on YouTube—the gritty, not for children, version. And I have to say, some days I wish I had a slap stick, which would make me someone's antagonist, but there are people in this world who need a good whack. Mr. Punch lost favor with parents through the …
Lost in the Desert
1968 Dad's quest to find the infamous Lost Dutchman’s mine in the Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix, sent us rambling up and down rut-filled roads that were not on the map. On one occasion, Barry and I accompanied him in our gray,1960s Volkswagen Beetle without our mom and baby brother Stephen, and I have no …
Scrivener Brain Version?
Scrivener stores, organizes, compiles, and so much more. I use the Windows version and love it. Now, if only there were a brain version. I can dream... In the mean time, I'm enjoying the tutorial YouTube videos by Karen Prince. Happy writing!
Lay/Laid and Lie/Lain
I made up this dialogue quip to keep them straight. "Lay the object down now." "I laid the object down yesterday." "I have laid the object down every day." "Don't lie." "I'm going to lie down now." "I lay down last night." "I have lain many times." Even though fictional stories are most often written in …
Why Write Mini-Memoirs?
Short answer: If you don't understand where you've been, you may not know why you're here. There is no one else like you. Your writing style, genre, themes, character creation, morals or lack of, are a reflection of your life. Which events had the most impact? Why do these particular memories stand out? What did …
Conquering the Picket Fence: Determination
Some have accused me of being stubborn. But I say, determined. As long as I can remember, accomplishing my goal took precedence over punishment, eating, sleeping, or spending time with people. The reason is a mystery but the memories are clear. Phoenix, Arizona 1968 Barry stood on the narrow rail of our brown picket fence that …
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Climbing the Mimosa Tree: Determination and Safety
Garland Texas 1966 If I could, I would climb a tree to the highest branch, sway in the breeze, and peer over the world in safety from it. A mimosa tree grew between our house and the neighbors on Gardenia Street and my brother Barry sat in it. Staring through shady limbs of fern like …
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Swinging, Shades of Blue and Trying to See God
Garland Texas 1965 Swinging makes me happy. It reminds me of being four or five in the backyard of our Garland Texas home, swinging to the hum of a neighbor’s lawn mower and the spicy smell of fresh cut grass. My older brother, Barry, taught me to swing reclining, so on that day, while leaning back …
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Learning From Picky Readers
Call me weird, but I read one star ratings before choosing a book to read from Amazon. Some authors complain that competitor authors troll and leave bad reviews. I have no idea about that, but I find the brutally honest one star reviews point out characterization and plot flaws. With the bad side pointed out, …
Phyllis A. Still 