"Write one true sentence"

I'm reading Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast" right now and am enjoying it thoroughly. I've always been a huge fan of his writing -- "Shooting An Elephant" is one of the best short stories ever, in my opinion. It's also good to know that he, like so many other writers, would sometimes get stuck. I don't like to use the term "writer's block" because I don't believe it really exists. To me, it's more a matter of starting something, anything, and not worrying where it's going to lead. As Hemingway says in "A Moveable Feast," just "write one true sentence." Everything else will flow from that.

Found my fortitude

Yesterday was a difficult day, because I had to confront something within myself and then believe in a decision I'd made. I also had to share this decision with someone who I knew would be disappointed.

What I need to realize is that while some decisions are permanent -- like a tattoo -- others are not. This one is ... well, it doesn't have to be permanent. I can change my mind. I can admit to a mistake, if it turns out to be a mistake. Or I can celebrate my decision if it turns out, in fact, to have been the right one.

Tough day ahead

Today's word: FORTITUDE. I need to find the intestinal fortitude to do what has to be done today, based on a decision I've made. It's not going to be easy, because it's an emotional as well as a professional situation. I really hate doing tough stuff like this, especially when I have some lingering doubt about my decision. But it's really the best choice I can make, so let's just plow ahead. I'll let you know how things went today when I post here tomorrow.

Get "Amazon Mom"

... and you can borrow books for free. That is, if you have time to read. And by the way, is that service only for very tall moms? I'm guessing not.

Typo corrected! I am human, after all

Thanks to a couple of alert readers, I fixed a typo -- on the very first page of the Pandora manuscript! Wow, that's embarrassing. I guess it proves I am a real human being and not some sort of bot, right? I have heard of several writers who outsource some of (or maybe all, who knows) the fiction they sell on Kindle. What I can't figure out is, why? Surely if a person's writing were good enough for Kindle publication, they'd be doing it themselves. And if a person's writing isn't good enough, wouldn't the editing process be maddening? Well, this writer is the real thing, typos and all.

Inspired by Harry Potter

My stories in The Pandora Chronicles aren't based on magic. But they are based on heroism. I've read all the Harry Potter books, and I've seen the movies more than once (a lot more than once!). I love the idea that a handful of people, led by someone courageous, have the power to overturn -- or at least disrupt the course of -- evil. That's how I envision The Pandora Chronicles. Not as the next HP (although following in J.K.'s footsteps would be wonderful, of course). But I see them as an example I'd like to emulate, myself, which is having the courage to ask questions when something serious is at stake, and being willing to put yourself and your own physical/emotional safety on the line, if necessary. Hope is that character for me. She's the one who takes the biggest risks, and although she may be afraid sometimes, she doesn't let fear stop her. Her quest also leads her to self discovery, which can also be frightening sometimes. I'm eager to keep going on this journey with Hope.