The Final Countdown: 3 Days

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist. My eyes hurt today, so again I'm encouraging us to use our ears. This one is for Hubs.

Today's inspiration is:

link to original here

Dan Deacon has his new album America out, and you can listen to the whole thing over at NPR. Well played, everyone, well played.

The Final Countdown: Uh, Let's See...4 Days?

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist. 

This is how my inspiration today ends:

KEEP IT TOGETHER

A writer’s brain is full of little gifts, like a piñata at a birthday party. It’s also full of demons, like a piñata at a birthday party in a mental hospital. The truth is, it’s demons that keep a tortured writer’s spirit alive, not Tootsie Rolls. Sure they’ll give you a tiny burst of energy, but they won’t do squat for your writing. So treat your demons with the respect they deserve, and with enough prescriptions to keep you wearing pants.

link to original here

So now go here to see how it starts. 

The Final Countdown: 9 Days

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist. 

Today is a song, so I bring you one:

Love Andrew Bird -- love what he can do. I'd like to make some magic too. Trying? Aye, that I am. What about you?

The Final Countdown: 10 Days

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist. Rough day in the Stevens' household. One of those days where, plan all you like for every situation possible, but you'd still not be prepared for this one. 

So here's a quick (inspirational?) quote, with a suggestion that you look up more about the life of it's author:

"I am capable of what every other human is capable of. This is one of the great lessons of war and life." -- Maya Angelou

link to original here

The Final Countdown: 11 Days

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist. Now. Not to gross anyone out, but due to an overly-hectic schedule I haven't showered in...two days? Three? Somewhere around there. 

So today my inspiration is this:

The original shower, link here

And if that's not enough, here's a bunch of shower information to get all pruney in, because I just knew you were wondering. Now I'm off to it.

Happy keep-going thoughts! Keep going!

The Final Countdown: 12 Days

Nothing today. Blah.

The Final Countdown: 13 Days

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist. Today is number 13, and in the back of my head I've been wondering all day what kinds of superstitiously bad things could happen with my writing. My worst nightmare is losing everything I've been working on and saving thus far. It's after 9 pm, and I haven't opened my document yet for fear that...oh, you know...the computer might crash, my back-up disk may mess everything up somehow, I'll save it wrong and tomorrow it'll all be in a different language or code. Why would any or all of these things happen, you ask?

Because I'm afraid of it, and therefore if any or all of these things happen today it would very much be a self-fulfilled prophecy. Maybe?

I don't know.

So I don't think I'm going to work on my book today. Are you superstitious at all?
  
Here's my daily inspiration though:

link to original here

I might be be a tad bit (or very?) superstitious, but there are some things I think are opposite from the norm. For example -- black cats. I love cats in general, but black ones especially, and if anything is supernatural about them I think it's that they kind of take care of us somehow. Spiritually? Emotionally? At the very least, they get rid of mice for us, so. That's got to count for something.  

I'm inspired by things that are not always as they seem. Things that make you look twice. Things that you hear, but then something seems a little off with how other people explain them, so you figure them out according to how you feel instead. 

Black cats are a reminder of all this and more.

And tomorrow it's back to writing. Happy project-thoughts to you, till then.

The Final Countdown: 14 Days

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist.

So, uh. I'm not sure that this is inspirational? But as this is a rest day, I'm setting aside writing and doing some other things I'm excited about. 

Here's just one of those things:

link to original here

As per this post, I've got a shiz-load of cucumbers, which I love. So now I get to make a shiz-load of tzatziki sauce, which I also love. So, so much. I'm seriously giddy at the thought. Oh, yum.

Happy thoughts and positive energy to all y'all in your endeavors. May you all be giddy at the thought of your projects too. Keep on keeping on. Roar. 

The Final Countdown: 15 Days

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist.

And here's my inspiration today:

Ani has always inspired me. I love what she does. She helped me with my new start, and so here we are still, plugging, plugging away.

The Final Countdown: 16 Days

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist. I'm currently without a garden because when I was digging it up this spring the dirt looked...blech. About two inches down, it looked horrible. Long-story-short, I'm just mulching the space this year, letting it heal and rest. So now that the big harvest times are rounding the bend, my heart is sad, because other than the basil in our windowsill? Nothing.

In step some of the local heroes in my life.

They are my inspiration today:

And this is only some of it. Home-grown tastes sooo good.

A neighbor called me last night, asking if I needed some of her garden goods? Yes! She called another neighbor who's been trying to get rid of her extra too, so we walked over this morning with our pockets stuffed full of bags. 

This woman's garden is huge, and the plants are likewise. I felt like I was in a fairyland of sorts, and things were proportionally off -- towering corn and gigantic zucchini leaves, great big bulbous pumpkins only now turning orange; they made me feel so small.

For lunch Alpha had his first tomato-and-mayo sandwich of the season. I've been having a hard time getting him to eat a variety of colorful foods lately, so imagine my joy when he came up with a little ditty for the sandwich where the lyrics consisted mainly of: "Yummy, yummy/ Yummy, yummy/ Yummy, yummy,  yuuu-mmyyy..."

I'm inspired by gardeners. Growing anything -- literally or metaphorically -- is hard work. And I'm inspired by people who give without expecting anything but a grateful "thank you" back. It both humbles me and fills my heart at the same time.

Today I'm very grateful. Over these last couple of weeks I've been visiting multiple metaphorical gardens in many of your blogs, and the beauty there makes me feel disproportionally small. I love it. To all those gardeners out there, carefully cultivating their projects, their bodies, their minds; and then sharing their experiences with me to grow and learn from too? Thank you. Y'all make me want to sing, and as I putter off into my day again, I am thinking of your gardens and echoing the lyrics of my son, "Yummy, yummy..."

The Final Countdown: 17 Days

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist.

And here's my inspiration today:

After reading my first rejection letter way too many times and thoroughly smothering myself with hopelessness and dread, I stopped. Realizing none of that really helped me move forward in what I wanted to do, I hunted around for more constructive things to tell myself when I felt less than up to par.

I taped up the letter so I couldn't read it again, turned it over, and wrote this quote from one of my favorite authors on the back. This heavy envelope is my two-sided coin.

Seven years later, I still read it every day.


**Update: Quite by coincidence, I was checking my email and saw Joe Bunting over at The Write Practice posted a great piece about rejection today too. Huh. I suppose it just needed to be brought up today? I love his take on it, so go check it out. 

The Final Countdown: 18 Days

If you need background or a reminder, here’s the gist.

And here’s my inspiration today:

From the party on Monday. Oooh, he's so cute.

Happy first birthday Beta-boy!

Hope your inspirational projects are blasting along, and you’re feeling lovely about them? Roar.

The Final Countdown: 19 Days

If you need some background or a reminder, here's the gist. On my run, today, I was listening to Janet Evanovich’s One for the Money. She has this scene where she does an excellent job portraying her main male character: he’s offered to watch the main female character’s back and so is setting up hidden microphones in her apartment, as well as one for under her clothes when she’s out investigating, so he can listen in from a van (out of context this actually sounds incredibly creepy, but I promise in the book it makes sense). 

The male character goes into detail about the batteries, how the thing works, how expensive it is, etc. He ends the monologue with, “Don’t break it, lose it, or take a shower with it.” 

As a female reader, and a female in general when men go into techno-talk, all I hear is: “Now this fudlamadoo comes from Hezostan and the batteries are biddlinesick, they work like poof. This thing costs a million-kazillion dollars. Don’t mess this thing up or else…”

I hear the money part. And then I hear the part where I’m not supposed to touch it. The rest of it is in a completely different language. 

Generally my response is to nod my head and look awed, then say something along the lines of, “Coool.” The male is satisfied with my response, and I’m satisfied that we can move on to something I’m more interested in.

Now I can’t be sure, but I think my response is pretty on par with the rest of the female population out there. That’s why I loved Evanovich’s rendition.

It brought to mind my struggle with this chapter. It was hard for me to come back and redo because it’s the first chapter I really go into detail about my main male character. In my head I have a pretty good idea of who he is, and how he would react to things, but on paper? I just could not, could not, could not, get him right.

One of my best critiquers thus far hit the problem on the nose: “Why does he sound so young?”

My answer back then, “I don’t know? I can’t tell what I’m doing wrong.”

But now I’ve figured out a huge key to writing male characters. Y’all are going to read this and say, “No duh, Deb.” But I’m throwing it out there anyway, for any of you writers who’ve not put two-and-two together with this yet.

Today’s inspiration is a writing tip:

link to original here

When writing female characters, it’s totally okay to go into their heads. To explain what they’re thinking, how they’re feeling, why they feel that way, etc.

When writing male characters, it’s not at all okay to go into their heads. They definitely have thoughts, emotions, and reasons why they feel those emotions, but they’re not easily going to open up about it. 

You have to show, with men. If they’re upset about something happening, you don’t say, “When Fredrick saw the dog pissing on his car, he was angry.” You say, “When Fredrick saw the dog pissing on his car, he balled up his fists and pulled his boot back to kick it across the street, but the dog saw him coming and skittered away.”

When you get too much into your male character’s head, he sounds young and often-times whiney. 

This is not always the case, and I’m not an expert writer (yet), but in my experience it helps to stay out of a man’s head. When he pauses for a response you nod and say, “Coool.” And then the story moves on.

The Final Countdown: 20 Days

If you need some background or a reminder, here's the gist. Today is not Beta's birthday, but because of work and schedules and blah, blah, it's the day we're throwing his party. So it's going to be a busy one. Pictures to come soon.

Meanwhile, here's my inspiration today:

link to original here

Caitlyn is one of the best writers I've ever personally met. Bar none. I regularly follow her witty and insightful blog The other Hairs. No, the other ones (she had me at the name) where she posts thoughts on writing, on things going on the world, and in her life in general. 

But she's currently creating Halloween costumes for her girls and recording her process here, which is a great reminder to me that life is full of all sorts of magic. I'm focusing on my deadline right now, but after that, life will go on, and there's Halloween's and Thanksgiving's and other celebrations to be had. So many good things to look forward to.

And isn't Caitlyn's sewing amazing? In my next life I'm definitely planning on adding that to my list of abilities. How did I miss that on this go-around?

Today there's a birthday celebration. Today there is writing and magic and cake. Caitlyn's blog reminds me to enjoy life to it's fullest. I'm off to it.

  

The Final Countdown: 21 Days

If you need some background or a reminder, here's the gist. Today's another rest day, so I'm just popping in quickly to say, "Yay, I finally finished that chapter I've been avoiding and struggling so hard with!" Huge accomplishment for me right now. Thanks Sleepy Joe for cracking the whip, and thanks to all y'all for the extra love and positive energy.

Here's my inspiration today:

This gets a little graphic, and very sad, so please don't watch if you feel hesitant to. I completely understand. 

The message at the end is amazing, though, so full of hope and courage. I saw this video originally years ago, but it still makes my heart swell and my eyes well up when I revisit. If only I can be more like this elephant when faced with my debilitating fears, "...pushing through that mental barrier, and to keep going."

How are your projects coming? One day closer to fulfilling our goals and dreams, eh? Feeling good about it yet? Push through. Keep going. Roar.

The Final Countdown: 22 Days

If you need some background or a reminder, here's the gist.

And here's my inspiration today:

link to original here

I so much love crock pots. You? Today especially, because with all the writing + Saturday-to-do stuff, it's time to crock pot it up. The ease of crock pots inspires me to be able to put more of my energy elsewhere. Here's my recipe:

Hot and Sour Soup

4 c vegetable broth
1 (12 oz) package tofu, diced
2 green onions, chopped
1 egg, beaten
1 portobello mushroom, sliced
1 c chopped cabbage
1 Tbs Thai chile sauce (I like the one with garlic in it too)
1 Tbs rice vinegar
3 Tbs soy sauce

Directions:

1. Measure broth into saucepan (or in this case, the crock pot); bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. (I also like to add some sesame oil at this point, though the recipe doesn't call for it, because I like the nutty flavor).

2. Add mushrooms and cabbage; simmer for 5-10 minutes (or in the crock pot, as long as you want to for whatever tenderness you prefer. I'll probably do this part for a couple of hours).

3. Next add the tofu and green onions. (I'm not sure how long to cook these, I didn't write it down back when I was initially putting the recipe into my book. Crock pot? Maybe 30 mins? Regular pan, maybe 5-10? Depends on how strong you want the onion flavor to be). Slowly drizzle in the beaten egg to make long strands.

4. Remove from heat and season with chile sauce, vinegar, and soy sauce.

If you try it too, happy cooking! And happy projects, and happy Saturday stuff! I'm wishing you a lovely day and magic moments in whatever you chose to do.

The Final Countdown: 23 Days

If you need some background or a reminder, here's the gist. Writing is moving along fine (not as fast as I want! I'm starting to seriously freak!). Just fine (why isn't this coming together better? What happens if I don't make my deadline?). Don't pay attention to that other stuff, it's all good (I feel like a slug. Where does all my time go?). And if I don't make my deadline, I'll keep going til it's done (that doesn't help me feel any more calm).

What does help me feel more calm is all your comments and heartfelt support. Y'all are angels in my life. Thank you.

And here's my inspiration today:

link to original here

Pregnant women everywhere. There are a couple of women I know that I specifically have in mind, and they are so brave and powerful and delicate, all at once. They fill me with awe. Plus, it's really hot right now. I was hugely pregnant this time last year and guh. There are no words. So cheers to you magnificent ladies. Thanks for your beautiful strength.

What about you other lovelies? How are projects coming? Here's some more positive energy and happy thoughts to you. Roar.

The Final Countdown: 24 Days

If you need some background or a reminder, here's the gist. Today's technically a rest day, but last night's writing went really well so I'm feeling good about pushing ahead. I'm just not going to stress about how much I do or don't get done.

And here's my inspiration today:

link to original here

The work of Lori Nix is fascinating to me. Find more on her here.

What about you? How's your project going? Are you having challenges, or is everything coming together easier than you expected? Either way I'm sending you armfuls of positive energy, bucketfuls of happy meditations, and big sprays of yay you can do it thoughts. Roar.

The Final Countdown: 25 Days

link to original here

Ooo, I'm a little bit nervous. My August 25 deadline is coming up and I've got a lot left to do. You can find updates here, and then this is how you can help:

Do you have something you've really wanted to do, or to at least work towards doing, for awhile? Some goal or idea you want to see come to fruition? 

Here's where you stop putting it off and finally just do it. Sit down and write it out. Maybe you want to start a good habit. Maybe you want to quit a bad one. We've got 25 days to do this, eh? And we are each other's support system to succeed, because these next 25 days are not necessarily going to be easy. Not everyday, anyway.

So I'll post something daily that's inspired me to keep going. Something little -- maybe a video, a picture, a quote. A writing tip or tricks. A song. A link to another blog. Whatever. You do the same, and then post your link in the comments each day.

I have this theory that we are all connected in ways that words just don't do justice for. Call it energy, call it spirit, call it magic. Call it what you will. But I think that if a bunch of us are helping push each other towards positive things for the next 25 days -- things we've always wanted to do but never had the [fill in the blank; ex: self-confidence, time, support] to do -- maybe it'll make our struggle just a little bit easier? That's the idea, anyway.

I'm planning on taking two days off a week to rest and reassess. Probably Sundays and Thursdays. You can do the same, or just keep plowing through.  

Are you game? If so, what's your goal? What's your plan? And what's your inspiration today?

Here's mine:
Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke of insight