Here’s a thought for a “Free Day”!

What floats your boat?

     The only person who can give you pleasure, or deny it, is yourself. It is up to you to make the decision to either experience pleasure or not to. If you are resistant to being happy, you could be in the middle of a group of people who are all happy and still be miserable. Many of us fill our days with obligations and don’t take the time for ourselves. Imagine having an entire day to spend it however you like – no commitments or obligations; how would you spend that day? Money is no problem or it doesn’t have to cost anything! How would you spend your day? It can be a combination of many things or just one thing that you would want to do on your free day!


     So, undock your boat and set it afloat. Share your day with us and we’ll see how many ways a “Free Day” can be spent!

My “Free Day”:

1) Sleep in late.

2) Turn off the phone.

3) Soak in the tub with my favorite bath oils and soft music.

4) Put on nice pajamas and a soft robe; have a cup of tea and a delicious scone.

5) Relax and read all day.

6) Take a nap in between reading.

7) Have dinner delivered.

     I’m planning mine and will plan to have at least one a month for myself; how about you?

Rita E. Harrington

     I loved her a great deal, too. As Mother-in-laws go, I did well. Rita, passed away on November 3, 2010. Its heart wrenching to watch someone’s life slip away. Rita had a fierce determination for life. She was defiant all the way.

     One feature I will always remember about her is that she always had a warm, welcoming smile whenever she saw me. I will truly miss that; I know that she loved me, too.

     She loved her family and there is so many of us she could love. My Husband touched deeply on her life and love of her family with his eulogy and from that we carried away just how much she loved us all.

     I appreciate that she raised a great son; turning him into the wonderful man I married. I appreciate all that she did for me, still pushing for me to continue with my writing and urging me to submit her favorite story. I appreciate the loving, caring woman she was to me.

     We will keep her in our minds and hearts with the memories and stories from years past and grow from them. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will thrive from her spirit.

     It is said that our loved ones find their way back to check on us. Something brings them back, and that is a good thing. Maybe we read too much into the signs like these, maybe not. All I know is it gives us great peace, and that’s all that matters. But, I’ll be watching and waiting. It’s hard to know she is not with us, whole again, but, in spirit she makes me smile. I’ll keep her memory and love in my heart forever.

ENCORE 2010

On October 30, 2010 I attended the ENCORE 2010 Workshop at Rhode Island College. Here is a list of the speakers that presented at the workshop:
J. L. Bell - Writer, Editor and Historian. (http://www.ozandends.blogspot.com/)

Melissa Stewart - Author. (http://www.melissa-stewart.com/)

Lisa Papademetriou - Author. (http://www.lisapapa.com/)

Jo Knowles - Author. (http://www.joknowles.com/)

Yolanda (Leroy) Scott - Editorial Director at Charlesbridge. (http://www.charlesbridge.com/)

     This was my first workshop and I am excited to say I cannot wait for the next one. The networking of other writers, both published and unpublished, is informative and rewarding. Here are some of the discussions that were given at the workshop:

1. There are two kinds of writers – Character Writers (are most interested in people) and
Plot Writers (are most interested events). I now realize I am mostly a Plot Writer.

2. Write to your strengths, revise to your weaknesses.

3. Assess your scenes – make sure each scene has a turning point.

4. Turn your manuscript into the book it wants to be, by writing to your maximum potential.

5. Tell stories that both surprise and satisfy.

6. Use memory observation to find inspiration.

7. Do your research on choosing the right publishing house; increase your odds.

     One of the writing prompts we were given was “THAT NIGHT” (from "Jo Knowles"). We were given a few minutes to come up with something using that as the start of a story. Here is what I came up with:

     That night, the crunch of the leaves under my feet almost gave me away. The birds in the trees ruffled their feathers, at the sound. Yet, the two men in the clearing had not heard me approach. I inched my way forward; fearful of giving myself away. It was near the fallen log that I crouched low, feeling sure that I would not be discovered, while I watched and listened.

     One of the men was throwing dirt back into a hole that they had apparently dug, while the other man grumbled, “Hurry up, Harry!”

     “Keep your shirt on Ralph!” said the one called Harry. “I’m shovelin’ as fast as I can.”

     “We gotta get out of here,” urged the man called Ralph. “C’mon, c’mon.”

     Harry had finished filing in the hole and Ralph was kicking leaves over the freshly filled hole.

     It was then that I had this uncontrollable urge to sneeze! “Ahhchoo!” I jumped to my feet, almost tripping over them in my hurry to do so.

     “Who’s there?” roared Ralph.

     “Let’s get ‘em, Ralph,” urged Harry.

     Quickly, I turned. I ran back through the woods; my braids flapping from side to side, keeping my arms outstretched in front of me, pushing away branches to clear my way.

     TIME RAN OUT at the workshop on this prompt and that is as far as I got with this writing exercise. Who knows maybe, I will use it as part of a book. 

     There were many more writing prompts and ideas. This is just a sampling; if there is a SCBWI Workshop in your area. Sign up! You’ll Love it!