tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916190588728944942024-03-18T03:09:17.099-07:00Wendy Paine MillerWendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.comBlogger959125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-64178605852392599062019-09-09T09:28:00.000-07:002019-09-09T09:28:00.859-07:00Taking Time<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">college applications homecoming flag football basketball<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SATs<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>final edits<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>potty train the pup<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>class changes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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requests<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>update kitchen
cabinets<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>soccer
games<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>ortho appointments<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>haircuts<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FAFSA<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">taxi girls to school + everywhere else
on earth<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>clean fridge<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>groom dogs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Here’s a limited picture of all that’s
going on in the coming month for me. If you look closely, there’s not a whole
lot of “me” in the mix. Because I anticipate these activities will wipe me out,
I’m guarding my time. I won’t be back to blog until October. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I’m grateful my husband and I got away
briefly over the weekend to celebrate twenty years of marriage. Here I am
getting ready to go out on the water—one of my favorite places to be. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Hope you have a great September.
Practice self-care and be kind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-12931483369337398582019-08-26T09:08:00.003-07:002019-08-26T09:08:49.164-07:00Small Improvements<br />
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where the inception for a new project begins. This bathroom was fine before I
jumped into fix-it-mode, but that’s just it . . . fine wasn’t going to cut it
anymore. (Like how I present an extra messy portrayal for the "before" pics?) ;-)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuRI8R74X1G6EJYRBFIRwrK5etl0TPMRYeAAvBws8cCrK1BMTr1BkswJXq0HnLhHLe1mWJO3k2Nt89lbg593XrtOj4sJFqTu2fHmTFp74HWLH98GvWjkYIdA85QrcPAQVcjqQSm_vQxo/s1600/20190428_142125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuRI8R74X1G6EJYRBFIRwrK5etl0TPMRYeAAvBws8cCrK1BMTr1BkswJXq0HnLhHLe1mWJO3k2Nt89lbg593XrtOj4sJFqTu2fHmTFp74HWLH98GvWjkYIdA85QrcPAQVcjqQSm_vQxo/s320/20190428_142125.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtEXK4kfraHIuOIMVKhEI1ofGz9gyzNYlgV8tQLrKHQ1avCQdbnRQvyCWPhQsqm44IeCgF6NyakiA8S1oKuHf2cGJH2DsnG5cWGxTMIEet1kiruPgfgRzSN5SLa5T1MqSEoKrGNKOsiE/s1600/20190428_142132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtEXK4kfraHIuOIMVKhEI1ofGz9gyzNYlgV8tQLrKHQ1avCQdbnRQvyCWPhQsqm44IeCgF6NyakiA8S1oKuHf2cGJH2DsnG5cWGxTMIEet1kiruPgfgRzSN5SLa5T1MqSEoKrGNKOsiE/s320/20190428_142132.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e;">I’m constantly looking for ways to beautify my surroundings—ways to
improve. This minor project ended up costing me next to nothing. I already
owned all the paint for the cabinets, mirror, walls, and the floor.
Pinterest was my friend, teaching me to be brave enough to paint tile.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Over the
course of a few months, a few baby steps at a time, and this bathroom got a
makeover. It’s nothing to scream <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wow</i>
over, but it makes me smile. And it feels fresh and updated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now if my girls would only stop trying
to create toothpaste art on the counter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Working on a project lately? Feel free
to share pics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-34509890308076139992019-08-19T08:53:00.001-07:002019-08-19T08:53:17.763-07:00Demo Day<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDrrzpQZyCVK2qYCOirhCAV3RQbL_RQAMfZr7vDnn388ZMe__MYruTMzvcnHBPgi_xhfKLsdNiFGoFDZGUQE7XPCkkDB_WD1PkQYaVnyeeuaDhDJN27d_aqXbAJlFLQ9OhXNB29WZq30/s1600/20180702_084425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDrrzpQZyCVK2qYCOirhCAV3RQbL_RQAMfZr7vDnn388ZMe__MYruTMzvcnHBPgi_xhfKLsdNiFGoFDZGUQE7XPCkkDB_WD1PkQYaVnyeeuaDhDJN27d_aqXbAJlFLQ9OhXNB29WZq30/s320/20180702_084425.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Remember the bunk bed in my youngest
daughter’s room, the one that made it impossible for me to paint the entire
room so I ended up painting these stencil designs on her wall? I </span><a href="http://www.wendypainemiller.com/2018/07/splotchy-solution.html"><span style="color: #0b5394;">blogged about this</span> </a><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">several months after we moved in. And my girl liked the stencils. Until
she sort of didn’t. She’s had a new color for her walls in mind for months. A
light shade of charcoal. The stencils had worn out their welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYVc4t-kpwkmmwoXqW9hnqriLvExxrVNeLYN-rAkAVCH26C1jAc9Vpre5hyxP_96vjoOeSc7WApm83YSsvVrSzsjdfxolyRIg3s9q5tZLxC6TtEvMglUmoLjYU9LFPVfsoYvg_lCbFM8/s1600/20180702_084401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1457" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYVc4t-kpwkmmwoXqW9hnqriLvExxrVNeLYN-rAkAVCH26C1jAc9Vpre5hyxP_96vjoOeSc7WApm83YSsvVrSzsjdfxolyRIg3s9q5tZLxC6TtEvMglUmoLjYU9LFPVfsoYvg_lCbFM8/s320/20180702_084401.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Normally I might not be so
accommodating. I’d likely throw a typical mom-response at her, something like,
“Well, you’ll have to live with it for a while.” But here’s the thing. She did
live with it for a while. She was a trooper and agreed to have the bulky bunk
bed in her room even though she never wanted it. And </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">I happen to love to paint.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">
So . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Charcoal gray it is. I painted
everything I could around the massive bunk bed, then when it was clear this
wasn’t a priority project for anyone else in the family, I got to work. I
dissembled the top portion of the bed. Taking it apart took hours. The bolts
and screws were seriously secure. I got to the last screw and I almost lost it.
It stripped out, making it a real task to remove the last awkward piece of
wood. Of course. On the last screw. Then I remembered the hammer I stored in
the bathroom cabinet after sealing the paint can lid tight. I channeled Chip
Gaines and went nuts on the remaining wooden slat. It was both therapeutic and
a little scary. It felt great. A real “Here’s Johnny” moment. But the slat
wouldn’t budge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Until . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">After a good ten minutes of whacking the
daylights out of the bed, I took a deep breath. I reconsidered the direction I
was wailing on the wood. I changed the position of my hammer, as a </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">fresh idea
</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">tickled the base of my skull. With a healthy whack, and a new game plan, I thought
about the vulnerable points in the wood. Then I launched my last attack. And
the last piece of wood gave way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">I’m free to paint the rest of the room
today. And all is right with the world. Nothing a little spontaneous demolition
and paint can’t fix.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">*Went a little lighter w/ the color. It’s
called Portsmouth Landing. Will post pics when room is finished.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-64852603659171485132019-08-12T09:25:00.002-07:002019-08-12T09:25:42.525-07:005 Ways to Jumpstart a Stalled Plot<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Writing a novel can be a deliciously
unpredictable process. Characters can spring surprises on me. Plots can wind in
fantastic new directions. But there’s one thing I can pretty much rely on when
working on a fresh idea. Somewhere, and at some point, when I reach the middle,
the book will threaten to stall. It will dig its heels in and obstinately
refuse to take another step. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Good thing I’m aware of this pattern.
Because it’s forced me to learn how to deal with it. I have several coping
mechanisms for this type of stubbornness. One is to plot out the book well in
advance. However, there are times even that doesn’t work and then I have to
rely on the other tools I’ve collected through the years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Here are five ways to get the heart of
your plot beating again when it starts to flatline . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Let Your MC Loose</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Think of the craziest thing your main
character might possibly do. Come up with a list. Of course these actions shouldn’t
be entirely out of the blue, but tied to their personality, their wants,
desires, losses, etc. Then, consider how instead of that bizarre and insane act,
your main character could carry out a modified version of it. For example,
instead of flinging himself off a roof, your main character could throw a
highly valued item off a roof or something else that would create emotional
consequences in his life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Imagine a Window</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">In my years as an avid runner, I used to
pass by people’s homes and wonder about their lives. Do they eat dinner
together? Do they argue? Who goes up to bed first? I’d create all kinds of
scenarios in my mind. Sometimes the middle of a book requires an author to take
a step back. To adopt a unique vantage point. Behold your novel and your
characters as though you’re on the outside of their house, looking in. Stalk
them if you must. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Kill or Introduce</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Some middles beg me to get ruthless.
There’s nothing left to do but kill someone off. Other times it’s not necessary
for me to be quite so brutal. Instead, I invite an entirely new, albeit
significant character into the mix. Think the mother-in-law in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Big Little Lies.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Lift the Candy Higher out of Reach</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Know what means the most to your
character. Then keep it just out of reach. Or tease it close enough to touch,
then pull it away. This creates beautiful tension. It’s all about understanding
the acuity of timing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Press the Button</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Along the same lines as dangling candy,
a wonderful way to add more tension to a plot is to make your character hurt. I
know, so mean. But it works. And as the author are the one with the best
insight about what will hurt the most. You have access to all the memories, the
scars, the fears, and the insecurities. The middle is the perfect place to
press all the right buttons to make it feel like things may never go right for
the hero. Cruel as it may seem, pressing the button might be exactly what your
plot needs to get a move on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">It’s been given the unfortunate nickname
of Sagging Middle. Novelists, don’t disgrace your book like this. Don’t let it
deserve that name. Imbue life back into the middle. Get creative. Break from
formulaic writing. Free up the plot so it can breathe again.</span></span></div>
Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-12106279123820779192019-07-29T08:55:00.000-07:002019-07-29T08:55:04.225-07:00My Way Through<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbVNMhsOvIwirHy8mKVRKJ1-iv3T3U0loGFyXseipmlVM-E0JILRJGFiXiP1fk3LnW49BoeK1nj9qr_0qH80MH2i2X4UAYLT1rlRhMh70Xcu-myrP1ShLp83gViNZ014oumAc-VQHzWM/s1600/20190727_182153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbVNMhsOvIwirHy8mKVRKJ1-iv3T3U0loGFyXseipmlVM-E0JILRJGFiXiP1fk3LnW49BoeK1nj9qr_0qH80MH2i2X4UAYLT1rlRhMh70Xcu-myrP1ShLp83gViNZ014oumAc-VQHzWM/s320/20190727_182153.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Every so often I come across a book that
moves me in a memorable and transformative way. I think there’s a reason I was inspired
to read </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">ONCE MORE WE SAW STARS</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> by Jayson Greene during this season of my life.
In this poignant memoir, a father draws a map for the grieving soul as he recounts,
through raw and honest narrative, the heartbreak of losing his young daughter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Greene finds language I wasn’t sure
existed as he details the agony and release I’ve been experiencing in these
past months after losing my sister. Through his story, I’ve received layered
and comforting truths, truths like I’m not alone, and others are walking, have
walked, and will walk this rocky terrain. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Someone recently asked me why I’d want
to read a book like this, questioning if this kind of story would just make me
sadder. Yes and no. It’s a good sad. A necessary sad. Emotion that connects me
with humankind and strengthens every empathy bone in my body. </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">Books like this
are my way through. </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">And I’m grateful beyond words for Greene’s vulnerable
portrayal of loss and life after loss because it’s become an </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">unexpected and
beautiful pathway on my own road to healing</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-41081139618997458822019-07-22T09:14:00.000-07:002019-07-22T09:14:16.489-07:00The Most Helpful Writing Advice<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwn6iVLvAKNvNyDtneT63PKY-RpzfByb8CyG-R-zDs-herXU56LGE0g6coA8rfRLJ8axdEHYuHGwTIu9KB14qhUvFEJcTBfJfp96m5bwu8gs6eTX8j5-M2sao6j-GBk86YVXrtiTMMng/s1600/thought-catalog-nbkd_9UpSb0-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwn6iVLvAKNvNyDtneT63PKY-RpzfByb8CyG-R-zDs-herXU56LGE0g6coA8rfRLJ8axdEHYuHGwTIu9KB14qhUvFEJcTBfJfp96m5bwu8gs6eTX8j5-M2sao6j-GBk86YVXrtiTMMng/s320/thought-catalog-nbkd_9UpSb0-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">I’ve been hard at this novel writing gig
for twelve years now. I’ve lost track of how many books I’ve written, not to
mention how many I’ve started.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Ready for my wild and crazy two cents on
how to improve your craft?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">I can sum it up in one word because one
word has been doing it for me for a dozen years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Read.</span></i><span style="color: #76a5af;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Get your hands and eyes on as many books
as possible. Glean an understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Learn
story. Read for pleasure. Read for instruction. Expose yourself to multiple
genres and styles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">I’ve always thought it’s the coolest
thing that every time I pick up a book I can call it research. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Even in these sleepless days of puppy
raising, I’m finding time to read. It’s important to me and it’s an imperative practice
for writers who want to improve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">A little bonus literary fun . . . the
cover of the book I’m reading matches my reading glasses. </span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrgLhIgU3unsAhFby0jf0CiCNBS0Mlbu13VvzXqrd9NoGLm-4Rc1accAylZiwYqEl35e1Ec_bT2ZXcZXF6C8ECpTig04r8-NbJbae9jlfelf89eA9Wm4sNeucXSed5r17Awm6CRb8L3s/s1600/20190622_095746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrgLhIgU3unsAhFby0jf0CiCNBS0Mlbu13VvzXqrd9NoGLm-4Rc1accAylZiwYqEl35e1Ec_bT2ZXcZXF6C8ECpTig04r8-NbJbae9jlfelf89eA9Wm4sNeucXSed5r17Awm6CRb8L3s/s320/20190622_095746.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*In other news, I have my suspicions my puppy
is fake-peeing when I take her out. She squats so I’ll lavish her with praise,
but I think she’s mastering the art of faking me out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-27342216257569505052019-07-15T09:04:00.000-07:002019-07-15T09:04:23.842-07:00Everything My Puppy Reveals about Me<br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I brought home another baby last week. After
months of discussing it, we committed to becoming a family home with two dogs.
Meet our puppy, Bear . . .</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJr2GluG1v_4bGpAVMwaPzMJFEYfekCuAeC-DEzENZAThpO4znVvrGeTAitRck1iJWLycKCOVaJ5JUKvNb_BWqJ8skS9cVGSwrLIBLgoQIgyqXBPnBsJbuLDDKVbYKowqMA9UF6Pbdkmw/s1600/IMG_7740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJr2GluG1v_4bGpAVMwaPzMJFEYfekCuAeC-DEzENZAThpO4znVvrGeTAitRck1iJWLycKCOVaJ5JUKvNb_BWqJ8skS9cVGSwrLIBLgoQIgyqXBPnBsJbuLDDKVbYKowqMA9UF6Pbdkmw/s320/IMG_7740.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Going on little sleep and a lot of
coffee, I’ve been thinking about the kind of influence Bear has had on me in
the past eight days. In this puppy stage, she requires a great deal of work,
however she’s a pure joy and worth every second I invest in her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The following are a few reflections I’ve
had as I take on the task of raising another puppy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bear has brought to light . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">How I respond to inconveniences</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Cleaning up accidents is not my idea of
a relaxing summer task. It’s tedious, humbling, and no one ever feels like
doing it. But I have a choice how I go about it. Complain with every squirt of
Resolve or suck it up and just do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">How well I function on little sleep</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ha! Let’s just say I’ve been freakishly
forgetful lately. Naps are my best friend. I have to be mindful to keep my
fogginess and my irritability in check. This is familiar ground. Babies put me
through the same test.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">My preferred method of teaching</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m a researcher. My Google feed must
have forty different puppy-type searches on it. I want to learn all I can, then
adapt my style with what works. I’ve always believed in the philosophy there is
no one way. For me there are forty ways squished into one workable, effective
way that often adjusts in time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">How willing I am to admit when I’m wrong </span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I started off following an old school
method of raising a pup, only to do a little fact-finding and quickly shift my
application. I was wrong. I didn’t like the first way. So I changed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">My ability to trust a little one to learn—to let go of perfection
and control</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told
myself </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">she’ll get it</span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> over the past week. She will though. I wouldn’t expect a
baby to act like a young child. Growing up is hard work. It’s my job to guide
Bear through that in a safe and loving environment. That’s the fun part,
really—watching her get it and releasing control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">How well I’m able to step back and allow others to work out
conflict resolution</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We knew this transition could be
interesting because we threw two dogs in the mix. They need time to figure out
where they stand. There’ve been some dicey moments. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghusb7JSqaWu62abwvneuvzaXbGmD7qUhDAHpI-Cf1VVsYjXS4BEYXgEcT2ZEjHDXOZ9g9DPXgU22yZ4fam54YiUPKCHecyI8ydjfZL5PhxtWBaIQAG3BnGdjUrM07g_U0B1Fedz5dYYo/s1600/20190715_085452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1104" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghusb7JSqaWu62abwvneuvzaXbGmD7qUhDAHpI-Cf1VVsYjXS4BEYXgEcT2ZEjHDXOZ9g9DPXgU22yZ4fam54YiUPKCHecyI8ydjfZL5PhxtWBaIQAG3BnGdjUrM07g_U0B1Fedz5dYYo/s320/20190715_085452.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then again, there are times
we catch them chilling out together like this . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYS8wkBZpGEWdCecMqZHkm4Q6gKgYheWy9WJjkC5Or1N_XdYsn1iUSDjFPLA1lVQD-y06VIu9oyMsYVL10G2DJjKFoMTypsYlVHQIAvEzNkRBa4TcZx7ElR4hSnaZpw6nLybnl7yso5Q/s1600/20190715_080421+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYS8wkBZpGEWdCecMqZHkm4Q6gKgYheWy9WJjkC5Or1N_XdYsn1iUSDjFPLA1lVQD-y06VIu9oyMsYVL10G2DJjKFoMTypsYlVHQIAvEzNkRBa4TcZx7ElR4hSnaZpw6nLybnl7yso5Q/s320/20190715_080421+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most of all Bear has shown me </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">how much
love I still have left to give.</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-57366065311466828072019-07-01T08:53:00.000-07:002019-07-01T09:00:50.047-07:00This Sign Is an Octopus<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">I recently wrapped up an intense round
of edits and what do I feel like doing? What else . . . painting. After
spending weeks completely absorbed in one of my books, I find I need a bit of a
breather—another creative outlet. But then I have all this untapped energy and
I have to put it somewhere. So yesterday I cleaned through our garage and found
this sign I bought years ago.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LH4dqXTbydEgM2IaDiBpPnNVcQ5DVaKhujfYmZJwhpy4AkZusyGAtqVisq4V_Au7S58Lxp47iz1KNn8OGk0c3TPGkGzN2s5TL9XjkoA-poPHLpUHBi1x7zwLgjQjdvbAA8ad0axgyoA/s1600/20190630_095603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LH4dqXTbydEgM2IaDiBpPnNVcQ5DVaKhujfYmZJwhpy4AkZusyGAtqVisq4V_Au7S58Lxp47iz1KNn8OGk0c3TPGkGzN2s5TL9XjkoA-poPHLpUHBi1x7zwLgjQjdvbAA8ad0axgyoA/s320/20190630_095603.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">When we first moved to California, I
decided I wanted to decorate with a coastal theme. We’re a hop, skip, and a
jump away from the beach so this sign grabbed my attention right away. However,
something about the color felt “off” to me. It’s vibrant and I like that, but
not quite right for the room I was considering hanging it in. </span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Then something strange happened. The
sign told me it was an octopus, and that it too wasn’t in the mood to be
coral-colored any longer. It gave me full permission to strike my wand and
brush a new color over it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Ta da . . .</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8ErDagkGx9rQAJmRKKCBqC3xdd9MTLW-KsO82eYh_R_X1y_I2k2Al88na6QzxSOfaFBDE9O0VIkaRZSbXrV1PNOsj0yGdV2HVkl5EMUAErBy_daGmfydeSH74mtNhuWLAusUgZ1jRts/s1600/20190630_190147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8ErDagkGx9rQAJmRKKCBqC3xdd9MTLW-KsO82eYh_R_X1y_I2k2Al88na6QzxSOfaFBDE9O0VIkaRZSbXrV1PNOsj0yGdV2HVkl5EMUAErBy_daGmfydeSH74mtNhuWLAusUgZ1jRts/s320/20190630_190147.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM69BGMr_-NPc0l_8-TGmATOWOeboscRVUiJ8vm0bgNl9t2WSnF8sLMVBQDE2bYTHamCdlA4CGQMsVHKNZ5rh8_n_qDVdcesPa16I_oUHeAmTFxALfJhHYaJFnXqeczetNJ6TjpeMmxpY/s1600/20190630_133514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1600" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM69BGMr_-NPc0l_8-TGmATOWOeboscRVUiJ8vm0bgNl9t2WSnF8sLMVBQDE2bYTHamCdlA4CGQMsVHKNZ5rh8_n_qDVdcesPa16I_oUHeAmTFxALfJhHYaJFnXqeczetNJ6TjpeMmxpY/s320/20190630_133514.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #e69138;">I like octopus signs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Happy</span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">4th!</span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-21398919013301101632019-06-24T11:22:00.000-07:002019-06-24T11:22:27.986-07:00Onward<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8S_AYRJvYBhyphenhyphenIXeL3KchdXMJ40hOcON9ytSp52-8TpJ9lD-ezVxzGk1oOLxir7a525EmGyhJjQZcApCc0Nzoq2Y80DrNAqcxw8LxYUUlKqIUian05Kg05BrtOJY3UAGb5LrvE9zyrxg/s1600/2014-09-13+-+0138+-+Seagull+Family+-+Soccer_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8S_AYRJvYBhyphenhyphenIXeL3KchdXMJ40hOcON9ytSp52-8TpJ9lD-ezVxzGk1oOLxir7a525EmGyhJjQZcApCc0Nzoq2Y80DrNAqcxw8LxYUUlKqIUian05Kg05BrtOJY3UAGb5LrvE9zyrxg/s320/2014-09-13+-+0138+-+Seagull+Family+-+Soccer_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">We’re a soccer house. Every time the
U.S. Women’s team takes on a new opponent in the World Cup we are glued to the TV,
cheering them on. Over half of us in my family have played at one time or
another, so we know the sport well. {My older sister was also a superstar
soccer player, earning All-American several times, meeting Pele, and playing
for UConn.} We act like commentators, sharing our reviews of stand-out plays
and particularly dirty fouls. You’ll often catch me talking to the TV,
gesturing wildly. Years ago I had the privilege of taking my girls to watch the
</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">U.S. Women</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> play against Colombia in Connecticut. It was a freezing, but
memorable experience. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRCxUolp5af5X7uHpxWjT3yDVUGEShvwc4JPtlVcg-Iub6kv61b_nmYiYKQ58SuUA0Dy1GMP4gyXVYpVcpohxNpFyhvWnwB4oyGSeJHuPJ39AaNOSi8LST4fBFBge-4IDhdGyOIaRqEM/s1600/20160406_212805.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRCxUolp5af5X7uHpxWjT3yDVUGEShvwc4JPtlVcg-Iub6kv61b_nmYiYKQ58SuUA0Dy1GMP4gyXVYpVcpohxNpFyhvWnwB4oyGSeJHuPJ39AaNOSi8LST4fBFBge-4IDhdGyOIaRqEM/s320/20160406_212805.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">It’s edge-of-your-seat exciting whenever
a game is on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Even more, I’m proud of the team. I’m
proud of what they’ve done for women’s soccer. I love what they’ve done for
women in general.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Go U.S. Women! </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">We’re rooting for you</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> all
the way!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-12413669461031419612019-06-17T09:45:00.000-07:002019-06-17T09:45:22.788-07:00Creative Kindness<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitR-XU_gjJtajT7ePDSo-ruMnQS6GdIWjx3KtB7PkU26e2X-gihMHv2JzrMM0GhM5hkDYxHJHrKXadqP2Sm3R27EwhmSxYKAsLiAVJKALHXY54mmUZIxJcqqPh06y8aTYkBATM17wvAJ4/s1600/nathan-dumlao-287713-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitR-XU_gjJtajT7ePDSo-ruMnQS6GdIWjx3KtB7PkU26e2X-gihMHv2JzrMM0GhM5hkDYxHJHrKXadqP2Sm3R27EwhmSxYKAsLiAVJKALHXY54mmUZIxJcqqPh06y8aTYkBATM17wvAJ4/s320/nathan-dumlao-287713-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">I’ve become keenly aware of something in
the past few weeks. Some people have a real gift with words and others, well,
they falter and flounder. I’ve fallen into both categories when facing someone
who’s recently lost a loved one. </span><span style="color: #bf9000;">Words are delicate. And hard to shape
sometimes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">I’ve felt a particular gratitude for
friends who’ve shown up in creative ways recently. They’ve supported and loved
through unexpected means. Their efforts have really resonated with me. Offers
to hike. A glass blown ornament in the mail from one dear friend, and from
another a bookstore jigsaw puzzle (I tap into my inner nerd and go nuts with
jigsaw puzzles). Others threw out book recommendations at a time I was
desperate to get hooked on a new novel. Another friend, and fellow author, read
one of my books and encouraged me regarding the concept, peppering me with
questions born of curiosity. Her investment in my work accomplished something
profound. </span><span style="color: #bf9000;">She pulled me back to what I love—a key reason I feel rooted here. </span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Friends and loved ones have been
generously kind. Thoughtful and consistently caring. The kindness has come in
all forms. In my weakness, I’ve accepted all of it. And I’ve learned something.
</span><span style="color: #bf9000;">Bestowing creative kindness to someone who’s hurting is one of the most
impactful decisions we can make. </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">They’ll remember that kind of love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">I know I will.</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-36357172480555677472019-06-10T09:24:00.000-07:002019-06-10T09:24:41.902-07:00Six Things Writing & Grieving Have in Common<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTH22-XLs03gDIxcIOlQTz4fmDIIvlZ44MjrL1X13qG7Xxi46S0elJbljwmSOatgI7rkGlofzrYIqcy4jWDKNMdRz50HPse6x_3Mp6Q_EaZv6rp_IgzR-fMEyIP9ZV2_a-UOQL6ymWPO4/s1600/abbie-bernet-329631-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTH22-XLs03gDIxcIOlQTz4fmDIIvlZ44MjrL1X13qG7Xxi46S0elJbljwmSOatgI7rkGlofzrYIqcy4jWDKNMdRz50HPse6x_3Mp6Q_EaZv6rp_IgzR-fMEyIP9ZV2_a-UOQL6ymWPO4/s320/abbie-bernet-329631-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Losing someone you love has a way of
stirring up a lot of reflective thinking. In this quiet season of letting go I’ve
been thinking about some of the ways grieving is similar to what I do every day—crafting
novels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Here’s what I came up with . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Writing & grieving—</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Force you to think about intention and purpose<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Whether it’s mourning the loss of a
loved one or hunkering down to edit, you spend a good deal of time considering
why you or your character exists. Little things start to matter. Like simple
acts of kindness. Thought is given to all that came before, every season of
life that led to this present place. It’s a soul-rubbing process. An awakening
and embracing of what’s to come.</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Challenge you to take a step back and look at the world
differently<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">One shot. You consider this as you
awkwardly stumble through the reality of saying goodbye to a person or a
manuscript. One shot at life. One shot with a novel. Making your words and
actions count becomes exponentially more important as this reality settles in.</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Require you to get honest with emotion<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">You ugly cry. You dive deep with the
characters, rooting to the real reasons they behave the way they do. Grieving
and writing draw out our weaknesses and our vulnerabilities. They push, prod,
and poke until we’re raw with pain, driving us to the point we’re willing to
let go. There’s a certain surrender grief and creativity share, it’s a
beautiful release that feels all at once agonizing and wonderful.</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bring out the historian in you<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">You research a town. Expressions on
people’s faces. You drag out photos of your loved one. Old letters. You take
that walk down memory lane. You create a memory lane as an author and student
of your characters. Things and moments gone by gain a fresh pertinence. A
newfound appreciation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Conjure thoughts about character and influence<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Who do you want to be? Who do you want
your characters to be? These questions take on more relevance. How will I
impact others? What imprint am I leaving on the world?</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shed light on the unnecessary so easily mistaken as necessary <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">The picture you forgot to post. The
comeback you never got to use. The unwashed dishes or dusty floors. As soon as
you commit to life as a writer, if you pay close attention, you’ll identify
distractions creeping up from everywhere. These life interferences dress in
bold colors when you’re grieving. There’s nothing sneaky about them. Whether
you’re working on a book or hurting in the aftermath of a death, the unnecessary
will hover. The unnecessary is patient. A constant. There’s nothing quite like
losing someone to help you filter through what’s important and what’s not.</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">This is why I love fellow writers. We’re
not what I would call shallow people. We go deep. We dare to be vulnerable.
Sure, sometimes we can be a little intense or caught up in our own imaginary
worlds, but it’s so much fun leading you into those worlds with us. </span><span style="color: #1d2129;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">My friend Kim Hooper’s book TINY
releases this week. I’ve read her work before and she has a way of depicting
characters in such an honest and compelling manner. I cannot wait to read this
one! I hope you’ll check it out. Kim is a seriously gifted author.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-19810574702367874422019-06-03T08:24:00.002-07:002019-06-03T08:24:57.622-07:00Legacy<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">In light of the recent loss of my sister
I find myself reflecting more than usual. I ask hard questions. It hits me that
there’s not a moment to waste. With this in mind, the other night while at
dinner, I asked my husband and my three girls what sort of </span><span style="color: #e69138;">legacy</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> they want to
leave. Their answers fascinated me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">One of my daughters surprised me by
saying she wanted to be known for being different. It reminded me of something
I’d say when I was her age. Something I can even see myself saying now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Life has been a battering ram lately.
Negativity and bitterness slam into me from all angles. I’m determined to fight
against it—to tap into a strength I could never conjure on my own. I’m determined
to take a different path from the one that tempts me toward anger, jealousy,
despair, rage, and all things that distract from a </span><span style="color: #e69138;">more loving way to live</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">The flowers above are growing in our
yard. The other day I couldn’t stop looking at them. At first I believed the
yellowish-orange roses somehow mysteriously appeared as part of the pink plant.
An eye-catching enigma. But upon closer observation, I saw a plant with three
stems, three sun-colored roses rising up from the center of the pink plant.
It’s those golden flowers that draw the eye. They make the difference. In an
instant I figured out why these particular roses captured my attention so
substantially. These flowers are an excellent representation of the legacy I
want to leave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-16326977654314921362019-05-27T09:27:00.000-07:002019-05-27T09:27:13.662-07:00The Goodbye Makes the Journey Harder Still<br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">My sister Holly passed away last week.
I’ve been grieving hard since I heard the news. Words elude me, hiding in a
thick fog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">When I was around ten or eleven she told
me she always thought of me whenever she heard this song. . . <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EHFuYkc5JJY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EHFuYkc5JJY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Songs are especially poignant for me in
this time of grief. Much of the soundtrack of my youth revolved around music
Holly admired. I miss her. I miss who she was and who she could have been. I
miss all of it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Still, I cling to </span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">hope</span><span style="color: #a64d79;"> as I
simultaneously </span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">learn how to let go</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">*I hope you have a peaceful Memorial
Day. Make memories and be kind to loved ones. Life is fragile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-84610746126247479482019-05-20T08:27:00.000-07:002019-05-20T08:27:14.997-07:00How to Become an Anything Girl 101<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">A few weeks ago I told you about
Cadence, a little girl of maybe three or four who confidently introduced
herself outside of a mall bathroom, “Hi, I’m Cadence, and </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">I can do anything</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">.”
In ways she could never imagine, this child and her gotcha-world stance stuck
in my head.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">I aspire to adopt Cadence’s attitude
toward life every day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Then there are days I end up sending my
daughter texts suggesting the life of a prairie dog could suit me just fine. Whenever
the world starts to royally freak me out (I get flipped off by a road ragey
driver, or I make the mistake of watching the news for too long) I begin to fall
seriously in love with the idea of never stepping foot outside my home again.
Prairie dog living sounds ideal. Hide out, then pop up from time to time just
so everyone knows I still exist. That pretty much defines how I’ve handled
social media lately. After my confessional text to my kid about wanting to be a
prairie dog, within seconds we both shot each other an identical GIFs. #wildfun<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarNQQ7XF94MSALTesOfreojrbG8gcj1A504x-zfh6ZFR4OMN2ktbO-5X6x4TPsK-ri-7BO9jdULrtOU-59JWkVueBSZRWJxHUxEdX8lVY0LI_MWci19a72YRBCyBK8xzNH41Z0fV2xtQ/s1600/dusan-smetana-1560440-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarNQQ7XF94MSALTesOfreojrbG8gcj1A504x-zfh6ZFR4OMN2ktbO-5X6x4TPsK-ri-7BO9jdULrtOU-59JWkVueBSZRWJxHUxEdX8lVY0LI_MWci19a72YRBCyBK8xzNH41Z0fV2xtQ/s320/dusan-smetana-1560440-unsplash.jpg" width="283" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Here’s the truth: I’m not merely an
Anything Girl wannabe. She’s inside me, and like the prairie dog analogy, how I
remind the world I haven’t petered out in some hole somewhere, the Anything
Girl pops her head up from time to time. It’s a welcome surprise. I like her.
She’s ballsy, uninhibited, and</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">her voice matters</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">. (I’m enjoying addressing
myself in 3<sup>rd</sup> person a little too much. Stopping now.) In time I’ve
learned how to coax the Anything Girl out of me on a whim. If you’re intrigued
and tempted to show the world the Anything Girl in you—pay attention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">The following are all things I’ve
learned to create the best environment for the </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">Anything Girl</span><span style="color: #76a5af;"> in me to </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">thrive</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">—<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">The sooner you embrace life is a tangled
knot of </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">pain </span></span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">and</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"> joy</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">, the better off
you’ll be.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Learn how to not take rejection too
personally.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Establish a circle of trust (nod to
Robert De Niro in <i>Meet the Parents</i>). Stick close with the people who encourage
you through hard times, celebrate your accomplishments, and those who’ll remain
loyal to you through all things. At all times.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Laugh at yourself</span><span style="color: #76a5af;"> as frequently as
possible.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Don’t stuff your emotions.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Don’t embarrass easily.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Be willing to </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">try new things</span><span style="color: #76a5af;"> and
adventures even when they (not if because they will) scare you or you’re
afraid.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Do not—by any means—ever—compare your
life and losses and insecurities and dreams and wants and hurts and chin hair
or knobby knees or cellulite to anyone else. We are all supposed to be
different. And only you can do you (feel free to make a T-shirt with that on
it…giving you full permission here).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Try hard not to control or judge others.
Reflect upon and seek to improve your own sloppy ass life first before you
rattle on about someone else’s mess. Even better, don’t entertain yourself with
rumors or gossip at all.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Swear occasionally. (See don’t stuff
emotions above.)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Get with your spouse often (you’re
welcome, SGM).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Don’t let the past or your idea of what
the future is supposed to look like have more power than your present.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Find something to be grateful for every
day, even if it’s just that you didn’t have to clean toothpaste art off the
granite countertop in the kids’ bathroom for once.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Practice kindness with strangers. And
loved ones.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Seek to understand. All people. All
things. And consider staying quiet until you reach a point of deeper
understanding.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Do not consider anyone of a higher or
lower worth. Treat everyone with an </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">equal measure of compassion and love.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Admit faults readily, but use discretion
online. Trolls will slay you. Even people who are otherwise reasonably cordial
have a tendency to grow claws when their fingers reach the keyboard. Guard your
heart. And your head space.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">When your thought life gets exceptionally
ugly remind yourself of the limited time you have on earth. I often hear Tim
Robbins and Morgan Freeman in my head telling me it comes down to a simple
choice.</span><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Get busy living</span><span style="color: #76a5af;"> or get busy dying.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Don’t be content with who you were
yesterday. Every day strive to improve.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Understand—I mean really understand that
your worth does not come from others’ impressions of you or how tidy or messy
your life is.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Know you will be tempted more times than
you could possibly conceive to give up on a dream—that thing inside you sense
you’re on earth for. </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">Don’t give up.</span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">I’m sure I’ll be writing more posts like
this one. I hope the list above inspires you to be an Anything Girl (or Guy).
</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">The world needs more thoughtful and purpose-focused people leading others toward
effective and healing change. </span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">You ready?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2kg6EqP3ZgTrpJeoRJEq2UjIx4ccYYNtqyK98Hzue05cjEJG_TWjZY5Cl4dDQ8sekCSNq0GXkKs-Rh5BBAHdZ5_oiLZVlaLSyH6V9anPufv6Nwib3Y59aggyPLfEgi8WFoEwClYZvgc/s1600/IMG_5150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2kg6EqP3ZgTrpJeoRJEq2UjIx4ccYYNtqyK98Hzue05cjEJG_TWjZY5Cl4dDQ8sekCSNq0GXkKs-Rh5BBAHdZ5_oiLZVlaLSyH6V9anPufv6Nwib3Y59aggyPLfEgi8WFoEwClYZvgc/s320/IMG_5150.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">*My prairie dog kid ready to hit the
dance floor at prom this past weekend—an Anything Girl in training. And if you
look closely, you might spot the shadow of a rare enormous prairie dog on the
left.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-24727312318454090332019-05-13T08:42:00.000-07:002019-05-13T08:42:34.848-07:00Kermit Is No Joke<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’m not an artist. However, I love to
paint. My mom knows this and she surprised me this Mother’s Day by sending me
six canvases to try my hand on. (Isn’t that cool my mom sends </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">me</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> gifts for Mother’s Day?) Immediately one
of my daughters came up with something she wanted me to paint.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Kermit the Frog. With a cowboy hat.
Wearing a Supreme shirt.</span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Always up for a challenge, I got to
work. I sketched, erased, and sketched some more. I dabbed my brush in greens
of this shade and that. I even figured out how to tackle the hat (this is
turning into a Dr. Seuss post). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">The final product –<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYp-1my3edv7lc1aaVChC6WlxzMAXhyirHRJN1siYwkiWQBtsDdaEriQ-xLtm58qFWezFS4ZiTSOvwVtAC_xuVT0IlVL5S_Yu4YXGnqhuGxz6YvqlBtFxUfdrvCgVLzj0k4cDH5HRu1w/s1600/20190505_123544+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYp-1my3edv7lc1aaVChC6WlxzMAXhyirHRJN1siYwkiWQBtsDdaEriQ-xLtm58qFWezFS4ZiTSOvwVtAC_xuVT0IlVL5S_Yu4YXGnqhuGxz6YvqlBtFxUfdrvCgVLzj0k4cDH5HRu1w/s400/20190505_123544+%25282%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Looks </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">exactly</span><span style="color: #93c47d;"> like Kermit, huh? ;-)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">The point is that I had a fun creating
this. I didn’t hold back out of fear. I simply went for it. And I learned that
cartoonists have real talent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Have you tried </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">something out of your comfort
zone</span><span style="color: #93c47d;"> lately?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-35728809571092459352019-05-06T08:32:00.000-07:002019-05-06T08:32:37.048-07:00Creativity, Craft & Cadence<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jPOoEqQnjTQgWT3gdFGKuexNLiO2tw2r5BM9rky4RFzIQUwzFk_IXZQ5latjsYrr2Hoe2w_sDSUcINts96XKHVofuiVYjoELy-9MBbdX548Xx09JaJJpEeCmJ8E2Qu6fzRz8DfY8jyg/s1600/ruben-bagues-739574-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jPOoEqQnjTQgWT3gdFGKuexNLiO2tw2r5BM9rky4RFzIQUwzFk_IXZQ5latjsYrr2Hoe2w_sDSUcINts96XKHVofuiVYjoELy-9MBbdX548Xx09JaJJpEeCmJ8E2Qu6fzRz8DfY8jyg/s320/ruben-bagues-739574-unsplash.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Hiatus is over. I’m back. After spending some much
needed time in self-reflection and goal-setting, I came to some conclusions
about this blog.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">I’m here to stay.</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">And I know what I want to communicate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">From this Monday on, I aim to dissect the many facets
of creativity. I’ve been paying attention. In particular to the way I choose to
live day-to-day, and I’ve noticed one common theme in my life. An undeniable
thread sewn through everything that I deem important—everything that excites me.
I’m attracted to (and quite possibly addicted to) all things creative. For this
reason, I’m going to be highlighting </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">all aspects of creativity</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> that catch my
eye, set me sail, or light my thoughts on fire. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I’m also going to continue to share </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">what I’ve learned
when it comes to the craft of writing.</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> Last Friday, I completed the rough draft
of my sixteenth (maybe seventeenth?) novel. I’ve lost count. I’ve worked with
some fantastic agents and have received hopeful feedback from readers and
editors through the years. What’s more, I’ve tucked all kinds of helpful hints
in the folds of my brain. And I want to pass along the goods.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Finally, I’ll be writing about girls like Cadence. The
other day, while my seventeen-year-old and I were checking out prom dresses, a
little girl came up to me outside the store. Boldly, she beamed up at me. “Hi,
I’m Cadence, and I can do anything.” It was a random introduction. I’m not sure
what it was about me that made this girl want to say hello. And say it with
such assured confidence. Nevertheless, her greeting stuck with me. That’s when
I realized I want to write about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything
girls</i>—</span><span style="color: #f1c232;">females who live their lives with the hope of bettering the world</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">—of
making a lasting impact on others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFq2DEF-HsoGrsqCL687iRUtpCtf0EX8uJrZrwH9RnOjMHJ_x1ImqlPIrw8ThPF1pawDhqgg2Dwd9xaj0RwxMbx2x1_9Y9TcW6fr99O93W6kWA5HsWfu6IGp0zX8erRNXuM6GUNslavU/s1600/headshotforfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFq2DEF-HsoGrsqCL687iRUtpCtf0EX8uJrZrwH9RnOjMHJ_x1ImqlPIrw8ThPF1pawDhqgg2Dwd9xaj0RwxMbx2x1_9Y9TcW6fr99O93W6kWA5HsWfu6IGp0zX8erRNXuM6GUNslavU/s1600/headshotforfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="404" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFq2DEF-HsoGrsqCL687iRUtpCtf0EX8uJrZrwH9RnOjMHJ_x1ImqlPIrw8ThPF1pawDhqgg2Dwd9xaj0RwxMbx2x1_9Y9TcW6fr99O93W6kWA5HsWfu6IGp0zX8erRNXuM6GUNslavU/s200/headshotforfb.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">It is with great sadness that I share the world lost
an </span><i style="color: #cc0000;">anything girl</i><span style="color: #cc0000;"> this past weekend.
Rachel Held Evans kindly wrote a </span><a href="http://www.wendypainemiller.com/2010/01/guest-post-by-rachel-held-evans.html"><span style="color: #f1c232;">guest post</span></a><span style="color: #cc0000;"> for this blog nine years ago. In
the years since, I’ve watched her career skyrocket and her voice empower many.
She inspired me in ways I could never find the words to communicate. I’ve
hidden away a lot in recent years, tucked inside myself. I suppose there are
many reasons for why I’ve done this. Rachel led the kind of life that reminds
me how beautiful and poignant it is to speak our truth. To stand up for
something we believe in. And to </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">leave a legacy of, above all things, love</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">“It
took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I’m not
going to be silent.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Madeleine
Albright<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-36022276761700207522019-03-25T08:43:00.001-07:002019-03-25T08:43:49.955-07:00Blogging Hiatus<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYXMQF6dggLzHzXpjSBSr03MSvsoPxed_3oDrKNSQT1UelRretowhXqjyrVJnuy_dwinKFR-AHYGaYHNcYRbGpuAq6Pd5ebncIKuARcPwXEm1uXIwffAKuDHSuenapz1ccrDeimPqfFQ/s1600/IMG_4349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYXMQF6dggLzHzXpjSBSr03MSvsoPxed_3oDrKNSQT1UelRretowhXqjyrVJnuy_dwinKFR-AHYGaYHNcYRbGpuAq6Pd5ebncIKuARcPwXEm1uXIwffAKuDHSuenapz1ccrDeimPqfFQ/s320/IMG_4349.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I need a break. It dawned on me the other day that
between cranking out a new manuscript (very excited about this one) and taking
care of things at home, I’m feeling a bit depleted. I considered areas of my
life where I could make adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And I landed here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I love blogging, and have remained committed to it for
over ten years. However, I’ll be taking the month of April to reassess my
blogging goals. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I do plan to return in May. I’m just not sure what
that return will look like. I’m anticipating my social media presence to be
spotty over the next few months.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thanks to those who’ve been faithful readers. Many of
you have encouraged me on this writing journey, and words are inadequate when it
comes to expressing my gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">In the meantime, be kind to one another. And enjoy
this picture of my dog. She’s a nut. A lovable nut.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-9593886035285482182019-03-18T08:56:00.004-07:002019-03-18T08:57:58.322-07:00Crocus Mode<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTX0Supi9i-HWL5YRyFQs7EeJSysH-5sW4saKZ4TPynE2KnU2Ho5LXtG5ohcgWqkF7B4BjxzhyWg_XEsHokQ8KidSVFKtvIvJV9Ae0Zf2K44lu0SenrRDhUXmdhDHqX6fvxPEewLwIKE/s1600/romain-mathon-1255485-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTX0Supi9i-HWL5YRyFQs7EeJSysH-5sW4saKZ4TPynE2KnU2Ho5LXtG5ohcgWqkF7B4BjxzhyWg_XEsHokQ8KidSVFKtvIvJV9Ae0Zf2K44lu0SenrRDhUXmdhDHqX6fvxPEewLwIKE/s320/romain-mathon-1255485-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When the world gets dark, I tend to go
the way of a crocus. I close up. Hide out. Sign off. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This natural behavior in plants is
called </span><span style="background: white;">nyctinasty</span>.
Scientists provide many explanations for why certain plants do this. </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">I know why
I do it.</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The
world can be a scary place. People freak me out on a regular basis. Not just
the mass murderers, but even people on the road or those yelling hateful slurs
at others in grocery stores. The last two docuseries I’ve watched remind me
just how disturbing it can get out there. Two men sharing their account of
being deceived as children. Another child taken in the night. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">See,
the thing with me is that I feel things deeply. Since I was little I’ve had a
tendency to absorb, imagine, and empathize to the point of anguish. I never knew
quite what to do when I witnessed others in pain. I quickly began to feel it. I
remember there was a boy in my school who had a sibling with cancer. When other
girls my age probably fantasized about kissing this boy, my thoughts tangled up
with how I could help, how I can ease his pain. It’s always been like this for
me. And I’ll be the first one to admit, it’s a little awkward to be like this. I
eventually figured out I could stuff a lot of emotion in my stories—my characters.
That resolved some of the empathy overflow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">But
I still </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">anguish for others</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">. I grieve the current condition of the world. I
grieve how it’s always been. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">So,
for self-protection, restoration, and a way to channel and/or preserve my
resources, I close down sometimes when the world gets dark. I nyctinasty. Only
for a little while though. Because I’ve also learned the great value of
</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">remaining open to the light</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKt5lemcxvlKfeSF8wyhbcMOiGEVwX40HlfQjCj3nIS1C11snLT-Id5yn_aBfy8rHX52E6SaO-CiHhnuKRoYV1RH9OexlyxRYJgRxVs66HS9D3_mCAxDJ00VkFQqXY02-OhyYdNblE1w/s1600/aaron-burden-601694-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKt5lemcxvlKfeSF8wyhbcMOiGEVwX40HlfQjCj3nIS1C11snLT-Id5yn_aBfy8rHX52E6SaO-CiHhnuKRoYV1RH9OexlyxRYJgRxVs66HS9D3_mCAxDJ00VkFQqXY02-OhyYdNblE1w/s320/aaron-burden-601694-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Miss
you, Dad. </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-56976053074618219002019-03-04T10:07:00.001-08:002019-03-11T09:37:33.551-07:00After You Put Down the Pen<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuHZAmuEEPLUJFE20ZLWlm5rytTbgeT93BQXdC17N7E3gtraZcwLwp7G0ywgyAWNmULa_-fpIkER0j-euJ23AS3DjWEkmoXf3J9RuBd5_9G07T9y5ippf8RcwD2GL3Q1FNsfvI2uEHCk/s1600/daniel-mccullough-146145-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuHZAmuEEPLUJFE20ZLWlm5rytTbgeT93BQXdC17N7E3gtraZcwLwp7G0ywgyAWNmULa_-fpIkER0j-euJ23AS3DjWEkmoXf3J9RuBd5_9G07T9y5ippf8RcwD2GL3Q1FNsfvI2uEHCk/s320/daniel-mccullough-146145-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Writers, every second of every day you make
choices that either </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">contribute to the survival of your main characters</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> or
decisions that slowly deteriorate them. Bet you’ve never thought about it this
way before. How you live your life—what you do after you put down the pen has
great implications for what plays out on the page. Another way to frame this is
to consider the most effective ways to </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">avoid the proverbial writer’s block.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Here are ten things you can do to ensure
you are giving you’re all when you create your characters and draft that future
bestselling novel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Step Away from Social Media Wars</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">They will suck you in, toy with your
emotions, tempt you to comment, then delete, then comment again. Don’t be
persuaded or seduced by these Twitter rants, the Facebook vents, and the
article comments that rouse your impulses. Your time is far better spent
nailing down your main character’s greatest fear. Or contemplating their weak
spots in order to create that perfect ending.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Go to Bed</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Umpteen thousand studies have proven the
benefits of a good night’s sleep. This spills over to who we write. Our
characters thrive when we thrive. They chase the rabbit down that trail when we’re
going on two hours of sleep, blinking to stay awake as the screen blurs in
front of us. Sleep. It does a body and characters good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Pour Water on Negative Thoughts</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Negativity. Lies. Complaints. When it
comes to writing, negativity in us can transform quickly into nesting dolls.
Our yucky thoughts become our main character’s messed up thoughts, which may
not adequately represent them. Work hard not to let negative thinking get out
of hand. Like the Wicked Witch, throw a bucket of water on them and melt those
suckers to the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Don’t Compare Their Green Grass to Your Brittle Brown</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Comparison has a way of stifling creativity
like nothing else. Don’t entertain trap thoughts. They got a four book deal.
They won an award. They got an agent. They write six books a year. Blah. Blah.
Blah. Every writer is tackling their career with a unique slant. Joys and
hardships come to us all. By the way, your grass isn’t brittle brown. It’s
wheat and it’s beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Remain Engaged</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I get it, this world can be pretty overwhelming
at times. I watched a documentary last night that had the potential to slay me
for a week. Here’s the thing, we need to tap out every so often. To recharge
and forget the world for a while. But then come back and invest in
conversation. Listen to dialogue out in public. Ask questions. This will bleed
over into the lives of your characters, adding a more authentic voice to your
work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Reflect and Hold Yourself Accountable</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The more self-aware you are, the better
you’ll be able to understand what’s going on with your main character. Why are
they so amped up, and how does it relate to something you’ve been struggling
with? Limit the things in your life that drag you down, that squelch your
creativity. Be ruthlessly honest for the sake of your MC’s survival.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Study Up on Psychology</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Psychology is gold for any writer.
Because it opens up the world of motivation and weakness and temptation and
hope and loss. Understanding the whys behind actions and emotions for existing
people will do wonders to help your characters exist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Create a Soundtrack</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Oh, music. It feeds the soul. Coordinate
a list of songs that encapsulate your novel, the arc of growth your character
goes through. Have fun with this one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Read a Book Your Character Would Enjoy (Research)</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Invest in what your characters are
interested in. Writing a comp to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Silence
of the Lambs</i>? Buy a book on butterflies. Main character is a teenager? Get
excited about reading YA. Expand your horizon by sharing a vested interest with
your character. Never know what you’ll learn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Let Your Imagination Go Wild</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Things can feel limiting when we’re unknowingly
placing restrictions on ourselves. There is no one right way to go about
crafting a book or fleshing out a main character. Step out of the box on this
one. Dress up. Act out scenes. Attend a renaissance festival as your character.
Beatbox with the best of them. Write a letter to all your secondary characters in
the voice of your MC. Get in the car with no destination in mind and see where
your MC takes you. We only limit ourselves. The potential is out there. We just
need to remain open to finding it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Writer’s block can be short-lived or
nonexistent. </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">We have tools and resources already available to us. </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Our
characters are depending on our ability to be resourceful. To uncap the nesting
dolls of negativity, to sleep, and to sing a new song at the top of our lungs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Our books and main characters could become
so much more if we would only get out of our own way, and give them the </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">space
and freedom</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small;">*be back next Monday, March 18th</span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-11307954271368186422019-02-25T09:16:00.001-08:002019-02-25T09:16:30.632-08:00A Letter for D<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1uSwFNFSI78/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1uSwFNFSI78?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hey there D,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Been listening to this song lately and
thinking of you. I know you’ve had a rough go of it lately. I remember the
stage of life you’re in. Feeling everything with such intensity. Such raw
emotion. Memories of friends making the conscious decision to turn away still
burrow deep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But there are a few things I want to
remind you of . . . your worth is innate. Intrinsic. The world is blind.
Fickle. Many will love you one minute only to forget you the next. They’ll dare
you to cower. To hide. To shut off and shut down. {Because they’re afraid of
your light.}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do so. For a while if you have to. But
then . . . then we need you to do the exact opposite. See, because <i>this world
needs your love</i>. The world <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">needs</i>
people like you. A thoughtful soul. Your light is important here. It pierces
through the phony and the shallow. It radiates kindness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When you’re ready, step out from the
shadows. Survive. Endure. Search for love. Abide in hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
Numbers 6:25</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br /><br />
Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-70733248644609831242019-02-18T09:15:00.002-08:002019-02-18T09:15:14.590-08:00Two Minutes After They Say Goodbye<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQRpaS8qqmAjGsqGmT_ZkmxvNQndRFBPPddGIXvYw-TtHlaaDS2lxGMEIOho10Y7wdL-pYCn6c8rB28ZpG4Cxou9untGPhnWTr9hyphenhyphenwx5v9GfYncq02ckfi3UFjEWvJihOUkJLwsRkqCU/s1600/katy-belcher-674803-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQRpaS8qqmAjGsqGmT_ZkmxvNQndRFBPPddGIXvYw-TtHlaaDS2lxGMEIOho10Y7wdL-pYCn6c8rB28ZpG4Cxou9untGPhnWTr9hyphenhyphenwx5v9GfYncq02ckfi3UFjEWvJihOUkJLwsRkqCU/s320/katy-belcher-674803-unsplash.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">What type of friend are you? I’d like to think I’ve
learned a lot about being a friend over the years. I’ve enjoyed some of my greatest
friendships as an adult. This </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">topic is so close to my heart</span> <span style="color: #76a5af;">I wrote an entire
novel based on the theme of friendship, only the bond in my book wasn’t a
healthy one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">You can learn a lot about how healthy a relationship is
from how you feel two minutes after someone says goodbye. I have two teenagers
and a preteen. The topic of friendship isn’t one I’ve brushed over or skidded
across lightly. </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">It matters—who we choose as friends</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">. And sometimes it takes
time to discern whether someone is indeed that—a good and loyal friend. Here
are a few questions that might help with the discernment process. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">After they’ve said goodbye, do I feel
depleted? Exhausted? Like I’ve been manipulated or as though I’m always feeling
forced to go along with them? Do I feel like the relationship is uneven in
regards to give and take? Am I reflective or peaceful? Am I excited to hang out
with them again? Am I too anxious to please them or make them happy? Have they
invested in me in equal measure as I have them? Am I making all the efforts? Are
they dangerous in any way? Have they been leading me down a path I don’t like?
Am I changing into someone I don’t like because of them? Do I feel in control
around them or controlled by them? Are they prone to drama, gossip, or bullying
others? Do I like who I am when I’m around them? Do I feel a general sense of discomfort
when I’m around them? Am I good for them?<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Answering these questions may help pinpoint why a
relationship has felt off for quite some time. It’s also important to be aware
that sometimes we contribute to the uneasy feelings in a relationship. For
example, if we are too eager to please that isn’t necessarily about the other
person, but something we can work on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">As I stated, this topic is near and dear to me. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No Woman No Cry</i>, Bob Marley sings how he’s
had good friends, and how he’s lost good friends along the way. That part of the
song always gets me. In the time I have left here on earth I want to be a good
friend. I’ve come to understand that </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">it’s okay to create distance from those
who don’t treat me the way I deserve to be treated</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">. It’s healthy, in fact. I’m
teaching my kids the same—to surround themselves with people who make them feel
valued and loved. People who lift them up, encourage them, and bring out their
best qualities—not their worst.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Right now I have several dear friends going through
some hardships with their teenagers. I’ve been thinking a lot about them and
hoping their kids have even just one thoughtful person come into their lives,
to bestow kindness. And encouragement during this trying season. I know certain
individuals have made a tremendous difference in my life at crucial times. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">When I think about the kind of friend I want to be I
think about Lester in the non-fiction book I just read (posted about it last
week—The Sun Does Shine). Lester showed up for every possible visit to be with
Anthony Ray Hinton, an innocent man trying to stay hopeful for thirty years while
he sat on death row. Lester encouraged in the truest sense of the word. I cried
as I read the following. Ray’s dedicated lawyer had tried almost everything to
get him out. There was really only one more shot at freeing him and it came
with a great risk. Through years of hardship, Ray found ways to remain hopeful
and positive, but this particular day he was struggling. Lester tells him, “We’re
not kids anymore, Ray, and we’re not afraid. </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">We’re going to face whatever
happens</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">. We’re going to face it, and we’re going to fight if we have to fight .
. . We’re still walking home, Ray. We’re still just </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">walking home together</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">A good friend, a true friend will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be there</i> to remind you, when you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need it most</i> that you’re walking home . . . <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">together</i>. That you’re </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">not alone</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-14384069464072443072019-02-11T08:42:00.002-08:002019-02-11T08:42:32.437-08:00Inspiration from the Most Unexpected Place<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRCpy8oR8LUqVbobUo7v8MdjMaa1Ops1DNh0e3hUsPM3a-vbMG9i-gVcB58zXXthVI_bGO9aKbzbWISdaT72dZY0zUXncSyrf4cl1f7UHK3CryWPfFRGn4nucZx3r3XAAD6qPUNvwZBc/s1600/20190207_144047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRCpy8oR8LUqVbobUo7v8MdjMaa1Ops1DNh0e3hUsPM3a-vbMG9i-gVcB58zXXthVI_bGO9aKbzbWISdaT72dZY0zUXncSyrf4cl1f7UHK3CryWPfFRGn4nucZx3r3XAAD6qPUNvwZBc/s320/20190207_144047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #e69138;">I never imagined a man who spent years on
death row would be a source of inspiration for me. Then again, I hadn’t known
anything about Anthony Ray Hinton. Reason number 1,278 why I love book clubs.
Hinton’s book, THE SUN DOES SHINE: HOW I FOUND LIFE AND FREEDOM ON DEATH ROW is
our next read for book club.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Forty pages in, and this book has found a
way to seep into my day-to-day thoughts. Hinton’s honesty, his ability to see
beyond his circumstances has been </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">revolutionizing the way I approach my day</span><span style="color: #e69138;">.
Needless to say, I’m excited about this book.</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> I love when inspiration comes
from unexpected places</span><span style="color: #e69138;">. I’ve been around long enough, and open-minded to a
degree where this is happens on a regular basis. I just never know where the
inspiration will come from—when it will spark. I’ve learned to expect it from
nature, after a lung-burning run, or while reading. And yes, I’m inspired due
to reading his book, but there’s something more here. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hinton </i>is inspiring me. Through his book, yes. But also with a
greater reach—through <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">his life</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #e69138;">I’m tackling some key edits on one of my
novels, but I’m going to carve out some time so I can get back to reading THE
SUN DOES SHINE. It’s one of those books that possesses a </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">gravitational pull. </span><span style="color: #e69138;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Have you read anything life-changing
lately? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-14931043910937513072019-02-04T11:14:00.001-08:002019-02-04T11:14:59.567-08:00Book Club Week<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll_Ysxg87B2_zN0iowj5JYXVZP0LZyLBuOEq3yfuUscJG1Gd9FtjucfaA9NKW9mU3j2z98ze4P-b1JDv1esd4eQUZ6TPS0CE3FPJOEzaLxkXw7-I0bWrGmd6wphb6neQ7C97kUirtYd4/s1600/annie-spratt-631063-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll_Ysxg87B2_zN0iowj5JYXVZP0LZyLBuOEq3yfuUscJG1Gd9FtjucfaA9NKW9mU3j2z98ze4P-b1JDv1esd4eQUZ6TPS0CE3FPJOEzaLxkXw7-I0bWrGmd6wphb6neQ7C97kUirtYd4/s320/annie-spratt-631063-unsplash.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I get to be spoiled this week. I’m
hosting book club at my house tonight with a group that’s magically and
wonderfully come together. We’ll be discussing <i>Where the Crawdads Sing</i> by Delia Owens. Then, on Wednesday evening,
my 6<sup>th</sup> grader and I will join other families to discuss <i>Forget-Me-Not</i> by Ellie Terry in a school
book club. </span><span style="color: #181818;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I’ve been pro-book clubs for years now.
Not only because I’ve garnered a tremendous amount of support from local book
clubs, but also because of the powerful conversations—the connections—they have
the potential to incite. The empathy. Seeing the world from someone else’s
point of view. Taking us out of our own little worlds and broadening our scope.
All good things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I have to laugh sometimes when I come
across mentions of book clubs in some of the novels I read. Often they’re touted
as merely social gatherings. The latest thing. Think Bunco or wine tastings. I’ll
always be one to argue book clubs—when there is actual discussion of books—possess
an intrinsic ability to have us step outside ourselves, if only for a brief
time. Book clubs remind us of our humanity, our vulnerability, our innate need
for one another. They teach us to be gentle and kind to one another, while also
challenging us to stand up for what we believe in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Book clubs remind us of what’s
important. And what’s not.</span><span style="color: #181818;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*Not in a book club and have no idea how to start one? Please,
reach out. I’d love to help! I lived here for maybe three months before I got
to work and joined not one, but two book clubs. All it takes is a love of
reading and a little bit of risk-taking.</span></i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-49197844073186874062019-01-28T08:59:00.000-08:002019-01-28T08:59:14.626-08:00A New Kind of Birthday Song<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">I’m completely immersed in Birthday Land
here at my house. Three girls. All born within the past eight days. And we do
birthdays up around here. Signs. Special dinners. Desserts. The works. Needless
to say, my mom muscles have had quite a workout lately.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Thought it might be fun to post a song I’ve
really been feeling lately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Enjoy!</span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91619058872894494.post-51740518873129435022019-01-21T09:12:00.001-08:002019-01-21T09:13:23.958-08:00Sparking Some Real Joy<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some of you may remember my obsession with finding a
home for my books. I posted about it a few months ago. After putting my brain
to work, I decided to establish a reading nook inside a hall closet. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskhGhI0L0Hzr7Y8tS9tmXpCbQez-6FyhIcmzhsi3l2Q06VTYPfofy6XtXSF7v4P3LSvZkP6fRiIq9zfCI2qLR52rdrMK92QCsbJwxkxdNEnUbw-fVdpos4RhkU2wPO8uyIPljxgpDGBo/s1600/20180902_153111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskhGhI0L0Hzr7Y8tS9tmXpCbQez-6FyhIcmzhsi3l2Q06VTYPfofy6XtXSF7v4P3LSvZkP6fRiIq9zfCI2qLR52rdrMK92QCsbJwxkxdNEnUbw-fVdpos4RhkU2wPO8uyIPljxgpDGBo/s320/20180902_153111.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I haven’t had built-in bookshelves in the past two
homes we’ve moved into. I missed seeing my books. Yeah, I know. I realize this
has the potential to sound a little strange.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">But people, here’s the thing (nod to Marie Kondo), my
</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">books bring me <b><i>joy</i></b></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">You should have seen how giddy I was when a new idea
came to me—a new home for my books. And what’s even better—I created a
library/craft area all in one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">A few days ago, I jumped on the project train and
tackled our garage. We still had boxes everywhere, as well as all other kinds
of miscellaneous items. I stacked. I sorted. I purged. I rearranged. I even
painted multiple coats on the existing dingy brown shelves already tucked
nicely in one corner. Then I began the process of reinventing the space.
Sometimes I get so in a zone when I’m in the midst of these type of projects I
neglect to take a before picture, but man, I wish you could see the difference.
I’m not sure I’ve ever </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">smiled so much</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> while working on home project. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJ72GhUstxwti8L4mdpGfHbhw4oBWg9JEfzRkrE58nBH9yVXOZsqpsxzgehIHhrScLatPQHncBYZfoV82rkT6K9tYxhAEqpHxKBLzwF4eHunaNNp0n1fC9Frxxm45vl0qlL6YZkdqzsY/s1600/20190119_131135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJ72GhUstxwti8L4mdpGfHbhw4oBWg9JEfzRkrE58nBH9yVXOZsqpsxzgehIHhrScLatPQHncBYZfoV82rkT6K9tYxhAEqpHxKBLzwF4eHunaNNp0n1fC9Frxxm45vl0qlL6YZkdqzsY/s320/20190119_131135.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Say hello to my new</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> library/craft room</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">. Hello, books.
Hello, space to be creative. Hello, pictures and memorabilia that bring me joy. I
plan to keep transforming this area, but I’m </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">thrilled</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> with the initial results.
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i>I hope you’re having a reflective and meaningful MLK
day!</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Wendy Paine Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14123871938365782734noreply@blogger.com0