Ominous, Ominous…geez what a stormy morning and day we have had. Good day to stay inside and read a book or watch movies. One could say it was an ugly day, but isn’t this photo beautiful–hmm–point of view. Can’t get over point of view. POV is such an involved, intricate thing.  I was reminded again of POV as I watched WINTER’S TALE (within the safety and dryness of my abode) a movie starring Russell Crowe (be still my heart) and Colin Ferrel. I had read the book and was wowed! Helprin’s writing is outstanding and makes my imagination shift into overdrive. But the movie-YUCK. Even sweet Crowe could not save it. On the other hand, I watched THE READER, written by Bernard Schlink–OMG! more, I want more. The movie was so well done, and the story made me want to read the book. Don’t you find it is usually the opposite? Anyway–THE READER was such a moving, intricate story; it made me question right and wrong (one of my favorite things to question)
So for the day, it has been beautiful–a beautiful reading and watching experience. And God did make it lovely outside–from my point of view.

This morning crossing the span bridge at North Topsail. No traffic so I stopped at the top. It’s still beautiful.

QUOTE;  Your vision will become clear only when you can look  into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside awakes–Carl Jung.

Writing tip: Try not to be redundant. It’s easy to do when you try to stress a particular view. Sometimes we say the same thing only with different words.

Quote: truth is beauty, beauty truth–John Keats

writing tip: make sure there is consistency in your characters.

This is a photo of what Topsail Island looked like in the 1930s. It sure is a far cry from what it looks like today.Things do change and I guess we have to roll with the flow or live in the past.

Things could have looked a lot different if only another set of eyes had projected the future for our fair island.

quote: It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.

writing tip: point of view-different characters will have different points of view. Make them distinguishable.

Somebody has a great big flashlight. ya think? a very beautiful morning on the beach.

The summer markets are coming up in about a month–Surf City Market and Pillage the Village in Topsail Beach. Everything from jewelry to food, veggies, pottery, wood work, photography, wine (some delicious home-made varieties) (the list goes on and on) and of course BOOKS. Yep, I’ll be there–at both markets, sweating in the hot sun, but enjoying meeting all the people who come to visit our island from around the country.

I’m hoping to get up to Beaufort, Morehead and New Bern to some markets there. I’ll keep you posted.

QUOTE: Accident is as much a part of fiction as anything else, symbolic of the grace that, along with will, conspires to put words on the page-Mark Helprin.

writing tip: if you want to be a good writer, you have to set aside pride.

A beautiful Easter Sunday on the water with Mark Helprin my new favorite author. Very exhilarating not only for the fact that it was a blustery day (came about swiftly and heeled to starboard–yikes!) but exhilarating in the passionate writing I found in the author’s stories. Check him out.

QUOTE:  They choose what is interesting over what is profound, the charming over the beautiful, the nimble over the true-Mark Helprin.

Writing tip: beauty is not in perfection, but in the reflection of time and experience. Write your characters from what you know, not what you imagine them to be.

QUOTE: It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

WRITING TIP: keep it simple, keep it true.

It is always good.

quote; My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way-Ernest Hemingway.

writing tip: Oh gee whiz! Another fool asking their family to critique their writing. OMG! please never do this. Your family sees you through a certain lens, one which can always be improved upon. You are cheating yourself by letting your family read your unfinished work.  Hemingway says, write what you see and feel in the simplest way. That is the truest part of you and only you-you don’t need family to validate who you are. The nice thing about it is,once you have completed and published your book your family will be in awe of your accomplishments. If they aren’t tell them to write their own damn book. There will be excuses, believe me.

Now this is perdy! South end of the island and NO people. Loved it. It is a long trek around to the point, however. Reminds me a lot of Ocracoke. Looking forward to the trip up to the Outer Banks next month and hobnobbing with fellow writers. It never ceases to amaze me–the talented people who inhabit our state. Just read a short story western. I was impressed. Not many folks write westerns anymore. But it was interesting and offered a different slant on traditional western literature.  Been reading lots of short stories and am scheduled to do a short story seminar in the fall. I’ll keep y’all posted as to the exact dates.

I’d like to thank those of you who responded to my attempts at poetry. You are kind. I’ll be putting those and a few other poems into PLUM DUFF (my book of short stories and poetry) along with the two short stories I have written in the last month. One is so dark, even gave me the heebie jeebies. And the other I hope keeps you rolling on the floor with laughter. Again, thank you followers, your interest validates and encourages me in my writing.

Where it came from I have no idea (well, yes I do, but…..) the poetry bug has hit me and I haven’t written any of that stuff in ages. But alas (love that word,alas) the bug has bit me and I drift to la la land and listen to the muse. (Hate that word, muse).
As I’ve stated in my writing classes, in poetry every word has a place. Every word is there for a reason. In prose (regular writing) every sentence is there for a reason.
Hope you like this dear readers:

                                                     MODICUM

What a strange word
 modicum is. Just a small
word and not even precise.
Who would think
it could mean so much,
or that it could suffice.

He utilizes a modicum of
 his strength. She possessed
a modicum of sanity.
They lived a modicum of
style and elan. He speaks
a modicum of profanity.

It seems all things come
in modicums. One size
fits all. Albeit a small fitting.
Worth, perhaps dictates
what one selects.What worn
it seems, is not unwitting.

How could one live
without a modicum of joy, of
 peace, of love, of kindness.
Not to mention understanding,
patience, trust, faith, and
oh yes, conscience.

But it is truth and more than
a modicum of it, that once tasted
makes us yearn for more.
It stirs the fire, it calls.
But, if only, just once, say never again.
Why wait behind the door.

Open the damn thing,
If only a crack. Listen if you dare.
Peek inside for simple crumbs.
For hope’s sake, make fear
and doubt and pain, all of those
exist in modicums.