Monday Morning Musings

First off, I thought I’d share a couple of pictures that will hopefully bring a smile. I buy fresh flowers from a vendor at our local farmer’s market and keep them on my kitchen table where I, and one or two of my favorite statues can enjoy them.

flowers and dragon
The dragon was a gift from my sister after she heard that I sang “Puff the Magic Dragon” with Peter Yarrow when he was in Winnsboro for a concert. The chicken is a gift from a dear friend, who sent it and said the chicken needed to live at my house.
cat and flowers 6-16
The statue is a gift from my daughter. It is the only cat that is allowed on the table, but the four live cats failed to see that memo. Or just ignore it as cats are wont to do.

In the ongoing debate about abortion and women’s’ rights here is something to make folks think a bit. The quote comes from a recent article posted at Daily Kos by Leslie Salzillo, and I’m not posting it to take a stand on abortion. I just thought her words speak a truth that we should all stop and consider.

In one simple quote, Sister Joan Chittister, O.S.B. sums up the hypocrisy of many in the ‘pro-life’ movement:

I do not believe that just because you’re opposed to abortion, that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don’t? Because you don’t want any tax money to go there. That’s not pro-life. That’s pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is.”

The shooting in Orlando  early Sunday is the worst mass shooting in American history. The gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub killing 49 people and wounding 53 wounded, Chief John Mina of the Orlando Police Department said that the gunman, Omar Mateen, 29, told police negotiators — falsely, they later discovered — that he had explosives and accomplices at Pulse nightclub. You can read a detailed report in this link to the The New York Times.

In another unrelated incident on Friday former “The Voice” contestant Christina Grimmie was shot and killed after a Friday night concert in Florida. The shooter then fatally shot himself.

The singer had opened for the band Before You Exit and was meeting fans and signing autographs a half hour after the concert ended when she was shot.

In both cases assault rifles were used. Do we really need to have assault rifles in the hands of the general public?

Writing Tips

The following is from a wonderful article by Sarah Callender at Writer Unboxed about writers’ block.

Psychologists use the term “fixation” to describe what happens during writer’s block. Essentially we become stuck in a development phase. We cycle, and we cannot break free from the mindset or thought pattern. That sounds about right. When I am blocked, I feel dull and unfunny. I cannot unstick myself. I cannot create. Unfortunately, the ability to create might be the most fundamental element of writing fiction.

I really liked this article because it clearly lays out all the factors that come into play when we are not productive. Stuck somewhere in a story that we are tempted to trash and start over. I have always believed that if we just keep slogging away, the debris will clear and we will have words tumbling over each other in their attempt to get on the page. And they will be good words. Words worth keeping.

I wonder if claiming one has writers’ block is just a good excuse to quit the writing for a while, maybe a long while, and Sarah wondered the same thing in her article, sharing this:

Psychologist Steven Pritzker, PhD, believes writer’s block is only an “artificial construct that basically justifies a discipline problem. A commitment to a regular work schedule will help you overcome barriers like perfectionism, procrastination and unrealistic expectations.”

While I don’t like to admit that writer’s block happens because I am undisciplined, it does make sense.

That’s all for me this morning, folks. I do hope your week has started off on a good note. Do leave a comment and let me know your thoughts about writer’s block.

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