Writing Checklist

The most important step is the 2nd one! Well, now that I think about it, maybe the 1st one is sort of important also.

Happy Birthday, Madeleine L'Engle!

 

Happy Birthday, Madeleine L'Engle! The author of the amazing trilogy which begins with A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine wrote a number of other memorable books including A Circle of Quiet and the Meet the Austins series.

The Secret Lives of Elves & Faeries

 

I pulled this book out the other day for a reread. It is a fascinating story, told through the journal entries of Reverend Robert Kirk. In the Introduction, John Mathews, the author of this material asserts that he has only added subheadings to the text to "make it more readable and to assist those seeking specific paragraphs. Other than this, the manuscript is word for word as Robert Kirk left it in 1692" Mathews adds, "Whether or not readers believe his statements regarding his visits to the realm of Faery remains a matter of personal choice. That Kirk himself believed them to be true is without doubt."

Anyone researching the realm of the Fae will know about Reverend Robert Kirk's discovery of a doorway into the land of faeries inside a great Faery howe (hole in Gaelic) near his father's church in Aberfoyle, Scotland. The Secret Lives of Elves & Faeries describes the wonders that he found within

Revision

 

Truth! I've never heard anyone say that their revision went much quicker than they thought it would!

Never Doubt You Can Fly!

 I find this quote applicable to many things, including writing!

Thanksgiving!

We are celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States today. Wherever you live in the world, I hope you take a moment today to give a hearty "thank you" to the people in your life.

National Crossword Puzzle Day!

Do you like to do crossword puzzles? Today is the day that is set aside to pick up a crossword puzzle and celebrate!Do you do crosswords in pencil or are you brave enough for pen? Do you like your clues easy, medium, or hard?

Inquiring minds want to know😆

November Newsletter

 

My November newsletter went out on the 15th (Wednesday). Did you receive it? If not, check your spam/junk folder. If it's not there, please email me at debcushman@debcushman.com. Thanks!

If you're not subscribed yet, you can sign up on my website. Updates, deals on books, and a new FREE activity added to the Kids Club each month!

Looking for a fun adventure?

 

Writing Days!

 

Today was one of those days.

Historical Play "The Lost Doll"

I wrote a historical play in 3rd grade. I’d read a book about a little girl who lost her doll while traveling by covered wagon. The doll was discovered by a Native American girl who loved and cared for it. In the end, she reunited the doll and the pioneer girl.

I adapted the story into a play with a few extra twists to make the story my own. My teacher loved that play and arranged for the class to perform it for our parents.

I wish I knew the title of the book, but despite many conversations with librarians and online searches, I’ve been unable to uncover it. However, the writing bug bit me, and I was hooked.

Happy Birthday Astrid Lindgren!

 

I love The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking! Pippi is a brave girl full of spunk. She's not afraid to be her authentic self regardless of the community's disapproval. Astrid Lindgren created a character who resonates with every child yearning for adventure.

New Plotting Tool!

 Did you ever have a magic 8 ball?

I think 8 is my new lucky number!

Do you have a lucky number?

Banaga Canyon Short Story!

Did you know there are over 30 FREE activities in my Nadavir Kids Club? I add a new one each month! This month's activity is an interactive short story "Banaga Canyon" that I read at a kids' workshop at the Cascade Park Library last weekend. The kids and I had a lot of fun acting out the parts of the Nadavir characters in this story based on a scene from my middle grade novel Frigg's Journey to Anasgar. I'll be announcing the story in my newsletter on November 15th. You won't want to miss out! Sign up at my website! https://debcushman.com

Chicken Writing Buddies!

I spent last week on a retreat at a lovely home on 10 acres designed for creatives. I went by myself and was able to get a great amount of work done on my novel without interruptions, but I was far from alone. I had the company of these three lovely ladies! Only one of them was shy, the other two came right up to the window where I was writing and peeked in as if to ask, "What are you doing?" Then they each ran back to the shy one to report on my activities.

Writing Desk Choices

There were three desks to choose from in the house where I held my retreat last week. Which one would you choose? I chose the first one! The chair was comfortable, but very squeaky! The high-backed one was nice, but I'd have to climb the stairs every time I wanted to work and I was afraid that might be one more excuse for procrastination! The sparse one had the same difficulty of being located upstairs. So the larger one on the main floor with the huge set of windows (and the visiting chickens outside) was my choice.

A Writing Retreat

 

My week-long retreat at The Rice Place near Portland, Oregon was a magical gift to myself and my writing. The house was built by an author and his artist wife, Clyde and Ginny Rice. From the website: "The Rice Place is a seminal and ongoing endeavor of the Friends of Clyde Rice. Clyde and Ginny Rice's historic home will serve as a retreat for writers, artists, musicians, naturalists, and others who seek a safe haven in which to reflect and create."

http://www.clyderice.org/