A [Space] of One's Own

The desk that we found at a yard sale was supposed to be chic counter space and hallway decor; however, last night it became my writing space.  Writing at home just became possible as I face the wall so I don't become distracted by the household chores.

I armed myself with headphones to drown out the activity surrounding me.  It's cozy and is exactly what I needed.  A map of our journeys is plastered above me to remind me of stories I've collected along the way.

Journals to which I've submitted hang on my wall.  They will either come down or stay up depending on rejection on acceptance.  Quotes from my children offer inspiration taped with washi tape to the wall in front of me.

A candle sets the mood and the reason for it all sits right beside it, a frame with my children's names on it. Loose leaf paper is the only way I write these days.  Journals have become too cramped.  Drafts hang behind the candle.  Call it superstitious.

I'm sure the space will evolve.  Right now I'm just elated to have it and use it.  Happy writing, friends.  Do you have a space?  What does it look like?

#WritingeverydayinSeptember

Roundtable

Each month our writing group gathers for a roundtable to discuss ideas, vent about life, foster new habits, and keep each other accountable to the craft.  Ideally, roundtable should last about 2 hours, giving each writer enough time to let us know what they are working on. It never lasts 2 hours and I'm pretty honored to share the table with such amazing people.

This weekend's roundtable lasted a bit over 7 hours.  It seems to be the place where we are most free, most open and most vulnerable  to each other.  We discussed politics without unraveling anyone's feathers and many, many other things that won't get to live on this blog because of the privacy pact we have.

I will share that each of us is working through an incredible energy and an important platform.  I can't wait to read each of the our stories out loud.  Though some stories may be fiction, they are rooted in a grand reality.   The non-fiction stories will grip you in place.  I'm very proud of us.

Currently, I am working on:

1. Edited and submitted to several publications a short fiction story about an alcoholic man who loses his wife to cancer and reflects on what he lost (can't give it away).  It is meant to be a spiritual piece without being overtly religious.

2. Edited and submitted to a couple of publications a short fiction story about a young immigrant trying to get home to his sister in America.  It all happens in the span of 2 minutes.

3. Working on a short non fiction story about a German woman I met, who explained to me her prayer for her daughter to come home and in her childhood being lost in a concentration camp.  I'm not sure where it's going yet, but it takes place at Sunday service (because it really did).

4. Working on a short fiction story about a woman who is going to a nursing home and begins to uproot her garden and with each plant she uproots, it reminds her of someone close to her.  She never makes it to the nursing home.  Not sure where it's going because she's stubborn.

What are you working on?  Share your roundtable with me.

#writingeverydayinSeptember

Writing Life (Non-Fiction)

I found a gap in today and began to write. 
My hands are not as flexible as they once 
were so my handwriting has become lazy. 

I don't want to have to go all the way up 
to make an I in cursive and I don't put two 
humps in my n's and fall short of 
completely looping my o's. Rereading this blurb 
I notice that the r's and f's are also lazy.

Protein. 

More protein.