Category Archives: Tips

Resolutions

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TypewriterFontWriterSo of course over the last two days every article I came across was in regards to sticking to the (writing) resolutions we make.  I’m still working on my list — a few items require an investment and I’m already becoming overwhelmed at the amount of things I’m even hinting at wanting to accomplish, both personally and professionally.  I’ve never been very good at the whole resolutions thing.  The idea of setting imaginary goals on one specific day of the year, only to be soon forgotten, seemed pointless when you can start each and any day with the same drive and purpose.  But now I sort of get it.  In the writing world, there are deadlines to be met, opportunities that come and go on an annual basis, and it’s good to be prepared right from the beginning of the new year so you know what to expect.

As I’ve learned, this is something that comes with age, time really does fly.  Days flow into one another to the point of not being able to remember what one did just two or three days before.  With a new year comes possibility.  There’s hope that this one will be different from the last, but this only works when we make a conscious effort to make it different.  We can complain all we like about our fates, but if we do nothing different, if we don’t alter our perspective and take action, then there is no one else to blame come the following year.  So the new year implies making the effort.  We reflect on our past actions and become mindful to not repeat them.

I have made a conscious decision to alter my ways.  I know I wasted too many days not writing last year consumed with depression over failed attempts at contests, not finding a “regular” job, and just a sheer lack of perspective.   Half way through the year I took notice and started to change, so that this year would be better.  Also, I’ve grown more lonely in an already lonely vocation, in part because I don’t have a “regular” job where I interact with people regularly.  So I watched too much Netflix and played too many video games, but I love doing both…This is something I vow to change this year by joining a writer’s group and volunteering.  I want to look back on my life and find it fulfilling, and the past year has not been that.  I told my sister that I had this silly notion that one day, when I’m successful and I’m being interviewed and the like, that I would like “them” to say, “Oh, wow, you do this, this, and this?  How wonderful!”  This is both a personal and professional goal, and though silly, may inspire me to do more with myself and my work.  It’s like having that Oscar speech, or what ever award you want to win, ready.  Most of us are prepared to thank those who helped us or inspired us along the way, and that in itself is a mental goal, that we would like to be standing in front of those esteemed people, worthy of being one of them.

So, here are a few links in regards to sticking to those writing resolutions.  I made note of many of them to help me as well — prioritize, make consistent, manageable progress, identify your big picture, discover and implement your 3 “NOs” as a writer, and a few more.  I hope they help.

LitReactor – The Top 4 Tips For Making Your Writing Resolutions Stick

The Write Life – 3 Steps For Creating Meaningful Goals

Chuck Palahniuk via LitReactor – 13 Writing Tips from C.P.

FabFreelanceWriting – 14 Easy Ways To Improve Your Writing Skills in 2014

Maybe as part of my own accountability, I’ll post my resolutions here.  If they’re out in the world, for anyone to see, it’ll probably hold me to them.

Best of luck and continued success!!

*Image from DL Koontz site

It’s Always All About The Writing

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TypewriterFontWriterI’ve been playing hooky.  (Doesn’t that word look strange?  Maybe it’s just me.  I find it odd that I rely on words and yet, sometimes, a word will just look wrong.  Hooky is just such a word.)  I have to be honest, I just haven’t had any impulse to write the last week or so.  I can blame the holidays, the melancholy that sometimes takes hold around this time of year, the fact that I’ve been a little depressed over the writing contests and the fellowship I didn’t advance in, and a slew of other creative sucking outside influences, but I’ll woman-up and say it’s all me.  I’ve sat down, stared at the computer, and then…nothing.  I know we’re supposed to write even when we don’t feel like it, and it’s a great way to escape reality, but I’ve been losing myself in books, movies, and video games, which are all creative outlets, some with inspiring effects, but, they aren’t writing, and I know that.  I should also know better.

The other night while I lay in bed, my mind finally free to roam because I was dozing off, I had a strange, dark, sort of twisted story idea.  I grabbed my phone, used that note app I’m so fond of, and jotted down what I had just envisioned.  It was a big jump in my mind, something I had heard while watching American Horror Story — there was a line of dialogue that sparked this chain of ideas.  I’m always surprised at where the ideas come from.  And I know this is a story idea I will want to explore.  I’ve been lucky, so far, that I haven’t had a lot of lag time between ideas (that I want to expand on).  I tend to have a vision of one scene, and I go from there.  The first images I have are usually strong ones, that make an impact, which I know, in turn, will make a compelling story (at least I think so).  I try to write everything down right away, because as I’ve noted, my memory is horrible.  I’ll have this idea or a bit of a scene or dialogue, not write it down immediately, and then it’s out the window.  I’ll rack my brain for days trying to recall what it was, but, it’s usually gone.  I even try the trick of walking into the room where I had the idea, or try to recreate what I was doing, saw, heard, etc., but my mind is like a bottomless abyss where ideas fall, never to be heard from again.

Then I saw this article about choosing which story to write next and thought I’d share it.  If you have too many ideas and don’t know where to go, Script Magazine offered this advice, which can be utilized for any writing, not just scripts as the title suggests.  I think this also helps in relation to the “branding” idea I discussed recently, when you’re trying to build a portfolio of your work, and loving the story your writing.  It all comes back to passion.  Which has made me rethink why I’m not writing.  Maybe it’s a lack of passion.  I’ve let a lot of those outside influences dictate my mood, which is always a creativity killer, but sometimes life just gets in the way of productivity.  I did not meet some of my year end goals, another thing to add to my current state of mind, but then I thought, “the goals are meant as a challenge”.  “They are meant to be inspiring, not to encourage a defeatist attitude.”  They were a little inflated as well, so as the new year lingers on the horizon, I will keep those goals in mind, set new, attainable ones, and work a little harder to achieve them.

And this is what I wish for all of you —  Don’t set yourself up for failure.  Try to remain focused.  Try to maintain discipline.  Stay positive.

I wish you all a Happy New Year and a productive one at that!  Continued well wishes to you and your writing!  And thank you all for your encouragement by following my ramblings and encouraging me to continue to work on my dreams!

xx, Rach

What is Saleable?

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I’ve been reading a lot of articles lately and this one word keeps popping up — saleable (which means fit or able to be sold).  This absurd sounding word is actually resounding throughout Hollywood right now, according to numerous sources, because your work should be saleable.  No kidding.  Isn’t that, in part, why we’re doing this?  As artists/writers, we write, and write, and write, sometimes for many years without any acknowledgment, let alone any monetary reward, but that is the goal.  So when I hear this word it sort of makes me laugh, because what they really mean is that they want something marketable, something that will bring in a large return.  Apparently production companies are a little nervous, and sales have been dropping.  I love hearing that and then seeing the weekend box office of films slated for release.  So many continue to come out that I can’t believe found funding; remakes, endless sequels, and reinventions.  It’s hard to be a writer with interesting stories gathering dust while a slew of “mediocrity” (this is not meant entirely as an insult, because who doesn’t love a bad movie from time to time?) finds its place in the world.

InsideMyHead

So what does “saleable” have to do in relation to your work?  My honest opinion is nothing.  If you believe in yourself and your art, if you’re passionate about what you’re writing, then someone will take notice.  I remember this great piece of advice I got once — Don’t chase trends.  Why?  Because by the time you get your work in front of someone that might be able to do something with it (like get it published or sold to a production studio) that trend will be over.  Write what you’re passionate about.  If it happens to be a story in a genre popular right now, that’s fine, because in a few years that trend will come back around and you’ll already have something ready.  Obviously, if your story is different than all that other stuff out there, all the rules go right out the window.  But, remember this, when you’re starting out, write about those things you love.  It’s your time, your energy, your lack of sleep, going blind staring at the computer, praying that someone will notice your work, starving because you don’t want to work at that crap job anymore — so why would  you want to waste all that on something you don’t even care about?  You should love your characters.  You should love your story.  I hope it makes you laugh out loud, or well up with tears, because it is that kind of passion that will help you sell it.

Best of luck to you all!

Damsel in Distress? No Thank You.

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All I wanted to do was write up a nice, little blog about this article I read on LitReactor, Dystropia: How the Damsel in Distress Has Evolved, but it started becoming this rant on feminism, and how men objectify women, and how women cut each other down.  Not exactly the direction I intended.  As a modern-day woman, I do find the exploitation of women in this day and age infuriating, and I do not care for stories or movies where the woman’s sole purpose is to be rescued, to cause the ensuing chaos, or to serve no purpose other than to be eye candy — we’re more complex than that, we offer more than that, and it’s time to stop putting us in those boxes.  I’m tired of terms like “bitch” or “slut”.  Just because a woman is strong, vocal, not ashamed of who she is, and not afraid to stand up for what she believes in does not make her any of these labels.  Let’s just get rid of the labels all together.

Sydney2Buffy w:stakeNikita2

I read somewhere that writer Damon Lindehof, co-writer of Star Trek Into Darkness, regretted writing the scene where actress Alice Eve, aka Dr. Carol Marcus, flashes her underwear for no reason other than to flash her goodies.  She’s a scientist, a weapons expert, and yet we have to show her practically naked for what reason?  C’mon.  Fanboys weren’t the only people in the audience.  This is why finding writers that actually create complex female characters is so refreshing.  Some of my favorite shows ever host a female lead; Buffy the Vampire Slayer, La Femme Nikita, and Alias.  All these women, besides being kick-ass, were great characters.  Game of Thrones is wonderful for this reason as well.  Daenerys Targaryen, played by Emilia Clarke, has had a wonderful character arc from frail, young girl to the leader of an army.  Cersei Lannister, played by Lena Headey, has said in interviews that people have called her a bitch to her face, as if she is her character.  If the actions of her character were done by a man, no one would have anything to say.  I’m also a fan of Lost Girl, that not only has a wonderful lead, but interesting side characters as well.  I like the direction TV is going with women, creating strong characters without cliché.

I love the show, Sherlock and its lead, Benedict Cumberbatch, but I have to wonder what sort of reviews  it would get if they had made Sherlock a woman.  Why is it so shocking when a female character is an alcoholic or has some eccentricities?  Why is it absurd to vocalize that not all women want to be mothers or somebody’s wife?  Why do women have to be pigeonholed into a certain category where men feel secure?  What year is it?

Then I found this article by the New York Film Academy about Gender Inequality in Film.  It’s kind of shocking, considering we make up half the population.  As a woman writer, I write about female protagonists with a strong, supportive female cohort.  Two of my scripts are almost entirely made up of women.  I’m not trying to make a statement, I just think that the number of women represented in literature and film is dismal, and when a strong female character makes her way on the scene, she is usually met with resistance.  Have we not, as a society, moved past this point?  I may have been raised by Disney princesses, and believe me when I say they made a huge impact on me, that doesn’t mean those are the types of stereotypical women (maybe just variations) I want to continue to go out into the world.  Little girls deserve more realistic diversity.  They need role models, but they also need to know that whoever they turn out to be is okay.  And the only way they can know this is if we, as writers, make those types of characters available.  Don’t take the easy way out — write interesting characters!

Okay.  I’m going to stop right there, because this did turn into a rant.  Ah, well.  Hopefully, it was enlightening.

Have a great week everyone!

*Images: Sarah Michelle Gellar of BVS, Peta Wilson of LFN, and Jennifer Garner of Alias.

All About Being Helpful

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Writing-Clip-ArtSo I’m done moping.  Although I felt a slight indignation last night, today I only wanted to send out positive energy.  As writers, we are always striving to better our writing by continuously reading and learning.  In this vein, I am attaching a handful of, hopefully, helpful resources…do with them what you will.  I have a dozen or so pages to read (oh, yes, again), and will share what I learn from all of those next week.  I suppose this is a good way to accumulate a blog inventory.

Although mainly for screenwriters, Script offers tips and advice that all writers can take advantage of.  If you haven’t taken a look at their site yet, besides their own blogs and information, they offer free downloads on a variety of topics, such as query letters, editing, dialogue, networking, etc.  I’m taking a look at a couple of them this weekend that I’ve already downloaded to test their value.  Here is the list of available downloads.

LitReactor is another useful site.  If you’re a fan of Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club, and my personal favorite, Invisible Monsters), you’ll be happy to learn he regularly contributes.  My favorite article from him is about Thought Verbs.  He reassures the reader that it will make for better writing and who’s going to argue with a writer like Chuck?  I also follow them of Facebook so I don’t miss anything.

A site I came across today, Daily Writing Tips, has loads of information on everything from grammatical errors to proper punctuation to proper word usage.  This would be a good one to bookmark as a reference tool.  I also like the site by Grammar Girl, Quick and Dirty Tips.

I’m also a fan of the site, The Write Life.  I’ve attached articles multiple times from this particular page and follow them on Facebook as well.

Well, that should be enough to get you started.  *Wink.  Please feel free to share sites you find useful as well!

Have a wonderful and productive weekend!

*Image from megrosoff.co.uk  

Accepting Who You Are

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TypewriterFontWriterSo, I have something to confess.  I recently realized how time consuming blog writing can be.  For most of you out there, you’re probably thinking, “Duh”.  Sometimes I spend hours trying to get the words just right or the pictures to look just so, and I end up not writing anything else (– that’s the confession part).  I’ll have my Final Draft window open with the script I’m currently working on, but it does just that –it’s sits there, antagonizing me, reminding me of my lack of productiveness.  Now, I am a bit of a procrastinator and I’m well aware of it, but the things that have been going on this week, piling up, are not due to this condition.  I swear.  So I’ve come to a decision.  In the beginning, I was trying to write a blog a day, but as I’ve taken note of over the last few weeks, I can’t keep up (and neither can some of my readers), so, I’m going to write blogs only 3x a week and get myself back on track at writing my stuff everyday.  I think some of it has to do with that rewrite, you all know the one.  It has mentally worn me out.

So what does this have to do with accepting who you are?  In part, it’s about not feeling like a failure when things don’t go as planned.  It’s about setting boundaries and limitations because sometimes we try to do so many things that it becomes impossible to do them all without something falling to the wayside, then we feel bad, and that’s not a good attitude to have when we’re trying to be creative.  In addition to the big goals you may have set for yourself, it’s good to set smaller, daily goals that you can aim to achieve.  Whether it’s a word or page count, how many query letters you’re going to send out, or finding a handful of networking opportunities, set attainable “to do’s” that you can meet and feel good about yourself for accomplishing.  A positive mindset definitely encourages a more conducive writing experience.

You may have to do a little self-reflection, and come to terms with certain facets about yourself.  And I don’t mean only the negative things or those features you consider shortcomings.  If you acknowledge who you truly are, you’re more likely to use it to your advantage, and then who knows what you can accomplish.  Like my procrastination, that sometimes works to my advantage, but can also be stress inducing — I accept that about myself and try, with great effort, to not (always) allow that to rule my day, and yet, when the clock is ticking, my mind suddenly clears and there’s a spark of genius.  Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but I do find a strange clarity in those tense final moments (and blaring heart palpitations).

I found two different posts today from friends that reiterated this lesson.  If you’ve never taken a personality quiz before, this one from iPersonic, may be enlightening.  Then, there was a study about Why Creative People Make No Sense.  That made me feel so much better about myself.  Hopefully, it will clarify some things for you too.  We are creatives.  And that means we are complex creatures and we should be proud (maybe I’ll have tee-shirts made or start a support group).

Okay.  I am not going to agonize over this blog any further (P.S.  If you find any grammatical errors, please let me know!) and I’m going to go write.  Really.

Good luck to you and your writing endeavors!

*Image from DL Koontz site

Preparedness (The State of Being Prepared, For The New Screenwriter)

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I’ve read that the best time for a screenwriter (and actors) is in the spring.  The holidays are over, it’s a new year, and the television industry is in pilot season and finding new writers to add to their staff.  So it’s best to be prepared ahead of time.  I already feel that this is going to be a two-parter.  As a “new” screenwriter, there are quite a few steps to getting your career off the ground.  You can’t, in all honesty, have only one script ready.  It is due in part to one major follow-up question that will inevitably be asked, “What else do you have?”  According to screenwriting career coach, Lee Jessup, you should have a well rounded portfolio that includes: 2-3 well crafted scripts all in a similar genre, 1 tv pilot or web series, at least 5 more ideas in your genre, and 2 more strong ideas outside your brand*.  *Brand, for a screenwriter means that we (our image), along with our work, are a product, and when you initially make your mark on the industry, it is how you will be recognized.  I currently write (mostly romantic) stories with fantastical elements, so my brand is the fantasy genre and I plan on wearing a lot of pink.  At first it might seem like a pigeonhole, but from what I’ve read, it’s an asset — you could be the one the big-wigs come to for help when a screenplay needs a rewrite in a similar vein as your own style.  Many screenwriters fill their time and make additional income by being script doctors, reliable rewriters (look up Carrie Fisher).  Tip #1 – Keep writing!  Tip #2 – Start developing your portfolio!

So you have your portfolio, somewhat in order.  Then you have to write a query letter and find an agent.  If your networking has been successful, you may already have a lead on an agent.  You’ll quickly learn it’s much easier to get through the gatekeepers (assistants) if you have an “in”.  I have a friend who has referred me to his agent, and as soon as all my little ducks are in a row, that phone call will be more effective.  If you don’t have any contacts, the next best thing is a well written query letter.  There are numerous sites with useful information available, here’s one from Script.  Then there’s the research into finding an agent taking on new clients.  The Writer’s Store offers a directory, updated a few times year, with just this information for a small fee.  Finding an agent will have to be a whole other post or three.  Tip #3 – Craft a query letter!  Tip #4 – Generate an agent/producer/manager list!

And then here are a few more things to be aware of:

5. Your image

6. Become an expert (It’s the ace up your sleeve – be it dialogue, genre, character development, a time period, what have you…)

7. Read the trades (be aware of what’s happening in the industry – Variety & The Hollywood Reporter)

8. Create a list of writers you like, their work, and writing tricks/storytelling techniques they use

9. Find networking opportunities

Okay, that should get you all started.  *Wink.

Have a great weekend!

 

A Journal Entry & A Few Tips

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Where do I begin?  I’m still waiting to hear about the writing fellowship I applied for, which is an enormous source of anxiety at the moment.  It’s a great opportunity and I really want it.  I constantly check my email and their Facebook page, which rarely receives an update, and as I gnaw my bottom lip into oblivion and incur a few more gray hairs, I find it hard to concentrate and continue working.  A friend offered me words of encouragement and support in regards to my writing, and to keep looking forward to the next opportunity, but I would greatly appreciate a favorable outcome on this one.  Like most writers, I have a backstory filled with dysfunction and hardship, and there are only so many circles in Hell, so at some point the bottom has to curve back upwards, right?  Okay, my pity party is over.  Back to the topic at hand.  I don’t like limbo mode, and until I know one way or the other, I seem to have had the wind taken from my sails.  I know I’m putting too much stock into this one prospect, but after taking a few knocks this year, I’d like to remember 2013 as the year this amazing thing happened.  It is exactly for this reason I should pour myself into my work, yet here I am, trying to give myself a mental kick in the writing pants.  I should focus on my angst-y protagonist and get her into some butt-kicking scenarios.  That should relieve some stress…this is really just a journal entry, a reminder for my future self.  As writers we struggle.  I think it’s a rule or a genetic defect or a gypsy curse, that we must struggle (physically, emotionally, creatively) in order to be better artists.  And sometimes we just need to vent about it.

On a completely different note, when I returned from the long holiday weekend, I had over a dozen webpages open to read, with more deleted immediately and others bookmarked for future reading.  With the end of the year quickly approaching, numerous sources are offering their year end reviews, best of’s, items of noteworthiness, and ways to start off the new year, etc.  I thought I’d share The Writing Whisperer’s 50 Ways Writers Can Prepare For The New Year.  I think it’s important to set new goals each year (one of the things listed).  I was always terrible at keeping my New Year resolutions, until I was a little older and determined to change my ways.  I’ve mentioned how I put together my own Professional To Do List that includes over 20 items.  I attacked it with voracity initially, but have let a few things lapse (some are time sensitive, some require an investment) until the new year, when I come out of the gates charging.  I find that writing down your goals and posting them, rather than just mentally taking note, is more effective, since it’s staring at you (depending on where you stick it – mine is right beside my monitor, and it is always eyeballing me).  Simple changes, like buying a new journal or pen, taking a little time out to organize/purge your computer’s desktop, your actual desk, and your writing environment can make you feel better or possibly inspired, because who knows what you’ll find.  I’m a little OCD when it comes to being organized, so that’s not an issue, but I would like a new desk, maybe I’ll ask Santa for Christmas.

I hope your week is less stressful and more productive than mine.  I know I’m more productive at night, when my house is finally quiet, so I should take advantage and dispose of some of this angst.  Let’s see what comes of it.

Best of luck to you all!

 

Writing 101 And A Little Rant

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I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!  I’m just back myself and have to pull myself together after the little getaway.  I find it ironic that the day I posted a blog about finding some time to write when you don’t have a lot of time that I lost all of mine.  I went away for the long weekend and found myself without an opportunity to do any writing.  I fell asleep each night exhausted from the day’s events, and barely had a moment to think of any ideas let alone write anything down.  I took my writing journal and it never saw the light of day.  So here I am, putting my nose back to the grindstone, because I have some making up to do…although, I’ll probably need to start out slow.  Whew, I’m still tired.

I saw this chart today, The Seven Steps to the Perfect Story, and thought I’d share.  Since storytelling has been around since the invention of language, obviously there are some components that are required and we need to be aware of them.  The foundation for these principals can be found in  Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces and Christopher Vogler’s The Hero’s Journey (Vogler’s book was inspired by Campbell’s), which I believe are essential reads for any writer.  As I’ve said, and I’m sure you’ve heard time and time again, you have to learn the rules in order to break them.

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but if you want to do something, like write or play music or paint, I think it should be part of your education and knowledge base to know the history and evolution of the field you want to be a part of and those that came before.  I met someone who wanted to be a filmmaker, but wouldn’t watch anything prior to the 70s.  The art of film is only a little over 100 years old.  There have been great advances in technology that have therefore advanced filmmaking, but you need to know the basics, and some of my favorites are from the 50s.  How can you call yourself a filmmaker without any knowledge of 75% of the field?  It goes without saying that I did not continue that friendship.  It’s like wanting to be a guitarist and not knowing who Jimmy Hendrix is?  Or wanting to be a writer but you don’t want to read.  Nonsense.

So as the madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday come to a close, while we wait for more holiday madness in the coming weeks, I wish you all the best of luck in finding a few quiet moments to do what you love.

Have a good week!

The Holidays Are a Time-Sucker

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The time-sucking holidays are upon us.  And today I was just all over the place, literally and mentally.  Preparing for Thanksgiving, car problems, and regular life stuff.  I had started a blog earlier in the day, got sidetracked, and now here it is, 1:30 am, and I’m just getting back to my computer.  I had planned on working on one of my pieces…maybe in a bit.  But I know I shouldn’t stay up too late, because I have another full day ahead of me.  Where does the time go some days?

The pitfalls of the holidays; family, friends, festivities, and plenty of “excuses” to not get work done.  Finding time can be difficult without letting other things fall to the wayside.  So how and where can we find a few extra minutes in our day?  This depends on each of our schedules and what we’re trying to accomplish.

1. Maybe we get up a little early or stay up late and write if even for just 15 mins while everyone else is asleep.

2. Maybe we can write a little during lunch.  Bring our lunch to work and find a quiet corner where we can eat and write in peace.

3. I like those little tape recorders that you can voice your ideas into when you’re driving or grocery shopping or waiting anywhere so that way when you do have some time, you can write down those fantastic little gems that always seem to come (to me) when (I) don’t have the opportunity to actually write them down.  Or use it to generate whole paragraphs, scenes, characters, outlines, etc.

4. If you do have the opportunity to make notes throughout the day, be sure to keep a notebook and pen with you at all times.  I’m also a fan of the notes app on my phone.  It never fails, I’m half asleep and something will pop into my head.  I can’t get up.  It’s cold.  It’s dark.  And I have two dogs snuggled up beside me.  So, I grab my phone with its built-in night light and jot down that idea before it disappears.

5. DVR a few shows and write instead.

6. Ask for some time from those that depend on you.  Ask for help around the house.  Make everyone do their “homework” at the same time.

7. Cut back from the internet.  This is a hard one to do, because if you’re like me, you write on your computer and that internet is just staring at you, enticing you to look into its goody bag.  We use it for research.  To find inspiration.  To lose all track of time.  I know it may be difficult to quit cold turkey (holiday pun intended) so just limit your time.  Only go on in the morning or at night and give your self a time limit.  If you know you have to look something up, do it right away and don’t get sucked into the click happy vortex.

I don’t know…these are just suggestions, but I know the time will add up and regardless of how much you accomplish each day, you are still moving forward, still progressing, even if it’s not at the same rate you would normally write.  We can’t feel too guilty at this time of year, because our time is divided, and ’tis the season of giving.  We spend a lot of time on our own, in our own worlds, so we should enjoy the holidays, and surround ourselves with loved ones, because it only lasts a few short weeks..and then we won’t have any excuses.

Have a good week!