Get Outta That Parking Lot

WRITING TIP

Have you ever found yourself driving along, head in the clouds, and suddenly realized you have no idea where you are?

I sure have. I blink, look around, and wonder where I am. Have I missed my exit? Where am I even going? Why am I parked in front of Trader Joe's? Wasn't I going to the hardware store five miles away?

(Photo by Carol Newman)

It can happen when we're driving. It can happen when we're writing.

Recently a friend told me she had thought she finished writing her life story only to realize some important chunks about relationships and experience had been overlooked in the writing.

It isn't a catastrophe. If you are driving, you consult your map or GPS or the sun or moon or stars, or in my case, maybe even call Gentleman Friend. You discover you have parked yourself in the wrong place.

You back out of the parking space, turn the car the correct direction, your GPS says "Recalculating. Recalculating."

That's what you do with the writing, too. Recalculate. It helps if you do it along the way. From time to time, look at that list of stories you planned to include. (You did make a list didn't you? A physical list on paper or your phone? Or a mental list?)

If you don't have a list, make one now. You won't be setting it in stone. It is just a reminder to help guide you along the way. I want to write about moving to Albuquerque, the principal at the school where I taught, Aunt Myrtle's chickens. 

As you are driving, maybe you decide not to go to the hardware store today. As I am writing, maybe I decide to eliminate Aunt Myrtle's chicken story.

It's up to you. But be sure it is up to you. Have some kind of writing plan and consult it from time to time.

(Photo by Carol Newman)

Otherwise, you might find yourself in a parking lot before you reach your destination saying, "Huh, where am I? Where am I going? Seems like I forgot something."

WRITING PROMPT

Make a list of the stories you have written. Where are gaps in time, person or place? Fill in those gaps with stories you want to add.

If you haven't started writing yet, make a list of stories you want to include in your total narrative.

Always keep in mind, you don't have to include your entire life story. You can select stories by theme or special events. For example, one gentleman in a class wrote about his years growing up in India. A woman wrote about her year on a mission trip. Life story doesn't mean entire life.


CHOCOLATE INKWELL

Crunch, chocolate. These homemade Twix bars have it all. Recipe is from Stephanie Manley from
Copy Kat.

(Photo from www.copykat.com)

Ingredients

·         Shortbread cookies

·         1/2 pound butter (unsalted)

·         1/2 cup powdered sugar

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         2 cups flour

·         1 teaspoon vanilla

·         1 1/2 cups caramel baking chips

·         2 cups chocolate chips

·         1/4 cup coconut oil

Instructions

Cookie Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a mixer cream together room temperature butter and powdered sugar for about 2 minutes or until the butter and sugar are light and creamy. Add in 2 cups of flour and beat gently until flour is incorporated to the creamed sugar. Add in vanilla and mix until just blended. When the dough has turned into a soft uniform ball turn dough onto a lightly floured board.

Roll dough into a rectangle shape. Cut the dough into 4 even verticals and then cut them horizontally in about 1/2 inch stripes. Use a fork to prick the cookies about three or four times a cookie so they will bake evenly. Place cookies onto an un-greased cookie sheet leaving a small distance between each cookie. Refrigerate cookies on the cookie sheet for about 15 minutes before baking the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes. By refrigerating the dough you will keep them from spreading out too much.

Melt caramel bits in the microwave for about 45 seconds, or until melted. Spread a thin layer of caramel over the baked cookies.

Over a double boiler melt together 2 cups of chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of coconut oil Stir continually until the chocolate has melted. When the chocolate has melted dip a cookie into the chocolate, turn cookie over with two folks until the cookie is fully coated. Place chocolate dipped cookie onto wax paper. Allow the chocolate to set up fully before storing cookie in an air tight container.

Read more at http://www.copykat.com/2014/02/23/twix-bar-recipe/#A9erDC7jTGbvZjUg.99

Since "hack," meaning "tip," is getting overworked these days, I think I will jump on the cliche bandwagon.

Find more life story writing hacks at.Angel in Your Inkwell.

All rights reserved 2015 There's An Angel In Your Inkwell®

Hey look. A rainbow.

Who doesn't smile and say, "Hey look! A rainbow."

That's how Gentleman Friend and I felt one January  a few years ago when we saw this rainbow in the La Jolla area of San Diego. .

You know how you have some years that seem to be all rough waters and dark clouds?

We had a year like that.

But now we could see a bit of blue behind the dark skies and the waters smoothed out.

I still like this picture so I thought I would send it along to you.

Seems a good way to start a new year.

Hey look! A rainbow.







All photos are by Carol Newman and are the sole property of Carol Newman. 

All rights reserved 2015 There's An Angel In Your Inkwell®

It's Okay to Lie to Yourself

I see I have not posted here since the end of October. Maybe I had a carb crash from Halloween candy. Then November is my birthday month so I took that month off. Then Thanksgiving came so I took a bit more time off. And Christmas. Maybe this is a quarterly blog.

So here we are in a New Year. The sun is shining today so all things seem possible. Among those possibilities, I may allow the topic of the Angel In Your Inkwell blog to morph into something a bit wider and looser than writing memoir. Or I may not. We will both have to stand by and see what develops.

Meanwhile, here are my resolutions for 2015. Really? Read all the way to the end.

 Exercise more.

Eat more vegetables. (I think this guy means business about that.)

 Climb more mountains. Metaphorically. I am no Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild. 

Hang out and relax more.










Or maybe I have no real intention of doing any of these -- except maybe the last one. I just like these pictures.

What's the picture of what you would like to do this year? Send a comment. Or just get out there and do it and then send a comment.


All photos by Carol Newman. 

All rights reserved 2015 There's An Angel In Your Inkwell®