@ProfeJMarie Writer, Reader, Educator, Parent
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Instagram Mini-Fics
It works out. Still, rejection stings. #6wordstory #writersofinstagram“Pops, pops! Do you see that one house with the big yard and the tree in the middle of it?” he asks his dad, his nose pressed up against the glass. His dad chuckles, unable to see much beyond the little head with big ideas that fills the squished in window on the plane. “Yeah,” he pretends, “I see it.” “Ima buy that house when I’m grown, then build a awesome tree house and that’s where Jamar and me are gon’ live.” “You won’t live in the big house?” “Naw. You and moms can live there. And Jamar’s parents. I can fix lots of stuff, but you can fix *everything*.” “How do you know Jamar will want to live there with you?” “Because we tight. And he told me about all the stuff we’re gon’ do with our kids. Teach ‘em stuff. See?” His dad smiles and leans in to share the window space with his son, their cheeks lined up, noses to the glass. “Yeah, I see. That’s a good plan.” #Future #writersofinstagram“We met at the campus bookstore. She was singing and looking through every book in the stacks for Psychology 101. I mean, every single book. I asked her what was wrong with all the ones in the reject pile, since I needed that book, too. She told me she was looking for one that had friendly handwriting and highlighting in it already. It was psychology, so that meant everything about the book should feel nice. I was desperate for a new book and couldn’t help myself from grabbing one and holding the shiny, compact weight of the text in my hands even if I knew I wouldn’t buy the new one. I remember opening it just to hear that crack of a new spine and get a whiff of new book smell. New textbook pages have a great scent.” I stop and Mari only looks at me, patiently awaiting the point of the story I suppose. However, I’m not sure what the point is. Nostalgia? That kind of thing doesn’t seem useful right now. I hurriedly finish my story. “Anyway, she ended up buying the new textbook for me in exchange for helping her find the ‘friendly’ used textbook that I paid for. She said her mother expected her to buy all new anyway, so she wouldn’t know the difference.” It took surprisingly little for Lucas to convince me to swap. There was something about her that sought approval, like she needed me to let her make this decision. And much like she desired the independence, I desired the gift of hope. The book represented a fresh start - a life apart from the one I’d left behind. #newbook #excerpt #writersofinstagramProbably one of the most entertaining parts of my new job are watching customers trying to manage the “all-in-one” drink machine. Somewhere some comedian has surely included this bit in her routine, right? I pulled out my phone and zoomed in on the back of a forty-year old man holding his cup under the fountain spigot and putting what looked like all of his weight behind pushing the touch screen button that chooses the drink for him, not realizing that the “pour” button is right below the screen. As soon as he put his whole palm on the screen, I snipped some of the recording and texted it to Justin. His reply came quickly. “One-stop shop for palm-reading and peach-vanilla Fanta.” I choked back a laugh as I slipped the phone back in my pocket and helped the poor fellow out. “Here you go,” I offered, pointing to the big silver button. “The touchscreen is just for choosing. The rest is mechanical.” “Oh, duh,” he muttered. “I thought it was broken, but instead I was just an idiot.” “Nah,” I reassured him, “people get confused by this all the time. It’s just new and different, which can be a challenge.” He gave me a courtesy laugh at that point and I realized I’d slipped into “explain to a child, especially one who can’t handle change very well” tone. Old habits. The buzz in my pocket pulled me away from the now uncomfortable drink machine guy. It was a picture of Kate Winslet’s hand on a steamed window of the car in the movie Titanic. “Or maybe he was going for this to commune with his lime-cherry-root beer.” Another text followed. This one of a bloody palm print on a mirror from some horror movie. “Or he was leaving his last message to the world by saying how much he wanted his coke-kool-aid.” Gross, Justin. Then the next text of an upside down palm print made into an elephant. “He was going to flip over the drink machine after imprinting.” And there I’d gone and done it - sent my brother into a palm print vortex. I shut off all sound and vibrate alerts. If I didn’t, I knew I’d be getting at least a dozen more similar texts. #excerpt #drinkmachine #writersofinstagram-
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Tag Archives: writing
What Good Writing! What Bad Writing!
Do you remember that picture book that went: What good luck! Ned got a letter that said, “Please come to a surprise party.” What bad luck! The party was in Florida and he was in New York. Did you also … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged Alanis Morissette, writing, writing confidence, writing obstacles
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100 Words
Not to be confused with the Ten Hundred Most Used Words (Science) Challenge, I have been participating in a 100 words in 100 days challenge. Writing friend Natalia opened this up to a group of fellow writers who are all … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged 100 words/100 days challenge, The Proclaimers, write every day, writing, writing goals
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Believe
Invest Commit BELIEVE I skipped a year between Invest and Commit, but I kind of love this progression for my One Word Resolution. I’m not great about true resolutions and am more an advocate for specific goals that arise whenever … Continue reading
Posted in Musing
Tagged Imagine Dragons, inspiration, life, new year, New Year's Resolutions, one word resolution, writing
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When Writing Is Hard: 2017 Version
This post of mine came through my FB memories feed last week. I talked about when writing gets hard. Not simply challenging, but “it’s too hard, I can’t do it.” I wrote the following: “…writing looked like insomnia. I had … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged The Head and the Heart, writer's block, writing, writing advice, writing process, writing struggles
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Saturday Summation – 20 May 2017
Bits and pieces of things that caught my eye not only for my own interest, but enough to want to share with you, too… Reading Stuff: James Patterson and Bill Clinton as co-authors on a novel? I might even read … Continue reading
Posted in Reading, Writing
Tagged Hamilton, reading, reading news, Saturday Summation, writing, writing tips
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Saturday Summation – 06 May 2017
Bits and pieces of things that caught my eye not only for my own interest, but enough to want to share with you, too… Hey. Long time no linking, yes? Let’s start getting back into the swing of things… Writing … Continue reading
Posted in Parenting, publishing, Reading, Writing
Tagged Alice Sebold, Angie Thomas, Ann Leckie, Becky Albertelli, Blake Crouch, blog roundup, Brit Bennett, Ibi Zoboi, Liane Moriarty, Lori McKenna, Louise Penny, Nick Hornby, reading, Saturday Summation, writing, writing process, writing tips
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Writing While White: Sensitivity Readers
First, I offer a scene in a current WIP of mine: He thinks over the question. Does everyone hate him? Betsy’s voice talks in his head, telling him “hate” is too strong a word – she works with small children … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged authenticity in fiction, diverse characters, Hamilton, sensitivity readers, writing, Writing While White
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