tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75705125227414090332024-03-18T11:58:40.879-07:00Mirka MuseMirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.comBlogger664125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-9150538188429642992024-03-12T06:00:00.010-07:002024-03-12T10:39:56.711-07:00The THEME<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
know I’ve posted on this before, though it’s been a while.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Good
stories have an underlying theme, or themes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">We
know the how-to advice, that strong stories are better born of strong characters,
and the more generic/commercial stories are born of a plot arc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">For
me, almost all stories are incepted from themes, and as I draft, I keep the
theme front of mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Pivotal
themes in picture books are family, the nature of nature and other man-made
creations, feelings such as sadness or joy, and concepts such as
numbers/colors/letters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">For
middle grade readers (ages 8-12) central themes are friendship, family, school
struggles and, as the perennial for all ages, the nature of our world, i.e.,
reality and our place in it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
got to thinking about it again as I read <a href="https://janefriedman.com/3-ways-to-use-theme-to-deepen-your-story/">this
post here.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
know what themes I want to explore. Then, I choose the persons who would go on
this exploration (protagonist and antagonist) and their side characters usually
emerge as the plot unfolds. Mechanics of plot are so well researched in how-to
books that this is the smaller, less demanding part of drafting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Most
storytellers don’t follow this order of construction, but I offer it as yet
another way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTxIw0f4TepHif1jIpoLAGyc78SrywK8URdrPj2qgUQzBL57RlLXsYWRjW1kh1JftJEWSKzuyyzyIJp0BJBeotxtmZXjMJV81_yjWQhWHaz1oqWYuWlsgeuJCaR_gciBIq0BXdnEZotBIHIUlSCgQ_qO_um0yPb9i3yRzqxAPwydz5Mn0jvrW_P_t3fw/s868/Themes%20in%20literature.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="868" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTxIw0f4TepHif1jIpoLAGyc78SrywK8URdrPj2qgUQzBL57RlLXsYWRjW1kh1JftJEWSKzuyyzyIJp0BJBeotxtmZXjMJV81_yjWQhWHaz1oqWYuWlsgeuJCaR_gciBIq0BXdnEZotBIHIUlSCgQ_qO_um0yPb9i3yRzqxAPwydz5Mn0jvrW_P_t3fw/s320/Themes%20in%20literature.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-84868535335668029752024-03-05T06:00:00.011-08:002024-03-05T14:38:54.236-08:00CONFLICTING ADVICE<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Re-reading
<a href="https://janefriedman.com/conflicting-query-advice/">this post,</a> I
thought how hard it is to know, really know, which advise to follow when one
opinionator differs from the other. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">This
is a perennial problem. It’s felt keenly when the less experienced ask for guidance
from the more experienced. This is a universal dilemma which we encounter in
every field and every matter. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Gone
are the days when “father knew best” and adults were authorities on every issue
under the sun. Besides, having grown up and now being one of those adults, means the final judgement is ours, and we own it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The
world of knowledge is complex, so we turn to experts. But, oh my, the experts
don’t agree. Even if “most” (by whose measure?) say one thing, who’s to say the
minority isn’t more correct? It’s happened before, countless times.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Here’s
where I stand: I ask. I listen. I let feedback and information rest for a time
and settle. Then I do what feels right to me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Because,
like <a href="https://janefriedman.com/conflicting-query-advice/">the
referenced post</a> says, it often comes down to taste and sensibilities. We
have to live with ours.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfukH2ANLL2GHAw2Y8UsJH8X4IerDvm6WKp7HwanaG6XnQWHzop1c44e1DLenq01igYaGeul1KVblORbzrq6pTByq5RmWCEyN6JITRhVKwEUKaKNIvYcqx8dHpUBHSM2tpd2P8nVWguw5Wo1gI1bUrJeX5sw6tosvv8B3Coq95pJbqm1FITTniN8rxUs/s770/blogging-advice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="770" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfukH2ANLL2GHAw2Y8UsJH8X4IerDvm6WKp7HwanaG6XnQWHzop1c44e1DLenq01igYaGeul1KVblORbzrq6pTByq5RmWCEyN6JITRhVKwEUKaKNIvYcqx8dHpUBHSM2tpd2P8nVWguw5Wo1gI1bUrJeX5sw6tosvv8B3Coq95pJbqm1FITTniN8rxUs/s320/blogging-advice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-76807359233965031862024-02-27T06:00:00.020-08:002024-02-27T08:19:31.131-08:00Do You LOVE What You Do?<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In
every line of work there are aspects that are less likable. Some of these “unlikables”
are universal, but most are not. (You’d think that cleaning toilets, for example,
would be one of the universally despised tasks, but I have known more than one
person who didn’t feel this way.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">But
then there are the things people love about their job. Perhaps it’s their
co-workers, or the way they can look with satisfaction at what they have
done/made/accomplished at the end of the week, or the challenge of the work
itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">No
matter what, the closest way I find to gauging how much one loves what they do is,
barring the need for money, if they do or don’t wish to retire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
thought about it the other day, when one of my doctors (the internist I see for
general checkups who is universally adored by her patients) told me she hopes
to retire soon. She isn’t old, not by MDs standards, for they have no mandatory
retirement age.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My
dermatologist, who is at least twenty years older than my GP, told me he can’t
imagine retiring. He loves his work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
thought about it again when a writing colleague who’s a gifted and published writer
said she was done writing. She’s now a retired writer. It has been a rewarding
and enriching journey, but she was done. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Writers,
like doctors, don’t have to retire. Writing is separate from publishing,
because most writers are never published. This isn’t (for the vast majority) a
matter of money. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">It
is all about how much you love what you do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">If
money considerations were not in the mix, would you:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Retire
right now<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Never
retire<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Not
sure. Not retire now but can see retiring from your work in the future<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
am guessing (it isn’t more than a guess, no statistics worth quoting here) that
most people would retire yesterday if money were not an issue. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">That
is plumb sad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Count
yourself lucky if, like my dermatologist, retirement holds no charm for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L9v5wWX_t1pWTUmEd37hHDYkHMBSFQgV6riB6UorDFXcf6NOesLKD49siJS5UycAmbMQ6-M44wWZEOHle39p-fys0BWt4wqZXpa0AjHtZLGcvzAjVpkgLdXJ-d12WjJ5h5_k4oMkNOxWy13aAm04OMhM8O_OQoFgAsTv9CiyPyq1dmgnbgF9STY_cbk/s786/Retirement%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="696" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L9v5wWX_t1pWTUmEd37hHDYkHMBSFQgV6riB6UorDFXcf6NOesLKD49siJS5UycAmbMQ6-M44wWZEOHle39p-fys0BWt4wqZXpa0AjHtZLGcvzAjVpkgLdXJ-d12WjJ5h5_k4oMkNOxWy13aAm04OMhM8O_OQoFgAsTv9CiyPyq1dmgnbgF9STY_cbk/w354-h400/Retirement%201.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-17034997972924147792024-02-20T06:00:00.035-08:002024-02-20T21:21:36.853-08:00February 20th in History<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Or—<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">1872: NEW YORK'S METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART OPENS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BvCW_Dv_EyS2vn5bBNvnw365kw4Sxr3fjIyYSPX3Q5QTo_JxAiJOGA_rGoxp672nvE2NGOW48He9kbSqRxRRzAjmISJSZmhOrpSZba43bJ8WRsHNq9VsokqrDt9j9JbokX4FuRIgLIJY0CKMjeAQIUcT9yJGsCWJaFA2Vw-r7t8OzRQg5Muq8h9ktpI/s1024/The%20Metropolitan%20Museum%201903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1024" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BvCW_Dv_EyS2vn5bBNvnw365kw4Sxr3fjIyYSPX3Q5QTo_JxAiJOGA_rGoxp672nvE2NGOW48He9kbSqRxRRzAjmISJSZmhOrpSZba43bJ8WRsHNq9VsokqrDt9j9JbokX4FuRIgLIJY0CKMjeAQIUcT9yJGsCWJaFA2Vw-r7t8OzRQg5Muq8h9ktpI/s320/The%20Metropolitan%20Museum%201903.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: right;">{^The Metropolitan Museum of art circa 1903}</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">If
you love visiting museums, I promise the Metropolitan Museum on New York city’s
upper East Side will not disappoint.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">At
its founding, it was a modest thing, conceived in Paris by a small group of
Americans who wished the new world to hold some of the treasures Europe had. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">It
grew to be one of the best museums in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">What
I have learned about museums of such scope is to not try to visit all their
parts, not even as “a focus plus a quick run through.” A quick run-through, as some
do so they can attest to having seen, is exactly how not to enjoy a museum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">At
the Met, as the locals call it, I make sure to focus on what I love and leave
the rest. For me, it’s the Islamic art section, and (sometimes) the furnished
period rooms. For you it may be Renaissance art, or art of the Far East, or costumes
(much better at the Smithsonian, in my opinion) and even Impressionist art
(stronger at the Museum of Modern art, also IMO.) Perhaps you’re intrigued by
art of the ancient world (Greek vases, anyone?) or medieval iconography. No matter.
The point is to go for what you like or are most eager to learn about when you
are fresh and keen on both seeing and reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Two
hours at a time does it for me. This is not a school assignment. This is about
pleasure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The
key is to leave before fatigue sets in. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 28pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">💐Happy Birthday💐 </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 28pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">💐dear MET💐<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvGeDf6OCSIF8xEW9UsgGS123ueu_KPHeTCDnXdOGtYOjsiLijy_vFeN4acYUW7gZ3jddb48kejIJpThTDUtJgaHdAn5lYKfLP_MdAL7L4FCRz-J_akKEaPsHrWwyC5sr6UlR7jrUwHCdNX3rHQpZAm6F6cJlbBAbxY61Ztupp-z8Kh2I6iNxLaWGnCA/s768/Damascus%20Room%20at%20the%20MET.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvGeDf6OCSIF8xEW9UsgGS123ueu_KPHeTCDnXdOGtYOjsiLijy_vFeN4acYUW7gZ3jddb48kejIJpThTDUtJgaHdAn5lYKfLP_MdAL7L4FCRz-J_akKEaPsHrWwyC5sr6UlR7jrUwHCdNX3rHQpZAm6F6cJlbBAbxY61Ztupp-z8Kh2I6iNxLaWGnCA/s320/Damascus%20Room%20at%20the%20MET.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 200%;">{^Damascus Room at the MET^}<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-31616983810060974262024-02-13T06:00:00.011-08:002024-02-13T06:00:00.237-08:00Another Reason to Heart VALENTINE’S DAY<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">{Yes, it’s tomorrow}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
human heart doesn’t look much like the graphic known as “heart.” 💓<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">No
matter, because it is one of my favorite symbols, and not just because of the
added spiritual/emotional meaning. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There
is something intriguing about the side-to-side/left-to-right symmetry against
the asymmetry of the up-and-down/north-to-south. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s
this dichotomy that makes the heart symbol. Thus, it’s never boring.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s
also this seeming built-in contradiction that does in effect echo the human
emotion, the contradictions those of us who are fortunate to reach maturity
learn to accept and even embrace. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Heart 💝 to you. If you’re reading this, you are my valentines. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi24XRgjzv8gUbNu4gLx45ME6RQlXFTobS9OTKih9O4_HsFwbLzHSJr6Q2vZmOGuMbIhtrHW2xQ7YONF_hchmM8ogVrrYBrXZ4pj4jq090cHq7QC--89RuPnD52h_gweP5HZ4m4k39PJNq5rLUJ7IEJGIiaEidKw2OHQXE3fSaf5DkjD6LiKZCRixgytQ/s1300/Heart%20paper%20cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi24XRgjzv8gUbNu4gLx45ME6RQlXFTobS9OTKih9O4_HsFwbLzHSJr6Q2vZmOGuMbIhtrHW2xQ7YONF_hchmM8ogVrrYBrXZ4pj4jq090cHq7QC--89RuPnD52h_gweP5HZ4m4k39PJNq5rLUJ7IEJGIiaEidKw2OHQXE3fSaf5DkjD6LiKZCRixgytQ/s320/Heart%20paper%20cut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-79832072024243521992024-02-06T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-07T12:02:04.463-08:00DIGITAL SECURITY & COMMON SENSE<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">By now, I would hope we all know not to click on any link provided
in a business email, even as the email convincingly purports to come from a trusted
company we have dealings with, such as our bank, website host, or our government. Close the email and log onto your account to check if this email or purported activity did indeed take place and requires an action from you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Goodness, the same digital hygiene practice also applies to
emails from friends when they don’t include clear text identifiers that could only
come from your friend. Spoofing email addresses is an old scammer's trick. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, when we access the purported sender the safe way by looking their contact information ourselves and asking if the email was
legit, we also educate our friends to not be sending links only. As to businesses, this means calling your bank with the contact number you have (not in
the email) and speaking to security.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And so, this is what I did. My attempt to educate my bank went as follows:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mirka’s Bank Security Specialist (MBSS for short): “Yes,
indeed, you did well NOT TO click on the link. You are right to check with me.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mirka: “So was this email from you?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MBSS: “Yes, we sent it.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mirka: “And it said to click on a link?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MBSS: “Yes, I see that.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mirka: “And you say I should never do that?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MBSS: “Yes, that’s correct. Never do that. Access your
account from your own log-in, always.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mirka: “So why do you continue to send such emails with links
that ask for log-in?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MBSS: “It’s a courtesy. A convenience. But never access any
sensitive account from an email. You are right.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I also got such emails from my webhost and got a similar
confirmation from their security specialist that I did right NOT to access the
link in the email.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This reminded me of the chapter in <i>The Little Prince</i>,
where the drunk explains that he drinks to forget his shame and his shame is
that he drinks.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd-CJqQtOSM4sperVVVRalYaG8s3-Z4wutWbZcbJai9GB5jV7vRknFAGhhF34fbJJUuVLUee4vByRU4iPk_Jq1EPqaPfy21mldqqaVTIyjK03uX4XqungF75RIYJCnFXCxJuwLxYbJzot8Qbsi2j5xJ1InphKjqm9Z9GTciBfOH0_mPqbJSrsaH-b/s612/Drunk%20from%20The%20Little%20Prince.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="610" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd-CJqQtOSM4sperVVVRalYaG8s3-Z4wutWbZcbJai9GB5jV7vRknFAGhhF34fbJJUuVLUee4vByRU4iPk_Jq1EPqaPfy21mldqqaVTIyjK03uX4XqungF75RIYJCnFXCxJuwLxYbJzot8Qbsi2j5xJ1InphKjqm9Z9GTciBfOH0_mPqbJSrsaH-b/s320/Drunk%20from%20The%20Little%20Prince.JPG" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">This madness of trusted companies’ emails continues, as well
as occasional real friends sending links with nary a word that would
distinguish them from phishing scams. I always check, and I continue to use the
safe practice of never ever clicking on email links until verified.</p></div>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-74574923307996335342024-01-30T06:00:00.016-08:002024-01-30T06:00:00.159-08:00THE little MATTER OF GIVING UP<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I
have writing friends who say they are giving up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">They’re
giving up writing new stories, querying agents, submitting to small publishers,
and even giving up on interacting with other writers on chat groups. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">They
are dismayed at the state of publishing. Some have had great publishing credits
in the past. Others have had a modicum of success, and a few have had no
publishing credits. All have no interest or means ($$$) to self-publish &
promote.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s
okay to give up. It’s okay to do so and later change your mind. It’s okay no
matter what.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">But
if writing new stories is enriching, all the giving up talk makes no sense to
me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Why
would you deprive yourself of the deep pleasure and stimulation that writing
has given you? If it’s to spare the disappointment of rejection, then isn’t all
of life full of setbacks and disappointments? These are in fact some of the
most enriching aspects of life, even as emotional pain isn’t “fun.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There
will be eternity in the grave to rest life’s challenging turns. Until then,
writers— tell your stories.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWz_wCOtbFq9wAbLY3lYRqSiX-0Zl8UmnlPdcZGm1VVEfaVlZcsPhuB9XH8uwlLJ9gkXnBGWOvGHaXwit15pepGpQWoC87jDImLHA9gG77StRnVKgMXhi9f_EABs8znPp_sRoCNLvLcUOhAdGGnJNLXVpJ7N4v2-noJ6spqf5GhK1EYtCaLnzCJTtnDnw/s640/Don%E2%80%99t%20give%20up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="640" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWz_wCOtbFq9wAbLY3lYRqSiX-0Zl8UmnlPdcZGm1VVEfaVlZcsPhuB9XH8uwlLJ9gkXnBGWOvGHaXwit15pepGpQWoC87jDImLHA9gG77StRnVKgMXhi9f_EABs8znPp_sRoCNLvLcUOhAdGGnJNLXVpJ7N4v2-noJ6spqf5GhK1EYtCaLnzCJTtnDnw/s320/Don%E2%80%99t%20give%20up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-56514000120494932822024-01-23T06:00:00.011-08:002024-01-23T06:00:00.151-08:00THE MONEY in WRITING<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;">WRITERS and MONEY<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">By
some estimates there are hundreds of thousands of Americans who write full time.
Some sources claim as many as one million. This last number includes those who write articles and writers of non-fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
know, this is vague. But it’s sobering to look at the storytellers who write fiction,
whose numbers are closer to three hundred thousand. (Who makes these estimates?
How reliable are they? I plead confusion. But anyway…)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s
sobering to realize only about three hundred fiction writers make a living solely
from writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Cut
that number by ninety percent to count the fiction writers who are seriously wealthy*
from writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">*Think Stephen King or J.K. Rowling<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
received a decent advance only once, and royalties also only once, for two separate
traditionally published books. This is my total fiction writing income to date.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">{I
was paid --nominally to decently-- for exactly four published articles, and a few
times for editing work. This falls into the non-fiction category, which undoubtedly
supports many more in the writing community.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Here’s
the kicker: <b>I received (and continue to receive) nourishment from writing fiction,
but money isn’t part of it.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">If you’re to go down this road, it’s
sobering and important to grasp how money fits or doesn't fit in. Many writers
(many more than the likes of me) <i>pay </i>to be published. Some wind up
paying substantial sums that they never recoup. Long ago, I was clear this
pay-to-publish wasn’t going to be my way. Vanity or self-publishing didn’t
interest me. Specifically, for kidlit-- it's a money-pit. 🙀<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Go
into it with awareness. Dreaming is fine. Your dreams may come true. But have
your eyes open wide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure you love writing for its own sake</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">.
That’s the bottom line.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqs80zOOU6d2tNZDNGSUeVJu95fm0RzrZEG_fv-lm9Tj4L_Jd0uugqorJcyj-P0Vg40Nw7VjRxGNdfQ-Muz4pDPDLJvZCRQPS3FtFLMPTUf-TzbqI1LXeiN3KMFOvruV0XzbLG2MvOctsBunEmuAWcOmVFkjKNbQf1ijjDrO4giDir8jq47Sq4N3dL80s/s441/Love%20writing%20romance%20writer.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqs80zOOU6d2tNZDNGSUeVJu95fm0RzrZEG_fv-lm9Tj4L_Jd0uugqorJcyj-P0Vg40Nw7VjRxGNdfQ-Muz4pDPDLJvZCRQPS3FtFLMPTUf-TzbqI1LXeiN3KMFOvruV0XzbLG2MvOctsBunEmuAWcOmVFkjKNbQf1ijjDrO4giDir8jq47Sq4N3dL80s/s320/Love%20writing%20romance%20writer.PNG" width="260" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-60477172198692508492024-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-16T06:00:00.133-08:00The WHY of Writing<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To write
is to fight forgetting</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Annie Ernaux, Nobel laureate
in literature 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Much is made of the impetus to write. Annie Ernaux is primarily
a memoirist, and so the quotation above seems a perfect fit for her motivation.
Fiction writing appears to be more about organizing one’s thoughts, ideas, and
ideals. After all, what is there to <i>forget </i>when it comes to tales of the
imagination?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I maintain that fiction is about truth, our truth, and by
writing our truth down, carved of words-sentences-paragraphs-chapters-novels,
we writers are fighting the human propensity to forget.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fiction/fantasy is the cloak. The body is our truth as we
make an attempt to chisel and give shape to it so it may be incorporated into
the communal memory.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fiction is often, nay— usually, bolder, and thus more honest.
Ernaux is exceptionally honest, but in my experience only fiction allows a complete
unveiling.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is my mini-attempt to record and reveal my personal
driving force. As the number of my years grows, I am fighting forgetting with increasing
ferocity. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iF1_QrR-RrR2qAt_Rb9sOXAi2nfECk8F241rkhNWx8gwsrtT3yL5yiicIEhdOfhCH5o_9DRwB-gSYNhQ-c8MqHUP16VvjUaDkymZpPKkRbafkEZZlppmfZmfj-mBz_zIcwpYR88lAo495aJnfWo29MZYTZVrJWVI38nx0Pbte-8DQyk0SIgF6Sct/s400/forgetful-cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iF1_QrR-RrR2qAt_Rb9sOXAi2nfECk8F241rkhNWx8gwsrtT3yL5yiicIEhdOfhCH5o_9DRwB-gSYNhQ-c8MqHUP16VvjUaDkymZpPKkRbafkEZZlppmfZmfj-mBz_zIcwpYR88lAo495aJnfWo29MZYTZVrJWVI38nx0Pbte-8DQyk0SIgF6Sct/s320/forgetful-cartoon.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-28494125963741229182024-01-09T06:00:00.014-08:002024-01-09T14:54:29.400-08:00A PITCH with a PITCHFORK<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Querying
and pitching one’s work is a craft in itself. Books and hundreds of websites of
how-to are devoted to this craft and will greet a searcher.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The
bottom line is that pitching is competitive, and a pitch must stand out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">An
article I read got me thinking about a thornier matter. <a href="https://janefriedman.com/why-you-should-pitch-yourself-before-you-pitch-your-book/">This
article</a> suggests writers must pitch themselves (as in “<b>I am the product</b>”)
before getting into the work they are offering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
have to say this rubs me wrong. Nay, <i>very wrong,</i> especially for fiction,
where you can’t box the imagination and narrative powers by saying, “I did such and
such.” However, as wrong as it is, it’s also part of the truth regarding
successful pitching.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Most
how-to query formats say to start with the hook of the book and end with the
cook, i.e., the writer. The art of good hooking sentence/paragraph could fill library
shelves, and I have one small shelf of such in my room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">That’s
rational. That’s how it <i>should</i> work. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Apparently,
this isn’t how it works much of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Of
course, if (as in the examples cited <a href="https://janefriedman.com/why-you-should-pitch-yourself-before-you-pitch-your-book/">in
the post</a>) the writer has won a Pulitzer or was the first to land an aircraft
upside-down, (the aircraft or the pilot being bottom up) this alone is a hook
of sorts. It gets attention. Sentence one will lead the publishing professional
to read the next and, eventually (hopefully), a request to see more. That’s what
pitching is about, after all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">But
few have such monumental statements to make about self, and most pitching would
wind up sounding like the “fun facts” many writers mistake for an interesting
bio. You know, “I finished a jar of jelly beans in eight minutes and won the
Jelly Queen title at the state fair” sort of nothings. I wrote <a href="https://mirkabreen.blogspot.com/2019/11/to-be-or-not-professional-you.html">a
post about this before</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">So
what to do?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">If
you won a Pulitzer, it’s worth considering the selling-of-you in the first
paragraph. I’m less inclined to agree with this for most of us, good hardworking
storytellers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Story
comes first.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMFs2IC6Y5-mrNVrI--oEmoSUATwZ_PxNEJGt7PFhgQXFisGRjAwD68aa2UaqqIah5VTooScXP2JyCFYr6zQYSJPCY3wQHTLjEG041dePM1nDZuDaW55XxobIm7FJbxqDMhvQ7Lrb7e0Sh3aj_GM2nfmT7ZMJ0l7TrF-ORVf7cTXfIoS8ha8sf7zLscw/s190/Cat%20book%20lover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="190" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMFs2IC6Y5-mrNVrI--oEmoSUATwZ_PxNEJGt7PFhgQXFisGRjAwD68aa2UaqqIah5VTooScXP2JyCFYr6zQYSJPCY3wQHTLjEG041dePM1nDZuDaW55XxobIm7FJbxqDMhvQ7Lrb7e0Sh3aj_GM2nfmT7ZMJ0l7TrF-ORVf7cTXfIoS8ha8sf7zLscw/s1600/Cat%20book%20lover.png" width="190" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-70759039789855473082024-01-02T06:00:00.023-08:002024-01-02T06:00:00.254-08:00SO, AGAIN— WHAT’S WITH THE CALENDAR?<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Or…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">🎇Happy New Year🎇</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">A
new calendar year spells a new beginning; a new (or renewed) chance at getting
it right. A renewed hope that the faux-pas of the past would be left on the
side of the road, and the motors (echo-clean, what else) would propel smoothly
and the world would~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0084ff;"><span style="font-size: 26pt;">🌈</span><span style="font-size: large;">Live happily ever after</span><span style="font-size: 26pt;">🌈</span></span><o:p style="font-size: 26pt;"></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">We
know better. But hope ignites at the very mention of the new year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here’s
my wish to all: the wisdom and strength to understand and cope with what’s
ahead.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Now
go forth and prosper. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo191FWW-gtHpJ6VBAw2fCKtsNMa9p_Fsx9-8BDtbKsl_qtYasDUOGDj3Xm3I-uVvjkQQr_q9f3lg-eQPLF6FpwHy35zFMP0oQ1IOqEmWsuFOqrvvkBGVq8W1Posn9WKu1-0axIDqDx9bu-rWJHN9NSKWqKPwUHf8_Fj6psZgyxenDD0CZ6LewIBjpck/s400/Happy%202024.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="400" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo191FWW-gtHpJ6VBAw2fCKtsNMa9p_Fsx9-8BDtbKsl_qtYasDUOGDj3Xm3I-uVvjkQQr_q9f3lg-eQPLF6FpwHy35zFMP0oQ1IOqEmWsuFOqrvvkBGVq8W1Posn9WKu1-0axIDqDx9bu-rWJHN9NSKWqKPwUHf8_Fj6psZgyxenDD0CZ6LewIBjpck/s320/Happy%202024.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-67828609841008056672023-12-26T06:00:00.029-08:002023-12-26T06:00:00.142-08:00AFTER CHRISTMAS and BEFORE NEW YEAR'S<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Harking
back to days when I gifted and was gifted holiday gifts, (now a minor part of
my holiday season) I remember the day <i>after</i> Christmas as the day the
stores were crowded with folks returning gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s
a strange phenomenon, this “<i>thanks for the thought but I’d rather have
something else</i>” that sweeps the land.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">But
it is what it is. Just try to remember that the thought that went into choosing
something for you is the sweet part, not the actual “<b><i>something</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">And
<b>let’s have fun</b> before we take a collective breath and exhale a solemn wish for
a better and more peaceful year to come.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zOlnpHeqRdO83rhQ2SiCNEvb-g6i6U5fy9qRuZuPevvjTzcnxagY4gXBcprwrHwQ69t5S9OE23p6-3GLNcqCtVh8TF5H890L0N85NQqTKJmHa3cOBwBeH88TfvwGbXaCD6ATqUGgAw_AS2_Gyc4NfirqDyIBeuXErsmrJstqb0wU3ibS-YszOz8ur2M/s1200/Returning%20gifts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zOlnpHeqRdO83rhQ2SiCNEvb-g6i6U5fy9qRuZuPevvjTzcnxagY4gXBcprwrHwQ69t5S9OE23p6-3GLNcqCtVh8TF5H890L0N85NQqTKJmHa3cOBwBeH88TfvwGbXaCD6ATqUGgAw_AS2_Gyc4NfirqDyIBeuXErsmrJstqb0wU3ibS-YszOz8ur2M/s320/Returning%20gifts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-72788443134813420302023-12-19T06:00:00.018-08:002023-12-19T06:00:00.480-08:00EVOCATIVE CALENDAR DATES<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Ever
note the day’s date and feel there is something significant that you ought to
have remembered about it, but you draw a blank?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This
happens to me now and then, and usually it involves someone’s birthday who I
have lost touch with long ago. Sometimes it’s a calendar date I made a point to
remember for practical reasons, (time to turn the mattress, time to begin
watering the yard, time to check on a relative who should have completed a last
round of chemotherapy) but it was long ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Today’s
date is an easy one for me: it celebrates the birth of a wonderful person I was
lucky to have known. He left this earth, but his mark on it is alive and
continues to bless many.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxJ8B7V03UDHRpeTpmX1br3zRfHwacqoorqKs2IPVRfCZ0QJ0smcCUVeq4WMWJsIMmVadlzpZJ_G__LxSg2IH5QYGPhViKduW6k_z8yo_scWZkal54kzAZPEnx8BhB4Rpp9JBfZREOcoykmkh2FhxRTGcfBj3B582F4HZ_zCdTtH4239lka-Sbe3ZXu4/s1853/From%20Abraham%20&%20Binah's%20wedding%20album%201%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1853" data-original-width="1416" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxJ8B7V03UDHRpeTpmX1br3zRfHwacqoorqKs2IPVRfCZ0QJ0smcCUVeq4WMWJsIMmVadlzpZJ_G__LxSg2IH5QYGPhViKduW6k_z8yo_scWZkal54kzAZPEnx8BhB4Rpp9JBfZREOcoykmkh2FhxRTGcfBj3B582F4HZ_zCdTtH4239lka-Sbe3ZXu4/s320/From%20Abraham%20&%20Binah's%20wedding%20album%201%20(2).jpg" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "AR DECODE"; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Happy Birthday, Abba<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-62150747619346763572023-12-12T06:00:00.053-08:002023-12-12T06:00:00.140-08:00NO SECOND CHANCE~~~<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">An
agent recently published a post where agent explained that she & other publishing
professionals can assess a query in fifteen seconds or less.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">There’s
the easy “not what I work with,” the almost as easy “this reads badly,” and the
less clear “not what I’m looking for right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">It
sounds both arrogant and presumptuous, but it is a necessity when hundreds of
queries pour in day after day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
just read another post about how one’s website’s Homepage is likely the only
one most visitors would glance at, and (gulp) on average, for less than a
minute. <a href="https://www.janefriedman.com/7-tips-for-authors-to-boost-their-homepage/">That
post is linked here.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s
hard to think that other pages’ content you thoughtfully aggregated, mulled over,
culled and refined— will remain largely unseen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">These
are the facts. A home page is the front yard, and the way a few will choose to
knock on the door and come inside. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My
first publisher, a small house that published my picture book and had since closed, offered to make a website for me. That seemed a nice bonus. No
effort to learn the ways of website hosting and design, the thought of which
was intimidating. I liked their website <i>for them</i>, but their designer
(who had designed their other authors’ sites) felt wrong <i>for me</i>. It was
busy. It was jazzy. It was hip-hip-hoorah and kinetic to the point where one might worry about inducing seizures in susceptible individuals. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">All right, a slight exaggeration, with <i>slight</i> being the operative word. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">That
wasn’t going to be my <b>calling card</b>, which is what websites and especially their
home pages serve as today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">So,
I said, “thank you, but I’ll do my own”— and braved the choppy waters of the interwebs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In
addition to the good <i>but general</i> advice in the <a href="https://www.janefriedman.com/7-tips-for-authors-to-boost-their-homepage/">linked
post</a>, I would add that <b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #01ffff; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: rgb(1, 255, 255); mso-highlight: lime; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #385723; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">your home page has to feel right
for you.</span><span style="color: #385723; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #385723; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #b6d7a8; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: rgb(182, 215, 168); color: #385723; mso-highlight: lime; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #385723; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7y3rm29mnQy0Qmzt0jnM3kCsXKidnMLleBIrR9CFp3wcmIb6Xdy15YDxXvUkZAjXkxUM1ZFRDPAIvvJPG4w-1NpP2RvBCZqGlVBek3GfNm2CE6e2YryGGQgSOxS_f7znI80HUkWQjEGnVpSOb58BNH9VSN7_VdfpY8AWX70VWKUNUqSkg-TN2Tj6mNU/s1213/Website%20home%20page%20June%202023%20(2).PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1213" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7y3rm29mnQy0Qmzt0jnM3kCsXKidnMLleBIrR9CFp3wcmIb6Xdy15YDxXvUkZAjXkxUM1ZFRDPAIvvJPG4w-1NpP2RvBCZqGlVBek3GfNm2CE6e2YryGGQgSOxS_f7znI80HUkWQjEGnVpSOb58BNH9VSN7_VdfpY8AWX70VWKUNUqSkg-TN2Tj6mNU/s320/Website%20home%20page%20June%202023%20(2).PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="background: lime; color: #385723; mso-highlight: lime; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #385723; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></b><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-70010947600286016752023-12-05T06:00:00.014-08:002023-12-06T21:51:25.180-08:00HERE COMES HANNUKAH…<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">…</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Or
is it Hanuka, Hanukka, or Hannukkah?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">And how about Chanukah?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Actually,
it’s pronounced KHAH-NOO-KAH.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">No
matter^, the holiday of lights in the dark is coming this Gregorian calendar year-- starting December 7<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Lighting
the darkness is not a simple thing. To me, darkness isn’t just the places where
justice is scarce. It’s the very notion that we don’t know. It’s the future,
the purpose of all, the ways of the creator.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s
harder to be prideful and a know-it-all in the face of darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">And
so, I light. One little candle, and counting, at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">At
least for me, it’s more a hopeful gesture to understanding than a grand
celebration. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGLvR1JktK5mExO8EKBoJBq01lKw9cgiE6pY3N-4jJli6Xk_5FpyugYRU-rwyIhpDxRF1tlUsx7SIbTJ5Jwon8WqefquTIGXD7lyWmWpEBme_V50mFNZxXS6WdD8sHwXV4IrV4cUmfOhjKr8A3DFiBFrmzMUqDRNppS9bGO28pf6wTdEHyHqkoAM0/s64/hanukah.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="64" data-original-width="64" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGLvR1JktK5mExO8EKBoJBq01lKw9cgiE6pY3N-4jJli6Xk_5FpyugYRU-rwyIhpDxRF1tlUsx7SIbTJ5Jwon8WqefquTIGXD7lyWmWpEBme_V50mFNZxXS6WdD8sHwXV4IrV4cUmfOhjKr8A3DFiBFrmzMUqDRNppS9bGO28pf6wTdEHyHqkoAM0/s1600/hanukah.gif" width="64" /></a></div><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-53741020820966205252023-11-28T06:00:00.009-08:002023-11-29T11:50:39.843-08:00DIALOGUE for CHARACTERS WHO ARE SPEAKING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Ah, well. The challenge of
telling stories set in other countries includes how to tell their tellings in
English, and what to do with foreign words.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">An article on this can be
read <a href="https://www.janefriedman.com/when-your-characters-speak-a-language-other-than-english/">here</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I faced it with my
published novel, <i><a href="https://mirkabreen.com/my-books">THE VOICE OF
THUNDER</a>. </i>My solution was to use standard English and where a foreign (i.e.,
Hebrew) word was used, I followed it immediately with the English equivalent. Because
I was writing for young readers, I felt there was no place to send them
searching, to footnotes, or a glossary. I have seen others use glossaries in
similarly-set stories for children, and it didn't feel right. Young readers should experience the pleasure of a story. Footnotes and glossaries are for academics.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Above all, the flow of
reading must not be bumpy and hence interrupted by the foreignness of the
setting. It's challenging enough to meet and envisage another place or time.
Let the characters speak plainly and clearly. Save the layering to their
ideas and let the flow ride the twists of plot.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7C5hgIeCzL-QFrN3h_-_k_5hB2dfU7QIEN5eXLtwV7QxdlGN1fT3MEGZsEdeSA6oV-phIy6SXbrhhjK_2pSpRuYrbIGWWq0zoE8vyxZHOZqM7i6gXJlXAVT7_RtG4owDPL1u8Elu2xjTd2iN6rDrQl5EFmfMF_bdX_3iCB1Cto_jMJjPm04G2V4T9/s3089/The-Voice-of-Thunder%20front%20%20and%20back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2365" data-original-width="3089" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7C5hgIeCzL-QFrN3h_-_k_5hB2dfU7QIEN5eXLtwV7QxdlGN1fT3MEGZsEdeSA6oV-phIy6SXbrhhjK_2pSpRuYrbIGWWq0zoE8vyxZHOZqM7i6gXJlXAVT7_RtG4owDPL1u8Elu2xjTd2iN6rDrQl5EFmfMF_bdX_3iCB1Cto_jMJjPm04G2V4T9/s320/The-Voice-of-Thunder%20front%20%20and%20back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-43623962757168152912023-11-21T06:00:00.019-08:002023-11-21T08:08:35.980-08:00STANDING IN ONE’S OWN WAY<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Maybe
it was </span>fortuitous<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, but I happened upon </span><a href="https://www.janefriedman.com/3-ways-writers-block-their-success-while-thinking-theyre-hard-at-work/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">this
blog post</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> one day after reflecting on the conduct of an artist who I’m
close to. The post is a reflection on the various ways some of us sabotage
ourselves without having the slightest clue we are doing it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
think this applies to all human endeavors. The crux of it is that because it
sounds an illogical thing to do, we refuse to see it. Competing with insufficient
or no preparation, spending time in useless activities that do not so much as
bring us joy, spewing unkind words born of frustrations at the people who love
us most and could help— all examples of self-sabotage. All lend themselves to
easy explanations to self that disguise the drive behind them: I do not deserve
success. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In
one way, no one deserves anything. But striving to do something that adds value
and having it recognized is a worthwhile way to go through life. Thus, if we
just remove the notion of “deserving,” maybe we’ll also withdraw our third invisible foot that
somehow, against reason, we have placed right where we step. Maybe this will
prevent the next tripping up. Maybe.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQEsr6u9NRXwdcCduNq1zGJpo08ykb2dZD5Rs3UeZ7OkWdk1UfmgWMAYS_s1YevoBd4ycL5o-FOiPkcqzQdfsuqZsFyW9Rw-yExlzXqfPLF3p12Z02GYA2cYf20KAvkWYbZpQYlJNNztCFytYFLAEhqSP2zMQvXilSUWXdyNQ5s7OfAeU8Bip9O0G/s296/Tripping%20oneself%20up.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="296" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQEsr6u9NRXwdcCduNq1zGJpo08ykb2dZD5Rs3UeZ7OkWdk1UfmgWMAYS_s1YevoBd4ycL5o-FOiPkcqzQdfsuqZsFyW9Rw-yExlzXqfPLF3p12Z02GYA2cYf20KAvkWYbZpQYlJNNztCFytYFLAEhqSP2zMQvXilSUWXdyNQ5s7OfAeU8Bip9O0G/s1600/Tripping%20oneself%20up.PNG" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-34749301724068500712023-11-14T06:00:00.014-08:002023-11-14T08:07:29.851-08:00THE WISTFULNESS OF FALL<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Wistful:
A sadness tinged with longing, often having a hint of sweetness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Fall
is an odd time because (like its name) it evokes decline/demise and closure of
life’s affirmations, so redolent in spring and fully manifested in summer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s
also a romantic time, because light becomes less harsh and the unforgiving
cracks and wrinkles brightness exposes are softened. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
natural world of which we are a part shifts to a lower, slower gear. Slow is
comforting, but also sad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Fall
is an awesome mixture. The trek of life, always marching toward death and
rebirth, sings its swansong. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Do
go gently into winter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYF9gmPEsQIDkurAnOu89kV83qKoeBzs_d4m3Q_lwnpvizYP7ZEiLOSiG_pOeqmCpPxneV4UpvyCft9xn0QHDEOP2y_M0z7YhHhEotOd7iJYWOaD2lnjSHU4j4eX7snBUjCOoawebQuWDhEkJ-ON8Kd_BoIPmHMNwhxPURAjUfDIYTMasmTq80Ttk/s2048/New%20Haven%20fall%20Oct%2025%202020%20C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYF9gmPEsQIDkurAnOu89kV83qKoeBzs_d4m3Q_lwnpvizYP7ZEiLOSiG_pOeqmCpPxneV4UpvyCft9xn0QHDEOP2y_M0z7YhHhEotOd7iJYWOaD2lnjSHU4j4eX7snBUjCOoawebQuWDhEkJ-ON8Kd_BoIPmHMNwhxPURAjUfDIYTMasmTq80Ttk/s320/New%20Haven%20fall%20Oct%2025%202020%20C.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 200%;">©Photo Rachel Breen<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-40019832328569153522023-11-07T06:00:00.011-08:002023-11-07T06:00:00.156-08:00APPROACHING PUBLISHED WRITERS FOR ADVICE/BLURB<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There’s
a right way and a wrong way to ask writers to help your writing journey. I
learned the hard way, making most of the usual mistakes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.janefriedman.com/the-right-way-to-ask-a-published-writer-for-publishing-advice/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A
good post on this is here.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">But
despite the above linked post, my experience is that the right way is to <b><u>not</u></b>
ask anything of a writer who is barely an acquaintance. Even more so if the
writer is a complete stranger. Published writers, especially successfully
published writers, don’t have the time to wade through the writing of others as
they get many (repeat: MANY) such requests.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
bottom line is that unless you are close personal friends, or the writer offers
without solicitation (rare, but happens. It happened to me </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">) they can’t blurb (which would mean
also reading your work) and any general advice they give can be found on the
Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">If
you are real friends in real life (Facebook doesn’t count. Not ever) or taking
a course with a writer, which includes feedback to your writing, other writers
farther along on the path are our inspiration for aspirations, not personal
assistants. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Enjoy
meeting authors without asking them to bear your burdens.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWu7I44koAXsPmDCkd4oex-ZNJjRT0VYy6ADLirWJrUzALRx04JGpRR5aEXZ9XhAGZ7O1aUo1vMlHcHj-iqqefN-AjFmI7UufTvxOwnluzNWAEsej7VdGJ5QBGLzHkvvuaeOOfwBmk5LLRn-Ve6DnHfcqVDF_gMYId3CJeVI5tb_tufX4N3hJwkmpG/s553/Author%20Event.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="553" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWu7I44koAXsPmDCkd4oex-ZNJjRT0VYy6ADLirWJrUzALRx04JGpRR5aEXZ9XhAGZ7O1aUo1vMlHcHj-iqqefN-AjFmI7UufTvxOwnluzNWAEsej7VdGJ5QBGLzHkvvuaeOOfwBmk5LLRn-Ve6DnHfcqVDF_gMYId3CJeVI5tb_tufX4N3hJwkmpG/s320/Author%20Event.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-68779021531097724732023-10-31T06:00:00.029-07:002023-10-31T06:00:00.148-07:00The Un-power of TIK-TOK<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">On the eve of the camp
horror-show that is Halloween, I am thinking of a different but also
pseudo-horror our legislator have taken to sound alarm to.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">You might be tempted to divide
humanity not by nations, races, genders or whatever else. Instead, think of the
TIK TOK app, and do it this way: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The billion who love it<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The billion who see it as dangerous<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The billions who don’t know what it is and
why others make such a fuss.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Call me old (you wouldn’t
be wrong) and put me in the third category. Neither the charm nor the existential
calamity of Tik- Tok manage to reach my consciousness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Data sharing? All the
tech apps and the companies behind them already do that. This includes this platform,
Blogger, owned by Google. It seems no one does it better than Google, and who
they sell it to is not an open book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I wonder if this brouhaha
isn’t a way of distracting Americans from real issues, only one of them having
to do with China as a menace. These issues include but are not exclusive to our
right to privacy, which (big news) is long gone. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The wild world of the
Interwebs and smartphones have changed everything. We gave them this power.
Tik-Tok is but a dot in a vast international matrix. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvqQvgniS4I_c5j9hfSqL8iWJKwvO-MTaUMY8K3LEZ0Z-6GdYf7XueC1ky3TREVp1c5FBb6KVcjrl0bse171o3e4h4gVUkCJVnwj6pDlI20LYFWudll7pHtkxJYZYsA6XCr35SNkw05-SO3rMgTxCPYUIEJKsgp8PznPzc_eIWHpQvlknZjUrD1PW/s2048/TikTok%20danger.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvqQvgniS4I_c5j9hfSqL8iWJKwvO-MTaUMY8K3LEZ0Z-6GdYf7XueC1ky3TREVp1c5FBb6KVcjrl0bse171o3e4h4gVUkCJVnwj6pDlI20LYFWudll7pHtkxJYZYsA6XCr35SNkw05-SO3rMgTxCPYUIEJKsgp8PznPzc_eIWHpQvlknZjUrD1PW/s320/TikTok%20danger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-86139608807475097272023-10-24T06:00:00.001-07:002023-10-24T06:00:00.144-07:00YOU WILL LAUGH, EVENTUALLY<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Some months back, my
trusty old computer stopped functioning. I learned that I shouldn’t trust a
machine, which had the audacity to take with it much of the functionalities I
had built in to suit the way I work, and many of my contacts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">I didn’t lose any work,
because I had my files and photos backed up on a USB drive. Setting a second computer properly
took time and this computer is not yet up to the one that was.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">I can look back now, and
see that I survived. There are (much) worse things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">But, at that time, I felt
so lost and disconnected that I lamented to DD how I long for the innocent days
of my childhood, when connecting meant seeing someone in person or writing a
snail mail letter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Her response, pasted here
from Messenger (my phone worked):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">“…</span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: rgb(228, 230, 235); color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 200%;">Do you miss your boyhood in surrey, romping
with your school chums in the fens and spinneys</span>?<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">And then she sent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1dU0AIpsn42MFtviaSRQhaDPb2Kjl2sSfGP9AaCuQ1AZcrkEKiJS-Cmk8&v=PM8WPZtnBAw&feature=youtu.be">this
link</a>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1dU0AIpsn42MFtviaSRQhaDPb2Kjl2sSfGP9AaCuQ1AZcrkEKiJS-Cmk8&v=PM8WPZtnBAw&feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1dU0AIpsn42MFtviaSRQhaDPb2Kjl2sSfGP9AaCuQ1AZcrkEKiJS-Cmk8&v=PM8WPZtnBAw&feature=youtu.be</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">It’s a brilliant section
from an old episode of Frasier, a TV show we used to watch when she was but a
youth. Her comment was a quotation from one of the characters in it, and her pointed
reflection on the uselessness of nostalgia for “simpler times.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">I laughed. It made a
difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Eventually, we laugh at
so many things we had experienced as important.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">There’s no point in
lamenting what isn’t anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Meanwhile, back up your
computers, everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUfUoi5eVgepHxIcrvg9ORV5Jc-ikl2IT7kezDpzlpuwRy9j0l-XJlq7kRZk0ACXBfq77SIbWoUwZWPrXJ0KCRQnBLk27RSQ4sgxSD4UOgH9vgQvgb_3AuP37Jw7p04WzNayZftxFmU3i_jY-mMrvR6xZws6JZ61NcC_z0Z09p2Ue11Jo6a6LDEPj/s377/Computer%20Woes.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="377" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUfUoi5eVgepHxIcrvg9ORV5Jc-ikl2IT7kezDpzlpuwRy9j0l-XJlq7kRZk0ACXBfq77SIbWoUwZWPrXJ0KCRQnBLk27RSQ4sgxSD4UOgH9vgQvgb_3AuP37Jw7p04WzNayZftxFmU3i_jY-mMrvR6xZws6JZ61NcC_z0Z09p2Ue11Jo6a6LDEPj/s320/Computer%20Woes.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-78601599418364622082023-10-17T06:00:00.004-07:002023-10-17T06:00:00.242-07:00Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">צֶ֥דֶק</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">צֶ֖דֶק</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">תִּרְדֹּ֑ף</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">לְמַ֤עַן</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">תִּֽחְיֶה֙</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">נֹתֵ֥ן</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">לָֽךְ׃</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and
occupy the land that your God </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">יהוה</span><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> is giving you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Elephant",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I
find it impossible at the moment not to repeat this injunction as I watch the horrors
once again visited upon the middle east.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">A
time will come, when we can contemplate mercy. Justice without mercy (such as
Hamas clearly demonstrated) is hell on earth. But mercy without justice is
suicidal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">That
is all I’m able to put out at this moment. I hope to return to gentler
contemplations on the writing life and life in general, which, for me, are one
and the same. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Just
like the dove who signaled to Noah— after the great flood— the return of life
on earth with a single olive branch, we await her once again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIUpQ5Y2QlVk8pBIHS6tmlJyyoUGV3rHkdI1rQ9B0730xhmxrH1xKJWHHoX7roCvEcCBBnMCD2j_b1In1DloOxN5IdflR9wZzpOsbeeGz2u8uKTy2IqXecfrs4GwCANvUPEmq4pcD3oCWLLAXtg-GeP-GGMBHrB5O-MOnqbCbT0KVEH4xsi9lTvrrMnk/s228/Peace%20Dove.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="228" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIUpQ5Y2QlVk8pBIHS6tmlJyyoUGV3rHkdI1rQ9B0730xhmxrH1xKJWHHoX7roCvEcCBBnMCD2j_b1In1DloOxN5IdflR9wZzpOsbeeGz2u8uKTy2IqXecfrs4GwCANvUPEmq4pcD3oCWLLAXtg-GeP-GGMBHrB5O-MOnqbCbT0KVEH4xsi9lTvrrMnk/s1600/Peace%20Dove.png" width="228" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-67244052689677664902023-10-10T06:00:00.027-07:002023-10-10T06:00:00.139-07:00WHERE’S YOUR BAOBAB?<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Many
(many!) years ago, in a land far away, I discovered The Little Prince. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">He
was a curious creature, born of fantasy. His journey was metaphorical. Even
then, I knew his various stops on many small planets with their curious
inhabitants were not to be taken as realistic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">On
his own planet, the Little Prince spoke of Baobab trees. The sound of that,
BA-OH-BAB, made them creatures of fancy, not real things to be found in our
world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQ_JmkY-2cvk6FrnkzfDddZbdbi1UF7KMW_rMPnlZAMm5Dc5j57UU2NVjMoPPDbI5erXIbvepNIecEK00Z7f7FIinfZ7vI30fdx5rK5hPmAuqcUCjrQm3A9P6WN8oeH2uYr_5vM-aA_L5KMU47hk6imMyeveYBaRSZtGZel4M80NE5k2PsFQuFQzzUWU/s800/baobab-seeds-the-little-prince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQ_JmkY-2cvk6FrnkzfDddZbdbi1UF7KMW_rMPnlZAMm5Dc5j57UU2NVjMoPPDbI5erXIbvepNIecEK00Z7f7FIinfZ7vI30fdx5rK5hPmAuqcUCjrQm3A9P6WN8oeH2uYr_5vM-aA_L5KMU47hk6imMyeveYBaRSZtGZel4M80NE5k2PsFQuFQzzUWU/s320/baobab-seeds-the-little-prince.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Turned
out I was wrong. Baobabs are real. They grow in Madagascar, where my son served
in the United States Peace Corps until a short time ago. I told him I would
value a photo of him near one of these.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Before
leaving Madagascar, right after his close of service, my son made a point to
travel to where the oldest Baobab in all of Madagascar stands proud. The locals
claim it’s a thousand years old, while arborists say it’s likely seven to eight
hundred. Old enough, either way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4HssVTMqkf0haB1I84OEnO5y2AhBfYiQDVVywVpTRNrAJG-NJvYQPUe_LzfcKCZJfY37r-l0EoFFHqzBtrlIyB1nrKIFBYOIK-DUtOkm69dNw-9mf38Hs1UJ7F2RuHT4tFePNS5-3hSw5-F-jHSC0gwgbUkO6on4fqTb_YtJUZEeeLya1zI8B5Agjak/s2048/Baobab%20of%20Mahajunga%20Sept%2021%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1315" data-original-width="2048" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4HssVTMqkf0haB1I84OEnO5y2AhBfYiQDVVywVpTRNrAJG-NJvYQPUe_LzfcKCZJfY37r-l0EoFFHqzBtrlIyB1nrKIFBYOIK-DUtOkm69dNw-9mf38Hs1UJ7F2RuHT4tFePNS5-3hSw5-F-jHSC0gwgbUkO6on4fqTb_YtJUZEeeLya1zI8B5Agjak/s320/Baobab%20of%20Mahajunga%20Sept%2021%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">My
son bequeathed his smart phone to a local individual, because he knew it would
be useful to his Malagasy friend. What my son took with him on the pilgrimage
to the old Baobab was a not-very-smart borrowed phone that could only manage
poor photos. But you can imagine that, regardless of quality, the photo is one
I value. It holds a special meaning, joining one of the circles of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">My
little Prince communed with a Baobab. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Here
he is with the Old Tree of Mahajanga~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O2Nw1mOkphzN63VVjus6XYKnfJOxhXjUTc7nA8lnqGUtjXZcJRJdu-xHa-POELHImStAWd17ncI56AGbbwFegV8rWiSCYUm225a2jgJk7O081LPqwgD9yXswSSQTSXjnzwee8_sm8dwjIG3wOPiESPNpGBP1Knnf3Gu4hU6n4xx-zs3Qip27VkUal-s/s640/Baobab%20Ben%20B%20Sept%2021%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O2Nw1mOkphzN63VVjus6XYKnfJOxhXjUTc7nA8lnqGUtjXZcJRJdu-xHa-POELHImStAWd17ncI56AGbbwFegV8rWiSCYUm225a2jgJk7O081LPqwgD9yXswSSQTSXjnzwee8_sm8dwjIG3wOPiESPNpGBP1Knnf3Gu4hU6n4xx-zs3Qip27VkUal-s/s320/Baobab%20Ben%20B%20Sept%2021%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Life
continues to be magical even as it is ever real. Maybe especially then.</span></p></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-32496603903333728352023-10-03T06:00:00.001-07:002023-10-03T17:27:03.883-07:00Story ARC, Story Conventions<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">How-to writing books and literary analysis courses have
distilled storytelling conventions this way:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Adobe Gothic Std B",sans-serif">Inciting
incident > Main Character accepts the challenge >Three attempts in increasing
intensity at resolution > Climax/crisis> Resolution</span>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The most amusing pithy presentation on story ARCs is this
mini joyride of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOGru_4z1Vc">a
presentation by Kurt Vonnegut here,</a> well worth the seventeen minutes it
takes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are posts online that show simple graphs of story ARCs,
such as this: <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7A3qp8Y9hZzYy1iFDADnqqe2qUoVFK-1wnwbUWCWZ_0qTf3cZ3_AveKH_gvQ9kt0tEHB7IYFKMRJRAIOJ4EukLhLm-txV2_ZGe_Qs37gXHLYuIeJgNrdTqkO96-Atnfb2_llLH4SqUa2YCtw26SFtKuJkwrX1xoqesHhIOGi3MwsfPDfdbyVk5bxk/s1024/3%20act%20structure.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1024" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7A3qp8Y9hZzYy1iFDADnqqe2qUoVFK-1wnwbUWCWZ_0qTf3cZ3_AveKH_gvQ9kt0tEHB7IYFKMRJRAIOJ4EukLhLm-txV2_ZGe_Qs37gXHLYuIeJgNrdTqkO96-Atnfb2_llLH4SqUa2YCtw26SFtKuJkwrX1xoqesHhIOGi3MwsfPDfdbyVk5bxk/s320/3%20act%20structure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">This is the tried and true. No argument there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But then, ever so rarely, someone challenges these conventions
and (even rarer) succeeds in making something new and wonderful. I was intrigued
to <a href="https://www.janefriedman.com/an-argument-for-setting-aside-arc-in-story-development/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Weekly+Blog+Digest&utm_campaign=Weekly+Blog+Digest+2+0">read
a post on this here</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I began writing, I knew less about writing conventions
and I did in fact write less conventionally. By now the story-ARC rules are so ingrained in me that I wonder if
I even could, or dare, to set them aside.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But it’s food for writerly thought.</p>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-21039415037733787762023-09-26T06:00:00.022-07:002023-09-26T06:00:00.165-07:00SUKKOT of LONG AGO<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
been some years since we observed a variation of Sukkot, the holiday where Jews
are advised to dwell in huts as our ancestors did while on the way to the
promised land.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Contemplating
this year’s upcoming Sukkot and whether I have the energy to make a Sukkah
again, I happened to come upon an old photo. It reminded me of a feline family
friend who has left this earth long ago. Clyde was not our cat. He lived next
door. When his family moved a mile away up the hill, he kept returning. Not to
his old home, but to ours. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
even found him sleeping in our makeshift Sukkah. We always returned him to his
new home, and he continued to make his way back to ours.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnm4ahEghi-RXQPVF9xL8sbJ1WAf37Ij36fs_b4Cl0Euv2qBHRqzLnip3UnS0WUP80hEicIzVnSFxTE1Q8sp9bHl7Szoyr1RG5unKw4bS6QKrdPJJGXAl6m4NsSpTdxIWP3mOAV3wniO4SL6W7sve-LZYkykl5BZFX_z4GjkV8cluY5QscuPQ3QkE/s1800/Clyde%20at%20our%20Sukka%20sept.2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1215" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnm4ahEghi-RXQPVF9xL8sbJ1WAf37Ij36fs_b4Cl0Euv2qBHRqzLnip3UnS0WUP80hEicIzVnSFxTE1Q8sp9bHl7Szoyr1RG5unKw4bS6QKrdPJJGXAl6m4NsSpTdxIWP3mOAV3wniO4SL6W7sve-LZYkykl5BZFX_z4GjkV8cluY5QscuPQ3QkE/s320/Clyde%20at%20our%20Sukka%20sept.2010.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One
of these trips may have cost him his life. He was found dead, possibly injured.
I tried to answer one of my kids as to whether cats have souls and go to heaven
by writing about him:<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 22.0pt;">CLYDE HILL<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">©By Mirka M. G. Breen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Clyde
is climbing a great green hill.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> The
grass under his paws is as soft as fur. It’s tingly wet, and smells of catnip.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> The
light is soft blue, no sun yet.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Clyde passes
every mouse he ever ate. The mice wave at him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Birds he had watched,
fly over and wink.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Squirrels he had
chased puff their tails<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">No time to think.
Up Clyde must go.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Yes, this is so.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Clyde still
climbs the green hill.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">The grass is
deeper, the hill steeper. But the higher he climbs, the lighter his steps. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">He’s not hot;
he’s not cold. Light’s turning gold.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">A purple
butterfly flutters before him. Clyde’s trotting, then pouncing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">One butterfly
soars, and then a hundred more-<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">In every color,
with spots and dots<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">In a ribbon-dance
the butterflies flow.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Yes, this is so.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Clyde is bounding
up the glistening green.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">When the moss
grows dark, a cloud heavy with steel gray covers the light.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Clyde slows. What
to do? He squints, then pulls through.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">A line of pure
silver is guiding him on. The cloud turns to vapor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">The blue of the
air, gentle light everywhere-<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Give power from
nose to tail.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Clyde faces
toward the glow.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Yes, this is so.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Clyde climbs some
more, the hill, green as hope.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">The air caressing
his ears with gentle fluffing strokes. Cat music is sounding.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">His mother and
father are mewing above<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Clyde turns his
head back one last time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"> The people he loves look at him with wet eyes:
they are wise.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Balls of yarn
left below, adventures above.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Clyde has to go<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">We think this is
so.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Old English Text MT"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Sukkot
this year falls on September 29-October 6<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Mirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.com8