The treat of reading outside your genre. I’m currently reading Cat Shout For Joy by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, which called to me from a bookshelf at my library. It’s a murder mystery with cats as the heroes, not my usual fare. When we read outside our genre, we find ourselves truly enjoying a book, not dissecting it, as we so often do when reading within our genre. The treat of unplanned and unexpected pleasures. Lazing about on the lanai, two pileated woodpeckers arrived in the tree above me, as if to say, “It’s a beautiful world...and check out my 29 inch wingspan.” Stories may come from these moments or they may not. No matter. The most important story is in the moment. Whatever you call it, taking a break, lazing about, or treating ourselves, these moments gives our brain time for new thoughts to spring forth or for ideas that have long been buried by our busyness to rise up again. These thoughts and ideas might bring us joy or inspiration or even lead us down a new path. And after a goodly time of lollygagging, it’s time for the best treat of all. Time to write that story that thousands of children and parents will enjoy. Time to create something beautiful. Please share your favorite ways to lollygag and dilly-dally. Who knows what wonders will come forth if we make this a way of life...for at least part of our life? Marsha Diane Arnold is the award-winning author of twelve books that have sold over a million copies. Her most recent, A Welcome Song for Baby, portrays a young girl sharing the sounds of the seasons with the baby in her mother's womb. It's available in the UK and at http://amzn.to/1VVbVOt Marsha's popular Character-Driven online Course is at http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/writing-character-driven-stories. Please don't bother her this weekend. She'll be busy lazing about.
7 Comments
Mary McClellan
7/8/2016 12:24:05 pm
I really can't dilly-dally with this. I have some serious lollygagging to do!
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SJ Stauffer
7/8/2016 04:58:48 pm
Whooop! LOL
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SJ Stauffer
7/8/2016 12:35:49 pm
I have a lovely front patio with shade, privacy, bougainvillea and rose climbers. I sit in my glider and enjoy my own imagination and wait for inspirations. Almost as good as a trip to a far island....Almost.
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Deborah Davis
7/8/2016 02:07:06 pm
This week's lolly-gagging produced: several hours of hiking in the hills, watching a funny movie, and one bobcat sighting!
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7/12/2016 08:32:30 am
Thanks for the wonderful reminder . . . especially important to take some time in the summer months for rejuvenation!
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First Fridays will feature Bryan Patrick Avery, published writer , man of mystery, and professional magician among other things.
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