PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: A New Season
First of all congrats to Patti Bunting on winning a free PLB t-shirt from last weeks drawing!
I can’t believe the season is changing. I’m ready for it. I love fall. Not because the kids go back to school (though when they were young and oh-so-time-consuming, that was a bonus), but because of the fresh cool air, the amber leaves, the sound of a football game on the TV, the calm I feel…the anticipation of basketball season.
What are some things that you love about fall? Remember to take time to appreciate them.
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Whatever It Takes
I’m working on two books right now. It took me ten years to write my first one, so I’m not certain this is a good idea. Still, I find that it is helpful at times to have two completely different stories in the works. When I reach a road block on one book – I’m tired or not sure where to move with the story – I switch books and there is new energy.
Maybe you don’t have to write a second book, maybe just change your environment or do something different. Go for a walk, paint, sing, skydive, something that inspires.
Quite often the best thing to do is to knuckle down and write, but if that’s not working, do whatever it takes to keep your pen hitting the paper…
Writing Prompt: I am inspired by…
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Win a Free PLB T-Shirt!
PeaceLoveBasketball T-Shirt
It has been a while since I’ve given away a PeaceLoveBasketball shirt, so now’s the time. It’s simple to get in the drawing and have a crack at winning a comfy, hip basketball shirt…
Step 1: “Like” the PeaceLoveBasketball Facebook page.
Step 2: Comment in the Win a T-shirt Thread.
The drawing will be next Thursday August 29th (so visit the site by the 28th). And the winner will be announced on next Fridays PeaceLoveBasketball post!
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Prose Focus
Today I needed an exercise to get me writing. Something new, or something I hadn’t done in a while. I pulled out Steering the Craft by Ursula K Le Guin and perused the pages. Chapter 5 grabbed me by the throat. “Chastity.” I put my index finger to the word and started reading. “Write a paragraph or page.” I can manage that I thought. I read on. “…of descriptive narrative prose without adjectives or adverbs. No dialogue.” A bit more difficult than first suspected. The idea is to give a vivid description of a scene or an action, using only verbs, nouns, pronouns and articles. (occasionally adverbs of time.). As Ursula puts it, “Be chaste.” I pulled out my journal and went to work.
Writing Prompt (if needed) to start your “Chastity” exercise: Stella spit on the floor and marched out the door…
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
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Monday’s Pen to Paper: Encourage Creativity
I’m considering taking a year-long writing course. It would be a big commitment with my schedule, but I also know it would help me to keep some focus on my writing, which is not alway easy as coaching basketball seems to consume a majority of my time and energy. I love basketball, but I also love to write, so sometimes I have to take extra steps to make that happen…set some goals…establish some deadlines. A class is one way to do that.
What are some ways that you can encourage your creativity?
WRITING PROMPT: Robert wasn’t the type to set goals but times had changed…
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Sometimes Finding the Good in Life Means Picking the Right Cup
I didn’t have the best day yesterday.
I suppose it should have been, as it was my 20th Wedding Anniversary and the Seahawks won. But I was feeling kind of melancholy. My husband was meeting friends from out-of-town to watch the football game, my national commercial call back was cancelled (the chance for a BIG job, gone), a scheduled open gym for my basketball team (with colleges coaches in attendance,) also cancelled. And I’d spent much of the day picking up the house and buying food and drinks for guests that were to roll in after midnight.
But it could have been worse. I know, I’ve had worse.
Still, as my kids headed to bed and I sat down alone on the living room couch, sadness crept in on me (and a couple of tears.) But it didn’t last. Sometimes […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Surround Yourself with Inspiration
I have to buy The Plot Thickens (St. Martins Press, 2002)by Noah Lukeman. My daughter checked it out from the library a couple of week ago, but it is now five days late, because I found it in her room and stole it. I started into the first chapter on characterization, and decided that it was a book that I have to have. The First Five Pages (Simon & Schuster, 1999), also by Mr. Lukeman, sits on the bookshelf next to my desk. I pull it out for inspiration from time to time. The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life, also needs to be sitting close by.
Surround yourself with books that inspire!
WRITING PROMPT (Based on a section in The Plot Thickens – Characterization: The Outer Life – A Crowed Room) Developing a character:
You […]
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