Quote by redwriter

Into the 'Dead Zone' once more--Where is everyone? I know Christmas is coming and time is precious, but just a couple of words--too much to ask? I'd better heat the water and make some beverages. I can't find Ape's cache of rare teas, but I have some spare Special Earl Grey from just up the road. Found a packet of Brazilian Chihuahua coffee under the counter--Don't know how long it's been there (packet is dusty, but sealed) so I'll give it a spin.

I know very well that Christmas is coming because my dear lady becomes 'Bossy lady' and has asked (ordered?) me to tidy up the room I call an office. If you've seen the opening scene of 'CATS' you'll know what a state the office is in.

Now, do I wait for the water to boil or should I get back to that rewrite with which I am struggling. ("Is it more important than the state of your office?!!!) Who said that?

See you later.

Thanks for the setup Red. That Brazilian Chihuahua coffee sounds like it’s worth a taste. I like to stare mindlessly out the window as the coffee is brewing, but that’s just me.

Talia’s home! Talia’s home! Nice to have things back to normal. Wish she didn’t have to work today.

Tagging an extra last chapter onto the work in progress. Day two of that is today. Looking forward to it.

A coffee and a cookie please,

“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” - Ernest Hemingway

Thanks for taking care of the coffee Red.

I am readying the house for Talia’s return, cleaning and listening to the radio. That’s my day. Sounds boring? It is.

A big winter storm is moving in. Kind of nice to see the snow coming down lightly as I clean. Occasional white snow devils formed by the wind.

I’d love a coffee.

Thanks for setting up Sara.

The real question is if I go see Godzilla tonight. I may, though the focus is on writing and walking (63 degrees!). After that, I am going into a cleaning frenzy as Talia comes home this weekend.

Nothing much else going on. My life is so boring.

I’d love a coffee and a cookie!

I last heard from Elizabeth in march of this year. I will drop her a line. I hope she is well.

Sunny and in the mid 60s today. Lunch with my daughter, maybe a stop at the weed store after. I will try to fit in a walk, but it’s looking unlikely.

The Western is coming along weirdly but well. Should be short - I’m thinking 5000 words. I’ve never written one of these before.

I hope everyone is doing well. Coffee and tea and cookies are ready and waiting! In honor of Gill, Kitty Zoomies are our special teas blend today.

Quote by redwriter

Oh, enough of the miseries--and on with this historical piece. The rewriting is much more enjoyable than the original was, mainly because, although some characters and incidents will change, I know exactly where it is headed.

Good to hear you are rewriting, and that it is going well. I find that rewrites are often like that, you know where you are going and can fine tune things with more confidence.

A small group is all we need to keep the fires burning, Red. I’ll always try to stop by for a quick cup, though I am less reliable on weekends.

Might sneak out and watch Godzilla Minus Zero in the theater today. Looks really good. You seeing it, Ape?

Coffee and tea is out. Our popular Kitty Zoomies tea is steeping. Coffee is the same old Costco crap. And Sara’s cookies!

“Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.“ - Elmore Leonard

Just watched the entire Lonesome Dove miniseries. It’s SO GOOD. Just watching Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall being cowboys is such a joy. I saw it back in the day. I got a little teary at the end of the third episode, but that last one is just heartwrenching. And I knew what was going to happen!

“That’s not writing, that’s typing.” - Truman Capote, when asked his opinion of Jack Kerouac

Quote by redwriter

Yesterday's snow has magically disappeared this morning--no complaints about that--but there's rain and heavy threatening clouds. Nothing's perfect!

Mira is aboard the ship with other youngsters escaping from the Nazis. I know where she's going but just can't motivate her at the moment. In the meantime, I am playing with the idea of submitting here the rewritten version of a historical novelle hoping to get some comments on it before attempting a touch of self publishing on Amazon. The very notion of keeping that going is keeping me alive.

Entering this page in the morning on this side of the channel has been like entering the Dead Zone--only Scott, Jeff, Sara and Gill make appearances to keep it alive. Then I asked myself --'And you?' - and realised that I had given little to improve the situation. So I resolve herewith to stop moaning and become a regular once more, while I am still breathing.

I hope to see you around here more often, Red, and I’d love to read more of your writing here, even if you are only test driving it for a publish on Amazon. Let us know when it goes up!

Tired. Woke up too early. Wah. I have some financial errands to run, which will suck. Good news though: I think my health issues are not going to be that big a deal.

I have one final chapter to write in the WIP, I may start that today.

I hope everyone is well. We have coffee and tea and COOKIES!

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

Anyone else struggling to post things today?

I haven’t had any problems, but I haven’t posted much.

After a long period of wonderful days, it’s cold and gray out. Today will be my first test of my winter walking regime, and it will be a test, with a high of 40 today. I am afraid I might fail.

Watching Monarch: Legion of Monsters on Apple TV and it is SO GOOD! I’m limiting myself to one episode a night, to draw it out.

I also am watching the Lonesome Dove miniseries, and similarly limiting myself to one episode a night. Very good as well.

All this TV watching to distract from Talia absence for a week. Sigh.

I hope everyone is well.

Coffee and tea is awaiting. Cookies too!

Quote by jmcchesnie

Hi all, I'm new here. It's mid afternoon and I'm on my last cup of chicory coffee mixed with a little oat milk. I'm trying to get the motivation to put Christmas decorations up, maybe sometime today it will happen. Cheers to all and have a great day!

Welcome. We’re a pretty friendly group here.

I’ll have some of that coffee blend I can’t pronounce.

Kissinger died! I’ll not be political here, but, MAN what a towering figure in American politics.

Shane McGowan died too! That one hit much harder. I bet every Irish pub in NYC is playing him on the jukebox all day. I always considered Fairytale of New York to be the official Christmas song of NYC. He will be missed deeply.

Coffee and a cookie please, I have errands to run!

Wellness, by Nathan Hill. Excellent so far. Even if it is an Oprah book club pick

Good morning all. Coffee is a coffing, and teas are a teaing. Plus, NEW CHRISTMAS COOKIES!

Same ol day today. Entering a big memoir contest, so big I am even willing to pay an entry fee, something I have rarely done in the past. Sorry about pulling my recent story from here, but it is against the rules to be published elsewhere.

Talia is gone for a few days starting tomorrow. Sigh. I’ll just have to be a bachelor for a week. I plan on devouring the Lonesome Dove miniseries and the excellent Monarch Legacy of Monsters on Apple TV.

I hope everyone has an excellent day.

In the broadest possible sense, writing well means to communicate clearly and interestingly and in a way that feels alive to the reader. Where there’s some kind of relationship between the writer and the reader there’s an electricity about it. —David Foster Wallace

Thanks for setting up, Ape!

Nothing new here. Trying to write an opening paragraph and it's not gong well. Better drink some more coffee!

All is well here. Hope everyone is having a stellar day.

There is a similarity between juggling and composing on the typewriter. The trick is, when you spill something, make it look like a part of the act. - Tom Robbins

Quote by DenimAngel
Cookies tomorrow... any requests ?

Christmas tree ornament cookies!

I thought it might be nice to start a thread of quotes bout writing.

I'll start: Write hard and clear about what hurts. Don’t avoid it. It has all the energy. Don’t worry, no one ever died of it. You might cry or laugh, but not die.” - Earnest Hemingway

Day old coffee, but it’s good enough for me. I’ll drink it while I am setting up for today. Some delicious Venus Flytrap coffee, and our tea is called Mars is Heaven.

Critiquing all day for tonight. Wah! It’s boring and I want to write. Sigh.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanks for the Deathwish Ape

Hope everyone had a swell Thanksgiving! Ours rocked, low key. About to start writing a horror Western. Deeply weird. Lonesome Dove is rubbing off on me. It really is a great American novel,

Hey, how can we add a thread to the Forum? Or is that a mod-only activity?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

tumbleweeds

Coffee and tea and cookies are waiting!

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving plans and menus are coming together, even if you are only eating a pizza and watching all the Star Wars movies (I spent a Thanksgiving that way once and loved it). We are cooking for a small table--5 folks--and having all the basics: turkey, taters, stuffing, green bean casserole, homemade cranberry sauce.

I'm so close to the end of the edit on this book I can smell it. I'll have a ton of time this weekend.

Enjoy the holiday everyone!

Good morning. Back to my regularly scheduled schedule. Yay! I hate waking up early and dragging through the day, like yesterday.

Approaching the end of the edit of this (very short) book. There’s an excerpt up if anyone cares to read it. It’s harrowing, though I’ve tried to keep a light touch, considering the subject matter. An even tone is the only way to pull this off.

At any rate, it’s cool but sunny out, so should be a nice day. Coffee and teas are ready!

I would love a coffee and one of Sara’s turkey cookies!

No coffee for me, though it will be time for a beer soon.

Very early medical appointment this morning, and a long drive, so I got a cheap motel near the office last night so I could wake up after 6 in the frikkin morning. It was all good news - I’ve been having some weird neuro symptoms lately, but it looks like all is relatively well. Yay!

Relaxing today. Tomorrow is a hard core editing day though.

I’d love a cookie!

Cruise! Never been on one.

Winter: stay inside or enjoy the cold and snow?

Flowerpot Island? Sure, hit me!

My daughter and her husband and son is moving to the East Coast in January. My Lord, but it is going to be hard not to worry. I get it, it’s cheaper there, and the East Coast is where I spent MY young adulthood (and it’s quite a playground), but still. Gonna be tough. I wish them well!

Do all my chores yesterday, so it’s writing and walking again today. Got a big neurological exam on Monday. Been waiting 40 days for it, so I am glad it has nearly arrived.

For now, coffee and a cook will suffice.

Hope there is still some of that Deathwish left. I did not sleep well, so am struggling to wake up.

I have a really intense story up. Be forewarned it is not for the squeamish. I like to think there is some humor and irony in there too, but I don’t get to be the judge of that.

Have a great day everyone!

Balanced lifestyle, though I've had tightly focused times in my life

Bake a turkey or eat a turkey?