Category: writing

That story.

~ maryjunebrown ~ 2 Comments

What does a writer do with that story–the one that comes from the heart, that took everything you had, that you are in love with…the story that you are immeasurably proud of…but just can’t place in any market, no matter how many times it’s submitted?

We’ve all got one. A piece that we worked on, rewrote, edited, poured ourselves into; a piece we are moved by more and more with each rereading. It’s a bummer of magnificent proportions that nobody else seems to see it’s brilliance.

I’ve written many stories, some great and some not so–and I’ve seen several make their way into print (thank you, publishing powers-that-be!). But there’s this one that sits on my hard drive, languishing. It’s one of my personal faves, and yet–“not for us…good luck placing it elsewhere…”

So, there it sits, waiting for an audience, and I scour duotrope every couple months, looking for its home. Poor wayward, homeless (but brilliant!) little thing.

The stuff you always wanted to know.

~ maryjunebrown ~ 2 Comments

So, my fellow blogger, Pretty Good on Paper, tagged me with what he calls the “dreaded” Meme of Eight. Thanks a lot. Now I have to think of random facts about myself that might be a modicum of interest to the general world.

Well, here goes (nothing):

1. I am terribly patriotic and often hum the Star Spangled Banner. I get choked up over the Pledge of Allegiance and cry over a display of fireworks. I love America.

2. I am extremely gullible. I have learned to look up and double check things, to the point that sometimes I don’t believe at first things that are true, and should be accepted on first point. Being gullible, has, in the end made me rather skeptical.

3. I am just now getting into the Sopranos. Hearing about it all these years, I couldn’t imagine an intellectual like myself (I jest, but only barely) would like an HBO series based on the mob. I’m hooked now, and it has taken over and replaced my former Law & Order addiction.

4. In college, I fell in love with none other than Woody Allen. Yes, that Woody Allen. I wrote to him, and amazingly he wrote me back. I fantasized about him pulling up to my dorm room and wisking me away in a limo. I imagined us making witty and clever conversation. Alas, he chose to take up with his almost-daughter, Soon-Yi, which broke my heart. I got over it.

5. I’m a chronic user of Q-Tips. Really. I use about 8 a day–I just like clean ears.

6. My favorite poet is Walt Whitman. My favorite poem, however, is by e.e. cummings and is:

somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
any experience,your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose

or if your wish be to close me,i and
my life will shut very beautifully,suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility:whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands

7. I do not like clowns. They are really frightening, don’t you agree?

8. I break rules in the blogosphere, because I’m too much of a goody-two-shoes to do it anywhere else. Thus, I’m not participating in the 2nd part of this meme, that is…I’m not tagging others to do it. But, if you are interested…the rules are at the bottom of this post.

So there you have it–a random like of facts for your reading pleasure.

***

The Meme of Eight Rules:

1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.

2. People who are tagged write their own blog post about their 8 things and post these rules.

3. At the end choose 8 people to get tagged and list their names.

4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and to read your blog.

Vacation–All I Ever Wanted.

~ maryjunebrown ~ 6 Comments

So we just got back from Maui.  Totally gorge. 

I can think of nothing, really nothing, as welcome as lazing by a pool, with the ocean next door, with nothing to do except keep an eye out on the kids.   Oh, and napping! And cocktails, too, of course.  I want to say that I am totally reinvigorated…ready to start writing, full of energy for putting pen to paper and creating.  But I’d be lying, big time.

See, strolling about in the sun really just makes me want to do more of it, more relaxing, more indulging.  Writing is hard work, as you all probably know.  I’ve got to get back to it, but for today…I’m just going to bask in the residual glow of my vacation.  Ahhhhhh.

Give me fevah!

~ maryjunebrown ~ 2 Comments

I just had a conversation with a writer, someone who has actually written (and published!) books.  Just talking with someone who has birthed a book, from beginning to end, from screen to bound copy, gives me a dose of much-needed energy for writing.

Energy for writing is one of those things one has to engineer at times.  Like cardio, the more you do it, the better your body is able to do it.  Writing is like that: the more you write, the more you have the energy, ability, creativity, desire, time, dedication to do more of it.

So, for myself, I reiterate the mantra: keep writing, keep writing, keep writing.  If this mantra appeals to you, well…I highly recommend repeating it to yourself.  Get some energy and write!

What to write about?

~ maryjunebrown ~ 4 Comments

I was looking at some writing prompts today, trying to get inspired.

I saw a suggestion about creating one’s own list of writing prompts by randomly, swiftly naming 10 things one may write about one day (don’t hold your breath!).  Here’s mine:

Makeup application techniques, spa days, toddler behaviors, celebrity gossip, depression, publishing without publishing contacts, sustainable passion, neighbor block parties, get-rich inventions, and the role of hospice.

So that’s my random, top-of-the-head list.  What’s yours?

For all you would-be pirates.

~ maryjunebrown ~ 1 Comment

For whatever reason, pirates are hot right now.  I guess there may be some tie-in to the popularity of those films…what are they…the ones with Johnny Depp.

Anyway, I know that some of you have written pirates stories for publication to various journals, as there have been many pirates-themed publications this year.  If you have one of these stories, and it hasn’t been published, go here: http://emg-zine.com/

emg-zine is calling for submissions, and they are looking for pirates-themed stories.  Deadline is September.

Ho ho ho and a bottle of rum!  (Ok, I know…really dorky, but I couldn’t resist.)

Push-and-pull.

~ maryjunebrown

This last week was less than productive. Somehow, I lost my momentum for my novel. It’s strange–I’m simultaneously excited by it and able to keep my distance from it at the same time.

I’ve been concentrating on short stories for a while, and there’s a real sense of do-ability in shorts–the end is quickly in sight, and I can finish them within a matter of days. For a novel however, the end isn’t just far away, somewhere out there in the foggy distance–the weight of it also looms over me. Makes my shoulders ache.
So yeah, it’s a struggle with this book.

But I intend to win.