Interest Me

What characteristics make for an interesting blog? Do you regularly read many/any blogs (besides this one)? Why or why not? 

I used to read quite a number of blogs on varying subjects…or no standard subject at all. Some were interesting people around the world who spoke of whatever suited their fancy, be it books, movies, style, photography, poetry, or interesting people. Some were on a scholarly journey, a health journey, a journey to a new life in a new place in the world. Some were translated from other languages, some are written by those who did not have English as their first language, but wanted to become prolific in it.  

A number of those bloggers fell away themselves since their focus was narrow and they lost their passion for whatever they put the blog up for, they were discouraged by their low readership, or perhaps their own lives changed, (hopefully for the better). 

It will surprise no one that most of the blogs I read are 1), writer’s blogs, or 2), food blogs. 

A number of food blogs have fallen away. Some were from overseas and often those people moved, either back to America, or they emigrated to Canada or the States. 

Some went to vlogs. 

Many of the writers quit their blogs. Either their guest list/interviews dried up, they started doing more writing in earnest of their own, their family situations changed, or many other life-variables happened. 

 I stopped reading many on my own because well, some of the writers’ sites became continual ads for their works, or became hyper-critical of other writers’ works. Some insisted on handing their guests the same lists of interview questions, then had their favorites or their friends in whenever the other published a new work, and it was the same things over and over. I was faithful and stuck with one for years before, finally, that writer, (of whom I was very fond), put her blog on hiatus. She’s returned, but I have not. 

The ones I read now are generally special friends, people whom I find particularly interesting  

and those who do not blog continually. 

We all have lives, interesting lives, 

which many bloggers fail to understand. An incredible amount of folk think that they, and everything touching them, is special and interesting. Walk a mile in my moccasins, People: 

The same goes for vlogs, of which I spoke a few weeks ago. No way can I watch every one every day. I put a few on and listen to as I go about my business, and a few I let play with the speaker off because I really want to support those folks and their ad revenues, which often goes to charities, but I am busy. 

More and more, others get skipped and unfollowed. 

As for blogs, I often bookmark the ones that I want to read or get back to, and sometimes, I actually do! Life has just gotten harder and more complicated. 

I am doing this quickly and on Friday afternoon. The Geek was out and fixed my PC. I sat down to do this post, but I stopped twice for The Husband, once for Granddoggy #2, and twice for Grandkid #2. 

No time for very many blogs, I am afraid, 

and certainly not those who really have content that fail to enrich my life.

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Blogs Blogs Everywhere

The Blog Universe Exploded and We’re All Drowning in the Fallout

By Jeff Salter

Topic: What characteristics make for an interesting blog? Do you regularly read many/any blogs (besides this one)? Why or why not?

This topic was one of my suggestions… largely because it’s clear the readership of our 4F1H group blog has fallen considerably during it’s 12-year run. I wish I knew what would / could rejuvenate our blog in a way that would attract new readers and entice former readers to return.

Now for this week’s topic:

Let me preface this with a few observations:

With Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and all the other “social media” venues out there, it’s difficult – for me, anyway – to completely separate “blogging” from “posting.” I guess the chief distinction is that POSTERS provide material that is (normally) visible in the initial click, whereas BLOGGERS provide material that is only visible after you click THRU the initial link to the “site”. [I’m sure somebody more tech savvy than me can explain it better, and I invite them to do so.]

If I clicked on all the blogs that potentially interested me – or all the blogs by people who I’m connected to (however loosely) – I fear I’d do nothing but click on blogs all day. The ether-verse is awash with blogs, vlogs, and the like. And, sadly, many of them – my opinion – are not worth the effort.

The domains or sites or hosts (whatever they’re called) which provide free blogging space tend to be driven by pop-up ads, sign-in windows, or other obstacles which have the sole effect of turning away potential readers of the material itself. The more clicks / keystrokes you require of me to reach your material… the less likely I am to make the effort.

What characteristics make for an interesting blog?

I love humor — of many varied types. You want my attention and return visits to your blog? Then make it funny!

That said, I’m gonna flip the subject. As a career librarian and a life-long seeker of out-of-the-ordinary curiosities, it would be difficult for me to name a topic that does NOT interest me… at least a little. One might say I have very eclectic tastes / interests. So I can better respond to this question by stating the characteristics that make for (for me) an UN-interesting blog.

I don’t want the content to be so narrowly focused that it’s hardly different, week to week, than the material already covered 52 times last year. For example: let’s say you’re blogging about WW2 American military helmets. After you’ve dealt with the development and production and three primary manufacturers, what else is there to cover? Week after week, you just focus on a particular battlefield pickup? Why not broaden that blog to include all the countries involved in that war… or broaden it to include other 20^th Century wars/conflicts? If you’re a helmet fanatic, why not broaden your topic to include other periods? Maybe go back to Roman times, etc.

Conversely, I’m not drawn to a blog which is mostly political in nature. Lord knows, these are antsy times in which so many people have hair triggers about so many issues. Anything that stirs us up or causes further divisions… is not for me. Just as I avoid those TV talk shows where “panels” of mouthy, self-annointed experts pontificate on political issues… I also avoid bloggers who do the same. All it does is raise my blood pressure.

I don’t want to read a blog with so much personal drama. Yes, I understand some people blog about illnesses, or grief, or tragedy, etc. And I can understand there are likely people going through similar issues who CAN find comfort therein. But, for me, it’s a struggle to read about such struggles.

Do you regularly read many/any blogs (besides this one)?

Frankly, no. I don’t have time… and cannot afford to take on any additional distractions. There have been a few – mostly by fellow authors – that I HAVE followed regularly. One – by my friend Jenn Bray-Weber – alternated as informational one week and writing prompt the next week. I looked forward to the writing prompts and nearly always had something to submit. I can’t think of any others that I read without fail… though there are several which I check out periodically (depending on the topic, whose blog it is, and whether I’m “free” at that moment to indulge).

Question:

What about YOU? Which blogs – or how many blogs – do you read regularly?

[JLS # 635]

To Blog or Not?

“What characteristics make for an interesting blog? Do you regularly read many/any blogs (besides this one)? Why or why not?”

I didn’t really read blogs until my first book was published. At the time I had no idea how to promote it, but several more experienced authors told me to start a blog. I made one on Blogspot and started making posts. I took great care to speak of books and information I thought other authors would like to know. It wasn’t long before I was getting many visits per day. I think the largest number I ever had was about 500 day. I got loads of comments and discussions too. I was pleased.

But as time went by, fewer and fewer people showed up. The content didn’t change, but I think lots of people just stopped reading blogs. Some may have made a transition to YouTube, Instagram, etc. I never did. So, what blogs do I read now?

There are a few author blogs I like, and I enjoy home remodeling and decorating. I’ve followed some people because they had for want of a better word, a gimmick of some sort. Like the lady with nine children for instance. If the blogger is on a blogging schedule I appreciate having it up on time. Not that I expect every post to be brilliant, but I’d like to read it to the end before I get too bored. I don’t like blogs with too much information crowded onto the page, and I especially dislike having to hunt for the post. I’ve been to blogs where I got so disgusted trying to find the post that I quit hunting. Also, if your blog is a sweet romance blog don’t try to sneak anything erotic by me. Be consistent in your message.

As far as my own personal blog goes, I’m mainly a book blogger there. I still talk about my own work, but I suspect not many people are interested. So what’s your take on things? If you get lots of hits on your blog, please tell me how you did it.

Consistency and a good story

This week we’re talking about blogs. A few years ago you would have seen me actively reading blogs. Especially when we found out that Wyatt had to go gluten free. I needed to learn all that I could about how to bake without gluten. There were a few blogs that I read quite often. A good food blog had to be organized to get my attention. I wanted to be able to click on Gluten Free. I didn’t want to search through recipes just to find one that I wouldn’t be able to use. After about a year and a half of reading different gluten free recipes and comparing them to a “regular” recipe I learned how to adjust recipes on my own. Now when I’m searching for a recipe I don’t limit myself to only searching gluten free blogs. I can take any recipe and adjust it without a problem. Lately, I found myself looking in recipe books rather than on blogs. I was recently given my mother’s Betty Crocker Cookbook which she was given when she got married over 50 years ago. I have been loving going through that book and seeing what I can make. In fact, next week I will be making a gluten free angel food cake using the recipe in the book as my starting point. It was my dad’s favorite cake when my siblings and I were younger so I wanted to surprise him with one.

When I was reading food blogs I liked to read about that person’s journey. Were they always gluten free? Did they struggle with the adjustment like my family was? Were there certain foods that they missed? How did they come up with that recipe? I liked the blogs that gave me information so I could use it on my own. I didn’t want to have to always follow someone else’s recipe, especially since different gluten free flour blends are not readily available around here. For me, blogs that were filled with information drew my attention.

I used to read a few different book review blogs. I stopped reading these because they changed drastically. What started out as a blogs filled with book reviews of clean, sweet romance slowly began to turn into books I would not read. I stopped going to one blog after buying a book that the person recommended and when I got half way through the book came upon a very graphic love scene. I set the book aside and didn’t finish it. I also stopped going to that blog. So, I guess another thing that I feel is important to a blog and makes it interesting for me is if it is consistent. I try to make all the material and information that I consume online to be appropriate for my entire family.

What do you look for in a blog?

Keeping Up With Bloggers

Image from Depositphotos.com

Our resident hound asked, “What characteristics make for an interesting blog? Do you regularly read many/any blogs (besides this one)? Why or why not?”

I read several blogs, though probably not as consistently as I would like. The main issue is lack of time. I simply can’t read and comment on every blog post of every author, seamstress, musician, and teacher with whom I’m acquainted. I subscribe to a few blogs, which means that I get email notices when there’s a new post. Most are author blogs, and I like to support my favorite authors by reading about their new releases, how they cope with distractions, and the remarkable events in their lives. Elizabeth Meyette, Diane Burton, and Diana Stout are local authors whose blogs I read regularly. Even when they’re not publishing new material, they’re hosting fellow authors, or participating in author giveaways and other events. I also subscribe to Kristen Lamb’s blog, because she gives writing advice in a unique way that I find entertaining.

Some blogs are wonderful for researching specific bits of information. When I’m writing a historical romance, it’s much easier to get the information I need from a blog post than it is to wade through volumes of material. Many times I’ll get the answer I need as well as a citation in case I have further questions.

A few years ago I subscribed to a lifestyle blog written by Andrea Dekker, a young mom who lives on the north end of Grand Rapids. She had a lot of great ideas for decorating on a shoestring budget, nice recipes for simple but nutritious meals, and but her lifestyle advice was way too spartan for my taste and eventually I stopped reading it. She’s still blogging, and a quick look at her blog tells me her message of minimalism and organization is still the same.

I get regular email messages from The Fabric Hut and Fleece Fun, two sewing companies that actually look like blog posts. There’s a hook that usually refers to the season, a holiday, or an obscure special day (like National Panda Day) and then it shows a project, along with a link to the instructions, and then (of course) a link to purchase all the needed materials. I still enjoy them, although I very seldom actually sew any of the featured projects.

As for interesting blog characteristics, I think it depends on the type of blog and its purpose. But in any case, there should be some organization. For example, if it’s a food blog, I’ll be looking for some sort of index organizing recipes by ingredient, the occasion, or the method of cooking. I consult various cooking blogs to find ways to use what I have on hand. If it’s a crafting blog, then the index should reflect the different types of projects. There are times when I need a quick gift, or I have a bunch of fabric and need a good way to use it up. On an author’s blog, the books might be organized by series, or maybe writing advice. Since I like to read books in a series in order, I’ll often look to see which book I should read next. 

Appearance is also an important factor. It needs to reflect who’s blogging and the subject matter addressed. A gothic novel author is going to use darker colors and a different font than a sweet romance author. The picture in our heading is quite literal – four foxes, and one hound. We’ve had this picture for quite some time, so perhaps we should brainstorm ways to update it.

Do you read blogs regularly? If so, what makes you come back?

Sunset Stays

After a short break, something jarred the desire to hear more sci-fi. As usual, what I found were more interpersonal relationships, suspense, and mystery than hard-core sci-fi, which is fine, really.  
Maybe it was because The Husband and I have been relaxing running through series or series of movies more evenings than not, and the most recent has been “Murder, She Wrote” that I chose one story: 

“Sunset Stays”, by Craig A. Falconer. 

 The story opens with recent-widow Lorraine Green leaving her home of more than fifty years. She had meticulously planned this move down to the last detail with her husband. He knew that he would not be able to make the trip she was heading out on, but the two of them made many detailed plans. 

Lorraine and Bill had already given their children furnishings and what little they had gathered in their house. They had not collected much, but the two grown children who remained were doing well. The last look into the room of the son who had died as a teen was the only really hard part for her. The others were not happy with her leaving them, or spending all of her money doing so, and she left the house alone in a taxi. 
 

Lorraine headed off to a man-made world on the opposite side of the Sun. It is a retirement community, but Lorraine has plans, big plans and she is far from kicking back. We do not immediately become aware of what the plans are nor why she is so driven to complete the promises she made to Bill, and to herself. 

There is one problem that bothered me about the story. Lorraine judges people very quickly She is very easy to become trusting, because (I’m somewhat paraphrasing here), “not even the most A-list actor could not pull off the sincere look…”. Maybe, had Falconer added, “at the spur of the moment” or the like, it would have been better because I have seen many incredible jobs of acting where actors blew me away and made me believe in their sincerity. 

When we do become privy to Lorraine’s plans, there is a curveball thrown at her right away, and everything, absolutely everything she thought and had driven her, changes. 

This is a novella. In audiobook form, it runs approximately an hour and twenty minutes, but it is a full story. Even if sci-fi and space travel hold no intrigue for you, it is a good story of good versus evil, true strength of character, doing the right thing, helping others for the greater good, conversion of attitude, compassion, and willingness to be openminded to the truth, not what just you perceive to be the truth. 

Although the writer is a man, he does a good job with a woman’s POV. Megan Carter, the woman narrator, (which was the right choice), does a very good job of it. I hope that you check this story out on YouTube. 

I had been waiting for more information from my next guest and just as she came through, I got tied up with an 18-year-old grandchild moving in with less than a day’s notice, so I fell back on this review I had started thinking that I would add more, but I hope that this is enough to carry us through. I do hate leaving the slot empty, so to speak. 

Please give Sunset Stays a listen, when you have an hour and twenty, and let me know what you think. 

This Matter Was Not at All Foul

I Loved This Book and Just HAD to Discuss It

By Jeff Salter

Let me start by explaining: “foul matter” is evidently a publishing term meaning a manuscript which has not yet begun the in-housing editing process. It’s NOT a critical assessment of the quality of that story’s content.

Now, what I really want to say is how exciting it has been to have a book recommended to me, I read the book, and like it so much that I’ve just got to discuss it with somebody. Only I can’t breathe a word about it to anyone who hasn’t yet read it.

The additional wrinkle in this instance is that – on the recommendation of a fellow author – I ordered this book on Feb. 9. It didn’t arrive until Feb. 25, by which time I’d completely forgotten which author recommended it to me. So, when I posted a teaser about it on one of my author sites, here comes Jackie Zack with the reply, “I’m glad you liked it, too.”

“Were you the one who recommended it?” I asked.

She was. And there began a spirited back-and-forth (on email) with questions, answers, comments, observations, etc. — all about this wonderful book.

Naturally, after Jackie and I had batted around all this content, I invited her to whip up a review for my Hound Day blog, here.

I won’t dull any of Jackie’s points with my own observations… except to add that Martha Grimes truly has a way with words. She can turn a phrase! Though I seldom write in my books, I found myself marking several of Martha’s passages that just intoxicated me with their beauty.

Humor abounds with these richly-drawn characters… and, if properly done, a movie version would be fantastic. My sole gripe with the story is the frequent use of the F-bomb… by nearly every character.

Review of “Foul Matter” by Martha Grimes

By Jackie Zack

Meet Paul Giverney. He’s a successful New York City author, a millionaire many times over. He’s a family man with a wife who wears an apron to cook microwave dinners and has a daughter who writes dragon stories. But he’s got a problem wearing on him. Publishing houses. He’s not sure the NYC authors are tied to the right publishers. One in particular is Ned Isaly — the best writer who tops them all in Paul’s estimation. And Ned is stuck at Mackenzie-Haack, the worst of the worst, plus he isn’t making much money. The owner, Bobby Mackenzie is an arrogant, pompous man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Just how bad is Bobby willing to be?

Ned is oblivious to anything around him. He’s caught up in his own world of writing and cares deeply for Natalie’s stalled life. What will become of her? She’s lost everything. (Natalie is the main character in his work in progress.) Ned also meets his author friends regularly. Saul, another amazing writer and Sally, a wannabe writer who works at Mackenzie-Haack. She keeps a close eye on Ned and his work.

Paul leaves his publishing house and decides to strike a deal with Mackenzie-Haack with the stipulation that they drop Ned Isaly. Editor Clive and owner Bobby are thrilled to get Paul. But they can’t drop Ned. He’s under contract, and his new book should be finished soon. They can’t possibly break the contract. Also, if they drop Ned, their top editor will get mad and quit. What a disaster.

Enter Candy and Karl, two hitmen. Clive tries to deceive himself that they will just hurt Ned or spirit him away to another country. Wrong. Bobby and Clive strike up a deal with the men. But Candy and Karl aren’t two ordinary hitmen. They have to decide if the victim deserves the punishment, so they start to follow Ned. They find one of Ned’s books in a bookstore. From what they see on the cover about the author, he seems like a nice guy. What in the world did he do to deserve getting bumped off? Candy and Karl have learned that Paul Giverney has instigated the process. What kind of guy is he? Maybe he deserves it more than Ned. They buy a book by Ned and one by Paul and each starts to read one. Yes, who does deserve it more?

I really enjoyed the camaraderie between the authors, the hitmen with a conscience, and Ned who was oblivious to everything the whole time. The humor and suspense were a tremendously fun mix. I had read this book when it came out in 2003, three years before I started writing. It was really fun to read again, knowing what I do about authors and publishers. It made more sense! The only drawback with this book is the language. Be prepared to skip over words or to read them as something less offensive. The language lives up to the title of “Foul Matter,” as does the character’s plight. And the meaning of Foul Matter in the publishing industry? Foul Matter is what acquisition editors and publishers call the author’s manuscript after the author has written and polished the manuscript to the best of his or her ability!  

—

Jackie Zack Bio Blurb

Jackie Zack loves to read and grew up reading Phyllis A. Whitney, Victoria Holt, Agatha Christie, and many others. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Jackie has spent many years studying the craft of writing. Her light-hearted novels include a mix of romance, comedy, and suspense with Christian characters. She loves serving up her special blend of entertainment and hopes it will bring much enjoyment to the reader. Her newest book is the third installment of the Katy Russell Mystery Series, titled: “Shady Grove.” Her books are available at Amazon.

Shady Grove (A Katy Russell Mystery — Book 3)

[JLS # 634]

Book Review: Somebody’s Darling (The Gettysburg Ghost Series Book 1)

Blurb:

He finally found the love of his life…

150 years after his death.

Confederate soldier Jesse Spenser died in the battle of Gettysburg in 1863, and his restless spirit has remained earthbound ever since. Usually invisible, he spends his days watching tourists visit the battlefields and fighting with his ghostly arch-nemesis, a Union soldier named Joel. 

There is one source of light and happiness in Jesse’s lonely existence.

Lucy Westbrook.

Lucy works as a waitress in a tavern in Gettysburg. Gentle and kind, she’s a vision of loveliness. Unseen, Jesse watches her work, falling more in love with each passing day.

Jesse aches to make his presence known to Lucy, but she’s terrified of the ghosts that are said to haunt Gettysburg. Gathering his nerve, he finally appears to Lucy and befriends her, letting her believe he’s a Civil War reenactor. 

Lucy grows rather fond of Jesse, looking forward to his daily visits. 

Until the day she tries to touch him…

My Review:

I enjoy sweet ghost stories, I don’t read scary ones, and books about the Civil War so when I found this one on Amazon I decided to check it out. I did enjoy the book, but it does require a voluntary suspension of disbelief. I mean who ever heard of ghosts running around in the bright sunshine in the middle of the day? I always associated ghosts with darkness. Once you get into the proper mindset the book is a nice little romance.

My favorite character was the earthbound spirit of Jesse. He fought for the South and died at Gettysburg. For one thing it made me sad to think of all the years he’d been hanging around just waiting for something to happen so he could move on. He was poor in life, but he was a gentleman in all ways. He was a gentle soul in spite of his feud with Joel a Yankee who also died at Gettysburg. I was curious why they hated each other so much now that their earthly journey had ended. It was interesting when I found out. His love for Lucy both delighted and tormented him. What future could there possibly be for a ghost and a living girl?

Fillis, another earthbound spirit was also a favorite of mine. She had suffered during her life, but she loved all the soldiers and acted as a mother to them.

Lucy was a plucky young lady. I don’t blame her at all for being scared of the ghosts. I would be myself. I think she had a lot of courage to see Jesse after she knew the truth about him.

The ending of the story will please many of you romance lovers out there. It’s a feel good ending that defies the natural laws of nature, but it worked well anyway.

Does anyone want to guess how things ended? I won’t tell you if you’re right or wrong, but it would be interesting to know what you guessed.

Guest Author: Josie Riviera and Oh Danny Boy

Josie Riviera is a repeat guest at Four Foxes, One Hound, telling us about her sweet summer romance. Today, she’s got the perfect offering for St. Pat’s Day! The title comes from one of my favorite ballads, Danny Boy, and the book just happens to be on sale! More about that later, but for now, here’s Josie to tell us about the impetus for her series of Irish romances.

****

Several years ago, I began writing Irish romances when my daughter moved to Ireland to study at a university in Londonderry/Derry Ireland. A dear friend of my family lived there, and my daughter loved the city when we visited in the summer after she had graduated from high school.

She majored in dance.

Therefore, I owe a great deal to the beautiful city of Londonderry/Derry, Ireland. I’ve had the privilege to visit many times since, and consider it my second home. The city has been an inspiration for several of my books.

Why does the city have 2 names?

Protestants call the city Londonderry, which is what you will see on the maps. Roman Catholics, who include the city council majority, eliminate London from the name and call the city Derry.

I set Oh Danny Boy in the fictional town of Farthing, set against the backdrops of never-ending rain, a coffee shop, and a dance studio.

Although this book is a sweet romance, the subjects I’ve tackled in the book are difficult. In fact, the opening scene is disturbing, and based on a real-life event my daughter witnessed in Ireland. The names have been changed in my book, and thankfully, no one was hurt.

On Danny Boy is on a 99 cent Kindle Countdown from March 12-18. (U.S. Residents only.)

mybook.to/OhDannyBoy
It is my hope that you will feel like you’ve been transported to Ireland and will love and laugh along with the heroine and hero–Clara and Danny.

I’ve written several other sweet “Irish” romances, that are all standalone books. They include:

1-800-IRELAND

mybook.to/1-800-IRELAND

A Chocolate-Box Irish Wedding

mybook.to/chocolateIrishwedding

Maeve

mybook.to/Maeve1

Irish Hearts, the entire boxed set of all 4 books, is here:

 mybook.to/IrishHearts

You Can’t Put a Square…

What kinds of activities do you engage in while mulling over your storylines? Have they ever helped you get over a stumbling block? 

When I finally sit myself down, keys to the board, I fly away writing.  If I get interrupted…  

did I say IF? 

Good Heavens, WHEN I get interrupted, 
and after a time find myself back to a story and am not sure where to go from there, (depending on how much time was lost or how distracted I have been), all I have to do is re-read what I read, and the story flows again. 

If there is a technical issue, or whatever you may call it, I will do research. I had the devil of a time years ago trying to decide on a type of boat, or small ship, was part of a story. It isn’t a story about a ship, nor about a trip on a ship, but one plays a part in it and the protagonists go on the vessel more than once. I didn’t want to get bogged-down in details, but I want to be accurate.  How big is too big? Is what I am picturing in my head reasonable? How/where would you dock this? Would  it be better if they had to tale a small launch to the bigger boat?  If I downsize, what kind of boat have the room I want belowdecks? 

Most of all, 

What are the names of the types of boats I am considering? 

There is much more info online now, but I really wanted someone who knows boats/ships to answer my questions. 

Since there is more info now so I need to get my act together and start looking around again and get this thing tied up. 

(Not the boat, the story. The story is tied up.) 

 I edit works as I go about my day when I am in full writing swing, and I am good at editing while in the shower. 

I have never been stuck, per se. Stories have a way of finding me. Characters refuse to cooperate or insinuate themselves in where I never planned, or situations I had not considered show up, and then I find that well, yes, I need that so that something that I wanted to come up later can happen, or that is why someone did something,  

or even, “Wait! You were supposed to be the bad guy! You can’t be the…well, I guess you can”, or, “You don’t have the answer! She has the answer! She was supposed to connect the dots.
OK, that will work.” 
 

Unless I am the only crazy one out there whose characters have their own lives, my theory is that real ‘writer’s block’ happens to someone who is trying to put down a story on their own terms, no matter what. A blocked writer is more than likely someone who is inflexible to changes and is not open to ‘listening’ to his/her characters, 

Trying to put a square ‘block’ in a round hole, so to speak. 

It’s been wonderful reading about how The Hound and the Foxes who weighed-in free their minds to opportunities in their stories this week