M is for Must

The MUST day. The day when we MUST have our tax returns filed for the previous year.

It's not my favorite day of the year for many reasons, mostly because I'm a little rebel at heart and when someone says I MUST do [fill in the blank], I don't react well. 

April 15. Why not say we must remember the sinking of the Titanic? That was on this day in 1912. It's a little before my time, but I've seen pictures. 

Here's a better must remember for today. In 1964, the first Ford Mustang rolled off the assembly line. I must remember that the next time I see an old Mustang on the road. 

I must remember to mix brevity with seriousness in my blog. 

I must. M is for Must. 

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

E is for Evermore

2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Thanks for stopping by Twenty-six Keys. Today’s blog is doing double duty with both the 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge and the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

Poe’s Raven was a miserable creature and the greatest nay-sayer of all time. The wretched bird knew but one word - “nevermore!”

What a serious downer.

Writers tend to be an introverted and insecure sect. We need positive reinforcement on a daily basis. The word "never" should not be a part of our vocabulary. 

So to all the insecure writers out there, with apologies to the Poe devotees, I think it’s time for the raven to quote another word - EVERMORE.

Evermore is faithful and being a writer means being faithful to your craft. There’s no halfway measure to being a happy writer. As the writer’s knowledge and abilities increase, they’re evermore willing to put in the time. And little by little writing will overtake the writer’s life. This is really not a bad thing. It's helpful to be immersed in the creation of the story. 

So, yes, I have a new watchword. Quotes this old writer, “evermore.”

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

As the Brain Simmers

There's a saying, and I'm not sure where I read it, that a book is written as the fish eats - in nibbles. The last few days have been like that - nibbles. 

It used to concern me when the words to a story wouldn't come. I'd worry that I was finished. That I had nothing left to say or to create. Now I know it's just the way my brain works. I occasionally need to back off and let the ideas simmer. 

Is there a danger in that? You betcha. Sometimes I can let an idea simmer so long I forget about it. I opened my ideas folder last night and clicked through it. Wow. I really had some high expectations back in the day. 

But there are a few good ideas in the folder, ones I'll bring out and simmer. With the right ingredients, I might have something worth the seasonings. We'll see.

Rayne
http://www.rayneforrest.com

A Hidden Heaven

Finding the perfect title is an authorly pursuit. Sometimes the title comes and then you get the idea for the story. At other times you can be in the midst of the prose and a phrase catches your attention and you turn it into the title. A title based on the overall theme can be good, too. 

And sometimes the author chooses a title that the readership just doesn't "get." I think this is the case with Skipping Heaven. That title came out of the text. What is it exactly ghosts are doing? They're skipping heaven for a little while. The ghost lovers in my story were given their own private heaven to occupy and enjoy for a while. Their mountain home could very well be the "room" prepared for them. 

Skipping Heaven has always been a very personal story. It was written after my beloved was diagnosed with cancer. I'd like to believe love can continue after death but thankfully I'll have a while yet before I find out. He's pretty healthy these days. But I digress...

I decided to re-title this book "A Hidden Heaven." It fits. Justine has found her own private heaven, hidden from view. The only question is will Daniel stay and share it with her? 

Is there love after life? I believe so. 

Rayne
www.rayneforrest.com