Heart Matters

Matters of the heart were on my list of priorities this week.  Little One had her six month check-up with the cardiologist this week.  She sat quietly through an EKG, an echocardiogram, and being hooked up to her heart monitor that she’d wear for 24 hours.  It looks like we’ll be good for another 6 months as long as the monitor tests come back without anything new. God has blessed as with such watchful doctors, I know we are in good hands.  Little One commented, “My heart doesn’t hurt Mom, does yours?”

The question made me think of things that does make my heart hurt. The list is longer than I’d like it to be, but  we don’t live in a perfect world, so there will always be something that pains us.  Something that gets our tempers riled or saddens us.

James Scott Bell wrote in his book Plot & Structure that one way to write a “story packed with emotion and dramatic possibilities” is to find issues that you care about, that press our “hot buttons”. 

This led me to look over my current plot outline and see if there was anything that caused my blood to boil.  There wasn’t anything too dramatic so I started playing with ideas.  Sure enough I came up with a new element that I could put into my story to help bring out the drama.

So how about you, do you like to write about things that press your buttons or do you stay clear of issues that might seem too controversial?

Sweet Rewards and an Award

I’m all about rewarding oneself for accomplishments and good behavior.  We try to work on a reward system around the house for tasks completed.  Whether it be schoolwork or housework, it always seems a little more fun if we know when we are finished we have something to look forward too.

Now, don’t get me wrong I strongly believe in being intrinsically motivated to finish a task as well.  Giving yourself a high five for finishing that last chapter or revising it yet again.  But I have to admit it isn’t bad to know that when you finish that chapter you’re going to indulge, in say, some chocolate dipped strawberries.

Right now I am plodding my way through several craft writing  books and doing some exercises they suggest along the way.  It can be tedious, especially when I am trying to keep my kids busy, stay on top of  housework and entertain guests.  I’ve found that if I put in several hours of domestic duties during the day I can reward myself with writing/reading time in the evening.  So sometimes my reward IS writing.

What are some ways you like to reward yourself for tasks completed, especially writing ones?

Getting an award is just as fun as getting rewards. So I was thrilled when blogging buddy Jill Kemerer gave me this award!

Thank you very much Jill.  I love reading Jill’s blog, so I’m happy to think we are soulmates:) 

Instead of passing this on to just a few of you I’d like to give it to all of my blogging friends.  I think since we are all on this writing journey together we share many common goals and interests, like soulmates. 

So please accept this award and go eat some chocolate covered strawberries as a reward for being such a great writer!