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On Writing and Life

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On Writing and Life

Monthly Archives: September 2015

A Fitful, Fretful Journey

22 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by Sandie Tillery in Writing

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Writing Process

It is time to write this book that keeps working its way to the surface of my thoughts. I don’t have any trouble writing my thoughts, but the discipline of organizing my ideas, researching, interviewing, then writing on a regular schedule and sticking to the plan…that is hard.

I am reading the works of other authors not for story content anymore, but for organization, for technique, for sentences and paragraphs that grab and keep my attention. I am reading to learn how to craft my story so you will all want to read it from beginning to end.

The book I am writing is non-fiction. So, I am reading non-fiction books to see what works for me as a reader. I am writing my book at the same time. My confidence waxes and wanes. I am reading a book now by an author who has done something I hope to do…paint a word picture as an analogy to illustrate his point of view. He then ties his train of thought together in a later chapter so the reader has that “AHA” moment, the moment when the questions raised by the author in the previous chapter, the point of view that challenges the reader to think about an old idea in a new way, makes so much sense that the reader wishes she had thought of it herself.

Another something I look for in a well-written book, another something I hope to incorporate in my writing, is conciseness without neglecting the descriptive phrasing that elicits an emotional response from the reader. Let’s face it, what we read needs to move us in some emotional way, or why read it? I don’t mean sobbing emotions, or soppy sentimentality. I mean emotions that lure us into the story or that inspire us to learn more. The book I am reading now does that. The author uses personal illustrations, speaks in the first person and speaks directly to me. I am reading carefully.

The process moves me along. Reading as a writer, taking a refresher course on “Building Great Sentences,” writing here for practice and having you all let me know what you think, this is helping me grow in my craft as a writer. All you readers give purpose to what we writers write. I want to move you, inspire you and to create a hunger in you to read more.

Let’s see what happens.

Celebrating Life

16 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Sandie Tillery in Reflections on Life

≈ 2 Comments

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Good Choices, Heritage, Memories, Parents, Role Models

Jacque rests uncomfortably in the hospital with her daughter sitting vigilant through the night. Surgery went well, says the doctor. Got all the cancer they could see. Waiting for tests that will show if there is more and what course of treatment may be required in weeks to come. No visitors right now.

The older we get the more often we come face-to-face with the inevitable end of life. Its easy to ignore when we are young and vigorous, full of the future. When the future has a time limit looming we look at life much differently. Each day counts more. Every family event holds more poignancy. Some decisions seem more trivial while others become more urgent.

I love Jacque, my friend, my mentor, my encourager, my sister in Christ. She has a devoted family and large circle of influence. Much prayer has been offered for her healing and return to life in the NOW. There are so many of us wanting her to stick around for awhile longer.

Not long ago we shared sweet memories of a brother-in-law at a gathering in his honor. I learned many things I didn’t know about him. He lived a good life, suffered a long time with chronic and worsening pain. We gladly let him go. Just two years earlier we gathered round Ruby, my husband’s mother who had only the month before turned 99 years old. As we all said goodbye to the shell, the well-used temple, left behind by her heaven-bound spirit, relief and joy and sadness and loss, smiles through tears, celebration and song floated among us in the room. She too lived a good life.

Life is short…an old adage with little meaning until life really is short. I am a grandmother now. Life is short. I want to love the living, love the moments and the days, love the people and the experiences we share. It is time to celebrate life for all its worth. I do believe in the after-life; heaven will be my home someday. But right NOW, I choose to make the most of the time remaining. Get Well, Jacque. Let’s celebrate!

A Wonderful Legacy…WORDS

09 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Sandie Tillery in Reflections on Life, Writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Communication, Heritage, Memories, Parents, Role Models, Wisdom

My Dad and my Granddaughter...Passing on the legacy

My Dad and my Granddaughter…Passing on the legacy

Family time growing up with my dad always included interesting conversation. We memorized classical poetry while hiking in the Trinity Alps of northern California and listened by the warmth of winter fires to The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Dad stimulated our interest in politics, philosophy, religion, social issues, and current events. He asked us to share our ideas and opinions. He introduced us to interesting places on the globe and described exotic animals. We often entertained creative people. His own hunger for knowledge defined the culture of our home.

My brother Wallace has become the great philosopher of our family, a theologian and teacher who expounds from insatiable reading. He is an impassioned purveyor of knowledge. Aaron learned early the need for practicality and hard physical labor, yet he writes wilderness adventure tales from a sensitivity and respect for nature birthed in those early woodland jaunts and years as an avid outdoorsman. Both brothers, embracing opposing political and social views, enjoy a good and vigorous debate.

We three sisters have lived very different adult lives. Janice and I each have a passion to write, both have degrees that validate our skill and training, both speak from lives rich and full. She has lived as a world-travelling cosmopolitan while I have lived as a traditional country homemaker. Our youngest sister, Linnea, races at mach speed through life, a mover and shaker in the fitness world, training pageant contestants and conducting on-line workouts. She knows how to influence others with her encouraging words. All three of us enjoy lively debate, share enthusiastically from our own points of view, and love the challenge of keeping up with “the boys” in any conversation of substance.

“Invictus”, “Lord Randall”, “The Raggedy Man” and “The Highwayman” may be heard recited even by our progeny now at family gatherings, remnants of our childhood entertainment with our Dad. We all look forward to biennial family reunions with extended family. Pinochle games often end in enthusiastic (even sometimes flush-faced) conversation about current events or social responsibility.

My husband is a wise man born of a family with roots in common sense, careful planning and practicalities. I am born of a family rich in words, lofty dreams and spontaneity. I gained knowledge, he gained wisdom. As we’ve blended our lives these past 43 years, John speaks and writes more emotionally and I listen and speak more carefully. We both love words. He whistles and sings harmonies from his Baptist upbringing, I recite epic poetry. What a wonderful heritage has been passed from our forebears that we now pass on to our offspring.

Forever Friends

05 Saturday Sep 2015

Posted by Sandie Tillery in Reflections on Life

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Friends, Good Choices, Memories, Role Models

Today Janet celebrates her birthday. I am among a whole tribe of people who love this woman and feel honored to be called friend by her. One of the rare gifted people who LOVE middle school-aged kids and old people and babies equally, Janet has a following of fans reaching back through her years of teaching, mentoring, mothering, ministry and missions. She puts others before herself most of the time.

Her creativity and passion have left lovely, enduring impressions on those of us lucky enough to have relationship with Janet. Gifts designed to encourage left on doorsteps, homemade treasures given on holidays, home visits to shut-ins, community service with her students, potlucks with friends, conversations on the trail during regular runs, adventuring on rock faces and wilderness trails with her husband, and often with others who never grow too old to learn from her, and on and on…these are things of which I know. Others would tell more.

Janet is a giver. She thrives on doing random and planned and purposeful acts of kindness. The bible says, “A friend shows [herself] friendly.” Janet is a friend to many.

Through the years I have come to know her well. We are sisters and friends. Janet is the foremost initiator of  adventures with our intimate group. Our time together waxes and wanes as we all have busy lives and other commitments. But, the fact remains: we are forever friends.

Autumn Leaves Must Fall

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Sandie Tillery in Reflections on Life

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Finding Passion, Seasons, Writing Process

I am glad for autumn. Glad for the breezes that cleanse the smoke from the sky. Glad to enjoy cooler mornings on the back patio with my coffee. I am so glad the fires that clouded our summer skies are burning out and the firefighters will soon mop up and go home to their families. I am glad that school has resumed and the grandchildren have launched into another year of learning and growing, making friends and discovering new interests and passions. I love autumn most of all the seasons.

Autumn is a time of shedding leaves and the malaise of summer, of harvesting and putting up, of changing direction and letting fresh ideas whisper life into slumbering daydreams. It is a time to prepare for winter’s challenges and darker days. I love the changing colors of autumn that herald the soon coming of my favorite holidays and the promise of cozy evenings in front of the fire. Autumn’s colors are my colors…orange and amber, bronze and brown, red and yellow.

When the last autumn leaves have fallen and the barrenness of winter descends, newly written thoughts will be pondered and polished. Autumn’s colors having birthed inspiration and pleasure in the putting down of thoughts on this screen and into my stories, will have done their job. And as I write through the winter months, I pray for my words to have meaning that offers help, hope and joy to others.

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