Taylors of Harrogate Lemon & Orange Tea, a Review
In case the name wasn’t a giveaway about the flavor of tea we’re indulging in here, it’s black tea with lemon and orange essence. It’s a fairly simple blend — just the black tea with the lemon and orange extracts—but it’s a delightful one.
My Goal
I want them to remember my name, my art, my sassiness…
Three Haikus
Spring love; burns bright. Cracks appear.
Gift Horse
Once upon a time, a gang of dark horse Bronze Age thugs huddled in the belly of a hulking hobby horse, tricking their Trojan enemies into accepting a monstrous gift.
Elizabethan Sonnet for Autumn
These cold rains don’t stop amid the hot dreams. Nature will disappear in ignorance.
Quarterly & Special Issues
Submissions next open from June 1 to August 31 2024
November 18, 2021
None of these are inherently good or bad. Some people will run wild with your validating words and, intentional or not, harm others in their own “freedom.” Others may rejoice and find healing. The reader’s response is not on you to determine. You cannot force anyone to do anything.
November 17, 2021
Finding motivation all month long can be tricky. Right now, we’re about halfway through the month, and the inspiration is waning for many. You’ve been writing that 1667 words a day, struggling to take the next step, write the next word, not completely blank out. You might just need some writing inspiration games at this point.
November 16, 2021
Your Words Your World, written by Louise Bélanger is one example of this influx of religious poetry. I had the privilege of reviewing this book for the Roost and am happy to report that it truly is a lovely collection of works by a woman with a creative, imaginative mind.
November 16, 2021
If you’re still working away at your NaNoWriMo novel right now, I challenge you to make the following thousand words really count. Tell your readers every smell, every touch, every sound and sight, every flavor in the scene.
November 15, 2021
I decided to try one last Ahmad brand tea this year. Since I loved the Strawberry Sensation so much, when I saw the Strawberry Velvet Cake dessert tea, I thought I’d give it a brew.
November 15, 2021
My journey along the way has been a rather unique one, I would imagine. The first year I wrote, I was “locked” away in my bedroom for the month, writing between bursts of fundraising, ministry, and theatrical endeavors. The following year, similar. The third year, I lived in a run-down motorhome in the backwoods of Florida, awaiting my move to Chicago. I had no full-time job these three years, so they didn’t take me that long to win (apart from the first one when I was gaining my “NaNo legs”).
November 14, 2021
Now, as an adult who happened to marry a man equally Christmas-crazy as myself, I decorate early for Christmas, not when it’s “normal.” I start putting up the decor in October.
November 14, 2021
Throughout this month, I and others from the Roost staff have offered some tips and suggestions for getting those juices flowing again as you push through NaNoWriMo, aiming for that 50,000-word goal. So today, I thought I’d offer up some specific writing exercises instead of merely directing you to other websites for resources. These are the ones I’ve found most effective for myself.
November 13, 2021
November 13, 2021
One of the biggest things I’ve had to work on as a writer and as a Christian is having the proper perspectives and “standards” regarding morality in my writing.
November 12, 2021
I’ve found that when I find myself overwhelmed and unmotivated to write, despite my goals and desires, I need a break. Here’s how I do it without sacrificing those NaNoWriMo badges.
November 11, 2021
The 50,000 word goal is attainable with just a little prep, various online tools, and fierce determination.
November 10, 2021
These poems were written from the core of Misha’s being. Raw and beautiful, often moving the reader to the point of tears. I couldn’t put it down.
November 10, 2021
November is a busy month in our household. From day 1 to day 30, we have NaNoWriMo on the brain. In the month, we also have my birthday, two birthdays of those who’ve passed, the anniversaries of passings, several friends’ birthdays, a local event we participate in each year, and, of course, Thanksgiving. These days lead to many reflections for me – and many memorials in written word.
November 8, 2021
“What is wrong with me? Why did I write that? It’s fatal trash….” I think many of us can say that during NaNoWriMo. We’ve written a page, chapter, or even a 10,000-word chunk of writing that we think is the worst thing ever composed by any human. And, so, we face that problem: “What do I do now? Trash what I’ve written, take the loss, and move forward from somewhere else? Or do I keep going and realize this manuscript will only ‘win’ NaNo for me and nothing else, ever? Or do I move on and just hope, somehow, I can come back in December and redeem this piece of literary vomit?”
November 7, 2021
So, as I’ve worked on my own character development, I’ve noticed something in much of the world’s “strong female lead” design. This pattern I’ve seen is this: the “weakening” of women and feminine characters by “masculinizing” the characters in order to have them considered “strong.” Let me explain via some examples.
November 6, 2021
Earlier this month, I mentioned my process for writing 10,000 words in less than four hours. I thought I’d give you the full run-down. May it help some of you as you tackle your NaNoWriMo 2021 writing goals this year!
November 5, 2021
NaNoWriMo 2021 will be the first time I enter this arena. It feels like I am entering the Octagon of writing. Join me to see if I survive the journey.
November 4, 2021
While I am not about to question Shakespeare on his famous line, I am a names person, and that means they are vastly important to me, no matter what the aroma! Names of characters, names of bands, book and song titles…you name it, I’ve got a list of at least three or four hundred ideas. And the list grows longer every day. Good character names are vital for powerful novels.
November 3, 2021
Every person who writes a novel is crazy. We are the captains of leaky ships who believe the rigging will be mended, the crew will not mutiny, the sky will return. There is something inside us that demands we make sail, that points us directly into the hurricane.