Glow Word Books Blog

The Best Part of Writing is the First Draft

My favorite part in the writing cycle is finishing the first draft because it is my first peak at the story’s potential. I always start with an outline, but so much of the book comes together during the first draft. I’m constantly surprised by all the new connections I find when I’m in the process of actually writing.

There’s an old debate about whether you should be a plotter (you already know everything that will happen before you start writing) or a pantser (flying by the seat of your pants). I’m happiest as a plotting pantser. I need to know where the story is going, but I’m usually delighted to learn about the main character’s hair color or mother-in-law during the first draft.

Finishing the first draft is when I can step back and see how everything looks — enjoy the beauty of the vista…. before putting my hiking shoes back on for that arduous second draft.

Real versus Fake Christmas Tree

As a kid, I couldn’t imagine anything more magical than picking out a real Christmas tree with my parents. I loved everything about it from watching them try to fit it on the roof of our car to sweeping up the pine needles at home.

Now, as an adult I just think about the tremendous amount of work a real pine tree brings with it. I don’t want to pick up the tree, dispose of it, water it or sweep its needles. Part of me feels guilty for putting up a plastic tree — am I depriving my kid of a time honored tradition?

After thinking about this for a few years, I think I’m okay with our plastic tree. The magic of Christmas isn’t with the tree — it’s about sharing the holiday with loved ones. There’s no shame in spending an afternoon putting up decorations, singing Christmas carols (and yes, eating a few cookies :) with your husband and son!

How about you…. have you come to terms with your fake tree or do you still make the trip down to the tree lot?

Online Mad Libs: Christmas Pageant

Fill out these questions to generate your own silly mad libs letter instantly online! (Hint: a verb is an action. A noun is a person/place/thing. An adjective describes a person/place/thing.)

Adjective:

Verb (ending in “ing”):

An Animal:

Something Christmas-related:

A Relative of yours:

Thing:

Professional (example: Actor or Banker):

Thing:

Noun:

A word to describe a person:

Ode to Baby Bargins

Courtesy of BabyBargains.com

Being a first time parent is confusing. You want to be safe, but you don’t always have the money to buy the most expensive option. (Who knew a baby needed so many things!)

Thankfully, a friend recommended Baby Bargins, which helped me get my feet on the ground. I was surprised to learn that the government sets a lot of minimum safety levels, so the $100 option is just as safe as the $400 one — you’re just paying for the label. Knowing that fact allows you to choose when you want to pay more and when you don’t care. Marketers no longer play tricks with your brain like convincing you to pay more because you think your child will be safer.

Another great tip we learned is to always get breathable fabrics for the crib. We bought the Aden and Anais swaddles and they have been our new best friend. When our son was first born, we swaddled him in them and now they are great as light blankets, propping him up in the boppy or a make-shift pillow for when I’m too tired to get out of the chair to nap in my bed!

If you feel overwhelmed and worried about your baby’s safety (in another words, you’re a normal parent), this book’s comprehensive research will help put your mind at ease. I particularly love that they never accept money from companies, so their advice is as objective as you can probably get.

Why don’t we smile like babies?

We have no definitive idea why we are on Earth, yet we waste so much of our time and energy doing jobs we hate so that we can buy junk food that we know isn’t good for us, watch movies that are too violent, shop is bland, generic soul-less malls and sit alone in traffic while our cars throw soot into the air.

How did we get to that point?

When I watch my child, I’m amazed by how much he smiles. He is happy to sit and look at me for 10 hours a day, doing nothing more than smiling, coo-ing and laughing. How did so many of us go from that to a normal, well-adjusted adult life? Growing up is strange.

Seeing Your Proof Copies for the First Time

Before I had a kid, I wanted to compare seeing the proof copies of your book to seeing a child for the first time — but nothing can compare to the joy of holding a new life. That being said, holding a new book is still pretty cool.

But the joy of seeing your book printed is more like sending your kid off to college. You have done everything you can to prepare them for the real world (writing, editing, cover design, copyrighting, legal paperwork, beta readers, etc) — now it’s time to see what they’re made of…. and hope they’ll stop costing you so much money soon!

Never teach a bunny to read

Never teach a bunny to read or he will spend all day sounding out signs.

That is all.

I Tried Listening!

When I was studying music therapy, we did a course on listening. It was fascinating to discuss a skill you should be doing all the time, but rarely do well.

I remember an exercise where we had to listen to a classmate without thinking of what we were going to say next. No advice. No comments. No jokes. It made me realize I didn’t truly listen to people…. and if you don’t listen, you can’t be there for others.

Since that course, I’ve tried to listen better and let people to come to their own conclusions — that’s often more helpful than blabbing whatever advice was at the top of your head. When was the last time you tried listening?

Glow Word Books Blog

Authors Steve & Natasha