Fairy Garden in the Making

Posted in Music, Movies, and other Muses by

For those who don’t know, I have a fairy garden out in my back yard. It’s been a project a couple of years in the making. I initially went into inspired by various pictures on Pinterest, but otherwise not really doing any research or planning ahead.

I’ve had a few people ask me lately about my fairy garden. So consider this post a sort-of DIY about making your own backyard fairy garden. (If you want truly good instructions to make an elaborate fairy garden or even village, there’s much better information all over Pinterest and the interwebs in general). But for those who are interested, here’s what I did:

I started with some twigs from the yard, which I lashed together with carpet thread to make a door (with a button for the door knob). I nailed it to the base of a tree, and some gravel gathered from my driveway made the front walk.

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Why I Became a Fiction Writer

Posted in Writings about Writing by

While I may not be making full-time living from my writing (yet), I’ve been working my way towards becoming an actual professional writer. I write web content, articles, and social media posts for my job, which I’m blessed to be able to do.

But I’ve always wanted to be a fiction writer, and so I’m plugging away at short stories and novels. When I was in college, and for many years after I graduated and had various jobs that didn’t relate at all to my English degree, I seriously contemplated a life and career path other than that of writer.

I have always had many varied interests, and so picking one thing to do as a “career” seems kind of confining. So why did I pick “writer” and decide to pursue that instead of some other career that might actually be feasible and might make me money?

In short, because I’m lazy. Now to be a career writer (of fiction, or anything else) takes talent, discipline, and lots of hard work. It’s not a career for the lazy. But I considered writing to be the easiest pursuit of all of my interests because… Continue reading →

Periwinkle

Posted in Music, Movies, and other Muses by

For this week’s post, I’m sharing a poem I wrote. I’m not much of a poet, but I like to dabble in it now and then. So here you go, for your enjoyment (or not) as the case may be:

 

Periwinkle

Periwinkle is a good word

It rhymes with twinkle

Like a star

A star-shaped flower

Or a star exploding like an opened flower

Flowers in the night sky

Most stars aren’t periwinkle, though

A Week Away at Tinker Mountain Writers Workshop

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This week I’m blogging from the grounds of Hollins University, which is hosting the annual Tinker Mountain Writers Workshop. This is my first time attending this workshop, though it’s not my first time at Hollins. I graduated from Hollins with a BA in English and creative writing (many moons ago), and so it’s been a fun yet strange experience being back on the campus after so many years.

The scenic Hollins campus

The scenic Hollins campus

I’ve attended writers’ conferences and other workshops before, but never a week-long event. Classes are in the morning, then a short seminar after lunch, and the afternoon and evening are for reading, writing, going for walks, open mic readings, and whatever else you want. It’s wonderful to be away from the bustle of everyday life for a few days, on the quiet scenic university campus, and surrounded by like-minded writers. Continue reading →

Strong Women of Sci-Fi – Lyta Alexander from Babylon 5

Posted in Babylon 5, Music, Movies, and other Muses by

This week I’m going to highlight one more strong female character from science fiction – and I have to discuss my favorite sci-fi show ever, Babylon 5. For anyone who’s watched Babylon 5, you would probably agree that the two main female leads – Susan Ivanova and Delenn – are strong women. But as much as I’d agree with you, and as much as I’d like to discuss either of those characters, I’m going to talk about the character of Lyta.

Lyta Alexander from Babylon 5

Lyta is a telepath, and she initially serves as the diplomatic aide to the enigmatic Ambassador Kosh of the Vorlon Empire. Throughout the story of Babylon 5, the Vorlons – at first allies, then enemies, but always mysterious – alter Lyta’s telepathic abilities. She becomes stronger than average telepaths, and by the end of the series she reveals that the Vorlons had intended to use her as a doomsday weapon in their war against the Shadows.

I believe that Lyta is a strong character, but unlike Delenn or even Ivanova, she has a negative character arc. At the beginning of the story she starts out “good,” as it were – she’s a good person, she wants to do the right thing, she readily sides with the Army of Light. But through both circumstances and her own poor decisions, her character arc descends from the positive to the negative. By the end, she is hated and feared by her friends, and she herself has become belligerent, distrustful, and a terrorist. Continue reading →