writing in the zone - grace grits and gardening

The power of saying no.

NO is a powerhouse of a word that opens up space for yes. A million years ago I majored in economics. And while I understand the concept of opportunity cost, I find it difficult to apply to my writing life. I want to write all the things. All the things take time.

My husband’s former co-worker (RIP B. Bowden) had a beautiful way of saying NO. “We have no interest in this deal on any level.” I love this and always thought it was the equivalent business-speak for “Bless your heart.” End of story. NO room to come back and say, “Well, what if we do it this way?”

I say all this not to moan or preach or pontificate but simply to explain why these days I’m not blogging as often as I once did. Not blogging as much means I’m working on Book Two. Working on my new book means I haven’t been able to pitch freelance article ideas even though I really want to. Maybe I’m a slow writer. As Popeye says, I yam what I yam.Continue Reading

Above Mt. Sequoyah, the moon rises. Only a sliver, but a bright sliver. I notice it peeking over the treetops as I pour my first cup of coffee. It is 4 a.m. I do my best thinking/writing in the wee hours, so this earliest time of morning is normal for me. Plus, there’s the old-habits-die-hard-farmer thing. Daddy saw to it that we Tate girls woke when he did. Before daylight and chickens and most civilized people. Because we weren’t. We were from Mississippi County.

Daddy, Momma, Me, my sister.

But that’s not what this is about.

This is about what I’ve been doing instead of blogging. With only two posts so far in February (this makes three), I feel the need to explain. I haven’t left you high and dry, I promise.

I’ve been time traveling.

And it’s exhilarating and all-consuming. Something I’ve heard about but until now, never really experienced.

Yes.

I’ve been time-traveling back to 1972, deep in the setting of the book I’m writing. So deep I can smell the homemade rolls in the Keiser Elementary School cafeteria, and hear the sound of Converse tennis shoes squeaking on the gym floor, and see Mrs. Mills’ flawless cursive handwriting on the chalkboard as she wrote out our spelling words for Friday’s test.

Spelling was easy. Just sound it out.

morgueFile

It was the year of Deep Throat and Watergate, a mere blip on my young radar. My sister and I never missed The Waltons, which premiered that year. Evel Knievel broke ninety-three bones after jumping over thirty-five cars–big news! Oklahoma won the Sugar Bowl, but I thought astronauts were much more exciting than football players. Moon landings were all the rage.

This image or video was catalogued by Kennedy Space Center of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Photo ID: KSC-72PC-0598.

And, on a red-hot, July day, Momma poked ten candles in my strawberry birthday cake. Plus one to grow on. I had reached double digits!

So in case you’ve missed me, that’s where I’ve been. In 1972. From well before dawn’s first light toWorld News Tonight when, by then, I am drained.

Of course, I do take breaks throughout the day—the dogs see to it. And I have managed to somehow accomplish a few things other than writing. I’ve kept up with my 52 Handwritten Letter project. My beds are ready for spring planting. I spend a little time each day with my new Little Free Library duties, meaning I look inside, straighten the books and get excited because lots of folks are borrowing books and leaving new ones. Sometimes I do laundry, but last week I wore the same sweater three days in a row. Not kidding. Occasionally, I run the dishwasher.

All I want to do is write.

Happy Saturday and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]Missed me? I’ve been in 1972 when moon landings were all the rage. #writing #inthezone [/tweetthis]

P.S. Also, I have two new freelance jobs. One with University of Arkansas Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI for short) and the other with Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. Excited!

Musical Pairing:

Al Green – Let’s Stay Together (Number One Billboard Hit for this week in 1972)