Go to your quiet place.

The cycles of life are an interesting thing, sure, we know they are there, but sometimes they shove themselves to the forefront of our consciousness.  For me, lately, this has been the case. 

The death of my father a few years back started it all.  He died of amloydosis, a rare disease that is basically unstoppable.  This beast passes genetically, but it didn’t come to me, so I’m safe from its ravages as are my children.  At that time, one of my daughters was already married and another tied the knot soon afterward.  That’s when things started to intensify.  In one area of my life, people that I have known since their childhoods are building careers, getting married, having children, moving, and graduating college.  In another area, folks are passing from this life with increasing rapidity, both in my family and circle of acquaintances.  My mother, the youngest of ten children, is the now the last of them alive.  It seems like I’m at a graduation, funeral or wedding every month.  This whirlwind of life-changing activity has sucked me into its vortex and is trying to carry me off.

Ever feel this way? 

In college I decided that my wallflower days were over, that I would no longer let life happen to me, that I would grab it by the horns and happen to it.  It worked well, and still does, but I am finding that a decidedly more Gandhi-like approach is the only current remedy.  Now I find a quiet place, mentally, physically, and spiritually where I can retreat...not to run away...but renew.  For me the writing process has been that place of stillness, allowing me to accommodate this current storm of life events.  For you it may be writing, reading, music, prayer, exercise, or something else.  Whatever it is, find it because there, in the midst of all life throws your way you just might hear the voice that brings inspiration.

Literary Expectations: The Fruit Basket Upset

Years ago, Siskel and Ebert mentioned that audiences have certain expectations in a given film sequence.  They went on to note that even the best filmmakers catered to them.  One strange event they called “Fruit Basket Upset.”

They claimed that filmmakers seemed compelled to demolish some pile of fruit or produce in order to complete a chase sequence.  They showed several examples and pointed out their inexplicable inclusions.  In the years since then my wife and I have found their claim to be overwhelmingly accurate.  Yes, sorry, I’ve polluted your chase scene viewing forever. 

It makes me wonder, are there certain literary expectations?  Do mothers have to die?  (A claim I saw on recent agent tweets)  Must a hero a hero have an inherent weakness? 

Have you noticed any?  Post them up! 

Mojo Time

How to start...how to start?

I’ll admit, I’m not the blogging type, I’ve never journaled past a day or two, and tend to keep my truly intimate thoughts very close to the vest.  I only have so much creative mojo to use and work takes a large portion of it.  The rest, I’d rather use editing my novel, Tearing the Shroud, or working on the follow up novel.  But, the days of a writer toiling away in their office over a typewriter are long gone and now we have to be social media capable as well.  It makes me wonder how revered writers of the past would have fared under the current circumstances.

Oh...by the way, this is me, being dragged, kicking, and screaming into the Blog World.

So, what will you find here?  I dunno, like the title says..."Meanderings" of some sort.  You may ask yourself, “Self, where will this meandering end?”  It's pretty simple.

Be careful where you spend your mojo.