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Carol S. Mann
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Bits and Pieces
“Think in blue, in green, in starlight, in song, in a blessing, in beauty, in gratitude.”
The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
Author Archives: cmwriter
Earthquakes and Primary Research
Okay, this is bizarre. It’s about 6 p.m. in the evening. I’m working at the computer on a short story titled “The Phone Call.” It opens with a woman standing in her kitchen drinking a cup of coffee when an … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Inspiration, personal essay, Reading, short story, Writing
Tagged aftershocks, anxiety, earthquake kit, earthquakes, epicenter, fear, fight or flight, how do people react during an earthquake, primary research, secondary research, short story character, writing a short story
9 Comments
Be Your Own Hero
In this day and age, I’m looking for anchors, things to hang on to when the seas get rough. You know, quick words of encouragement or inspiration to deal with the political chaos and power struggles occurring in our society, … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, personal essay, Reading, Writing
Tagged A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles, Anais Nin, beliefs, challenge, core values, courage, courage of your convictions, Encouragement, everyday heroes, heroes, Hope, inspiration, LA Times, personal challenge, personal journeys, principles
4 Comments
The California Driver’s Knowledge Test …
You can’t imagine yourself without a car, especially in southern California. Being in your vehicle, driving wherever you want is second nature. But one day you receive a letter from the DMV two months before your birthday to notify you … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, personal essay, Reading, Writing
Tagged California Driver Handbook, California Driver's Knowledge Test, Datsun 240Z, Department of Motor Vehicles, DMV, driver's license, Driver's License Practice Tests, driver's license renewal, Miata convertible, REAL ID Driver License, Taking the written driver's license test, Volkswagen bug, written driver's test
7 Comments
Elegant Ladies of the Desert
I live in a valley in the California desert – home of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, R.C. Gorman sunsets, and palm trees. Areas of the valley’s desert may be unspoiled and unpopulated or highly groomed with burgeoning … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, poetry, Reading, Writing
Tagged artist Naomi Brown, artist R.C. Gorman, Coachella Valley, Coachella Valley Desert, Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival, desert palms, haiku, nature, nature as inspiration, palm trees, poetry, poetry in nature
2 Comments
A Writer’s Really Bad Day
Some days should never happen, like those days fate conspires to reek havoc with your plans. Enter May 5, 2018. I was on my way to a Volunteer Recognition Luncheon for the Palm Springs Writers Guild. From there I would … Continue reading
Coffee and a Muffin
It was a Tuesday morning. I’d just left my writers’ critique group which meets in our local La Quinta Library, thinking about all the SLJ’s I had to do when I got home. i.e. change the bed, do some wash, … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, personal essay, Reading, Writing
Tagged air conditioning woes, benefits of having a dog, effects of conversation, La Quinta Library, latte, May is Mental Health Month, Mental Health, muffins, Old Town Coffee, reset our thinking, taking a break, taking care of your mental health, taking time to reset, The Skimm
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An Odd Purchase at the Museum Store
A local museum sent out a mailer announcing a Native American pottery show. It looked enticing plus I’d wanted to own a pottery piece for some time. I find the artwork calming and soothing, intricate and pleasing. I like its … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Creativity, Inspiration, memoir, personal essay, Reading
Tagged Cabot's Pueblo Museum, karma, Mata Ortiz, memoir, Native American Pottery, personal essay, pottery, writing
12 Comments
Lucky Seven and Writers
I’d never seen the word shichifukujin until I read author Dan Brown’s thriller Digital Fortress. Granted, there are many words I haven’t seen or read, but this one intrigued me. Brown simply revealed the shichifukujin were the seven deities of … Continue reading
Posted in Authors, Creativity, fiction writing, Inspiration, novel, Reading, short story, Writing
Tagged Author Dan Brown, creating characters, Digital Fortress by Dan Brown, good luck, Hope, luck, rainbows, Seven Deities of Good Luck, shichifukujin, Snow White, Story and plot, The Seven Dwarfs, writing
4 Comments
