DISMAL BIRD COUNT

This is the weekend for bird counting. I’ve been keeping track of the birds on about eight acres. Where have all the birds gone? I found 3 pairs of eastern bluebirds, a few robins, Carolina wrens and a pair of falcons. It’s heart breaking. Usually there are so many birds that I have a problem counting.

ON WRITING SHORT STORIES

Short stories are built around emotions.  It's a singular dilemma, one that will be solved through the interior of the story. Start close to the end. Limit your cast of characters. Above all, read!
Here's a list of some of my favorite short story writers:
Reynolds Price
Ernest Hemingway
Doris Lessing
William Faulkner
Eudora Welty
Chekhov

QUOTES ON WRITING

I always take everything I read on the internet with a grain of salt, however this quote sounds like something that's true.

Annie Dillard, "At best, the sensation of writing is that of an unmerited grace. It is handed to you, but only if you look for it. You search, you break your back, your heart, your brain and then--and only then--is it handed to you."

LET THERE BE SPRING

Snow falling in Florida, this is a rare occasion .  Where is the sunshine? Where are the birds? I’m not in to gloomy days.  Let there be Spring or a sunny day. To quote Shakespeare, “The darling buds of May.”

I’m working on a Victorian mystery and it’s a stinking sunny day in London. It’s hard to imagine a hot day when I’m freezing. Back to time traveling in my mind.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF GERALD DURRELL

If you want to introduce your teenager to Natural History,  read the hilarious  books of Gerald Durrell, an icon of nature conservation. He traveled the world keenly observing people and animals. He begins his memories with the very funny and loving account of a ten year old and his family  living on the island of Corfu.  My Family and Other Animals  is a must read for anyone who loves animals. I have three of his novels and when I want something to lift my spirit  I turn to Mr. Durrell.

MIND MAPPING

I read about mind mapping the other day. You put your main idea in the center of a page and circle it, then write down as many ideas that you can think of, circling each one. On and on until you begin to see connections and deeper ideas beneath the central concept. It really works. I thought I would share the exercise.

FOR THE BIRDS

Oh brother, it’s cold outside. Three eastern bluebirds landed in the lily bed. For once, I would like to shoot a good close up picture. Hell, the battery is dead. The yard is full of birds and I enjoy watching them. Putting out food for the wildlife, hope the wild cat that lives in the woods does not freeze, wish I had some way to provide shelter during this cold spell. It’s been forty years since we’ve had temperatures in the single digits. So cold even Lily refuses to go out.