The Best of the Best

The Best of the Best

Inspiration comes from the most unusual places

 

The Blue Angels - Over Lake Michigan - Northwest Indiana
Photo by Loree Huebner

Last week, Eric and I spent a beautiful Sunday on Lake Michigan. We were out on our friend’s boat. Friends and family were drawn to the lake to watch an air show over the Northwest Indiana Lakefront. We anchored near shore. The show was amazing from the VIP view from our floats on the water and picnic lunch on the beach.

All afternoon, we watched amazing parachuting daredevils, feats of heart-stopping stunt plane loops and stalls, and spectacular mid-air military maneuvers. As the afternoon wore on, we gathered on the boat to watch the final act of the day – The Blue Angels.

I must admit, The Blue Angels took my breath away—the speed, the sound, the accuracy. I had to admire their dedication, hard work, precision, awe-inspiring skills, and most of all, magnificent trust in one another. Their performance inspired me to want to “fly jets” in my everyday home life, work, and writing. It’s not every day we get to see the best of the best—watching the Blue Angels reminded me to be the best of the best in all I do.

What inspires you?

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree

Loree Huebner
Writing with one foot in the past...

On Twitter - @LoreeHuebner

On Instagram - @lunapickles

On Pinterest - pinterest.com/loreehuebner

www.facebook.com/LoreeHuebnerAuthor 

Writer's Block...

Chicago as seen from the Indiana side on Lake Michigan
Photo by Loree Huebner

Writer's Block: The problem of not being able to think of something to write about or not being able to finish a story, poem, etc.
~ Merriam-Webster

A few weeks ago, I had a touch of the dreaded Writer’s Block.

For nearly a eight days, I couldn’t write. I had no direction, no ideas, and no desire…not even a plot in my head. Blank! And right in the middle of a chapter to boot. In over ten years of writing, I had experienced one or two minor blocks before, but never one this long.

All writers get a touch of this at some point. The root of my block was stress. As we know, stress can kill anything. I headed up to Lake Michigan for a walk. I always seem to find inspiration at the lake. The outing did me a world of good. 

As I came out on the other side, I realized that the stress was strangling my creative juices. The pressure wasn’t from one big thing. It was several small anxieties building up - none of which had anything to do with my writing life.

Writer’s lives take on many forms, but we still deal with the everyday issues involving family, health, work, finances, and so on.

Prayer, nature, and exercise brought me out of the stress and back into the writing cave. It’s funny because when I finally sat down to write, I plunked down nearly two thousand words in a very short time and finished the chapter. It felt good to be back in the saddle.

Have you ever experienced writer’s block? What did you do to find your way back?

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree

Loree Huebner
Writing with one foot in the past...
On Twitter - @LoreeHuebner
On Instagram - @lunapickles

On Pinterest - pinterest.com/loreehuebner

www.facebook.com/LoreeHuebnerAuthor 

                                      

Lake Michigan in January...

Pictures tell stories. This week, I thought I would do a picture blog.

With my knee healing, I still can't do much walking. On Saturday, Hubby drove us up to Lake Michigan. We spent a windy, but warm morning (mid 40's) visiting Whihala Beach along the Whiting/Hammond border. This area of the lakefront is more industrial because of the proximity to Chicago, but still has a grand view of the lake. We wanted to get some fresh air before the temps fell into the single digits this week. I also wanted to add to my collection of stones and lake glass (it's sea glass, but here in the region we call it lake glass). Enjoy the visit to Lake Michigan!

Looking NW toward Chicago - Photo by Eric Huebner

Chicago  from the Indiana side - Photo by Loree Huebner

Low tide shore ripples - Photo by Eric Huebner

Wind rippled sand - Photo by Loree Huebner

Whihala Beach - Photo by Loree Huebner

A casualty from last summer - Photo by Loree Huebner

Eric couldn't help himself & had to play - Photo by Loree Huebner

Blue Sky - Photo by Eric Huebner

Shadows - Photo by Eric Huebner

More shadows - Photo by Eric Huebner

Rocks and ripples - Photo by Loree Huebner

The only ice we found  near the lake - Photo by Loree Huebner

Me - Photo by Eric Huebner

Our haul of, shells, stones, and lake glass to add to my lake glass jar - Photo by Loree Huebner

Thanks for joining me! What did you do over the weekend? Do you collect any odds or ends from nature?

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree


Loree Huebner
Writing with one foot in the past...
On Twitter @LoreeHuebner
https://www.facebook.com/LoreeHuebnerAuthor

Hard work and Precision

Air Show - Photo by Loree Huebner

Saturday, we spent a beautiful day out on Lake Michigan with some good friends. We anchored the boat at a nearby beach and watched an air show take place over the lake, while playing in the waves. I couldn’t help but notice the awesome precision by the groups of planes flying together, and solo. Such hard work must take place before the stunts can be performed, or the flight can even take place.

Air Show - Photo by Loree Huebner

It reminds me of a writing career.

We must learn, practice, plot, revise, learn, practice, tighten, and edit again, and again, to become accurate and precise in our writing. This must happen so we don’t crash and burn. For some, it’s a quick learn, but for others, it may take years before we can even stretch our wings and take that first flight. One thing is for sure, no matter where we are—pre-published or published—to keep on top, we can never stop learning.

Air Show - Photo by Loree Huebner

Recently, everything about tightening a story just really clicked for me. Precision! All that I already knew, and all that I had practiced before, just came together without thinking about it. It was just like the pilots flying their tricky formations—the hard work paid off. I can now do it in my sleep.

What about you? Anything really click for you recently? Ever been to an air show?

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree

A Summer Place

I can’t believe how fast the Fourth of July has crept up on us! Where did June go? I know many bloggers are on break this week. Enjoy the holiday! Many of us will be heading to spend the holiday at a favorite summer place. I'm on vacation this week, but will be staying home...my favorite summer place. We have BBQ's lined up, parades, the Heart concert with my BFF, and general lazy nights stargazing on the deck. Writing sessions will come in here and there. We'll be spending the upcoming weekend boating on Lake Michigan, watching the air show. Love those stealths!

Anyway, I wish you all a Happy Fourth of July! A lot of towns and cities are cancelling their fireworks shows because of the dry, drought conditions. We’ve had some big rains here, so I think our town’s show is still on. After those wildfires out west, I understand the precautions.

A few weeks ago, the lovely Gwendolyn Gage presented me with a new Blog award. Thank you, Gwen! Do stop by Gwen’s blog – Serving ThroughWords - She’s always got something good going on over there.

I received the Kreative Blogger Award.

As a part of the award, I'm to share 7 interesting things about myself, and then grant this award to 7 other blogs.

I don’t know how interesting these are, or if I have ever shared them before with a different award…but anyway, here goes.

1) I was a champion high jumper in my younger years.

2) I became an aunt at the age of 5. Yes it’s true. My oldest sib is 17 years older than me. My nephew and I shared more of a little brother/big sister relationship when we were kids. I love him dearly.

3) I love to fish. I cast for largemouth bass mostly.

4) I’m a living historian, and I do Civil War reenacting.

5) I’m a fan of old classic, black and white movies.

6) I’m having a colonoscopy tomorrow morning. Haha…thought I would see if you were paying attention. No really, I am. I’m prepping today. I’m at the age where mammograms and a colonoscopy is the norm for a preventive check up. Hey seriously though – if Katie Couric can have her colonoscopy done live on the Today Show, or Dr. Oz can constantly remind us of the importance - I can also remind everyone that preventive medicine has its place to save lives with early detection. Wish me luck! Or whatever you wish someone having this procedure. I would appreciate a few prayers for a clean bill of health.

7) I can’t believe I just told everyone that I was having a colonoscopy!

Well, I hope that was interesting enough….maybe too much information?

Now I’m supposed to pass this on to 7 other bloggers, but I’m flinging it into the air. No pressure. Grab the award if you want and share 7 interesting things about you on your blog.

I'm taking a break too. I'm disabling my comments this week.
Have a Happy and Safe Fourth of  July! During this holiday, don’t forget to take a moment to remember those who fought for our freedoms. See you next week!

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree

Tree Ents and Dune Dog Afternoon...

My Maple Tree - Photo by Loree Huebner

Like my Tree Ent? Yes, that tree is in my front yard. That maple is at least eighty years old, if not ninety. Boy if it could talk, the stories it could tell. We put that face up many years ago. I thought it would be a good picture for the blog since today is Halloween. Spooky, huh?

This week my post will be short, but I will be out and about visiting my favorite blogs as usual.

I’m still on vacation from my day job, but working hard through requested revisions. The revisions are going very well. The hard part has been revised, and the rest is tying in loose ends during the final read through. If it all works out, I’ll be talking about it on future blogs. I’ve learned a lot about revising in the past week with some gentle guidance from a professional with more experience.

Unfortunately, I have developed severe eye strain in my right eye. It hurts pretty bad and occasionally twitches uncontrollably. It's so silly when it happens, I look like I'm flirting...winky...winky...winky. I consider it a revision war wound. Too much computer time I guess. Anyone got any good remedies for eye strain? I know, I know—shut the computer off!

Anyone get snow over the weekend? I hear it got pretty bad out east. Stay safe. It seems way too early for snow. We had sunshine and some rain showers. Saturday, Eric and I took the dogs to the Indiana Dunes State Park, on the shores of Lake Michigan. I’m going to end this post with a few pictures that I thought I would share with you.

Don’t forget next week, Eric will be here with the History Corner along with my regular post.

And best wishes to all those NaNo-ers out there. I am not participating, but have set daily writing goals.

Have a great week!

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree

Lake Michigan - Photo by Loree Huebner



Southern tip of Lake Michigan  - Photo by Loree Huebner
If you look real close you can see Chicago in the distance



Chicago - (zoomed in) from the Indiana Dunes Lakeshore - Photo by Loree Huebner



Fly the Border Collie - doing her job - watching over me (the red speck on the shore)
and Pickles the Greyhound - from on top of a sand dune
She's a true hearding dog
Photo by Eric Huebner





Pickles the Greyhound thinking about running up dunes
Photo by Loree Huebner



An old book…a new feeling of joy…

Beach at Indiana Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan
Mother's Day 2011
Photo by Loree Huebner

Mother's Day weekend, I pulled out a book that I had written about five years ago. This story is an inspirational, historical romance that takes place at the end of the Civil War. I had queried this book back then and got quite a few nibbles. I was told by one agent that I was near publishable, but there was too much back story and some problems with the conversation. (I was still a novice at rejection back then and thought I knew it all!)  At that time, I took her words with a grain of salt and hastily fixed what I could. I entered the book in a contest in 2008. Needless to say, I didn’t win or place in that contest. The judge who read the book called it “too wordy in places.” Too wordy??? Excuse me! What the heck? Don’t give me…too wordy!! You just don’t understand the time period! Feeling harshly rejected, I put the book on the shelf and started a new novel.

After final edits and revisions on my most recent two novels, I opened up the file on this older book. I kept saying to myself that I would read through it this spring…but I kept putting it off. I think I was scared. Scared of what? Reliving the rejections?? Maybe? My hubby always says, “If you’re afraid of something…turn and face it!” I got brave and pulled those rejection letters out too. Yep, I save them all. I read through each one from this particular book. Most were your basic, “Thanks, but not my cup of tea” or the always lovely “Dear Author” rejections. Then were the rejections from those who requested material. I even had a phone call from an agent who said that she could tell that I “write from the heart”…BUT, Civil War was not selling so she didn’t want to take me on at that time. She told me to consider self publishing. I thanked her for her time. From the other rejection letters, I got no hints on what was wrong except by one kind agent who looked at a partial. She took the time to give me some real insight in a few paragraphs. She was the one who said that I was near publishable. Anyway, I read her rejection over and over…come to me wisdom, come.

After a lovely Mother’s Day afternoon with my son and hubby, walking the southern shores of Lake Michigan and a beach picnic, I came home and started reading the book. Much to my surprise, it was better than I had remembered. (I love those special moments when were stunned at our own good writing – Wow! Did I write that?!?!) I couldn’t stop reading the book. I found that after some time and distance, I could see what the agent was talking about. I could also see what that “too wordy” judge was talking about. After taking some time and studying the craft, I can now see the problems where I couldn’t before. Over three years, I had grown as a writer and grown in my writing! They were right—there is too much back story…there are some problems with the conversation…and it was too wordy in places. I have a whole new feeling about this book. I can take the constructive criticism and learn from it, instead of pouting and pitching a fit that “nobody understands!”

I’m setting out to do what needs to be done to this book. Then I’m going to query it again. We’ll see what happens, but in the meantime, I have a new feeling of excitement—the joy of writing has returned from an unexpected source!

Have you ever picked up an old story that you have shelved? What were your feelings when you read it? Was it salvageable? Did you get excited about it again? When do you feel the joy of writing? Have you ever gone through old rejection letters for hints on your writing? Did you learn from them? I would love to hear from you…

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree