Being a writer is mostly about developing a habit. Talk to any writer and then another and you’ll find those habits are all different. Some write in the morning. Others write through the night. Some write daily. Others take breaks. But all writers have habits. Writing a slice on Tuesdays is one of my writing habits. There are occasional Tuesdays when it doesn’t happen…but those are usually for unpredictable reasons. On a regular Tuesday, I slice. Even if it’s not an official Slice of Life Tuesday. I’m excited to know there are… Read more i’ve gotta slice (soLs) →
Crazy family love I’m enamored by the way families can be built. It is not by blood or convenience or luck. Rather, family is sculpted. Created. Simmered. As someone who… Read more i {heart} family (soLs) →
My favorite way to spend spring break is at home. I mean this. I. Love. Being. Home. Seriously. Yesterday, though, I was feeling a little guilty about staying home. You know how it goes, your brain starts stirring all these things you should be doing and suddenly you start believing that maybe you should be visiting great grandparents or running errands or taking the kids to play putt-putt golf. Then I looked at the kids. They were so happy, so content. “Do you guys want to go do something?” I ask.… Read more homebodies (soLs) →
I’m slicing from: It’s been a good day. {Posted from my iPhone.}
I believe celebration is the core of a writer. It’s what keeps us going. It’s not just about celebrating big things like products and publication, but about celebrating the ordinary day-in-and-day-out living as a writer. This week I’ve been working on a digital celebration for a kindergarten classroom. The teacher opened her doors to me and let me dabble a little with opinion writing. “Whatever you want to do, go for it,” she said. I accepted the invitation and was amazed at the work our youngest writers did with putting… Read more writing celebration →
I {heart} water aerobics. Truly. I took a class in college and then again after Andy & I moved to our town. Then the community pool closed for several years. I missed water aerobics. This year the pool reopened. The best part of this state of the art facility is they offer water aerobics. Of course I signed up. My schema for water aerobics instructors involve old men with beards and receding hairlines. In January my schema changed drastically. The water aerobics instructor is from our local college. He’s not old, instead… Read more water aerobics (soLs) →
Every week there’s a group of high school kids that hang out at our house. I make a dessert and they eat it and talk. It’s the best. One of the reasons I like it is because I get material for YA books. I love to listen to them talk and watch their mannerisms. Mostly, though, I love how they make me laugh. So here’s a quick list of things I noticed that may (or may not) influence my writing. “She’s in hot water because she posted about the play on… Read more teens — a notebook entry (soLs) →
I’m a recovering perfectionist. Lately I’ve been feeling vulnerable. I drop the ball, the unexpected happens, I’m too tired to do one more thing, and life just keeps going as is. The old habits begin to creep up. I feel like I can’t do anything well. I feel like I’ll never get things right. I feel like no matter how hard I try, I’m not good enough. It’s a lie that I can believe or ignore. And then I remind myself that I am a recovering perfectionist. That means I’ve accepted I… Read more enough (soLs) →
Things didn’t really go as planned today. Cancellations.Unexpected meetings.Strange conversations.Change of plans. And right now a little girl who is howling in bed because her ear hurts. It came on around 7:12, the same time of night that she always has an ailment. Usually an ice pack makes everything better. Not tonight though. No temperature. A little pain reliever. Warm wash cloth to the ear. Lots and lots and lots of sympathy. And then some more sympathy. Another bellow from above. Anyone know how to make it go away? (I… Read more plans change (soLs) →
Ruth Ayres Writes 