Getting Up Early--St. Patrick's Day

With the time change, it is completely dark when I get up these days.

I’m trying to turn over a new leaf by getting up at 6 a.m. to write. It’s a bit aspirational as I don’t always get out of bed when the alarm goes off. But I am doing more butt in chair this week, at least.

The problem was: Running out of time.

You see the grandkids are much more mobile. The little one, especially, has figured out how to unlock the sliding door leading out to the cascade of decks and would randomly wander over. Sometimes with no diaper. I have to beat sunrise and the warmer temps before they are unleashed. So, for now, my plan is to arise early (enough) to get in a few undisturbed hours and then invite them over for a cracker or game or to just mess about.

In other news, I got a random message from a fan of Woman of a Certain Age. It’s nice to know the story collection is resonating with readers. People ask where they can get a copy. It’s available everywhere—local bookstores can order it in or through Amazon or wherever one gets their books.

I’ll have copies at the workshop I’m leading in Kalamazoo on Tuesday, May 5. More to come about that.

Meanwhile, in April I’ll make my biennial trip to Grand Rapids for the Festival of Faith and Writing. I’ve gone to nearly EVERY festival except for the first one which was more academic, a presentation of papers. This year we will not have the poet Luci Shaw with us. I’ve begun reading some of the authors/poets I’m not familiar with—like almost all of them. Some years I’m more excited than others over the roster of speakers lined up. This time feels a little anticlimactic. There seems to be a swing back to more obviously religious folk. I’ve loved the connections I’ve made in the past with people whose work touches on the sacred without being exactly Christian. This was before the Calvin Center for Faith & Writing (CCFW) was established to manage the event (as well as other more local opportunities). I love discovering new writers and the FFW has always invigorated my own journey. In the past, I heard:

Yann Martel author of Life of Pi
Oscar Hijuelos author of Mr. Ives’ Christmas
Maya Angelou and Anne Lamott
To name a few

What do you do to keep your writing fresh? I’d love to hear in the comments section.

--Here comes the older one to tell me to come see what's in the potty--apparently the leprechaun made the toilet water green.