by Liz Flaherty
There is excitement to a blank page. Or there's a building block. Or there is...blankness. This morning I'm leaning more toward blank than building or exciting, but, hey, that's how it goes. It does make me think of something. Bear with me--you know I never make sense right away.
I have flowered wallpaper in my bathroom (don't judge--I like flowered wallpaper). I usually have a white shower curtain. It saves trying to coordinate all the accoutrements required by a bathroom. Can you believe I just used the word accoutrements? Me, either, but I like it! Oh, anyway, I guess I digress, or was drawn aside by my own use of a word I can't even pronounce, but I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond with my daughter the other day. She needed something and I went along because we were together--I usually only go there at Christmastime.
And there was this Mist Blue shower curtain. It was one of those that doesn't require rings at the top and the liner snaps right to it. Just like that, I was in love. So I bought it. Once I got it home and hung up, I loved it even more. I'll never buy those blasted plastic rings again.
Of course, the color's a little off. Not a lot, but enough you can notice it. And here's where I got to thinking.
I'll go back to BB & B and buy rugs and towels (I don't actually need new towels, but I have a slight linen addiction that demands satisfaction) that match the new shower curtain so that even if the colors are a little off, the bathroom will still be coordinated.
If I were brave, I'd go for eclectic, for splash, for excitement. If I were being who I too often am, I'd stick with a neutral shower curtain--the one I bought came in white, after all. Even if I'd bought that instead of Mist Blue, I wouldn't have to hang the nasty rings. Maybe I should have...
But no. I'm going to be the builder. My flowery wallpaper is my blank page and with a white shower
curtain, it stays blank. My blue that doesn't quite match is the first row of bricks on the building block. I'll continue to build with the rugs and the towels. And I should probably hang new curtains, too. But my old ones are pretty. They're a sheer valance that hangs in points instead of a gathered straight line.
At the bottom of each of those points is a faceted glass prism.
Blank page. Building blocks. Splash. Excitement.
This is what we are as writers, isn't it? I'm not real exciting, heaven knows, but I love the building process in a story, especially when there's a little excitement, a little splash, thrown into the layers of bricks. What we have to be careful of, especially those of us who write low key romance and/or women's fiction, is that we don't leave blanks spots, too. No white shower curtains for us.
Have a great week.
There is excitement to a blank page. Or there's a building block. Or there is...blankness. This morning I'm leaning more toward blank than building or exciting, but, hey, that's how it goes. It does make me think of something. Bear with me--you know I never make sense right away.
I have flowered wallpaper in my bathroom (don't judge--I like flowered wallpaper). I usually have a white shower curtain. It saves trying to coordinate all the accoutrements required by a bathroom. Can you believe I just used the word accoutrements? Me, either, but I like it! Oh, anyway, I guess I digress, or was drawn aside by my own use of a word I can't even pronounce, but I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond with my daughter the other day. She needed something and I went along because we were together--I usually only go there at Christmastime.
And there was this Mist Blue shower curtain. It was one of those that doesn't require rings at the top and the liner snaps right to it. Just like that, I was in love. So I bought it. Once I got it home and hung up, I loved it even more. I'll never buy those blasted plastic rings again.
Of course, the color's a little off. Not a lot, but enough you can notice it. And here's where I got to thinking.
I'll go back to BB & B and buy rugs and towels (I don't actually need new towels, but I have a slight linen addiction that demands satisfaction) that match the new shower curtain so that even if the colors are a little off, the bathroom will still be coordinated.
If I were brave, I'd go for eclectic, for splash, for excitement. If I were being who I too often am, I'd stick with a neutral shower curtain--the one I bought came in white, after all. Even if I'd bought that instead of Mist Blue, I wouldn't have to hang the nasty rings. Maybe I should have...
But no. I'm going to be the builder. My flowery wallpaper is my blank page and with a white shower
At the bottom of each of those points is a faceted glass prism.
Blank page. Building blocks. Splash. Excitement.
This is what we are as writers, isn't it? I'm not real exciting, heaven knows, but I love the building process in a story, especially when there's a little excitement, a little splash, thrown into the layers of bricks. What we have to be careful of, especially those of us who write low key romance and/or women's fiction, is that we don't leave blanks spots, too. No white shower curtains for us.
Have a great week.
***
I'm getting so excited! It will be here soon. Every Time We Say Goodbye, my second Harlequin Heartwarming, is available for pre-order. Not that I've given you a chance to forget, but here's the blurb and the details!
He had her at "hello again…"
After the prom night accident that had stolen the innocence of his small lakeside hometown, Jack Llewellyn had run. The guilt—especially facing his high school sweetheart, Arlie Gallagher—had been too much. Now he had no choice. He was back in town, and on Arlie's radar.
Arlie couldn't believe that after all these years, she still had him under her skin. He was such a changed man…a responsible business owner, a single parent. Would he understand the changes she'd gone through, the secrets she lived with? She was ready to forgive him but was he ready to forgive himself? And did they have to say goodbye this time?
After the prom night accident that had stolen the innocence of his small lakeside hometown, Jack Llewellyn had run. The guilt—especially facing his high school sweetheart, Arlie Gallagher—had been too much. Now he had no choice. He was back in town, and on Arlie's radar.
Arlie couldn't believe that after all these years, she still had him under her skin. He was such a changed man…a responsible business owner, a single parent. Would he understand the changes she'd gone through, the secrets she lived with? She was ready to forgive him but was he ready to forgive himself? And did they have to say goodbye this time?
Know what I love about you? Well, lots of things, but today in particular, your amazing ability to take the simplest idea and turn it into something amazing and then relate it to writing. Building a story is exactly like this. As I was writing yesterday, this is how it happened... Damn, you're good! And I can't wait for my copy of Every Time We Say Goodbye to turn up on my Kindle! I was listening to Rod Stewart's Great American Songbook in the car the other day and that song came on and I immediately thought of you and your new book!
ReplyDeleteOh, Rod Stewart--the first time I ever saw the "word" sexty was written about him on his birthday! Gives me a little thrill (a little splash) that he sang that song at some point.
DeleteI love that flash of excitement!
ReplyDeleteAnd my bathroom and kitchen stuff is...eclectic. Nothing really matches, and I'm okay with that because something about each of the towels and shower curtains and stuff gave me that flash of excitement, too.
I love that. I remember my mom's drinking glasses. She never had a set (except for a "good" set we didn't use), hardly had any two that were alike, but she had a whole shelf full of ones that fit her hand well, or were a pretty color, or held just the right amount... Her color sense used to make me cringe, but I do love (in retrospect) her joy in the eclectic.
DeleteI love those types of shower curtains Liz! I'm a very off-center, mis-matchy person. Heaven forbid I have colors that "go together" in my house or wardrobe. You should see my dishware and coffee cups! Life should be fun and made of what we like. Right?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteLOL! At least you were willing to buy something new. I tend to hang onto things until they fall apart, and for the most part, I consider redecorating to be a waste of time and money. Your post reminds me of when we remodeled our bathroom--not by choice, mind you, but because there were plumbing problems that simply couldn't be ignored. Since it had to be done, I wanted it to look Italian. I chose Italian tile, Italian fixtures--even the overhead lights were made in Italy--and I put up a Van Gogh print of a Tuscan scene, which contrasted nicely with the deep forest green walls. However, when a friend of mine (who is something of an amateur decorator) suggested terracotta-colored towels, I balked. "But my old towels are still in good shape," I said. "Sort of." To that, she said, and I quote: "Cheryl. I think you can afford to buy new towels." Kudos to you for taking the plunge!
ReplyDeleteLol. I will only change things that don't cost a lot. I will think for years about changing paint or carpet, and buying new appliances makes me hyperventilate--because it's expensive. But towels? Every year or two.
DeleteI'm not much of a shopper, so my poor rooms stay the same until something's near death and so shabby, I'm ashamed if company sees them. But kitchenware...that's another matter. I have more plates and casserole dishes than anyone needs:)
ReplyDeleteI'm a great impulse shopper. Not so much as a planned thing. Everything either costs too much or I can't decide. However, happening onto something (like my shower curtain) is great!
DeleteI hang on to things forever, until one day I am gone for awhile and return and the need to replace something worn out (or completely covered in dust) will pretty much hit me up side of the head. Until, that is, our teen recently had her room painted an amazing cranberry reddish shade (two walls only). I love it. Now I see possibilities in the entire house--not that I will likely do any of it, for budgeting and decision-making "issues!" I just re-signed on to get the HQ Heartwarming book club for a while. Maybe yours will be in next month's batch? I'm not crazy about following links so just thought I would ask. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Cathy. Thanks for coming! And, maybe. The book club issue is for April, so I think you should get it on the next round. (I get way confused.) We're going to have painting done, too, and I'm just driving myself crazy over colors. I just want to leave and come back and have it done!
DeleteYou are so wonderful. I love how you can take something and then relate it to writing. I want to be like you, although I am not nearly as skilled. My addiction is Macy's clearance or sale bed or bath stuff with a coupon. I have found some of my favorite stuff, that I did not know I needed, on the clearance aisle.
ReplyDeleteOh, gosh, me, too, on clearance and coupons--I came up with 20 percent off my shower curtain, though I'm not quite sure how it happened. I have to be really careful in the pillow aisle at Kohl's, too.
DeleteI'm looking forward to your new read.
ReplyDeleteAbout colors and such, I'm kind of boring. I do a lot of the browns, tans, cream, and then add a splash of red or orange. I need to become more daring in my old (older) age. ;)
That's what I'm trying to do, Roben, and it's fun. You might need to squint a bit in my house, but that's okay. :-)
DeleteI don't have a linen addiction, but can I tell you how stoked I am that the Office Max in the complex where I work is going out of business--so I can get discount office supplies??? Of course, I won't be so stoked when I have to drive across town to get a new pen :(
ReplyDeleteLoved your analogy--you always come up with such good ones :)
Oh, office supplies...sigh...
Delete