The Craft of Writing and Other Reflections

This has been a reflective week for me.

I've spent my mornings mulling over life...contemplating this, that and everything else.

Breakfast with a friend this morning proved to be just the thing. I watched November's last day shift from muted greyness to warm light, as I walked through frosted streets from my apartment to hers. It's strange to see a 23 year old dependent on a walker. It's strange that even now, a month after the accident, there is still so much healing to be done. And yet, at the same time, it is marvelous how much improvement has already taken place. God is good.

Husband and I have been married for six months now. Our Monday evening celebration of pumpkin, truffle ravioli and wine was a happy happy day. He worked late, so we ate late. But being the only customers in a candle lit restaurant at 8 pm is a pretty wonderful way to spend a six-month-aversary. These have been the happiest six months of life. I love him so very much.

In other reflections...

I have read and re-read this blog post a handful of times since yesterday, and it has provoked me to reflect on the craft of writing and blogging. Since I am a writer, am in the publishing industry and have become more or a blogger of late, I am so interested in the thoughtful critique of this essay. I adore indie publications like Kinfolk (though I've never shelled out $21.00 to purchase one of their issues; I flip through the gorgeous pages in the store, sigh and return the magazine to its rack), but I think Jane Flanagan has a point:

“The main problem we both see with certain blogs and independent publications is precisely a lack of knowledge and professionalism. There have long been editorial standards followed by journalists and publications (and it’s on the basis of a breach of those standards that they are often critiqued). But independent publications make up their own rules of submission, publication, and advertising guidelines. This can be liberating in many ways, helping a publication innovate and ‘stand apart’, but its flip side is often unprofessionalism. We find this particularly true with regard to sourcing quality content, allowing diversity and handling submission processes.”

If you have a few extra moment to read this blog post, I think you will find it very interesting. The comments continue the discussion and are well worth sifting through to read.

And to continue this thread of randomness, here are a few photos: Life lately, according to my iphone and instagram. (Follow me on instagram here).