Tag: Musings At Midnight

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Freedom of the Press

April 25, 2009 by Marianne H. Donley in category Archives tagged as Lori Pyne, Musings At Midnight

By: Lori Pyne

As I read the news that yet another newspaper is going out of business, I worry. How many newspapers will survive the changes in economy and in technology? Will the remaining newspapers be enough to provide the information needed to have a dynamic democracy? Will the remaining newspapers, with their reduced staff and income, still have the resources to investigate individuals, corporations and governments? Will there be enough newspapers to offer a variety of points of view and viewpoints? Will the new media news appearing on my yahoo, google, blogs, websites be able to offer the depth of coverage currently offered in the newspaper?

Unfortunately I only have concerns and questions but no answers. I would love to hear anyone else’s opinion about this issue.

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Unexpected Benefits

March 25, 2009 by Marianne H. Donley in category Archives tagged as Lori Pyne, Musings At Midnight

by Lori Pyne

I knew that studying character and character development would assist with the creation of three dimensional people in my fictional worlds. What surprised me was how understanding fictional characters’ goals, motivations, conflicts, fatal flaws, and so on helped me gain a deeper insight into living, breathing individuals: co-workers, friends, family, other parents on the playground. Real people.

Let me give two examples of writing lessons and how they have assisted me beyond my writing.

During an online class on the differences between males and females, the instructor explained that most men have poor peripheral vision and can focus on something to the exclusion of everything else. There was a discussion on evolution, men being hunters, women being caretakers and how the differences aided those separate roles.

After I finished reading the lesson, I went in search of my husband. I asked him follow me into the office to read an interesting lesson. He rose from his easy chair, stepped over the pile of newspapers at his feet and followed me to the back bedroom. When he finished, he raised his eyebrow. I explained that I now understood that he truly did not see the pile of newspapers that he’d just stepped over. I promised that I would not complain about such future oversights, if he would not feel I was nagging him when I pointed out a previously unseen mess. Mutual understanding was reach and a more collaborative partnership was created because of a writing lesson.

In a workshop on secondary characters, I learned that every character, even the villain, is the hero of his or her story, even if not the Hero of the current story being written and that secondary characters’ actions are motivated by that viewpoint.

So all of the villains in my life: my girlfriends’ ex-husbands, the backstabbing co-workers, the erratic drivers during my commute, all are the heroes of their own stories and view their actions as justified. My outrage is a waste of time and energy. Therefore, unless it is a life threatening or job threatening situation, I have learned to shake my head and go on with me life.

Have any writing lessons helped you in your day to day life or your own person relationships?

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New Year Review

January 25, 2009 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Musings At Midnight

By Lori Pyne

Being a solution seeker, problem solver, planner, maker of goals and an optismist, I love my New Year Review. I look back at what worked, what did not, what I want to keep or continue to do, what I want to change or stop, think about what I want to achieve, and then I make my plan and set my goals. I start each year with my new diet plan, new exercise plan, new writing goals, and new budget goals.

Sadly, sometimes I don’t even make it through the whole month of Janurary with my plan still in place and working, much less to June.

This year I’m trying something new. (I am still the optismist so years of failure only convinces me that I just need a better plan!!) I am spending January clearing out the old, cleaning and organizing my home office (oh and the rest of the house and garage – but that’s because I just can’t help myself!!), cooking up a bunch of healthy items (some for immediate consumption and some for future meals), catching up on sleep, and finishing training my replacement for my former second boss (still have my original boss – but now I’m back to just working for that one person – yippie!!).

From this place of order and sanity (a girl can dream), I am implementing my achieveable plan on February 1st. Yes achieveable, interesting idea, no? I will write at least one word per day, five days a week. I will exercise at least three days a week for thirty minutes. I will only eat if I am hungry. I will cook and eat at least one vegetarian meal a week (to work towards my eat more veggies goal). I will continue my nightly ritual of reading to my son. (The only goal from 2008 that I achieved. I am sure that anyone who knows me is not surprise to find that my one success is connected to my son.)

That’s it: clear the decks, clean and organize my work space and set reachable goals.

I have faith that when I see you next I’ll still be on track.

Does anyone else do a New Year review? Has anyone found a game plan that works for them? If so, please share!

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Giving Thanks

November 25, 2008 by Marianne H. Donley in category Archives tagged as Musings At Midnight

by Lori Pyne

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Beyond dining on comfort foods (what’s not to love about a meal with mashed potatoes and gravy as star players?), having a day centered around giving thanks speaks to my soul.

I have an embarrassment of riches for which I am thankful.

My husband and I laughed more than we cried this year.

My son greeted most days with a smile, enjoyed novel experiences, made new friends and achieved hard earned progress.

Friends shared my joys, comforted my pains, expanded my world, challenged my mind, enhanced my life, and listened while I vented.

My actively, supportive family shared the journey, celebrated achievements, expressed concerns, and loved us.

My husband received his teaching certificate and began the next stage of his new career. I am entertained nightly by his tales of the scams attempted by students, history according to his kids, and the various foibles of teaching.

While my job does not offer the same level of amusement, it gave me something precious. My boss allowed me to adjust my schedule so I could engage in a daily dialogue with my son’s teacher, aids and principal as we tackle the challenges he encountered.

Although few of my writing goals have been met, my desire to create my stories still burns bright.

For all of this and so much more, I give thanks.

For what are you thankful?

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Time

October 26, 2008 by Marianne H. Donley in category Archives tagged as Musings At Midnight

By Lori Pyne

Our clocks fall back one hour next weekend, and we all gain an hour.

I began to think about what I can accomplish in an hour.

Commute to work (on the days with lighter traffic)
Make dinner (or make enough for more than one dinner)
Assist my son with his homework (40 minutes fighting/20 minutes working)
Exercise
Clean part of the house
Get groceries
Lunch with a girlfriend
Watch a television show

Or I could write, edit, research, or just make some progress on my current wip.

As November 1st is the start of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), why don’t we all pledge to use our found hour to work towards our writing goal?

I look forward to hearing how everyone used their found hour.

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