personal growth – By Word of Beth

The Importance of Taking Stock and Setting Goals in a Writer’s Life

In this brief time before the end of the current year and the beginning of the New Year, I like to pause and look back over what I have achieved – and what I haven’t achieved – and what I want to do in the coming year. I do this in a variety of ways. I create a vision board that includes my writing goals, hopes, and plans for the coming year as well as my goals in other areas of my life. I’m in the process of doing that now. This year, since I’ve had a writing accountability buddy (post coming in the new year) we may be able to do some evaluation together. I’m also always brainstorming with my first reader/critique partner on all my writing goals. For the past few years, I have found Julie Hedlund’s 12 Days of Christmas for Writers to be invaluable for the process of looking back and making plans to move forward with my writing. Every year as December approaches, I start wondering if Julie will offer this opportunity again. The all-too-brief time of the 12 Days focuses on clarifying successes and non-successes from the past year, clarifying just what we want to build on in the coming year, giving and receiving support in a group of other writers who are going through the daily exercises, and above all, having FUN together! In Julie’s words, from her blog post about last year’s 12 Days, it’s to “keep the holidays going even after the New Year begins,” and “to start your writing year from a place of inspiration, illumination, and optimism.” If Julie decides to offer The 12 Days of Christmas for Writers in 2018, I’ll update my blog with a brief post to let you know. In the meantime, I’ll keep my fingers crossed. This year, I’ll also be participating in a free webinar about looking back and moving forward, presented by freelance editor and former agent Mary Kole. The webinar is entitled Rock Your Writing Goals, and will take place Saturday, December 29, at 11 a.m. CST. It will run for about an hour. In Mary’s words, “Let’s spend an hour together this last weekend of December and do some creative brainstorming for the year to come. … I’ll discuss creativity, actionable steps for achieving your writing or publishing goals this year, and send you off into 2019 with a bang!” Learn more about Mary’s webinars and sign up at this link. How do you prepare for the year-to-come? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Here’s to a great 2019!

Books to Help Kids Understand Dementia

6 Comments / Book Recommendations, Difficult Topics in Books / By Beth

Many, perhaps most, of us know someone who deals with dementia. My first encounter with dementia was when I was in my early teen years, although that word was not commonly used then. We’d go over to visit my paternal grandparents, and Grandma would say, “Father is confused today.” We accepted this confusion as part of the package of Grandpa’s aging, although I never liked the fact that Grandma would say that with Grandpa there in the room. Later, my dad dealt with increasing dementia, especially after breaking his hip at age 95 and experiencing the surgery, medication, and going into a nursing home that followed. It was heartbreaking to watch the deterioration of his memory – particularly the day he said, with tears in his eyes, “I forgot I had a home.” (As the effects of the surgery and medication wore off, shreds of memory returned, and that provoked those plaintive words.) I am grateful that through all that, he always recognized me and called me by name. His face would light up as I entered his room at the nursing home, and he’d say with joy, “Beth!” The look of joy and love on his face still buoy me up, nearly eight years after his death. Dementia is a difficult topic for adults to talk about, even now, and it’s even more difficult to know how to explain it to children. I recently read a picture book, The Remember Balloons, that does a wonderful job of giving an image that children can grasp, and that can open the discussion when a grandparent or other beloved person is struggling with the progress of Alzheimer Disease or some other dementia. For older children, who are reading middle grade novels, one of my favorite books, Cynthia Lord’s Half a Chance, does the same. I’d like to share briefly about both books, and would urge you to read them. Title: The Remember Balloons Author: Jessie Alveros Illustrator: Dana Wulfekotte Publisher: New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018 Genre: Picture book, fiction Audience Age: 4 to 8 years Themes/Topics: Dementia, remembering, families, love for grandparent Opening Sentences: I have lots and lots of balloons, way more than my little brother. “This one’s my favorite,” I tell him, pointing to the balloon filled with my last birthday party. Synopsis: James envisions balloons each filled with a memory. He has lots and lots, but his parents have more. Grandpa has the most of all, and James loves to hear the stories of each one. But one day, one of Grandpa’s balloons floats away, then more and more of them fly off, and Grandpa doesn’t seem to notice. James is distressed – particularly when the special silver balloon that holds the best memory shared by Grandpa and James disappears. James needs to find a way to deal with his distress and his sorrow, while somehow comforting Grandpa. For Further Enrichment: See a trailer for The Remember Balloons produced by Mooresville Public Library. Read and watch a video interview with the author about her inspiration and process for this book at the Epic Eighteen website. Find Jessie Oliveros’ website here. Find Dana Wulfekotte’s website here. Here’s a good article at Today’s Parent about talking to kids about dementia. Title: Half a Chance Author: Cynthia Lord Publisher: Scholastic, 2014. Genre: Middle Grade fiction Audience Age: 9 to 12 years Themes/Topics: Photography, parental absence, nature, loons, dementia Opening Sentences: “Lucy, we’re going to love this place!” Dad called to me from the porch of the faded, red-shingled cottage with white trim. … … “I’ll buy you a new bike when I get back, Lucy.” … … Dad always promises me things before he leaves and then forgets by the time he’s home again. Synopsis: Lucy and her family move to an old cottage on a lake in New Hampshire just before Dad, a photographer, leaves on yet another business trip. When Lucy learns about a photography contest, and finds out that her dad is judging it, she decides to enter. Through her photography that summer, she meets and gets to know the kid next door, Nate. He introduces her to the joys of the lake, and particularly the loons. She finds amazing subjects for her photographs, but her photographs of Nate’s grandma show what the family has been trying to deny – Grandma is slipping away from them into dementia. The family, and Lucy, have to find a way to deal with this, while Lucy continues to try to connect with her dad. This book moved me, inspired me, taught me, and delighted me. I have reread it more than once. I highly recommend it. For Further Enrichment: Cynthia Lord’s website is here. There are discussion questions for the book on Scholastic’s website. My friend, Patricia Tilton, wrote an excellent review for Half a Chance in 2014. Find resources and book suggestions for talking to kids about dementia from the National Institute on Aging here. Do you have any book suggestions to add, or thoughts to contribute? I’d love to know about them.

Celebrating Three Special People

4 Comments / Gratitude / By Beth

Cue the herald trumpets! Those of you who have been reading my blog for some time will know that October 1 is a special day of celebration for me. It is the birthday of three people whom I admire, who have directly or indirectly provided guidance, example, wisdom, and strength. As is my custom when October 1 falls on or near a blogging day, today I want to celebrate those three very special people. (Parts of this tribute were originally posted on October 1, 2012, but the post has been revised and expanded for today’s tribute.) This delightful little girl reading a story to her doll has grown up to be a delightful woman who still has that lovely smile, and who now not only reads books but also writes them (she’s also an oral storyteller, poet, all-round wordsmith). It is as a writer that most of you know her. Her name is Beverley Brenna, and I’m privileged to know her as a dearly loved cousin as well as one of my favorite authors. I’ve blogged about her writing often, and will include a few links at the end of this post. Today, though, I want to focus on another aspect of her life — her love of nature. In fact, it is that aspect that I will focus on as I reflect on each of the three people I’m honoring today. Bev’s parents, who also had a great influence on my life, loved to go out and ramble in the countryside, searching for wildflowers (including rare wild orchids in Waskesiu — it is one of Uncle Arthur’s wonderful wild orchid photographs that adorns the cover of Wild Orchid); canoeing across Waskesiu Lake to Grey Owl’s Cabin; and through their own enthusiasm and example, teaching their three children (and their nieces) to share their love of the natural world. This love of nature shines through in all Bev’s writing, since there is always an undercurrent of taking joy in nature and of environmental concern in her writings. Just one example from many I could have chosen is taken from the short story Finding Your Voice from Bev’s anthology of varied stories, Something to Hang On To. “Janine remembers how it felt to shout across the water and listen to her voice as it swept all the way to the sunrise and back.” Mmmmmm… that is so evocative and real. * * * October 1st is also the birth date of Julie Andrews, a woman whom I have long admired for her innate optimism, her resilience, her work ethic, her love of family, her imagination, as well as for her writing and her dramatic and musical talents. When she was growing up, her dad, Ted Wells, imparted to her his deep love for nature, and for noticing the amazing detail in the natural world around us. From her autobiography, Home: A Memoir of My Early Years, “Throughout our childhood, he exposed us to the wonders of nature. One of my earliest memories was his taking me outside to view a large ants’ nest, which he had discovered under a stone while gardening. … we pored over this nest for a good hour or more.” The book in which this early influence is most evident is The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, in which the children are urged to look closely, to notice every detail of what is around them, to really see beyond a surface glance. I have celebrated that way of seeing in my blog post about this book, which you may find here. Ted Wells’ nurturing led to a lifelong love of, and delight in, the natural world for Julie Andrews. In one of the introductory passages in Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies, she mentions a game she played with her own children. It sounds much like the Look and Listen Walks I often exhort people to do, and would be a great way to get children to really notice and celebrate our world. She says, “When I became a parent, I would take my children into the garden and we would play games of ‘discovery’ — what colors, even in the winter, could we spot? What sounds? What smells?” What might you discover if you went into your back garden today? * * * The third person in this triumvirate of October 1 birthdays is former US President Jimmy Carter, who is 94 today. I first became aware of Mr. Carter when he was running for President back in the mid 1970s. (In a happy coincidence, I learned years later that he had announced his candidacy on my birthday in 1974!) I admired him from the get-go, but came to understand and admire him much more deeply when I began reading his books in the 1990s. Most of his books, of course, are focused on politics or diplomacy, or on the Christian faith, but he has also written about his love of, and experiences in, the natural world. Many people know of his diplomatic efforts, his election monitoring around the globe, and his hands-on work with Habitat for Humanity. Fewer are likely aware that he has climbed mountains such as Kilimanjaro in Africa; as a former farmer, he is still keenly interested in agriculture; and he and his wife Rosalynn are avid birders, often building in time in their international travels to go out with an experienced local birder to search for birds to add to their life lists. Reading his book Sharing Good Times opens one’s eyes to the many facets of this vibrantly active man’s life. It is from a poem in his poetry collection Always A Reckoning that I wish to quote, however. From his poem Light Comes in Turkey Country: I know the forest on my farm best at breaking day when birdcalls seem to draw the darkness back that cages me. Can’t you just feel that cage of darkness and the joy of being released from it by …

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Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan — Book Recommendation

Ad-Lib Mondays, Book Recommendations, Empowerment, Starred Books, We Need Diverse Books / By Beth

Title: Amina’s Voice Author: Hena Khan Publisher: New York: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Children’s, 2017 Genre: Middle Grade Fiction Audience Age: 9 to 12 Themes/Topics: empowerment, racism, feeling comfortable with who you are, lifting up your voice Opening Sentences: Something sharp pokes me in the rib. “You should totally sign up for a solo,” Soojin whispers from the seat behind me in music class. I shake my head. The mere thought of singing in front of a crowd makes my stomach twist into knots. Synopsis: Amina is a sixth-grade Muslim girl of Pakistani heritage, growing up in Greendale in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. She loves to sing, but is shy about singing by herself in front of others, no matter how many times her best friend, Soojin, urges her to. She doesn’t want to stand out. Still, she doesn’t want to go to the lengths Soojin is planning in order to fit in. Soojin’s family is about to gain their American citizenship, and Soojin wants an American name. This starts Amina thinking about her heritage, her faith, and where she fits. Another girl tries to become Soojin’s friend, and Amina wonders if she’s losing her best friend completely. A visit from her strict uncle gives her more to think about. He puts great value on strict obedience to the rules and priorities of their Muslim faith, more so than Mama or Baba (Mom or Dad). He starts coaching her so she’ll excel in singing a passage from the Koran in an upcoming competition at their mosque. But she just can’t get the pronunciation right – and she doesn’t want to stand up there in front of everyone. Amina is thoroughly muddled about where she fits, or if she fits at all. When their mosque is vandalized, she has to find out if she has it in her to speak out, to sing out, to make a difference, to show that she does fit. For Further Enrichment: Find the author’s website here. Read a review of this book on my friend Pat Tilton’s wonderful blog, Children’s Books Heal. There’s an excellent article in The Washington Post about Amina’s Voice and about diversity in children’s books. There is a reading guide at Simon and Schuster’s website and one at the TeacherVision website. Find even more at the TeachingBooks website. Availability: Should be readily available. Check your local independent bookstore, or find one online.

Time to Power Up the Blog at By Word of Beth!

6 Comments / Ad-Lib Mondays, Coming Attractions, FYI, Just Want to Say, Moving Forward / By Beth

It’s time for a new blogging season here at By Word of Beth, and I’m ready for it. I’m planning what I hope will be interesting and engaging posts, including: a series looking at why and how I write, and why and how others write, including profiles of other writers and the occasional interview posts that explore the basics of my logo – empowerment, arts, and words sharing books and experiences through Books, Encouragement, Teaching, Hope a bit of fun here and there NO alphabetical posts. Nope. Not going there again. 😉 Something you may not know about me is that I love to watch HGTV, particularly home-renovation shows (since the day for decluttering and organization shows seems to be over). A couple of my favorites (which are, alas, only reruns now) are Canadian shows Income Property and Leave It To Bryan. My favorite part of the show is the reveal. Which brings me to the reason I got onto this topic. If you look around my site, you’ll see that I’ve spent some time this summer renovating my website and now it’s time for the big reveal. First of all – there’s a new theme around here. I hope you’ll find it easy to navigate and appealing to read. It’s certainly easier for me on the posting end of things. There are still a couple of drop-down menus, but they’re not accordions. And TAGS are back! For some reason, my last theme didn’t allow tags on blog posts, and I have missed them. I’ve also revamped and rewritten all the pages (well, except the blog, of course. A blog is a blog.) There’s a new bio with anecdotes and pictures, although the brief, official-sounding one is still there as well. There’s a brand-new page about the basics of my logo, with a drop-down giving a few words about each of Empowerment, Arts, and Words, along with links to previous blog posts on each of those topics. There’s an easier-to-scroll-through version of my Resources for Writers page. There’s a link to my re-vamped Flubs2Fixes Editing website (yes, it’s been given a facelift, too. Watch for a link when the first post goes up on that blog.) There’s new information about my kid-focused website and blog, The Starborn Revue, including information about the coming serialized story, The Show MUST Go On. (And in case you’re wondering, The Starborn Revue has been refreshed and renewed, too. There’ll be a link here to the first post on Wednesday, so you can experience the reveal there, as well.) There are GDPR-compliant privacy and cookies policy statements in the links in the footer. And there’s a bright, shiny, and functional contact form. I hope you’ll take some time and look around at the new pages, and get a feel for the renewed site. I’ve had a good time with this “renovation” and I hope it will serve you better in time to come. Next week, I’ll be celebrating International Dot Day a little early. I hope you’ll join me for that. In the meantime, here’s to books, encouragement, teaching and hope!

Moving Forward — By Asking Questions

6 Comments / Ad-Lib Mondays / By Beth

If you’re on Facebook at all regularly, you’ll no doubt have seen more than one of the plethora of quizzes and questionnaires that are so popular there. I admit I have fun with them. You may be interested to know that if I were a children’s book character, I’d be Max from Where the Wild Things Are; the classic author who is my soulmate is Henry David Thoreau; and the Broadway musical that best describes my life is The Sound of Music (I kid you not). Such quizzes are fun, but they’re not the sort of questions I want to talk about in terms of moving forward in my life.

Moving Forward — Open to Possibilities

6 Comments / Ad-Lib Mondays / By Beth

As I said in my last blog post of 2013, I won’t be doing my month-end accountability posts this year. Instead, in keeping with my chosen theme for the year of moving forward, the last Monday of each month will feature a post designed to get us all thinking about some aspect of moving forward in our lives. This blog post was inspired when I recently started re-reading Julie Andrews Edwards’ wonder-filled middle grade novel, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles. Early in the book, the children meet a delightfully eccentric professor, who tells them of the amazing land of the Whangdoodle. When they ask him how to get to Whangdoodleland, his answer at first makes them scoff, but later makes them learn to think and see in an entirely new way.

Year End, Year Beginning

12 Comments / Ad-Lib Mondays / By Beth

Janus, the Roman god from whom the month of January derives its name, is usually depicted with two faces, one looking forward, one looking back. He was considered to be able to see both past and future at the same time. As I stand on the brink of another January, I find myself looking both forward and back, remembering what was good — and not so good — in the past year, and wondering what lies ahead in the next. I suspect most people find themselves doing that at some point in Janus’s month, January. Where have I been? Where am I going? Time for review: