Category: Redux

#Journaling for Peace of Mind and #Writing Success

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redux

Melanie V. Logan

There are moments in my life when I have so much clutter in my brain that it’s hard to think straight. Then there are other times a recent event reminds me of a fond memory, and I want to capture it. That’s when the mighty paper and pen come in handy.

Journaling has a variety of benefits:

  • Helps clear the mind
  • Serves as a visual reminder of things accomplished/lessons learned
  • Strengthens the brain
  • Keepsake for family members after we’re long gone

In Ruth Folit’s article Why Good Writers Keep Journals, journaling helps writers find their voice.  It opens a world through introspection and insight to people and things around them.  This peek into life can be beneficial for creating realistic characters and storylines.

The piece below from Writer’s Relief expounds on the above concepts in more detail, and provides a guide for effective journaling.

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Many of us keep…

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Feeling Nostalgic

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Redux

Melanie V. Logan

Today I’m sitting in bed, sick with what I call a climate cold.  It always seems to hit me whenever the seasons change.  Ughhh!  But on a good note, I’ve been passing the time rummaging through Etsy looking at vintage stuff.  I came across a picture of a hobby horse (thought they were called hoppy horses for the longest) and it sparked one of my childhood memories.

When I was 2 years old, my mother gave me a bath.  Afterwards she told me to go to my room and wait for her to put on my clothes.  For whatever reason, I disregarded what she said and headed outside…in the front yard…where cars passed up and down the road….naked.

meI mounted my plastic springy horse and was having the time of my life.  I recall some people laughing and pointing while others waved and honked horns.  I’d wave back and continue…

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Unlucky in #Love, Lucky by Circumstance

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Redux

Melanie V. Logan

WeddingGameIdeas

The employee area in the casino sat quiet though littered with staff on break. Each stayed in their own bubble until the resident bartender and sometime funnyman entered.

“Ralphie!!!” The greeting sounded like an episode of Cheers.

“Hey guys…Larry, Jim.”

Ralphie grabbed a snack from the vending machine, then sat at a wood laminate table.

The employees circled around him.

“Whatcha got for us today?” It was hard to tell who asked due to the number of people.

“Oddest thing.” He paused to eat and swallow. “Five chicks walk into a bar.”

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Walking Down #Memory Lane on the 4th of July (Well almost…)

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Redux

Melanie V. Logan

I’ve always been a fan of colorful light effects like creative Christmas displays or fireworks on Independence Day.  With the latter, the loud boom can be distracting and somewhat scary – especially to a small child.

One 4th of July around ’81 or ’82, my parents packed me and my brother up in the family car, headed to the local high school parking lot.  Mama passed around the sandwich bags full of

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In remembrance…

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About a month ago, I visited the family cemetery mentioned below.  The grass had been cut, but a lot of “settling” caused several headstones to topple over and others to sink in.

I stopped at the area where my mother, grandmother, and uncles are buried.  I reminisced about the time one of my uncles promised to buy me a Wanda Wee-wee doll for Christmas, and the time my grandmother tried beer but added sugar because it tasted “awful” on it’s own.

And then there was Mama.

I thought about how she taught me a lot of life skills at a young age.  They’ve proven quite effective in my decision-making as an adult.  And I remembered the time I begged for a Knit-Wit kit to make quilts and crafts with a rainbow of colors.  When it rained, she’d put on records we’d borrowed from the library while we twisted yarn around the Knit-Wit tools.  At best, I made the pom-pon tassels for the corners of the quilt my mom finished.

I attempted to locate my great-aunt’s plot, but wasn’t able to.  As I walked around, I felt a sadness.  Not just because my loved ones are gone.  Rather, the cemetery was empty.  There were no flowers -no weather-battered artificial bouquets or anything.

It made me think about how we remember our loved ones after they leave this earth.  Should it matter that we leave flowers or are the memories enough?

Melanie V. Logan

Memorial Day is a time to remember the men and women in the armed forces who have served our country and lost their lives defending it. Cemeteries are adorned with flags and flowers to not only celebrate these lives, but also honor them.

But for me, Memorial Day has additional meanings. One, it’s a day my family and friends come together to barbecue and fellowship. Sometimes this is the only quality time we have together. We talk about days of ole and catch up on the latest happenings in each others’ lives. It’s a joyous occasion.

Two, I’m reminded of the diligence of my great-aunt Dollie who made it her mission to

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We’ve Only Just Begun

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Redux

Melanie V. Logan

Robyn yawned as she turned the page. The book was interesting, but her eyes and mind were too tired to comprehend. Helping her ailing mother was taking its toll. Books had become her vacation – a mental break from the reality of her world.

The damsel was in distress.  No longer could she care for the manor.  The storm brewing would be its end as well as hers.  Sitting on the disheveled porch, she cried. Then a man stood before her.  It was Tobias.  He cupped her face in his hands, gazing into her eyes before pulling her close to his heart.  He vowed to make everything right.  She looked up at him with hope.  He reassured her by passionately kissing her ruby lips.

Robyn swooned.  Her attention was glued. Adrenaline pumped through her body providing a jolt of energy and excitement she didn’t know she had.  She longed for…

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The Rules of Procrastination — Sophie Speaks Up

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Redux

Melanie V. Logan

We’ve all been there. Slacking, putting things off, brain fritz, you name it. Procrastination hits us at one time or another. No matter how many times we “pencil” things on the calendar or set phone reminders, we find something to distract or pull us in the opposite direction.No amount of self pep talks work. We’ll find an excuse. That’s the determination. Too bad that samedetermination can’t drive us toward productive writing.

The excerpt below is a humorous take on procrastination from Sophie Speaks Up. Check out the rest in the link below. I’msure many of you can relate just as I can.

I mean, excuses. 1) Thou shall not call it procrastination. Instead, call it “writer’s block.” You simply ran out of creative juices to continue working on your project. How are you supposed to do anything if you ran out of ideas and don’t feel creative anymore, right? 2)…

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