I wanted a book cover that depicted the main challenge in my story and I think this does. The child (me) has the fading memories of a mom (You-Know-Who) who seems to have disappeared. I've been reluctant to share my cover because it represents the realness of having my story published, and out into the … Continue reading Minimal Monday
memoir
Minimal Monday
I must admit, in light of Elon Musk's recent shenanigans, I was happy to have the perfect excuse to ditch Twitter. It's not as though I really needed an excuse, but until the quit-twitter bandwagon, I had been letting inertia keep me there. I was an inactive user (wait, is that an oximoron?) I had … Continue reading Minimal Monday
Minimal Monday
One of my favorite and most challenging areas to simplify is my writing life. My memoir coach, the talented and magnificent Marion Roach Smith, has told me that every scene should move the story forward. (You can find Marion here: https://marionroach.com/) The writing advice that we should kill our darlings, a phrase coined by William … Continue reading Minimal Monday
Minimal Monday
“At the moment of commitment the entire universe conspires to assist you.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) I love that quote and I believe in it with my whole heart. Any worthwhile commitment made with sincerity and certainty, even if we haven't spoken it aloud, will reveal all manner of support. But it seems … Continue reading Minimal Monday
Minimal Monday
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how a minimalist philosophy is one of subtraction. If you missed that post, you can read it here: https://danalaquidara.com/2022/08/22/minimal-monday-27/ . I am revisiting the topic because I keep bumping up against the truth of it in my every day life, and especially lately in my writing life. Being … Continue reading Minimal Monday
Minimal Monday
I was away last week, meeting my brand new grandson. My middle daughter had a beautiful baby boy and I am in love. After eight days spent with their family, it was difficult to leave. My arms ache to hold him again already; I miss our quiet morning snuggles when I would let his parents … Continue reading Minimal Monday
Minimal Monday
Here are four things that having a deadline for finishing my book is teaching me: #1 I should have stopped procrastinating long ago, and taken my creative work more seriously. Now that I have a guarantee of publication, I have to acknowledge all of the time that I could have been working on my book … Continue reading Minimal Monday
Minimal Monday
I have a deadline of October 31st this year for completing the final edits to my memoir. I've got a lot left to do and now Halloween is hovering over me like a taunting ghost, as if writing down my deepest thoughts and memories isn't spooky enough. Fortunately, I have fallen madly in love with … Continue reading Minimal Monday
Minimal Monday
I've noticed for a long time now, that when I refuse to engage my 'worry thoughts' and simply and truly Let Go, the issue or outcome tends to work out. It has been such a strong and welcoming truth for me, in fact, that I have been consciously practicing the Art of Letting Go. Write … Continue reading Minimal Monday
Minimal Monday
I have been very fortunate in motherhood with three wonderful, grown daughters whom I adore. Mother's Day is a happy, celebratory occasion for me. But last night as I was going to bed, I was thinking of all the moms who have been alienated from their children after a contentious divorce, as my mother had … Continue reading Minimal Monday