America like a beautiful old tree, just gets better with time. There’s no place like home, even though you could do worse than Europe. Six months of lockdown, and a strict curfew, definitely affects your mindset. America for all her faults, is still the place to be. You truly realize this when living abroad. I was fortunate to be able to deal with some family stuff, catch up with loved ones, get vaccinated, and write daily.
I learned a great deal about Delaware County, which is as lush, idyllic, and serene a place as can be. In my ignorance, Philadelphia was a gritty, urban area. Parts of the city certainly fit that description, but a few miles north it’s all trees, deer, and red fox.
You know you are with loved ones when you can pick up right where you left off, even if time has passed, and you are very different people. I’m not sure if loved ones stateside realize how wonderful it is just to speak English or have an old fashioned at a restaurant again. This pandemic has changed all of us more than we realize.
On the reading front, I highly recommend Like War by P.W. Singer. I’m not a significant social media consumer. It was eye opening to see the extent to which social media has taken over just about every aspect of society.
On the writing front, some tips from a book by prolific Sci Fi writer Chris Fox were very helpful, and worth sharing.
1) He does what he calls “writing sprints”, where he puts himself in position to succeed at daily writing.
2) For example, pick a consistent time of day, write in the same physical spot, and put your PC in airplane mode so the internet won’t hijack you.
3) He just writes, no editing, no worries about grammar. IMHO he’s spot on this is the only way to finish a book.
4) Finally, he tracks how many words he wrote in an hour. Like any muscle writing strengthens with practice, and you need the positive reinforcement.
I’m looking forward to seeing my little boy after a few weeks. Batteries are now recharged. Winter’s Wind the sequel to The Eagle Feather is set to be published this week!
Finally, a quote by a great American, Ben Franklin caught my eye.
“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.”