Category: Life

Why do I have this blog anyway?

On By MiriahIn Life, Writing PathLeave a comment

It has been three months since my last blog post. This is the point where I insert an excuse. Or an explanation. Or maybe a list of exciting things I’ve been doing instead of blogging.

But truthfully, I just didn’t feel like writing blog posts.

When I started this blog, I thought every writer *should* have a blog. The theme I chose was my experiences along the way to becoming a published author. I’m still actively pursuing that goal. I have two short stories published.

But, two years later I know that a blog is actually NOT a requirement for becoming an author. I also arrived at the realization that a blog about me trying to get published isn’t particularly interesting, even to me. Personally, if I want blogger advice about how to write great stories and get them published I’m going to read the blogs of people who are doing it.

And my friends’ blogs. I read those.

This must be the point where I declare a new and inspiring theme. Except. Oh, wait; I don’t have one. Yeah, when I have a new theme I shall declare it. In the mean time I’ll be updating this blog with whatever strikes my fancy.

Miriah in 6th grade
Miriah in 6th grade

btw, it was my birthday on Monday. This photo was taken about four and a half decades ago.

Happy Writing.

Dandelion Inspiration

On By MiriahIn Life, Writing PathLeave a comment

Argh. It has been almost three months since my last post. Time for some introspection? Excuses? Self flagellation? Pledges to post regularly from now on?

Naw. (Who wants to read that?)
Well, maybe an implied pledge. Because obviously I’m starting to blog again.

I found this dandelion growing in my driveway the other day.

Nature finds a way to keep growing.
Nature finds a way to keep growing.

It inspired me with its tenacity and simple beauty. I want to be like this dandelion. Push through the cement and grow like a weed.

Happy Writing

not accepted and moving on

On By MiriahIn Life, Writing Path2 Comments

A drawing by Alison Hetherington
by Alison Hetherington
I applied to the Clarion West six-week Writing workshop, and received my rejection letter last Friday (March 22).

Oddly, it wasn’t until after I sent in my application (five weeks before the deadline) that I realized how desperately I really wanted to go. It was like holding a lottery ticket. I hardly ever buy lottery tickets, and even when I do I don’t daydream about winning a million dollars (well, not for more than five minutes). But I did daydream about going to Clarion West, and how indescribably amazing and life-changing it would be.

Hoping for that golden-ticket phone call was far more stressful than I had expected it to be. I watched the forums on the Clarion West web site. On March 12, applicants on the forums were already speculating that acceptance phone calls were imminent. Although I made only a couple of brief posts myself, I saw the craziness I was feeling echoed in post after post from other people. Some “forum-ers” with far better Twitter-stalker skills than me found a tweet from one applicant who got their acceptance phone call on March 19.

I wish I could say that I was able to channel my anxiety into a flood of productive writing. But no. I have been at a creative stand-still for the past two weeks. Today I dredged up my last unfinished short story, a Sci-Fi story based on an early 1600s Border Reiver ballad. Because it’s time to shake it off, move on, and keep writing!

My rejection email included the phrase “our readers particularly commended your work”, which I’ve heard is a good thing. I will be thinking about participating in the Clarion West write-a-thon, and I hope to apply for the workshop again next year.

And this summer in Seattle there will be weekly Clarion West Instructor readings to look forward to.

Happy Writing!

Change and a Haircut

On By MiriahIn Life3 Comments

Change is inevitable, I think we all know that. A lot of change we don’t have any control over. I’ll reframe from making a list because that would be endless. But some change is completely within my control. Like the length of my hair.

Miriah Hetherington, before haircut
Miriah before the haircut.

I’ve had long hair for most of my life. When I was little my mother kept it short, because she understandably didn’t want to deal with the effort involved. So when I was a kid, I always wanted long hair, and that desire stuck with me ever since.

Most people don’t change that much in their lifetimes, in my opinion. We can learn that there are more choices. We may even learn to control our behavior and make different, better choices. But, who we are usually stays pretty much the same.

Miriah Hetherington
Miriah with new haircut

I grew a little bored of my hair. I had to keep it braided most of the time otherwise it was in the way. Now, this short hair feels weird, like I’m missing an old friend. But hair grows back, right?

Hair Donated to Pantene program
Donated Hair

A few people have asked if I donated my hair to Locks of Love. That is a wonderful charity. When the twins were babies I donated my “pregnancy hair” to LoL. But Locks of Love doesn’t use hair that is gray or colored (they sell it) and nowadays my hair includes a bit of both. This time I donated to another charity my hair stylist told me about, Pantene Beautiful Lengths, that provides wigs to women cancer patients. Because not everybody gets to choose the length of their hair.