PERspecTIVE

My family took me to the fair when I was four. It was hugely full of smells and colors and sounds. I wanted to see the horses, so I went, oblivious that my people had gone a different direction.
All I could see were shoes and legs.
Being lost is the end of everything when you're four.
Suddenly, a gangly person balanced on the tallest wooden legs I had ever seen was promising to help me find my people.

Perspective.

When you are suddenly lifted on stilts above the four year-old's view of feet and legs, everything feels better.




Perspective is my theme this week.

I was feeling a little lost after news of my novel submission -
several rejections so far, and more submissions and waiting.
I had a glorious pity party: threw cake and popped balloons,
"What makes you think you're cut out to be a writer anyway?"
and other cheerful motivational talks,
when I felt a little tug.





A reminder of November 2009.
Our daughter "Pip" had to have a bundle of tests to search for cancer.
This while also waiting to hear if cutbacks would be affecting my husband's job.

And after tense, heavy weeks of waiting, we had completely beautiful news:
a healthy daughter.
And Mr. Pray got to keep his job.

If I can be thankful for the good things and the great things
I will be lifted on stilts,

to see that even when times are rough,
there are sacred moments to hang on to.
That when the view seems narrow
or small or confusing or wretched,
there is a bigger picture at work.
Bigger hands that can lift us up. That's my hope.

And as far as the rejections go, I will try to remember that this is one tiny keyhole of the big picture.

THE WRITER GAMES: WINNERS!

For those of you who have been following The Writer Games,
today is the day to meet your medalists!

It has been an absolute hoot reading each and every entry.

(Drumroll please.)



Opening Lines:
Martha Brockenbrough

Similes:
Lori Van Hoesen
Tricia O'Brien
Mariah
Brian
(five-way tie)

Haiku:
Corey Schwartz

Composition:
Brian
rjw

Metaphors:
a dash from donna lyn

Boggle
Heat 1: Soozi, BJW (tie)
Heat 2: BJW
Heat 3: Jan Morrison, jesse joshua watson (tie)
Heat 4: BJW
Heat 5: BJW
Heat 6: BJW, jesse joshua watson (tie)

Rhymes Revisited:
Julia Kelly

Limericks:
Brian

Toasts:
Jan Morrison

Synopses:
Amy Watson
(Charlotte's Web "Words save lives and bacon.")
BJW
jesse joshua watson
(three-way tie)

Bonus Round Word Find:
for those of you who even dared to dream that you'd win, I'm so sorry.
Martha Brockenbrough
blew everyone miles off the ice rink

Last Lines, or Best Tear-Jerk/ Knee-Jerk Reaction:
for having the uncanny ability to produce
emotional responses in nearly every event,
jesse joshua watson

Cross-countries:
competing at greatest distance,
Natasha

Best Use of Potty Humour:
for consistently bringing it all back to the toilet,
and why he will be an incredible children's novelist,
BJW

Best All-Around:
for having the ability to compete wittily in all events,
Jan Morrison

I will be contacting each medalist to discuss prize delivery.
Think about whether you would like the Gold Doubloons sent together
with the diamond-encrusted lipstick case and the pet snow leopards,
or if you would rather have them couriered to your door in person.

Three cheers to The Writer Games olympians!

THE WRITER GAMES, Closing Ceremony

Welcome to final event of The Writer Games!
Like the real Winter Olympics, this contest spans two weeks and rewards winners with interviews, prizes and medals! But unlike the real Olympics you do not have to deal with cold temperatures, severe heights, or huffy prima donna competitors.
It's just you and the rest of us word nerds.

Here's the flag parade, representing writers from across the literary globe:



Today's event is The Closing Ceremony, or Last Lines.
Your challenge:
Write last words, or last lines, whatever suits your fancy, that include:


or





Here's my try:
"If it hadn't been for those snow angels," Meg reflected gratefully, "I would never have met Alsey or been kidnapped and seen my first iceberg. So as it turns out sometimes flailing on the ground like a lunatic is a good thing."



You have until midnight tonight to complete any of THE WRITER GAMES challenges from the last two weeks. If you're a great limericker, haiku genius, merry metaphor maker, or just happen to love a good toasty word game, check out the events to join in!

THE WRITER GAMES, Bonus Round

Here's a bonus game:



In two minutes, find as many words as you can from the following:

THE WRITER GAMES, Part 10: Downhill

Welcome to The Writer Games, a celebration of writing and wit in the spirit of the Winter Olympics! Like the real Olympics, this is a two-week contest and involves medals, interviews and prizes. Unlike the real Olympics, you do not have to worry about whether the Zamboni (or its generic equivalent) has left the ice looking more like a mogul course than a skating surface.
You have only two days left to compete!

Without further ado I bring you today's event,
Downhill Skiing, a.k.a. "It's All Downhill From Here,"
or One-Minute Classics.


Today we are competing in that writing trait beloved by editors: efficiency, sparsity of words, the complete opposite of verbosity (which I naturally tend to in spades).

So in honor of speed and efficiency and those Olympians who fly heedlessly downhill risking life and limb to beat the clock, I give you

ONE-MINUTE CLASSICS:
Choose a favorite book and sum it up in less than fifty words.



The Writer Games is nearly done! Only two days left.
You fabulous word athletes have battled
Opening Lines
Similes
Haiku
Compositions
Metaphors
Boggle
Rhymes revisited
Limericks
Toasts
and now Synopses.

The events are still open; Click the Links above to join in!
Anyone may enter. Give it a go! Your great brain is needed!
Judging will close at midnight on Friday.


My synopsis attempt:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Snake-whispering orphan misfit finds a niche at Wizard school. He breaks rules, makes friends and enemies, finds a stone of immortality, saves his school and discovers he is a natural at broom sports as well as the savior of the wizarding world.

THE WRITER GAMES, Part 9: Ice Dancing

Welcome to The Writer Games, a.k.a. the word olympics.
Like the real Winter Olympics, this contest lasts two weeks, involves a different event each day, and rewards the winners with medals, interviews and prizes.
Unlike the real Olympics you do not have to get your knees replaced biannually to compete.


We've all heard them.
"To your health"
"Salut"
"To life"
That marvelous little pause before downing a beverage,
half-prayer that it'll be a good swig,
half-celebration of good things.
TOASTS.



I realized my girls had lived four and a half years
without that little comfort food, cinnamon toast.
And yes, I did burn it.
But since they had nothing to compare it too,
and we don't see much sugar in these parts
it was a happy experience.




The Writer Games event today
is Ice Dancing, or
"Cheer Yourself":

Write your own toast.
Make up an original little toasting ditty.


You have until midnight on Friday to enter any of The Writer Games events. For those of you who are not math olympians, you have only three days left to play! So saddle your respective mental horses, giddy-up over to Last Week's action and join the stampede!


My toast:
May you never lose your love, your luck or your teeth!

THE WRITER GAMES, Part 8-ish: Curling

Welcome to The Writer Games.
If you're just joining us, The Writer Games is a two-week contest in the spirit of the Winter Olympic Games. Just like the real Olympics, there will be medals, interviews and prizes. Unlike the real Olympics, you do not have to pray that the last donut you ate will mess up your chances of landing that triple lutz.


Today's Event is Curling, or What Can You Do With a Limerick?
I thought about describing a limerick to you here, but when you type it out,
"da da da da da da da DA,
da da da da da da da DA,
da da da da DA, da da da da da DA,
da da da da da da DA DA!"
it looks like a stuttering magician waiting for his wand to work.

Your challenge:
Write a limerick on the subject of winter, sports, or whatever suits your fancy.

You have until Friday at midnight to enter any of The Writer Games events. Check out last week's competitions to join in!
Winners will be announced Monday.


My limerick:
An athlete afflicted with fears
Of crashing too much on his rear
Would do well not to fall
Avoid sports of near all
Of the winter Olympian's gear.