“Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.”

I love a great quote.  (Not to mention strong “V” words such as vitality, vigor and verve).   So here, F. Scott Fitzgerald reminds us (just as we wanted to curl up and hibernate), that you have to keep going.  Try again.  Reinvent yourself.  Forge a new path.

Whether you’re looking for the right job, sweetheart, solution to a family problem, winter coat or face cream – we rarely get it right the first time.  That’s what makes us human – trying again and again until we find what works for us.  Here’s to persistence!

Banners yellow, glorious, golden,
On its roof did float and flow,
(This – all this – was in the olden
Time long ago,)
And every gentle air that dallied,
In that sweet day,
Along the ramparts plumed and pallid,
A winged odor went away.

excerpt from The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe (1839)

I was surprised to learn how many Halloween poems were written by classic poets such as Thomas Hardy and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  Poe’s poem begins in a dreamlike mood, then becomes nightmarish as evil falls on the palace and king.  Some think the decaying palace is a metaphor for madness.  I like the melodic quality of the poem, moved along by alliteration.  It is part of Poe’s story titled The Fall of the House of Usher.   Whatever your interpretation, make sure to read it aloud by candle light for full spooky effect!

“Embark on the journey of a lifetime, travel to exotic places, mythical lands and experience adventure beyond imagination. Or escape to another era altogether.”

So proclaims the National Book Foundation as it celebrates National Book Month.  I’ve always thought there is no possible interest which could not be expanded upon with a book.  If you find a topic missing – then you must write a book about it!  This October, visit your local bookstore, library, or online list to find your next read.  The NBF even has lists for National Read Aloud Day (Oct 22nd) – must say I’m still not too old to enjoy being read aloud to.  Do you still enjoy that as a non-kid?  We listened to the pitch-perfect reading of the first Harry Potter book

in the car on a summer vacation and both big people and little people were mesmerized.  What do you like read aloud?

I love “grabbers” — those opening sentences of books which lure you in, promising that a captivating story is about to unfold.  Here’s a look at opening sentences for current bestsellers on Kindle.  Which sentences make you want to read more?

“The circus arrives without warning.”  (Uh, oh…)
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern

“Though I often looked for one, I finally had to admit that there could be no cure for Paris.”  (Quel est le problème?)
The Paris Wife: A Novel, Paula McLain

“A few years ago I became desperate to regain control of my life.”  (Who doesn’t want that?)
Hurry Less, Worry Less: 10 Strategies For Living The Life You Long For, Judy Pace Christie

“It is an ordinary Monday morning school day.”  (But having read the title, we know it is far from ordinary.)
A Stolen Life, Jaycee Dugard

“To start with, look at all the books.”  (Which can tell so much about a person…)
The Marriage Plot: A Novel, Jeffrey Eugenides

Do you have a favorite opening line?

“When you fully inhabit the moment, inspiration is likely to join you there.”

I’ve been reading a lot from fellow writers about productivity and time management.  When you earn your living writing, you can’t wait around for creative thoughts to drop into your head.  So how do you conjure up those ideas worth committing to paper in time for deadlines?  I thought this quote was helpful – it points out that we do have the power to remove distractions (email!) and focus on writing.  It reminds me the control I have to create an environment where inspiration is more likely to “join” me as the quote says.

This quote is one of 10 Thoughts on Whole Living by Terri Trespicio, in Whole Living magazine.

“Every possession is a responsibility.”
Caitlin Shear, A Sorted Affair

I actually enjoy organizing and shopping for container bins. And that’s a good thing because with kids in the house, there is a constant need for organizing. This quote reminds me of all the cleaning, dusting, insuring, storing etc required for our possessions. Small wonder that in our country there are businesses which exist solely because we forget those responsibilities and acquire too much stuff – I’m talking about storage and organizing companies. Now if only we can remember this when we’re in the Lego aisle!

As a writer, you’re mostly going it alone. I no longer work with teams of people in corporate America. Yet, thanks to technology, I have a community of people who keep me connected to the world outside my office. There are editors, communities of fellow writers who share information on our craft, and fellow students in online classes. That informal team (most of whom I’ve never met) help me go farther. It’s hard to imagine being truly alone like Thoreau on Walden Pond.

“A hairy forearm mashed my face.”

Elizabeth Sims, first sentence from a novel titled “On Location”

I haven’t read it but am mesmerized… worried… enticed.. by the first line. Sims is a Mensa member.. so perhaps we should check her out…

“Chance favors the prepared mind.”

Louis Pasteur (December 1822 to September 1895)

Can we have “hot hands” or “lucky streaks” or do talented people, in all walks of life, take better advantage of the opportunities which regularly come their way? I think the later…

“It takes moral courage to uphold a positive culture.” Jim Thompson

With war, dirty politics and poverty topping our headlines, it takes a boatload of moral courage to remain positive. There is always something in my day I can be thankful for – not so hopeful about our “culture” though…