Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

Well, I finally gave in and switched to New Blogger. I got tired of the harassment--Do you want to switch to New Blogger now? Or continue to stand on your head, hold your mouth right and gargle peanut butter while you try logging into OLD Blogger? Today, I said, yeah all right. And here I am. We'll see how it goes.

The WordStars critique group enjoyed our beach retreat this last weekend at Ocean Shores, Washington. The picture above shows only five of us on the porch of Carol's new beach house. Lisa didn't get up in time for our early morning stroll on the beach. The cabana boy, aka Carol's DH, took this charming photo, then he did yard work and started dinner while we researched the local economy and an antique show. The WordStars are all about antiques except this one. I hates other people's old, smelly stuff, precious. Don't know that I've mention on MMMLog that I possess a rather acute sense of smell, rather like my Airedale, maybe? I'm always too conscious of odors wherever I go and really have to work hard on not being adversely affected by them. So, antique stores, garage sales, thrift stores, and the like can be a bubbling stew of argh for me. In any case, Darcy and I went back to the beach house to brainstorm her latest fantasy novel while the other four hit the remaining antique stores, then came home and got to work.

Brainstorming Story Ideas
The WordStars use our annual weekend retreat to brainstorm new story ideas or rework WIPs' problems. Our weekly critique sessions are usually devoted to reading and critiquing each member's current manuscript. When we have a brainstorming session, it's a round robin situation. The writer will verbalize her idea as completely as she cares to and opens to suggestions for plot or characterization help or whatever she needs to develop that story. Then each member jumps in with suggestions while the writer listens. Darcy takes notes on her AlphaSmart; Marcella on her laptop and a couple of us listen, taking mental notes. Others jot stuff down in a notebook. The only rule we have is to listen. And not argue or reject out of hand. Just listen, keep what resonates with you and let the other go. And thank your helpers. That's important to everyone--that sense of appreciation and acknowledgement that you've been heard. We get much writing done on these retreats and have lots of rejuvenating fun, too. This is an essential combination to keeping the creative fires burning.

MMMMMMMMMMmmelinda, sending happy birthday wishes to baby brother, Gary.