tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45387440004298002482024-03-13T05:44:55.289-07:00It's a MysteryWherein I endeavour to share writerly advice lightened with humour, pictures and a dollop of 1930s-1940s history.Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger643125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-56018849213363554772012-09-12T08:57:00.002-07:002012-09-12T08:58:25.544-07:00End of Sohow*
The sheep explain why this blog is going silent for the foreseeable future. I'll be back if I've something to announce - let's hope that day dawns sooner rather than later. As for now...back to actual writing - not writing about writing. Thanks to all of you for reading this blog and...
stay tuned.
Be well.
Silence. Darkness.
WRITER: (timidly) Hello?
Silence.
WRITER:Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-86375371052294223302012-07-06T07:24:00.000-07:002012-07-06T07:24:21.594-07:00Greetings from EnglandYes, I made it. Yes, I'm thrilled. But yes, I'm lonely. But...I am beginning work on a new book and I spent the last two days...
HERE.
Thus beginneth Elspeth's Excellent English Adventure.Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-77283809709577284812012-05-22T09:12:00.001-07:002012-05-22T09:12:17.715-07:00On Hiatus Until July...
My life is about to change...
I'm moving to England for the summer. I'll pick up this blog once I'm there and settled.
I hope you'll all check in!
Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-72284682139870252652012-05-16T06:00:00.000-07:002012-05-16T06:00:01.407-07:00Something to PonderI've been pondering many things lately.
How to wrap up two more murder mystery games. Whether I should begin mapping my romantic comedy manuscript. How many pop tarts I really could eat in one sitting, if I put my mind to it.
And most importantly, what new direction I need to take with this blog. It's stagnating. So, here's where YOU come in - what have you liked and what would you like to see Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-19547633529357303572012-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:002012-05-14T06:00:05.685-07:0010 Signs You're NOT in the Zone
Have you ever had one of those days when you're trying to write a blog post and you have no words? Seriously. No words.
What is a blogger to do?
This is what this blogger does - she reruns one of her more popular posts about not being in the zone. Irony is amusing.
Let's hope I've found some words by Wednesday - or at least (considering what I post on Wednesday) some pictures.
Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-6178605135691716952012-05-11T06:00:00.000-07:002012-05-11T06:00:02.002-07:00Fun Friday
As I promised in last week's Fun Friday post, here's more incredible photos I was sent in an email.
Have a great weekend, everyone and Happy Mother's Day to all who celebrate this Sunday.
In the Chinese province of Shandong this bridge crosses the Gulf of Jiaozhou. The bridge stretches over 36 km and has eight car lanes. It is the longest sea bridge in the world.
A Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-41474670552234083462012-05-09T06:00:00.000-07:002012-05-09T06:00:07.932-07:00The Writing Game
Some of us write about this...
while some write about this...
and if you're a mystery writer (like me) you write endless versions of this...
But really, we're all writing about this...
There are the days when you feel as if you're playing this...
or this...
and even the days you feel as if you're playing this...
Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-7554756942058597712012-05-07T06:00:00.000-07:002012-05-07T06:00:11.885-07:00Opening Lines
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I began a new manuscript the other day. It was an accident. Truly, it was. I had meant to simply write down (because I've learned the lesson of If Thou Writeth It Not, Thou Shalt Forget) a first sentence which jumped into my head before I went to sleep the night before. I wrote the sentence. Then I wrote the next one. Then I wrote another. You know where this is going, don't Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-61816938934011279332012-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:002012-05-04T06:00:10.064-07:00Fun FridayAnother Fun Friday post courtesy of one of my email correspondents. These pictures are amazing and she sent me so many that I'll make part two next week's post.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
This restaurant is situated on the east coast of Zanzibar. Depending on the tide the restaurant can be reached both on foot or by boat.
Desert with Phacelia (Scorpion Weed) in Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-52251532889208486362012-05-02T06:00:00.000-07:002012-05-02T06:00:08.042-07:00All Work and No Play...
When you're busy doing this...
It's very easy to feel like this...
or...
(let's be honest)
Our writing to get a wee tad this...
SO...
Take a moment to do this...
And do your equivalent of this...
Or do this...
Go outside and count the new this...
Although Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-75510230046504188202012-04-30T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-30T06:00:18.014-07:00And Then There Were ...I'm dealing with a bad back, so I give you this in my place.
Someone give this animal an Oscar.
Just a suggestion.
Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-60107535016113468352012-04-27T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-27T06:00:01.920-07:00Fun Friday
I know this has made the rounds before, but when a friend sent it to me the other day, I giggled as if for the first time.
Blessings also to all teachers teaching Grade One. The very thought gives me a mighty thirst. Have a great weekend, everyone!
***********
A Grade One school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the first half of a Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-8030521852200782952012-04-25T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-25T06:00:12.127-07:00Habits We Have
What do you do when you are nervous?
Do you
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or do you
Do you...
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Or do you need...
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Maybe you look at....
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or...
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Maybe you do this...
Or this...
Or eat a lot of this...
Or have an extra cup of this...
And now that you've identified what you doElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-10120150622480069632012-04-23T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-23T06:00:10.733-07:00Wisdom of the Sheep
Click, click click.
Sheep #1: Ahem.
Click, click, click.
Sheep #1: Ahem.
Clickity-click click click.
Sheep #1: AHEM!!!
Writer: (stopping typing) Yes?
Sheep #2: Hello.
Writer: I'm busy. I don't have time for you now.
Sheep #3: Like that's ever stopped us.
Writer: (sighing heavily) Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-36051249805181433952012-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-20T06:00:03.028-07:00Fun Friday
Let's face it, treehouses are cool and these pictures prove you don't have to be a kid to think so. I'd think about living in some of these!
Have a great weekend and a special wave to my new followers!
(All images found on Google Images)
Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-50951925646896293302012-04-18T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-18T06:00:12.222-07:00Take a Moment
Take a moment....
Stop worrying about...
or
What you're making for....
or...
Oh look - English money..
Sorry, I digress...
Give yourself a moment to be enchanted by the magic of this...
or the perfume wafting from this...
The tranquility of this...
and the haunting call of this...
Okay.
Feel better?
Break's over.
Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-14308420447518016522012-04-16T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-16T11:30:56.657-07:0010 Helpful Writing Hints from Me to You
10. Give yourself permission to "write ugly". Remember the story of the ugly duckling.
9. Don't ask for criticism unless you're ready to receive it.
8. If an idea is keeping you up at night, or knocking on the door of your imagination while you're busy doing other things, it's an idea worth paying attention to.
7. Never forget the funny.
6. Remember some days willElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-34964590741753579072012-04-13T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-13T06:00:08.412-07:00Fun FridayI'm sharing a video taken by a friend of mine who is down in South America at the moment. No, no, I'm not jealous.
Not at all.
And every day is better with penguins.
Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-83347232947304580692012-04-11T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-11T06:00:15.006-07:00In the Beginning...
Our story begins in a...
No....
in a ...
No...
in a...
with our hero...
No...
our hero...
No...
our hero...
searching for his...
No....
his...
No...
his recipe for...
So...
He climbs on his...No...
He climbs into his...
No...
He climbs onto his...
to begin his journey...
What will he discover?
This?
This?
Enjoy your beginnings! Everything is possible.Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-64800256653750881272012-04-09T06:00:00.002-07:002012-04-09T06:00:17.993-07:00Funday (way more fun than Monday)
For some, today is a holiday. For some, this is Monday. For most, cute kitty pictures just make the day slide back a mite smoother. Think about your writing in a few minutes. For now, there are kitties. Thanks to my email correspondent for sending me this and making my day a bit more kitten-filled. My then-kittens now hurl fur balls onto the carpet, demand food on a whim and stare at me in Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-14198518426321107712012-04-06T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-06T06:00:09.099-07:00Fun FridayWelcome one and all to another edition of Fun Friday. Today I'm sharing some images I've found hither and yon on the internet of dyed animals.
There's just no dignity here.
Enjoy. Scratch your head with wonder. And remember the immortal words of Dr. Seuss...
"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere."
And I had to finish off with this...(If you've been a follower of myElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-12572376296774732102012-04-04T06:00:00.001-07:002012-04-04T06:00:13.017-07:00The Writer's HighwayThis picto-blog first ran in January, 2011. I'm rerunning it because I'm busy finishing a new game. Have a great day and enjoy the ride - a second time.
I hope you remembered to grab your this...
Because we're heading out on the writer's highway...
I do hope you weren't expecting this...
Because it's far more like this...
or this...
and there will be moments when you Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-68750736097899086442012-04-02T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-02T06:00:07.462-07:00Happy AprilIn honour of yesterday's date, I give you...the wonder of nature's harvest. It's got to be true - the announcer has an English accent.
Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-8047339948258945222012-03-30T06:00:00.000-07:002012-03-30T06:00:12.160-07:00Fun Friday
Beware! There be puns here. Alas, the author of these gems is unknown.
1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Circumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-30740901889916653382012-03-28T06:00:00.001-07:002012-03-28T06:00:01.372-07:00From Little Seeds...Once upon a time...
You discovered you had this...
and you were brave enough to face that blank sheet of paper
and do this...
and after a long time your first draft looked rather like this...
Now, you still needed to do plenty of this...
and spend a great deal of time doing this...
and hope for enough days like this...
But if you do the work...
You will eventually see this...
Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.com8