Marian Scadden, author
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Duct Tape and Geniuses

5/31/2012

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I've had two inspirational thoughts about writing this month.
#1: Heather Vogel Frederick, author of the Mother-Daughter Book Club series (among others), was at Powell's Bookstore speaking to a group of young people. I pretended I wasn't listening. I brought my daughter and several other youth just to sharpen the disguise. Anyway, she talked about the uses of duct tape--for a writer, you use it to stick yourself to the chair and tape your mouth closed to silence the inner critic. She was right when she said that I'll--I mean, the kids--will never see duct tape the same way again. Since we use duct tape around here like it's going out of style, I find myself often heading to the chair where I write.

#2: At a homeschool moms meeting, the discussion was about a quote from a book, that all children are geniuses but they just have to find what they're geniuses in. (I agree!) Another mom mentioned a book (I think it was a book) that said if you're having a hard time with something, spend double the time on it. For instance, her daughter was griping about piano, felt she had hit a stone wall. So Mom makes a deal with her to spend 2 hours practicing piano instead of 1 for the next 2 weeks, at the end of which, they'd discuss piano again. After 2 weeks, they talked about piano. The girl was proud of what she had managed to accomplish...but she also knew that piano was not for her. (Mom let her stop taking piano.) Now it's my turn to double my efforts in writing! I have been this week. It may have something to do with not being in rehearsals right now, still, I hope I don't slow down in my writing efforts when I start teaching, directing and rehearsing mid June.

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Are We Having Fun Yet?

5/4/2012

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YES! yes I am!
Today Deely hosted at the Salem Chamber of Commerce greeters, a business networking event and as she talked about her business, she said, "Sometimes when I ask 'how are you doing?' people respond, 'okay.'..." I knew where she was going with this because I've had it happen to me!
"How are you?" I ask someone.
"Okay," they say tentatively.
"Oh, dear," I usually respond. "That sounds like maybe you've been having a bad day?" I question.
"No," they say.
And that's it. I guess they're just waiting for the bad news, or the awful event, or a meteor to fall on their head.
I figure this:
As of right now, I'm alive. I made it to 50 and I know of a lot of people who have not. I'm not boasting; it's just a fact.. Maybe my turn will be soon, but I''m not going to plan for it right this minute. As of right now, this minute, I'm still able to get outside and hike. My husband and I hiked the other day on a trail that was "intermediate." Well, heck, we made it--red faced, sore-kneed and tuckered out, but we did it. As of right now, I'm able to play on my computer--facebook, this blog, email--geez, I HAVE a computer. How amazing is technology!
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I got to do my favorite thing in the whole wide world--theater stuff. I'm directing one play, rehearsing for another, and making plans for the CET Mime Troupe. This morning at greeters, we got teased--it was hilarious! This afternoon, we watched a movie--love movies! This evening, I got to do another favorite thing in the whole wide world--I edited over 20 pages in my book. And now I'm going to read in bed--because as of right now, I can! And reading is another favorite thing of mine.
Last week was similar--there were friends to laugh with, my husband to celebrate our 30th anniversary with, games, directing, rehearsing, reading.
So, how am I?
As of right now, as of this minute, I am GREAT!
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    Marian, that's me!

    I love stories! I love to read fairy tales, fables, stories from around the world. I especially love scifi and fantasy. And I like to write. And watch movies. And play board games. And do theatre things.

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Marian Scadden, author of stage plays, fiction for young people, and other stuff