Category Archives: writing

Reading Inspiration for Writers – Part 2

2 Replies

As with so many writers, I fell in love with reading first.  Over the years, I have found my reading life crucial to my continuing education as a writer.  The best writing advice I’ve ever received is to read as widely as possible.  The best part:  Most of the tips, resources, and suggestions I am sharing here are little to no cost.  One crucial requirement:  a library card.

The following is a continuation of the list I started in Part 1.  You can find it below.

Reading Inspiration for Writers – Part 1

Join Book Clubs

I currently belong to three book clubs, and all three serve different roles in my reading life.  First, as a writer, I would encourage you to join a book club similar to Mid Michigan Writers’ own Scribblers and Scholars.  We meet every-other month to discuss books from the point of view of writers.  Lately, we’ve been working on comparing Educated by Tara Westover to The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls.  Scribblers and Scholars aims to provide writers with a book club focused on dissecting the craft of writing, although we tend to discuss just about anything related to the books.

I’ve also belonged to the Standish-Sterling Book Club for years.  It is the first formal book club I’ve joined, and while we certainly discuss the books we picked, there is an in-person social aspect to the club that I love.  In fact, two of my former teachers also belong to the club, both of whom have had a profound impact on who I am today.  We meet monthly, and there is truly no judgment if you don’t quite finish a book that is less than thrilling or if you can’t make a meeting.

Last but not least, I’ve also joined the Spartan Book Club, which resides entirely online, as an alumni of Michigan State University.  In fact, it has its own forum and much more.  Books are selected quarterly, and once again, members are free to participate as much or as little as you’d like.  I’ve met some wonderful people online and have thoroughly enjoyed the book selections.  I’ve also used the Spartan Book Club for reading suggestions, as there are also several wonderful books mentioned not chosen as a book club selection.

I mention all of my book club experiences because they demonstrate that there is one out there for every type of reader.  As a writer, all of my book club experiences led me to books I would not have picked up otherwise.  I am a better writer for it, and it provides yet another outlet in which to discuss books.  Think about what you would like out of a book club, and with a little research, you will find it.


Embrace eBooks

If you haven’t discovered the benefits of ebooks yet, here are a few things I’ve noticed as a writer.  First, I tend to be a collector.  I intentionally collect certain books, hopefully to be read more than once.  While there is nothing quite like the smell of a good book, collecting hundreds of ebooks takes up a lot less space in my home.  Second, with Kindle, my preferred ereader and type of ebook, I can have my entire ebook library not only on my phone, but on my Chromebook and Kindle Paperwhite as well.  Last but not least, I have a hard time highlighting or writing in traditional books.  Ebooks allow me to highlight and make notes to my heart’s content without marking up a traditional book.  My notes and highlights are waiting for me when I return.

Ebooks tend to be more cost effective as well.  Often, the Kindle version is less expensive than either paperback or hardcover.  While the prices of Kindle books are rising in some cases, there are also several websites and offers for free or low-cost Kindle books.  BookBub is one of the best.  I actually had to quit because I found too many great free books.  It became overwhelming.  Of course, libraries are increasing their access to ebooks as well.  The beauty of ebooks from the library is that, not only is there no cost, you don’t need to physically visit the library or remember to return the book either.

Research and Read Book Reviews

There are countless places to find good book reviews and research book suggestions.  Goodreads has everything and provides access to all kinds of reviews.  Personally, I enjoy book blogs.  My favorite is Modern Mrs. Darcy.  She has it all:  endless book lists, audiobook recommendations, her own book club, a podcast, and so much more.  If you are into the reading life, you need to check it out.  It might take some research, but once again, there are book blogs and review sites aimed at every type of reader.  It is a matter of finding your niche.

Take a Class

I admit, pursuing my English Language Arts (ELA) endorsement in secondary education (grades 6-12) forced me to branch out as a reader.  I’ve learned so much from my formal writing and literature courses.  Yet, it isn’t necessary to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on tuition to take a literature class.

Two trusted, established sites I’ve used in the past are Coursera and Canvas.  While I haven’t taken writing or literature courses specifically on either site, I do know that they are readily available at little or no cost.  Other courses I’ve taken on those sites, mainly on educational technology, have been wonderful.  On the clearinghouse site ClassCentral, a quick search under literature resulted in free survey courses offered by the likes of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania on a wide variety of subjects relating to all aspects of literature.  You can find my search result here.  There is also The Great Courses Video BingePass available on Hoopla that allows patrons access to the The Great Courses Video Collection for free for a week.  The possibilities are endless.

Curate Your Own Lists of Books/Literature

Of course, there is always the DIY approach.  Take the time to make your own lists of books and other forms of literature that interest you.  I’ve made several of these lists over the years, and it helps me keep track of things that I came across years ago.  I’ve found creating lists of authors and major works to be helpful.  Make the list you are seeking if it doesn’t quite exist yet – and have fun.

Reading Inspiration for Writers – Part 1

2 Replies

As with so many writers, I fell in love with reading first.  Over the years, I have found my reading life crucial to my continuing education as a writer.  The best writing advice I’ve ever received is to read as widely as possible.  The best part:  Most of the tips, resources, and suggestions I am sharing here are little to no cost.  One crucial requirement:  a library card.

Read Reading Like A Writer by Francine Prose

I read Reading Like A Writer well over a decade ago, but it is one of those books that never left me.  I can’t recommend it enough for any writer.  Prose makes the case for reading widely and for looking carefully at the literature you love most.  Ask yourself:  Why do I love this particular author?  Why do I keep coming back to this particular genre, series, or author?  What techniques is the author employing to keep readers interested?

There are endless opportunities to learn the craft of writing by reading if we know what questions to ask.  Bonus:  The reading list Prose includes for writers is wonderful.

Make Use of Your Local Library and Get to Know Your Local Librarians

A library card is a no brainer.  These days, I tend to use mine to discover and borrow audiobooks via the service Hoopla, as well as borrow ebooks for my Kindle.  Yes, I still checkout traditional books from time to time.  The advantage to ebooks, including Kindle books, and anything from Hoopla is the simple fact that it isn’t necessary to visit the library at all.  It is easy to borrow them online.  Once they are due to be “returned,” the borrower simply no longer has access to the book.  If not quite finished, readers may be able to renew online, depending on the popularity of the book.

Over the years, librarians have been extremely helpful.  As an English teacher during the COVID 19 pandemic, I was fortunate to have local dedicated librarians who were willing to Zoom with my English classes in order to teach students how to borrow books digitally.  Once restrictions were lifted, those same librarians helped me prepare a “book tasting” for my classes in an effort to help students figure out what genres they might enjoy.  As a patron, if you ask, a librarian will nearly always be able to at least point you in the right direction.  They, indeed, should run the world.

As a writer, if you find yourself in a rut in your reading life, there is no better place to seek inspiration than the library.  I’ve been known to take pictures of the covers of books I find interesting in order to add them to my to-be-read pile later.  At times, just the creative grouping or display of books at the library is enough to spark ideas.  If nothing else, pick up a copy of the magazine BookPage to find out what’s new.

Utilize Audiobooks to Energize and Expand Your Reading Life

Sometimes, a book is just better via audiobook.  I admit, I was skeptical.  It felt like cheating.  Frankly, the book Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim changed all that.  As a fan of both The LIttle House on the Prairie book series and TV show, I knew that I didn’t want to miss Nellie Oleson herself reading her memoir.  I was not disappointed.  Currently, I am listening to The Storyteller by Dave Grohl.  It is another example of the audiobook format being well worth it.  Right now, with audiobooks, I am focusing on memoirs read by their authors.  It seems a natural fit.

Personally, between work and school, I drive quite a bit.  As much as I love listening to the radio and music, audiobooks are a great way to make the most of my time in the car.  It gives me more time to devote to books, which is always a good thing.

Catalog – and Share – Your Reading Life

Before there was Goodreads, there was LibraryThing.  While I have used other benefits of LibraryThing over the years (I am a lifetime member), it offers a way to easily catalog your collection of books or simply track your reading.  Similar to Goodreads, LibraryThing also connects communities of readers.

Sadly, I don’t use either website to track my reading as I am trying to come up with a good system that I will continue to use.  However, both Goodreads and LibraryThing are both excellent ways to find new titles, connect with other readers, read book reviews, and so much more.

Personally, one of my favorite annual features of LibraryThing is SantaThing during the Christmas season.  After choosing a participation level between $20-$50, someone else in the LibraryThing community is tasked with finding books for you to enjoy within that dollar amount.  As a participant, you get to pick for others.  Fortunately, there is a form to fill out that helps avoid duplicates, detail favorite genres/authors, and more.  It is fun to both pick out books for someone you don’t know and see what others have selected for you.  I have participated for several years at this point, and I have yet to be disappointed.  I view it as an annual birthday/Christmas present to myself.  It is yet another way in which I’ve come across wonderful books I would have never picked up otherwise.

Sharing books is equally important.  Frankly, I can’t imagine my reading life without having opportunities to share what I’ve read with others.  I’m fortunate to have grown up in a family that shared and discussed books.  Today, I share book reviews on my blog, Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde, and I still share my favorites with family and friends.  Beware, I tend to review books I love.  I rarely write a negative book review as I can think of only one exception.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Write What You Love, Love What You Write

2 Replies

It seems so obvious, and frankly, it is a piece of advice that everyone loves to share with writers:  “Write what you know.”  It just isn’t quite that simple.  There are things you know – and then there are things you know – the gut-wrenching realities that no one wants to truly admit.  I’m beginning to see the difference.  For me, that is passion.  There has to be a lot of enthusiasm behind whatever it is that I’m sharing if it is going to be any good.  I have to love what I am about to write.

Early last week, I found myself writing an article outlining different tips for writers regarding their reading lives.  In short order, I had nearly 2,000 words.  It is something I know and perfected over the years.  I take reading seriously.  It simply amazes me how I tend to have almost too much content when I write about certain subjects.  If it involves reading, books, music, or education, I could keep going for hours.

Why, then, haven’t I been focusing on just those topics all these long years?  The simple answer is I don’t know.  The full answer is a bit more complex.  WIth music, copyright laws surrounding song lyrics are tricky.  I needed to come up with a unique way of sharing the music I love.  I think I may have finally accomplished that.  When it comes to books and reading, I spend so much time reading and discussing books in person that it seems silly to write about it much, book reviews aside.  In essence, I need to get over myself.

Then there is education.  As at least a 5th generation teacher (yes, I’ve traced the teaching tradition in my family back at least that far), I have definite opinions and insight – far more than my actual experience in the classroom would suggest.  I have to be extremely careful.  Sometimes when a writer is a little too close to the subject, it is easy to get burned.  In private conversations, I’m content to know that I am not alone.  One day, once I’ve made some definitive decisions regarding my teaching career, it is going to get interesting.

It may have taken me quite some time to find my voice, niche, and style, but I am just getting started.  In spite of the fact that I am 42 and a certain TV “personality” – I refuse to use his name here or mention the network – stated that women reach their peak in their 20s-40s, declining once they hit 50, I have so much more to accomplish that it isn’t even funny.  It will take me well beyond 50.  Stay tuned!

All Things Michigan

Leave a reply
Lake Superior shoreline – Photo Credit: photosforclass.com

Here are a few Michigan-centric websites I’ve come across over the last week.

Check them out!

Mysterious Michigan –

Lots of great paranormal stories set in Michigan.  Just in time for Halloween!  You can find my piece on The Witchy Wolves of the Omer Plains there as well.

The site started out back in 2006 as Michigan’s Otherside.

Amberrose Hammond – 

Amberrose Hammond is the woman behind Mysterious Michigan.  This personal site outlines her work, books, and much more.

Lake Fury –

Ric Mixter and Dan Hall’s website discussing all things shipwreck on the Great Lakes.  I had the opportunity to hear Ric Mixter’s talk on the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald last week.  Absolutely fascinating.

Shipwreck Podcasts –

Ric Mixter’s free and premium podcasts covering shipwrecks all over the Great Lakes (and beyond), the infamous and the not-so-famous.  You can also find a list of Ric Mixter’s upcoming appearances/topics.

Lake Superior beach gravel – Photo Credit: photosforclass.com

My Reasons Why

4 Replies

Over the last few week or so I’ve finally started writing again.  What was I waiting for?  I’m not quite sure, but I do know this:  I missed it.  It isn’t that I haven’t written at all since the pandemic, it is just that I’ve been selective and focused on other things.

So, why do I keep coming back to writing?  There are so many reasons …

  1. It is my creative outlet.  

Some people make beautiful music, others play sports, and yet others draw or paint.  I am not good at any of those things.  Writing is something I can do fairly well.  I know how to improve.  It is a nice mix of being able to accomplish something and yet striving to make it the best it can be.  If I tried to play a musical instrument, I would want to give up before I could get anywhere.

  1. It allows me to practice the art of storytelling.

Both of my parents are wonderful storytellers.  There is nothing I love more than a good story (hence my love of reading).  In my opinion, there is something comfortable about writing down a story before perfecting the art of telling it to others.  Writing allows me to get it right before I share it with others.

  1. I can curate many of my favorite things – and share that them with others.

Blogging can be so much fun.  I actually started “blogging” before it was known as blogging.  I used to use an online notebook/diary to keep track of my favorite websites, poems, photos, memes, and more.  I have enough content now that I can go back and reread things I wrote years ago.  Some of which I have long since forgotten.  It is always fun and gives me ideas for future projects.

  1. It is a challenge.

The writing process is never quite finished.  At some point, it is time to let go.  Frankly, like a good challenge.  As with so many things, I know just enough to be dangerous!

  1. It goes hand in hand with another favorite pastime – reading.

I’ve always loved books.  In fact, I’ve written extensively about my first love – books!  I outline some of my favorite childhood books here.  My love of writing, as with so many others, grew out of my love of reading.  I can’t imagine trying to separate the two.  In fact, I’ve thought about starting a book podcast, just for fun!  I’ve read so many great books this year.  I have yet to discuss any of them here.
The reasons why I write – and my love of writing – is a topic I revisit from time to time.  You can read earlier posts here, here, and here.

Summer’s End

Leave a reply

As I have said before, I have a love/hate relationship with Labor Day.  I am always happy to put the canoe livery to rest until next year, and yet, summer always seems to go by way too quickly.   I only made it out on the river once this summer (our annual company trip) … so far.  While there is a part of me that wishes we always had summer weather here in Michigan, I know better.  As a lifelong Michigander, I definitely need the change of seasons.  Both times I lived in Texas, I missed it.  In my soul.  It never felt natural to hang out on patios in December, needing only light jackets.  Where was the crisp fall weather, the smell of burning leaves, visits to apply orchards?  It just didn’t seem right.

I came home today to see all of the canoe livery buses and mini buses parked in my backyard, safe from any flooding.  The store is condensed and ready for us to close in a month or so.  All of the picnic tables are stacked, put away until spring arrives yet again.  Just a few weeks ago, we were packed at both locations and had several hundred people go down the river on Saturday morning.  Now, we have the place all to ourselves once again.  It always catches me by surprise how quickly we go from beyond busy to ready to close up for the year.

I can’t imagine the canoe livery not being a part of my life.  I thought about it earlier this summer, and I realized that it truly was my first home.  Until I was three years old, my parents, my sister Erica, and I lived in a mobile home at our main location in Omer.  It was located where our large pole barn is now.  I’ve literally watched my parents build their business my entire life.  My brother and sister saw much of it as well; however, I am just enough older to have witnessed a bit more than either one of them. It is interesting, and frankly, I’m not sure it could have been done today – at least not in the same way.  I remember my dad making annual spring trips to Minnesota to purchase more canoes, the original three buses purchased after my parents married in 1977 (they made the best forts when not in use!), and the tiny walkup store we had prior to our current store in Omer.

So many of my childhood memories are tied up with the canoe livery.  One of my first memories is of playing the card game war with Grandma Reid in the old store.  Another early memory is of Grandma and Mom playing two-handed Euchre, snacking on MadeRite cheese popcorn, waiting for people to come off the river.  I would spend hours playing in the river and by the dock, not getting out of the water until I was completely waterlogged, trying to ignore my goosebumps.  I distinctly remember being excited when the calendar changed to March and April – and yet being SO disappointed that it wasn’t nearly warm enough to go swimming in the river.  I can’t think of a better way to grow up.

I love the fact my niece and nephew are growing up right near the canoe livery.  They visit me at the store several times a week.  I can’t begin to describe the nostalgia I feel watching them play.  They are fish, and there are many times I have had to warm them up after they have spent a little too much time in the river.  I have to remind them to put on shoes in the store constantly – reliving the time I found a bee with my bare foot at age 6.  One day this past summer, my niece decided that she wanted to take a shower in the showerhouse at the campground, nevermind that she could take a shower in her home (a two minute walk at most).  What cracked me up most is the fact that I remember doing the exact same thing at her age.  It was a production.  The forts, the pooling of money to purchase items in the store, leaving bikes in all the wrong places – sigh.  So fun.  I’m glad I’m in a position to spoil them a little bit.  I hope that they enjoy every minute.

Until next year!

Ellen Vrana @ The Examined Life

Leave a reply

My cousin Ellen Vrana has a wonderfully rich, intellectual, yet somehow unstuffy, blog called The Examined Life.  It is wonderful, and if I am honest, intimidating as a fellow writer.  She happens to live in London with her family and discusses just about anything one can imagine.

You may want to start with her about page and A View of Fathers.  Her intelligence and depth come shining through.  You won’t be disappointed.

The Day the Music Died

1 Reply

Every so often there comes along a rock documentary that I can recommend to just about everyone.  That is the case with The Day the Music Died, which is currently streaming on, and exclusive to, Paramount +.  If you care about Don McLean’s American Pie at all, or the stories behind it, it is a must-watch.  I adore everything about the song, and clearly, after watching the documentary, I am in great company.

I grew up loving the song, which is a story in and of itself.  Very few songs from the time period steal from so many genres.  Stop and think about it for a minute:  Exactly which genre does it belong to?  It isn’t exactly a folk song, it isn’t entirely a rock song, nor is it a pure pop song.  American Pie is all that and more.  It has been covered by country artists and even Madonna, whose version I’ve had mixed feelings about ever since she released it during the summer of 1999 (it was definitely in heavy rotation the summer before I headed to Michigan State).  In the documentary, Garth Brooks discusses in depth the influence the song had on him and his career.  Yet, I feel it is SO much more.  It is timeless.

“The Very Best Of Buddy Holly And The Crickets” by Brett Jordan is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Several years ago now, during one of my subbing experiences in a high school Spanish class, I was instructed to show the movie La Bamba, which was, quite frankly, an unforgettable experience in all the best ways.  First, if you know the movie at all, you will easily recognize why showing it to high school students required some careful editing (fastforwarding).  Fortunately, that went well.  What pleasantly surprised me is how much those students loved the story behind La Bamba and the music.  As we had a few minutes left after the end of the movie – thanks to the inappropriate parts I had to skip – I had a moment to explain the term the day the music died and Don McLean’s song.  Most students knew the song American Pie, of course, but I don’t think that most realized that it referenced an actual event.  I loved watching them make the connection!

The documentary itself covers so much.  It dives deep into exactly how Don McLean wrote the song and came up with the lyrics, as well as his childhood.  Of course, one of the best aspects of the song and lyrics is trying to figure out all of those cryptic references – ie the king with his thorny crown, jack flash, etc.  According to McLean, the only one that is truly “correct” is the double reference ”Lenin/Lennon read a book on Marx.”  Yet, I am not entirely convinced.  That is what makes the lyrics great.  Just as with the best poetry, there are layers upon layers.  Definitely a must-watch.

By the way Michiganders, watch for an interesting reference to Grand Rapids.

“THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED” by akahawkeyefan is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Dreaming On

Leave a reply

I refuse to settle.  I refuse to give up on my dreams.  It is that simple and that complex.  What I want out of life has been on my mind so much lately, especially when it comes to family.  The beautiful part of it all is that I will be fine no matter what happens.  Inspired by former classmates who have shared their intense personal struggles, I would love to do something similar here.

That said, I want to make a few things clear.  I’m not going to dwell on the past.  I have no intention of airing dirty laundry – or anything that involves anyone other than me.  It will be my story that I will share here.  As I have stated earlier in other deeply personal posts, my intention here is to help others not feel so alone.  Nothing more, nothing less.

Now that that is out of the way, here is what I envision for Rambling of a Misguided Blonde moving forward.  I want to largely focus on three things I adore:  1.  Writing and the writing process; 2.  Reading, including emerging adult novels, young adult, and even children’s literature – and much more; and 3.  Music, particularly how lyrics have inspired me as a writer and memories tied to certain song/artists, as well as concerts/live performances.  I will also bring in art from time to time, along with whatever happens to be on my mind.

There are a few things you will not find here.  I won’t be discussing education or the educational system.  I could fill several different blogs on that topic.  I have strong opinions, I see so much room for improvement, and I want to keep things here positive.  As a result, I will skip discussing issues in education.  I also plan to stay out of politics for the same reasons.  I want this to be a place to fully explore things I love deeply, art that has truly carried me through just about anything and everything – good and bad.  I need this.  We all need to do more of what we love.  I have so much to share!