It’s early morning and the clouds are that shade of dark grey that only comes with snow. The ground and trees are covered in a thin layer of white, but the weather forecast is calling for more. Schools are canceled and areas that got a couple inches are calling it a winter storm. I’m certain that people who know what a winter storm is really like are laughing at us. I know I’m chuckling, though that doesn’t mean I’m going to risk driving down my hill in the snow.

But a little snow is a great excuse to stay home and enjoy the pretty view ^^

This is so true for Washington ^^

I suppose I view this blog as my writing blog, thus I only seem to want to post when I have cool writer stuff to write about. Unfortunately I don’t always have those kinds of things to say, which makes my post to my blog quite slow. As such I’m giving myself permission to be random yay! If I have something fun to write about I’m going to write about it even if it isn’t about writing *gasp*.

So be forewarned you might want to run for the hills, climb a tree and hope my blog posts don’t find you.

Now I’m going off to the coffeeshop, to drink some hot tea, that will hopefully help with my annoying cold, and I’m going to try and finish my allusive Belated New Year’s story. With me luck.

Today I walked into my local coffee shop with my dad and was greeted by name, by the friendly owner who I’ve come to know over the last several months since they opened. I order a 12 oz Chia Tea and a chocolate muffin and Dad a 16oz peppermint tea. And it’s not long before we’re settled into two comfy chairs. We sip our drinks for a minute and chat and then I lean forward and brought the subject I really want to chat about.
“So I’m planning a New Year’s story. I’m thinking there’re going to be dragons in it.”
He asks a few questions. I throw out a couple ideas and soon we’re wrapped in conversation.
This is my favorite way to brainstorm. If you can find someone who you can bounce ideas off of and will add their own ideas you are truly blessed.
Some of the ideas we threw out were ridiculous, but we explored them just for the fun of it and some, in the end, actually led to possibilities. The truth is you shouldn’t be afraid to explore seemingly strange and ridiculous ideas, because often those are the most fun to write. And when you’re having fun you’re engaging more with your story and if you’re engaging your readers are more likely to enjoy it. And sometimes the ridiculous, strange idea can be woven into the story in such a way that it’s not as outlandish as it first appeared.
It’s important to have people in your life that you can bounce ideas off of. Sometimes they don’t even need to say anything, they just need to listen and you’ll work it out yourself, then thank them for doing nothing. But hearing your ideas spoken out loud, to another person and seeing their reaction and hearing their comments and ideas can take you to whole new places that you would never reach on your own. Many of my best story ideas have come from random ideas my dad has thrown out that have started working in my mind. When you start uttering the words “What if” anything is possible.