…or, It’s Labor Day and I’m Taking Holiday. Not really, I’m writing like mad and #MondayBlogging to the max. Not a bad way to spend the day honoring writers who labor, too. I’m enjoying the posts on “Why I Write.” Such insights are not easily explained, but of course, writers are up to the explaining.
Here’s a few you might like to read:
If you are not aware of #MondayBlogs on Twitter you can read “What Is #MondayBlogs and Why Should Bloggers Participate?” from badredhead media. It’s a great way to follow your favorite bloggers and meet new ones.
Today I wrote my real-life wolf (poop) encounter over at Elmira Pond, posting horse photos because the horses are one of my favorite subjects to photograph. It’s always unsettling when life imitates art. Not so long ago we were discussing wolves as a metaphor for those dark thoughts that can chase down a writer. Writing isn’t easy. Neither is walking through wolf poop and there must be some sort of metaphor in that!
So I decided that today I’d focus on inspiration from the Why I Like to Write essays. In honor of Labor Day, I salute all the hard-working men and women who craft words into meaning, contributing to the well-being of our world. I tip my pencil to you!
Charli:
Thanks for the interesting read! I have plenty of horse pics I can share with you since I live in the “Horse Capital of the World!”
Also, thanks for turning me on to #MondayBlogs. I checked it out this morning and starting next Monday I plan on reporting some of my earlier posts through the #MondayBlogs program. I look forward to coming across more great blogging friends like you!!
Watch out for that wolf poop!!
Cheers
David “Sumoflam” Kravetz
Lexington, KY
Oh, I bet you do! Kentucky horses! I’ll look for those photos when you post. You have such fun photos! I’ll be happy to see you out and about on #MondayBlogs. It can make for a busy Monday, but well worth it for the quality reads and the great bloggers you can meet. A great way to get your posts out there, too. And, I’ll watch my step! Thanks!
A beautiful post, Charli, with the shouts for other writers and the enviable view from your writing desk – it’s a wonder you get any work done at all. And the Thoreau quotation says it all.
PS. Not a holiday in the UK but I hope you had some time off to wander through the trees.
Oops, posted my comment before checking your other blog. Seems you had more than a wander.
And so weird when life imitates art – hope those wolves keep their distance.
It keeps niggling at me that I need to “let go” the wolves or I’ll find myself in wolf poop! They do keep their distance and although chilling, I like to hear their howls at night. One night the wolves wee howling, the coyotes yipping and an elk bugling. It was the call of the wild!
That particular view is of the Bayfield area where Miracle of Ducks is set. My eldest married the Geologist on an organic farm nearby and we rented a cabin in the woods. I took my writing and really, that’s when I said out loud–I want a view, coffee and time to write! Two years later, that’s when I started my full-time writing journey. Yes, I love that quote. Didn’t think Labor Day extended beyond the US but felt like a good time to honor the labors of all writers. 🙂
Those darn wolves! Goodness, after all we talked about and there you had real live wolf poop. I think they did that on purpose because they heard what we were saying about them… 😉 Lovely post Charli, I do hope you enjoyed your time in the woods and taking your photos. We had a long weekend last week so a normal week here for us. Great quote, and I just read your explanation of the gorgeous view to Anne as I was going to ask about it too! How magnificent. That was clearly your defining moment when you drew your line in the sand and made your writing journey happen. And how wonderful that is for all of us here that you did just that 😀
Now we know the result of letting those wolves hang out! ;-D What holiday did you have last week? I thought I read in one of Geoff’s post something about a “banker’s holiday” and it registered as Labor Day in my mind! But now I realize it was before Labor Day weekend. That cabin was my defining moment because it felt so real, like “this can be done.” Thanks! You always leave a trail of cheers on my posts that leave me smiling inside and out!
Haha 😀 Those wolves took advantage, that’s clear 😉 When we have a long weekend here with the Monday off it’s called a ‘Bank Holiday’ weekend, meaning all the major businesses get a day off. I always equate the one at the end of August as Labor Day too, as in a rest from our labours, so much of a muchness really! Hope that clears that up for you…! I remember when I first felt that ‘this can be done’ moment, when I finally won that particular battle in my mind…but it was sitting in my kitchen! Although I did have a view of my garden so although nothing like your view, at least I had one 😉
Ahh…well if I leave you smiling then that makes me happy indeed 😀
Ha, ha! I am smiling! Thanks! 😀
😀
Loved reading other writer’s perspective on “Why I write”.
Thank you Charli for showcasing me in this wonderful list of writers/authors.
Feeling honored!
Talking of labor day…yes, cheers to the grind of all my fellow writers!
Isn’t it wonderful to read different perspectives? There are as many answers as there are writers. That’s what makes us such a fab group of individuals! Glad you had Labor Day off! Wish some of the adverts I saw would have shown someone gritty with pencil dust or buried under books! 🙂 Thank you!
Great to read why people write and lovely to see your writing space. I would write nothing if I had that view to look out on.
That porch in the Wisconsin woods set the bar high for writing spaces! I rented a cabin where my daughter got married which happened to be where my first novel is set. I felt like such a “real” writer in that space and didn’t want to leave! My current space is different but far more distracting as I have huge windows overlooking Elmira Pond with its resident horses, birds moose and whatever the distraction of the hour might be. Distracting, but fulfilling.
I was confused as I thought this was your current writing space. I find it hard to imagine a place more distracting than the beautiful outlook you posted. Just lovely.
A great post Charli. I loved reading your early morning adventure story! It’s great to link to the other blogs. I love view from the cabin in the woods is amazing, but so is the sound of your current writing space. It sounds like one to be envied. So much to inspire!
Thank you, Nora! And thanks for tweeting this post to #Mondayblogs! My view was narrow-sighted today, as in I couldn’t see beyond my desk. Time to step away.
Yeah! It’s difficult fitting everything in isn’t it? There’s a book for women who do too much. There should be one for women who want to do more. And I’m not going to be the one to do it – there’s too much on my list already! 🙂