That says Emote, not Remote. As usual, life here in the Great Midwest has been hectic—but in a really good way. We’ve all been busy, happy, relatively healthy (long as you don’t count those age-related nuisances like plantar faci-whatever and aching backs), and left wondering where time gets itself off to when we’re not looking. I sometimes suspect I should just stop sleeping and see if a little gnome comes at night and steals a few hours, but I can’t seem to stay awake past 11:30 unless I have an iced coffee about 4 PM. (It’s all a complicated balance when you reach a certain age, isn’t it?)

So what’s this got to do with emoting? A whole lot. Whenever I hear writers lamenting that they don’t know what to write about or they are plagued by writer’s block, I just want to scream in their faces: Emote! Honestly, how can anyone have nothing to write about unless they live in a vacuum or on a peak in the Himalayas (and even then they would probably feel something about at least the weather)?

I know part of this sentiment stems from being early-menopausal and dealing with the flux of hormones (or lack of them), plus two children (ages eight and ten—roll eyes), pets (who have fleas, no less—‘nother story altogether), self-employment, and goddess-knows-what-else. Bottom line: with all I’ve got going on, I’m always encountering some emotion from love to loathing, frustration to exhilaration. And, darn it, if any or all of these, and the events and people connected to them, can’t become fodder for some sort of story or poem or, hell, even a blog post! (I know, I’m reaching now.)

My advice? I read a blog post recently where the author discusses the adage: Write what you know. I’ve heard other versions, slightly or severely modified, but the one I prefer is: Write what you feel. In fact, even if you’ve never been anywhere, you’ve experienced emotions and desires, and longings all alone inside your mind and heart. Why not take advantage? And if you don’t consider yourself a writer, it’s useful to capture your daily reflections and observations on paper. Just jotting out this little bit, right now, is offering me clarity for not only writing fiction, but for recoding my thoughts and feelings in a way that will help my children know me years from now, when they might actually care what their old mom thinks and why.

Gad, I think I’m depressed now. Probably a good time to write something…

On a very happy personal note, I’m thrilled to share with you that my dear, bright, marvelous friend Louise will be visiting from Australia next week! As I write this, she’s winging into California on a bird of steel. She’ll be visiting the wonderfully talented Leslie Ann Moore, author of the Griffin’s Daughter trilogy, for a while. (Louise is quite talented, as well. MP has been privileged to feature her poetry and art.) After California, Louise will spend two fun-filled weeks in the Midwest with me and another dear, dear friend and sister of the heart, Margaret, aka Maggie Carlson. Perhaps while she’s here, we can ask Louise to pen a guest column and share her impressions of America’s heartland.

PS Margaret and I are so excited we can hardly wait nine days!