Mid-May Thoughts
Writing News, a Writing Prompt, a Favorite Writing Teacher, and More ...
Mid-May. Days of blooming flowers, cloudy mornings, sunny afternoons. I struggle with over-planning my days. Not in terms of social events. More along the lines of errands and/or things to do around the house. Of course, it doesn’t help that I have been ill for almost sixteen years, and yet I still don’t always factor in the impact my chronic pain has on my energy levels. Sound familiar to anyone else?
In case you missed them, I’m including links to my last two blog posts:
May 6th: A Podcast, An Essay, and Why I Continue to Submit
May 13th: Happy to Help: Adventures of a People Pleaser
Writing Prompt:
This week’s writing prompt comes from Barbara Abercrombie’s Kicking in the Wall. Barbara taught me about five-minute writing exercises. Use the prompt as a way to begin. Keep your pen moving (or your fingers typing) for five minutes — that’s the only rule. Stay on topic or veer off into different territory. It’s up to you. Just write.
The prompt:
“Write about the appeal of the blank page for you. Write about the fear of the blank page. What scares you most? What excites you most?”
Something I’m Wondering About:
“Brunch” is a mash-up of the words “breakfast” and “lunch.” “Brunch” refers to a late breakfast/early lunch. The word “brunch” is commonly used and understood.
But, what do you call a meal that is eaten as a late lunch/early dinner. My dad always called it a “luner.” But I’ve heard others refer to it as a “linner.” (Or is it “liner”?)
Friends, I’m curious. What word do you use for the meal you enjoy as a late lunch/early dinner? Let me know in the comments. I read and answer each one.
Wendy Stamp of Approval:
Since I have referred to Barbara Abercrombie’s writing books on several of my Substack posts, I thought you might enjoy watching this five-minute video of Barbara reading an excerpt of one of her essays. (According to YouTube, the video is from 14 years ago.)
This Date in History:
May 17th, 1954 — the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Brown v Topeka Board of Education, which reversed the 1896 "separate but equal" Plessy v Ferguson decision, making racial segregation in public schools illegal.
Two-time Oscar winner Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) was born on May 17th, 1965.
Until Next Time —
I hope you allow yourself the fun of singing along to a favorite song. And, I hope the weather in your neighborhood is pleasant enough that you can sit outside and read.
Reminder: My next blog post publishes on Wednesday, May 20th. If you haven’t already, please visit my website to sign up. You can expect my next Substack to arrive in your inbox on Sunday, May 31st.
We say "linner." ☺️