LONG IN THE TOOTH AISLE

I knew my brain was suffering information overload... 

When I stood in the toothpaste aisle... 
And couldn’t make a decision.

Gone are the days... 

When the only criteria for buying toothpaste...
Was price... 

Because back then...
All toothpastes were created equal.

Today there are so many choices...
Price is now at the bottom of my decision list. 

What I wanted was a “whitening” toothpaste...

Because besides my teeth being clean... 

I wanted them to be white...

But then I noticed that particular brand...
Didn’t have tartar control... 

And I’m prone to tooth crud.

Scanning the shelves, I found a brand...

That whitened and had tartar control in it. Great!

But it also had fluoride...

I don’t want fluoride in my toothpaste anymore...

Because city water has fluoride in it.
So that got me to wondering...
If I drink city water with fluoride...

Do I need fluoride treatments from my dentist?

I also worry...
That if I drink eight glasses of city water a day... 

Am I getting not only too much fluoride, but chlorine?

But then...
Because chlorine is used to clean my city’s water...

And chlorine bleach makes laundry white...
If I drink enough city water...

Will it whiten my teeth?

And then do I even need the whitening toothpaste? 

And besides the chlorine whitening my teeth...

Chlorine kills germs like in pools...

So? Will drinking city water...

Kill germs that cause gingivitis and bad breath?

And then do I even need mouthwash that kills germs? 

Is it me? 

Or should buying toothpaste be this difficult?

Always,

Em-Musing

THE ROAD NOT TRAVELLED YET

This post is part of the monthly blog hop/therapy session known as the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by the one and only, Alex J. Cavanaugh. If you're a writer, insecure, or just supportive of writers—insecure or not—please join us. It happens

the first Wednesday of each month.

It would be sweet of you to visit at least a dozen or so new blogs and leave a comment. Your words will be appreciated.

The co-hosts this month are Nicki Elson, Juneta Key, Tamara Narayan, and Patricia Lynne!

The optional question is: What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?

Hmm?

I don’t believe my writing goals have changed...

As much as my thinking has changed...

Regarding my road to publication.

It’s tough! A lot tougher than I ever thought.

And it’s scary!

Trust me...

I’m not a wuss...

I live in a tropical jungle in Mexico...

Where scorpions, tarantulas, spiders, snakes, and other critters...

Lurk everywhere...

And jaguars roam at night.

So no...

I ain’t no scaredy cat.

Except when it comes to self-pubbing...

Because it's like climbing Everest!

Blindfolded!

Without a map! Or a clue!

And there are the few misteps I've taken along the way...

Not to mention battling my insecurity...

That I’ll never sell a book...

Because my writing sucks!

But...

I’m getting there.

Slowly.

And I’ve learned to accept that if this is how long it takes...

So be it...

Because I am moving in the right direction—forward!

And you?

How're you doing with your writing goals?

Always,

Em-Musing

EH? WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY?

This post is part of the monthly blog hop/therapy session      

known as the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by the one and only, Alex J. Cavanaugh. If you're a writer, insecure, or just supportive of writers—insecure or not—please join us. It happensthe first Wednesday of each month.It would be sweet of you to visit at least a dozen or so new blogs and leave a comment. Your words will be appreciated.The awesome co-hosts for the June 6 posting of the IWSG are Beverly Stowe McClure, Tyrean Martinson, Tonja Drecker, and Ellen @ The Cynica  Sailor!

June 6 question - What's harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?

The easy part for me is character names...

Why? 

Because I hear voices...

In my head...

Many voices...

Some adult...                         

Some young adult...

Even angel voices...

Witches and demon voices...                          

Also sultry females,and grannies.

And they tell me their names.

Am I going crazy?

Nope...

It's just part of my writing process...

So, that’s the easy answer to today’s question.

So obviously, the harder answer is...

Book titles!

Coming up with a book’s title is agony!

So many options,only one will do...

Then imagining...

What the title will look like on the book...

Then making mock-ups...

Playing around with fonts, graphics, etc.

But then the hardest part?

Making up my mind. **sigh**

Wish my books could talk like my characters do.

Maybe we do but you’re not listening.

So?

Which one is harder for you?

And do your characters ever talk to you?

Always,

Em-Musing

HIGHLY SEASONED WRITING

This post is part of the monthly blog hop/therapy session known as the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by the one and only, Alex J. Cavanaugh. If you're a writer, insecure, or just supportive of writers—insecure or not—please join us. It happens the first Wednesday of each month. It would be sweet of you to visit at least a dozen or so new blogs and leave a comment. Your words will be appreciated.

OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: It's spring! Does this season inspire you to write more than others, or not?

When it comes to writing and seasons...

I don’t have to wait for spring...

To activate my mind...

Because my brain...

Has seasons of its own.

But unlike seasons here on earth...

That have specific times that they occur...

The seasons of my brain are random...

Which leave me going—HUH? WHY?

For example:

THE DRY SEASON

When new ideas are like tumbleweeds in a ghost town.

THE RAINY SEASON

A deluge of ideas and creativity...

Flood my mind for days or even weeks...

Leaving all thoughts soggy and useless.

THE FRIGID SEASON

When I have a deadline...

But my mind decides to freeze up...

And I need alcohol to thaw it.

THE WINDY SEASON

When ideas blow in then blow out of my mind...

Before I can write them down.

THE FOGGY SEASON!

When I can’t see a new thought for days. Or weeks!

THE FALL SEASON

When I’ve grown a concept for too long...

And it finally withers up and dies.

However...

Every now and then I get this:

THE PERFECT SEASON

Today’s forecast calls for:

100 percent probability...

That my mind will be clear & focused...

And I write in joy and purpose!

So?

What about you?

Does your brain have its own seasons and weather?

And does spring reactivate your writing?

Always,

Em-Musing

This post is part of the monthly blog hop/therapy session known as the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by the one and only, Alex J. Cavanaugh. If you're a writer, insecure, or just supportive of writers—insecure or not—please join us. It happens

the first Wednesday of each month.

It would be sweet of you to visit at least a dozen or so new blogs and leave a comment. Your words will be appreciated. 

OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: 

When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing?

OMG!

I didn't post on Wednesday!

I was travelling...

And...um...well...uh...

Actually, there are no excuses...

And I promise it won't happen again.

So now...

To answer the question of the month though...

I usually don't have cloudy or rainy writing days...

I have hectic, crazy, very distracting days...

That makes me feel guilty.

Lord!

Guilt!

A running theme in my life.

And now it's haunting me with my writing...

I haven't written enough....

I haven't blogged enough...

I haven't researched enough...

I havent...

I haven't...

I haven't...

Enough!

I promise to try harder...

No!

I WILL try.

Because I'm sick feeling guilty!

There I said it.

And you?

Does guilt play a role in your writing?

Always,

Em-Musing