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Daily Writer’s Fix: November 19-23

Autumn Leaves

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Spider on Web

Today, try to see the world from another perspective–such as that of a spider. What does your house look like from the eyes of an eight-legged creepy crawler?

Tuesday:

Smell

 Pears and Tomatoes

We’re entering a season of cinnamon and gingerbread, pine boughs and crisp snow-laden air. It’s perfect if you’re writing a scene that takes place during the holidays. But what if you’re writing about another time of year? Practice your ability to capture the richness of another season today, starting with the sense of smell. My description of late summer would start with the earthy scent of a ripe tomato fresh off the vine…

Wednesday:

Sound

Rain on Steps

You’re standing under an awning, the rain falling just inches away. Use the sound of raindrops to convey a mood in a short poem or vignette.

Thursday:

Touch

 Autumn Leaves

While we’re on the subject of rain, take a step out into it. Run your bare hand along the cold, water-laden leaves. Write a piece that’s complementary to what you wrote yesterday, focusing on the sense of touch.

Friday:

Taste

 Cookie Dough

Today eat a cookie. You deserve it. Write–about the cookie, about what you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend, or about whatever strikes your fancy.
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Paralyzed

Have you ever had so many things to do that you didn’t know where to start? Lately that’s been happening to me in terms of writing. I’ve had so many ideas swirling in my head that I just didn’t know what to write down first! I felt literally paralyzed.

Earlier this week I decided to grab my notebook and pour my brain out onto the page. It was hard. I stuttered. I strained. Finally, I had a list started. Why was that so difficult?

It is like a new breed of writer’s block. For me, in this case, it was matter of organization and worrying about capturing every little thought before it got pushed out by another. I was so afraid I’d forget something that my brain was blocked up with everything trying to get out the door at once.

Shower crayons can be a writer’s best friend.

After I took a breath and looked at my list, I started thinking of ways that might make the ‘un-blocking’ process easier.

1. Talk to a friend. If you are unsure where to start, see what idea seems to be swimming at the surface. What topic do you find yourself talking about the most?

2. Read. Read. Read. Your subconscious has a way of letting you know what is most important. Start reading and as you find your mind wandering, jot down a key word or phrase to capture that thought and get back to reading. Do this every time your mind strays from the text. After you’ve finished a couple chapters, look at your list and see what themes emerge. Pick the primary theme as your starting place.

3. Purchase shower crayons. I love these! You can often find them in the toy or stationary aisle of your local store (or on Amazon of course). The shower is often my think tank and it really helps to be able to write down ideas they second they pop into my head.

4. Go for a walk. Fresh air and blood circulation really help untangle all the ideas bumping around the brain. Bring a notebook of course and before you know it you may be perched on  the curb, jotting everything down.

5. Go somewhere. Sometimes it’s a matter of getting out. At N&C we are huge advocates of finding inspiration in all kinds of places. Check out some of our Destination Inspiration locations for ideas of where to go to unclog your brain.

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Writer’s Kitchen: What We Eat When We’re Alone

Writer Snacks

I suspect we all have some strange snack habits, those food combinations we make when we’re feeding just ourselves and want something nourishing created for our palate alone, and in a matter of minutes.

That was my experience during a recent afternoon writing session. With my husband at work and my son asleep for what I hoped might be a two-hour nap, I heated some of the morning’s coffee in the microwave and got to work on my writing snack: creamy ricotta cheese swirled with a substantial yet moderate squeeze of honey and a good shake or two of cinnamon. There’s something about this combination that I love, yet I can’t be sure that anyone else’s tastebuds would be equally delighted. After all, it feels almost incomplete, as people don’t usually sit down with a bowl of cheese and eat it without something else. But for me it’s just right.

There was also a time when I would pop a piece of bread in the toaster oven day after day and smear the hot, crispy toast with peanut butter before drizzling it with honey and giving it a sprinkle of cinnamon, and perhaps adding some sliced bananas. And don’t let me forget about the bread equivalent of buttered noodles: toast made with artisan bread and topped with butter and a dash of salt and a hint of flavor from my spice drawer, such as paprika or cumin (yes, that sounds strange, but it was a way of getting to know the flavors of various spices).

When I was pregnant and needed to ensure I was heating well enough for my growing baby despite a limited appetite, I would buy packages of whole-grain, fortified English muffins and toast them a bit before melting a layer of cheddar cheese on top and then adding a spoonful of salsa.

I suspect that most writers have go-to snacks like these that are quick to prepare but nourishing and customized to their palates. What are yours?

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Destination Inspiration: Whitehouse-Crawford

Whitehouse Crawford Exterior

When you’re hard at work as a writer–an often-solitary profession–it’s important to get out sometimes and treat yourself to a good meal with friends. So on our recent trip to Walla Walla, we made sure to have some good, serious foodie fun amidst all the work we were over there doing.

For a historic taste of Walla Walla we had to visit Whitehouse-Crawford. Located in a restored 1904 saw mill, this restaurant is like fine dining in a museum. They showcase locally sourced produce, seasonal dishes with rich flavor and great menu variety, all wrapped up in a charming historic building. Our visit here truly was a treat.

Whitehouse Crawford Plaque

Whitehouse Crawford Table

Food

From the selection of cheeses with homemade crackers and chutney to the salad with fresh, seasonal produce, we knew we were in for a treat from the moment the first dishes arrived. Sarah ordered the roasted Copper River salmon with miso garlic chive butter, sticky rice, and ginger-sesame savoy and mustard greens, while Daytona opted for the grilled pork chop served with a polenta cake and chimichurri.

The cocktails are worth noting, with the bartenders putting together a menu of artisinal creations such as the Earl Grey Collins, with Earl Grey-infused vodka with lemon, honey, and soda. The restaurant also boasts an impressive wine list full of local wine selections, including some hard-to-find Cayuse wines.

Whitehouse Crawford Cocktails

Whitehouse Crawford Cheese - Horizontal

Location and Atmosphere

The atmosphere in the Whitehouse-Crawford is classy and relaxing. Exposed historic brick, stark white linens and blue seats in addition to top notch food make this a truly fine dining experience.  The restaurant is located in the downtown area right by the Marcus Whitman Hotel and Seven Hills Winery.

Whitehouse Crawford Pork

Writeability and Purchased Presence

The fact that this restaurant is housed in an amazing historic building makes it ripe for writing. However, this is also a fine dining establishment where reservations are highly encouraged, especially during special wine-release weekends when hotels and restaurants fill up weeks if not months in advance. We don’t recommend setting up camp as you might in a coffee shop. This is a great place to treat yourself to a lovely meal or drinks with friends after a hard day of writing. Take in your surroundings as you walk in and are seated, then take a moment to jot down some ideas while you wait for your food to arrive.

Price: $$$

Starters–ranging from a cheese plate to Vietnamese-style deep-fried calamari–and salads generally run around $12, while entrees range from $16 for the Whitehouse-Crawford burger to $39 for the steak, with most other entrees running around $25.

Whitehouse Crawford Salad

Parking

Parking is a breeze, which is exactly what you want for a non-stress night out. Pull up in one of the spots out front if you’re there early enough, or find nearby street parking or a parking lot. Or better yet, if you’re staying at the Marcus Whitman Hotel located in the same block, all you have to do is walk, eliminating the need for a designated driver!

Writer’s Tip

Sit back and relax, and reward yourself for all the hard work you’ve been doing. Don’t think too hard about writing here–you deserve a break! But if you’re like us and find ideas popping up all the time, pack along a discreet pocked-sized notebook, or use Daytona’s trick and slip a 3-by-5 note card and a purse-sized pen in your clutch to jot down reminders of ideas as they come. There’s nothing worse, after all, than not being able to enjoy the moment because you’re stressing out about whether you’ll remember something that came to mind.

Find It

55 West Cherry Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Website

Whitehouse Crawford Dessert

This meal was complimentary, courtesy of Tourism Walla Walla.

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Daily Writers’ Fix: Photo Week (November 12-16)

I hope you’ve been enjoying Daily Writers’ Fix these past few months and that they’ve inspired you to get writing. This week I’m encouraging you to stretch your imagination with Daily Writers’ Fix: Photo Week. Each day this week features a photo, sometimes with one of the five senses but without additional prompts. Use those photos, along with the senses if you wish, to jumpstart your creativity. It’s a great exercise in finding inspiration in the world around you, and who knows–you might just create the beginning of a masterpiece! As a reminder, here’ an overview of how to use Daily Writers’ Fix.

Monday:

Sight

Tuesday:

Smell

Wednesday:

Sound

Thursday:

Touch

Friday:

Taste

Grab Bag:

Grab Bag Bonus:

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Friday Forum: 11/9

Image from herocomplex.latimes.com.

Hollywood releases dozens of movies based on books each year, but lately the theaters seem to be brimming with films based on the classics. Some movies to look forward to in the near future include Les Miserables (12/25), The Hobbit (12/14), Anna Karenina (11/16), and The Great Gatsby (summer 2013). Our book club is reading The Hobbit in preparation for seeing the movie. Which movies are you most excited about? Are you nervous about how true they hold to the book? Or do you see the movie as completely separate from the book?

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For the Love of Radio Theater

Old radio shows, love of mysteries, classic movies, over-sized cozy sweaters, drinking tea from a fine china cup, card games, knitting, a good book, antiques, an overall appreciation of vintage things…all symptoms that I might have been born in the wrong era.

It was a late night many years ago. I had the radio on and was distracting myself with channel surfing, when I stumbled upon a story. It was a captivating mystery. I can’t remember now exactly what pulled me in initially. Maybe it was the thrilling riffs between each scene, the deep voices and dramatic scuffles, the car chase or the private detective wrapping up the case into a neat little package at the end. To this day I still struggle to put my finger on what it is that I love so much about old radio shows. Perhaps it’s that they are more than just books on tape. They’re amazing productions with sound effects and a full cast of characters in all their vocal glory. This was TV, before there was TV.

It’s a great adventure, a “movie for your mind” as Jim French from Imagination Theatre says. Dramas, mysteries, sci-fi and fantasy, thrillers, comedy, westerns and even variety shows, I appreciate them all. One of my favorite things to do in high school and college was come home, set up my easel and turn on some music or a radio show to listen to while I lost myself in my work.

I don’t have an antique radio, but I do have a vintage iPod.
A classic iPod for listening to my favorite radio shows.

Not being presented with a visual picture allows me to create my own in my mind. I imagine the detective as I know him and the damsel in distress might have the face of a good friend. The room the dinner party guests are gathered in as Sherlock reveals the killer, might look a little like a room I’ve been in before. Filling in the blanks with a stock of images from our own lives is what makes the story resound with us. It makes it real.

Perhaps that’s why I’m so fond of radio dramas, it reminds me of what I love most about writing fiction. Those moments when you are  describing a scene and picturing it in your head; you are pulling from your own experiences to give your fiction a ring of truth. It’s  magic – creating a world so real that it can draw anyone in. That kind of writing lasts generations.

My husband says I’m a “classic” person because I enjoy classic things. I like to think it’s a matter of quality. I appreciate top shelf things; writing in particular. Hemingway is like a nice quality cardigan, it will never go out of style. That’s the type of writing I strive for. It’s timeless.

 

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Writer’s Kitchen: Edible Christmas Gifts, Part 1

Orange-Cardamom Caramels

I know, I know, it’s probably a bit early to be talking about Christmas. After all, Halloween is just barely behind us, and Thanksgiving is still weeks away. However, one of the jobs of a blogger is to get you thinking about ideas in advance, right? In that case, I’d like to start talking about edible Christmas gifts. Whether you love lavishing your loved ones with expensive presents or your writer’s budget is maxed out right now, edible gifts are sure to touch a sweet spot in any recipient’s heart. We’ll be talking in the coming weeks about how to add a personal touch to your Christmas gift-giving. To start, I’d like to share a recipe for orange-cardamom caramels. I came up with the recipe recently and shared it in my most recent story for the Norwegian American Weekly. I hope you enjoy it!

Get the recipe