Are your knuckles turning white?

[jongibbs]

I’m delighted to welcome fellow writer and GLVWG friend, Kathryn Craft, to my blog today. When she’s not working on fiction, Kathryn is a memoir writer and freelance editor. She’s also a member of the excellent team of editors over at The Blood-Red Pencil.

Comments

[kathryncraft]

Thanks for having me, Jon! Thrilled at the date this post is running--it's my Dad's 86th birthday. Looking forward to checking in on any conversation here before and after his mid-day birthday bash.

[jongibbs]

Happy Birthday, Kathryn's dad :)

[glynisj]

Hi Kathryn

As soon as I saw your picture here, I smiled. Great post as usual. I follow you on The Blood-Red Pencil along with Helen.

[kathryncraft]

Awesome! Thanks so much. Jon introduced me to the BRP gang... writing is an incestuous world. Wait, a better quotable: "Networking works!"

[msstacy13]

And you're on to something,
although in writing the question isn't
How could this happen?
or How could this happen?
so much as it's How could this happen?
and why?

[kathryncraft]

Ah, someone with a keen editorial AND typographical mind! Love it!

[msstacy13]

Thank you.
Although it can become tedious when the fine points I raise
begin to look like the teeth on a hacksaw blade...
:)

[bogwitch64]

Gadzooks, Kathryn. I remember that horrific day in your life. I was in CT, but I'm a NJ transplant. I know that "healing" is an easy word that describes years and years of so many conflicting emotions that never quite resolve as much as ease into manageable pieces.

In 1985, I woke up, made breakfast for my little family, and planned a day of Christmas shopping with my girl while my husband went for a motorcycle ride with a friend of his. It was a gorgeous, warm November day. By that afternoon, I was a widow at 21, a toddler daughter and an unborn son to now raise on my own. I do know how quickly life changes, how brutally. I know how simple that word HEAL sounds, but how truly difficult it is to achieve.

[kathryncraft]

Yes, you know all too well what I'm talking about. This too can be a great story set-up--our characters (or ourselves) can make of their (our) lives a good story. And you know about healing, and why I'm still writing about it 13 years alter!! It's... a process. (Like getting published!)

For some reason our neighborhood sidewalk, this morning, is covered with positive affirmation-type quotes in sidewalk chalk. Maybe a sweet 16 thing, who knows, but I love it! A philosophical walk of love. My fave: "Be patient with all that is unresolved in your heart, and learn to love the questions."

Thanks so much for commenting.

[bogwitch64]

Oh, my...I love the walk of affirmation notion! It should be part of every milestone in one's life.

The one you include here could very well go on my own walk of affirmation. I never tire of asking, "Why?" I must have driven my parents mad when I was little. As for the first part of that--hey, in situations like ours, it's learn to live with those unresolved things or let them consume you. If I'm going to be consumed by something, I want it to be fun...or at least naughty. ;)

[jongibbs]

I was going to share about waking up on my tenth birthday to see my old gran, smiling down at me with a ten pound note in her hand. "Look what I got for you," she said.

As you might imagine, I was delighted... until I realized she'd sold me :(