Son: I'm hungry. I hardly ate any dinner. And I had no dessert either.
Me: Then eat something.
Son: Okay. And that thing was mostly true.
Me: What thing?
Son: About dinner and dessert.
Me: ... Well, I expect that most things you tell me will be at least "mostly true."
Son: Then: so it shall be!
***
Me: Could you clear the table?
Son: Never fear, Mother! It shall be done!
Posts
In the Event of Murder (Starlit Bookshop Mystery #2)
3 months ago
First, he sounds like quite an optimist! Second, WHAT has he been reading?!
ReplyDeleteGEW: incurable optimist (not that I'd want it any other way!)... and I'm not sure. He donned a cap and an English accent all last week, so I think he believes he's from a Dickens novel...
ReplyDeleteWe've been talking about optimists and pessimists at my house lately because my son tends towards pessimism, and I want him to at least consider that he might try to push towards a different path. Just trying to create some awareness. I think his pessimism comes from some perfectionism and anxiety. He tends to throw the baby out with the bath water.
ReplyDeleteSo, on another note. I've been thinking about joining SCBWI, but I'm thinking maybe I should wait until I've drafted something. I really shouldn't be focusing on that kind of stuff until I finish the dissertation, but right now I'm reader "Fever 1793," and it makes me want to start working on something! Also, when I look at my regional events (which seem to take place rather far--a couple of hours--from where I live), they seem to be focused on children's books rather than young adults.
Anyway, if you have any suggestions, I'd be happy to take them! Hope your writing is going well!
GEW: I tried teaching glass half empty/glass half full, but Son asked what if the glass is all empty? So perhaps he too has pessimistic (or nihilistic?) tendencies...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Fever 1793 too, and it got my YA bells ringing. I'd say the benefits of SCBWI do include attending some of the events (you'll meet others who write YA there, even if the content is more focused on another area of the market) but also access to their critique groups. You can join a YA-only crit group, and if it's SCBWI members you've got a savvy group in general. They have online crit groups if there's not one active in your area. I joined one that I drive 2-hours for, once a month, and after 18 months or so I was asked to start one here, which had an instant membership of 4 and is perfect. They also send out market guides annually.
Up to you of course, but you might enjoy feeling like you've committed something to that area of your creative life. I'm big on symbolic gestures as well as actual ones! Good luck on it!