Kurt Maxxon Racing

Kurt Maxxon is a Stock Car Race Driver who becomes an amateur sleuth in a series of mystery novels.
Keep up with author Jim Overturf as his wife Karen explores the universe and shares their impressions of life in general and what is going on with their myriad projects.

9/20/10

Surprise...!

Over the weekend, Jim took me on a romantic overnight trip to Nebraska City, for their Applejack Festival. No, I didn't think we had any plans, until Jim asked Molly, our 5 year old Rat Terrier/Jack Russel mix (you can see a pic of her on the "noodles from a writer's journal" blog), if she was ready to go to the spa (her favorite kennel)... and I had to ask "why?"

That's the fastest I ever got dressed!

We left the computers at home. We did take our reading, and we did have some fun walking around... the cold and cloudy day was perfect for such a festival. The fall colors arrive in late October (when you want a beautiful, crisp, sunny day to walk among the leaves). The smell of applewood in the fireplaces, a wonderful meal at the Lied Lodge, and quiet companionship with each other just reading and writing made a perfect afternoon and evening. We got a lot done. We usually do, as we discuss characters and plots on the way, the car giving us a perfect opportunity to get away from it all, and let us concentrate on puzzles that make our writing pack less of a punch than we'd like. We stopped at Kimmel Orchard for applesauce and apple butter, and we loved every minute!

Back to regular life... until the next opportunity arrives. Ahhh... I could retire to memories like these!

Hugs! Karen

4 comments:

  1. Hi Karen, Sound like a great weekend. What does AppleJack feature.

    I couldn't find a way to email you directly but since I promised a prize for sending a story in response to my blog, I am blocking the 1st week of our Write At Home series here for you. Enjoy. (Only part of the lesson will fit) http://blog.SoupKitchenWriting.com

    WRITE AT HOME: WEEK ONE

    Congratulate yourself. You have given yourself a great reward by promising to spend time with your self daily. The commitment: WRITE EACH DAY!

    Here are a few writing suggestions. I will update you each week for 28 days. Start with my suggestion or create your own discipline with writing prompts and expectations. Have fun with your writing. Write at home, Anne

    HERE ARE THE STEPS

    1. Made a contract with yourself promising to write each day. Use the one listed below or make up your own. ----Email me your agreement.

    2. Write each day from the suggested prompts or start lines. Feel free to ignore these and make up your own.
    --Send me your Opening Lines. **One line only daily or at week’s end.

    3. At the end of each week, send me a short email letting me know what you accomplished and how writing feels.

    MAKE A CONTRACT WITH YOURSELF
    (This is a suggested contract. Feel free to adapt it to what works best for you. Send me a copy today.)
    YOUR 30 DAY COMMITMENT: WRITE 15 MINUTES EACH DAY FOR 30 DAYS
    or WRITE ONE SENTENCE A DAY (You decide.)
    COMMITMENT CONTRACT: I, ________________________,

    make writing my 1st task each day. I promise to write 15 minutes a day.

    I commit to complete this promise before I move on to another project.
    Signed_______________________
    Date___________

    ReplyDelete
  2. Here is the 2nd half of Wk One Write at Home
    “FRESH WRITING” START LINES
    “Write first always!” Henry Miller

    Here are suggested lines to begin with each day this week. Enjoy them!
    Ignore them, or create your own!

    (Begin with this opening line and keep writing... repeat to keep going...let the pen lead!)

    “If only...”

    “She could have...”

    “At any time...”

    Subjects: Getting back on the horse...

    Her piano

    Their school

    Wisdom


    ****************************************************************************************************

    Writing Prompt: Situation
    While waiting at a doctor's office, you hear your name called. As you stand up, you hear another person say, "That's me," and head for the nurse. Another person with your name! You decide to follow this person throughout his day. What traits do you share? Where do you differ? And what is the one thing this person has that you envy and feel you need to incorporate into your life.

    Kitchen Table Writing “Fresh Writing” BIBLIOGRAPHY
    Some suggested books on writing

    Allen, Roberta. Fast Fiction: Creating Fiction in Five Minutes. Cincinnati: Story Press, 1997.

    Brande, Dorothea. Becoming a Writer, 1934. reprint, Los Angeles; Tarcher, 1981.

    Cameron, Julia. The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. New York: Tarcher, 1992.

    Randolph, Anne. Write Hot! Recipe to Kitchen Table Writing, Denver, 2009.
    available at www.AnneRandolph.com http://shop.AnneRandolph.com

    BIO FOR ANNE RANDOLPH: After running Opera Colorado, Central City Opera, Opera Memphis, and the Colorado Symphony, Anne Randolph now writes full time and leads KitchenTableWriting Workshops in Denver and at conferences including the Screenwriters Conference in Santa Fe. She was the first Fulcrum Publishing Fellow, has an MA in Literature, an MFA in Theatre and is published by Red Hen Press. Her “fresh writing” workbook, Write Hot: Easy Guide to Kitchen Table Writing, is available at www.AnneRandolph.com. Comments: annerandolph@comcast.net

    http://www.KitchenTableWriting.com helps writers find a fresh way to approach your work.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anne, thank you! I will surely improve under your tutelage!

    It was very sweet of you... I was only trying to comment in the way you had requested, as such things as "Nice job," or "I loved your..." didn't seem to fit your prompts!

    LOL! Hugs, Karen

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, and the Applejack Festival in Nebraska City takes place every year when the apples are ready. Local merchants and orchards join with Arbor Lodge and the Arbor Day Foundation to celebrate the season.

    ReplyDelete