My Plate Full of Smells

The first smell was sweet, in a sickening manner. The 'small girl' type of scent, that they find wonderful but we find too sweet.

The second smell held more memories than any other smell. Paris Amour. Most of everyone else didn't like it, but I loved it. It could be too sweet, but if you only let out a little, it would be fine. It made me think of my childhood, my siblings, everything from those few years of my life when I was at a public elementry.

The next smell was from my sister, kept contained by a small vial with a silver top and pink lettering. She got it when she was young, very young, for her birthday, and I always wanted to use some. I've kept that smell since she gave it to me. It smells like cupcakes.

The fourth smell is the smallest of the vials. Armani Code, they call it. More herbal and minty. It has a faint smell of something else, something from your wildest dreams that is unidentifyable. You would never think to smell it by opening a vial on a golden plate, rather at a dinner party.

And then, the smell of spring raid ascending in a sheet, fresh and clear. Holding memories of the springs I've spent in Central Illinois and the rains. Seeing rainbows with my father and sister, my mother staying inside to eat dinner.

Five smells, atop a golden plate, atop a gamboge jewlery box, atop a six-drawer dresser. All with stories. Take a whiff. Be reminded.

Mill Halley Editing

Hello!

I am working intently on the Life in Mill Halley novel, and am planning to begin editing in December. I would really appreciate help editing, and think you would be awesome for the job. Sadly, since I am an amateur author, I can't exactly pay you, but you would be able to read the book one month in advance and I would put your name down in the inside cover--- or however that cover will be. I am still working on the logistics, but if there was a cost, I would be willing to charge my wonderful helpers less.

What I would imagine you would do is go through the google doc and suggesting any edits. I would then go through and change everything, and once more, before publication, you would all read it and make any final edits.

So, what are you waiting for? Email readnowtoday@gmail.com to sign up OR if you have any questions. I will only be taking 3 editors, so hurry!

Love and Luck,
Pippa Liber

Writing Wednesday: Getting in the Mood to Write

So, you want to write. Or you need to write. No matter why you are supposed to be writing, sometimes it can be hard to get in the mood to write a successful post or chapter. I struggle with this a lot. Like, a lot. Here are 5 ways to get in the mood to write whatever.

1. Set up a place to write! Mine are makeshift these days- the living room, the kitchen table, my bed- whatever, but I have a lot of stuff that I carry around including 7 notebooks, a sketchbook, binders, research books, a map with pins, and a scrapbook with a bunch of pins.
2. Get comfy.  
3. Turn on music! It can help to have a playlist of music where the lyrics reflect conflict in your story. My sister and I (we both are writers) have a playlist that every song on it aligns with the story in our main books. It works really well, but sometimes I just turn on Pandora.
4. Pinterest is wonderful. Create a board where you can look at pictures of people that look like your characters. Kissing, fighting, selfies- whatever. It all helps get in the mood.
5. Block out other distractions. This probably should come earlier in the list, but it is so important! Don't have social media or email up while you work. I find it  helpful to use an iPad because I can have Pandora going and my work docs up.

Life In Mill Halley: Poems!

I know I'm not publishing anymore Life in Mill Halley until the book is done, but I can still post Skyler's poems! They aren't in the book, so what better time than when I have no idea what to write?


So, here we go:




The One Who Calls Me Sweet


We're together
We're meant to be
I can't get you off my mind
When I try
You catch me in your gaze
You hold me in your arms
I know that I will never leave
And hope you think the same.
           -Skyler Foster




What I Don't Know


Some nights I climb into bed
With a soul feeling as broken as shattered glass
Because I can't find the hurt in me
And I know it's in you too
But if you know there's hurt in me
Then you must be keeping it a secret
Because what I don't know isn't harmless
What I don't know is what keeps me awake.
           -Skyler Foster


Some Feelings


Some feelings you can't put to words
Some feelings can't be drawn
Some feelings can only be felt
Some feelings are only expressed through tears
           -Skyler Foster

TEN WORD TUESDAY RETURNS!!!! 8/02

1. Bildungsroman

I love this word so much!

N- a type of novel concerned with the education, development, and maturing of a young protagonist

BIL-doo ngz-roh-mahn (however you say that)

Pretty much Life in Mill Halley- that explains why I love it so much.

2. Galluses

N- Suspenders for Trousers

I think I like this word.

I know I like this word.

Though the trousers were too big, Emmett was able to get some galluses to hold them up.

3. Skylark

V- To frolic, sport

Skyler was so happy that she skylarked all the way home from school that day.

4. Orthography

N- The art of writing words with proper letters, according to the accepted usage

Spelling Tests are the perfect time to show off orthography skills!

5. Cater-Cousin

N- an intimate friend

I have a few cater-cousins- one is my sister, and the other two are my closest friends. The three of us are separate now, but they are still my cater-cousins.

6. Churrasco

N- Meat Cooked over an open fire

To put it simply- summer heaven

7. Towser

N- A big dog

Our neighbor's dog is such a towser, in the dark you can mistake it for a deer!

8. Encephalon

N- the brain

The encephalon would be so interesting to study!

9. Tohubohu

N- chaos, disorder, confusion

My room while I write. I sprawl out on my floor, my bed is unmade, I often have pretzels, water, a bunch of notebooks, and the computer. Complete tohubohu.

THIS WORD IS SO MUCH FUN TO SAY!

toh-hoo-boh-hoo

10. Rib-Tickling

Adj-Very amusing, funny or hilarious

Tell your rib-tickling jokes in the comments!



Life in Mill Halley

I am writing this post to tell you that there will be no more Life in Mill Halley posted on this blog for some time, instead only updates on how this book is coming. I hope to have it out by the end of the year for you to read- free, of course.


The book is broken up into three parts- One, the elementary years, Two, the middle and high school years, and Three, college and beyond. Part One is nearly finished, Part Two- almost halfway done, and Part Three- Not even started. All of the posts I have already put on this blog about the girls will remain. Feel free to read them and strategize what will happen next- I will tell you that Linnette does still die, that all four girls get married (but to who?) and the four girls have a set career. If you have any ideas about what happens in the book, you can put them in the comments because I'd love reading them!


Until Tomorrow (Ten Word Tuesday Returns!),
Pippa

I'm OK, I promise!

So, in the past week I've been thinking about the different ways to spell 'okay' and the different punctuation that can follow the word, and even more specifically the meaning behind each one. Here's what I have (keep in mind that I'm not going to write all of the meanings):

Okay.	You are annoying me -OR- Sounds Good
Okay!	Sounds Good!
Okay	Fine -OR- Everything is okay
OK	I'm cool with that. -OR- I'm Fine! (Think: Are they really fine?) -OR- I'm not okay
ok	Cool Beans.
okay!	I’m in!
okayy	I don't care.
okay...	You're really creeping me out. I'll just call the cops, okay?

So feel free to use this whenever you're writing, texting, or whatever you do. And if you have any other ways to say okay, put them in the comments!