“The goal is to live creatively, not to experience individual creative events. Resist the pressure to create something artistic and perfect in order to prove yourself creatively. The goal of a creative life is expression, not perfection; you have the freedom to pour out your heart to God, regardless of how well you do it.” ~ Alice Bass, The Creative Life, pg. 84

My friends Carrie and BJ inspired me with this fun meme. Consider yourself tagged:

Where is your cell phone…..purse
Your hair……….graying
Your father…………….Joseph
Your favorite thing………..books
Your dream last night………vivid
Your favorite drink………coffee
Your dream/goal……..fruitfulness
The room you are in…….kitchen
Your fear………..flying
Where do you want to be in 6 years….writing
Muffins………….blueberry
One of your wish list items…..getaway!
Where you grew up………Georgia
The last thing you did…………sleep
What are you wearing……….jeans
Your TV………………waste
Your pets…………….none
Your computer………..necessity
Your life……………obscure
Your mood………reflective
Missing someone…….granddaughters
Your car………..Altima
Favorite store…….Amazon.com
Your summer……….dreaded
Your favorite color……..red
When is the last time you laughed…..yesterday
Last time you cried……….painful
Three people who email me…….Carrie, Cheryl, Kris
Three of my favorite foods……..pizza, salad, salmon
Three places I would rather be right now…..beach, mountains, Charleston
Three people I think will respond…….?
Book reading right now…….The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis

Tag, you’re it. So here’s the challenge:

Make a list of five strengths that you possess as a writer/artist. It’s not really bragging, it’s an honest assessment. Please resist the urge to enumerate your weaknesses, or even mention them in contrast to each strong point you list. Tag four other writers or artists whom you’d like to see share their strengths.

HT: Heather at Mumblings of a Mommy Monk

My Five Writing Strengths:

1. I’m comfortable being alone to write for long stretches.
2. Research is fascinating and I’ve always been a life-long learner.
3. Editing suits me. I enjoy re-writes.
4. I take deadlines as challenges and get more done that way.
5. Believing that God called me as one of His scribes.

Tagging:
Hal Paxton
Cindy Swanson
Bonnie Bruno
Mary DeMuth

My friend Danielle at Bipolar Diaries posted a meme after my own heart. Join me if you like:

1. Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?
I prefer the portability and ease of the paperback. Especially if I can fold the book and underline in it. Not to mention the price—paperbacks make my addiction a tad more affordable.

2. Amazon or brick-and-mortar? (buying online or in a store?)

Both. I appreciate the convenience of Amazon, and the book reviews, but I also like to get up close and personal with my books before purchasing. Besides, haven’t you heard? A bookstore is a writer’s best friend. The only thing that competes is the local library (but drats, you can’t mark up a borrowed copy!).

3. Amazon or the Co-Op Bookstore?
Until I find out what a co-op bookstore is, I’ll go with Amazon. Anybody know? And where, in Atlanta, IS one?

4. Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Depends on which neighborhood I’m passing through since I don’t live near either. I lean towards Borders—maybe it’s their cafe? Also enjoy Lifeway and Family Bookstores.

5. Bookmark or dog ear?
Bookmark mostly, but guilty of the latter. I will dog-ear a page only in desperation. Sometimes a passage is so profound but I don’t have a pen or highlighter handy.

6. Alphabetize by author, or alphabetize by title, or random?
Right now it’s random, baby. But I do group my books in general categories: spiritual/devotional books in one area, health and medical in another, fiction, nonfiction, etc. It’s the best I can do right now.

7. Keep, throw away, or sell?
I’ve never thrown a book away. Never. When I finally have to part with a book, I either give it to Goodwill, a friend, or trade it at the paperback trade shop a few miles away.

8. Keep dust jacket or toss it?
Most of my books are paperback, but my hardbacks still have their dust jackets.

9. Read with dust jacket on or remove it?
I didn’t know this was an issue with folks:-) Somebody with OCD must have thought of this question…lol.

10. Short story or novel?
Novel. I like a little more depth and detail when I can get it. They say that people’s attention span is not what it used to be, but a gripping story will keep me turning pages.

11. Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?
I don’t typically read short story collections, but started reading anthologies when I decided to write for a few of them years ago. Reading different authors on a topic can be very enlightening.

12. Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Not my cup of tea—neither.

13. Stop reading when tired, or at chapter breaks?
Usually when my eyes start crossing. Which means the next day I’ll probably re-read where I left off when my eyes started to cross;-)

14. “It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
I’m all for mystery and intrigue, so give me the first opening. “Once upon a time” sounds so, well, fairytale-ish. Guess I’m not into fairy tales. Unless, of course, I’m reading to my granddaughter.

15. Buy or Borrow?
I’m a pay-for-my-own-copy kind of girl. But I also borrow when a friend has something I desperately need to read but my budget won’t allow. Also borrow from the library for research.

16. New or used?
Used is just fine with me. Every year in February I used to spend the afternoon at the Goodwill Book drive. For about $5 bucks, I’d come home with a sack full of classics. A reader’s dream. I had to get used to reading other folks’ highlighted and underlined passages. It’s like crawling into the mental psyche of the reader before you.

17. Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation, or browse?
All three sometimes. Really. Mostly, when I’m looking for a particular topic, I scan the reader’s reviews.

18. Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
I’m reading much more nonfiction these days due to research and personal interests, but with novels—hey—when it’s good, I don’t want it to end anyway. I don’t care how it ends, just take me for a good ride and make me feel.

19. Morning, afternoon or night-time reading?
Mostly afternoon and night-time, but this gal reads at the doctor’s office, red-lights, and waiting in line. Give me a purse big enough to fit a book, and I’m there. A reader is a reader is a reader.

20. Stand alone or series?
Just give me a good book, period.

21. Favorite series?
Can’t remember reading a complete series. Tried the Left Behind books, and the Mitford series, but just didn’t have time to hang. I’m weird that way. I read to a different drummer, not the way-of-the-crowd.

22. Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
There is really no such thing as “a” favorite book to a bibliophile. There are many favorites. But I suspect, not many have heard or read A Tale of Three Virtues by Steven R. Mosley or Hannah Whitall Smith’s The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life.

23. Favorite books read last year?
Ah, so many favorites. It’s important to note Broken Mindsby Steve & Robyn Bloem, a book of “hope for healing when you feel like you’re losing it.” This compassionate book on depression and/or mental illness ministers on many levels. I’ve since had the pleasure of corresponding with author Robyn Bloem—a real blessing to know. Others:
A Time of Departing by Ray Yungen
Tapestry: The Journey of Laurel Lee by Laurel Lee.

24. Favorite books of all time?
Going back to childhood, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott inspired me beyond words, both the author and her characters. It remains my all-time favorite.

I’ll come back and add a few more.