An Apology, A Fresh Start

C.J. Rockwell · Jan 11, 2009

First, I'd like to say best wishes for everyone in 2009.

Secondly, I'd like to thank some of the best members on AW who made my writing life in 2008 more bearable.

1. Sweetlebee and JudScotKev (Equally honest and helpful, had to tie you)
2. CharlieBabbitt
3. Brittanimae
4. Toothpaste
5. Trish (May I one day learn what you and Molly have taught me about character in all senses of the word)

I'd also like to apologize if I've rubbed anyone the wrong way in my posts. I've always valued and appreciated everyone who took the time to give me advice, offer encouragement, and to tune me into things about my writing that I was simply blind to.

That said, re-imagining Gabriel has taken it's toll on me since November 08, right into the New Year. I was angry that no matter what I did, I couldn't live up to the "potential" many have had for Gabriel. I believed with all my heart that this story has merit, or I would've long given up on it by now.

I had tried working on something else during Nano, but frankly, that only frustrated me more.

What's more, I'd lost my passion for reading. Yes, I know that reading's vital to be a better writer, but it's sadly stopped being fun for me. I've tried so hard to bring the joy of reading back into my life, but it's stuck in neutral at this time.

I mean, I became a fiction writer because I wanted to write the books I love to read. Now it seems to get harder and harder to enjoy a book without getting frustrated that my stories don't have the level of polish that today's books demand.

I've both admired and envied the level many of the writers here have reached, be they published or not, I felt like I was kidding myself. What I've always liked about the stories I've read in SYW is that the writers aren't afraid to be honest, even if it means being somber, or letting your characters suffer more, and let them suffer as needed.

I realize now I've had a fear of letting my characters be more flawed. Not because I want them to be "Perfect" but because I wanted characters, I could understand and connect with. Many of the people around me are going through some rough times, and I'm not exactly living in bliss myself. But I didn't know how to take my characters to the next level, without destroying what I love about them.

If the characters I wrote about were deeply flawed, or felt the same kind of pain I saw in my life and those close to me; no matter how fictionalized, no matter how "Real" it might make them, I wouldn't have fun writing about them, and that would show in the writing.

I'm not naïve about hardship and flaws. In fact, if the last two weeks have been any indication, I've felt as sad and depressed as you can get WITHOUT wanting to do the unthinkable. Yet it's so hard to write it myself.

I WANT my characters to feel real and genuine, but I have this odd fear of "making them suffer" to put it as simply and direct as possible.

Maybe I've seen so much pain and darkness in my life, and in those around me, it's hard to write a story where my characters would face similar challenges and struggles. I mean, I'm not against dealing with the rough stuff, and while I applaud and respect writers who can do it well, it's hard for me.

I've been trying to answer many tough questions. What do I really like in fiction? What rules can I break? How I can be funny and warm, without being overly sugary? How to be dramatic instead of melodramatic? Why I'm afraid to be more realistic in my writing, even it means being cruel? To be honest: I'm not my own best problem solver when it comes to this stuff.

Case in point, I will NEVER give up, but I'm in a serious slump right now. I'm sorry for annoying/offending those who were caught in the crossfire.

I guess I love writing so much and get so passionate about it, that I sometimes take it too seriously, and I'm not as patient as I should be.

I hope 2009 will be a better year for me, and everyone here.

Pat~ · Jan 11, 2009

Welcome back, C. J. I'm not at all familiar with your writing, but I wonder if you've ever considered writing in a different genre (like poetry)? With poetry, you can write about real feelings (your own) without having to inflict them on other 'characters.' Just a thought...

icerose · Jan 11, 2009

That's one of the harder things for me to do. Allow the story to hurt my characters. I cry when bad things happen to characters I care about, but I've learned to not let it stop me from writing that into the story and making it really good. If I'm crying, I can make my readers cry and if they're crying that's the best thing I can do because it means they care about my characters enough to feel their pain and suffering. I know that sounds sadistic but it is also a very exciting threshold. Maybe take a break, but just know that you're probably really close to making a leap in your writing level.

Good luck.

Toothpaste · Jan 11, 2009

C.J - first off thank you for your thanks, it is lovely, and you are welcome. But your apology, hon, is totally unnecessary. I don't think you have ever offended in your questions. They come from a place of honesty and a desire to improve. Personally I have always felt you were much to hard on yourself, and, at the same time, don't have enough faith in yourself. There is nothing wrong with asking questions here, but I know you are capable of answering many of them yourself. I don't say that because the questions are annoying, but because I truly do think you aren't giving yourself enough credit in your ability to answer them.

We all go through cycles of doubt and frustration, don't feel alone in this. You have the passion, you have the drive, and it will serve you well. Trust it. And try, though I know how hard it is, to relax a bit. There is no timeline, enjoy the journey.

You'll be okay, you really will.

MsJudy · Jan 11, 2009

It all takes time. I turn 45 this month, so maybe that's why I say that...

You just can't rush it. You have to find your own way. And sometimes it just feels like you never will, but then you learn something new and it all seems exciting again.

I didn't write at all for about 7 years. I thought I probably never would again. But when I came back to it, all the experiences of those 7 years--good and bad--made my writing much stronger.

One of the best things about being a writer is that nothing is ever wasted. Every experience, every moment, every piece of knowledge can become a story. So don't be afraid to just live for a while, and never set down a single word of it. When you're ready, the words will be there.

Take care.

Exir · Jan 12, 2009

CJ Rockwell:

Sometimes there is more to getting unstuck than simply thinking very hard, trying to find a solution. A lot of times I try to solve a problem in my writing (be it a tricky scene, a hard to pin down voice, a flat character, etc.) and I can have a go at it for days without making much improvement. Sometimes, all I need is a short break where I stop writing, and it is then that I most often get the "click". Thinking obsessively about my writing can often tunnel my vision. Sometimes, I come up with the best ideas when I'm thinking about my story in a very detached way, like when I'm telling it to my sisters.

Maybe hard work and butt-in-chair is not what you need. Every writer is different, and maybe what you need right now is the click, the "Eureka" moment. And you're not gonna get it if you don't take a bath, will you?

morningsong · Jan 12, 2009

Alright, so you don't want to harm your character. I know what you mean. But, if by harming your character, what if you were somehow able to inspire and even heal particular readers. Not sure what your story is about, but if your hero has a painful past, yet he overcame it, just maybe that troubled reader would take the lesson with him and overcome thier own past. Perhaps by shifting your focus to the reader and thinking of what you can offer them b/c of the character's suffering...well, you know what I mean, right?

Keyboard Hound · Jan 12, 2009

Toothpaste said:
But your apology, hon, is totally unnecessary. I don't think you have ever offended in your questions. They come from a place of honesty and a desire to improve. Personally I have always felt you were much to hard on yourself, and, at the same time, don't have enough faith in yourself. There is nothing wrong with asking questions here, but I know you are capable of answering many of them yourself. I don't say that because the questions are annoying, but because I truly do think you aren't giving yourself enough credit in your ability to answer them.

We all go through cycles of doubt and frustration, don't feel alone in this. You have the passion, you have the drive, and it will serve you well. Trust it. And try, though I know how hard it is, to relax a bit. There is no timeline, enjoy the journey.

You'll be okay, you really will.

CJ, Just wanted to let you know I think Toothpaste hit the nail on the head. She expressed my thoughts exactly. When I read your mouse story, I loved it. I remember thinking, "Gosh, I wish I'd wrote that." That's something I almost never do.

You write beautifully. No one is going to get every little nit when they are editing. That's why we need crit partners and share-the-work forums. Just hang in there. I think it's like an art instructor once told me: "When you can see beyond what you can do, it just means that a big breakthrough is coming. Unhappily, that's the place where we lose most students."

I think it's the same with writing. Just keep plugging along. Often I can't see the mistakes in my own writing until someone points them out. But just as often, I can crit someone else's work and when I go back to mine, something new opens up and I see things I'd never seen before.

If in I doubt, ask others, or even try doing crit others. You'll see things they didn't, and sooner or later, you'll have a breakthrough.

I doubt if many have ever written a book without help from others.

Keyboard

Keyboard Hound · Jan 12, 2009

The wonderful thing about fiction is that if you hurt a character, you have powers to heal, too.

morningsong · Jan 12, 2009

Keyboard Hound said:
The wonderful thing about fiction is that if you hurt a character, you have powers to heal, too.

Ooohhh, that's good!

brittanimae · Jan 12, 2009

Thanks! Seriously CJ, you just made my day.

I think I must have missed whatever you're apologizing for, but I do know you have a good story that is on its way to great. My advice is: consider everyone else's input, then write what YOU want the way YOU want to write it. Then query it widely. Really, really widely. You're awesome. :Thumbs:

JLCwrites · Jan 12, 2009

brittanimae said:
Thanks! Seriously CJ, you just made my day.

I think I must have missed whatever you're apologizing for, but I do know you have a good story that is on its way to great. My advice is: consider everyone else's input, then write what YOU want the way YOU want to write it. Then query it widely. Really, really widely. You're awesome.

Agreed. Have a little faith in your abilities as a writer. Your words are as individual as your fingerprints. Let them be your own, and don't over analyze it! And.. enjoy the process... if you can, enjoy it more than the product.

Hailey_Edwards · Jan 15, 2009

Hey there C.J,

I stumbled across your post yesterday and came back to comment on it. I know all about wanting to do better by your characters. We write on opposite ends of the spectrum, but the same is true for all writers.

I just wanted to say not to lose faith in yourself or your writing. If you want this badly enough, you can achieve it. So {{HUGS}} and chin up. You can do this :0)

Trish · Jan 29, 2009

Hi, there, CJ, thanks for the compliment. I can't believe that you haven't sent that wonderful Gabriel off to agents and publishers yet. It's such a wonderful story.

I knew my Molly wasn't ready to go, but I sent her off anyway. The feedback that I recieved helped me to move to the next level. Now I'm more confident with my writing and have an idea of where I went wrong. I can't wait to send my revised version out.

I understand why you don't want to make your characters suffer. Writing is an escape from that, for most of us. I let Molly suffer. At the moment, she's being bullied, but she always gets revenge in the end. You can do that in stories, but not always in real life. In real life horrible things happen. In children's books I try to make them happy.

Yesterday, I lost one of my beloved pets. It made me so sad, but he still lives in the life of Molly. I take sadness and turn it around in fiction and make it how I want it to be. Just like you do, CJ. There's nothing wrong with that.

I really believe that you should send your manuscript of Gabriel out. I'm glad I sent mine. I've had three rejections so far, but I only sent five. Go for it, CJ. Have confidence in yourself.

abctriplets · Jan 29, 2009

Trish said:
Yesterday, I lost one of my beloved pets. It made me so sad, but he still lives in the life of Molly. I take sadness and turn it around in fiction and make it how I want it to be. Just like you do, CJ. There's nothing wrong with that.

Sorry to hear that. We took our minpin to the vets last night. They don't know what's wrong with her, but they do know it'll cost $500 for today's tests...

C.J. Rockwell · Jan 29, 2009

What's with me?

Trish said:
Hi, there, CJ, thanks for the compliment. I can't believe that you haven't sent that wonderful Gabriel off to agents and publishers yet. It's such a wonderful story.

Trish said:
I knew my Molly wasn't ready to go, but I sent her off anyway. The feedback that I received helped me to move to the next level. Now I'm more confident with my writing and have an idea of where I went wrong. I can't wait to send my revised version out.

I understand why you don't want to make your characters suffer. Writing is an escape from that, for most of us. I let Molly suffer. At the moment, she's being bullied, but she always gets revenge in the end. You can do that in stories, but not always in real life. In real life horrible things happen. In children's books I try to make them happy.

Yesterday, I lost one of my beloved pets. It made me so sad, but he still lives in the life of Molly. I take sadness and turn it around in fiction and make it how I want it to be. Just like you do, CJ. There's nothing wrong with that.

I really believe that you should send your manuscript of Gabriel out. I'm glad I sent mine. I've had three rejections so far, but I only sent five. Go for it, CJ. Have confidence in yourself.

Thank you, Trish. I'm glad to know you understand how I feel about the "making character suffer" thing.

I'm sorry about your pet, but I'm glad Molly keeps him alive for you. I hope you feel better soon.

Even though I was as confident as you were that Gabriel was as good as I could make it, I realized I had to do some more restructuring, and tighten things more.

It was hard, and you can bet I screamed and cried about it. But while my new rewrite is going morbidly slow, it will be a much stronger and plausible story in the end.

Part of the reason this was so hard was because lately I've been wondering if I'm just weak.

What I mean is I've always had problems with bringing my characters to life. When I've read your Molly stories, I always think, "She's so fun, she's real, and she's believable) I could believe that she might exist somewhere without question.

A lot the books I read last year especially proved to me that kids are more savvy, witty, and with a lot more attitude then when I was a kid myself. On the one hand I think it's awesome, I honestly do. But at the same time, it's frustrating to know where I fit.

While I love the spunk and bite of Bruce Hale's Chet Gecko series, or the darker nature of the books in the Harry Potter series that I've read, but it's just not me.

When I think about authors like Patricia McCormick who wrote Sold, I have great admiration for someone who can write about things that can be rock you to the core, and not be afraid to unearth harsh realities.

I've cursed myself that I can't be braver, both to read books like that, and to let my own characters face greater pain.

Sometimes I'm just terrified that I'm just a sentimental fool who can't face up to reality. Why else do I have a hard time with making my characters three-dimensional. I try so hard not to make my characters "perfect" or protect them from themselves. Yet it always seems to happen.

I'm certainly not living in some blissful dream world, I've felt pain, loneliness, and have had loss in my life. But every time I've tried to write about it, I just can't. It’s too hard to go there, even it means I'd have a more realistic story. Maybe when I'm not so close to this pain, I can write about it, since I still live in this dark, tragic, and lonesome place, and I'm fighting against it with my strength.

Trish · Jan 29, 2009

abctriplets, I hope your minpin recovers. I know what you mean about vet fees. I don't even want to tell you how much my vet fees cost, but it was a lot. My little darling was butchered by an ignorant vet at Chritsmas. My exotics vet was closed for the hollidays. The other vet had no propper equipment and I can't tell you how he suffered. I had been hand feeding him ever since. He ended up having three operations when it could have been such a simple procedure. He was only two and a half. I tried for five weeks to save him, then I couldn't watch him suffer anymore. He'll be kept alive in my stories with Molly and live a full and happy life.

Good luck with your minpin. I hope you have a great vet.

Sorry to sabotage your post, CJ.

Trish · Jan 29, 2009

CJ, our post hit at the same time. I know where you're comming from believe me. I've had tradgedy too and I can't and don't want to write about it at this stage. So I write funny and happy stories. You can be different and keep your book sentimental and happy. Kids still love those books. It's nice to escape into a happy tale sometimes, even for kids. I always thought your Gabriel DID seem real to me. As you know I love rodents and have captured, fed, filmed and released bush rats. They are magical little creatures. You portray them really well in my opinion.

I hope your sadness eases soon. I hope that this year will be better for you. Hang in there, CJ.

Trish.

MsJudy · Jan 29, 2009

Trish--so sorry about your pet. It's so hard to watch animals suffer. I'm sure you did everything you possibly could. Our thoughts are with you.

CJ--One of the things to remember is that we each need to tell the story that no one else can. Yes, much of what it getting published now is savvy, or intense, or edgy. But it's perfectly okay to leave that to the people who enjoy that. Kids come in all shapes and sizes and flavors, and so should their books. Believe me, I know a lot of kids who aren't at all ready for or interested in books with heavy drama or sad endings. There's a lot of room in the market for joyous and innocent middle grade books.

All you can do is tell your stories as well as you possibly can. What happens after that isn't something any of us can really control.

Chin up, and full speed ahead!

C.J. Rockwell · Jan 30, 2009

Thanks Everyone

Thanks Trish and JSK, I'm glad you told me that I haven't been kidding myself.

Since last October it's been hard going forward with my writing. That's because I've been afraid that my stories were too fluffy and I wasn't being real enough.

I have done some writing, and have been rewriting Gabriel again in earnest.

I realize that because I've had such a hard time of it, I can only go so far down into the darkness in my stories before it takes the joy out of writing for me.

I do my best not to get patronizing, I definitely don't believe in talking down to any reader, no matter how young or old they are.

JSK, I'm so glad there are kids left out there who feel the way I did when I was kid. I needed books that were an escape, and cheered me up. This was especially true when I was a teenager and things at home were getting out of control.

Still, I'm determined to grow as a writer, and I want to work through the pain I've felt and one day make my work stronger for it.

Another part of the reason I've been worried about this is that I've been debating whether or not to read a book I heard about last year.

It's Chris Bohjalian's Skeletons at the Feast. Granted, this is an adult book, but I've been thinking about what Toothpaste and a couple other AW members have told me. I need to read more, and be more critical about what I'm reading, and not just dismiss it because it's something I wouldn't feel comfortable writing myself.

I realize now that when painful things happen in stories, it's always for a reason, and it's not always meant to depress us. I always knew that before, but I understand it on a deeper level now that I'm writing.

I knew Skeletons at the Feast dealt with the pain, anguish, and barbarism of war, something I normally shy away from. I thought I needed to toughen up and start reading outside my comfort zone, and maybe I'd get better stories and characters from that.

But instead, I've felt like the MC in the new Diary of a Wimpy kid book whose Dad wants to send him to military school. No Way! Are you mad?

Well, maybe not to the same extent, but I am making an effort to broaden what I read, and take a chance on some books that I wouldn't have touched even two years ago.

I also realize that I've often unfairly lumped books together, or unfairly judged them because I was jealous that I couldn't get my stories at that high level. It wasn't right, and I apologize for that.

I want to thank everyone who commented here, your support helps me realize that what I've felt is real and NORMAL.

I probably need a longer break from writing than I first thought.

But I'll be back, count on that!

C.J.

MsJudy · Jan 30, 2009

I know exactly what you mean about Those Books. The Kite Runner and The Lovely Bones were the two I had to force myself to read. Everyone said how wonderful they were--and everyone was right--but still. Life is so hard.... When I have only a little time each day to read, spending it in a sad place is just.... You know.

For kids, I'd much rather see the suffering lightened with humor. I love Christopher Paul Curtis' books for that. The humor and the hopefulness are always there to balance out the grief.

But the other thing is that suffering is very much in the mind of the sufferer. In my WIP, I'm really piling on the misery for my character, but it's only misery from his perspective. He has to walk home in the rain, for example, because his mom isn't feeling well so she doesn't pick him up at the bus stop. I lay it on thick, how wet and cold and lonely he feels, but of course in the grand scheme of life it's no big deal. And a book like the Lightning Thief can do the opposite--focus so much on the goal that the death of a parent seems almost insignificant.

Your characters have to suffer, because that makes a good story. But it doesn't have to be a genuine catastrophe. It only has to feel that way to your character.

zeppelin123 · Feb 3, 2009

Welcome back. Don't expect to be a perfect writer with your first few projects. It takes years of practice. I enjoyed Gabriel and I think if you wish, you should continue working on that piece. If you want to start a new project that is fine too.

You will learn more with each project you do. I've been writing seriously since grade seven and I'm still learning and forever will be. I am also taking a break from critiques and submissions and just focusing on developing my writing.

However, never become so obsessed with critiques and editing that you don't enjoy the process of writing anymore. Most people, even those who eventually publish, do not make a significant profit off their writing. The main reason to write is for the love of it.

C.J. Rockwell · Feb 4, 2009

zeppelin123 said:
Welcome back. Don't expect to be a perfect writer with your first few projects. It takes years of practice. I enjoyed Gabriel and I think if you wish, you should continue working on that piece. If you want to start a new project that is fine too.

Thanks Zepplin123, nice to see you back again!

Boy, do I know what you mean. Both you and JSK among so many others here have helped me realize that it's okay if your first few projects don't pan out. As long as you're giving each one your all, you're getting closer to the one that will work out.

That said, I'm glad to tell you that I will keep plugging away with Gabriel, because I will always believe in that story, and no one can tell me different.

At the same time, I have been working on some other stories. This way when Gabriel becomes too much, I can go to another story and this keeps my writing fresh and fun.

I've also gone back to a novel I started for Nanowrimo, but was too frustrated to finish.

Today I've been reading through what I have so far and thought, "This is a new direction for me, and I feel good about it."

The fun part is that my two main characters are polar opposites in some of the ways they think. But as the story progresses, they learn that despite their differences, they form a bond with each other that will prove to be important in more ways than one.

It's been fun figuring these two out because I'm tackling things with this novel that I haven't in others I've written.

One of the main problems with Gabriel was that I found it hard to let my characters argue with each other.

In this story I'm throwing caution to the wind in that regard. My heroine and her new friend fight all the time, and she fights with a boy who she has to help as part of her summer job working in the family business.

It feels great! Especially because I know that dispite their constant bickering, they don't really hate each other's guts, and when they do agree on something, it shows that.

zeppelin123 said:
You will learn more with each project you do. I've been writing seriously since grade seven and I'm still learning and forever will be. I am also taking a break from critiques and submissions and just focusing on developing my writing.

Good for you!

I read on your signiture you're working on a sequel to Evy's Everything, that's great!

I loved what you posted in SYW last year, and I wish you well as you figure out Evy's next adventure.

When I first wrote Gabriel, I never thought I'd become as interested in Gabriel's friend as I have, and I know I'm going to write a story all about him once I get Gabriel's story finalized, whenever that is. But like you said, there's really no rush, and I'm glad I've finally taken that to heart.

Isn't it interesting that you think you're only going write about a certain character and their world for one book only, and then you continue telling stories in that world?

zeppelin123 said:
However, never become so obsessed with critiques and editing that you don't enjoy the process of writing anymore. Most people, even those who eventually publish, do not make a significant profit off their writing. The main reason to write is for the love of it.

You're so right about that, and I'm starting to put a lot less pressure on myself. Even though I'm not where I'd like to be right now, I've made a lot more progress than I once thought.

I never started this for the money in the first place (though I'm not against a little cash here and there, eventually...) I did this because I really wanted to write the stoires I wanted to read, and hopefully find others who enjoyed them.

In a way, I've started doing that. I've met wonderful writers from all over the world via forums and e-mail who've read and liked my stories, even if they found things that needed some tweaking.

After being in a funk for so long, I forgot that there's a time to be the "editor" of your work, and when to be the "writer."

Right now, I'm going to be the writer and keep my editor in check until I'm done with a first draft.

One things for sure, no one can say I just talked about writing, I did it, and I'll continue to do it always. It's just a part of me.

All I need now is a good educational grounding and the infamous "day job" and I'll feel a lot less stressed. I'll be be working hard on both of those this year.

C.J.

P.S. Thanks for that insight on characters and conflict JSK, when I think of it that way, it's not as hard to get conflcts rolling for my characters.

In fact, I'm now looking forward to it a little bit!

I also have to thank morningsong. You were right about how somone's suffering and how they dealt with it can be an inspiration to your readers. That will also help me with writing that hard stuff.

JRTurner · Feb 4, 2009

I'm sorry that I don't have time to read every response here, CJ, but if no one has offered it yet, I think if you look carefully, there's a great blessing in what you went through.

I've said this before, even wrote a blog directly about this in the last week or so, but the biggest red flag I see when I'm mentoring another author is real understanding. They don't have the insight necessary to be totally honest with themselves about their own frailties, flaws and humanity, and therefore, can't create realistic and compelling reads featuring three-dimensional characters.

You have by far embraced that sort of insight and I believe that's really half the battle--getting to know yourself. I think of all of use who are determined and have what it takes go through this in the beginning. The reading drought, the realization that we know so much less than we thought we did, the recognition of traits in ourselves that we thought only a villain could have, etc. It's a highly emotional journey--and you've faced one of the largest hurdles and come out determined to keep going.

That's pretty darn awesome, I think

I hope 2009 is a fanTABulous year for you!!!

Warmly,
Jenny

C.J. Rockwell · Feb 4, 2009

JRTurner said:
I'm sorry that I don't have time to read every response here, CJ, but if no one has offered it yet, I think if you look carefully, there's a great blessing in what you went through.

I've said this before, even wrote a blog directly about this in the last week or so, but the biggest red flag I see when I'm mentoring another author is real understanding. They don't have the insight necessary to be totally honest with themselves about their own frailties, flaws and humanity, and therefore, can't create realistic and compelling reads featuring three-dimensional characters.

You have by far embraced that sort of insight and I believe that's really half the battle--getting to know yourself. I think of all of use who are determined and have what it takes go through this in the beginning. The reading drought, the realization that we know so much less than we thought we did, the recognition of traits in ourselves that we thought only a villain could have, etc. It's a highly emotional journey--and you've faced one of the largest hurdles and come out determined to keep going.

That's pretty darn awesome, I think

I hope 2009 is a fanTABulous year for you!!!

Warmly,
Jenny

Thanks Jenny, I do see what you mean and I'm so glad I do!

An Apology, A Fresh Start

C.J. Rockwell

Not so new, really

Pat~

Luftmensch Emeritus, A.D.D.

icerose

Lost in School Work

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

MsJudy

Exir

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking

morningsong

Keyboard Hound

Old kid. Tough skin!!

Keyboard Hound

Old kid. Tough skin!!

morningsong

brittanimae

making a fresh start.

JLCwrites

Hailey_Edwards

Trish

abctriplets

C.J. Rockwell

Not so new, really

Trish

Trish

MsJudy

C.J. Rockwell

Not so new, really

MsJudy

zeppelin123

C.J. Rockwell

Not so new, really

JRTurner

C.J. Rockwell

Not so new, really