Why am I awake?

For reasons unknown, my eyes opened at 5am this morning and refused to shut again. This is not normal, but I decided to take advantage of it. I opened the windows. It has been so icky hot I can’t remember when I last had the windows open. There is a little breeze, the air is cool and damp, and I can almost hear the birds over the sounds of everyone else’s air conditioners.

I am so ready for it to be fall. I want to wear sweatshirts and turtlenecks. I want my Beloved Husband to build a fire in the fireplace. I want to want chili. I want football and the tang of snow in the air.

Wow – that was a lot of whining. Sorry.

I’m going to make coffee and write. I think my Work In Progress (WIP) took a wrong turn…. I hate when this happens. You get a great plot idea and you get all excited about it and then you write and write and then…. things…. slow….. down….. and you realize that if your story were a car, you’d be stuck in the middle of nowhere and your gas tank is almost empty and you forgot to charge your cells phone. Problem is, of course, I’m not exactly sure where it went wrong. So I’ve pulled out a different manuscript to fiddle with while I think about the first one. That way I am able to fool myself into believing I am making progress.

Mer sent me great photos last night to post as a writing prompt, but I am an idiot and I didn’t save them properly. I don’t think she wants me to wake her up right now so she can resend them. So photo writing prompt is postponed until tomorrow, folks!

How about an old-fashioned word prompt? Ummmmmm…… Write a The Worst Thing About Summer Is… (make it a couple of paragraphs, and give details). Now, using exactly the same points, rewrite it in the voice of a fictional character who loves what you hate and write The Best Thing About Summer. Have fun!

Added later I forgot to tell you to read this wonderful article that gives me hope for the world and features .

36 Replies to “Why am I awake?”

  1. Hello Mrs. Anderson….or Halse Anderson….thats just confusing. Anyway, my name is Michelle, Im an awesome teenager from Utah. So my dad is dating this librarian and she thought (in my oppinion) a cute little way to cut into our family is by giving gifts. My 14-yr-old sister was given your book SPEAK. Now, my sister isnt the book-reader type. Shes the way athletic-tomboy-whos-great-at-videogames-and-can-burp-the-alphabet type. So when I saw her reading your book I was knocked over with shock. Even more so when I found out that she finished it in ONE DAY. Nonstop reading…Im going “Holy Crap…” Now me,I read ALOT. Whatever I can find. I want to be a writer one day. But I’m incredibly critical and never seem to find something worth mentioning. But your book stunned me. Im totally in love with it. Youre a wonderful writer, you know WHAT THE HELL youre talking about. Bravo.

  2. Hello Mrs. Anderson….or Halse Anderson….thats just confusing. Anyway, my name is Michelle, Im an awesome teenager from Utah. So my dad is dating this librarian and she thought (in my oppinion) a cute little way to cut into our family is by giving gifts. My 14-yr-old sister was given your book SPEAK. Now, my sister isnt the book-reader type. Shes the way athletic-tomboy-whos-great-at-videogames-and-can-burp-the-alphabet type. So when I saw her reading your book I was knocked over with shock. Even more so when I found out that she finished it in ONE DAY. Nonstop reading…Im going “Holy Crap…” Now me,I read ALOT. Whatever I can find. I want to be a writer one day. But I’m incredibly critical and never seem to find something worth mentioning. But your book stunned me. Im totally in love with it. Youre a wonderful writer, you know WHAT THE HELL youre talking about. Bravo.

  3. Hello Mrs. Anderson….or Halse Anderson….thats just confusing. Anyway, my name is Michelle, Im an awesome teenager from Utah. So my dad is dating this librarian and she thought (in my oppinion) a cute little way to cut into our family is by giving gifts. My 14-yr-old sister was given your book SPEAK. Now, my sister isnt the book-reader type. Shes the way athletic-tomboy-whos-great-at-videogames-and-can-burp-the-alphabet type. So when I saw her reading your book I was knocked over with shock. Even more so when I found out that she finished it in ONE DAY. Nonstop reading…Im going “Holy Crap…” Now me,I read ALOT. Whatever I can find. I want to be a writer one day. But I’m incredibly critical and never seem to find something worth mentioning. But your book stunned me. Im totally in love with it. Youre a wonderful writer, you know WHAT THE HELL youre talking about. Bravo.

  4. Dang, Michelle. That is one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received. Thank you!

    BTW, please call me Laurie. That’s easier.

  5. Dang, Michelle. That is one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received. Thank you!

    BTW, please call me Laurie. That’s easier.

  6. Dang, Michelle. That is one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received. Thank you!

    BTW, please call me Laurie. That’s easier.

  7. I’m ready for fall, too! By then “big life decisions” should be decided upon and we can move on.(literally) I love fall. And winter’s my best writing time. 🙂

    Sending you over a tow truck to get your “car” unstuck out of the muck. I’ve been there. Not fun.

  8. I’m ready for fall, too! By then “big life decisions” should be decided upon and we can move on.(literally) I love fall. And winter’s my best writing time. 🙂

    Sending you over a tow truck to get your “car” unstuck out of the muck. I’ve been there. Not fun.

  9. I’m ready for fall, too! By then “big life decisions” should be decided upon and we can move on.(literally) I love fall. And winter’s my best writing time. 🙂

    Sending you over a tow truck to get your “car” unstuck out of the muck. I’ve been there. Not fun.

  10. Hot, sticky, humid air… I’m already singing Christmas tunes. Maybe Mother Nature will get confused and plop down some snow. Ho hum.

  11. Hot, sticky, humid air… I’m already singing Christmas tunes. Maybe Mother Nature will get confused and plop down some snow. Ho hum.

  12. Hot, sticky, humid air… I’m already singing Christmas tunes. Maybe Mother Nature will get confused and plop down some snow. Ho hum.

  13. Worst things about summer:
    At times, I despise summer, due to there aren’t any things incredibly fun for me to do besides clean, work on some summer schoolish type things like a packet. Yeah, summer could be used as a time to get together with friends, go to the mall, the movies, or whatever else. Though, when you don’t get to do that often without a ride. Since it is too far to walk and when you don’t have money to be able to ride a bus. Yeah, there are a few slight opprotunities to go though my parents are always busy. My older brother is never around anymore. So, really the only thing I can do is sit around and listen to music then decorate cakes.
    The only thing that I really like about summer is the fact that I get to figure-skate, though that may come to a halt with this injury I got last night. So, everything that I find enjoyable is slowly being taken away from me. The sad, sorrowful mid-west…Is incredibly boring.

    Best things about Summer (From the point of view of a fictional caracter):

    Today, I get to clean so much to make the house just SHINE. My room is the cleanest of them all, there isn’t a single thing out of place, a nice little area for me to sit and work out a plan for tomorrow’s activities. Tomorrow, I’m planning a swimming round with myself. Like swimming some laps to keep up with phsyical fitness, you know that’s important, right? Then I need to plan out my meal, need to keep up a healthy diet, you know that’s incredibly important? I mean, who’d want to lay around the house, do nothing but listen to music? Though, a break would be nice, but I can’t, since I’m young, I need to do as much to help out the house and my family.
    Reading, there isn’t time. I need to take in some sencery and scribble out an entry in my palm piolt, due to I need to keep up with myself. Some days I don’t even remember what I have to do, so without my palm piolt! Really, technology is my friend, I don’t know how people ever did without it! Being in the mid-west ROCKS! The best weather to get a tiny tan, a wonderful breath of fresh air.

    Hope that’s what you’re looking for! And I hope it helps a bit… I created that whole thing up in about ten minutes. 😀
    My writing isn’t that great… I LOVE your books though, I’d have to say my favorite is Speak. You are my idol!

    ~Liz

    Have a wonderful day!!! Keep up the wonderful writing!

  14. Worst things about summer:
    At times, I despise summer, due to there aren’t any things incredibly fun for me to do besides clean, work on some summer schoolish type things like a packet. Yeah, summer could be used as a time to get together with friends, go to the mall, the movies, or whatever else. Though, when you don’t get to do that often without a ride. Since it is too far to walk and when you don’t have money to be able to ride a bus. Yeah, there are a few slight opprotunities to go though my parents are always busy. My older brother is never around anymore. So, really the only thing I can do is sit around and listen to music then decorate cakes.
    The only thing that I really like about summer is the fact that I get to figure-skate, though that may come to a halt with this injury I got last night. So, everything that I find enjoyable is slowly being taken away from me. The sad, sorrowful mid-west…Is incredibly boring.

    Best things about Summer (From the point of view of a fictional caracter):

    Today, I get to clean so much to make the house just SHINE. My room is the cleanest of them all, there isn’t a single thing out of place, a nice little area for me to sit and work out a plan for tomorrow’s activities. Tomorrow, I’m planning a swimming round with myself. Like swimming some laps to keep up with phsyical fitness, you know that’s important, right? Then I need to plan out my meal, need to keep up a healthy diet, you know that’s incredibly important? I mean, who’d want to lay around the house, do nothing but listen to music? Though, a break would be nice, but I can’t, since I’m young, I need to do as much to help out the house and my family.
    Reading, there isn’t time. I need to take in some sencery and scribble out an entry in my palm piolt, due to I need to keep up with myself. Some days I don’t even remember what I have to do, so without my palm piolt! Really, technology is my friend, I don’t know how people ever did without it! Being in the mid-west ROCKS! The best weather to get a tiny tan, a wonderful breath of fresh air.

    Hope that’s what you’re looking for! And I hope it helps a bit… I created that whole thing up in about ten minutes. 😀
    My writing isn’t that great… I LOVE your books though, I’d have to say my favorite is Speak. You are my idol!

    ~Liz

    Have a wonderful day!!! Keep up the wonderful writing!

  15. Worst things about summer:
    At times, I despise summer, due to there aren’t any things incredibly fun for me to do besides clean, work on some summer schoolish type things like a packet. Yeah, summer could be used as a time to get together with friends, go to the mall, the movies, or whatever else. Though, when you don’t get to do that often without a ride. Since it is too far to walk and when you don’t have money to be able to ride a bus. Yeah, there are a few slight opprotunities to go though my parents are always busy. My older brother is never around anymore. So, really the only thing I can do is sit around and listen to music then decorate cakes.
    The only thing that I really like about summer is the fact that I get to figure-skate, though that may come to a halt with this injury I got last night. So, everything that I find enjoyable is slowly being taken away from me. The sad, sorrowful mid-west…Is incredibly boring.

    Best things about Summer (From the point of view of a fictional caracter):

    Today, I get to clean so much to make the house just SHINE. My room is the cleanest of them all, there isn’t a single thing out of place, a nice little area for me to sit and work out a plan for tomorrow’s activities. Tomorrow, I’m planning a swimming round with myself. Like swimming some laps to keep up with phsyical fitness, you know that’s important, right? Then I need to plan out my meal, need to keep up a healthy diet, you know that’s incredibly important? I mean, who’d want to lay around the house, do nothing but listen to music? Though, a break would be nice, but I can’t, since I’m young, I need to do as much to help out the house and my family.
    Reading, there isn’t time. I need to take in some sencery and scribble out an entry in my palm piolt, due to I need to keep up with myself. Some days I don’t even remember what I have to do, so without my palm piolt! Really, technology is my friend, I don’t know how people ever did without it! Being in the mid-west ROCKS! The best weather to get a tiny tan, a wonderful breath of fresh air.

    Hope that’s what you’re looking for! And I hope it helps a bit… I created that whole thing up in about ten minutes. 😀
    My writing isn’t that great… I LOVE your books though, I’d have to say my favorite is Speak. You are my idol!

    ~Liz

    Have a wonderful day!!! Keep up the wonderful writing!

  16. What?!

    And here summer is my absolute favorite season. Too bad we couldn’t trade–I’ll give you my winter for your summer.

    yes, I hate wrong turns too. Finally realized last night why I was stalled–so the last chapter will get tossed in the “extra” file and I will start on a fresh path today–hopefully with a full tank of gas.

  17. What?!

    And here summer is my absolute favorite season. Too bad we couldn’t trade–I’ll give you my winter for your summer.

    yes, I hate wrong turns too. Finally realized last night why I was stalled–so the last chapter will get tossed in the “extra” file and I will start on a fresh path today–hopefully with a full tank of gas.

  18. What?!

    And here summer is my absolute favorite season. Too bad we couldn’t trade–I’ll give you my winter for your summer.

    yes, I hate wrong turns too. Finally realized last night why I was stalled–so the last chapter will get tossed in the “extra” file and I will start on a fresh path today–hopefully with a full tank of gas.

  19. Summer rocks.

    The Worst Thing About Summer is that in Central New York, it’s only usually about 2 months long. The rest of the year is rain, snow, sleet, cold, sad, gray, and uninviting. At least summer is warm, welcoming, green, bright, flowery, fun, exciting, and Happy!
    This summer is an exception. Most years we get around 10 days where it’s HOT HOT HOT, but this year we’ve well surpassed that quota. I remember last year – there was only one day over 90 degrees.

    I love summer.

  20. Summer rocks.

    The Worst Thing About Summer is that in Central New York, it’s only usually about 2 months long. The rest of the year is rain, snow, sleet, cold, sad, gray, and uninviting. At least summer is warm, welcoming, green, bright, flowery, fun, exciting, and Happy!
    This summer is an exception. Most years we get around 10 days where it’s HOT HOT HOT, but this year we’ve well surpassed that quota. I remember last year – there was only one day over 90 degrees.

    I love summer.

  21. Summer rocks.

    The Worst Thing About Summer is that in Central New York, it’s only usually about 2 months long. The rest of the year is rain, snow, sleet, cold, sad, gray, and uninviting. At least summer is warm, welcoming, green, bright, flowery, fun, exciting, and Happy!
    This summer is an exception. Most years we get around 10 days where it’s HOT HOT HOT, but this year we’ve well surpassed that quota. I remember last year – there was only one day over 90 degrees.

    I love summer.

  22. A word prompt? I think somebody is trying to get ideas for her books =D…Nevertheless, I rise to the challenge. Heh.

    The worst thing about summer? How about the hot, sticky weather…Oh wait. No, the worst of it all is long car trips with your parents, to a place you don’t even really want to go to. Y’know, like when your parents decide suddenly, “Hey, let’s go to Massachussettes!” (Is that how it’s spelt? Probably not. Whoopsies.)

    And then, when you actually get to Massacchussettes (Whatever), you do NOTHING. And you only stay there for a couple of hours, where we gawk like tourists. And then your parents would make you take pictures in front of random places, and they’d tell you to smile, but everyone knows it’s fake. And then when it seems you just got there, (and in fact, you did) you pack up and leave for home. The car ride, of course, ends up being longer than the actual visit. Go figure. The hightlights of your trip? Getting motion sickness, and throwing up, and of course, listening to your Mom and Dad curse during traffic. Summer is great. Just great.

    Fictional Character POV:

    The best thing about summer? Well that’s easy. The glorious weather; the sun shines, the bird chirp, it’s just SO WONDERFUL. Oh! I could go on and on and on about how wonderful summer is. Like spending good old fashion QUALITY time with your parents on a nice road trip. It’s just so exhilerating when your parents announce a surprise trip. “We’re going to Massachussettes!” they’d say with gigantic smiles across their faces. And we’d pack up the car and start out journey.

    And then we’d get to our destination, after fun car games like the licence plate game. And then we’d have fun, visit all the sites, and snap pictures at all the cool sites. But time flies when you’re having fun, and Mom and Dad start packing the car again before you know it. As we leave, I turn and say goodbye, and reminisce in the car with your parents.

    I feel really geeky now. Especially after that “I love summer car trips” crap. I have to admit, Writer Lady, it was fun. =)

  23. A word prompt? I think somebody is trying to get ideas for her books =D…Nevertheless, I rise to the challenge. Heh.

    The worst thing about summer? How about the hot, sticky weather…Oh wait. No, the worst of it all is long car trips with your parents, to a place you don’t even really want to go to. Y’know, like when your parents decide suddenly, “Hey, let’s go to Massachussettes!” (Is that how it’s spelt? Probably not. Whoopsies.)

    And then, when you actually get to Massacchussettes (Whatever), you do NOTHING. And you only stay there for a couple of hours, where we gawk like tourists. And then your parents would make you take pictures in front of random places, and they’d tell you to smile, but everyone knows it’s fake. And then when it seems you just got there, (and in fact, you did) you pack up and leave for home. The car ride, of course, ends up being longer than the actual visit. Go figure. The hightlights of your trip? Getting motion sickness, and throwing up, and of course, listening to your Mom and Dad curse during traffic. Summer is great. Just great.

    Fictional Character POV:

    The best thing about summer? Well that’s easy. The glorious weather; the sun shines, the bird chirp, it’s just SO WONDERFUL. Oh! I could go on and on and on about how wonderful summer is. Like spending good old fashion QUALITY time with your parents on a nice road trip. It’s just so exhilerating when your parents announce a surprise trip. “We’re going to Massachussettes!” they’d say with gigantic smiles across their faces. And we’d pack up the car and start out journey.

    And then we’d get to our destination, after fun car games like the licence plate game. And then we’d have fun, visit all the sites, and snap pictures at all the cool sites. But time flies when you’re having fun, and Mom and Dad start packing the car again before you know it. As we leave, I turn and say goodbye, and reminisce in the car with your parents.

    I feel really geeky now. Especially after that “I love summer car trips” crap. I have to admit, Writer Lady, it was fun. =)

  24. A word prompt? I think somebody is trying to get ideas for her books =D…Nevertheless, I rise to the challenge. Heh.

    The worst thing about summer? How about the hot, sticky weather…Oh wait. No, the worst of it all is long car trips with your parents, to a place you don’t even really want to go to. Y’know, like when your parents decide suddenly, “Hey, let’s go to Massachussettes!” (Is that how it’s spelt? Probably not. Whoopsies.)

    And then, when you actually get to Massacchussettes (Whatever), you do NOTHING. And you only stay there for a couple of hours, where we gawk like tourists. And then your parents would make you take pictures in front of random places, and they’d tell you to smile, but everyone knows it’s fake. And then when it seems you just got there, (and in fact, you did) you pack up and leave for home. The car ride, of course, ends up being longer than the actual visit. Go figure. The hightlights of your trip? Getting motion sickness, and throwing up, and of course, listening to your Mom and Dad curse during traffic. Summer is great. Just great.

    Fictional Character POV:

    The best thing about summer? Well that’s easy. The glorious weather; the sun shines, the bird chirp, it’s just SO WONDERFUL. Oh! I could go on and on and on about how wonderful summer is. Like spending good old fashion QUALITY time with your parents on a nice road trip. It’s just so exhilerating when your parents announce a surprise trip. “We’re going to Massachussettes!” they’d say with gigantic smiles across their faces. And we’d pack up the car and start out journey.

    And then we’d get to our destination, after fun car games like the licence plate game. And then we’d have fun, visit all the sites, and snap pictures at all the cool sites. But time flies when you’re having fun, and Mom and Dad start packing the car again before you know it. As we leave, I turn and say goodbye, and reminisce in the car with your parents.

    I feel really geeky now. Especially after that “I love summer car trips” crap. I have to admit, Writer Lady, it was fun. =)

  25. Michelle Again

    Well youre quite welcome.
    Ive been told that Im a talented writer and I have potential…blah blah you know. Anyway, whats your advice for sharpening my skills? I would really like your oppinion as I look up to you as a writer.

  26. Michelle Again

    Well youre quite welcome.
    Ive been told that Im a talented writer and I have potential…blah blah you know. Anyway, whats your advice for sharpening my skills? I would really like your oppinion as I look up to you as a writer.

  27. Michelle Again

    Well youre quite welcome.
    Ive been told that Im a talented writer and I have potential…blah blah you know. Anyway, whats your advice for sharpening my skills? I would really like your oppinion as I look up to you as a writer.

  28. Hi, Mrs.Anderson.My name is lindsey, i just got your book Fever 1793.Well,my mom really hates reading and this morning she was reading it.i haven’t really read much of it,but if she was reading it i guess it must be pretty good!

  29. Hi, Mrs.Anderson.My name is lindsey, i just got your book Fever 1793.Well,my mom really hates reading and this morning she was reading it.i haven’t really read much of it,but if she was reading it i guess it must be pretty good!

  30. Hi, Mrs.Anderson.My name is lindsey, i just got your book Fever 1793.Well,my mom really hates reading and this morning she was reading it.i haven’t really read much of it,but if she was reading it i guess it must be pretty good!

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