January 20, 2006 NL

About this Newsletter:

Writers will happen in the best of families.
~Rita Mae Brown

Write what matters. If you don't care about what you're writing, neither will your readers.
~Judy Reeves

My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers; when you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.
~Elmore Leonard


From the Editor:

While blissfully whiling away my time on my computer last Wednesday, my phone rings. My friend, Dianne, asks me if I'm okay.
"Last time I checked," I reply.
"Oh good," she answers, "Then the fire isn't anywhere near you."

Excuse me, did she say "fire"?

I told her perhaps I should check out the situation as I hear, see and smell nothing in the confines of the computer cave.

I walk out my front door and huge plumes of smoke are rising to my west! My worst nightmare is happening less than a mile from my house!

I grab my camera and cell phone, jump in the car and drive to a better vantage point. It's what we small town folk do. The town where I live is very small. It wouldn't take a lot to wipe us off the map.
Fortunately, on this day, the wind is blowing out of the south. Should it shift to out of the west, my town is gone, no ifs ands or buts about it.

I parked on the side of the two lane that runs through the center of town. I'm in a safe place and out of the way of emergency vehicles. My aunt drives up and parks next to me. She is eating due to nerves. I am pacing.

The wind is very strong, pushing the flames northward. Then a slight shift from the west and the fire slightly changes its course. The sky is filled with smoke hued in black, greys, orange, red, yellow. Occasionally, we see flames shoot up as the fire hits a tree line or a cedar. The flames are at the back of the pasture across the street. I look for gates in the event I need to let the horses loose.

An ambulance speeds by. United States Forestry Service trucks amble by loaded with bulldozers. Antique firetrucks from nearly every volunteer department in the county rush past. Soon, the sky is abuzz with Forestry planes dumping retardant on the fire. So much activity!

I keep throwing glances over my shoulder. There is a large field on the south side of my property. I worry about my home and my dogs. If that field catches, I wouldn't have time to save much more than me and my two dogs. I can't stand this line of thinking. I leave my aunt to go home and bring my dogs back with me. They are excited! They get to go for a ride!

Back to downtown, the smoke is now so bad, that authorities have had to close down both lanes of I-35 and both lanes of the two lane through town.
Traffic is backed up for miles, nearing a standstill. My aunt and I worry that if we need to evacuate, the traffic will impede us.

As the sun lowers, the traffic has been rerouted, the streets are empty with the exception of onlookers and working men.

Finally, as the sun sets, we are told the fire is now contained. After a very long afternoon, filled with tense moments, the danger has passed and we can go home.

Drama? Nope. No drama here!

Nikola







Editor's Picks

ID: 1061423   (Rated: E) A Clown's Tears  Saving his daughter, Auguste is burned severely. Tragically, shame keeps him from her. by Redtowrite

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This piece is a poem. I felt, in light of the subject matter of this newsletter, it is very fitting.

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Feedback


From Vivian ╰☆╮ : My goal for 2006 is to submit my mystery novel to an agent until one accepts it. I have a mystery short story submitted to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, and if not accepted there, I will submit it elsewhere. I resolve not to allow fear to hold me back.~~ Viv

Best of luck, Viv! I know you can do it!


From essence of thought : Hello Nikola,
Good for you, your letter encourages the reader of it to jot down his own resolutions and then start to accomplish them. It is very good and encouraging for one to finish the year and see that all what he/she planned to do is done. I hope you'll achieve yours with success.

Thank you!



From StephB : I loved your goals for the Drama newsletter this year. You did a great job with it! I need to define my own set of goals. Is the 2006 guide different from 2006? StephB

Well get to it, girl!



From Matthew C. : Hello Nikola-

Loved the newsletter on goal setting. This year is the first time I've ever set goals for myself as a writer and I must say that while my goals aren't as defined as yours (I actually just set goals to write), I do feel a sense of determination in myself again. That's important, because I haven't felt the need to write in some time. It's all coming back to me.

I know that you'll be successful in acheiving your goals - I seem to remember
running into a fledgling W.com'er just about 2 years ago and look at you now.
You'll do great!

See you around the site.

-Matt L.

Aw, thanks Matt!