SISTER WISDOM

So my original plan of having an issue every Friday is kind of… gone. Heh. Ah well. -Best-laid plans and all that. But here’s Issue #2, for what it’s worth. I do read a lot, more offline than on, and I love recommending books and blogs that I think others will enjoy…

[There's no Mr Linky. I'm simplifying things - such as my life  - so if you have reading to recommend,  or a similar post, or a book review on your own site, please leave  a link in the comments below! ]

#1: Reading about Writing

I don’t follow many writing sites, because it’s often just rehashed same-old advice. But Write to Done produces some gems. I find myself re-reading the posts to make sure I didn’t miss something good, like this:

“We have to write whether we are in the mood or not. If you write for your career, then writing must be a daily act of self- discipline, even when it’s lackluster and boring.” That’s from this post.

And this:

“When the writing day is over, make sure you’ve scribed something because one of the best schools of writing is writing.” That’s from this post by Daryl Sedore.

Good stuff. Worth reading if you’re a writer.

#2: A Book a Day. Or Just a Book. Or Two.

I read and reviewed Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge this last week. I resisted it a long time, but when Thomas Nelson had the new revised edition up for review, I decided it was time. And it was. A great book with a good message that women need to hear.{End shameless plug for my own book review.}

I also read -Josephine Tey’s The Man in the Queue. I’ve never really been a mystery fan, either in book or movie form, but I figured maybe I just hadn’t tried the right one. I enjoyed Tey’s book but I can’t say I’m a convert. I’ve got one by Ngaio Marsh in my bag to take with me this weekend… we’ll see.

#3: Old Stuff from the Starred List

I’ve cut way down on the blogs I follow because there just isn’t time for them all, people. I feel a little guilty, being a blogger myself. Oh well. I can deal with guilt. I can’t deal with ten thousand blog feeds.

So once or twice a week I hop to my Google Reader and catch up. I skim. If it catches my interest, I read. If I really like it, I star. And then I share. Like so:

“Could it be enough to quietly sit and hold the baby and take care of the kids, or do I have a whole list of extras to do too?” From a post published several months ago, which I’ve read several times, which still makes me pause and think… Go read it all. [And kind of funny, I just realized that of my total 2 issues of Recommended Reading, this blogger has been in, yup, both! Hm. I must like her writing. Yup. I do. She might not know it though, because I'm what we here in the blogo-sphere call a lurker. Which I feel like I should feel bad about and I do, kind of, but not enough (apparently) to wait for my slow connection to load the page to leave the comment. And now I'm done talking.]

#4: Not Really Reading, Exactly…

I just had to add this. You can read about it, here, at the artist interview on The Artful Parent. But if nothing else, just go see this art by Tif McDonald. It’s beautiful and different and if anybody wants to buy me the dandelion one I’ll be forever grateful. I wish I had the money… Oh, I wish.

I’d never even heard of “encaustic” before, but I’m going to go scour Etsy for it now. Check you peeps later.

Oh, don’t forget:

What’s your recommended reading? C’mon, haven’t you read something good lately? Prove it. (Nyah nyah nyah. I dare you.)