volume 1, issue no. 2:
What is your typical writing day like? Do you have a set schedule or amount of time that you write?
three dollar squirrel
T H R E E DOLLAR SQUIRREL
For writers, by writers, on the act of writing.
From the Editor: Diggory and I would like to welcome you all to issue number two of Three Dollar Squirrel! Yes, that’s right, our squirrel has a name now and you will be seeing more of him in our next issue. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Name That Squirrel Giveaway. Several packages of squirrelly goodness are being mailed out to contributors this week. Enjoy! Our squirrely first issue was very well recieved and the zine is starting to get some fantastic attention. This project is a labor of love and I am enjoying reading everyone’s inspiring contributions so keep them coming! Writers of all skill levels and backgrounds are welcome, hobbyist to published author. This zine is about lending support to each other and helping the written word flourish as we all grow in our writing paths. We are also official now! Three Dollar Squirrel has been registered with the Library of Congress and you can find our ISSN now proudly displayed on the back of this zine. Yes, that’s right, the Library of Congress has a copy of our wonderful little zine in its archives now. :) This issue sees the start of our inclusion of SQUIRREL ART with Stefan Bucher’s Monster No.186 from the archives of Daily Monster (YAY!) as well as cover art by M.Y.Seaton. then age 6. If you would like to contribute art, squirrels only, please drop me an email at renmeleon@gmail.com for submission guidelines. Make sure to page past our 2nd writing prompt and read the essays that were submitted in response to our first issue! The Three Dollar Squirrel site is coming along nicely despite a delay caused by my immune system. Diggory’s squirrelly scratch filling notebooks and bringing about the need for translation software, he has been working diligently on it in my abscence. Diggory and I will be unveiling it this weekend if all goes well so make sure to come visit us at http://www.threedollarsquirrel.com ! Want to spread the squirrelly love? Blog-sized banners will be available online soon via Flickr and the site. If you post one we will even link back to you, just let us know! Thank you all for being here, for contributing and for following us along on our writing journeys! Namaste, Ria :) aka Renmeleon
What is your typical writing day like? Well, honestly, I don’t have one. If I have the time, it’s wonderful. If something comes out that I enjoy, then it’s fantastic. Sometimes, I write when I am having breakfast and coffee. It is usually in my journal for an hour or so. Recently, it is a story that I am writing. Enjoying the scenes and the words flowing. Sometimes, I write a quick note in my book at work. Usually, my writing happens more on my days off. When I know I can set aside the time for it. Sometimes, it is at my desk, listening to the rain or the birds chirping. Sometimes, I am listening to music. It is very organic to me. Other times, I am sitting at a diner, writing out things for my characters or their lives. It reminds me of “Nighthawks” from Edward Hopper or a cafe in Paris. They remind me of a life yet to come. Now, for the second question, might be already answered from my first. I really don’t have a set schedule or a specific amount of time. It would remind me too much of a research paper. But I also flip that side of the coin, wondering would it help me move my process along more. Eliza Carvaggio http://www.lattesinferno.com http://www.wordwhimsy.com
Writing times vary per writer as I am sure we all know; very subjective thing. In my case there is no difference. I have two times per day I spend on actual writing. Around five when I awake, and then around ten when I am about to sleep. Both times I turn ANY connection to the internet off as it distracts me. I turn music on, I even have a preloaded mix for writing. I also have a dictation machine which helps but is not as useful as a scrap paper and pen, for after-thoughts or ideas throughout the day. Jason C. Ketcham http://www.wordwhimsy.com
The question is presumptuous, in that it implies that I am a writer. No living being can truly state that they heard such an assumption ever leave my lips. The fact is, I am an arranger! There are only so many notes in the scale, On occasion I have been known to gather those notes and arrange them in a manner that some find pleasing. By the same token, there are only so many words in the English language. I will confess that I have on occasion taken dictionary in hand and attempted to gather together some likely looking sounds with which English speaking people attempt to communicate. I then arrange said words in a manner that is pleasing to me. I seldom have any consideration for what others might think. Now, I will go so far as to enlighten those interested in what a day is like when I am arranging words. Said word arranging days arrive when the mood strikes, when an idea explodes into an array of thoughts that excite the brain lobes, or when requested to address some question, or after completion of such research required by an outside party, and said research must be reduced to paper for preservation of same. Seldom do these days occur consecutively. As long as they only occur sporadically, I remain an arranger of words. Should they become a habit that leads to daily hours in my office, the risk is run of becoming accused of being a writer, or even worse, an author! Ophir Vellenoweth http://www.buddyodance.com As a writer, my schedule is somewhat chaotic. What with work, friends and my daughter, writing time is a commodity that often gets sat aside for other interests sadly. Still I do find myself writing on weekends at work when it is slow, and during my lunch break. My best breakthrough times seem to be when a mood hits me or a particular piece of music is playing in the background. Also quiet time for me like at the library or having a mocha at Starbucks really gets my creative drive started, but as far as a set rigid schedule for writing that just does not work for me. J. Logan Seaton http://www.scoundrelshaven.com http://www.wordwhimsy.com
These days I write on a laptop in the living room. I like distractions, like music and television. I’m a horrible typist. I go back afterwards and correct all my mistyping. But when I write I just keep going, getting the idea out there. I don’t mind background noise at all, except if there’s a regular, maddening sound that doesn’t belong, like dripping water. My husband is a nervous tapper and he often sits next to me as I type. It’s the one thing that drives me up the wall if I’m writing. He doesn’t even realize he does it, so I have to tell him to stop. But I don’t always use the laptop, even if it’s available. Sometimes I’m just more comfortable writing it all down with a pen or a pencil. It’s more of a pleasure to put pen to page, even if I know I’m going to be transcribing later. That sounds very romantic, so I must amend it a little, so folks don’t picture my flowing script. My handwriting is not beautiful. But I like the act of writing. I think different synapses tend to fire when you’re actually writing something down, so I like to do it. I have no real pattern when it comes to writing, no set discipline. Except that I do tend to look at my deadline and make a list of the stories I have due in a Word document. I look at the number of days I have (6) and the number of pieces I have due (8). Then I group them according to days: Monday: Library Programs Tuesday: Shag Dancing Chick Lit Wednesday: Book Swapping Thursday: Summer Reads Cookbooks for the Summer
Friday: Dish Update Ingredient Secrets This list is a phantasm of course. But I make it anyway. If I start to do a piece, say, Ingredient Secrets, on Monday instead of Friday, I move it up on the document. As I do each piece, I take it off the list. But say that I do Ingredient Secret on Monday but don’t actually finish anything else through Wednesday. Then the list will look like this: Thursday: Library Programs Shag Dancing Chick Lit Book Swapping Friday; Summer Reads Cookbooks for the Summer Dish Update Doesn’t it look daunting? I’ve probably started on all of these because I love to jump around from piece to piece. But I haven’t actually finished any of them. As it comes down to crunch time, I figure I better finish something to move things along. So I look at the list to find the one that’s mostly done. And even though it’s Thursday, I rebelliously choose a Friday piece to finish. By Friday my list looks like this: Friday: Dish Update Shag Dancing Cookbooks for the Summer
Have I mentioned that my deadline is actually Saturday, not Friday? I do that so I can “cheat.” On Saturday my list looks like this: Dish Update Somehow, making this list is not a waste of time, even though I don’t follow it. I sort of get things done through procrastination. I procrastinate by doing something else that’s lower on the list. And when I get bored with that, I write an outline for a different piece. Most of the time when I’m working, I am actually avoiding other work. Erin Thursby http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/310986/erin_thursby.html http://www.eujacksonville.com/ http://jaxeatdrinkandbemerry.blogspot.com/ I tend to write whenever my mind allows. It can be 7 AM before I am at work, or 4 AM on my day off after I have listened to specific types of music. Genres of music that work best for me tend to include chant or vocals primarily, or tend to be orchestrations used for movie soundtracks. Movie scores work best for me, samples without words. Often I must have a good coffee, although I am productive in the quiet of a Cafe or restaurant, or in my own home. Many of the things I write possess characters who devote themselves to a cause or labor, many often come across as fanatical. When I want to write, I read anything that can spur my creativity or my ability to philosophize about the order of the universe. This often helps me put together situations or characteristics that work well for the character in my story who may be on a quest, or involved with the religious authorities in some way. I have a small pocket-sized reader of St. Thomas Aquinas’s Summa on my bed-table, and often the dissertation on angels helps me with the structure of the supernatural world, even if that view is strictly from my shared Roman Catholic viewpoint. Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno” is also good for the structure of such fictional skepticism. Writing used to be much simpler for me, since I used to pen poetry, and the words came easier for me when they had meter
or end rhyme. Writing for plot and story is definitely a bigger challenge for me, and I find that more and more my characters are well-detailed and share my familiarity, much like I would know my own brother, before I write anything relating to plot. Of late, I often find myself at a crossroads in my writing where I need to open up fresh notebooks and begin layout of plot sequence or events as they relate to their scenes and the characters involved. Val M. Selvaggio http://romandeadguys.wordwhimsy.com http://www.wordwhimsy.com
When I make time to write, my writing style tends to be kind of haphazard, just like my artwork and sewing! I have always loved the research part of the writing process. Sitting in my dining room or a library, surrounded by good pens, books and the antique book smells. Now I can sit on the computer for hours and research, but it’s not the same. Printing a page off from a site I have found is not the same as sitting at a library desk with 10 books stacked on either side of me. To begin I will usually focus on the research part for a while, gathering information, quotes and resources. I have to work in stages so I don’t feel overwhelmed. This is always a good time for doodles on the sides of my notes. Sketching or doodling helps with inspiration and my thinking process. Later, I will gather my notes, number them and process the information by importance. This is another fun part because I get to pare down what is needed. I will take those notes and type them in the computer, thank God for spell check! From here I reorganize, add and subtract words from my beloved notes. My tendency is to write how I speak, so my husband is always helpful with adding words and rephrasing my paragraphs! Even though art is my first passion, I do enjoy writing. The process is an incredible challenge for my mind and the way I read other persons writings. Kellie Gedert www.bluegirlink.etsy.com www.one20farm.etsy.com www.one20farm.blogspot.com
Most of my creative work happens between midnight and 5AM, which means I wake up around noonish, take care of e-mails, production work, and the various administrative tasks during daylight, have dinner, see friends, and then get to work. It’s all about setting aside a reasonably consistent time to put your butt in the seat and keep it there. The inspiration takes care of itself at that point. (Apparently I share this basic philosophy with Nora Roberts. Good company.) In the case of Monster-specific writing I found the best method to be this: Let other people do it. Stefan Bucher http://dailymonster.com http://344design.com http://neologist.org
Come visit Daily Monster no. 186 in all his squirrelly goodness on Stefan’s site at: http://344design.typepad.com/344_loves_you/2008/04/dailymonste-18.html ...or simply http://tinyurl.com/SquirrelMonster There are some FABULOUS stories written for each monster and you can even pick up a copy of his book, 100 Days of Monsters, that comes with a DVD-ROM of all the monster videos from the project! Much fun. *There are two stories by Ana Maria Seaton in the book too!
Writing days are those blissful days you dream of when your phone goes straight to voicemail, your family is off somewhere having a good time; you have hired someone to come in, clean your home, make food for you and stealthily slide it onto your desk when you forget to eat. They refill your candy dish and tell you how to spell a word so you don’t have to break your flow to look it up, and drain your catheter bag so you don’t have to go to the bathroom and lose your train of thought. Ok, that last bit is going a bit too far but you get the idea. In truth, the perfect writing day is a myth for most of us and you have to just find time to write when and where you can. There are always little comforts we afford ourselves, sometimes without even realizing it. A favorite pen, a well-loved journal or a preferred style of notebook, certain kinds of music we like to listen to. All of it contributes to our writing environment. Your writing environment is that comfy little spot in time that we carve out for ourselves, whether planned or on the fly which is usually the average; sometimes you have to just drop everything when the inspiration hits. For me a typical writing day is anything but. I keep a to-do list on my computer, normally several pages long, that includes a bulleted outline of the baby steps needed to complete each one. And I break things down ridiculously small sometimes because it gives me a better sense that I am moving forward and getting things done, even if it is something as simple as Come up with a title for the __ story. Give yourself a little pat on the back when you get something done because no matter how small it is, it is still a step in the right direction. I tend to go analog when I am writing but have been known to type directly into MS Word on either my desktop or laptop computers when my brain is moving too fast for me to keep up with it. There is something to be said though for the feel of the paper under your hand and the drag of the pen across the page. If I am focusing on one project, I try to gather all the things around me that pertain to it. Sometimes I will compile all the notes, notebooks, binders, and reference material into a tote bag and carry it with me to wherever I am camping out for my writing time. My favorite tools are cheap grad-ruled, spiral bound notebooks and Pentel Energel .5mm Gel Pens in black; the latter of which are extremely hard to find these days. I have always preferred quad notebooks because they give me side margins, a
place to doodle, and lately I have been absolutely prolific in them. The cheap part frees me up from the guilt of filling them so quickly. The music I listen to varies but I love movie and game soundtracks with their pre-packaged emotion the best. When I am inspired by a piece of music, I loop it until the scene I am writing is done. I also make sure to make a note of it in the margin or at the top of the page. Same thing with any movies I play in the background. If I need to set it down and come back to it later, having those notes helps me to go back where I left off and pick the mood back up. I enjoy writing in the local Starbucks or independent coffeehouse as opposed to the library. I can write in the library but I need the extra sounds of noisy cafes; people talking, espresso machines and their loud rumblings as they steam up their frothy goodness. It all acts as kind of a “white noise” in effect. And busy public places, especially cafes, provide lots of novel fodder. Being a homeschool mom who works from home, I am not always able to get out when I want to and finding quiet time to do so from home can be a real challenge. I take breaks when I work but that usually isn’t feasible when I am writing. Breaking my train of thought could be hazardous to the flow of words so I try to set everything up around me ahead of time. Worst case, I put a movie in for my daughter and camp out in my overstuffed chair to write for at least two solid hours, more if the movie has Special Features; we don’t have TV by choice and she has to earn her one movie a day limit. I can spend time with my daughter and get some writing done at the same time if I am lucky. The only other chance I have to write is at night. I am somewhat of a night owl and enjoy sitting up writing and/or reading in bed at night before I go to sleep. Some of my best writing times are when I wake in the morning though. Either way, the house is quiet so my thoughts and I are undisturbed. Ana Maria Seaton http://www.renmeleon.com http://artforcures.ning.com http://www.cafepress.com/renmeleon
My writing tends to follow a standard and one of an erratic schedule. My conflicting styles manifest themselves as relaxed, well-organized, charted waters counterweighted by sporadic musings sandblasted at breakneck speed onto napkins, sticky notes or notebooks. As for the organized version: I pick a beginning write time (usually sometime in the morning or early afternoon) and try to start with a writing exercise from my many writing and prompt books within hand’s reach to help break the ice of the task ahead of me. It gets the creative juices flowing and usually quite fun. Then, I jot down how many words I’d like to add to the particular story or project I’m working on upon my excel sheet. Yes, I keep an excel type sheet with the story/project name, words I intend to add, actual words I added, the total words, and how many pages were added. This is a self reference to show my progress (or lack thereof) in a month’s/year’s time. I tweak the excel sheet to list revision time, research time, etc. as needed. Writing down how many words written, etc. gives a great feeling of accomplishment. And watching the total words soar higher and higher tells your inner writer “We can do this!” Music occasionally resonates around my writing room as I write if it creates the desired mood. Otherwise I might light a pleasant scented candle or spicy incense. Frequently I scoot cats from my writing space or coral them to an approved spot on my slightly clutter desk. I write on a lap top computer because I love how quiet it is compared to the loud motor of my older desktop computer. Much more writing and thinking is accomplished. I have a white eraser board and plain paper for drawings and thinking concepts through before settling back into the office chair to work the ideas into comprehendible sentences. As for the sporadic version: I go about my day and occasionally something will hit me just so that I MUST write it down. Be it a line of dialogue, a witty poem, a story title name, or a five page of two characters interacting that suddenly blossomed from a stranger’s stare at Wal-mart. You just never know when an idea will strike you. So I now carry a small notebook with me and write down any observation or ideas that happen to waylay me while I’m happily coasting through my must-do errands. Later I tear the notes out of my little book and place them in the appropriate place. Some get filed under a certain story I’m
working on or placed into the idea box or it may find a home in the trash can. Lots of times I’m driving and suddenly my mind is zooming with character what-if’s, ideas of native clothing for an imagined lost tribe, or how I forgot to include scents or develop a detailed enough back drop for the last paragraph I wrote. So the notebook is very handy! Sometimes you just got to pull over into the nearest gas station or restaurant parking lot and jot those thoughts down to write in the heat of the moment. So to me it’s a balancing of the two opposite above that keeps me typically and continually writing - navigating the fiery rollercoaster of creativity and inspiration vs. the controlled summoning of ideas among documentation within the writer’s sacred space. Laurel Mathis http://delvingdryad.wordwhimsy.com http://www.wordwhimsy.com The process of writing, for me at least, is a difficult thing to organize. Some days, the ideas come fast and easy and the all the perfect words are right there when I reach for them. Other days, no matter how ruthlessly I’ve carved out an undisturbed block of time to sit down and make some real progress on a story, I might as well have spent the time at the mall. In general, however, there are two things that happen: The writing muse never speaks to me after about 3:00 in the afternoon (though sometimes she comes staggering back around midnight, apparently after a night on the town, and gushes fevered, purple prose that never sounds as beautiful in the light of day as it did at two in the morning); and there are some blessed mornings when I wake up and hear a small but firm little voice in my head dictating the next part of my story to me. When this happens, no matter what piece of life might be getting in the way, it’s time to grab the big spiral-bound notebook and write what I can (if I can’t stop and set up the computer), or let the grass grow and the errands go undone for the chance to go whole hog and fire up the laptop for a real writing session. The greatest drawback to my method? Probably not the fault of my method at all, this tendency to spend my precious writing time rewriting what I’ve already written, sometimes to the point of going back and making revisions to the long-finished first chapter. That is a failure of
willpower, or perhaps just a first-time novelist’s jitters about keeping the continuity in such a large and complex work. But that’s a discussion for another day. Karen Dillon http://www.wordwhimsy.com What is your typical writing day like? Well, honestly, I don’t have one. If I have the time, it’s wonderful. If something comes out that I enjoy, then it’s fantastic. Sometimes, I write when I am having breakfast and coffee. It is usually in my journal for an hour or so. Recently, it is a story that I am writing. Enjoying the scenes and the words flowing. Sometimes, I write a quick note in my book at work. Usually, my writing happens more on my days off. When I know I can set aside the time for it. Sometimes, it is at my desk, listening to the rain or the birds chirping. Sometimes, I am listening to music. It is very organic to me. Other times, I am sitting at a diner, writing out things for my characters or their lives. It reminds me of “Nighthawks” from Edward Hopper or a cafe in Paris. They remind me of a life yet to come. Now, for the second question, might be already answered from my first. I really don’t have a set schedule or a specific amount of time. It would remind me too much of a research paper. But I also flip that side of the coin, wondering would it help me move my process along more. Liza Dalrymple http://www.lattesinferno.com http://www.wordwhimsy.com
I rarely have an entire day to devote to writing so when I have the opportunity I begin with a clean workspace and add a bit of inspiration. Most of the time I crack open one of my style manuals and get back to basics or I might employ an amusing selection to get the creative juices flowing like The Renegade Writer*. I can also attest to the effectiveness of a small two-minute hourglass to hammer out thoughts for editing. A digital timer works well too, but there is something to be said for the visual aspect of sand running through an hourglass that inspires a sense of urgency. Depending upon my mood, I will also listen to various genres of music when I write. My favorites include; Jazz, Classical, and Electronica, (in that order). There are times however, when I cannot do with any distraction and I will employ the use of earplugs to block out unwanted noise from the outside world. This is particularly effective when I have production projects to write for work and there are fireworks extravaganzas taking place in every backyard in the neighborhood! Happy Independence Day Squirrel Enthusiasts! Eve Bell http://www.wordwhimsy.com *Formichelli, Linda and Dianna Burrell. (2005). The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success. IL: Marion Street Press.
WRITERS, GET INVOLVED! As a participant, you get up to three links in the zine and exposure from Three Dollar Squirrel website as well as on both the Renmeleon and Word Whimsy sites. If you are a writer and would like to get involved in future issues, please drop me an email at renmeleon (at) gmail.com and for more information visit: http://www.wordwhimsy.com/projects.html
TIPS ON ORDERING SQUIRRELS THROUGH THE MAIL: For additional copies of Three Dollar Squirrel, stop by the shop at http://renmeleon.etsy.com SUBSCRIPTIONS 3, 6, and 12 month subscriptions are also available on Etsy! ========= THE WRITER’S GROUP For more information on the Word Whimsy writer’s group, come visit us online at: http://www.wordwhimsy.com ========= WHOLESALE Want a few Squirrels wholesale? Drop an email to me at renmeleon@gmail.com with the words “Wholesale Squirrel” in your subject line.
One of our favorite things to do in Word Whimsy is our monthly Collaborative Word List. Each member contributes five (5) words and I compile them into one list. The challenge then is to use all of the words in the list, in their provided tense, in a story between that month’s meeting and the next. It is a great way to increase your vocabulary and shove you out of your comfort zone. We have had some great successes with the Collaborative Word List. In most cases, people who find themselves blocked sit down, inspired, and write several pages. It is a time to relax, loosen your pen in your hand and motivate. Below are five new words for you. See if you can write a page using all of the words. If you do, drop me an email and I will publish your story* in the next issue!
WORDY CHALLENGE NO. 2 paltry - ridiculously or insultingly small; utterly worthless. reverent - feeling, exhibiting, or characterized by reverence. chaotic - completely confused or disordered. incubus - something that weighs on you like a nightmare. flighty - frivolous; slightly delirious; light-headed; irresponsible. If you would like to play with our Collaborative Word List join us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wordwhimsy/ then come register on our forums at: http://www.wordwhimsy.com/forums Try your hand at one of our past word lists and read some of the stories that have been posted! Email me at renmeleon@gmail.com if you have any questions. *All stories subject to proofread and approval. Please keep it PG. Words and their definitions from http://www.dictionary.com
WRITING PROMPT NO. 2 Your car breaks down on the side of what you thought would be a good road to take for a shorcut. You are miles from anywhere and there is no signal on your cell phone. You see a light through the trees. Write about the journey toward the light and what you find when you get there. __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
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PROMPTLY INSPIRED Replies to Writing Prompt No. 1 In our first issue of Three Dollar Squirrel, we included a prompt asking you to choose an item from the things you have collected over the years and let it tell the story of how it came to be where it lives right now. Here are the responses we received! ¨¨¨¨¨°º©º°¨¨¨¨°º©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©º°¨¨¨¨
I WONDER Mother nature was in her finest display of fall colors, and I had not seen my father for over a month. It was time to stop by his appliance store, sit across the desk, and solve the problems of the world once again. Dad was about 76 years of age at the time, and still lived on the farm where I was raised. He hadn’t farmed for many years, and let the place grow up. It said it made a nice refuge for small game, as well as the deer which now claimed a place in the system. As our conversation drew to a close, Dad asked what I was doing on Sunday. I replied I had nothing on the agenda, and so he asked if I would come out to the farm Sunday morning. My reply was in the affirmative. This was not an unusual invitation. Quite often I would drive to the farm just after daylight on a Sunday morning and visit. He would make some cornbread, and the two of us would sit in front of the picture window in the kitchen, partake of cornbread and milk, and look out over the wooded valley behind the farmhouse. Also of great interest was the huge bird feeder he had installed on top of a post just outside the picture window. What an inspiring scene on a Sunday morning not long after daylight ! I would conclude my visit, vow to do it again, and be back at my house just about the time the wife and our five children were getting up. On this occasion, as I was about to leave, my Dad asked that I wait a minute as he had something for me. I couldn’t imagine what it was, and was both shocked and delighted when he came
out of the storage room by the kitchen with what I had always perceived as his favorite shotgun ! It was a 16 gauge, double barrel Ithaca. He and I had hunted on the farm, and had taken a couple of hunting trips into other areas of West Virginia over the years. While he had three other shotguns, he always took the double barrel Ithaca. I expressed my deep appreciation, and was about to leave when he stopped me. “Son, when you get home, I want you to remove the recoil pad from the stock. You will see a small slot in the stock under the pad. Turn the gun up and shake it. You should find something of interest in that slot. I couldn’t imagine what he was talking about, but assured him I would follow his instructions. On arriving home, I obtained a skinny screwdriver out of a drawer in the kitchen, and removed the recoil pad as instructed. Indeed, there was a slot in the stock under the pad. I turned the gun up and shook it. Something metal wrapped in tissue paper fell out onto the counter. Picking up the oblong piece of metal, I unwrapped the tissue paper. I was dumbfounded ! My eyes watered over, and the tears began to trickle down my cheeks. It was difficult to read the solid silver plate through the tears, but there was no mistaking the words inscribed thereon... Mrs. Dorothy Vellenoweth from Ophir November 14, 1931 My Mother’s birthday was November 14. This had been a birthday present from my Dad to my Mother. As I dried away the tears, I now saw for the first time, the little holes on the side of the stock where the silver plate had been attached, and the little silver screws were within the tissue paper. I quickly attached the plate back on the side of the stock. My wife now entered the kitchen, and I handed her the shotgun, and said, “Look what Dad gave me this morning.” My wife gave the weapon a cursory glance and handed it
back with the comment that no doubt I was pleased that he gave me what she thought was his favorite gun, and that no doubt I would treasure it. “Look at the plate on the stock !” I implored. My wife read the plate, and then looked at me with what one might describe as shock! What is the big deal about the plate? My birthday is December 10, 1931. Yep, I was born just twenty seven days after my Mother received a double barrel shotgun for a birthday present. It sits in the corner of my office where I see it every time I enter or leave the office. I often wonder what my Mother said upon receiving a shotgun for her birthday, and being eight months with child, or what she might have thought. I was there, but I don’t remember, I just wonder! contributed by Ophir Vellenoweth http://www.buddyodance.com
¨¨¨¨¨°º©º°¨¨¨¨°º©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©º°¨¨¨¨ ORPHAN I love to collect things. I am always on the lookout for things that are unique and meaningful. One such piece that I found in November of 2007 sticks out in my mind. There is a flea market within 30 minutes of my house. Next to that is what most would consider a junk shop. Two long, large buildings filled to the brim with piles and stacks, oxes and shelves of every manner of item that could be discarded, and was, throughout one’s lifetime. It was on one of these shelves, buried in a pile, that I found three things: A well-worn Harper’s Bazaar magazine for 20 cents that was far from complete but good for scanning for paper arts ephemera. A coffee table-sized book, all but held together by a thread, full of hundreds of antique maps for the same scannable purpose and at the bargain basement price of 50 cents. And something that so intrigued me that I would have paid 20 dollars
just for the chance to sit and listen to the story it would tell me. I set everything down, shouldered my bag, and wiped my hands on my pants before carefully picking up the index cardsized book. It was in a leather zipper-bound case and had once been beautifully illustrated with gold ink on its face. in wonderfully good condition overall, it was “softly worn” as though it had been carried close to the body in a pocket for many years like an old man’s wallet. Like a child’s first Christmas morning, I gently pulled the zipper around the top, side, and bottom edge of the book. Regardless of what was inside, this obviously well-loved object had earned my respect. My breath caught in my throat as I pulled back the cover. Laying pristine in its leathery bed, was a copy of the Qu’ran in black and white illuminated text. I was in awe. A handwritten inscription in the front of the book told me that it had been a gift of encouragement and love.
To Justin -
December 1988
Inspirational words for your insuppressible spirit.
Love, Veronica
I immediately felt sad. It was obvious that this piece had been treasured by whoever carried it; no marks in the book save the gifting, no loose papers or lint in the cover. What happened to its owner? Had they lost it? How long had it been with them? A sadness crept in that made me suddenly reverant...had they died? Regardless of how it had come to be here, it was here, and what I held in my hand was an orphan collecting dust, left alone in its memories of a lost life as someone’s companion. Waiting for someone to take it home and make it right again. I will probably never be able to read Arabic in this lifetime. The
Koran is not part of my personal spiritual beliefs. I respect what it is. I admire the faith which once held it in their hands. I think it is beautiful and I do not have to be any of those things to do what is right and give it a place of respect and care in my home. My ex-husband once bought a military veteran’s memorial flag, folded in its triangular wooden case, that he had found sitting in the dirt at a yard sale. Someone died for that flag and it was sold for 5 dollars cash. It now sits atop the highboy in his room in a place of honor. Sometimes you don’t have to be personally involved in something to do the right thing. contributed by Ana Maria Seaton http://www.renmeleon.com ¨¨¨¨¨°º©º°¨¨¨¨°º©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©º°¨¨¨¨ HUNK OF STONE One glance and my glassy innards are revealed. For I have a white, translucent crystalline shape that fits firmly in the palm of your hand. I’d make a great paperweight or interest piece on a shelf in the living room, but instead I sit below double windows on a table surrounded by a mini fairy statue, colorful precious stones, ornate tiny bowls and unlit candles. Hidden away in this far off room for only my owner’s eyes to relish and her fingers to caress. For I am dear to her.
Twenty years prior, my glossy quartz presence rested beneath books, paper and clothing. No one hardly knew I was even there. Just a hunk of stone passing the days in darkness. The girl’s room was so badly cluttered, I hadn’t seen daylight in a season! Finally one day the endless night filled with fluorescent light as crumpled fashion magazines hurled through the air into the trash bin, Metallica T-shirts and jeans were rounded up like wayward sheep, and filthy, food-encrusted dishes disappeared downstairs. One small patch at a time, the beige carpet was unveiled in its entirety. And I was moved to a new destination. Now in plain sight on a windowsill, I watched Allison’s day to day regimen. The strawberry-haired, petite girl enjoyed listening to fast, thumping music, tireless drawing, self fashion shows, and constant chatting on the phone. Not long after, her and another girl entered late one afternoon. They filled the room with zealous giggling among the moody tunes of Judas Priest and whispered gossip uttered by teenagers during twilight. A twinkle in Alison’s mossy-green eyes followed by a wide smile led to her lifting me into her small, sapphire-painted fingertips hand. “Would you like this?” she asked her friend. “It’s beautiful! You don’t want it?” I saw the confusion there in her crinkled expression as she wondered why her friend did not want such a treasure. “Well, my dad did give it to me. But he gave me others. You should have this one.” “Really?” The friend smiled. “I couldn’t.” “Here!” I dropped into new hands. These hands were soft and tingling with excitement. Hazel eyes scrutinized my foggy depths, layers of quartz crystal, like a window view into a snowy day. Fingers rubbed my many blunt edges. And nestled in her hands, I knew she felt my warmth. That night I lay clenched in her hand as she slept. And the next day I was proudly placed on a bedside table. As days past, I watched the auburn-haired, tall girl grow into adulthood. And on
restless nights or during a feverish drowsiness, her hand would reach for me and hold me. Together we’d shared a comforting presence. The girl grew to a woman and moved to place to place, allows sorting me into the keep pile and always holding a conscious place of my presence in her mind. And as I sit in my spot on the hard wood table, where cats step around my hard surface or nudge me here and there. Where I watch my owner stew over her lap top and tap long melodies of keystrokes. Where I hear her frantic scribbling of her sketches to paper. Where I observe her read thick books or bead silvery necklaces or paste garden images into a scrapbook. I watch, listen and contemplate from this position on the tabletop. Here in my place of honor. contributed by Laurel Mathis http://delvingdryad.wordwhimsy.com
Where to begin… The memorable life of something like this item is rich in faith, devotion, and love; a rosary in black with a hollow statue of Mary to store it when not used. The rosary has been in my family at least forty-five years. My great-uncle Roberto, whom we call Bobby, my grandmother’s younger brother, carried this rosary during the four years he was at the Camaldolese Monastery in Northern California after his first wife asked him for a divorce. My uncle, deeply Catholic and of a generation still regarding marriage as holy and sacramental, became a monk and persisted there until personally strengthened to move on. What I wouldn’t give to have been in the prayerful cloister during this rosary’s devoted time in the monastery. There is something deeply powerful about these beads, even when I hold them. I can still see the spots of slight wear from the exposed wood beneath black stain. The crucifix is the original, but now held on with a round necklace closure. The entire rosary, all its weight and its statue, I can recall seeing in my grandmother’s sewing room for as long as I can recall. It was not until last year, upon my turning 30, that my
grandmother felt that I should be the next to give it the devotion and love over any other. There are none left in my family who recite pious prayers or who even carry reliquary. I, nearly becoming a priest at one time, find them to hold special power from one’s belief. They provide comfort in sorrow or pain, fortitude in trial, and remind of sacrifices we too must make. They deserve honor in our homes, and frequent and delicate use, as one who holds a person’s hand. This rosary has been given a quiet, reverent place in our home, and the inside still bears the scent of the wooden beads that have absorbed the Curel moisturizing cream my grandmother still uses to this day. contributed by Val M. Slevaggio http://romandeadguys.wordwhimsy.com
A special thank you to phenomenally talented Amy Ng of Pikaland for her inspiration and encouragement. Amy’s “Good to Know” zine covers the artful side of creativity and is a wonderful resource for both artists and writers alike. I am blessed to be a participant as well! Thank you Amy! xoxo
Three Dollar Squirrel : A writers zine for writers by writers on the act, art, and process of writing.
ISSN: 1948-7118 produced by
Word Whimsy www.wordwhimsy.com in cooperation with
Dragonfly Press Publishing www.dragonflypresspublishing.com illustration/photography © 2009 ana maria seaton the renaissance chameleon | www.renmeleon.com unless otherwise attributed all content copyright protected by the individual creatives the opinions expressed in this zine belong to the individual authors and are not the opinions of Word Whimsy or its founders (unless our name is on them). so remember kids: diversity makes you think and censorship is just imposing your opinion over someone else’s. be tolerant and look through someone else’s eyes. just my opinion. :) reproduction and/or distribution of this zine in part or in full is prohibited without the written permission of ana maria seaton and will result in bad karma and unexplained instances of rabid squirrel visitation.