Comments on: The ungoals of summer http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer For writers, readers, and independent thinkers--book talk for readers and writers, life chats when we need them, writers' motivational articles, secret behind-the-scenes stories from the publishing trenches, and more. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:31:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6588 robin Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:00:50 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6588 Mary, I've been there, too. (By the way, welcome to the blog!) What else can any of us do but take care of ourselves in the way that seems most appropriate at the moment? If it's time to crack the whip, do it. If it's time to lay off for a while and see what blossoms on its own, do that. I'm a big believer in going with the gut, and if your gut says, "Shape up! Sit up straight! Do your work!" then you have to do it that way for now. Good luck! Mary, I’ve been there, too. (By the way, welcome to the blog!) What else can any of us do but take care of ourselves in the way that seems most appropriate at the moment? If it’s time to crack the whip, do it. If it’s time to lay off for a while and see what blossoms on its own, do that. I’m a big believer in going with the gut, and if your gut says, “Shape up! Sit up straight! Do your work!” then you have to do it that way for now.

Good luck!

]]> By: Mary Whitsell http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6584 Mary Whitsell Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:05:38 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6584 I am filled with admiration, but I cannot follow suit. Yet. Perhaps because I have been a little too lenient with myself lately, I am now doing quite the opposite and have myself very firmly on a leash, observing a list of dos and don'ts. This program of austerity is for the best, though I am allowing myself almost unlimited activity... I am filled with admiration, but I cannot follow suit. Yet.

Perhaps because I have been a little too lenient with myself lately, I am now doing quite the opposite and have myself very firmly on a leash, observing a list of dos and don’ts. This program of austerity is for the best, though I am allowing myself almost unlimited activity…

]]> By: Sara http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6583 Sara Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:53:13 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6583 I said "no" to golf for a long time. To me, it was something my grandpa did with a cigar in his mouth. Plus, my husband grew up on a dairy farm, and his dad thinks golf courses are a "waste of good pasture land." But then I found out that playing puts me in a meditative state. That playing helps with emotional self-control. That things I thought I was horrible at, like spatial judgment, were actually learnable. The only children's book author I know that plays is Jane Yolen. (She mentioned it once, on her online journal, I think) I said “no” to golf for a long time. To me, it was something my grandpa did with a cigar in his mouth. Plus, my husband grew up on a dairy farm, and his dad thinks golf courses are a “waste of good pasture land.”

But then I found out that playing puts me in a meditative state. That playing helps with emotional self-control. That things I thought I was horrible at, like spatial judgment, were actually learnable.

The only children’s book author I know that plays is Jane Yolen. (She mentioned it once, on her online journal, I think)

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6577 robin Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:15:09 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6577 Thank you all for saying such nice things! Very sweet to come home to. Alkelda, someone else was telling me about <em>Devil's Playground</em> a few months ago, and I promptly forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me! I do want to see that. Sara, no to golf. Ever. No offense. But no. Laura, thank you! And let me say again in public what an awesome event you threw for Masha Hamilton and her Camel Bookmobile. Top quality. Jen, Katie, Sara, thanks for exposing yourselves via meme! And everyone else, again, thanks a lot for your kind words about my list. I hope you all decide to cut yourselves an equal amount of slack!! Thank you all for saying such nice things! Very sweet to come home to.

Alkelda, someone else was telling me about Devil’s Playground a few months ago, and I promptly forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me! I do want to see that.

Sara, no to golf. Ever. No offense. But no.

Laura, thank you! And let me say again in public what an awesome event you threw for Masha Hamilton and her Camel Bookmobile. Top quality.

Jen, Katie, Sara, thanks for exposing yourselves via meme!

And everyone else, again, thanks a lot for your kind words about my list. I hope you all decide to cut yourselves an equal amount of slack!!

]]> By: Nancy http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6571 Nancy Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:52:41 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6571 Robin, I knew you'd make me proud and envious with your list. I might have to print it and read it several times a day for inspiration. You are my hero. Robin,

I knew you’d make me proud and envious with your list. I might have to print it and read it several times a day for inspiration.

You are my hero.

]]> By: Laura Fitzgerald http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6570 Laura Fitzgerald Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:36:12 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6570 Robin, I meant to tell you I loved the skirt & top you wore the other night. Very appropriate cleavage, you girly-girl. Excellent goals. Robin, I meant to tell you I loved the skirt & top you wore the other night. Very appropriate cleavage, you girly-girl.

Excellent goals.

]]> By: Vivian http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6569 Vivian Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:34:00 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6569 Robin, I love your goals. What a nice way to celebrate you and take charge of your own life! Here's to a wonderful summer. Robin,
I love your goals. What a nice way to celebrate you and take charge of your own life! Here’s to a wonderful summer.

]]> By: eisha http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6568 eisha Mon, 11 Jun 2007 01:30:50 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6568 I love this list. Esp. the daisies. Buy yourself an extra bunch from me. I love this list. Esp. the daisies. Buy yourself an extra bunch from me.

]]> By: Sara http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6567 Sara Mon, 11 Jun 2007 01:15:12 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6567 OK, I did it. They are here: http://www.saralewisholmes.com/newsletter.htm Hope you had a great hike while I was slaving away inside, updating my website. :) OK, I did it. They are here: http://www.saralewisholmes.com/newsletter.htm

Hope you had a great hike while I was slaving away inside, updating my website. :)

]]> By: Sara http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6561 Sara Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:47:43 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/the-ungoals-of-summer#comment-6561 Hey, Robin, thanks for the tag. Being blog-less, I will post my list under the "What's New?" page on my website. Gotta go make up...I mean, articulate...my goals now... PS. Goals #2 and #3 can be accomplished together, if you would learn how to play golf. Golf is really a lot like hiking if you walk the course (5 miles) and I know where to buy really cute golf skirts. And fun gloves. Hey, Robin, thanks for the tag. Being blog-less, I will post my list under the “What’s New?” page on my website. Gotta go make up…I mean, articulate…my goals now…

PS. Goals #2 and #3 can be accomplished together, if you would learn how to play golf. Golf is really a lot like hiking if you walk the course (5 miles) and I know where to buy really cute golf skirts. And fun gloves.

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