I've Moved!

I've moved. Not too far though!!

You can find me, and all the Five Sentence Fiction fun, here now: http://lilliemcferrin.com/

Hope to see you all over at my new place :)

Forbidden Love Blog Hop

I am so excited to team up with lovely Lady Bullish and fantastic Janelle to host a blog hop of forbidden love. Think Romeo and Juliet, but with your own twist and ending. End the story however you like! If happily ever after is where your heart takes you, go for it!! 

Find and post inspiration at our Forbidden Love Blog Hop pinterst board! If you need an invite, just let one of us know and we'll be glad to set you up!!

Details

The link will be open from June 1 – June 15 
Word Count = 300 max
Winners will be announced June 22

Prizes:

1st place: 50 page critique from Me.
2nd place: 20 page critique from Lady Bullish.
3rd place: Book: Love Letters of Great Men from Janelle. 

Just because you're awesome: I am offering a 5 page critique or query letter critique to everyone who links up and participates in the Forbidden Love blog hop. Just grab my email from the contact tab up top and email me your pages along with a link to your entry!!

Here's the code if you'd like to put it in your entry for your blogger friends to link up:

<!-- start InLinkz script -->
<script type="text/javascript">
                document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src=http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=158049&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');</script>
<!-- end InLinkz script -->

Five Sentence Fiction - Orange

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

It was close!!

Ocean was in the lead for a while, but  the word you chose for FSF this week: ORANGE.







I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

More than a chore!

Source

I’m not sure when it happened, but I realized yesterday that I view writing like I do exercising. It’s this thing that I want to do, but have to psych myself out to get going. Most days my sneakers stare at me, taunting me, much like my keyboard has begun to do. Running is something I love to do, but the actual lacing up and getting out there is the hardest thing sometimes. However, once I get going I lose myself in the pavement beneath my feet and the music blaring through my earphones.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about writing. I want to write, but sometimes I treat it like a chore rather than a passion. But, the writing is just like running! Once I get going, get my fingers moving, it’s a lovely thing that melts away stresses and worries.

So, I have to figure out how to get past viewing writing as a task to tackle and remember it’s so much more than that. It’s my life! I must get back to living.

Any ideas? What do you do when you get to this place?

Faerytaleish Pinterest Contest

I almost missed linking up for Anna's genius and truly enjoyable contest!!

It was a curious day. Curious day indeed. The sun broke through the window three inches farther to the left than yesterday. Odd thing for a sun to do, but I knew why. The ray that was where it shouldn’t have been lit up the sock I misplaced yesterday. Yes, the sun is a kind soul, finder of lost things, and caster of warmth even in the coldest of places.

First thing I did was put that sock on. It became a lucky sock, you see; the sun made it so. After finding its mate, I brushed my teeth the required two minutes. A second less and my mouth would feel moss coated in the missed locations all day.

With a clean mouth, I padded down the hall in my warm socks to fill my grumbling belly. Now this is when the curious becomes curiouser. (I feel that a lucky sock gives one license to make up words from time to time.) While Sparticus, my hamster, prefers warm grits for breakfast, I like cereal. When reaching for my cereal I was surprised that my fingers caught only a breeze. My cereal was missing. Misplaced. Well, like anyone else would do, I went back to my bedroom and searched the places lit by the sun for the missing box of oats and honey, but it was not to be found.

Shaking my head, I began to wonder if this sock was lucky after all. Just as I decided to get back in bed and try to start the day over, I saw them. Big, colorful, full of air. Just for me. Well, my luck had returned.

Shrugging on my coat and donning my cap I headed out with my balloons in hand to see the world from a new perspective.

  If you have a Wordpress blog, here is the proper code:

Let's get Creative!!

Thanks to everyone who voted in the Five Sentence Fiction poll. I was really suprised that orange took the win, but super excited to see all of the directions that you creative souls will take!!

You may or may not have noticed our FSF badge is somewhat...lacking. It was a shot in the dark one late evening and I haven't taken the time to amp it up. FSF would truly be nothing without each of you and your participation by writing and/or reading all of the amazing pieces each week. Because of that, I want YOU to create our badge! I'll come up with one of my own too.

In case you don't have a program of choice for such things check out Photobucket. That's my favorite place.

Here's how it will work:

1) Create the badge you would like represent FSF.
2) Post it on your blog and link up below so we can check out your brilliance.
3) Check out all of the other badges.
4) Vote for your favorite by number in the comments section after the linky closes. I'll post the winner badge on 06/20 to give you guys time to vote.

I will leave the linky open from 05/31 - 06/10.

Okay! Now go get creative :)

Amazing things to Come

I've teamed up with two lovely write brained bloggers, Ruth Long and Janelle Wilson, for a blog hop extraordinaire. So, set your calendars for June 1, 2012! All of the details of our flash fiction contest will be released then on each of our blogs.

Kreativ Blogger Award

I’ve been tagged for the 'Kreativ Blogger Award. Yay!! Big thanks to Matt Sloan and Lisa Shambrook for the honor.

The Rules:
1. Thank & link back to the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the ten questions.
3. Share ten random facts/thoughts about yourself.
4. Nominate seven worthy blogs for the Kreative Blogger Award.

The Questions:
1. What's your favorite song?
Without question, my favorite song is this one:

2. What's your favorite dessert?
Chocolate anything and everything.

3. What ticks you off?
Bullies!!! Anyone who needs to cut someone down to empower themselves drives me crazy.

4. What do you do when you're upset?
I like to run or sit at the beach.

5. Which is your favorite pet?
Until five years ago I’d never had a pet, aside from a goldfish or two. When I met Duke I fell in love immediately J Dogs rule!!!

6. Which do you prefer: black or white?
I have way too many black clothes, but decorating wise, I love white.

7. What is your biggest fear?
Losing my independence to Multiple Sclerosis. My poor family would have to put up with me and I can be demanding, lol.

8. What is your attitude mostly?
Optimistic. At least that’s the goal. I believe everything happens for a reason and things always work out!

9. What is perfection?
The first word that came to mind when I read the question was happiness.

10. What is your guilty pleasure?
Notebooks. It’s so much fun to find a new, fancy notebook. I have to buy it even though I have twenty other empty ones at home.

The Random Facts:
1. My favorite color is blue…I think everything should be blue.
2. I didn’t like a single vegetable until two years ago. Now I’m up to broccoli, carrots, green beans, and asparagus. Cannot wait to add more!!!
3. My brother, Jacob, was born on my 7^th birthday. Best present ever J
4. One of my favorite sounds is my dog’s snoring.
5. Being a sister is one of the best parts of my life. Little brothers are smelly and loud, but I’d be lost without them.
6. I always feel just a little bit different than everyone else and I’m finally starting to think that’s okay.
7.The pictures of rock star libraries and writing oasis’s that Lady Bullish posts always make my day.
8. Less than two months after getting my first car I totaled it.
9. I simply cannot pass up watching Pretty in Pink or Teenage Witch each and every time they’re on TV.
10. Getting mail, aside from bills, is one of my favorite things.

The Nominations:
Just a few of the very best!

Stephanie at Madness of the Heart.
Aurora Lee at Aurora's Creative Corner.
Kathryn at WaterPhoenix Poetry.
Steven Watson at Stuck in my Own Mind.
Fiesty Cat at Fiesty Cat.
Honoré Dupuis at Of Glass and Paper.
Sarah at Re-Ravelling.

Five Sentence Fiction - Foggy

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: FOGGY

I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

What if you couldn't write?

Writing is what I do. Unless I’m going through a dry phase, like now. But, that will pass.
A writer is who I am. It’s part of my identity. Few days pass, if any, where I don’t think about writing in some form or another.

So, if I couldn’t write anymore what would I do? Like writing, Multiple Sclerosis is part of my every day. Lately the fingers on my right hand have begun going numb. It’s just part of the disease, and something that comes and goes, but could one day decide to stick around. Typing isn’t an issue right now, no problems there, but I am right handed and it’s begun to make writing slightly difficult. Yay for my handy computer. :)

But, back to the question! If I couldn’t write anymore, just what would I do? The short answer is I would be devastated. I’m not sure I know the full explanation of the long answer yet, but I am working on that. For starters I would spend more quality time with my music. There are very few genres of music where I can’t find at least one song I like. Nothing like a beautiful melody to sooth the soul.

Writing is a gift and a joy that I cherish. I hope to hold onto it for years to come, but I also plan to delve into new passions.

What about you? What are you other passions? What would you do if you couldn’t write?

Five Sentence Fiction - Sombrero

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: SOMBRERO



I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

Spotlight on Spectacular: Angie Richmond

Today I am so excited to share with you an engaging and entertaing interview with Angie Richmond. 



1. What hockey team are you a fanatic about? Who’s your favorite player and why?

I love the Vancouver Canucks! I can't exactly pinpoint the moment I started liking them, but I know it was in the 90s and the goalie Kirk McLean had something to do with it. My current favorite player is Kevin Bieksa.

Funny story...my husband Brandon and I were in Vancouver to see a game and we decided to do some pre-game shopping at the Canucks store the day before. I headed straight for the Bieksa t-shirts then made my way down to pay. As I descended the stairs I came face to face (well face to side) with Kevin Bieksa himself. I was so stunned that I somehow stumbled up to the till to pay and left without even asking for a picture or autograph. Oh how I regret THAT day!

2. Where, or from whom, do you find inspiration for your creativity?

I can't say there's one specific thing that inspires me. It's a combination of various things. Sometimes it's a word, a picture, a person or a dream I've had. I try to let anything and everything inspire me. BUT, if we are talking people, I'd have to say the person I most look up to is Viggo Mortensen. He's a true example of a well rounded creative.

3. How did you come up with the idea for 22 Things? What do you hope everyone achieves by making their list?

22 Things was born from a moment of unhappiness. I found myself on my lunch break sitting at the library feeling overwhelmed by unhappiness. I felt stuck. I felt hopeless. I had this idea of what I wanted to do with my life, but it felt so darn daunting that I couldn't even imagine making any changes. Then an idea struck me. What if I could change a few small things, nothing too huge, but just enough so I wasn't stressed out. I started listing items I wanted to keep in mind or try. At the end I had a nice list of 22. I emailed a friend to share my list and she encouraged me to blog about it. Call it 22 Things, she encouraged. And I did. It kind of took off from there.

My hope is that people will sit down, listen to their heart and take steps to find their own happiness - one small step at a time.

4. What author would you give your left pinky to spend the day with? Why?

Oh...now there's a hard question to answer! I'm sitting here looking at all the fabulous novels on my bookshelves trying to pick out one, yikes! Okay well if I had to narrow it down to three, because I think anyone of them is worth a digit or two, I'd say J.K. Rowling, Diana Gabaldon and Jane Austen
.
J.K. Rowling because she wrote Harry Potter, which - let's face it - is amazing!

Diana Gabaldon because I'm convinced that her Outlander series MUST be based on fact because no one can write such an amazing, all encompassing series that spans an entire life off the top of their head. And if she did..WOW!

Jane Austen because I'm dying to know if she ever kissed a man. There's just so much that's unknown about that woman!

5. You have to write the best you’ve ever written. What music do you reach for?

To be honest I usually write in silence, unless I'm at Starbucks, then whatever they play. IF I did happen to have music playing, it's classical; anything without lyrics. Lyrics mess me up when I write. I'll be halfway through a sentence before I realize I've just written the words to a song.

6. What is your favorite genre to read and which genre do you write in mostly?

Another good question! I tend to read a diverse mix of genres depending on how I feel. Though I do tend to stay away from chick lit. I prefer danger, disaster and suffering. Anything with a psychological twist also makes me happy. My writing tends to follow along the same lines.

7. If you could have one thing British what would it be?

An old country cottage, preferably one that has a lot of history! Wait does Henry Cavill count? No, I'll stick with the cottage :)

8. What do you think the recipe is for creating a memorable novel?

Really believable characters. When I'm reading a novel and I can imagine myself in their shoes or want to be them, then it's perfect!

9. You get to become one literary character for a day. Who’s it going to be?
Oh wow, another hard question! Probably Claire from Diana Gabaldon's novels. She gets to time travel and marry a highlander...need I say more?

10. How old were you when you began painting/drawing? Do you have a favorite?

I can't remember exactly. I've always enjoyed making things and crafting. I used to draw a lot when I was a teen. It's only very recently that I began experimenting with art again. I'm quite proud of a farmhouse I sketched more recently. It was from a learn-to-draw book and it turned out pretty nice. It was my first attempt to draw something that detailed.

11. What does living a creative life mean to you?

It means everything! I've spent so many years dreaming of "being" creative without realizing I already WAS creative. Now I try to approach my life with creativity in mind. My hopes are that I will eventually support myself with my creativity, while helping others find theirs.



BIO:
A self proclaimed creative, Angie Richmond divides her spare time between writing, blogging, reading, and creating art. Her formal training in Psychology, combined with her desire to help others find their creative passions, has led her to explore a career in Coaching. She is currently enrolled in a certification program and intends on starting her own coaching practice She loves hockey, all things British, and is working on her first historical fiction novel. Angie lives with her husband in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

You can connect with Angiel on Twitter and her Blog.

Thank you so much for sharing some of your awesome with us Angie!!!

Five Sentence Fiction - Candy

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: CANDY




I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

Five Sentence Fiction - Explosive

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: EXPLOSIVE


Source



I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

Five Sentence Fiction - Your Choice

 

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: Your Choice

There have been so many awesome writers join FSF recently that I wanted to leave this week open. Choose one of the past FSF words here to use as your prompt this week. Pick one you missed or one that you already used, but want to go a different direction with. Whatever tickles your creative fancy!



I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

Armor - #5SentenceFiction

I've never been what you'd call pretty as my hair has an irrepressible will to stand up and frizz, my knees are knobby, and there's this awful freckle just below my nose shaped like Alaska, among other things. So, when I was asked to give a speech to the incoming freshman class of my high school I was flabergasted that they would want awkward me.

I guess the principle read my suprise, bewilderment, and horror because he went on to say, "Liza, we chose you because you're an example of everything we strive for at this school. You always proudly wear your shining armor of intelligence, compassion, and humility.

Then I smiled to myself because the principle may have changed his mind if he'd read my overjoyed thoughts of how angry snotty head cheerlearder, Gabbie, would be when she found out they'd chosen little 'ol me.

Five Sentence Fiction - Armor

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: ARMOR

Source

I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

 

Lillie

Rockstar Bloggers!

Lately my writing has been, well, nonexistent. I've had no urge to write, and there are even days where I don't even write in my head! That means little else is going on in there...So...Thankfully two of my awesome, fantastic, creative champion blogging cohorts have come up with things to help me get out of my funk and get my writing mojo back. Check them out!



Angie over at Write Me Happy has issued a 22 Things Creative Change Challenge. It's a no fuss, stress free way to see just what you CAN do, and do right now!

Anna over at Yearning for Wonderland is hosting a rockstar flash fiction contest. Head over and check out the details and stretch your creativity for Once Upon a Time!!

Five Sentence Fiction - Tears

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: TEARS

I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

My First Interview!

About a week ago, I got the best email ever. Seriously, I was grinning like it was my birthday all over again. And, that’s my favorite holiday after all. Plus, I am a huge fan of mail, snail or otherwise, so it was a pretty big day. How big? I read the email three times. That’s right. Best email ever.

The lovely, wonderful, gifted, emailer is Ruth Long  of Bullish Ink. Not only is it always entertaining to read her writing, even a grocery list I feel certain, but she wanted to interview me on her blog. I did in fact squeal.

Now, head over to her blog to check out all the awesomeness she came up with. Her questions are fantastic. Five Sentence Fiction got a bigshout out here, too!

Five Sentence Fiction - Scorching

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: SCORCHING

Source

I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

Wicked - #5SentenceFiction

With the determination of a spit ball flying from little Tommy Tucker’s grimy neon yellow straw, Lucy crossed the busy playground to where they sat, crossed legged, in a tight circle. Small hands moved quickly through the air as the evil concocted stories flew from their rose lips like granite truths. Lucy felt her cheeks flame as she closed in on the group and heard her name, spoken like a curse. She was an outcast, the new girl, and she was fine with that, but this time they had gone too far by making her brother cry. When she stopped walking they all turned to her, eyebrows cocked on smug faces that fell the moment Lucy revealed her wicked secret power.

Link up your own WICKED story here.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Lillie

Five Sentence Fiction - Wicked

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: WICKED



I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

My 22 Things

Amazing, super creative Angie Richmond has issued a challenge that I love! Check it out, and link up your own list today. This was a fun way to really think about things I want to accomplish.


How Does It Work?
22 Things is a Creative Change Challenge. By signing up, you are announcing to the world - and more importantly yourself - that you are breaking free of the long standing idea that in order to make changes in your life, you have to do BIG things. 22 Things is about making a list twenty-two small steps you can take - right now - to change your life.

My 22 Things:

1.       Develop a regular writing schedule.

2.       Go to the beach more.

3.       Allow myself to make mistakes.

4.       Give more hugs.

5.       Join a Pilates class.

6.       Ride my bike instead of driving.

7.       Read more indie authors.

8.       Finish my three quilts in progress.

9.       Get a plant and keep it alive.

10.   Spend more time without my phone.

11.   Make more lists; they work.

12.   Finish the outline for my new WIP.

13.   Edit my NaNo novel.

14.   Try new foods.

15.   Have one technology-free day a week. (Or at least an hour)

16.   Write in my journal.

17.   Spend more time with friends.

18.   Take a dance class.

19.   Stop and watch the sunset.

20.   #Wordmonger!

21.   Do a 10K run.

22.   Indulge in chocolate occasionally.

MS Awareness - What MS is to Me

March is Multiple Sclerosis awareness month and I have decided to do my part to share what MS is to me.

Multiple Sclerosis is one of many diseases that is often called an invisible illness. No one could look at me and know that I have MS. It is easily the most frustrating part of this disease. People really do say 'but you look so good' when they find out about my disease.


My most prominent MS symptoms:


-Fatigue: I am tired constantly. It's a full-body tired that never goes away no matter how much sleep I get, though naps help.

-Cognitive Fatigue: Often called brain fog. I can't always find the words I am looking for, sometimes I stutter. Learning new things is harder than it used to be. Some days I feel just stupid, but a little patience goes a long way!

-Numbness: It comes and goes in my fingers, toes, arms, legs.

-Vertigo

-Emotional Disturbances: I can be an emotional mess some days - which is sometimes helpful for a writer :) Crying for no reason, angry for no reason, laughing when nothing is funny.

-Headaches: I have one everyday, all day, have for the past three years. But, the severity changes. Most days it's just a dull hum, but every so often it demands my full attention.

-Fear: I always have the knowledge in the back of my mind that a new relapse can come on at any time. Or, that no one will want to marry someone with MS.


I have to say, even with these things, I still do most of what I want to do. I am excited about my future and I am not sad about MS. It is beyond frustrating when someone says 'why me'? Why not me? Everyone has their stuff that they deal with. MS is a lot about learning to accept a new kind of normal. Just like everyone else on earth I have good days and bad days. I just know my limits. My plans haven't changed much. I still want it all: marriage, kids, a full life. With BOOKS, lots of books :)

This is a great video about one man's journey with MS: