5/30/2007

Milestone and contest

I scribbled it on scratch paper and showed it to my son. “What do you think of that name for a blog?” I asked.

He examined it thoughtfully. “Yeah. It’s okay.”

The title, Stories Happen, had popped into my head. I wanted a connection between attempting to write fiction, as I then was doing, and experiencing life. From my point of view, everyday existence often occurs without warning, as I least expect it, and by chance.

Yet travel inside my thoughts (as maybe you’ve done a wee bit reading my posts) and you’ll note my wonder-gilded trust in an author. One who masterfully plots and characterizes, setting forth a tale sure to ring true and satisfying in the end. No matter the twists and bewildering turns each chapter unfolds.

I guess imagination is required to think stories happen for a purpose. But I’m not alone in my possible delusion.

And for this reason, or maybe just because it popped into my head a year after composing my first Stories Happen blog post, I’d like to give away a book, The Christian Imagination. It inspired and rejuvenated me a while back, when I wondered whether the story of my writing life neared its end.

I toted it everywhere, to my daughter’s horseback lessons and my son’s Shakespeare rehearsals, and it shows on the worn front cover. I read and reread reflections by such writers as C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, T.S. Elliot, and Annie Dillard.

I’ve loaned the book out before, but now I’d like to package and mail it to one of you who responds, comments, connects a post, or emails, describing a milestone in your life story. I’ll pull the winning name from a hat, though I lack a fetching assistant like Summer’s sweet daughter, who chose my name in a recent giveaway.

Hm, mm, happy anniversary to my blog.

8 comments:

IndianaJones said...

yeah the contests continue! Please throw my name in the hat but no worries if I don't win, after your description of the book I will be running out and buying it very soon! Still working on your treasures...we have a few compiled and Indy and I are working on another this morning!

Cherie said...

So THAT's what your nose was buried in during our daughter's horseback riding lessons......

Marianne Elixir said...

This will be fun to try to come up with. Thanks for the creative push!
And Happy Anniversary to your blog!

IndianaJones said...

ok, so i read this too fast and then when I came back I realized I have to DO something...write...oh dear...well, later, tonight when my husband is at work I will write a blog post and link it for you...This will be a good exercise for me as I rarely write with any end in sight~I'm excited! Thanks Deanna for the inspiration.

deanna said...

Cherie, it was one of many; often I was reading aloud to my son in the car.

Summer and Elixir, always glad to inspire. I look forward to catching up with your blogs, since we've been gone a couple days.

Bella Art Girl said...

deanna, I am often inspired the deadline...I just read Marianne's and I liked it a lot so I'll give it a go...thanks for the inspiration

deanna said...

Yay, Maricel! I'll look forward to reading. Haven't visited your blog in a while, so I'm off to check in.

Deadmanshonda said...

Well what FUN! ;-)

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