{"id":470,"date":"2008-12-02T12:34:00","date_gmt":"2008-12-02T16:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.silkentent.com\/Trees\/?p=470"},"modified":"2008-12-28T20:41:58","modified_gmt":"2008-12-29T00:41:58","slug":"ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.silkentent.com\/Trees\/?p=470","title":{"rendered":"Ago"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"December 2, 2008
\nTuesday
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One of my favorite writing exercises is to imagine\u00c2\u00a0what my characters\u00c2\u00a0were doing a year before the present action and what they might be doing a year after. It helps me shape characters who are real people instead of actors I’ve put in place to advance a plot or make a didactic point. I’ve come across the exercise in personal growth plans as well. What were you like, what were you doing, what did you believe in at 10, at 20, ten years ago, two years ago? What will you be like in five years?<\/p>\n

Karen of Hat on Top, Coat Below<\/a> has been in the OLJ community since 2002. Her piece yesterday included links at the bottom to what she was writing about each December 1st going back to the start of her journal. I’ve decided that that might be useful and interesting for me, and will give me at least something to say on the days this coming month when time is tight and there’s little beyond “I looked at my manuscript again and took two naps.” So, the remainder of this piece will be the “agos.” I’ll go back and put the ones for December 1st\u00c2\u00a0in yesterday’s piece<\/a>, to give it a little more content, so\u00c2\u00a0truly dedicated readers\u00c2\u00a0might want to check that again, too.<\/p>\n

So, a year ago<\/a>, I was in Wyoming, where I attended First Sunday of Advent services and then made my traditional First Sunday menu of bread and tortellini soup for my companions at the Jentel Artist Residency.<\/p>\n

Two years ago<\/a>, I wrote about our collection of ornaments and quoted Mary Oliver on letting go.<\/p>\n

Three years ago I skipped this day!<\/p>\n

Four years ago<\/a>, I started Holidailies early and talked about getting ready for my Holiday Extravaganza Party.<\/p>\n

I won’t go back farther than that because I wasn’t involved in Holidailies and my December postings\u00c2\u00a0until I did get involved are\u00c2\u00a0too irregular. And to those who read so much, so often as it is,\u00c2\u00a0if you’ve gone back into my history with me, thank you for reading so much more.<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

To be included on the notify list, e-mail me:
\nmargaretdeangelis [at] gmail [dot] com (replace the brackets with @ and a period)<\/em><\/p>\n


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