Ang Shaef Writes

In December 2020, I formed a writing group with three classmates.  I didn’t know them well except that I loved their stories and they gave helpful feedback . Our teacher recommended we get in a writing group,  and since I'm really good at following instructions, I reached out to make it happen. I imagined we'd meet every other week (via Zoom) to review submissions and give our thoughts. I guess I supposed we'd take turns talking about our work and afterward type up our recommendations, e-mail them out and wait to talk again two weeks later. Two of us had class together the next semester, so she was first to see a disheartening critique I received from our teacher. I was reeling and embarrassed. Being vulnerable is SO HARD!   The critique began, "This is really pretty horrible and very sad."  I know our teacher was referring to the inciting incident and tragic events that begin my story, but let's just say, it also summed up her "overarching comments....

I started Hamnet, but stopped to read Hamlet first,  wanting to spot any Easter eggs or parallels if there were some.  (I'm halfway through Hamnet now and I haven’t noticed any so far.) I loved recognizing so many classic lines that still run around my head frequently even though its been decades since high school! Thanks #repcarolspackmanmoss   “This above all, —to thine ownself, be true.”   “The play’s the thing Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.” “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” "To die,--to sleep;-- To sleep! perchance to dream;--ay, there's the rub" "To be, or not to be, --that is the question" Of all these treasures, what was our number one favorite in high school?  The one we adopted into regular conversation and also made us laugh?  Of course it wasn’t any of the classics it should have been. No.  What we committed to memory was: “How now, Ophelia.” I found this collection at an estate sale in the neighborhood, published ...

 We just had a huge snowstorm and in spite of all the winter storm warnings,  it really did come on quite suddenly. From a day so warm it felt like spring, to 18" of snow 24 hours later. In my novel, the Millers are boating on a nearby lake celebrating the the first day of summer when a storm catches them by surprise and alters their family forever. "She’d heard stories of surprise storms, of close calls and desperate runs for safety. But she never understood how anyone could miss the signs--dark clouds, whitecaps, rain. Only someone careless would get caught in a storm. And yet here they were.  Had it been predicted in today’s forecast? Did anyone even check?"

No better advice than this from my teacher, Chris Terry, when we were in Novel 2. "I get a lot of questions about writing a novel and this answers most of them: Get your butt in the chair and finish your book." He commented on my Instagram post, "Angela! Stop posting and get back to that book!" 😂 I've started a new routine -- write 2,000 words a day  (on average that takes around two hours a day) and read two hours a day. (Also exercise, do spiritual work and update social media, aaaaand shower, get dressed and feed myself.) I love schedules and planning.  Then often get discouraged when I don't stick to it for long. Or get frustrated at "life" for getting in the way. But I think I'm better at reframing failure  (and lets not forget only one of my four kids now lives at home and he's pretty self-sufficient, so that makes a HUGE difference in finding time and cutting down on the unexpected). So, here's to two great days of keeping the s...

After falling in love with A Man Called Ove, I went through an "endearing old man" phase. Top stars for all of these. My GoodReads Reviews: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, by Helen Simonson ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved this story and am so sad it's over!  I loved that the Major always had something funny to say --  I especially loved the exchanges between him and his son.  Great writing!  Now to see if Helen Simonson wrote anything else... The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared , by Jonas Jonasson ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it! Refreshingly different, funny, not-so-dark. The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 years old, by Hendrik Groen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (I didn't review this one, but did give it four stars.) The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper , by Phaedra Patrick: ⭐⭐⭐ ½ A sweet story -- easy to recommend to friends. Entertaining and endearing. A Man Called Ove , by Fredrik Backman. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ For some reason I didn't write a review even though I gave it 5 stars! Probably because...

We're home from Hawaii just in time for a massive snowstorm which makes me think of Beartown and The Winners .  Of course I pre-ordered and received it sometime back in November, I think.  But I wanted to wait to read for when I could really savor it.  Fredrik Backman understands humans. I fell in love with A Man Called Ove so much, I read  My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry and  Britt-Marie Was Here the very next week (way back in 2016). He manages to show all sides of a person--where at first you see only the exterior,  soon he shows you a different angle and suddenly where you felt anger, you then find compassion.  For the family that looks perfect, you see the cracks. Most of all he brings out our empathy,  because deep down we're all very much alike.  The Beartown trilogy is darker than his other books with date rape, hate, victim-blaming  and violence at its core.  And also overflowing with love, understanding,...

Some days I'm tired of the imaginary family in my book. They're just made up, after all. But then I read some of my favorite lines and I'm drawn back into their story. "It's a little bit of paradise," her dad shouted as he always did as they headed into the open water. "Practically paradise," she whispered under her breath as she alwyas did. "Paradise" because the lake glittered, blue melted into soft, sandy inlets and bleached gray trunks of fallen pines crisscrossed solitary beaches. When the afternoon turned sweltering, a dive in the water chilled you through, making the summer heat welcome again. "Practically" paradise because by the end of the day everyone was tired, at least one person grumpy and something always happened that required an apology later on. 

I was wrong. I'm sorry. I don't know. I need help. -- Armand Gamache   Several years ago my sister-in-law and I swapped favorite book titles-- hers was a mystery series by Louise Penny. I added Still Life to my Goodreads to-read list and then for multiple years after,  when I asked for favorite books again, I discovered we'd already had that conversation  because the books were still on my list. Un-read. (Hey Goodreads, how about adding a place to include who recommended the book to you! I always find that when searching for a good book, who recommended it matters.)  A year ago at Christmas, when we did a sibling gift exchange, we chose to give gifts without spending much money. I gave Erin the first book in my favorite mystery series ( Case Histories, The Jackson Brodie series , by Kate Atkinson) and I bought Still Life so we could finally talk about it. When I started, I couldn't put it down. I was up all night for two nights in a row. The first night reading Stil...

Will this be enough for two long flights and five days on the beach? Also, I finished The Winners yestereday 😭. Been looking forward to its release for a long time, then when it came, wanted to save it for a time that I could savor it.  Glad I did -- It's not a book that can be rushed. I loved it. I'll miss Beartown. Fredrik Backman just gets  the multi-dimensions of people.

I 💖 overflowing bookshelves with stacks of my favorite books on all four walls!  

Along with a writing blog, I created a new Instagram account: AngShaefWrites. I've got quite a few post ideas.  But I hesitate, wondering if this is just a distraction to avoid working. Or is it motivation to keep me writing? The good news is, I do feel like staying "in the game."  My manuscript is having a few months on the shelf. Sometimes it makes itself heard and I feel almost ready to start another round of edits. In the meantime, staying creative with my writing group, the_shit_about_writing deep dive workshops and podcasts, and nycmidnightshortstorychallenge.