Five Things on Friday
Charlotte Rains Dixon  

The Return of Five on Friday! Snippets for Your Writing and Reading Pleasure

I’m cautiously dipping my toe back in to bring you these Friday compendiums.  I started these last year and liked doing them a lot, but then I wandered away. As I do.  Probably because blogging has felt wonky and unpredictable to me over the last couple of years.

But, like so many others, I am feeling called to step up. And in the connection calls I’ve been enjoying with y’all, I’ve gotten feedback that you appreciate my blog posts, as well as the newsletter. (Thank you!) And my word of the year is launch. And, over the next couple of months, you’re going to see some design updates here.  So here we go, back to Five on Friday. But here’s my new idea: it’ll actually be four on Friday with the fifth thing being a tip or a prompt. How does that sound?  Let me know if you like it in the comments.  And let’s have at it:

What I’m Reading. The best thing I’ve read this year is something you can’t have yet. Sorry! I was a beta reader for my friend Angela Sanders’ latest caper, Cat in the Bag. Loved it!  Quirky, endearing characters, all former criminals of one sort or another, live together in an old folks home of sorts and get the better of anybody who tries to cross them.  Head on over and sign up for Angie’s list (her newsletter is so fun) so you can find out when this title will be released. She’d got lots of other mysteries you can read while you wait.

I also recently finished Leave Me by Gayle Forman and Today Will Be Different, by Maria Semple. Both okay, but not stellar. Funnily enough, they both feature privileged white women whining about how hard their lives are.

What I’m Watching. Victoria, on Masterpiece Theater. Loving this series, with stellar acting and wonderful historical detail. I’m in awe of what odds the young Victoria faced and surmounted, as she became queen when she was barely of age. Highly recommended. And I’m in love with Rufus Sewell. Don’t tell my husband.

What I’m Loving. My Wild Unknown tarot cards. I find them uncannily accurate at unearthing my inner state. Can’t lie to yourself with these babies around! I tend to draw the same card repeatedly, and, as in so many aspects of life, keep drawing it until I learn the lesson the card references.  They are also useful for creative projects, as mentioned in my last blog post.

New Site I Discovered. I’m probably way late to the table on this one, but I just found Farnham Street. Fascinating collection of articles, that, as they tell it, “help you learn to make better decisions, create new ideas, and avoid stupid errors.” Their “best articles” tab has about a gazillion things I want to dive into.

Writing Tip.  PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE. We need your voice right now.  How can you share your work this week? Write a blog post, submit to an agent, send a story out, write or call your elected officials? If it seems overwhelming, break it down into tiny steps.  (My newsletter this week is on a similar topic. Its been much on my mind lately.  By the way, if you’re not on my list, the sign-up is to the right.)

Okay, amigos, that’s it for now. Remember to leave a comment and tell me what you think of the new-ish format (the addition of the writing tip or prompt).

0 thoughts on “The Return of Five on Friday! Snippets for Your Writing and Reading Pleasure

  1. J.D.

    Dear Charlotte,
    I’m not sure I can wrap (Did you know the most common misspelling of this word is warp?) my head around a book. Alabama beat Auburn; Donald Trump is president; and New England beat the Falcons. Thankfully, there is not a gun in the house. I pin my hopes on the words: This, too, shall pass.
    I kinda like the new format. I haven’t looked at Angie’s stuff yet, but I plan to hop over there when I leave here. Launching my own book on THURSDAY. Redemption Face: The Black Room Murders. Trying to bunch my orders on that day. Always great to visit your blog.

    1. Charlotte Rains dixon

      Oh J.D., you’re launching this Thursday? How exciting! I will buy a copy for sure.

      And yeah, I hear you..hard to concentrate. But reading is also fantastic escapism!

Leave A Comment

book cover mockup for Charlotte Rains Dixon

Looking for a Great Book to Read? Look No Further!

Emma Jean's Bad Behavior

Get Your Copy Today>>