MARGARET DILLOWAY

  • Writing Wednesday: Playlist

    Like many writers, I listen to music while I write.  Also, I have noise-blocking headphones, which are especially useful if there are a bunch of little people around shrieking (i.e. the kids, whenever they are awake).  It took some experimentation to find the right music; some songs distracted, or interfered with flow. I really like…

  • Writing Wednesday: Breaking the Rules

    At last, I have opened my curtains and emerged, blinking, in the daylight.  I work in my bedroom at a desk next to a large sliding glass door, and if the curtains are open, all I see is glare.  Bright light!  Bright light!  (I’m also like a Gremlin in that I cannot eat after midnight). …

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  • Lavender Cupcake Experiments

    I told a friend about the lavender cupcakes I’d made, and she wanted recipes, so I hereby present these as a community service message. If you want pretty pictures and step-by-step photos, please see the original links. I usually whip out my iPhone as an afterthought.

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  • John Gardner Fiction Book Award Finalist

    My editor just wrote to me with exciting news. HOW TO BE AN AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE is a finalist for the John Gardner Fiction Book Award.  They haven’t posted the finalists to their web page yet, but past finalists/winners include Tobias Wolff and Jane Smiley. John Gardner was a writer and professor; a couple of his…

  • Stuff I Saw Today

    MY BOOK on the shelf next to my hold book. How meta-fantastic.

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  • Things to Teach Your Children

    I found this great blog through StumbleUpon: Demanding Joy.  It’s all about consciously trying to be happy, and ways and reflections on attempting to achieve this. The author has a list-writing exercise: 50 Lists to Write to Lift Your Spirits. These are all great ideas. I’ve chosen #44. #44 Things you want to teach your…

  • Easter on the Mind

    Today, I went to Target and amazingly only spent $10. This is mostly because I forgot one item on my two-item list, which I still can’t remember this evening.  Hopefully it’s nothing life-or-death. You know how Target is: go in for one thing, come out with 20. Actually, my life’s goal is to be rich…

  • Is the Last Line as Important as the First?

    This doesn’t mean that authors shouldn’t pay attention to last lines. There’s a lot of stuff we have to pay attention to as authors that readers don’t, or shouldn’t notice, right? It’s like a well-made garment, with even stitches and reinforced buttonholes that no one except the seamstress sees, unless you look for it.

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  • People Who Used to Seem Old

    One way I know I’m getting old is that people who used to seem old when I first saw them in TV shows or movies now seem young, when I see those same media. Exhibit A:Ed O’Neil, AKA Al Bundy. When MARRIED WITH CHILDREN was first on, I did not watch it.  Wasn’t allowed to. …

  • Toys I Have Hated

    My kids occasionally save up their allowances (or don’t save them) and buy completely useless things.  I always want to yell (and usuall do), “Please, save your money!  This is junk,” but of course they don’t listen, just as I never listened when my mom advised me that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to…