"Things to do when the Sun shines down..."

Well, Summer is now officially upon us at last, and for most of the country there is sunshine and warm (or scalding hot maybe!) temperatures abound. It is time to fry for most people (for me quite literally :P) and also to explore a new realm of reading and writing! Through my Honors class that I'm taking this summer, I have found another set of genres to explore which in turn ever expand my mind to new realms of writing I had never considered before.

We have been going over the 'Quest' in Literature, what it means, and what for each set of characters we encounter this 'quest' means for them. We have already read such books as Anywhere but Here (also made into a movie) which really went over the love and acceptance of a mother who wants the best but can hardly take care of herself, and the daughter she loves something fierce but just doesn't want the same thing her mother wants for her.

Ok, I think I just lost some people. That not your cup of tea? How about the Maltese Falcon, a story of intrigue and deception, written so well that even now, some 80 years after being written is still as compelling and fun as it was the first time...if not even more so, as the cliche's have evolved ever more since their inception.

And if that doesn't work, then how about trying out Life of Pi. A story about a Boy and a Bengel Tiger set adrift at sea, both trying to survive. With more humour, and more depth than one could imagine, this story has helped to set apart the subjects I have been reading this summer than my usual repertoire. You know what though? I've said it time and again. Great writing, starts with great reading!

I can't even imagine what I might add to my story now that I have expanded my range of reading materiel further than I ever have before, and its so terribly exciting! So read, read, read my friends. Then you can write, write, write like a blasting torpedo against the grey-green hull of a starship. Have a great summer everyone. Keep those fingers nimble and minds open as always!

CL4 MTabek
TL - Writers Guild