Iowa Workshop

I'm in Iowa City right now at the University of Iowa taking a workshop on revising a novel. Unfortunately, I think the only thing I'm really learning is that I have a long, long way to go on this book I've already been working on for three years!

It's good to have some uninterrupted time to think about the creative aspects of my life and, despite staying at the shabby on-campus hotel that is waiting for FEMA money to remodel after a flood, I'm enjoying myself.

But to tell the truth, I don't do as well with too much time to think. I get more accomplished when I have to fit that thinking in between a busy schedule. So Saturday I'll head back to Michigan and do just that. (And give up that self-imposed schedule of finishing my novel this summer.)

Books, books books!

It has taken me more than two months, but I finally finished (thanks to the help of my daughter) something I have never done in my entire life ..... sort my books.

I have a whole wall of bookshelves in our hallway that constitutes our library and another book nook in the study - every shelf in both spaces is full.

I also have 16 banker boxes full of books that will be donated in the next few days to our local library for their used book sale .. I figure I'm giving away somewhere around 300 books.

That means I still own at least twice that many! But now they are dusted and sorted and filed by type and author. In the old days it was honestly easier to go to the library and borrow, or to the book store and buy a book I knew I already owned, but just couldn't find.

Despite all the modern conveniences, books are still one of my biggest pleasures and it is so nice to walk by the shelves and see the covers of all my old friends lined up neatly and waiting for my attention, whenever I get around to it.