May: Madness, Mischief, or Magic?
Hello, you glorious word-wranglers! May’s here, and it’s got me all aflutter. Up North, spring’s got folks scribbling love scenes at sunny cafés. Down South, where I’m at, autumn’s chill has me burrowed under blankets, penning tales with a mug of tea and four cats as my editors. Wherever you are, May’s got that spark—call it madness, mischief, or pure magic—that sets authors’ hearts racing. I’m tipping my hat to Shakespeare’s “darling buds of May” and H.E. Bates’ The Darling Buds of May. That novella’s Larkin family, with their cheeky zest, inspires me to celebrate the stories we’re weaving this month.
Spring Zest or Autumn Cozy?
Northerners, May’s your jam. The world’s a riot of color—tulips winking, bees humming like they’ve had too much coffee. Your manuscript’s probably screaming for a plot twist as bold as a Brontë romance. After months of lockdown vibes, spring’s energy is like a muse on roller skates. Grab a picnic table and brainstorm that bestseller while soaking up some sun.
Me? I’m a Southern hermit in autumn’s grip. I blitz through chores, then dive under the covers with my notebook. Writing in bed? Heck yes—it’s my superpower! My laptop’s glowing, my tea’s steaming, and my cats are hogging my notes. Summer’s for crafts and chaos, but autumn’s when my stories come alive. This year, winter crept in early, and I was ready—summer projects done, blanket fort up, and my writer’s brain purring like a well-fed tabby.
Fuel Your Creative Fire
Here’s how to keep your May muse humming, with a nod to the Larkins’ knack for joy:
- Roll with Your Season: Northerners, scribble in a sunny park—let a stray butterfly inspire a quirky hero. Southerners, light a candle and let autumn’s hush shape a shadowy villain.
- Borrow Pop’s Gusto: Pop Larkin’s optimism could charm a storm cloud. Stuck? Picture him handing you a biscuit and saying, “Toss in a runaway pig!” Add a cheeky sidekick or a sassy line.
- Write Wild: Ma Larkin laughed at rules, so let your first draft run free. Got a detective who knits? A vampire who’s vegan? Go for it.
- Steal from the Best: Dust off Bates’ novella or snag a new read from our blogs. A good story’s like kindling for your own.
- Shake the Routine: Try writing at dawn or in a new spot—like my friend who swears by her bathtub desk. Weird works.
Mischief Over Misery
Writing’s not all candlelit brilliance. Some days, I stare at my screen, convinced my brain’s off sipping margaritas. I’m wrestling with a sprawling series I’ve dreamed of for years—notes piled higher than my laundry, but the pieces won’t click. Did Rowling know how Harry Potter would end? Did Tolkien have The Lord of the Rings mapped out? Nope, and that’s my lifeline. May’s not for misery—it’s for mischief. I’m shaking things up: writing in the kitchen, sneaking a kettle to my bedroom (don’t tell my husband), and cackling when my cats “edit” my pages. It’s messy, it’s fun, and it’s ours.
So, whether you’re dancing in spring’s glow or snuggled with a hot water bottle, here’s to us—word-weavers crafting tales with heart and a pinch of cheek.
Let’s make May magic, Larkin-style!
Zee