Category Nyssa’s Nuggets

Nyssa’s Nuggets

aimeredleaf, The Narrative Gardener Leave a comment

“Nap while you can.”

We all know dogs are great sleepers, and Nyssa is no exception. I marvel at her sense of time. She wakes me up faithfully every day at the same time and she has an “off” button in the evening. During the day, she keeps an eye on me and my movements and when I’m working, she sacks out. She is always well-rested and ready to go when the time is right. 

I know many freelancers and editors who would like to be that way—well-rested. But somewhere in the recesses of our minds, we know the importance of getting enough rest and taking care of ourselves, especially during times of change and uncertainty. 

I often want to burn the candle at both ends and stay up late reading for pleasure, or just finishing one more edit, but the price I pay in the morning is usually not worth it. Then I usually see Nyssa, passed out on the couch, and my eyelids begin to slowly close as if on cue. Pay attention to your body—it knows. 

Be good to yourself. Nap when you can. 😊

Have a great week! Woof woof rooooooo!🐕‍🦺

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Nyssa’s Nuggets

aimeredleaf, The Narrative Gardener Leave a comment

“Be aware of your surroundings.”

Nyssa is always aware of what is going on around her, even when she is sleeping. Akitas are excellent guard dogs and she is no exception. She is also maddeningly NOSY—I call her Nosy Nyssa when we have to pause in our walk for her to watch the neighbor wheel his trash barrel to the end of his drive, or watch someone else back out of their garage. She also loves to follow and bark at my nephew when he walks down to the barn, EVERY time.

Though her being nosy means she often gets sidetracked by details, it also indicates that she takes in all that is in her vicinity and she sees the big picture around her.

Nyssa’s attention can be likened to the mindset I slip into when I’m working on a developmental edit.

It can be easy to get involved with the small details in a manuscript, but my awareness has to be about the larger elements of the story—character, pace, story arc, continuity, to name a few. Punctuation doesn’t really matter if the protagonist is a flat Mary-Sue that readers can’t care about.

The focus becomes which of these larger parts can benefit from some improvement and how that affects the other pieces of the narrative. If I suggest changes to one element, what other parts will the author need to work on to make those changes work, and what does that do to the overall story?

A developmental edit could be compared to a ball of yarn, but I think pieces of a larger picture or the layers of an onion are more accurate portrayals. The smaller parts make up the whole, and the whole is made of smaller parts. Right?

Like Nyssa, I may see the details, but ultimately I concentrate on the environment they are in to ensure it is the best it can be. Then the details usually fall into place for the author on their own.

Just like the neighbor who walks back up his driveway is of no consequence to Nyssa anymore. She understood the big picture, and the detail took care of itself.

Have a great week! Woof woof rooooooo! 🐕‍🦺

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Nyssa’s Nuggets

aimeredleaf, The Narrative Gardener Leave a comment

“Take advantage of the cool temperatures.”

Welcome to the first post of Nyssa’s Nuggets! For those who may not have read the intro post, Nyssa is my American Akita girl who I am honored to share my life with. She is loving, confident, brave, intelligent, and persistent. She teaches me little lessons each day.

Here she is, all 80 pounds of her fuzzy glory.

Being an Akita, Nyssa loves the cooler temperatures of early spring and fall, and especially winter. But the seasons without mud are especially conducive to open doors and lounging under the trees in the yard.

I take this advice of hers and do my best to spend some time in the yard with her. I bring some editing or reading work outside, sit in the lounge chair and enjoy the sun on my face. Usually, Nyssa will settle down in the vicinity, but always mindful of what I’m about.

The fresh air and sun is invigorating and I find a clear focus when I am outdoors. Changing the scenery is a great tactic to finish up a task, or complete editing an article. Then I put the work away and she is right there to amble around the yard, or chase Dash while he plays fetch.

Not all interruptions have to be negative, especially furry ones that remind us to take a desk break and get some air. Fall (here in New England) is the perfect time for working outside, cause you know what comes next… Snow (eeek!)

Have a great week! Woof woof roooooo! * 🐕‍🦺

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*This is an Akita howl 😉

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Introducing a New Segment — Nyssa’s Nuggets

aimeredleaf, The Narrative Gardener Leave a comment

The name of this blog includes three of the most important things in my life — the sun makes plants 🌾grow and my green thumb thrive, books 📚 are often in my hand, and my dogs 🐕‍🦺🐕 keep me on my toes and moving.

But the furry ones also remind me of how to be present in every day. They constantly mirror back my emotions and actions. They help me see where I can improve.

I have two dogs, (at the moment). Nyssa, an American Akita is almost 5 and Dash, an AussieX is almost 4. Both of them give me so much joy and food for thought daily, most of which can be related to writing or editing in some constructive way.

Nyssa and Dash

This new segment will feature Nyssa’s Nuggets of wisdom, as she is a character in the fantasy novel that is set in the world that the Collection of Huphaea tells of. I plan to have it run weekly, probably on Fridays.

In Nyssa’s Nuggets, I will showcase at least one anecdote she has taught or reminded me of recently, and how it relates to my writing or editing activities. It will be a little snapshot of life with a regal, yet expressive Akita and how she reminds me to be the best human, editor, and writer each day.

Please do comment at the end of a post when a particular anecdote gives you pause. Nyssa, nosy as she is, will be pleased that she has woofed in your ear, too.~

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Oh, and probably some extra Nyssa’s Nuggets, too. 😉 Newsletters are maybe once a month, no full inboxes from me.

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If you want to see what the Collection of Huphaea is all about, look up those posts here on the blog.

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