Baking for writing therapy: Ginger Lemon Scone recipe

Sometimes the writing ideas get a little stuck in the cycle of thinking too hard or just being stressed about it. Baking is one of the ways I let my mind relax into a state of semi-hypnosis where ideas seem to flow naturally and I have to scramble to write down notes, doughy fingers and oil splatters to boot.

As a break from my regular writerly musings, I would like to offer a tasty and easy recipe of mine as requested by a writer friend.

This Lemon-Ginger Scone recipe is vegan but is quickly made otherwise by using eggs, milk, and butter where I have made the substitutions.

Preheat oven to 375, makes 13
1 c. white flour
1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1/3 c. brown sugar (or organic/turbinado type sugar)
1/2 t. salt
grated peel of one lemon
1/2 c. chopped crystallized  ginger

1/4 c. soy milk (or other substitute)
1 t. vanilla
replacement for 2 eggs (I use ENER-G egg replacer, so it's 1 T. replacer + 4T. warm water, mixed before adding to the rest of the wet ingredients)

1/2 c. frozen (very important) soy butter (1 stick) grated directly into mixed dry ingredients

1) Mix the first 6 dry ingredients together in a big bowl.
2) Mix 3 wet ingredients together in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup.
3) Grate the frozen soy butter directly into the dry ingredients. Toss quickly and try to evenly distribute the butter as much as possible.
4) Add the wet ingredients and, again, mix quickly until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.
5) Use an ice cream scoop to dole out onto seasoned baking sheet (use parchment paper, if you like), leaving an inch between and flattening them slightly with hand or spatula.
Bake for 20-25 minutes. Should be golden brown and aromatic. Best if not over baked, so feel free to test one by opening if they are getting close.

Enjoy with a cup of tea and a friend while you discuss writing or your latest read.

Bone crushing, back smashing, keyboard melting fun

Just back from the Western Washington SCBWI Fall retreat. Whew. Intensive is right, but with the stellar editors Cheryl Klein and Ruta Rimas headlining, we were well taken care of. Also, many thanks to the the amazing women who organized the weekend: Jolie, Laurie, Kim, & Joni. Hope I didn't miss anyone.

Now back at the keyboard, in my cold office, I'm scrambling to catch up in NaNoWriMo, but it's no big deal. I'm high on all the awesome information absorbed over the weekend. Cheryl and Ruta went over writing basics, then went deeper to really examine what makes an excellent novel. We studied the relationships between and components of PLOT, CHARACTER, and VOICE and how we as writers can use different techniques to make our stories successful.

Big compliments to Cheryl for her repeated encouragement to NOT listen if someone dictates HOW to write, because it is an intensely personal process, and to Ruta for challenging us to experiment with different writing techniques and structures until we find what works best for our story.

And now, back to NaNo.

the importance of field trips

So you're in a slump. Writer's block, whatever you call it. You're tired of researching online and still looking for something to inspire you, something to help you make it through that difficult scene. Or maybe you just need a fresh look at your character's personality or biography. Take a field trip. Go somewhere your character would go. Find a place that will put you in the mood. Maybe it's just a walk in your neighborhood. Maybe it's a specific park or geographical detail or shop. But go. Open your mind and heart and cool things will happen, I promise you. It's a bit of magic in the creative process, whether you are a writer, photographer, sculptor, or even a lab rat, getting out of your normal surroundings for a little field trip of the mind can work wonders. Don't make it a mental vacation. Don't check out. This is work, but of the most adventurous and exciting kind. Be open to serendipity, opportunity, and chance. Be spontaneous. Do things you wouldn't normally do. Go places you might not normally do... all withing the realm of common sense of course. And come back to your work fresh!

Mid-week, just business

Had my critique group last night. It's always a joy. I really do love hearing what fellow respected writers have to say about what I'm dishing up. Good and bad. Good is good, of course, but I have to say, I really do need to hear what didn't work. It's very helpful to know when I went overboard or was too vague. What hit the nail on the head, what was a little bit off. I feel like my group is my safety net of writing. I really trust them. Not that they are the last word on my manuscript, but their voices are worthy guides in the wilderness and isolation of writing. Without my group I'd be writing circles inside my head and plaguing myself a lot more with useless banter instead of shouting, "GO, GO, GO!" Thanks, guys.