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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 2019)
A6 THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TuESDAY, JANuARY 8, 2019 When words fail a writer Dear Annie: I am a pub- go back and read your writ- lished author and have been ings immediately. Let what struggling to write my next you’ve written age a bit, and book. I’ve written a hand- start the next day anew. Speak ful of adult-oriented fictional with your spouse, a close friend or your thera- books. My most recent DEAR pist about the mean- published book came ANNIE ing behind these out almost five years writings. Inspira- ago. I’ve tried several tion and meaning times to start the next will find you as you book, but I haven’t let go of the search been able to get any for the perfect topic thoughts together or and uncover what’s gather any momentum hiding in the writing process. ANNIE LANE already Creators inside you. I never previously Syndicate Inc. Dear Annie: My experienced any writ- dad is full of inter- er’s block, so this five- year period is challenging. esting stories. And he’s get- My frustration has also com- ting older; he’ll be 70 soon. pounded during this period, Though he’s in great health, and I’ve walked away several I know that my time is run- times for extended periods of ning out with him. And I want time. Any advice from one to preserve his stories so that writer to another? — Writer’s they don’t die with him. Do you have any advice on how Blocked Dear Writer’s Blocked: to go about this? — Mulling Writing about your own Over Memoir Dear Mulling Over block is a great way to get the creative juices flow- Memoir: It is terrific that ing again. Start every day by you’re thinking of this. What writing a stream of conscious- a gift it would be to your ness. Don’t focus on specific father, yourself and future time requirements or topics. generations of your family to Just write creatively. Don’t preserve these stories. On top of that, the process of gather- ing this information will bring you and your dad closer than ever before. Try to set aside one after- noon a month to conduct “life interviews” with your dad, accompanying him on a stroll down memory lane. Record the conversations using your smartphone or a recorder. If you’re not sure where to start, the website https://legacy- project.org has a helpful list of questions. Dear Annie: As a thera- pist specializing in eating dis- orders, I applaud your telling “Supportive Sibling” to talk with her sister who has an eat- ing disorder before holiday dinners and to devise a safe word to use in conversations if the sister becomes uncom- fortable. I would add that “Supportive Sibling” should ask her sister what would help her rather than guess and should urge her to find a ther- apist to help her overcome her problems. Most people with eating disorders cannot and do not resolve them without therapeutic help, as this is a biopsychosocial problem. TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). When you want to know something, you ask. Many are too afraid to admit what they don’t know. They’d rather con- tinue to be ignorant than risk appearing foolish. To be a good teacher, provide more information than is asked for. boundary of the law. In other words, “Epater la bourgeoisie.” TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There are those who lend their endorsements to products and services in exchange for financial gain. You make recom- mendations for more integral reasons — to help others and to promote the good things in life. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Every breathing soul gets technically older with each tick of the clock. Meanwhile, your state of mind gets young- er with every new thing you learn. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It will feel like you are doing almost nothing, though you’re getting plenty accomplished. It’s as though some other force is doing the work through you. This is the freedom of letting go. CANCER (June 22-July 22). It is said that if you treat people as though they are great, they will be. This has sometimes worked for you, but not always. You’ve also been burned by giving others the benefit of the doubt, which is why you’re a bit cautious today. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). This thing you’re trying to do isn’t that easy. If it were, you’d have done it ages ago. Take a step back and ask, “How can I cater to myself better?” Be selfish, or it’s not going to work. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your role will go far beyond your job description. It’s more like you’re playing the composite of many roles: coach, par- ent, psychologist, partner, cheerleader and more. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Sophisticated sensi- bility is often just outside the boundary of what’s expected and appropriate, while within the FRANK AND ERNEST BLONDIE THATABABY SALLY FORTH PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN B.C. LOLA DILBERT SIX CHIX BIZARRO MUTTS NON SEQUITUR BABY BLUES WIZARD OF ID ZITS ROSE IS ROSE SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). For the integrity of your work you’ll be recognized, maybe not with praise or awards but with lives touched by your life, goodness rippling out in unexpected ways. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). While budgeting may strike you as boring, a loose financial plan will serve you well. And no matter how much you know about money, it behooves you to check out what other savvy folks are doing. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You can think what you like and you can say what you think, though you’d be wise to use careful judgement on the matter of when, where and how you do it. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). When someone says, “Don’t even get me started,” it usually means, “Do ask! I’m dying to talk about it.” But you knew that already. This kind of social intelligence is why you have so many friends. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 9). Leadership is your destiny in 2019. You’re not overly concerned with being popular; you’re just trying to do the right thing, which is usually the loving thing. For this reason and many others you’ll be promoted, befriended and cherished. More highlights of the solar year include a new professional chapter, a domestic upgrade and communion with distant family for a happy occasion. Aries and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 47, 21, 8, 16 and 9.
