I can’t get over how healthy the foliage is on the Powerpuff Pink rose! While my other roses have had their share of aphids and black spot here in 7b, this one has had zero issues! I think I’ve flicked 1 singular aphid off of this plant. Smells great too. 🌹🌹
Although I’ll admit, I don’t love the fragrance 🙈 Reminds me of licorice, but it’s so beautiful, I don’t care!
Vanessa Bell, Double Delight, Queen of Sweden, Nye Bevan! 🥰
Hi writers,
I’m looking to get advice from people who have joined writing groups or have taken creative writing courses to see which you felt was more helpful in not only improving your writing, but your consistency. For context, I’m in my 30s, working full time in tech, so this would be something I join on the side for fun, not for actual course requirements.
For context, I used to love writing and seem to love the idea of writing more now that I’m an adult, rather than actual execution. (Womp womp).
As a kid, I would fill notebooks with full fledged stories, loved writing essays for English class, and loved daydreaming of book ideas. As I got older, it became a thing of the past. I haven’t write anything creative in the last 15 years.
The writing itch returned about 2 years ago, and I have a few ideas for short stories and a novel, but I can’t seem to bring myself to actually write them. I do have ‘paralyzing perfectionism’ which is awful and bleeds not only into writing, but work, and my personal life. I would rather not even start something if I know I can’t execute at 100% on the first try (I know, I know. And I’ve talked to a therapist about this 😅).
In the last 2 years, I have started writing some of these ideas down and when I read what I’ve written so far, I don’t actually think it’s terrible! So why can’t I seem to go further? With ADHD, perfectionism tendencies, and the incessant need to feel fully prepared, I find myself thinking about writing and reading books and blogs about HOW to write, more than actually doing it. It’s a loop I can’t seem to escape.
That said, I need accountability and I can’t do that myself, so I’m looking to either take a class online via a college so I can feel more prepared and HAVE to do writing assignments, OR looking to join a local writing group where they meet weekly for 3 hours in person. The first half of the meeting is set aside for writing either your own work or a prompt from the instructor, then the second half is for feedback on the writing. I like the idea of that but I also want to get useful structural knowledge on how to unravel a story successfully.
Both of the options I’m looking at do cost money because there is a facilitator. I know there is a ton of free info online, I’ve looked at a lot of it, but I need some accountability until I can feel more confident in myself.
If you’ve done either of these, I would love to hear about your experience! Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it. 🫶🏻
Sincerely, Mentally Blocked
This rose was in a centerpiece at a wedding and I absolutely need to plant a rose bush of it! Can anyone identify this rose? It’s a huge bloom and has been healthy in a vase for 4 days so far and still basically looks great. Doesn’t seem to really have a yellowish or pinkish center or anything in real life (the flash kinda makes it seem yellowish in the first pic) it really seems true white. I’ve looked at a dozen white roses online and they don’t seem to be it! Thought maybe pope John Paul but idk?? Thank you, rose experts!!