If I look slightly blurry here, it is either because said muse took the picture, or because I am slightly blurry these days.
Hi. My name is Betsy, and I’m a mother.
I’m also an award-winning magazine writer, and I’ve taught contemporary women’s memoir/essay at Phoenix College (not to be confused with the University of Phoenix). I’m the founder of MotherWriter, a group here in Phoenix that meets monthly to discuss the fine art and craft of writing, mothering, and balancing the two.
I graduated from Mount Holyoke College the same year the GPS satellite went into orbit much later, in 2007, I returned to academia for an MFA from Goucher College’s Creative Nonfiction program www.goucher.edu/mfa. Due to a completely unrelated act, I gave birth just over nine months later.
After four years, I’ve got the degree, two sons, and still have the husband. In addition to working on essays and articles, I’m also working on a novel about Lily McNutt, a ski town waitress who plots to save her beloved wilderness from corporate development by scheming to kidnap five of the nation’s wealthiest businessmen.Good luck, Lily. I’m also experimenting with children’s book manuscripts, although a love of reading children’s books doesn’t necessarily translate into a talent for writing them. Good luck, Betsy.
I have bungee jumped, skydived, pedaled bicycles up mountains, avoided labor twice (once with great drama and an emergency C-section), and won Honorable Mention more times than I care to mention–not, however, for giving birth. There don’t seem to be any awards for that. Oh right! It is its own reward.
I lived in a ski town for ten years, but now call the Arizona desert home and, since I became a mother of weebots 24/7, most of my trysts with my computer can be measured in minutes, if not seconds. That happens though– right?–with longterm love.
I began this blog as a much-needed morning meditation, and called it “five to six.” My hope was that it would allow me to focus on things that might otherwise go unnoticed. I theorized that if I gave them my full attention, they would give me–and any readers–moments of lucidity and levity.
But day after day, I missed my self-allotted time slot, due to short, noisy factors, and it seemed that, after three months, the only thing I was consistently commenting on was superhero suits, superhero masks, miniature superheroes, and superhero underpants.
I soon realized that there is magic in superhero underpants (and not what you might imagine). They make whoever’s wearing them feel a little bit taller, a little bit stronger, and little bit more in control than they actually are.
Most days, the only chance I get to put mine on is here.
(I am speaking strictly metaphorically, of course.)
Here’s lookin’ at you, kid.
Am loving your blog! You are an amazing writer.
Thanks, Lee! It’s been fun, and helps keep me out of the loony bin!
You are an amazing writer, but I’ve known that since you were five–the Guru agrees so it must be true! Mom and Dad
Thank you for not suing me for libel regarding the blog versions of yourselves (100% accurate, according to my memory and other equally reliable sources like my the memories of my siblings). l,b
I have been blogging for 4 years and love it. Here are 3 things that you might not yet have found out:
1. Put a a top post list in your sidebar. People will read your top posts to let you know which way the wind blows.
2. Re-publish your best stories after about 6 months.
3. I love language and the things that can be made via language but have little by little found out that most of my readers, about 500 a day, come from Google images…..:-(
Thank you–I really appreciate the tips! I’m impressed that you have so many readers, even if most of them are just looking for pictures. I haven’t had much time to work on upping my numbers–one of these days.
Congrats on starting your blog! I look forward to seeing what you’ve got
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Please check it out her:
http://igamemom.com/2012/03/19/thank-you-for-the-award
Keep up the good work!
- iGameMom @igamemom.com
I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award here:
http://soapfiandotherstuff.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/award-winning/
Thank you! Thank you! I’m honored, and embarrassed that I haven’t had time to accept until now! I will try to do it justice :> !
Where can I order a pair of those Superhero Underpants?
The weebots’ come from Target, but, sadly, the metaphorical pairs are so much harder to come by. If I could figure out a way to make and market them, I’d have my fortune. (Or maybe if mine were just a little more powerful, I’d have my fortune.) Maybe I’m not actually wearing superhero underpants, even metaphorically–maybe I’m just looking at myself through superhero underpant-colored glasses. The jury is still out….
Read your blog for the first time….we both post on PublishersMarketPlace. Love your images & the “language.” My boys made up their own & could speak very quickly to each other. Ahhh…making memories that last! Keep watching & the writing will write itself!
Thanks! Yes, so much is just putting in time watching.
Betsy,
I am loving SHUP — especially the last few posts about visiting your grandmother.
(If you are wondering who I am, we sat together and talked (and talked) at Dan’s and Teresa’s anniversary party this summer. I am sorry it’s taken me so long to get in touch!)
Kathy
Kathy, so good to hear from you! I remember well. I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog–it is wonderful to get feedback. I hope all is well at your end!