By Terry C. Misfeldt

I was curious about my position in the grandchildren pecking order.

More on that later. This, though, is about being a middle child.

If you’re not the oldest child or the youngest of three, then you are a middle child. If your parents have completed their contributions to the population, you’re stuck — smack dab –in the middle!

The only way you’re not “the” middle child is if your folks have four children and you’re either number two or number three. Oh, you’re still stuck in the middle…but you’re not alone.

I wrote this because I have a daughter who’s caught smack dab in the middle. And, like most middle kids I’ve known, they become invisible when they want. And there’s always someone else to blame for the spilled milk or broken lamp. At least, that’s what I’ve found with the middle children of my children.

But the real reason for writing this goes back to the opening. My maternal grandparents had seventeen grandchildren. Eight were older than me. Eight younger. I’m the one smack dab in the middle! It goes even further. My paternal grandparents only had seven grandchildren. Three older than me. Three younger. Again, I’m the one smack dab in the middle.

Where are you?

By Terry C. Misfeldt

The only way you could put paprika on your writing is if you printed your work, laid it on a table, and got out the paprika. Same with salt, pepper, garlic powder, or some other spice. What we’re sharing is how to spice up your story with a season of the year.

Winter, especially in northern climes, creates numerous opportunities for stories. It can mean snowmobiling and perhaps running out of gas in the middle of a forest or finding a secluded spot in the woods you’d never find without a snow machine.

A heavy snowfall could isolate a community and draw neighbors closer together as they deal with food shortages and heating issues. It can add intrigue to your story and make life difficult for characters, or enable them to have fun like making snow creatures or starting snowball fights.

The point here is to think about the time of year you’re dealing with in your story. Winter and cold temperatures mean your characters must dress more warmly or cozy up to a crackling fire. Summer means warmer temperatures and less clothing or spending time at the beach or poolside with a sweet iced tea.

Fall can be about football, trees blossoming with colored leaves, leaves rustling on the dry ground, or school swinging back into session. Walks in the woods arm-in-arm with a loved one is romantic in autumn, as is spring and the budding of trees and flowers.

If you have a favorite season, consider employing what you like most about the time of year in your story…maybe as how one of your characters shares your perspective as their own. And, perhaps, one of your antagonists may despise that same season you love and triggers that character’s animosity toward your protagonist. Maybe…

By Terry C. Misfeldt

If you are writing a memoir, whether it is your personal history or that of a family member, a great resource can be found in correspondence from that individual.

I always wondered where my father was stationed in the U.S. Navy during World War II. I remember hearing him say something about Norfolk and Brooklyn but never knew when he was there. When one of my daughters told me to look through some recycling, I was shocked to find letters my dad had written to my mom during the war years.

They were rather mundane but provided insight to his military service as an Electrician’s Mate, 2nd Class. What I also found in that box of letters were letters from my uncle who was also in the U.S. Navy but saw combat in the Pacific theater. He was assigned to a minesweeper and provided a snapshot of his service in letters home.

In a letter dated February 13, 1945, my uncle wrote: “Censorship rules have been made more lax and we can tell anything that’s happened up to the last 30 days. The biggest event was the invasion of Saipan. I’ve been to Guam, Tinian, Makin, Eniwetok, and most of the Hawaiian Islands.” Earlier in that same letter he opened with: “I’m in the sick bay under observation for acute appendicitis. They don’t know whether they’re going to operate or not. I sure hope they do because I’d hate to have it act up while on patrol.”

His letter was not postmarked until February 16th. It was received by one of his older sisters in Chicago on February 22nd, 1945. I share this because it is precious information for my uncle’s five daughters who never heard about his war exploits until I have been able to share these letters with them.

Correspondence can be valuable in preserving history and sharing life’s lessons.