On Monday, August 21, the continental United States will witness the moon crossing in front of the sun.

If you're not "totally psyched" for the totality, think about this: total solar eclipses are actually pretty common, happening somewhere on earth every 18 months or so, but the likelihood that one will occur in the same place is only once every 360 years (source).

This week's #FridayFinds encourages writers to have fun exploring the spectacle and making meaning out of this natural phenomenon.

Best Places to View the Eclipse 

GreatAmericanEclipse.com has a useful page detailing the best vantage points to view the eclipse along its path.

If you don’t live close to the eclipse’s trajectory, or you don’t want to spend $800 on a Motel Six, you may still be able to experience a partial eclipse on Monday. In my neck of the woods, the main branch of the public library is hosting a viewing at 2pm.

If you do decide to view the eclipse, please make sure you’re doing so with the appropriate viewing equipment. NASA has some helpful tips here. 

Thinking of Writing About the Eclipse?

For me, one of the best things about being a writer is witnessing truly amazing phenomena and then committing them to paper.

If you have a great eclipse story to share after this, it could be helpful to know about essay structures. Lorraine Berry over at Signature Reads has a primer on the six main types of essays for your edification. You may also consider reading Annie Dillard's 1982 essay "Total Eclipse" for inspiration.

Personally, I’d love to read a braided essay about someone’s eclipse experience. 

Turn Around, Bright Eyes

If you’ve been humming Bonnie Tyler throughout this post, you’re not alone.

Aside from the motels and airlines, Bonnie Tyler herself is capitalizing on the eclipse. She’ll be singing her hit single from the deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship during the eclipse, so in her honor, I’ll close out with this.

TGIF, everyone.

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