Writer Crews

When did you start writing? When I was ten years old I was given a journal for Christmas, a pale blue and yellow plaid cover packed with lined papers perfumed with possibility. It immediately became my confidant, secrets whispered from my pen onto the loyal paper. When a boy liked me, or when my sister got me into trouble, it was there to take it all in. Spotted moments throughout the next seven years dot the pages. It had taken my entire childhood to fill it, still, at the last page, I gasped.  The end came too soon. That last page felt important. I weighed and deliberated what I would write on that page, a summary? But I wasn’t done yet. Elation came with a new journal. I was older now. I knew to not only write about the hard times, because looking back, I seemed to complain a lot. It taught me to be, reflective, thoughtful, self-aware, and deliberate in life and in words .  I’ve filled eight journals since then.             The pen was never far from my fingertips. I’ve wri

3 Steps to Becoming a Writer: 1. Write. Every day.  2. Find your people. Make google your friend. Try searching for women’s writing groups, local workshops, classes, even festivals. There are tons of groups on Meet-up, one at my local library and several at the local bookstore. If you can’t find a writing group that suits you, create one. It is inspiring to be around other wordmongers. You will write more when you find people who you can relate to, people who “get” you, and people who won’t judge you because your mind is always on your story. They are out there, hiding in their pajamas behind their laptops or under their full spiral notebook. I began a local writing group by putting an ‘ad’ out on a phone app called Nextdoor. I called out to women writers in my neighborhood. They peeked out from the bushes, climbed down from the trees, dropped down from the sky—they came!  We are a dozen strong with four of five hardcore participators. We still don’t have an official nam

Fall is my teacher. Leaves scatter across the roadway. Fall, "Learn to let go." Winds shift direction. Fall, "Change is swift, exciting." Leafless trees shake off the unnecessary and slow down. Fall, "Pay attention." Colors warm as temperatures drop. Fall, "Beautiful inconsistency." Rain, a daily companion. Wet hem on jeans, a jolt. Raindrops on the window... Fall, "Fresh views."  Hot tea, cinnamon, steaming soup. Fall, "Sunshine is inside." No razor, warm tights, blankets, knit caps, pretty scarves, boots, cushy socks, winter coats, fires... comfort, a creation. Fall, "A lesson in self-care." Yellow, orange, brown, diverse, electric charge, Fall waltzes in, unreserved extrovert, and declares, "Be yourself with abandon!" Fall, my favorite teacher.

When Winter Comes When Winter comes I will open my arms and pull her into my embrace blue lips white hair the twinkle in her eye We will giggle together over warm tea admire each other through the window My frosted friend has been away too long We will catch up on the sled down the hill mingle before the fire When Winter comes I will greet her With Glee We are family ❆ Winter and me

Words I love Pop Popped into my head You can pop a cap Pop a bubble in a bath Pop a lid on it Pop one off Pop over to see a friend Pop your ears Pop music Pop goes the weasel Pop star infusion Pop a pill Pop an illusion Pop in, pop out Popcorn, Hop on Pop I like pop. I can even drink it.

10 Brilliant Quotes by Children's Authors on Writing: 10. So the writer that breeds more words than he needs is making a chore for the reader who reads.  - Dr. Seuss 9. If writers wrote as carelessly as some people talk, then adhasdh asdglaseuyt[bn[ pasdlgkhasdfasdf.   - Lemony Snicket ,   Horseradish 8. A person is a fool to become a writer. His only compensation is absolute freedom. He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it.  - Roald Dahl 7. …I’d write about places I knew something of and people that spoke everyday English… - Gilbert Blythe (Anne: The Sequel) 6. Don’t write about Man; write about a man. - E. B. White, Charlotte’s Web 5. I don’t necessarily start with the beginning of the book. I just start with the part of the story that’s most vivid in my imagination and work forward and backward from there. - Beverly Cleary 4. I do my best to simplify and refine, to be logical and harmonious. But I also try to keep