Writer Crews

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 a...

http://www.upworthy.com/2-famous-sisters-struggled-with-mental-illness-1-survived-heres-how In encourage you to watch the Upworthy video with Mariel Hemingway.  One of my favorite quotes from the video: "As a community the more we talk about it the more we address it, the more we deal with it in our everyday lives the more healing we can offer everybody... it is about reaching out and that is the message I want to give everybody, keep talking about it." I've written a novel where one of my main characters deals with depression and suicide.  It's a weighty issue that needs to be brought more into the light.  There are ways to connect, ways to help bring this subject to the forefront. I met an author recently who really speaks to the heart of mental illness and is great at creating a community of similar people around this topic and more: Check out on twitter:   @ JulieBipolar or at JulieFast.com Her Blog:     BipolarHappens.com/bhblog Also, "Out...

Go time.   I've written my entire life:  journals (aka diary), essays (aka college assignments), poetry, novella's, Nano-Wrimo... I've edited, revised and polished... then done it again.  I've taken college courses to the point where I've debated a second master's degree, I've attended hours of meetings with Willamette Writer's, PDX Writer's, Portland Women's Writers... I've saturated my life as much as I can to achieve those 10,000 hours.   I've written stories upon stories upon stories... only two complete novels and I love them both and I'm ready to pitch.  (That was a run-on and I know it- but it belonged together and I like breaking rules).  The Willamette Writer's Conference is happening the first weekend in August.  I'm ready.  I'm pitching my Women's Contemporary Lit/Romance - beta readers opinion vary on where it lies - the title is "Twisted Disposition".   It’s about a teacher who creates chaos ...

I've done it!  I've signed up for the monthly writing race to 50k words.  I have to admit... I've written way more than that, but I'm a re-worder, edit-crazed, self-doubting author.  It will be a great challenge to begin a story and not stop till I'm 50k words in.  Looking forward to the write-in's... hoping to meet some kindred spirits or at least a few people that are writing group worthy.  Now to go choose a genre, and begin my outline.  Let the journey begin!

Dreaming of Summer Already When summer comes floating in  She’ll bring her carpet bag brimming with a hodge-podge of seasonal honeyed medicines The light of yellow sun will pop out first to shine upon our faces To shine upon problems, those that were stuck in shady places And if I can’t handle the enlightenment she will disperse An umbrella is stashed in her sunlit purse She’s got lotion to soothe and protect me Wind tucked in a pocket to whip-up energy Hot sand for a warm place to ground myself, or warm up with a friend Summer is my mother She comes to tend

~ Writing to Evoke Emotion ~ Hand hovers, hesitates, a shadow on the pale paper below Then dives, a reckless raven into hidden holes, hollows dipping ink congealing into creation Words turn into serrated black claws ripping their way across the white page dark moments exhausting the pen black blood of emotion I should be afraid to write them - but my will is to pull your heart out and show you it beating, dripping, in my pale palm So you may see it feel it perceive the pain that I write My only real fear is that you won't.

Spring Cleaning When the light returns What seeds I’ll plant And then nourish in the year ahead A seed planted is hope born for growth and future treasures The gifted grin bringing forth rows of smiles The melody embedded, creating a day of mindless humming A clean house reaches like ivy over the barbs of my worry, softening, serene A completed project like vinegar on glass gleans accomplishment Time for myself sprouts a happier woman, who in return blooms to enrich the lives of those who pass my garden Fertilizing the soils of my life Tucking in seeds that support my growth Dewey petals capturing life’s succulent essence I flower, I open To nature’s bounty A flower, reflective of all beauty