Writer Crews

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 off...

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 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 ...