A couple of weeks ago, I met up with a fellow writer. We first got to know one another in 2024 and bonded over, what else, writing. Since that year, we've met up several times and texted one another even more. Always nice to have another writer to talk to about writing, and all the … Continue reading New Writer Series: Living With Less
When attending any writers conference, it's always a question mark whether it'll be time well spent. Some can go overly long, especially with speakers who get too carried away by the sound of their own voices. Or, worse, those that touch on stuff you already know. Or, you could pick up great ideas that will … Continue reading Attending A Writers Conference –The “Good” & The “Not-So”
Been a while since I wrote a blog post in this mini-series on my writing musings for 2024. Today, I've good reason to add one more to this series before the year ends. Because this morning, I invited not one but two local writers to share with my Writers Club on their journey to self-publication. … Continue reading My 2024 Musings on Writing #4 — Chatting With Self-Published Writers
Writing Fraud I've lost count how manyWere the timesI've felt like a fraudPutting pen to paperFingertips to keyboard Jamming out some rambleOf words I barely understandIn all kinds of funny or sobering circumstanceWith random texts hastily shoved togetherWho am I really kidding here?! I don't know any better Yet... Writing has been seared into my … Continue reading My Monday Metrical Musings #173
Recently, I found out about a podcast singing contest helmed by one of my favorite singer/songwriters to walk this planet, Sara Bareilles. At the same time, I found a related interview with her in Forbes about this contest (aptly called Breakthrough; unlike other singing contests, judges in this one listen to but don't see contestants … Continue reading Curing Writer’s Block #2 – Going Deeper Together
Hey! You might remember exactly a month ago today, I posted about attending my first synchronous online memoir writing course, lasting eight weekly sessions. No? Well, please do check out that post. Then, what I'm sharing below will be more meaningful, when you return here to read it. You see, for this course that I'm … Continue reading “Clouds in my heart” — another memoir chapter excerpt
Two months ago, I began this mini-series on what attention collectibles are and how they offer a constant source of ideas to help writers write well on a regular basis. This was followed by the second piece last month that named one "bucket" of attention collectibles I use regularly. [Do check out both posts if … Continue reading Writers need “attention collectibles” to write well #3/4 – Writing course resources
For the longest time, I've blogged about how paying attention to the small things in life is what truly matters. Especially when it comes to novelists and memoirists. In fact, pretty much all kinds of writers. Now I've learned there's actually a term I can use to refer to these small things. It's called "attention … Continue reading Writers need “attention collectibles” to write well #1/4 — Intro
I'll be honest. I was actually very sure my manuscript for the first book I ever wrote would be turned down when I went knocking on the doors of four publishers last year, heavy tome in tow. And it was. All four times! But the latest and final rejection was probably the most definitive since … Continue reading Why I’m so glad my manuscript was rejected
"There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside you" - Zora Neale Hurston (Dust Tracks on a Road) In me, I’ve always felt there was something, a story, that wants to get out. Actually maybe more than one ‘something’. And definitely more than one story! No, this isn’t a scene from the 1979 … Continue reading Writing into the new year with my old themes
