Category: writing

Writer-y and NaNo Books

Writer-y and NaNo Books

I hope you took advantage of the back-to-school sales just ending. I always look forward to finding new pens and notebooks to refresh my writing times and help get me back into the writing groove. Before NaNoWriMo begins (or as you settle back into fall writing), you might want to ‘shop’ the library and bookstores for books to inspire your writing. Here are a few: On Writing by Stephen King Pencil Dancing by Mari Meisser Elements of Style by Strunk and White Writing Tools: Strategeis for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark The Artists’ Way by Julia Cameron Writing Down...

Activities to Stimulate Writing

Activities to Stimulate Writing

Writers have days filled with ideas and days of quiet with or without desperation. Some days it seems as if ideas flow so fast you can’t get them down on paper or onto your computer. Other days it’s like a desert in your mind where time and ideas are not within reach. For those dry days, here are a few suggestions that might awaken your creative mind or at least take your thinking to different places. Go for a walk, a run or a bike ride in a new location Take a new route home from work Visit a museum,...

Writing Directions – What’s Next??

Writing Directions – What’s Next??

Lately writing has been like a slowly circling wind of uncertainty. Maybe it’s because of my spending 15 years glued to my computer chair writing stories, blogs and math games or maybe it’s because the burning stories have been shared and I’m looking for new writing adventures. I’m not feeling nearly as intense about writing as I did over the past two decades. So what’s next for me and writing? I’ve already finished my brief memoir (Small Town Girl). I’ve evaluated my 100+ poems and found those worth saving that I plan to enter into gifted journal books over the...

Small Town Girl- My Secret Mission

Small Town Girl- My Secret Mission

After I completed Tasman, I promised my husband I’d take a break from writing, but that was a HUGE fib. In actuality, I had been writing a memoir for my family for the last few years and this past Christmas was my due date to have it finished and published for them. It all began strangely. I started thinking about all the changes to daily life across my decades and, when I had nothing from my novels to share with my writing group, I’d write about one of my remembrances so I could be an active contributor when we met....

EPIC Writing Contest for Wasington state residents

EPIC Writing Contest for Wasington state residents

Enter the **EPIC (Every Person Is Creative) Group Writers contest that opens today, February 1st, 2019. If you are writers in grades 8-12 or adult writers, read the contest rules then submit your prose or poetry to http://www.epicgroupwriters.org The deadline for entering the contest: April 5, 2019. Writers in grades 8-12 may enter free of charge! Cash prizes, online posting of the winning works and a public reading/reception will be held on May 16, 2019 at the Edmonds Public Library Plaza Room. Good Luck, entrants!!   ** EPIC is a non-profit, 501(c) organization based in Edmonds that supports the literary...

The ABC’s of Student Writing Topics

The ABC’s of Student Writing Topics

Somewetimes students need a bit of inspiration to find a writing topic that interests them. Creating a potential list of topics for students is as simple as ABC: Feel free to add to or alter the list to match your needs. It’s always fun to play with words and topics to keep writing time fresh.

Fun Writing Tools

Fun Writing Tools

I love to window shop for writing tools, booklets, folders, pens, etc. This is the best time of year since the major stores have big back-to-school sales that will be ending soon. Even if you don’t have students who need materials, I suggest you think of these ‘new’ tools as a way to encourage your entire family to write. Plan ahead. Use the sales to buy birthday or holidays writing tools now and tuck them away for later. Here are a few of the ‘new’ colorful items I’ve seen for 2018. * folders with current movie scenes as covers *...