More than a dozen CWC Tri-Valley Branch members have taken the annual National Novel in a Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge. Cooking, house cleaning and yard work will be ignored. Laundry bins overflow. The trash begs to be taken out. Our fingers fly over computer keyboards toward a common goal—50,000 words by November 30. For the past […]
An extra hour to write by Violet Carr Moore Read More »
I bragged about writing in the dark-waking up at night and scribbling a few notes without turning on the light. Then I thought about other images that phrase conjures. Pushing myself through the writers block of the late afternoon, I struggle for the perfect ending to my story. The final paragraphs shimmer in my imagination,
Writing in the dark by Lani Longshore Read More »
I read an article that said to be a successful writer I should never let anything interfere with my writing time, not even a simple load of laundry. My first reaction was that my family would head off to work in their birthday suits if I followed that advice. After some reflection (and a load
Random thoughts on my legacy by Lani Longshore Read More »
I didn’t realize how strong my commitment to critique group was until this past January. I had minor surgery on a Wednesday and figured I’d be at the meeting the next day. My doctor called me Thursday morning and asked me how I felt. I described the pain I had during the night but said
Commited to writing by Neva J. Hodges Read More »
My empty nest is full again. Both kids are home for an indeterminate period while they seek employment. Having them home isn’t the issue-it’s having them home with their own schedules. When they were in school, my writing life was bound by their calendar. From September to June, mid-morning to mid-afternoon was mine. Creatively speaking,
Life cycles, schedules, and the writing gods by Lani Longshore Read More »
I’ve always wanted to pitch a home decorating show called “Like You’re Really Going To Do That.” The concept is to take all the fashionable ideas designers spit out and see how they stand up to real life. The idea came to me when my reaction to a bathroom makeover wasn’t “oh, how pretty” but
Wasting Time by Lani Longshore Read More »
Even with good maps and detailed directions, I get lost. My husband gave me a GPS for Christmas, which has cut down the number of times I miss turns because I can’t read the street signs. As much as I value my map-reading skills, having Miss MapVoice tell me “turn left now” has proven more
The GPS I Want by Lani Longshore Read More »
To march means to walk quickly with an air of determination. It hints at striding toward goals in relentless pursuit of progress. It’s a journey from where you are now to a specific destination. As a writer, what’s your goal this month? Write it on a sticky note, or pin it to a bulletin board
March 2011 President’s Message from Violet Carr Moore Read More »
Becky Levine is the author of The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide (Writer’s Digest, 2010) and a freelance writer and editor, living in the Santa Cruz mountains. She has almost 20 years of experience with critique groups and knows both the challenges and benefits of making the critique process work. Becky is also working
Becky Levine – Building a Strong Critique Group Read More »
When lighting a candle isn’t an option, should we curse the dark or learn to write with the lights off? I’m not the only writer who is struck with wonderful ideas at the most inconvenient times. The more disciplined among us actually stop what they’re doing and write notes. I am not so disciplined, especially
Writing in the dark by Lani Longshore Read More »
