Two months ago I emailed a letter to a group called YA Stands. On the first week of the month, YA Stands accepts letters for writers seeking help to improve query letters for their Young Adult manuscripts. It selects one writer and his or her query letter. After writing several different drafts of the query letter for… Continue reading Get Queried!
Category: Art
No Matter Where
I grew up in a suburb outside Charlotte curious about everyone and everything from a place located anywhere but there. I wanted to know what people ate, what they believed and why they believed it. One constant in all of my travel, friendship and life experiences is the appreciation of landscape, cityscape and what people cultivate. When I write, my favorite… Continue reading No Matter Where
Thought for the Night: Simplicity
Write simple words. Mold them, shape them. Keep them simple. Who will read them? The greats. Sure. There are the greats, but they sit on thrones above. The ones who want a break from work. The ones who want a break from bills. The ones who want a break from screaming children. The ones who… Continue reading Thought for the Night: Simplicity
Days of Our Reading Lives: This Rock, Part I
Inspired by Pat Conroy's The Reading Life, I created a new themed post, Days of Our Reading Lives. Why is it important? Reading for a writer is sensual. It is an endurance of an author's passion over a long period of time much like a strong relationship. Books connect you to people, open new doors and… Continue reading Days of Our Reading Lives: This Rock, Part I
Write like a Turtle, Edit like a Fox
Courtesy of http://fadingamericans.wordpress.com/featured-animals/green-sea-turtle/ The sea turtle, box turtles and large land turtles take their time getting somewhere, but they choose different paths, have a hard shell and get where they're going. Courtesy of http://www.frmheadtotoe.com/2012/10/fox-halloween-tutorial.html The fox watches, waits and listens. Those are essential to editing. When you think you're ready to send a piece out,… Continue reading Write like a Turtle, Edit like a Fox
When We Write Letters, Part VIII: Letter to Mom
Dear Mom, Will you walk with me for a few minutes in the garden? Photos taken on my father-in-law's farm late last summer where many beautiful plants and trees grow. I think of you walking with me in the garden. Instead of shopping for dresses, we will look at ripples in the river. Don't you… Continue reading When We Write Letters, Part VIII: Letter to Mom
InspireMe: Where You Find Your Story
The house settled by the Ogle family in the Great Smokey Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tenn. How will you create your place? Where is it located? How often have you traveled there or visited this place in your imagination? Do you miss it when you go? A downtown view of Gatlinburg, Tenn. The truth is that… Continue reading InspireMe: Where You Find Your Story
Painted Blue: Beyond the Walmart Aisles
Painting by Brendan O'Connell. Courtesy of http://www.cbs.com. I spent the night in a horse barn. Years ago, I dated a guy who worked with horses. He built an apartment within a barn of six stallions. "Most of the girls where you come from would never spend the night out here," he told me. Most of… Continue reading Painted Blue: Beyond the Walmart Aisles
Corrie's Season 