I will make this quick. I had planned to post during the holidays, but then the holidays were gone and both of my schools started again. At one school, I work as a teacher assistant. In the afternoon, I work as a graduate assistant and then go to classes Monday, Wednesday and Thursday night. Every… Continue reading Make This Quick
Category: Education
Legends of the Edisto: What I Remember
The woods around Mizpah Methodist Church in Bamberg, South Carolina. My father's parents accomplished more than I ever dreamed in a lifetime. People who knew them still talk about their legacies. My oldest cousin posts documents showing my grandfather's many accomplishments as a student and as a chemist. He worked for a company called Sonoco, and… Continue reading Legends of the Edisto: What I Remember
What the Real World Gives Mommy Writers
I remember girls in college bragging about completing their homework, participating in activities, and how they were successful in everything. That was my perception. I could not see inside their lives. Although my time as a creative author is now limited, I know a good writer observes people. You are like an investigator who knows how… Continue reading What the Real World Gives Mommy Writers
HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOUR WORK AND KEEP YOUR LEGS CLOSED?
Authors, poets and writers walk a tight rope. On one hand, we want to show off our work and see if it's any good. We want to market ourselves and our primary projects. Some authors gamble and publish their pieces online. Some succeed with e-books or as self-published works while others do not. Whether those books succeed… Continue reading HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOUR WORK AND KEEP YOUR LEGS CLOSED?
Painted Blue: When you Call us Freeloaders
Courtesy of http://some14me.blogspot.com/2010/03/sick-man.html A man goes to get his MRSA spot treated. He has no insurance and is considered by some to be a non-entity. Two years ago, the doctor prescribed medicine for which he paid for out of his own pocket. Today the doctor refused to look at the man's records. "I'm not concerned about… Continue reading Painted Blue: When you Call us Freeloaders
Pens In, Guns Out
In fifth grade, my teacher selected my short story about a town in the middle of nowhere, Bamberg, South Carolina. I won an award for writing: the Lieutenant Governor's Writing Award. I chose the image of Mizpah Church in Bamberg County, and that story inspired my manuscript Sons of the Edisto. Two stories inspired by the book… Continue reading Pens In, Guns Out
Poetry Collection Work Out
Poetry challenges my mind, heart and fingers. It gives all the writing muscles a work out. Growing up, I wrote poetry all the time, and I was accepted to the S.C. Governor's School of the Arts primarily for my poetic writing. At age fifteen I was not able to formulate stories like I do now. My… Continue reading Poetry Collection Work Out
Risk your Life to Write
Courtesy of http://www.capitalnewyork.com. Imagine every piece you wrote was interpreted as sinful. Picture yourself walking down a road to another house or place to make a phone call. In that phone call, you said your poem, story or essay line by line. You say each word in a hushed voice, because you're always scared someone will catch… Continue reading Risk your Life to Write
Get Queried!
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!
The Mommy Scribbles: The Thing about Time
Almost two years ago I yelled at my Mom for taking my son, Charles, to get his haircut. No one told me. I was working, and everyone thought he needed a haircut. Tonight, I told Mom something different. "Take Charles to get a haircut," I said. "Please don't chop it all off." When my husband… Continue reading The Mommy Scribbles: The Thing about Time
Corrie's Season 