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Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Jill Earl, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 25 of 52
1. Interview with Janel Gradowski, Fall 2010 Contest Runner-Up

Janel Gradowski is a wife and mother who lives among the farm fields in Freeland, Michigan. She has been a stay-at-home mom for the last 12 years, but has an Associate in Desktop Publishing from Delta College. She decided she wanted to be a writer in the fifth grade after her story about a talking car received glowing reviews from her classmates and an A grade from her teacher.

After the birth of her second child she began making jewelry. Soon after she began designing beadwork and had her first pattern published in an international beadwork magazine in 2004. Since then she has had over a dozen patterns published in magazines and online. In 2010 she switched her writing focus back to her first love, fiction. She enjoys writing micro, flash and short stories. She can often be found writing with her Golden Retriever, Cooper, napping nearby. You can find pictures of Cooper and observations on life as a writer at her blog: http://janelsjumble.blogspot.com/.

If you haven't had the opportunity, do read Janel's winning entry, A Relationship with Food, then join us for our interview with her.

Interview by Jill Earl

WOW: Hi Janel! Welcome to the Muffin and congratulations on your win! How did you develop the idea for A Relationship with Food?

Janel: I am thrilled to be a runner-up! It’s an honor to be recognized with so many other fantastic writers. A Relationship with Food came about because of a combination of two things. I love culinary fiction. I actually have a bookshelf, which happens to be overflowing, dedicated to culinary fiction books. I decided to try my hand at writing a food-centered story. At the same time I had also read a story where lists played an integral part in the plot. I loved the list idea and challenged myself to incorporate grocery lists into a story.

WOW: As a die-hard foodie, I loved reading your piece and enjoyed how the grocery lists showed the course of the character’s relationship. A clever way to create a story, and you definitely rose to the challenge! Can you tell us what your daily writing routine looks like?

Janel: During the school year, I write while my kids are in school. I’m working at setting up a writing space in the basement that I can retreat to this summer. I find that I write best in the late morning and early afternoon, after my morning coffee has kicked in. The weekends are family time, so I usually take the time off from my writing.

WOW: It’s so important to have a dedicated place to write, so here’s hoping you’ll get that writing space finished. Looks like you’ve got a good work-life balance going, too. And I’m there with you on the coffee jump-start---love that miracle liquid! Moving on to writing influences, what tools, books, authors or styles inspire you?

Janel: I am a wr

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2. I Won’t Write Today

"You can't say, I won't write today because that excuse will extend into several days, then several months, then...you are not a writer anymore, just someone who dreams about being a writer." - Dorothy C. Fontana

Earlier this week, co-WOW woman Robin did a post on handling life's
challenges and staying on course with your writing. I loved her description of being in a “ bus-runneth-over state” at the time of writing. I am so there right now and got the tire tracks on me to prove it!

While I’ve continued writing assignments and projects---I’m participating in Script Frenzy this month---the above quote applied to my journal writing. In fact, I hadn’t journalled in a little over six months. While there are some who have lengthy periods of time between journal entries, I’m not one of them. Days, weeks, a couple of months at the most. Journalling serves as a catharsis for me, but seemed like ‘the bus kept running over’ me. My “I won’t write today,” stretched days, weeks, months and I saw some of my writing suffer.

Then one day last month, I spotted my journal near my bed, still new, waiting to be opened. That day I wrote, releasing months of pent-up crap. Ideas started to flow. It was lovely.

By the way, Fontana has some serious street cred. Better known as D.C. Fontana, she’s written numerous episodes for various Star Trek shows including the original series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and so on. She’s also written for The Waltons, children’s shows such as Land of the Lost and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe; Six Million Dollar Man and Dallas. Imagine if she decided not write!

Ever said “I won’t write today?” Share how that turned out for you.

By Jill Earl

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

3 Comments on I Won’t Write Today, last added: 4/28/2011
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3. A World of Writing Inspiration

Writers are always on the lookout for inspirational ideas to turn into new writing projects. Once while exploring HOW, the online version of the graphic design magazine, I came across an article by Sam Harrison, author of several books on creativity and editor of ZingZone.com. In 10 Ways to Get Inspired by the World Around You, he suggests close examination of our surroundings can reveal more ideas than we can handle.

Most writers already practice number five, ‘Observe and Take Note’. How else would we acquire and develop those ideas we come across? Two of the world’s more notable notetakers are mentioned, Leonardo da Vinci and Thomas Edison, whose books were filled with diagrams, sketches and of course, notes. I agree with the author’s suggestion to “capture ideas while they last---(to) take verbal and visual notes.”

I have a worn notebook containing expansive family trees of characters I created back in high school. Over time, I’ve returned to its pages to flesh out characters for some of the stories and scripts I’ve written.

Check out number two, ‘Explore the Masters for Material’. Artist Willem de Kooning was inspired by Rubens and combined classical and modern into a new art form. Does Dali do something for you? Gazing into his life may inspire you to create a graphic novel. Harrison also encourages writers to list masters they admire, then explore their lives, methods and ideas to see what they might walk away with.

Watching Pixar/Disney’s Ratatouille, the Oscar-winning animated film about a rat (!) aspiring to become a chef in Paris, inspired me to not only create a gourmet meal, write a post for ‘The Muffin’, but also fine-tune the cooking talents of a couple of characters I’ve been working on.

Sometimes, as number ten states, you ‘ Stay Where You Are’, Inventor Charles Pajeau did just that observing his children building structures with pencils and thread spools they found. And the outcome? Tinkertoys!

Read the rest of the story, as the late Paul Harvey used to say, right here.

The world provides such rich inspiration for the writer. Get out there and get them!

By Jill Earl

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

2 Comments on A World of Writing Inspiration, last added: 4/18/2011
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4. Script Frenzy vs. Life

Yeah, that was me after I got home from work yesterday. Except my robe was navy (I don't do pink). And I wear glasses. And it was night. You get the picture. Anyway, it's seven days into the first full week of Script Frenzy and I'm---behind. Life, as it tends to do, has intruded into my carefully-laid plans to write like a maniac this month. It was perfect. Character sketches, logline and plot were completed. Script writing software waited to be activated. Friends were alerted of my limited availability. A supply of dark chocolate, assorted teas and wine were on hand. April 1st arrived and I, along with countless 'Screnzy'ers', got to work. The momentum continued through the weekend, with short breaks to go food shopping and to church. Then, Monday arrived and back to work I went. Sounds familiar? Probably, if you're a writer. You learn to make time to write whenever you can and wherever you may be. That's the only way to grow into your craft, finish your projects and ultimately, earn money. At the day job , that means knocking something out during my lunch break. Yesterday I worked on dialogue and conflict between protagonist and antagonist. A couple of days ago while zoning out on the commute home, a few ideas started crawling around in my brain and when I got home, I had the end of my script. You never know when ideas appear, so I keep a notebook handy. I'm looking forward to this weekend full of writing. Having taken a couple of scriptwriting workshops in the past few months and studying the scripts of various movies and T.V. shows has been helpful in . When Monday rolls around, the day job and rest of life taking up where it left off, the Frenzy will patiently wait for a convenient time for us to meet and create. So will I. In the Frenzy vs. life conflict, sometimes the Frenzy wins, sometimes life does. Now, if you will excuse me, my script---and some chocolate calls. By Jill Earl

4 Comments on Script Frenzy vs. Life, last added: 4/10/2011
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5. The 'Challenging' Month of April

By Jill Earl

If you’re looking for a way to develop or sharpen your poetry or scriptwriting skills, check out a couple of writing challenges happening in April.

First up is the Poetic Asides PAD (Poem-A-Day) Challenge. Created by Writer’sMarket.com editor Robert Lee Brewer, the goal is to write a poem each day; using the daily prompt provided by Brewer is optional. The submission deadline is May 5, 2011, and any received after this time will be disqualified. Poems should either be submitted either in the body of the e-mail or as a .txt or .doc file. Out of all the entries, Brewer will choose a ‘Top 50’ of the month. You don’t need to register and participation is free. Full guidelines can be found at the Poetic Asides blog.


Then there’s Script Frenzy, sister to November’s National Novel Writing Month Challenge. Participants write a script (or multiple scripts) of at least 100 pages total, individually or with a partner. Just about anything can be written: screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, comic book and graphic novel scripts, adaptations of novels. There are lots of resources for Frenzy participants to use, including how-to guides, inspiring interviews, forums and a neat Plot Machine if you need some help coming up with a script idea. You must register, but there’s no fee to participate. Everyone who reaches the 100-page goal receives a Script Frenzy Winner's Certificate and web icon. I’ll be joining the over 10,000 (so far) in this year’s Frenzy myself. Go to the Script Frenzy site for more details.

Think you’re up for the challenges? Check one or both out, sign up--and get to writing!

6 Comments on The 'Challenging' Month of April, last added: 3/28/2011
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6. In Pursuit of Persona

By Jill Earl

Struggling with the voice for that story you’re working on? Try swapping your persona with one other than yours to add interest in your writing.

What’s persona, you may ask? It’s defined as a character assumed by an author of a literary work, or the voice a narrator adopts to tell a story.

It was at a conference’s essay writing session where I became acquainted with persona. For part one of an exercise, we wrote about our first kiss. With pens scratching on pads, we raided our memories. When time was up, we groaned and giggled our way through our stories.

The instructor passed around a bag for part two of the exercise. The assignment: rewrite our piece in the persona each one of us selected for ourselves. Some of the choices were martyr, grouch, misanthrope, philosopher and pundit. Again, giggles and groans were heard as we attempted to ‘speak’ in these new voices, then figure out which persona was which.

I ended up with ‘martyr’ and did more spluttering than speaking in this voice. Since the class received copies of the ‘persona in a bag’ list, I’ll be using this literary device in my writing.

Think up some personas of your own to work with. How about know-it-all, grouch, tattletale, liar? The choices are as endless as your imagination. The more personas you use, the stronger your character development. And the stronger your writing.

Give it a try. Pursue that persona!

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7. Throwing Off Those Bowlines

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off your bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Writing is a career I’ve chosen to pursue, so to navigate this life, I must sail away from the safe harbor. The voyage involves stepping out of my comfort zone. Risking rejection. Rising to challenges. The trade winds beckon and grow stronger. There’s no going back.

For now, I explore script and short story writing. Dreaming of possibilities, I devour books on the subjects, take classes and write. The bowlines are thrown off.

I’ve submitted a short story to an paying online gardening journal I discovered some time ago and wait for a response. The process of market research, submission prep and job search doesn't end, though.

Last summer, I was part of a local nonprofit’s movie production crew. Hours were spent crisscrossing the state filming various scenes, while I learned how to operate the camera, tended the lights, kept actors’ makeup in check, held the boom mic. Soon there'll be post-production film editing. I’ve attended a couple of screenwriting classes too, analyzing film classics such as ‘Psycho’ and ‘Chinatown” along with current films like Oscar-nominated ‘Winter’s Bone’ and “Devil Wears Prada’. We read aloud from the scripts of these movies, saw the corresponding movie scenes. Lively and fun lecture and discussion followed. These experiences allow me to see both sides of filmmaking, beneficial as I develop my own scriptwriting skills.

Thing is, I don’t want to look back twenty years and see I’m anchored to the same harbor, trade winds sweeping by. Afraid to try new genres and styles. Afraid to further my career.

Take a chance. Throw off those bowlines, leave the safe harbor behind. You'll never know where your writing journey may lead. Book deal, perhaps?

2 Comments on Throwing Off Those Bowlines, last added: 2/11/2011
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8. Keeping Your Writing World Straight

Like me, you probably love the convenience of keeping your writing world straight through various methods such as online calendars, spreadsheets, maybe even your phone. I rely on my MacBook’s iCal and my phone’s calendar myself. Still, there’s an appeal to seeing my daily plans, schemes and dreams written out on the page. As a result, I’ve returned to A Working Writer’s Daily Planner, a helpful resource I first came across last year.

Of course there’s a calendar with space to set up yearly, monthly and weekly goals, but there’s much more. Between the pages you’ll find a selection of upcoming contest deadlines listed on calendar pages, and expanded lists with more detailed competition info. Glance at the reading lists, including the monthly “Read Around the World” list of international writers for your next selection. There’s a easy submission tracker to keep your records in order. And if you need ideas on what to write, try some of the prompts or exercises. All accompanied by attractive, black & white and full-color photos.

Yeah, it’s definitely low-tech, but for me, it’s a nifty way to rein in my writing life. Check it out for yourself here.

So, what ways do you keep your writing world straight? Please share them!

By Jill Earl

6 Comments on Keeping Your Writing World Straight, last added: 1/31/2011
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9. Writers Have Trades Too

Writer’s Digest. The Writer. WRITERS Journal. Poets & Writers. These are the trade magazines for writers, and great additions to your tool kit. With the latest industry news, trends, and interviews with established and emerging writers, they offer techniques and other resources to build your skills. The magazines also have websites with additional content, many times only available online. And of course, they have market listings to submit your work, including the mags themselves. Following is a quick rundown of each.

The veteran of the group, The Writer, calls itself ‘The essential resource for writers since 1887’. One feature,‘The Writer Archive’, focuses on an element of the craft of writing from past articles. There are reviews of newly released books to browse. You can check out their blog to get into the minds of the mag’s staffers. And now, registered users can post comments on any columns or articles in the ‘Columns and Articles’ sections of the site.

With the motto, ‘Write Better, Get Published’, Writer’s Digest (WD) is a favorite of many writers. Highlights include the ‘101 Best Websites for Writers’; ‘Writer’s Workbook’, which covers specific areas of writing; and the WD contests in Popular Fiction, Poetry, Short Short Story, the International Self-Published Book Awards and the annual Writing Competition with multiple categories to enter.

My favorite is Poets & Writers, the largest nonprofit serving creative writers dedicated to taking writers ‘From Inspiration to Publication’. There’s always a comprehensive list of upcoming conferences and residencies, and awards and grants recipients; In addition, there’s a continuing series where agents and editors share their experiences and their wants from writers. And readers can start applying what they’ve learned from ‘The Practical Writer’.

To wrap up, there’s WRITERS’ Journal, ‘The complete writer’s magazine’. Offerings include contest listings, including ‘Write to Win!’; columns on how to break into niche markets, promoting your writing properly, and photography how-tos, among others. And the ‘Books for the Writer’s Bookshelf’ area always has a selection to whet the appetite.

So, if you haven’t already, add one, a couple--or all of these trades to your tool kit. They’re the tickets to equip you to be the best writer you can be.

By Jill Earl

Photo credit: Microsoft

5 Comments on Writers Have Trades Too, last added: 1/18/2011
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10. Reflection on 'What's Top of Your Mind'

In my previous post, ‘What’s Top of Your Mind?’ I wrote on how Terri Lonier, founder of the now-defunct Working Solo newsletter for solo entrepreneurs, did an article on how a simple question from a close friend, “What’s top of mind?” not only opened the door to meaningful conversation but caused her to ponder on what’s really foremost in her thoughts.

Ms. Lonier sayd the question, “makes you consider what is most important in your life and work, and what commands your attention at present.” I love that! Too often clutter worms its way into our minds and soon, the tasks that need to be dealt with--like our writing, perhaps?--gets dropped or ignored altogether. Don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of that!

As I reread the article, I found it interesting that two of the questions listed resonated with me again and in examining why, I saw a progression in my writing.

* What has brought you the most joy or satisfaction recently? Why?

Definitely being part of a film shoot. The local non-profit that I’ve worked with for about a decade (wow!) filmed its first movie from late spring through late fall last year and as part of the production team, I was a camera operator, lighting and makeup assistant. I’ve always been interested in and would like to get into filmmaking. I loved the experience---even the grueling 15-hour shoot where I briefly second-guessed my choice of friends and working partners. Good experience to help develop my screenwriting skills.

* What idea, experience, or encounter intrigues you enough that you want to share it (and perhaps launch a discussion) with someone like Jerry (Ms. Lonier’s friend referenced in the article)?

I’ve shared the above experience with a writer friend currently living in Dubai. We’ve kept each other up-to-date on our writing over the years. Besides being encouraging and uplifting, conversations with her help me walk through what top of mind and keep me focused.

You can check out the full article in the Working Solo archives here: http://www.workingsolo.com/minute060.html.

What’s top of your mind?

Good question to ask in reflecting on what's really happening with you and your writing throughout the year.

By Jill Earl

Photo Credit: Microsoft

2 Comments on Reflection on 'What's Top of Your Mind', last added: 1/7/2011
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11. Jan Ackerson, Summer 2010 Flash Fiction Contest Runner-Up

Jan’s Bio:

Jan Ackerson is a retired high school teacher living with her husband and Sophie, the Demented Cat in rural Michigan. She was first published in 1962, when her poem I Like Deer appeared in her elementary school’s literary anthology. After that, she took a long break from writing, until a family crisis in 2000 drove her to find solace in the scratch of pen on paper.

Her short stories and poetry have been seen mostly on FaithWriters.com, where she has earned dozens of weekly awards. Her stories Sniggles and The Suit Jacket of Grace and her poem A Poet Rests in the 131st Psalm have placed in that site’s yearly ‘Best of the Best’ competition.
Jan is spending her retirement years traveling, playing with her granddaughter, and freelance editing. Her short stories and poetry can be found at http://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php?id=11626.

Don’t forget to check out Jan’s winning entry here, then settle in for our interview with her below.

WOW: Jan, thanks for taking time to chat with us today, and congratulations for placing in our contest! What are your thoughts about it all?

Jan: I was astounded! I have a hard time thinking of myself as a real writer; unlike most of my writing friends, I’ve never sought publication. Writing is just a hobby to me, and I entered the contest as a whim. Maybe, in some dim corner of my brain, I was hoping for some validation of my scratchings—but I never expected to do so well against accomplished writers. This feels absolutely marvelous!

WOW: Glad to hear that, you did a fantastic job with your entry! Speaking of which, how did your story ‘A Kind Woman Lives Here’ develop?

Jan: I happened across a website that showed dozens of the ‘hobo signs’ used during the Great Depression. I imagined a sweet old tramp scrawling a primitive sign on a woman’s front gate—and working backward, the story of this brief and grace-filled encounter formed itself. I’d like to imagine that my grandmother might have served such a homely meal in the same circumstances.

WOW: That’s a good example of how writers can be inspirited by just about anything, including an aspect of Depression-era society some might not be familiar with. Besides grace, I also felt a sense of peace as I read your delightful story. Well done!

Let’s turn to your writing background. Now your bio mentioned your return to writing in 2000 after a long break. Can you tell what happened to bring that about?

Jan: In October of 2000, my eighteen-year-old daughter suffered a spinal cord injury in a horseback riding accident. I’m a person who internalizes emotions, but this particular event was so earth-shattering that I really needed an outlet. I started to blog, and I found a website, FaithWriters.com, where I could post my writings in a supportive environment. The funny thing is—I’d intended to write out my rage at God, but writing became a means of emotional healing.

WOW: Thank you for sharing this with us, it must have been quite a difficult time for you and your family. I’m in agreement with you in experien

3 Comments on Jan Ackerson, Summer 2010 Flash Fiction Contest Runner-Up, last added: 12/29/2010
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12. Feeding Your Spirit: A Response

A couple of days ago, fellow WOW’ster Heiddi wrote a post called, ‘Feeding Your Spirit to Feed Your Writing’, reminding us if we do so, our writing benefits immensely. Two of Heiddi’s suggestions really resonated with me and I examined what that means for me.

‘Review your accomplishments’ is first on the list. Heiddi suggests that remembering the things you’ve done in the past, whether writing-oriented or not, reveals your strengths and capabilities.

Thinking about this year, I wanted to explore screenwriting and signed up for ScriptFrenzy back in April, the screenwriting equivalent to NaNoWriMo. I managed to make it a little past the halfway point of 100 pages by the end of April, not bad for my first time, and want to finish up by the end of the year. I also went on my first writing retreat at a nearby retreat center. Taking the time for a long weekend focused on writing was what I needed and I returned rejuvenated and eager to work on new ideas for projects.


‘Go back to hobbies that you enjoy’, number three on the list, is a favorite. So is music, which refreshes me. Sometimes as I listen to various songs, a lyric or two inspires a character or story idea. I’m becoming more interested in filmmaking too and was part of the production team for a film project with a non-profit I’ve volunteered with for some years. I worked the camera, did lights and makeup, and hope to assist with editing. I’d want to continue developing these skills and like to see this turn into more than a hobby.

Bottom line, keeping our spirit fed keeps us and our writing vibrant and productive. Something to ponder as we finish up the year.

Thanks for the reminder, Heiddi!

2 Comments on Feeding Your Spirit: A Response, last added: 12/6/2010
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13. Sometimes in Writing, There IS Something New Under the Sun

A couple of days ago while reading an online writing newsletter, I came across the following headline : ‘Car Handbook Publisher Publishes Service Guide to USS Enterprise’. You know, that iconic ship that’s flown across TV and movie screens for over 40 years, the one with the captain of your choice at the helm: Kirk, Sisko, Picard, Janeway, Archer. Yeah, that Enterprise.

According to a UPI report, seems that British publisher, Haynes Publishing Group, known on the continent for producing consumer-friendly car manuals has truly gone ‘where no one has gone before’. The U.S.S. Enterprise Owners' Workshop Manual, written by Ben Robinson and Marcus Riley, with contributions from NASA engineer Michael Okuda, who’s been involved on a number of "Star Trek" projects for over 20 years, comes complete with instructions and diagrams so sci-fi fans the world over can learn how to disassemble and reconstruct their own starship.


Think what you will, but I find the idea intriguing. These two writers found a niche, did their research and came up with a an interesting way to attract their audience. Isn’t that a goal we writers aim for in getting our work published? And there are more than a few Trekkers out there.


Check out the rest of the story here.

Think this Trekker will see if I can find a copy herself. I’ve always been fascinated by the Enterprises’ transporters.

By Jill Earl

4 Comments on Sometimes in Writing, There IS Something New Under the Sun, last added: 11/8/2010
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14. Interview with Nancy DeMarco, Runner-Up in Spring 2010 Flash Fiction Contest

Nancy began writing in December 2009 as a way of “reconnecting the wires,” helping to restore memory and cognitive function following twenty years of chronic Lyme disease. Her therapy immediately became a passion, and she joined both a local writers’ group and an online work-shopping community. She also works as a clinical massage therapist, helping to rehab injuries in both horses and humans. In her spare time she hikes, raises chickens, and plays with her two horses, Lucy and Louise.

Nancy was born in California, grew up on the North Shore of Massachusetts, and now lives with her husband, Jim, in southern New Hampshire. Her story, “Lime Green and Not Deep,” was recently accepted for publication by A Cup of Comfort® books, and her novel-in-progress, Finding Sara, has been selected as a finalist in the 'Strongest Start Four Competition' on the Next Big Writer website. Current projects include a number of short stories, a novel about a young woman who hears voices in her head, and daily writing practice, experimenting with a wide range of genres and voices.

Take a look at Nancy’s winning story here, then c’mon back and join us for our chat with her.

WOW: Thanks for taking time out for us today, Nancy! Congratulations on your winning entry. How are you feeling about it all?

Nancy: It feels great. Not a very literary answer, but there you have it.

WOW: (laughs) Not a problem with your answer, I love it! Let’s talk about your entry. Your piece, ‘Note’, is a great example of writing short and tight, with plenty of sensory details. I shared in your character’s myriad emotions as I was taken back to a few recitals of my own. What inspired you to come up with your story?

Nancy: I come from a very musical family, and this was inspired by my niece, Rebekah. She's a talented kid, and she works hard. But the thing that really gets me is her courage. I remember when she tried out for some big fancy chorus in Boston - the youngest applicant - and she just plain blew them away. So, that was my starting point. The rest came to me as I wrote and edited and tried to add a bit of tension and back story.

WOW: How thrilling about your niece’s accomplishment! Have to tell you, I was kind of disappointed to reach the end of your story, I really got caught up in it! Marvelous job!

Now, you’ve mentioned admiration of your niece’s courage, but you’ve displayed some yourself. Your bio states how writing has helped your healing in the aftermath of a chronic disease. Can you tell us some more about that?

Nancy: I have chronic Lyme disease. It went undiagnosed for seventeen years, and for much of that time I was not able to read and retain more than a few sentences. The pain was horrific, the fatigue debilitating. I had hallucinations, and vivid nightmares in which I died, over and over again. I heard moths fluttering in my ears, felt constant rage, and experienced lost time. I'd get in my car and end up lord knows where with no memory of driving there and no idea how to get home.

But the worst part was the loss of self. I could

2 Comments on Interview with Nancy DeMarco, Runner-Up in Spring 2010 Flash Fiction Contest, last added: 10/27/2010
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15. Revisiting Things To Be Happy About

I ventured out into the world today after being down-and-out with the flu. To say that I’ve been in a mental fog would be the understatement of the century. And the few times I managed to surface from the tangle of bedsheets to check out some TV, I found the news a real downer. So I decided to revisit a site I wrote about a little over a year ago, ‘Things To Be Happy About’, for a mental lift.

The site’s the creation of Barbara Ann Kipfer’s book, 14,000 Things To Be Happy About. I still appreciate the lighthearted illustrations found on the homepage and throughout the site. I started with the cloud with today’s date on it, October 24, ‘Things To Be Happy About Today’ and one of the things listed was fountain pens and fresh paper. Music to the ears of a scribe.

Step over to the ‘Farmers Market’ section and A Commonplace Book. You’ll find various categories of topics to get your grinning and ideas to get you writing. Clicking on my favorite color ‘purple’ brings up a listing of quotes, song lyrics and other things related to the regal shade. Did you know that the word purple comes from Old English (975) and earlier Latin ‘purpura’, from Greek for the name of a dye made in antiquity from the mucus secretion of the hypobranchial gland of a marine snail, the Murex brandaris, that was called Tyrian purple? Yeah, neither did I.

You can even share your own happy news via the link on the ‘Idea Bank’ page. How about sharing the acceptance from that magazine you’ve had your eye on for a while?

And there’s more to see. Stop by, why don’t you? Every writer can use a shot of happy once in a while---and maybe a writing idea or a few.

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16. Reach Out And Text Someone--With Cellpoems

By Jill Earl

Poetry lovers now have a new way of getting their fix in a most untraditional way. In existence for about a year, Cellpoems is a poetry journal that subscribers receive solely through text messaging on their cell phones twice a week. There’s also a link to their blog, and an archive available for those who might want to check out the poems before subscribing or choose not to sign up for the journal.

I admit to some skepticism with the concept of text messaged poetry, and appreciate the journal editors’ declaration “While our medium is brief, our goal is not to shrink attention spans or subject good writers and readers to the inanities of text message abbreviations.” Kudos to them for wanting to provide substantive content.

I did enjoy a few of the poems I read in the archives. I’m a great admirer of any writer who’s capable of writing short and tight, while holding my interest with their material. I can see myself dropping in every so often to see the latest offerings, but I think I’ll stick to reading my poetry between the pages of a book. It’ll be interesting to see how Cellpoems will fare in the future, though.

For interested poets, they do accept submissions year-round, either through their online form or texting them at the number listed on their site.

What are your thoughts about this latest electronic literary entry? Would you read a text message poetry journal? Why or why not?

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

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17. The Material’s Out There

By Jill Earl

"The material's out there, a calm lake waiting for us to dive in." - Beverly Lowry

This quote will become part of my go-to list for inspiration during those “What the heck do I write about?” moments when I’m looking for something---anything---to jumpstart my thinking. It causes me to remember this: The material is out there.

One time the material came during the walk I thought I needed to clear my head. I thought of a little tweak I could add to my travel article to finish it off nicely.

Another time I found material through the pages of old fashion magazines at the library. Now I had an idea of what my characters’ dress from a long-past decade would look like, helping with the consistency of my short fiction.

Still another time, I discovered material as I watched a movie. Inspired, I went to the kitchen and fixed dinner. The results? A delicious meal, and a post on inspiration that appeared here on the Muffin.

In order for my writing to get the place it needs to be, I have to find the material, dive in to sort and analyze it, and work to transform it into that piece of short fiction, a blog post, a book or whatever. Stir up some ripples in the lake, if you will.

Next time I begin to lament about not having anything to write about, I’ll glance at the quote above, then, take a breath and dive in.

How about you? Ready to make some ripples in your calm lake?

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18. Who Will Stop You?

By Jill Earl

"It isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." - Ayn Rand

The latest rejection letter. A firm ‘no’ on that promising book proposal. The unsupportive spouse and kids. We encounter obstacles to our writing constantly. It’s so tempting to chuck it all and go back to our former writing-free lives, isn’t it?

Only problem? Writing’s become a part of you, sunken so deep inside that the only way it can escape is through that pen scribbling across paper---or through the blinking words appearing on the screen. So you keep researching markets and job leads, creating articles, submitting to contests, composing poetry, writing books. And the income’s coming in, sometimes steady, sometimes not.

Then a random, “You’re still at that little writing thing of yours?” or something equally condescending throws you. Or one of the above scenarios rocks your world. What do you do now?

Here’s the thing. There will always be naysayers along your writer’s journey, especially when you’re feeling your lowest. Question is, who will you let stop you?

Them? Or you? How about neither? It’s your call, so choose wisely.

Your writing future depends upon it.

3 Comments on Who Will Stop You?, last added: 8/16/2010
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19. Editors, Agents & Authors, Oh My!

By Jill Earl

As I head off to another writers’ conference later this week, the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference, I look forward to participating in the one-on-one appointments with various editors, agents, publicists and authors. Depending on the number of days conferees will be in attendance, they can schedule one, two, three or four 15-minute meetings, which are free. Below is a quick list I’ve compiled of items to keep in mind while preparing for these encounters.

1) Study, study, study. Make a list of those you’re interested in, then head over to the site of your particular conference and click on the information page(s) to read up on your choices. Make note of their guidelines or request them by mail. This would be a good opportunity to request sample copies of magazines, journals or book catalogs too.

2) Give your manuscript a workout. After you’ve determined the editorial needs of your selected, it’s time to shape up your manuscript. Generally a 12-point font in Times Roman, Courier or Arial is acceptable, but go with the guidelines suggested by your targeted periodical or editor. Polish your manuscript till that baby shines, and make sure you keep a copy for your files.

3) Remember the time. Generally, one-on-one meetings are about 15 minutes in length, so try to stick with that limit. Be fair to your fellow conferees by not cutting into their time. Even if you’ve made a great connection, perhaps you can schedule another time to finish up your chat, perhaps over a meal

4) They’re human. Many of us tend to forget that agents, editors and publicists are human---no really, they are. Granted, they’re at the conference to see what writers have to offer, but don’t stop there. See if you can arrange a few moments with that agent for a chat over coffee, perhaps a meal. It’s a great way to network and make new contacts.

And here’s one last one:

5) Enjoy. Give yourself permission to breathe and enjoy the experience. Think of it as one step closer to that book deal or magazine article.

Good luck!

3 Comments on Editors, Agents & Authors, Oh My!, last added: 8/12/2010
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20. Breaking Into Woman's World Magazine with Your Romantic Fiction

Hey, romantic fiction writers! Wondered how to break into Woman’s World Magazine with your story? Then take five, grab some coffee, pull out your laptop and join us for our interview with Kate Willoughby, as she fills us in on how her blog, ‘Writing for Woman’s World Magazine’ can help you with that!

WOW: Hi Kate, so glad you could stop by and chat with us today. Let’s start with telling us a bit about yourself and your writing background.

Kate: I’ve been writing seriously since 1999. Most of my published work is erotic romance, but in between those novellas, I pen short romantic fiction for Woman’s World and more recently the 'Trues' (True Confession, True Romance, True Love, True Experience.) I learned a lot of my craft from Romance Writers of America, a wonderful organization for both the published and yet-to-be published.

WOW: I love the concept of your blog! How did it all come about?

Kate: I started out just writing for Woman’s World. When I discovered I had a knack for it, I thought maybe I could teach other people how to do it, so I developed an online class which has become fairly successful. Because I study the stories anyway, making the leap to blogging about them seemed like logical next step. The weekly analyses benefit me and hopefully my students and anyone else interested in selling to Woman’s World.

WOW: My interest was piqued with just one visit! I love that you provide a number of ways to help your readers prepare their submissions. In your opinion, what goes into creating the kind of romantic fiction that catches the eye of the magazine’s editors?

Kate: First and foremost, know what they are looking for, which is uplifting, put-a-smile-on-your-face romance involving “regular” people that could live next door to you. Then, because Woman’s World Magazine often gravitates toward the same plotlines over and over, present those plots to them in a fresh way, be it via sparkling characters, a setting they’ve not seen before (or at least lately), a change in POV, or even taking tried and true plotlines and combining them.

WOW: Studying any writing market is what we writers should be doing anyway, thanks for the reminder. How do you manage to keep your own storylines fresh and interesting?

Kate: Again, I read the magazine every week so I know that if they just published a story set in a flower shop, not to send them a flower shop story. I also try to look at the trends. For instance, there’s such a huge green movement going on in this country, it might be a good idea to write something within that theme.

WOW: Keeping an eye on trends, another good point. Wrapping things up, what’s the one thing you enjoy about your work?

Kate: With the economy, the oil leak in the Gulf, the war on terror, unemployment, there’s enough bad news out there to depress even the most optimistic person. So, the most rewarding part of writing for Woman’s World (and

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21. Candi Sary, Winter 2010 Contest Runner-Up

Candi’s Bio:

Candi Sary has written seven novels. Five made it to the finals in competitions. Black Crow White Lie was a top six finalist in the 2009 William Faulkner William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition; Finding Grace made the short list for finals in the 2007 William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition; Love Me Madly won second place in the 2007 Dahlonega Literary Festival Novel Contest; The Sound That Red Makes and Thrown Away were finalists in the 2002 Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Award. Lavender Roses is her first short story, inspired by a writing exercise on Janet Fitch’s blog.

Candi graduated from UC Irvine with a BA in psychology. She lives in coastal Orange County, California with her husband, their two teenagers and three dogs. She finds spiritual connection in surfing, running, listening to music, and filming the life around her.
Visit her website at http://candisary.weebly.com.

Check out Candi's winning entry, Lavender Roses here, then c'mon back for our chat with her.

Interview by Jill Earl

WOW: Candi, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule today. First, congratulations on your winning entry, Lavender Roses! How does it feel to be a runner-up in our contest?

Candi: I am thrilled to be a runner-up! Thank you. This was my first short story.

WOW: You did a marvelous job with it! What prompted you to write your story?

Candi: Janet Fitch has a writing exercise on her blog called 'The Word'. She posts a word, and writers are supposed to come up with a two-page story using that word somewhere in the story. The first word she chose was ball. The phrase "I had a ball" came to mind. And I could hear my grandma saying it.

WOW: That’s a great example of how writing prompts can lead to publication! Think I'll check out Janet's blog myself for some inspiration.

Moving on to your story, telling it from the point-of-view of your five-year old narrator was a fresh idea and added some levity to an otherwise heart-rending situation. P.O.V. can have its challenges. What made you decide to do this?

Candi: I chose the five-year-old narrator because I knew her well. My grandma had Alzheimer's Disease. I was that five-year-old who found magic in the way her mind worked; the way she could look right at me and believe I was my oldest sister. As I got older I understood the tragedy of the disease, but there was a short time when my love for her wasn't burdened with understanding, and the resulting sadness. I thought it would be interesting to go back to that innocent time.

WOW: I thought it was an interesting perspective and I could be wrong, but I don't think y

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22. Summertime, and the Writin' Can Be Easy

By Jill Earl

Don't know about you, but with temps soaring into well over 100 degrees here in the East, the only thing on my mind has been the cooling blast of AC. So when I recently trolled the 'Net for some ideas to get my heat-baked brain moving, I found the CreativityPortal.com site, with dozens of ways to awaken or boost your creativity.

Clicking on the ‘Writing & Prompts’ link located near the top of the homepage directs you to the site’s writing guide, with more links to choose from. Then click on the ‘Writing Prompts’ link within this listing and scroll down for the 'Seasonal and Holiday Prompts’, where writer Chris Dunmire offers up a selection of summer prompts, like the one below:

Writing Prompt 3:
What is your favorite summer memory? How old were you when it happened? For 10 minutes relive that memory through writing about it as if you were right there recording it in real time.

While I’m not crazy about summer, I do remember my days at sleepaway camp, by far my favorite summer memory. During those 10 minutes, I recalled horseback riding and archery lessons, the camp carnival, canoe trips, nature walks, even an encounter with a skunk and thankfully, I wasn’t the unfortunate victim! With the exercise over, I now have some experiences ready to be used in a story, or perhaps inspiration for a future article or blog post. Besides that, it was fun to revisit those carefree days.

For the rest of Chris’ list, head over to CreativityPortal.com. Stay motivated during these sizzling summer days! Grab a prompt or two and get to writing!


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23. I 'Break' for Children's Books

By Jill Earl





As I read my way through the memoirs, poetry, writing how-tos and other genres of this year’s reading list, children’s books continue to be a favorite go-to for me. Not only do I gain inspiration from them, but they’re a great break from more ‘adult’ reads.

One of my childhood favorites is The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. It doesn’t matter that I know the adventures of Water Rat, Mole, Badger and Toad by heart. Each time I read, I relive the wonder of Mole’s discovery of life above ground. My mouth waters at the feasts they eat. I shake my head and laugh at Toad’s ability to stay in trouble and his friends’ faithfulness to stand by him through everything.

Another favorite is Julie Andrews Edwards’ Mandy. Ms. Edwards, better known as actress Julie Andrews, weaves a sweet tale about Mandy, an orphan who yearns for a place all her own and creates one in an abandoned cottage she finds. As an only child, I identified with Mandy’s desire and cheered her boldness to go for her dreams.

A couple of months ago, I read a delightful children’s book, Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth, about siblings Karl, Addy and Michael befriending a most unusual neighbor. Stillwater, a friendly giant panda who wears boxer shorts, lives a simple life and dispenses Zen-like pearls of wisdom. Not surprisingly, the advice given by him is just what each child needs at the time. I love how the beautiful full-color illustrations of Stillwater and the children contrast with the black-and-white ones of the panda’s tales, the latter reminding of calligraphy a bit in its depiction.

All three of the aforementioned books have been welcome additions to my writer’s reading list.

What about you, dear reader? Do you read children’s books for pleasure? Why or why not?

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24. The Power of Observation

“I love the line of Flaubert about observing things very intensely. I think our duty as writers begins not with our own feelings, but with the powers of observing.” Mary Oliver, poet.

With summer practically here, you definitely want to get out and enjoy the warm weather, but how about putting in some time sharpening your observation skills while you’re at it?

Put yourself into this scenario. You and the family are blissing out on the beach. Hubby’s catching some zzz’s, the kids are collecting sea treasures and you’re about to dive into that sizzling summer read. Stop. Lay the book aside, and use this opportunity to gather some fodder for your writing instead.

Let’s return to the scenario above. Really get into your surroundings. Smell the saltiness of the surf as you watch some folks roar through it on jet skis. Can you hear their yells? What about the sky overhead, how does it look? Can you think of another description other than ‘vivid blue, with puffy clouds floating through it’? Is the sand lukewarm, icy cold, or hot as it squishes between your toes?

Sometime ago, a friend and I had a delightful dinner at a local Italian restaurant. A basket of fresh bread started the meal, a golden loaf with crackling crust and chewy interior. The olive oil was a gorgeous chartreuse, the peppery bite lingering on my tongue. The wild mushroom risotto did it for me, though, with its velvety sauce, perfect al dente rice and mushrooms that were intriguing and earthy.

Another experience happened a couple of years ago, when some friends and I went kite flying on the dunes while on the beach. My kite was shaped like a seagull and we thrilled to see real ones swoop in to meet their ‘brother’. Our day ended as grayish-green thunderheads forced us inside to watch a spectacular light show.

By carefully taking note of your surroundings, you can add those little details that make your writing sing.

How are your own powers of observation? Test them out the next time you’re stealing a few moments at a cafe, trekking through a cool pine forest, or jammin' at a jazz festival. Your writing will thank you!

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25. Women’s Writing Associations: They're Out There

by Jill Earl

In searching for writing organizations geared towards women, I came across a few based in the U.S. and abroad, with interests ranging from playwriting to journalism. Check them below.

International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG)
Uses writing to empower all women, regardless of their writing expertise. Benefits include the Network Journal, reduced fees for IWWG events, and a literary agent list. They have two major events: "Remember the Magic", a week-long conference at Brown University; and the New York-based "Big Apple Workshop: Meet the Editors", which takes place twice a year over a weekend.

American News Women Club (ANWC)
Expands the advancement of women in the media professions. Members represent newspapers, radio and television, publishing companies, independent authors, online publications, public relations firms, corporations, academic institutions, and government. Members have access to club facilities; professional development workshops and seminars; Shop Talk, the monthly newsletter; the annual "Helen Thomas Award" Benefit Gala; monthly networking events; parties; embassy visits and more.

Association for Women in Communications
Seeks to advance women in print and broadcast journalism, television and radio production, film, advertising, public relations, marketing, graphic design, multi-media design, and photography. Both students and professionals are welcome to join and benefits include a job board; the bimonthly Communiqué newsletter; the annual conference; and chapters.

Black Writers Alliance (accepts both women and men as members)
Supports the growth and development of young, new, emerging, and established writers by providing access to members-only forums; the annual Black Writers Reunion & Conference; contests; workshops and job referral services.

Sisters in Crime (SINC)
SINC offers networking, advice and support to mystery writers. Offers InSinC, the quarterly newsletter; regional chapters; 'The Guppies', a support and critique group for unpublished writers; and the monthly SinC Links—a digest about the mystery business.

Romance Writers of America (RWA)
One of the largest writing organizations in the world, it supports the interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy. There’s an annual conference; local chapters offering a number of contests and workshops; opportunities for outreach; the Romance Writers Report, and other resources.

Society of Women Writers, Victoria Inc (SWWV)
Based in Australia, it provides women writers with information and support through monthly meetings; the Write Away newsletter; workshops and seminars; conferences; competitions and awards. Also strengthens ties between women writers in Australia and overseas.

The International Centre for Women Playwrights (ICWP)
Run entirely by volunteer playwrights, directors, performers and others, it supports female playwrights from around the world. Offers the Seasons Journal; professional development grants; monthly opportunities through The Official Playwrights of Facebook Group; and other benefits.

I'm sure there's some organizations I've missed. If you happen to know of any others , ple

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