Writing Processes

It’s interesting how different we all are as writers. We all have our own voices, our own way of writing, our own way of doing things.

Our own writing process.

It’s interesting hearing and reading about other’s writing processes, isn’t it.

I was asked to write about my writing process over on Sarcastic Broads.

I didn’t tell them the first thought I had was,

I have a writing process?

uhm, yeah, of course I do. I’m sure I do. Of course.... :::voice trailing off::::

I’m sure I do. I must have..... Somewhere.

It must be lost somewhere. Yeah, that must be it.

Obviously I must go find it now......

For the thought After reading some of the other’s writing process.... well, I’ll leave you to read my post over there.

What about you, you have a writing process?

Does it require muttering and shuffling?

Maybe I should hear about it.

Perception

Just because the wind blows fierce
does not necessarily mean it is bitter


[sc2011]

What You're Missing

What you missed by not attending last night's charity event and book talk and signing with Connor's Heroes and authors Ellen Brown and Elizabeth Thalhimer Smartt.

And what you miss when you don't attend book talks. You miss out on a Lot!

It was an interesting group and had wonderful questions.

Both authors were warm and sharing, and very very interesting. And shared new information they had just discovered / heard this week.

Am I going to share it with you? .......Nope. Cruel? Perhaps.

I will share this - Elizabeth, who has written the book 'Finding Thalhimers' is a very compelling speaker.

I will confess I had not purchased the book before since I'm not a native Richmonder or even grew up anywhere in the area, I didn't think I would find it very relevant, but she was so compelling in her speaking last night it was my husband lining up to buy her book! And he didn't grow up in Richmond either!

Yes, she's That good!

Of course Ellen Brown is just as savvy and just as compelling. I'd already purchased her book,

Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind: A Bestseller’s Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood

and had my husband grab it before I could even open it!

After hearing Ellen talk we both decided we must read Ellen's book before we tackle 'Gone With the Wind' [before I tackle it again....from long ago. A whole different story.]

But hopefully this will help you decide to go next time you see an event scheduled to hear an author talk.

Checking with your local indie bookseller is a good place to start.

Where ever you are located.

Here in Richmond we still have a few indie booksellers left around. Like the sharp, savvy, and not-hard-on-the-eyes-at-all Kelly Justice of Fountain Bookstore.

Check out the author events. And attend them. Even if you can't always afford to buy the books. Most people understand, and I think most people would rather have you fill an empty chair than not come at all?

As a writer you'll Always learn something.

Books, Fun and Charity

Can things get any better than that?

I mean really - a Really Good excuse to buy a book!

Actually good excuse to buy Two! Even Better!

Add to that the charity is asking you to go shopping and bring some things to give kids with cancer, and gives you an excuse to get to look at things writers like to look at anyway - cards, notepaper, journals, sketchbooks [doesn't Everyone Need a Sketchbook?]
Am I right?
You bring them the stuff they will give you things in return. Seems good to me.



Here's the scoop:


Meet the Authors at Gibson’s Grill
March 3, 2011

On Thursday, March 3 from 7-9 pm, bring your book club, your neighbors, your colleagues and friends and spend a fun evening with local authors, Ellen Firsching Brown and Elizabeth Thalhimer Smartt at Gibson's Grill.

Ellen's book, Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind: A Bestseller's Odyssey, will be released on February 18 at Fountain Bookstore and is sure to be a hit!

Elizabeth's book, Finding Thalhimers, was released at the end of 2010 to rave reviews.

Both women are incredibly charming and will offer interesting stories of their journeys into authorship.

Of course, they will also have copies of their book available and will be happy to include a personalized autograph.

Both authors are graciously donating a portion of the books sold that night to Connor's Heroes!

We're asking everyone who attends to bring at least $25 worth of items from our Heroes Bags and Backpacks wishlist (click here to view our wishlist).

In exchange, you'll receive a free drink ticket, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, and invigorating conversation with our authors and invited guests.

Gibson's Grill is located at the corner of 7th and Broad Streets, adjacent to The National. We'll be meeting in the underground lounge, a chic and comfortable area to mix and mingle. Many thanks to Gibson's for being wonderful supporters of Connor's Heroes!


Connor’s Heroes Foundation Conquering Childhood Cancer
Wish List for Heroes Bags and Backpacks
• Hand Lotion • Hand Sanitizer (like Purel) • Antibacterial wipes
• Tissues (large boxes and travel size) • Mints
• Notecards/writing paper*
• Stamps*
• Journals (adult and child)*
• Suduko or Crossword puzzles
• Slipper socks*
• Disposable cameras*
• Bubbles • Lego kits or small model kit • Nail polish/lip gloss kits
• Jewelry making kits • Craft kits
• Card games (Uno, Phase 10, playing cards)*
• Black velvet coloring page/markers • Brain teaser games/puzzles
• Small dolls • Sticker books
• Sketch books*
• Dry Erase Boards*
• Crayons and markers
• Infant learning toys*
• Toddler toys (Cars/trucks, Dinosaurs, Princess/Dora, etc)
• Hand-held Leapster game with cartridges*
• Portable DVD Player*
• DVDs (child appropriate, G, PG, PG-13, no violence)*
• Personal CD players with headphones*
• CDs (children’s, teens, and relaxation sounds)*
*Although all items listed are needed, starred items (*) are most needed at this time. We ask that all donated items be new as children with cancer must avoid germs.

Looks like it's all going to be good! Right?

Maggie's Doing Spring Cleaning -

Maggie Stiefvater is doing spring cleaning - with books give-aways.

I know I need to do spring cleaning - the dust bunnies are obviously planning some kind of revolt. And I do need to spring clean my book shelves, and stacks. But maybe I can put it off until I enter Maggie's giveaway. Give me more to be magnificent with. ;) Yeah, that's a good motive. Right?

And to show I am a nice person - here's the link if you Must enter yourself.

http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/194478.html

And yes, one of these days I will even learn how to do this correctly.

Legacy

Legacy

Been on my mind recently. Most particularly Emyl Jenkins’ legacy that she left behind. When she passed away and left us much, much too soon. But also left with untold people a legacy of encouragement, and courage.

Especially been on my mind since Ellen Brown’s great book signing event the other night, for her book - Gone With the Wind: A Bestseller’s Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood

Selected by Publishers Weekly as a top pick for spring 2011.

[If you missed Ellen’s book signing the other night you have another opportunity coming up next week on March 3rd. And to benefit a charity as well. I posted about it in an earlier blog post so be sure to check it out.]

Ellen teared up and her voice quavered as she gave a touching talk thanking all the people that had helped and encouraged her with the writing of her book.

She especially remembered the late Emyl Jenkins, who ‘encouraged’ Ellen to start her writing career to begin with and was so thrilled when Ellen told her about what she was thinking about writing.

Emyl sometimes had a unique way of encouraging. ;) I remember being on the receiving end of “Well honey,” and “You need to step up” myself.

It’s amazing the things you discover about people. And the people that they touch in some way, the legacy they leave behind. Almost a year now after Emyl passed away I am still hearing from people the way Emyl ‘encouraged’ them, whether to ‘step up’ and get involved, get out, and meet other writers, or to get rid of their excuses and sit down and write their dream. Emyl was able to ‘encourage’ them all.

It still amazes me all the people that Emyl Jenkins touched and influenced.

And is still influencing.

Especially if you take advantage of the opportunity of the Emyl Jenkins award over at James River Writers [www.jrw.org]

So step it up. Reach out and leave a legacy.

Where There Be Heroes?

Everyone seems to think of heroes as big super guys in some kind of spandex and capes. Uh, if you see someone like that, they’re probably not heroes. Just so you know.

The real heroes of our lives are often the ones we take for granted and run by giving quick pats and quick words on our way to someone else. Perhaps more flashy and spandex-y like.

And perhaps with no more thought than that.

As those that read my blog the other day, I’ve been grabbing all the time I can reading Jim Butcher’s book “Changes” - a Dresden File mystery.

A fascinating mix of mystery and fantasy, and a lot of things thrown in. So many different things I often find myself pausing to wonder ‘what if’ .... and, well, a lot of things that I’m not going to mention right now. For a few reasons, one being I might want, okay, need, to use for some more blog posts.

Whether it is Butcher’s take or view on heroes or just that of one of his character’s, it was another instance of making me stop and think.

Harry and his friends are getting ready to go off on a quest. Sort of. Butcher does a great job of using ‘pop-culture’ references to add humor and lighten up scenes that would be dark and horrific otherwise.

In this particular one, Harry is occupied with something and the others getting ready to go on the journey with him start likening themselves to the characters in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Harry was not part of the discussion so he is rather put out by his character designation -

“Changes” - page 335 -

Harry asks who he got cast as.... “Sam,” Sanya said.” Harry blinks and declares “Oh, for crying out loud, it was perfectly obvious who I should have been.”

Sanya just shrugs and tells Harry that Harry’s godmother [referred to later as “Spooky death Sidhe lady,” Molly said. “Now upgraded to spooky, crazy death Sidhe lady.” ----- okay so maybe you need to trust me on this one and just read it.]

Anyway, so Sanya tells Harry that Harry’s godmother got Gandalf so Harry got Sam.

“He started to leave and then paused. ‘Harry, you have read the books as well, yes?’

‘Sure,’ I said.

‘Then you know that Sam was the true hero of the tale,’ Sayna said. ‘That he faced far greater and more terrible foes than he ever should have had to face, and did so with courage. That he went alone into a black and terrible land, stormed a dark fortress, and resisted the most terrible temptation of his world for the sake of the friend he loved. That in the end, it was his actions and his actions alone that made it possible for light to overcome darkness.’’

We might not all have a Sam in our lives, or think we don’t. But how many unnoticed heroes do we have in our lives?

Like the Sandra Bullock character in the movie “While You Were Sleeping” tells another, when he says he’s no hero, she says ‘you always give up your seat on the train.’ ‘that’s nothing’ he says, to which she replies, ‘not to the one that sits in the seat.’

So whatever kind of hero you have in your life, reach out and recognize them in some way.

If you had one like Emyl Jenkins, then go over to the JRW site and see about nominating them for the Emyl Jenkins award.

http://jamesriverwriters.org/jrw_programs/emyl-jenkins-award/

Don’t let your heroes go unnoticed.