Everyone familiar with National Novel Writing Month knows there are exactly two types of participants: the planet and the pantser. Each group is simply doing what works for them, whether that is extensive character sketches, maps, and 3,000 word outlines,
NaNoWriMo: Why “serious” writers should promote rather than dismiss
Many of you will shake your heads upon reading this. Or perhaps even roll your eyes. Maybe blow a raspberry, send a prayer heavenward. I’m going to say it anyway. NaNoWriMo season has arrived. This year, more than usual, I’ve
Writing Prompts to Keep Writers Writing
This past Wednesday I attended just one day of the Michigan Library Association’s annual conference, held in Grand Rapids, and learned lots of great library stuff. We recently started a monthly writing group for 6-12 graders at my library, and
Beginning the End
It feels a little surreal to be back to writing and routine after the craziness of the past month. As I begin working on my fifth and final packet for this semester – and final packet in CNF for a
To Try… Or
All of the sudden, when you’re not looking, life decides to bombard you with everything your back was turned on. Last I checked, July was just beginning. It was summer(ish) here in Michigan, and I had just finished my first
Writing is Hard
Writing is really, really hard. I think this is how you can tell if someone is a writer. If someone tells you that writing is easy, they are probably not a writer. It’s easy to make letters appear on a
Procrastination Problems
College taught me, as it teaches every student, to be a skilled procrastinator. Test? Read over your notes and quizzes during the empty class period before. Project? Late night Wal-Mart run and acrylic paint brushes in the RA office during
When You Have No Office
Five months after our move to the breezy north, Caleb and I have yet to move above ground out of our chilly burrow. Because we are still in this apartment I’ve still been having trouble working on writing from home.
Re-immersion
Getting back into the swing of things after any kind of trip or absence is always hard. Getting back into the balancing act of life, while adding another brick – writing 35-50 pages every 3.5 weeks – is especially difficult.
When Writers Gather
My first MFA Residency experience has been one of absolute joy and a profound sense of belonging which I don’t know that I’ve experienced more than a few times in my life. I am living and working and eating among