Summer Learning

Since my month of vacation is ending, I want to share what I have learned this summer about writing.

I have learned:

...if life gets in the way of your writing,  vacation does too. Because your schedule and activities change (when you are on vacation), you must continue to plan your writing time to be productive. If you don't, writing may not happen.

...continued learning is crucial. Along with reading fiction or nonfiction of your choice, to scope out writing styles, you also learn from reading "how to" writing articles. You can do this through books, blogs, and websites. Also, classes on writing are very helpful.

...writers are supportive and happy when other writers are published. Why? It encourages the rest of us. I've only had a few children's stories published (in the late 80's) and remember how exciting it was to get my work in print. That memory also encourages me.

...(with no offense to my dear new laptop) I still love curling up with my old fashioned laptop--my notebook and pen.

What have you learned this summer about writing that you didn't previously know?

Hope is the thing....

"Hope" is the thing with feathers --
That perches in the soul --
And sings the tune without the words --
And never stops -- at all --



And sweetest -- in the Gale -- is heard --
And sore must be the storm --
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm --

I've heard it in the chillest land --
And on the strangest Sea --
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb -- of Me. ~By Emily Dickinson


I like to imagine birds singing as encouragement

Still Vacating

I am still on vacation and have never looked so good. (What you don't believe that's me? Come on you don't know what I look like far away with a hat on.)  I will be back soon with my regular posts.

If you want something to read and haven't read my rural blog here's the link.  The Ruralhood is my blog about growing up and living in a rural area. It's not as boring as it sounds. Really. Truly.

Delicious Suspicious

It is my pleasure to welcome talented writer Elizabeth Spann Craig to my blog today. Her newest release, Delicious Suspicious, debuted yesterday. She is writing this series as Riley Adams.

Thanks so much to Teresa for inviting me to guest post today! I’m delighted to be here at Journaling Woman today. My cozy mystery release, Delicious and Suspicious, released yesterday and I’m enjoying visiting my writing friends’ blogs to promote it.

Modern day writers have a lot to do when a book comes out. There is blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, and other promo to be done.

Sometimes I think my favorite authors from the past had it pretty easy. Oh, they worked hard on their manuscripts, without a doubt. But they didn’t have social media as the distraction that we do. They either wrote longhand or on a typewriter—and didn’t have that urge to check their email inbox or their @ replies on Twitter.

But sometimes I wonder how they’d have fared with social media promoting. And which author would have chosen what medium as their favorite?

Here’s my unscientific analysis:

Shakespeare—He’d have been a Twitter superstar. After all, he’s master of the short, witty quote.

Jane Austen—Hmm. I’m going to say she’d have embraced Facebook. I think she’d have loved the interaction—from a safe, online distance.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—The creator of Sherlock Holmes? I’m thinking he’d have been a blogger. He had too many stories…I think he’d have blogged his fiction. Or maybe sold lots of short stories for Kindle.

Mark Twain—He’d have given Shakespeare a run for his money on Twitter. But I think he’d also have been interested in Facebook and blogging, too. He’d have put on an amazing blog tour.

Dr. Seuss—Can you imagine the amazing blog he’d have?

Now it’s your turn. How do you think your favorite authors from the past would have communicated with their readers?

Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series for Penguin as Riley Adams, the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink (under her own name). Delicious and Suspicious released July 6, 2010: When a food scout from a cable cooking channel is murdered, it's only natural for restaurant owner Lulu Taylor to take it personally. After all, her barbeque restaurant served the scout's last meal. But danger lurks as Lulu investigates the crime. Will she clear the restaurant's name, or is she next to be skewered?

http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/
http://mysteryloverskitchen.com/
Twitter: @elizabethscraig