So let's make 2009 the year of the novel. Or the short story. Or the memoir. Whatever you're hankering to write, let's be creative together. We can glory in the days when the writing is good, and talk each other out of quitting when the going gets tough.
Here's a little bit about my book: The two main characters, Helen and January, get kicked in the teeth by the recession and other demons of midlife – a disappearing job, a philandering husband. They join forces with a third friend, Olivia, who's suffered bad boyfriends for years and simply wants to find a nice guy, to help each other remake their lives. After that, things unfold in ways that surprise them – and I hope readers too. All I can tell you so far is that my friend Sarah has read it and loves it. For right now, that's enough.
That's mine, now tell me about yours. Together, we can work out the knots in our plots and make our characters ring true. Go, writing!
Reinvent Yourself as a Writer
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I'm starting to write. actually about an event in my life. My father is in a nursing home in Nashville. I live in Atlanta, Ga. It is hard as hell seeing a extremely independent man be totally dependent on others for EVERYTHING! There is frustration, fear, love, guilt - a range of emotions. Hopefully something will come out of my being able to put this experience in writing. If nothing else - a form of therapy for me.
I was layed off in May 2008 from an international law firm. I have worked as a legal secretary for over 20 years and for someone without a college degree, it was a great paying job and came with nice perks. I worked in a beautiful office with highly educated people. However, many of these "highly educated" people are also narcisisstic psychotics and after 20 years I became really tired of being yelled at and spoken down to. When I was layed off I startede a blog and I love it because it allows me to be creative, to think, to express myself. How can I take my blog to a larger readership? Check it out: http://www.trixiesmommy.blogspot.com. It may not be "writing" in the sense of writing a book, but most of my friends love my blog and tell me I should submit it to magazines or newspapers. Any ideas for someone like me?
I am writing to encourage anyone who feels she has a book inside her. On August 1st I will publish my first book - "Marriage On and Off the Rocks: Intimate Stories of Marriages that Made It and Others that Didn't" - and the experience has changed my life. I'm even speaking to groups about the process of publishing today, because it's pretty dynamic and complex - but the great news is that YOU CAN DO IT! Check out my site for my new book - www.MarriageOnAndOffTheRocks.com. Email me, and I'll gladly answer questions about the writing/publishing process. You CAN do it!
I want to write. I don't know where to start. I have a journal and write there. I want to tell MY story but don't know where or how to begin. Any info and/or advice you give would be appreciated.
HI, It seems to me that a lot of people think that there isn't life after 40. For me, life certainly kept on moving and I found myself continuing to be in those situations that create love, pain, sadness - all of the emotions that let us know that life doesn't stop - as a matter of fact, new beginnings are everywhere. So, I found myself keeping notes and journals and even labeled a file "my book." Recently, I wrote a synopsis for a book and would like to share it with you soon. Yes, writing can be adventurous and cathartic - especially for those of us who are trying out our wings. Soon, I will share my synopsis of my future book with you all for comments.
