Long Ago Seems So Far Away

It's hard to believe it's been more than a year since I've written anything in this blog. Blame it on the hot chocolate that melted down my previous laptop and the misplaced log book where I kept my passwords and information about websites, but better late than never.

The start of this new year brings with it a new direction. The focus of most of last year was spent searching for a literary agent for the 95,000-word fiction novel I completed. No luck yet, but I have gotten some good feedback. Positive stuff. This year, in addition to my quest for an agent and ultimately a place on the bookshelves at Borders and Barnes and Noble, is a place for the column I've written. Syndication is a bit of a mystery, but it's amazing what you can find online.

And in the blogs and comments of other writers.

Home from work today thanks to an ice storm, I had a chance to read some of these blogs. I am working on putting together an annotated list of some great ones. If anyone has any ideas or faves...do share.

Read to Write

One of the best pieces of advice I got from another writer was...read, read, read. And so when I started reading, I discovered that doesn't mean copy someone else's style, but read to find your own. Reading great writing helped me find my voice. That...and writing, writing, writing.

I've added a list of great writing books...great reads. I commute to New York City to work and have lots of time on the train to read. This is the just the beginning of the list...I will be reviewing books as I read them. Hopefully you will find them as inspiring as I have.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.
Read it three times already. Lamott writes in an easy-to-read style. She is brilliant and insightful and most importantly, real. One of the things I learned as a reporter was to keep it simple. She does that while discussing univeral truths, fears, and doubts facing anyone living the writer's life. Her chapter about the "one-inch-frame" has helped clarify and focus my own writing, as well as deal with things that come up in my life.

A great book.

Why I'm Like This by Cynthis Kaplan
Not so much a book about writing as a well-written book about life. Kaplan is hysterical and writes simply. Crisp. I couldn't put it down. It's funny how separate we feel from each other sometimes, and then you read a book like this a realize we all share so many similarities.

Highly recommended.

Writing to Deadline by Donald M. Murray
In this book, Donald Murray taught me that people are the story. People are the story. That piece of advice has stayed with me since I read the book more than six years ago as a new journalist for a weekly community newspaper. The book is filled with wonderful advice for anyone who writes. He stills writes a column for the Boston Globe. Look him up, he's good.

Practical advice. Well-written. A must-read.

I also recommend anything by Jimmy Breslin, but I like his stuff, so I'm partial. He writes simply, too.

More to come...enjoy your day.
Would love to hear about anything you've read lately.
Share with me.

Welcome and Hello

Writing is a passion.

For those of us who share this passion, I am starting this conversation. My hopes for this blog is for an exchange of ideas. I hope to be an encouragement to other writers, to people who are thinking about writing, for teachers who are teaching their students to write, and to everyone who has ever wanted to record their thoughts.

I've spent years writing while driving, scrawling thoughts on the backs of opened envelopes, shopping lists and lunch bags. Finally, I've started writing my book. It's scary and exciting and fun. But it's something I have to do.

So I'm doing it.

Thanks for stopping by and let me just begin by saying welcome.
Share your thoughts with me and I will do the same.

Melissa