writing a book – Page 5 – Getting Older: Charting the Uncharted

A NEW BEGINNING

I sit in a one-bedroom furnished unit on the 2nd floor of an immense apartment complex nestled in a shopping mall in northern Raleigh while writing this post. Two weeks ago we moved out of our house in Chapel Hill after 14 years. A cold heavy rain began to fall as we pulled the door…… Continue reading A NEW BEGINNING

PREPARING FOR REJECTION: TAKE TWO

Writers in the Storm SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2014 When Rejection is Necessary, or I Reject All the Fear By Guest Blogger Heather Webb The most detested word in the publishing industry, perhaps even in the English language (we writers might argue) is rejection. Even saying it aloud gives you a nasty swirling in your stomach. Whether…… Continue reading PREPARING FOR REJECTION: TAKE TWO

PREPARING FOR REJECTION

My book is done. Okay, so I don’t have a title—I have at least ten that are in the running—but none of them seem quite right. In spite of that, I’m crafting a query letter to send off to agents, small presses and to anyone or anyplace else that might publish my book. Besides sweating…… Continue reading PREPARING FOR REJECTION

TIME TO MAKE SOUP—AGAIN

I resort to making soup when I’m facing a deadline with my book. I’ve documented what has become a ritual in a post I wrote exactly two years ago. I’m planning to start a total review of my manuscript before I hand it off to the line-by-line editor. (Yes, the end is in sight!) But,…… Continue reading TIME TO MAKE SOUP—AGAIN

WHAT JOURNALING WILL DO

It’s a coincidence that I wrote the last entry in my journal on February 28 at the same time I finished my book. Well, my book is not finished-finished but it’s getting its final editing—by a professional content editor—as I compose this post. I have been using a 5-subject wide-rule notebook every morning to put…… Continue reading WHAT JOURNALING WILL DO

WHAT DOES AGE HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

I made an ageist comment. It didn’t seem ageist at the time. I was sitting in the second row of a packed room at Flyleaf Bookstore in Chapel Hill as Pat Schneider finished reading from her new book, How The Light Gets In. I came to hear Pat for two reasons. One, I wanted to…… Continue reading WHAT DOES AGE HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

WRITING RETREAT

“Something looks back from the trees,/and knows me for who I am.” — American poet, Jane Hirshfield. I spent five days at Wildacres in Little Switzerland, North Carolina at a writers’ retreat: The Powerful Narrative lead by Carol and Bill Henderson this past September. My good friend, Lois Roelofs, flew in from Chicago to join me. Without phones,…… Continue reading WRITING RETREAT

LOVE OF FOOD

As I continue editing my book (I’m a tiny bit behind schedule), I am adding more food references. Food has always had a hold on me. Growing up in both Italian and Polish traditions, the fabric of my childhood was knitted with gustatory delights. Food meant comfort and caring. One repast I’ll never forget was…… Continue reading LOVE OF FOOD

OUT OF THE DRAWER

Stephen King, On Writing, suggests after your book is written put it away. Don’t look at it, or think about it for six weeks, or more. Then pull it out of the drawer and read it all in one sitting, if possible. So after the designated time frame, while the crowds shopped on Black Friday,…… Continue reading OUT OF THE DRAWER

WHY DO WE WRITE?

I attended the book signing this past August. Farther Along, written by my friend and mentor, Carol Henderson, which told the stories of thirteen mothers (she is one of them), a bakers dozen as Carol points out, who had lost children at various ages. I was prepared to cry. I don’t do well with death…… Continue reading WHY DO WE WRITE?