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A couple of days ago, fellow WOW’ster Heiddi wrote a post called, ‘Feeding Your Spirit to Feed Your Writing’, reminding us if we do so, our writing benefits immensely. Two of Heiddi’s suggestions really resonated with me and I examined what that means for me.

‘Review your accomplishments’ is first on the list. Heiddi suggests that remembering the things you’ve done in the past, whether writing-oriented or not, reveals your strengths and capabilities.

Thinking about this year, I wanted to explore screenwriting and signed up for ScriptFrenzy back in April, the screenwriting equivalent to NaNoWriMo. I managed to make it a little past the halfway point of 100 pages by the end of April, not bad for my first time, and want to finish up by the end of the year. I also went on my first writing retreat at a nearby retreat center. Taking the time for a long weekend focused on writing was what I needed and I returned rejuvenated and eager to work on new ideas for projects.

‘Go back to hobbies that you enjoy’, number three on the list, is a favorite. So is music, which refreshes me. Sometimes as I listen to various songs, a lyric or two inspires a character or story idea. I’m becoming more interested in filmmaking too and was part of the production team for a film project with a non-profit I’ve volunteered with for some years. I worked the camera, did lights and makeup, and hope to assist with editing. I’d want to continue developing these skills and like to see this turn into more than a hobby.

Bottom line, keeping our spirit fed keeps us and our writing vibrant and productive. Something to ponder as we finish up the year.

Thanks for the reminder, Heiddi!

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A couple of days ago while reading an online writing newsletter, I came across the following headline : ‘Car Handbook Publisher Publishes Service Guide to USS Enterprise’. You know, that iconic ship that’s flown across TV and movie screens for over 40 years, the one with the captain of your choice at the helm: Kirk, Sisko, Picard, Janeway, Archer. Yeah, that Enterprise.

According to a UPI report, seems that British publisher, Haynes Publishing Group, known on the continent for producing consumer-friendly car manuals has truly gone ‘where no one has gone before’. The U.S.S. Enterprise Owners' Workshop Manual, written by Ben Robinson and Marcus Riley, with contributions from NASA engineer Michael Okuda, who’s been involved on a number of "Star Trek" projects for over 20 years, comes complete with instructions and diagrams so sci-fi fans the world over can learn how to disassemble and reconstruct their own starship.

Think what you will, but I find the idea intriguing. These two writers found a niche, did their research and came up with a an interesting way to attract their audience. Isn’t that a goal we writers aim for in getting our work published? And there are more than a few Trekkers out there.

Check out the rest of the story here.

Think this Trekker will see if I can find a copy herself. I’ve always been fascinated by the Enterprises’ transporters.

By Jill Earl

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Nancy began writing in December 2009 as a way of “reconnecting the wires,” helping to restore memory and cognitive function following twenty years of chronic Lyme disease. Her therapy immediately became a passion, and she joined both a local writers’ group and an online work-shopping community. She also works as a clinical massage therapist, helping to rehab injuries in both horses and humans. In her spare time she hikes, raises chickens, and plays with her two horses, Lucy and Louise.

Nancy was born in California, grew up on the North Shore of Massachusetts, and now lives with her husband, Jim, in southern New Hampshire. Her story, “Lime Green and Not Deep,” was recently accepted for publication by A Cup of Comfort® books, and her novel-in-progress, Finding Sara, has been selected as a finalist in the 'Strongest Start Four Competition' on the Next Big Writer website. Current projects include a number of short stories, a novel about a young woman who hears voices in her head, and daily writing practice, experimenting with a wide range of genres and voices.

Take a look at Nancy’s winning story here, then c’mon back and join us for our chat with her.

WOW: Thanks for taking time out for us today, Nancy! Congratulations on your winning entry. How are you feeling about it all?

Nancy: It feels great. Not a very literary answer, but there you have it.

WOW: (laughs) Not a problem with your answer, I love it! Let’s talk about your entry. Your piece, ‘Note’, is a great example of writing short and tight, with plenty of sensory details. I shared in your character’s myriad emotions as I was taken back to a few recitals of my own. What inspired you to come up with your story?

Nancy: I come from a very musical family, and this was inspired by my niece, Rebekah. She's a talented kid, and she works hard. But the thing that really gets me is her courage. I remember when she tried out for some big fancy chorus in Boston - the youngest applicant - and she just plain blew them away. So, that was my starting point. The rest came to me as I wrote and edited and tried to add a bit of tension and back story.

WOW: How thrilling about your niece’s accomplishment! Have to tell you, I was kind of disappointed to reach the end of your story, I really got caught up in it! Marvelous job!

Now, you’ve mentioned admiration of your niece’s courage, but you’ve displayed some yourself. Your bio states how writing has helped your healing in the aftermath of a chronic disease. Can you tell us some more about that?

Nancy: I have chronic Lyme disease. It went undiagnosed for seventeen years, and for much of that time I was not able to read and retain more than a few sentences. The pain was horrific, the fatigue debilitating. I had hallucinations, and vivid nightmares in which I died, over and over again. I heard moths fluttering in my ears, felt constant rage, and experienced lost time. I'd get in my car and end up lord knows where with no memory of driving there and no idea how to get home.

But the worst part was the loss of self. I could

I ventured out into the world today after being down-and-out with the flu. To say that I’ve been in a mental fog would be the understatement of the century. And the few times I managed to surface from the tangle of bedsheets to check out some TV, I found the news a real downer. So I decided to revisit a site I wrote about a little over a year ago, ‘Things To Be Happy About’, for a mental lift.

The site’s the creation of Barbara Ann Kipfer’s book, 14,000 Things To Be Happy About. I still appreciate the lighthearted illustrations found on the homepage and throughout the site. I started with the cloud with today’s date on it, October 24, ‘Things To Be Happy About Today’ and one of the things listed was fountain pens and fresh paper. Music to the ears of a scribe.

Step over to the ‘Farmers Market’ section and A Commonplace Book. You’ll find various categories of topics to get your grinning and ideas to get you writing. Clicking on my favorite color ‘purple’ brings up a listing of quotes, song lyrics and other things related to the regal shade. Did you know that the word purple comes from Old English (975) and earlier Latin ‘purpura’, from Greek for the name of a dye made in antiquity from the mucus secretion of the hypobranchial gland of a marine snail, the Murex brandaris, that was called Tyrian purple? Yeah, neither did I.

You can even share your own happy news via the link on the ‘Idea Bank’ page. How about sharing the acceptance from that magazine you’ve had your eye on for a while?

And there’s more to see. Stop by, why don’t you? Every writer can use a shot of happy once in a while---and maybe a writing idea or a few.

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By Jill Earl

Poetry lovers now have a new way of getting their fix in a most untraditional way. In existence for about a year, Cellpoems is a poetry journal that subscribers receive solely through text messaging on their cell phones twice a week. There’s also a link to their blog, and an archive available for those who might want to check out the poems before subscribing or choose not to sign up for the journal.

I admit to some skepticism with the concept of text messaged poetry, and appreciate the journal editors’ declaration “While our medium is brief, our goal is not to shrink attention spans or subject good writers and readers to the inanities of text message abbreviations.” Kudos to them for wanting to provide substantive content.

I did enjoy a few of the poems I read in the archives. I’m a great admirer of any writer who’s capable of writing short and tight, while holding my interest with their material. I can see myself dropping in every so often to see the latest offerings, but I think I’ll stick to reading my poetry between the pages of a book. It’ll be interesting to see how Cellpoems will fare in the future, though.

For interested poets, they do accept submissions year-round, either through their online form or texting them at the number listed on their site.

What are your thoughts about this latest electronic literary entry? Would you read a text message poetry journal? Why or why not?

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

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By Jill Earl

"The material's out there, a calm lake waiting for us to dive in." - Beverly Lowry

This quote will become part of my go-to list for inspiration during those “What the heck do I write about?” moments when I’m looking for something---anything---to jumpstart my thinking. It causes me to remember this: The material is out there.

One time the material came during the walk I thought I needed to clear my head. I thought of a little tweak I could add to my travel article to finish it off nicely.

Another time I found material through the pages of old fashion magazines at the library. Now I had an idea of what my characters’ dress from a long-past decade would look like, helping with the consistency of my short fiction.

Still another time, I discovered material as I watched a movie. Inspired, I went to the kitchen and fixed dinner. The results? A delicious meal, and a post on inspiration that appeared here on the Muffin.

In order for my writing to get the place it needs to be, I have to find the material, dive in to sort and analyze it, and work to transform it into that piece of short fiction, a blog post, a book or whatever. Stir up some ripples in the lake, if you will.

Next time I begin to lament about not having anything to write about, I’ll glance at the quote above, then, take a breath and dive in.

How about you? Ready to make some ripples in your calm lake?

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By Jill Earl

"It isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." - Ayn Rand

The latest rejection letter. A firm ‘no’ on that promising book proposal. The unsupportive spouse and kids. We encounter obstacles to our writing constantly. It’s so tempting to chuck it all and go back to our former writing-free lives, isn’t it?

Only problem? Writing’s become a part of you, sunken so deep inside that the only way it can escape is through that pen scribbling across paper---or through the blinking words appearing on the screen. So you keep researching markets and job leads, creating articles, submitting to contests, composing poetry, writing books. And the income’s coming in, sometimes steady, sometimes not.

Then a random, “You’re still at that little writing thing of yours?” or something equally condescending throws you. Or one of the above scenarios rocks your world. What do you do now?

Here’s the thing. There will always be naysayers along your writer’s journey, especially when you’re feeling your lowest. Question is, who will you let stop you?

Them? Or you? How about neither? It’s your call, so choose wisely.

Your writing future depends upon it.

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By Jill Earl

As I head off to another writers’ conference later this week, the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference, I look forward to participating in the one-on-one appointments with various editors, agents, publicists and authors. Depending on the number of days conferees will be in attendance, they can schedule one, two, three or four 15-minute meetings, which are free. Below is a quick list I’ve compiled of items to keep in mind while preparing for these encounters.

1) Study, study, study. Make a list of those you’re interested in, then head over to the site of your particular conference and click on the information page(s) to read up on your choices. Make note of their guidelines or request them by mail. This would be a good opportunity to request sample copies of magazines, journals or book catalogs too.

2) Give your manuscript a workout. After you’ve determined the editorial needs of your selected, it’s time to shape up your manuscript. Generally a 12-point font in Times Roman, Courier or Arial is acceptable, but go with the guidelines suggested by your targeted periodical or editor. Polish your manuscript till that baby shines, and make sure you keep a copy for your files.

3) Remember the time. Generally, one-on-one meetings are about 15 minutes in length, so try to stick with that limit. Be fair to your fellow conferees by not cutting into their time. Even if you’ve made a great connection, perhaps you can schedule another time to finish up your chat, perhaps over a meal

4) They’re human. Many of us tend to forget that agents, editors and publicists are human---no really, they are. Granted, they’re at the conference to see what writers have to offer, but don’t stop there. See if you can arrange a few moments with that agent for a chat over coffee, perhaps a meal. It’s a great way to network and make new contacts.

And here’s one last one:

5) Enjoy. Give yourself permission to breathe and enjoy the experience. Think of it as one step closer to that book deal or magazine article.

Good luck!

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Hey, romantic fiction writers! Wondered how to break into Woman’s World Magazine with your story? Then take five, grab some coffee, pull out your laptop and join us for our interview with Kate Willoughby, as she fills us in on how her blog, ‘Writing for Woman’s World Magazine’ can help you with that!

WOW: Hi Kate, so glad you could stop by and chat with us today. Let’s start with telling us a bit about yourself and your writing background.

Kate: I’ve been writing seriously since 1999. Most of my published work is erotic romance, but in between those novellas, I pen short romantic fiction for Woman’s World and more recently the 'Trues' (True Confession, True Romance, True Love, True Experience.) I learned a lot of my craft from Romance Writers of America, a wonderful organization for both the published and yet-to-be published.

WOW: I love the concept of your blog! How did it all come about?

Kate: I started out just writing for Woman’s World. When I discovered I had a knack for it, I thought maybe I could teach other people how to do it, so I developed an online class which has become fairly successful. Because I study the stories anyway, making the leap to blogging about them seemed like logical next step. The weekly analyses benefit me and hopefully my students and anyone else interested in selling to Woman’s World.

WOW: My interest was piqued with just one visit! I love that you provide a number of ways to help your readers prepare their submissions. In your opinion, what goes into creating the kind of romantic fiction that catches the eye of the magazine’s editors?

Kate: First and foremost, know what they are looking for, which is uplifting, put-a-smile-on-your-face romance involving “regular” people that could live next door to you. Then, because Woman’s World Magazine often gravitates toward the same plotlines over and over, present those plots to them in a fresh way, be it via sparkling characters, a setting they’ve not seen before (or at least lately), a change in POV, or even taking tried and true plotlines and combining them.

WOW: Studying any writing market is what we writers should be doing anyway, thanks for the reminder. How do you manage to keep your own storylines fresh and interesting?

Kate: Again, I read the magazine every week so I know that if they just published a story set in a flower shop, not to send them a flower shop story. I also try to look at the trends. For instance, there’s such a huge green movement going on in this country, it might be a good idea to write something within that theme.

WOW: Keeping an eye on trends, another good point. Wrapping things up, what’s the one thing you enjoy about your work?

Kate: With the economy, the oil leak in the Gulf, the war on terror, unemployment, there’s enough bad news out there to depress even the most optimistic person. So, the most rewarding part of writing for Woman’s World (and

Candi’s Bio:

Candi Sary has written seven novels. Five made it to the finals in competitions. Black Crow White Lie was a top six finalist in the 2009 William Faulkner William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition; Finding Grace made the short list for finals in the 2007 William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition; Love Me Madly won second place in the 2007 Dahlonega Literary Festival Novel Contest; The Sound That Red Makes and Thrown Away were finalists in the 2002 Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Award. Lavender Roses is her first short story, inspired by a writing exercise on Janet Fitch’s blog.

Candi graduated from UC Irvine with a BA in psychology. She lives in coastal Orange County, California with her husband, their two teenagers and three dogs. She finds spiritual connection in surfing, running, listening to music, and filming the life around her. Visit her website at http://candisary.weebly.com.

Check out Candi's winning entry, Lavender Roses here, then c'mon back for our chat with her.

Interview by Jill Earl

WOW: Candi, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule today. First, congratulations on your winning entry, Lavender Roses! How does it feel to be a runner-up in our contest?

Candi: I am thrilled to be a runner-up! Thank you. This was my first short story.

WOW: You did a marvelous job with it! What prompted you to write your story?

Candi: Janet Fitch has a writing exercise on her blog called 'The Word'. She posts a word, and writers are supposed to come up with a two-page story using that word somewhere in the story. The first word she chose was ball. The phrase "I had a ball" came to mind. And I could hear my grandma saying it.

WOW: That’s a great example of how writing prompts can lead to publication! Think I'll check out Janet's blog myself for some inspiration.

Moving on to your story, telling it from the point-of-view of your five-year old narrator was a fresh idea and added some levity to an otherwise heart-rending situation. P.O.V. can have its challenges. What made you decide to do this?

Candi: I chose the five-year-old narrator because I knew her well. My grandma had Alzheimer's Disease. I was that five-year-old who found magic in the way her mind worked; the way she could look right at me and believe I was my oldest sister. As I got older I understood the tragedy of the disease, but there was a short time when my love for her wasn't burdened with understanding, and the resulting sadness. I thought it would be interesting to go back to that innocent time.

WOW: I thought it was an interesting perspective and I could be wrong, but I don't think y

By Jill Earl

Don't know about you, but with temps soaring into well over 100 degrees here in the East, the only thing on my mind has been the cooling blast of AC. So when I recently trolled the 'Net for some ideas to get my heat-baked brain moving, I found the CreativityPortal.com site, with dozens of ways to awaken or boost your creativity.

Clicking on the ‘Writing & Prompts’ link located near the top of the homepage directs you to the site’s writing guide, with more links to choose from. Then click on the ‘Writing Prompts’ link within this listing and scroll down for the 'Seasonal and Holiday Prompts’, where writer Chris Dunmire offers up a selection of summer prompts, like the one below:

Writing Prompt 3:
What is your favorite summer memory? How old were you when it happened? For 10 minutes relive that memory through writing about it as if you were right there recording it in real time.

While I’m not crazy about summer, I do remember my days at sleepaway camp, by far my favorite summer memory. During those 10 minutes, I recalled horseback riding and archery lessons, the camp carnival, canoe trips, nature walks, even an encounter with a skunk and thankfully, I wasn’t the unfortunate victim! With the exercise over, I now have some experiences ready to be used in a story, or perhaps inspiration for a future article or blog post. Besides that, it was fun to revisit those carefree days.

For the rest of Chris’ list, head over to CreativityPortal.com. Stay motivated during these sizzling summer days! Grab a prompt or two and get to writing!

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By Jill Earl





As I read my way through the memoirs, poetry, writing how-tos and other genres of this year’s reading list, children’s books continue to be a favorite go-to for me. Not only do I gain inspiration from them, but they’re a great break from more ‘adult’ reads.

One of my childhood favorites is The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. It doesn’t matter that I know the adventures of Water Rat, Mole, Badger and Toad by heart. Each time I read, I relive the wonder of Mole’s discovery of life above ground. My mouth waters at the feasts they eat. I shake my head and laugh at Toad’s ability to stay in trouble and his friends’ faithfulness to stand by him through everything.

Another favorite is Julie Andrews Edwards’ Mandy. Ms. Edwards, better known as actress Julie Andrews, weaves a sweet tale about Mandy, an orphan who yearns for a place all her own and creates one in an abandoned cottage she finds. As an only child, I identified with Mandy’s desire and cheered her boldness to go for her dreams.

A couple of months ago, I read a delightful children’s book, Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth, about siblings Karl, Addy and Michael befriending a most unusual neighbor. Stillwater, a friendly giant panda who wears boxer shorts, lives a simple life and dispenses Zen-like pearls of wisdom. Not surprisingly, the advice given by him is just what each child needs at the time. I love how the beautiful full-color illustrations of Stillwater and the children contrast with the black-and-white ones of the panda’s tales, the latter reminding of calligraphy a bit in its depiction.

All three of the aforementioned books have been welcome additions to my writer’s reading list.

What about you, dear reader? Do you read children’s books for pleasure? Why or why not?

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“I love the line of Flaubert about observing things very intensely. I think our duty as writers begins not with our own feelings, but with the powers of observing.” Mary Oliver, poet.

With summer practically here, you definitely want to get out and enjoy the warm weather, but how about putting in some time sharpening your observation skills while you’re at it?

Put yourself into this scenario. You and the family are blissing out on the beach. Hubby’s catching some zzz’s, the kids are collecting sea treasures and you’re about to dive into that sizzling summer read. Stop. Lay the book aside, and use this opportunity to gather some fodder for your writing instead.

Let’s return to the scenario above. Really get into your surroundings. Smell the saltiness of the surf as you watch some folks roar through it on jet skis. Can you hear their yells? What about the sky overhead, how does it look? Can you think of another description other than ‘vivid blue, with puffy clouds floating through it’? Is the sand lukewarm, icy cold, or hot as it squishes between your toes?

Sometime ago, a friend and I had a delightful dinner at a local Italian restaurant. A basket of fresh bread started the meal, a golden loaf with crackling crust and chewy interior. The olive oil was a gorgeous chartreuse, the peppery bite lingering on my tongue. The wild mushroom risotto did it for me, though, with its velvety sauce, perfect al dente rice and mushrooms that were intriguing and earthy.

Another experience happened a couple of years ago, when some friends and I went kite flying on the dunes while on the beach. My kite was shaped like a seagull and we thrilled to see real ones swoop in to meet their ‘brother’. Our day ended as grayish-green thunderheads forced us inside to watch a spectacular light show.

By carefully taking note of your surroundings, you can add those little details that make your writing sing.

How are your own powers of observation? Test them out the next time you’re stealing a few moments at a cafe, trekking through a cool pine forest, or jammin' at a jazz festival. Your writing will thank you!

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by Jill Earl

In searching for writing organizations geared towards women, I came across a few based in the U.S. and abroad, with interests ranging from playwriting to journalism. Check them below.

International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG)
Uses writing to empower all women, regardless of their writing expertise. Benefits include the Network Journal, reduced fees for IWWG events, and a literary agent list. They have two major events: "Remember the Magic", a week-long conference at Brown University; and the New York-based "Big Apple Workshop: Meet the Editors", which takes place twice a year over a weekend.

American News Women Club (ANWC)
Expands the advancement of women in the media professions. Members represent newspapers, radio and television, publishing companies, independent authors, online publications, public relations firms, corporations, academic institutions, and government. Members have access to club facilities; professional development workshops and seminars; Shop Talk, the monthly newsletter; the annual "Helen Thomas Award" Benefit Gala; monthly networking events; parties; embassy visits and more.

Association for Women in Communications
Seeks to advance women in print and broadcast journalism, television and radio production, film, advertising, public relations, marketing, graphic design, multi-media design, and photography. Both students and professionals are welcome to join and benefits include a job board; the bimonthly Communiqué newsletter; the annual conference; and chapters.

Black Writers Alliance (accepts both women and men as members)
Supports the growth and development of young, new, emerging, and established writers by providing access to members-only forums; the annual Black Writers Reunion & Conference; contests; workshops and job referral services.

Sisters in Crime (SINC)
SINC offers networking, advice and support to mystery writers. Offers InSinC, the quarterly newsletter; regional chapters; 'The Guppies', a support and critique group for unpublished writers; and the monthly SinC Links—a digest about the mystery business.

Romance Writers of America (RWA)
One of the largest writing organizations in the world, it supports the interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy. There’s an annual conference; local chapters offering a number of contests and workshops; opportunities for outreach; the Romance Writers Report, and other resources.

Society of Women Writers, Victoria Inc (SWWV)
Based in Australia, it provides women writers with information and support through monthly meetings; the Write Away newsletter; workshops and seminars; conferences; competitions and awards. Also strengthens ties between women writers in Australia and overseas.

The International Centre for Women Playwrights (ICWP)
Run entirely by volunteer playwrights, directors, performers and others, it supports female playwrights from around the world. Offers the Seasons Journal; professional development grants; monthly opportunities through The Official Playwrights of Facebook Group; and other benefits.

I'm sure there's some organizations I've missed. If you happen to know of any others , ple