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Welcome. Toss a blanket down, sit for a while under the willow, relax, and enjoy what's written below.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

A Lesson Learned - save, save, save

Hello from under the willow tree-in hiding,

As a newly self-published author I have found I am overly protective of my work. I have been writing for years and have a file folder full of short stories and memoir pieces I have written over the years. A year ago when I began my first novel, I became overly protective. Since then I have written a novel during NaNoWriMo and played around with a sequal to the first novel when editing began to drive me slightly insane.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Peril and Joy

No, these are not words to a new Christmas carol, but they describe where I am in my journey to self-publish my fist novel.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Am I Finished Yet?

   Hello from  Under the Willow Tree. I have been here writing everyday to finish my novel for the November NaNoWriMo. It is quiet under the tree. Actually I am sitting in my favorite chair with my lap top in front of me, but I remember back to when the willow tree was my favorite place to write. If you are also working on your novel, I hope you are doing well. I am a bit a head of schedule. My plot line found a life of its own one day and the words shot out onto the screen.
  

Saturday, October 29, 2011

November's Coming

Halloween is almost here with scary costumes and sugar highs. Right behind is November and the beginning of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month.)

I’m sure you have read about this on many blogs, but I’m a newbie at this and I’m going to do it. Not try, do. I’m determined. This will be the first time I will write a long piece in 30 days.


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Criticism and Creativity



     How do we accept criticism?  We are taught to accept it with grace and say “thank you.” That may work for outwardly appearances, but what about inside?

     We’ve been doing it since kindergarten, first grade or whenever we first learned the lesson.  Sometimes we really do appreciate the criticism and sometimes we think “just consider the source” and blow it off.

     Now, we’re writers or aspiring writers and we cling to every word of that criticism. We join writer’s groups. We have beta readers and critique partners. Some are family or friends and some are complete strangers. Some may offer a free sample edit to introduce their services.