Hello and thanks for dropping by, make yourself comfortable and stay awhile I hope you enjoy your stay here at the CatInTheHat1 writeplace
I have been writing for many many years, it's more than a hobby it is a passion, I love to write and have taken courses on writing as well. As a writer I believe you must read read read, you cannot write if you do not read, as they say. Reading increases your knowledge base, allowing you to become familiar with what you are going to write.
Writing = Passion for me
Writing as with any other craft takes disipline and determination, dedication and the love of the craft. Join up with writing groups in your town, or online. There are lots of them, to suit what ever style you write in.
As a writer you should write something every day if you can, this varies some say you should have a rigid schedule or you should write at the same time each day. Others say that you should just write, it does not matter when, where or how many words, as long as you write.
When do you call yourself a writer? It is simple...if you write you are a writer, when I took my creative writing class our instructor told us to say outloud I am a writer....I am a writer....I am a writer, now you say it outloud if you are writing you are a writer. It does not matter if it is published or not, that is not the point, the point is you are writing, and that makes you a writer. I had a friend a few years ago say to me Janet I have written over two thousand articles online but I dont know if I am a writer, when does one call himself a writer? I laughed and replied "YOU are a WRITER", "I am?" he replied "YES" I said, you are. He was already a writer, we do not write for fame, or fortune we write because we have to. All that comes later, if it comes at all, you see we write because we cannot help ourselves. What do you write for?.
The life of a writer they say is a lonely one, well even that does not have to be a reality if you don't want it to. With so many courses and groups in your towns and night courses there is really no need to be lonely anymore. Does staring at the blank page or blank screen scare you? Do not let it for a blank page or screen is full of endless possibilites for you. You are the creator you can create what ever you want. Allow it to unfold and enjoy it.
I will provide links to other writing sites online that I use and enjoy, also books and magazines for writing. I am in the process now of writing my life in a book, I think we all should document our life, no matter what we think about it. This leaves something for those we leave behind, and might make sor interesting reading as well...someday.
Some interesting information for you to read....
www.writersmarket.com
www.writersdigest.com
www.absolutewrite.com
www.coffeehouseforwriters.com
www.sellwritingonline.com/newsletter.html
www.naww.org
www.ewritersplace.com
www.BellaOnline.com
www.institutechildrenslit.com
The Fiction Writers Journey
www.thefictionwritersjourney.com
A website for the creative writer from novelist and writing coach, Emily Hanlon. Exercises, prompts, articles, book and tapes on writing. Annual retreat for women: Writing, Creativity and Ritual.
These are just a few of the writing websites that are online...
Please paste them to your browser and have fun...
Also I have a project I want to speak about here. I am working on a collection of poetry from women in this world wide communtity to put into a book and take it around the world. This book will be a collection of voices from women world wide, of course it will begin in a humble way but it will have strong roots. This book will be called "DIVASPEAK" (Copyright)
It will include a wide selection of poetry and from all walks of life. My major intent is to have this book be able to help women all over the world in shelters. But that is later. For now I want to mention to you that if you write poetry you can submit up to five poems for publication in our book.
Please send your poems to jprince2@charter.net This is going to be a non profit organization....
bravenet.com