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How One Paragraph Can Take Four Days

How One Paragraph Can Take Four Days

by author and TWC Associate Teacher, Michelle Cameron I love research. To me, there’s nothing more inspiring than discovering how my characters might have lived their lives – what they wore, what they ate, how world events might have affected them. All of my writing…

Writing the Body Electric

Writing the Body Electric

So often I begin a writing class with a simple, free-writing prompt, usually just a word or phrase – “skipping in the rain”, “amusement parks”, “the kitchen sink.” I enjoy watching the quizzical glances of my writers at these random ideas. But slowly each of…

Don’t Think.  Write.

Don’t Think. Write.

I am sitting at my desk right now preparing to venture to my 10-year-old son’s classroom where I will spend about an hour discussing my brief time studying with Madeleine L’Engle, the famed author of the children’s classic, A Wrinkle in Time. The kids have…

Congratulations to Another Writer in Our Circle, Marilyn Martin

Congratulations to Another Writer in Our Circle, Marilyn Martin

Congratulations to Marilyn Martin whose essay, Driving To Waldorf was just published in Front Porch, the online literary journal of Texas State University’s MFA program. Marilyn joined our Thursday evening group for several sessions a couple of years ago. (Anyone remember the frogs?) She is…

Piecing It Together

Piecing It Together

What does it mean to be a writer today? For most of us, we are piecing it together, taking the hours when they come, squeezing our words into lunch breaks, between classes or meetings. We fantasize of having endless hours to dally with our muse.…

Upcoming Events for Writers

Upcoming Events for Writers

This just in from the Adult Programs Coordinator at the Livingston Public Library: The public is invited to “What’s Happening to my Newspaper?” with Star-Ledger columnist Kathleen O’Brien, who will share her observations on the current state of newspaper publishing. This presentation will be held…

Grace in Few Words

Grace in Few Words

The Writers Circle has been graced with the voices of several poets this session, some who declared themselves as such and others who have, unintentionally or out of sheer desperation, stumbled into this most challenging realm of brevity, nuance and meaning. It’s a miraculous thing…

Another Repost on Backspace’s STET!

Another Repost on Backspace’s STET!

Just thought I’d share another lovely reposting on Backspace’s STET! blog. This time it’s my February 25th blog post, Making Space to Write. Thanks, Backspace. I feel like a “regular”!

Something Old and Something New

Something Old and Something New

This week’s post is quick because it’s been THAT busy around here. But I wanted to share two great pieces that should guide, support and comfort all of us, wherever we are on our writer’s journey. First, who doesn’t love a terrific list? Check out…

The Power of Revision, from TWC Associate Teacher Michelle Cameron

The Power of Revision, from TWC Associate Teacher Michelle Cameron

As many of you know, The Writers Circle is expanding. It’s a thrilling leap of faith for me to take our very personal, very “hyperlocal” community and reach across time and space (OK, it’s only eleven miles…!) to add a new link to the chain.…

I Give Up!

I Give Up!

No, this is not an announcement. I am not even thinking about giving up on my novel. In fact, revisions are going rather nicely. Though I’ve been inundated with other obligations over the last two weeks, when I return to my manuscript, I see that…

Crazy Sexy Sandra

Crazy Sexy Sandra

Congratulations to another of The Writers Circle’s authors, Sandra Joseph, who has posted a charming, moving and typically candid guest post on Crazy Sexy Life: The Tumor on My Last Nerve. As I read her guest post, I particularly paused at the self-admonishment she shared:…