So, You Wanna Be a Writer

This poem, another great one by Dawn Paoletta, (not me, I’m the OTHER Dawn, and you know, not a poet…), pretty much speaks for itself.  Talk about insight, and wit!  Be sure and check out her beautiful place on the planet at Enthusiastically Dawn!  

So, You Wanna Be A Writer (Secrets of a Writer’s Life)

So

YOU

wanna be

a writer?

Well, listen carefully to me

before your dreams are crushed

and ego bruised carelessly.

I’ll tell you what you need to do

and why you shouldn’t care

whether or not your published

or write as a career.

I’ll tell you the secrets

all writers need to know,

how writing in your closet

and writing on the go

will take you on a journey

not unlike Jacques Cousteau.

Listen very closely,

as I preach with my keys-

secret number one

is to write exactly as you please-

forget about the masses,

and what “everyone” will think

ignore your morning chores,

leave the dishes in the sink.

Take your pen and journal

shut the door and sit-

I’m onto secret number two-

in just a little bit.

Conclusion number one is this:

A Writer never quits! 

Secret number two is this,

just be still!

Hurry up, seize the day –

be present where you are-

fill up every moment

as you would an empty jar-

with fireflies,

people’s lies,

and everything you know

capture every moment

as if falling snow.

Each experience encountered

provides an empty box

with a plethora of topics

not unlike a crazy fox-

doubling back on his tracks

and knowing that each step

matters in the sequence

not unlike a writer’s prep.

One more thing I must add now

In all things keep your wit-

Conclusion number two is this:

A Writer never quits!

On to secret number three

I’ll squeeze the best into this test

a thought for you to ponder

a writer

must write

 as sure as birds fly yonder.

A writer wages a war with pen

brings life to his reflections

the ink does birth

the writer’s thoughts

making magical connections,

but every writer needs one friend

to suggest a few corrections.

Otherwise he must stay true

to his own introspection.

The Writer’s only secret

I must now admit

is conclusion number three:

A Writer never quits! 

by Dawn Paoletta (A Writer)

Blogging Blast #4: Consider the reviewer, not just the review-ee

(So just what is a Blogging Blast?? — BLOGGING BLAST #4)

My hubby wrote a book.  He’s written several actually, self-published a few, set them up on Amazon, had a few sales, and all of that. We’ve even gotten some decent reviews (I say “we” since I’m the one who finds the reviewers and sends his stuff out there, kinda a mom and pop writer/publicist arrangement…we have fun.)

In the past, long before the proliferation of the Indie movement, he would get plenty of rejection notices from already established publishing houses.  You sort of get used it, I suppose, things like “this is not what we are looking for currently” and the like.  So, to oldies like us, the actually Send-Me-Your-Book-And-I-Will-Read-It kind of Indie review is a fairly new and open road. 

And not one without its own hazardous potholes. 

Now, it’s one thing to get a private

Bloggin’ 201.1

One of the first questions, and a very astute one to be sure, that the WordPress Blogging 201 team wants their pupils to answer is simply, “why are you blogging?”

My husband tells the story of some professors, including himself, sitting around at lunch one day sharing theories of why birds sing in the morning.  Finally, one of the Ph.D.s piped up and said,

“Maybe they just like to sing.”

Again…astute. 

And that’s probably my first reason to continue this site.  Maybe not many will read it (there are a plethora of