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As a writer, I’ve always carried something with me to jot down notes and ideas. 

It might be as simple as a folded over sheet of paper in my fanny pack where I can make lists and write down ideas for blogging and stories. 

When in the hospital emergency room last year with my daughter, I found I didn’t have anything  to write on.  Her going to the hospital happened so suddenly that I didn’t have time even to grab my purse nor a book. 

As we waited, she having tests and wanting to rest, I wondered how I could use the time to write.  I spied a paper towel holder, pulled some out, asked the receptionist for a pen, and jotted down notes for my weekly column and a couple of blogs throughout the afternoon until her husband arrived.

This calmed me and allowed my daughter to rest (without me chatting) until diagnosis and they moved her to a room.  Very seldom do I find myself without something to write on.  If I do, I try to be creative in using my time productively.

• You can find small notebooks that slip into a purse or fanny pack…or a large tote bag. 
• I’ve also folded sheets of paper and placed in a book I carry with me. 
• Often I take postcards along with me, so I can keep up on correspondence.
• There also are small stationery pads that fit easily into whatever you’re carrying.
• Men can find small notebooks to fit into a shirt pocket for lists, reminders, addresses, and ideas.

What do you use for idea gathering and list making when you’re on the go?

Post from: Blisstree

Carry a Notebook with You

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 This career began rather unexpectedly after I finished a 2-year correspondence course in journalism (comparable to an online class today).  Many people ask me how they can get started, too.

 Study other columns and write some yourself.

 Take a column writing class.  As mentioned above, I did this via a correspondence course.  I now teach column writing classes online.

 Make sure you’re serious about column writing and have ideas enough to keep going.  Writing a weekly column (I’ve done both weekly and monthly), takes persistence and continual idea gathering.  Some people get started, then after 6 weeks run out of ideas.  An editor is depending on you…and you are if you want to get paid.

 You may have begin writing for very low or no pay for the first few columns to convince the editor it will be a good column for that publication.  (Some writers say this isn’t a good idea, but sometimes you must get started somewhere if you’ve never written a column for publication before.  However, it’s advisable to do it for an agreed upon limited time.)

Be enthusiastic about the material you write.  It will show through in your writing.

From the cooking column, which I still write today, I’ve gone on to write columns about gardening, local history, quiltmaking, arts and crafts, travel, children’s books, and family history.  Today, column writing has evolved into blog writing for many authors.

Post from: Blisstree

Writing a Cooking Column

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 I still try to send postcards with hand written notes as bits of inspiration. As the cost of postage gets higher, my communications more frequently result in postcards, but I still like to send and receive these. I recall the pleasure, too, when I found letters and cards my grandmother had saved, some dating back nearly 150 years ago.

These letters were the only means of communication between families in those days before telephones and electronic communication.  I also found letters my grandmother’s close friend, who lived about five miles from her, wrote.  Even though they lived not far from one another, it was considered quite a distance so they saw one another infrequently.  Yet they could write one another.

These letters also are treasures in art.  So many are written with the careful penmanship of those days, with scrolling letters and a fine hand.  Even when one wasn’t schooled in correct English, they wrote as distinctly and as carefully as they could.

 Will our descendants have these treasures from us?  Or will our present and future communications consist of text messages and e-mails?

 I discussed with some teachers, when I was substitute teaching recently, whether letter writing would become a lost art. With text messaging, e-mail, and other modes of electronic communication, very few people put words on paper by pen or pencil any more. Also, the creative spelling that has developed, as all ages try to communicate more quickly, almost instantly, bears no resemblance to what we learn in English class.

Do you think we’re losing something as letter writing decreases?

Post from: Blisstree

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

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*Poetry - Your poem can be of any type, rhyming or free verse, about one bird or the numbers of birds you see around your home or on a trip.

*Nature Story – I often wrote these for children’s magazines.  I researched the characteristics and habits of a bird, trying to find something unique about each one.  Then I wrote about it, trying to make it interesting for others to read.

*Fiction Story – Can you think of a fiction story that involves a bird in the plot.  I wrote one about my daughter, when she was small, trying to help a bird build its nest.  She learned the bird only wanted something it has made, but it would use some of the materials she put out.

What would you and your youngsters like to write about birds?

Post from: Blisstree

Writing Tip – Kids Write About Birds

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Along with writing them down you can:

• Make quilts and wall hangings with photos, related scenes and activities, or fabrics from family clothing.
• Develop scrapbooks about family events.
• Preserve documents along with photos in collages, books, and on fabric.
• Write books that relate family stories and add illustrations.  I’m working on a picture book about my Uncle William “Buffalo Bill” Mathewson.
• Develop fiction stories inspired by those of your family.  The life of  Great Great Grandmother Cynthia, who lived during the Civil War era, would make an exciting novel.
• Create a shadow box with mementos such as buttons, beads, jewelry, and awards.  For instance, I’m putting together a collage of my uncle’s military metals and memorabilia.

Do you have any techniques you’re using to preserve your family heritage?

Post from: Blisstree

Crafting Your Family Heritage

So here are some they could choose that involved April Fool’s Day:

• Tell about an April Fool’s Day experience you remember from another year.
• Write about a funny, but nice April Fool’s Day joke you plan.
• Write about something nice you can do for someone on April Fool’s Day.
• Tell about a gift you can make for someone on April Fool’s Day, one student suggested.
• Older students could research the origin of  April Fool’s Day and write about it.

Do you have any suggestions?

Post from: Blisstree

April Fool’s Day Writing Prompts

I’m posting today because I’m waffling on NaBloPaMo – doing a blog post every day for 30 days. I want to think about it for a few days before I commit completely.

On the one hand I’m working on Saying NO. There are a million good things I must choose not to participate in so I can be effective at the things I REALLY want to do most. More blog posts won’t necessarily lead to where I’m trying to go. A book deal, monthly column in Oprah Magazine, speaking at next year’s Women’s Conference, being actively recruited to write in national magazines, working my way back to professional pay for full-time work, etc.

I was thrilled to hear that b5media will no longer be requiring 6 posts a month. Frankly, I’ve seen no evidence on my particular blog that more posts equal more readers. In fact, it feels like it equals less community participation. Everyone is so flipping busy I don’t want my website to feel like more chores they didn’t have time to keep up with.

On the other hand, it turns out our statistics were totally inaccurate for a while there so . . . I could be completely wrong.

All of you could be waiting breathlessly for a blog post every day – and on weekends you could be severely disappointed that there is nothing fresh here.

So, I’m thinking about doing NaBloPaMo. Because October with its company upheaval and reorganization, Blogtoberfest, and Bloggy Giveaways wasn’t enough stress. I should up the ante on striving during the Holidays. That’s what sane people who want to keep it together do – right?

So, this post is so that I don’t screw up my opportunity to NaBloPaMo before I decide. Monday, when I was planning on posting again will be Nov. 3 and I’ll have missed the boat. Could’ve been the “potential boat.”

I read Mrs. G on Derfwad Manor say she grew her blog quite a bit last year. . . I would do it if only for growth.

What do you think?

Post from: Blisstree

NaBloPaMo – Vacillating