The Year of Writing Dangerously

Something has shifted in my writing perspective, and I thought I’d share.  My story begins last year, when I penned a piece of flash about a reformed prostitute who keeps the cards of her former clients hidden in her recipe box. It was a story I loved, one of those that just bubbled up and [...]

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Just to clarify, these are the best books I read last year, not the best books to come out in 2011.  10. At Home on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball. The second in the wonderful Ladybug Farm series. If you haven’t read them yet, I encourage you to pick them up. I bought myself the [...]

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Day by endless day, Brain to finger; straight to page. Somehow, a book made.

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As you may have guessed from the title, I’m participating in NaNoWriMo this year. It’s not my first time; I took part (and won) 4 years running, beginning with 2005. Then last year I took a break. My dad had just passed away and I wasn’t feeling particularly creative. Instead, I focused on rewriting a [...]

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Actually, that title is a little misleading. Up until yesterday, I thought my muse was a woman. Her name is Suzie, and  in a word, she’s pushy. Her voice is a running commentary in my head. “Did you finish that chapter yet? What are you waiting for? Don’t you want to be able to send that rewrite to Ms. [...]

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Today is national Poem in Your Pocket Day. It sounded like a fun thing to do, but here’s my problem. Today is my day off, and I am home writing. Which means I am in my sweatpants. Which have no pocket. So instead of carrying the poem in my pocket, I’ve opted to post a [...]

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Dear WIP, Look at you, so smug and silent, with your one inch margins and your fancy Courier font. You knew I’d be the one to crack first, didn’t you. Didn’t you?!? But something has to be done.  I can’t stand this distance between us any longer. I’m not going to rehash the whole break-up. [...]

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Usually, it’s not even a question. I am a procrastinator of the worst kind. Definitely when it comes to housework, usually when I have chores that involve leaving the house, and even when it comes to writing. Here’s an example. Say I’m working on a project, like the revision of my Tooth Ferry book (it’s [...]

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Howls and Pushycats has just announced the winner of their coveted “Ring at the End of his Nose” Award for their current issue and the winner is . . .(insert drumroll) . . . ME! Sorry for the shameless self-promotion. But I hardly ever win anything. And this award is bestowed with the editors’ speechless [...]

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At the beginning of 2010, I made a promise to myself – a resolution, if you will – to keep track of all the books I read. I thought it would be fun to have a number (100!) as well as a handy list, should anyone ask “Say, Shannon, what were the 10 best books [...]

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