Author Archives: marystojak
So we read, but do we write?
I woke up early (whoops not supposed to start with waking up!), I made coffee and looked out the window at the woods – birds making their racket or cheerful songs depending on your mood, I turned on my computer. … Continue reading
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What’s the one thing that makes everybody a better writer?
It’s not a trick question! The first book I remember reading had stories about Little Red Hen and the later boycotted Little Black Sambo. Grimm’s fairy tales gave me nightmares for many years. The first book I checked out of … Continue reading
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Teaching Basics of Creative Writing – #2
By the way, I ended up not liking that Gardner book. Just not my thing, is it too weird to say that it was too down? Even if we’re hearing about something terrible which wasn’t really the case with his … Continue reading
Posted in creative writing, writing
Tagged creative writing topics, margot livesey, necessary distance, Voice
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Teaching Basics of Creative Writing
Once again it’s time for my little winter/spring writing classes. I have a basic writing course and an editing course. I have a few people who repeat the courses so I always try to vary my examples and how I … Continue reading
Gardner’s October Light
Okay, so I’m trying to ease myself out of the doldrums I’ve been in all month and doing my usual reading about writing and my to-read list. If you’ve read John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction then you probably know … Continue reading
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Tagged John Gardner, October Light, rise and fall in popularity
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Down But Not Out
I see that my followers on Twitter (which is how I usually judge what’s happening) have been a small but steady group in my absence. The family issues I mentioned earlier became much more serious at the end of November. No … Continue reading
November
Well. this has been a strange month and may have even more disrruptions coming! People in and out of the hospital – ruffled feathers- not a good month for writing! To add to the jumble, I picked up a nasty … Continue reading
Tri-Regional SCBWI
Wow! This was a great conference – congratulations to the Western PA, Eastern PA, and Maryland/Delaware/West Virginia SCBWI (Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators) for the wonderful conference. I do hope that other regions will give this a try … Continue reading
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Tri-Regional SCBWI
Patricia MacLachlan was inspiring, witty, amazing. If you ever have a chance to see her in person you won’t want to miss her. She’s personable and charming in addition to being a great writer and very generous with her insights … Continue reading
Posted in Conferences
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SCBWI Tri-Regional Gettysburg Conference
I’ve been to SCBWI (Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators) regional conferences and local events before in addition to the National Conference last January in New York. I’m anxious to see how this one will play out. They have … Continue reading
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