Number 5
October 14, 2004Featured Product
Desert Mountains Greeting Cards
$12.99
In This Issue:
- This Week
- The Writer's Bookshelf
- Coming Out of the Closet as a Writer
- Tip of the Week
- About The Fabulist Flash
1. This Week
I've been thinking about inspiration this week. I felt energized by New England falls, the leaves turning great colors and crunching under my feet as I walked the dog. The smell of fall. The arrival of crisp air. Wearing sweaters and havng different tactile and temperature experiences.
Moving to the Southwest is a major shift in seasonal inspiration. Fall is arriving here in the desert, but no more great fall colors when I walk out my door.
The desert fall does bring a weather shift, but it's different. The temperatures drop, but instead of clear and crisp, it's simply cooler and more comfortable. Another month or so must pass before I break out the sweaters. It's getting dark earlier though, the days are getting shorter. And, there's inspiration in our fabulous desert sunsets.
As we settle into this new season, be inspired by the change that's all around. Take a few moments with your writer's journal and record your fall feelings and sensations, you'll be glad your did.
This week's feature article is an inspirational tale by guest columnist Joanne Seiff.
Until next week,
Gregory
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Gregory A. Kompes is a freelance writer and photographer. Learn more about Gregory and his work at http://www.Kompes.com
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What inspired your latest article idea? Email Aha@FabulistFlash.com
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2. The Writer's Bookshelf
Review by Gregory A. Kompes
Bradbury's Zen in the Art of Writing
Now, here's a great book for writers, Ray Bradbury's "Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You."
When I saw the title and the author I thought that the book would be related to Sci-Fi writing, but it goes well beyond. This is one of those easy reads that provides pleasant inspiration.
Mr. Bradbury tells stories from his life and how those stories turned into some of his great fiction. He presents the information in a way that the reader gets to go "Aha, I can do that, too." And, isn't that what inspiration is really all about. Seeing or reading or hearing something and going, "Aha, I can do that," and then doing it in your own voice and time.
For Mr. Bradbury it comes down to a few simple elements: "Zest. Gusto. Curiosity." If you have those things you, too, can be a writer.
Plus, it's a cheap little paperback, available in most libraries and used book stores. It's a must read for anyone looking for a little "Aha" inspiration.
For this title and others of inspiration to writers visit The Writer's Bookshelf.
3. Coming Out of the Closet as a Writer
by Joanne Seiff
In elementary school I wrote books. We made hand-bound books and mine was filled with stories and illustrations that I did myself. The teacher declared each of us "published" as we completed our masterpieces. My books had wallpaper dust jackets and crayon drawings. Even before I finished elementary school, one of my poems was published in a countywide literary journal.
As the years passed, my writing became less public - filling up journals with wild handwriting in the languages I spoke. I chronicled daily life from age 13 through age 25. I attended a "young writer's workshop" at the University of Virginia, wrote an honors thesis in college, and a memoir that earned nice rejection notes when I was 22. I wrote graduate school papers and a master's thesis. I wrote curriculum and assignments as an English teacher and occasional letters to the editor if I was particularly annoyed with an article. Yet, in my mind, I could not be called a writer.
I met a woman at my husband's high school reunion who forced me to see my inner bias. This woman let everyone know that she had finally found an agent. As far as I could tell, she had never sold any of her writing. Despite this, her writer bravado inhaled all the air in the room. I didn't say anything. I had sold several essays and had a novel manuscript written, but I wasn't a writer. Writers were flaky people who wore bright purple wool capes and spoke through their noses. Writers condescended to the "common man" and boasted of their successes. I was my own anti-intellectual enemy.
Slowly, I've chosen to "come out" as a writer to my friends and family. When my work is mentioned on a web site or an article is published, now I even let some of them know. My mother goes on trips and visits knitting shops. In each place, she asks if they carry Interweave Knits, and then proceeds to show the shop clerk my design and essays. A lady in my knitting group became my informal publicity agent, bringing in an article a week for the group to read.
In the past two years, I've had multiple publications. I queried publishers and my novel manuscript was considered, in its entirety, by a small press, but I've yet to find a literary agent. My proposal for a book of non-fiction essays in making the rounds. Although I've gained pleasure from my work in education, it is nothing like the exquisite joy and relief I feel when the words spill out of me onto paper, into the computer, and into the world. I await the day when I've sold enough, gained enough bravery, and feel uppity enough to say to a stranger at a party, "Hi, I'm Joanne. I'm a writer." I'm just not sure about wearing that purple cape.
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Joanne Seiff is a freelance writer, educator, and fiberarts designer. Her work has appeared on Salon.com, and in magazines, including the World & I, Belle Armoire, Interweave Knits, Spin-Off and N.Y. State Conservationist. She shares her home office with her setter mix puppy, Harry, and neither of them own a purple cloak. Contact Joanne and Harry by email at joseiff@yahoo.com.
4. Tip of the Week
Looking for personal inspiration? Volunteer. Giving our time to help others in need is a great way to draw inspiration and energy into life. The needs of many people in our communities will increase as the weather grows colder. Do something this week helping those less fortunate and your writing will be richer.
5. About The Fabulist Flash
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