A Shot of Writerly Inspiration
I just returned from driving up to the Philadelphia area today for a NobleFusion meeting. For those of you who just tuned in, Noble Fusion is a writer's critique group. I didn't write anything to be critiqued today. And I didn't critique anyone else's stuff ahead of time. But timwb, whose cover letter and novel synopses were the only things being critiqued today, was gracious enough to say that my off-the-cuff critique was helpful, even though I first read his pages there, during the meeting. I've been a deadbeat lately as a critique-group member. So I am now resolving to both write something and critique something before our next meeting. You heard it here first.
I just have to find a way to do that while still managing to file my income tax return, volunteer at my kid's school, move ahead with my home renovation design, fulfill my duties with various professional organizations, and generally be a mom.
But my critique group members always have a way of filling me with writerly inspiration, so I'm optimistic.
I'm remembering a quote from the talk given by Joseph Bruchac at the National Book Festival yesterday: "You write every book one word at a time." So I just have to start by writing one word. Right? Write. In fact, here's his advice for people who want to be writers: "Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. And rewrite."