New to Stealing Plums... An Interview with Michael A Shapiro

Fab news.  I've just posted An Interview with Michael A Shapiro to the Guest Starring page of my sister blog, Stealing Plums.  I know you'll enjoy his fabulous photographs, and his thoughts on the creative process give you an inside look at the man behind the camera.  Here's a sneak preview...

Photograph by Michael A Shapiro

Fabulous Article on Pinhole Photography- Check Out These Pix!

Smashing Magazine recently published an amazing article on pinhole photography.  The photos taken with these simple cameras are smply amazing!  I was also stoked to see directions for making your own pinhole camera at home- perfect for you folks that like to get your hands dirty and learn a skill from the ground up. 

Here's what I've been photographing lately...

"Story of a Selkie Wife" Published on Addictive Fiction

New to my Guest Starring Page...

Author Jessica Goody was so inspired by one of my Story-Starters in a recent Creativity Portal article that she wrote "Story of a Selkie Wife."  When she shared it with me, I knew I had to publish it here.  This haunting tale is thought-provoking, dark, and ultimately uplifting.  For more of Jessica's scribblings, please visit her blog, Much Magic.

Using Photographs to Inspire Writing... New Work by Hank Kellner

Fabulous news!  Photographer, writer and educator Hank Kellner is contributing a ten-part series of articles about photoelicitation- using photos to inspire writing.  His words and photos can be found on my Guest Starring page.  For a daily dose of inspiration, please visit his blog, English Education.

Looking for an Inspirational Summer Read? Look No Further...

My newest offering at Creativity Portal is sure to kick the writer's block blues.  Feeling stuck in the muck?  Got the blues, the blahs, or a combination of the two?  Check out the August article in my "Multicultural Muses" series,  How to Be Your Own Best Muse: 101 Ways to Delight and Inspire Yourself.  This juicy read is sure to get your pen moving! 

What's Blooming in Your Backyard? 

Lush Creativity, Juicy Words, and Wildly Colored Butterflies

Fabulous New Article Goes Live!

My newest scribblings have found a home online, at English Education, Hank Kellner's amazing blog.  My article, Irises Blooming in the Garden of Dreams, discusses ways for educators to help students get excited about writing. 

This article also shows writers how to create a writer's notebook, a sort of catch-all for ideas, plot twists, and inspirations.  Need some creative juiciness?  Check it out!

If you're interested in seeing my words and pics on your site, send an email to stealingplums@yahoo.com.

Thinking About Starting a Writer's Group? Read This First.

Exciting news!  I recently contributed a new article, "Seven Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Writers' Group,"  to Chuck Sambuchino's blog, Guide to Literary Agents.  If you're thinking about starting a writers' group, this is a must-read!

"Seven Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Writers' Group" is the first in a series of articles dedicated to starting, growing, and maintaining a writers' group.  It is a practical, down-to-earth piece, based on my experiences as founder and facilitator of Durango's own Wild Women Writing.

Wild Women Writing is a group for emerging and established female writers in the Durango area, and is sponsored by the Durango Women's Resource Center.  I've been working with Wild Women Writing for nearly three years.  What a fabulous group of ladies...they inspire me every day.  I love watching those tender blossoms bloom and unfold. 

If you're at a point in your career where you're ready to give something back to the writing community, I highly recommend starting a group for emerging writers, or volunteering time to teach writing workshops geared towards new authors.  It's such an amazing way to connect with others, and there is truly no greater joy than watching that nervous shy girl in the corner blossom into a strong, confident writer who can bring the house down when she finally dares to read her work aloud.

Who's That Shy Bloom Amongst the Briars?

A Budding Writer, Aching to Tell Her Tale