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More on George
Posted on March 27, 2017 Leave a Comment
A couple of weeks ago and somewhat by random, a discussion in our writing group came around to George Saunders. As part of it, I mentioned a 2013 review of his short story collection, Tenth of December, by Maureen Corrigan, and how I was surprised that Corrigan had said, even emphasized, that she’d never heard of Saunders — a MacArthur Fellow, […]
Creativity and Writing by Pen
Posted on March 24, 2016 1 Comment
I’ve started writing my drafts in longhand. If you’ve taken one of my workshops, you’ve probably heard me advocate for putting pen to paper. You may have even argued with me about how ridiculous it sounds in this day and age of computers. Pfft! Writing by hand (eye roll). It takes too long. I was […]
Carving Out Time to Write
Posted on March 10, 2016 2 Comments
The writer writes. As an on-and-off again fiction writer, that very obvious notion eluded me for years. I put writing aside, put it off, did something else, cleaned, cooked, watched television, worked out or just about any other activity that didn’t involve writing, all the while wondering why I couldn’t finish a story.
Know More
Posted on January 26, 2016 1 Comment
“You should know more than what you put on the page. The reader can sense that.” — Susan Orlean Credit: Tim Green / Flickr Creative Commons
Spread the Writing Love
Posted on December 11, 2015 2 Comments
A year ago, I began volunteering at a retirement community teaching a memoir writing class to a handful of dedicated writers. I refer to these writers collectively as “my ladies,” because except for the occasional man who pops in now and then, the regulars are all women (above). Most of them — perhaps all— have never undertaken a […]
What Inspires You?
Posted on December 9, 2015 4 Comments
As we come down the home stretch of 2015, I have much to be thankful for. In September, I officially launched workshops for Fresh Pond Writers and a month later received my first acceptance for a short story. That story, “Williams,” which imagines a future where Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams is awoken from […]
I Think I’m Plot-Curious
Posted on October 21, 2015 1 Comment
Last night in workshop, we briefly discussed the idea of outlining a novel, especially after the first draft had been written. I’ve never written a novel before and much of what I’ve read about craft discourages outlines. But I think it’s important to stay open to methods that could potentially improve a story’s structure or […]
Our First Networking Event
Posted on September 14, 2015 Leave a Comment
Thanks to all who showed up last Thursday night for Fresh Pond Writers‘ first networking event. McCabes on Mass turned out to be a pretty good spot. Good snacks, nice drinks and cozy atmosphere that wasn’t overcrowded or too loud. Some folks walked away with a couple of “new” literary journals and everyone who came submitted […]
Fresh Pond Writers Has Skype Workshops for $25
Posted on September 11, 2015 Leave a Comment
Just $25 for a 10-week session with a handful of other writers. These sessions are for advanced writers and you have to apply first. But after that, it’s easy. Workshops start next week. Check us out. Fresh Pond Writers
A Website Is Born
Posted on August 19, 2015 2 Comments
Writing is a process. Not only the actual production of it, the sitting at the computer or legal pad and clawing down into unknown depths, but the living of it. The writer, like all writers, starts at the beginning. Here, there is only a small voice and little knowledge of the craft, save what she intuits from […]
Tracy Staedter 