One Writer's Life -- Barbara Mountjoy

Meadville Market House, Second Floor

A Workshop Presented by the Meadville Council on the Arts No matter what genre you write in, good fiction comes from the basics. Multi-published and award-winning authors Babs Mountjoy and Kathy Otten, will lead this workshop, full of discussion, models, exercises and fun, too! Sessions will include— INTRO TO CREATIVE FICTION-WRITING - Bring a short piece to share, and we'll learn each other's writing inspirations. DIALOGUE- We'll look not only at how to write believable conversations, but how they enhance your story. INCREASING CONFLICT AND TENSION IN YOUR STORY- Do you want to write a story your reader can't put down? We'll examine what conflict is and how it drives the story. DIVERSITY IN YOUR FICTION – We’ll use exercises like those in Nisi Shawl and Cynthia Ward's, Writing the Other, and other sources to expand your thinking about using characters of other race/class/ethnicity in your stories. PACKING AN EMOTIONAL PUNCH - We'll talk about ways to show how a character feels through visceral reaction and fresh description that will ramp up your reader's investment in the story. WEAVING AN ALTERNATIVE SETTING INTO YOUR STORY- Learn how transport your readers to another era or alternate world without sounding like a text book. Classes will be held on Tuesdays, At the Meadville Market House March 26th through April 30th 2013 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Members-$60.00 Non-members $65.00 For more information contact Meadville Council on the Arts Phone & Fax (814)336-5051 Or to reserve and mail in your payment before the limited seats are gone, send to: Meadville Council on the Arts P.O.Box 337 Meadville PA 16335 Questions? artscouncil@zoominternet.net

It's always a toss-up at the end of the year: look back on the year that's passed, or set that aside and concentrate on the year ahead. Or both. I think that's the kind of year it's been for me.

Personally, the year has been a hard one, as we've struggled with the issues of our special-needs kids, some of them improving, others not so much. The stress has taken a toll on the marriage, as so often happens. I suppose it says something that we're still hanging together. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. We'll find out, I guess.

We're getting older and falling apart a little more--but that's the way of things. Resolutions for next year include to find a therapeutic pool exercise class handy, since the Lyrica didn't work out. Fibromyalgia is such a frustrating condition. You need to get good sleep to bolster pain management, but the pain prevents good sleep. They recommend exercise, even when you feel like you couldn't stand to move an inch through your aching muscles. Best practice for me so far is to take something for pain and just soldier through. Hopefully it'll be better next year.

Professionally, though, what a raft full of blessings! I scored a part-time job with the county as an attorney for families working through Children's Services, that came with benefits and a regular paycheck. This opened up my time formerly spent chasing new clients to spend writing.

I haven't wasted that time, either. In 2011, I signed contracts for five new novels to come out in 2012 and 2013. This is what my new email signature looks like now:

Also writing as Alana Lorens:
Secrets in the Sand, a novel of romantic suspense---The Wild Rose Press, April 20,2011

Conviction of the Heart, coming from The Wild Rose Press in 2012

This has been a busy week for me--in addition to real life intrusions, I've been working steadily on NaNo, with 22,000 words in 11 days, and I've had a blog on Savvy Authors and Lyndi's books are featured on Jerri Hine's Facebook Novel Works today!

Then I have competing blog posts today: On the irony of being a divorce lawyer writing love stories, at IcySnowBlackstone (click through to the blog page) and on how being a fantasy writer has helped me deal with our youngest, who's diagnosed with autism, sensory integration disorder and other language delays at A Splash of Scarlet. That's her proud face with her fair ribbon above!

If any or all of these interest you, I invite you to stop by!

Come see Lyndi go through her paces--and pages--at the blog of Kellie Kamryn.  today. (Don't worry, my post is white bread; you can safely click through the content warning!!) Kellie has a great romance series based on gymnastics coming out in the spring, which just goes to show what happens when you write what you know. Thanks, Kellie! And come see Kellie's post at the Clan Elves homepage, too! I admire the way she's used her painful breakup to inspire positive writing experiences.

I've got a guest post up at the web home of romantic suspense writer Joan Swan. She's written a wonderful paranormal romance series coming out from Kensington Brava that I can't wait to read :) Come by and see if I'm working for love or money!