By Susan Wagner

Once, in college, I wrote a short story that was published by the school’s literary journal. I was criticized for it, publicly, by a professor I didn’t even know. It was too personal, she said. It was something that should have stayed within the family.

I was shocked by this because it was a piece of fiction. Did it have elements I related to? Of course. Like Stephen King, some things in my life just had to be written or they’d overwhelm me. But I did use the emotions I’d felt to drive me, changing the actual circumstances. This was largely to protect myself. The last thing I ever wanted was for my family to figure out what I was writing about. Continue reading “When Writing What You Know May Be Too Much Reality” →

By Linda Donaldson

Most of us are grateful to see the winter weather receding as March brings many new Writing Center classes, workshops and discussion groups. Our Writers Guild began our 2017 season, meeting in the Cultural Center on Sunday, March 19^th.

Announcements prior to the meeting pointed to the change in April’s meeting date to the 23^rd – the fourth Sunday in April – due to the desire to avoid Easter Sunday on March 16^th.

The deadline for the Literary Journal – Issue 3, Spring 2017. has been extended and Writers Center participants are all encouraged to submit stories and poems by May 15^th. You’ll find a link to the Submission Guidelines here.

Anne, Cindy and I welcomed one new member, Beth Taylor, and five other Guild members. Our number may have been small – several regular members sent emails explaining health issues would keep them away – but 3 selections were shared!

First, Jane Bleam brought a story of the adventures of her standard poodle, Spooky. I mention his breed to differentiate him from toy poodles. Spooky was big and so were the scrapes he got into. Comments encouraged Jane to include some more of the family’s feelings in Spooky’s earlier years. All found this a very enjoyable dog-lover’s story.

Next was a newly written introduction to John McCabe’s epic trilogy about exposure to nuclear testing by the Army by soldiers in the 1960s. John profound description of the dread and wonder of the first of his two test exposures was very moving. The only corrective comments were about sentence length.

Bob McCrillis read his selection, the second half of a chapter about how his high school teacher encouraged him and influenced not only his educational opportunities, but his later love for writing. Comments applauded his use of humor and realistic dialogue. The best compliment was requests about the first half of the chapter, wanting to know more.

Our best wishes for a swift recovery go out to Beverly Sce and Carol Kretovich, both of whom have had foot surgery and are recuperating. Sue Wagner is also recovering from a recent hospitalization and we hope to see her next month at the Guild meeting.

Finally, many writers find themselves including words inadvertently in their prose that are actually trademarked brand names. Some, such as Xerox™ and Kleenex ™ jump readily to mind, but after reading an article about attributing trademarks properly I wrote to DigitalSynopsis.com for permission, which they kindly gave, to reprint this up-do-date list of such words. Your link to that page can be found here.

By Anne K. Kaler

A hero goes on an outward linear journey or quest to find his father and reconcile with his mother.

A heroine goes on an inward journey often by circling inward within a labyrinth to find her feminine power of creation.

Divided into two parts, the human brain uses the higher intellect, called the mind, to achieve a finished action. Some call it writing.

The recent Disney film Moana presents the tale of a young prepubescent girl, a Polynesian chief’s daughter who is chosen by the sea to rescue her island from slow starvation and death. Burdened by fearful traditions, no islander is allowed beyond the reef because none had ever returned from there. When Moana’s grandmother tells her the tale of the nature goddess whose heart was stolen by the demi-god Maui, the ocean calls to the girl to return her heart to the goddess. Continue reading ““Moana” and the Feminine Side of the Hero/Heroine” →

By Linda Donaldson

The deadline for submissions to our Third Issue of the Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal, Spring 2017 has been extended to May 15th, 2017.

Our third issue’s theme is Renewal or Rebirth. Including, but not limited to, all aspects of personal growth, renewing relationships, spiritual transformation and jump starting one’s life through travel or career change. You could also pursue growth and transformation on a group level, among people in a town, a country or an era in time – either past, current or future.

You will find the submission instructions here. Our editors’ contact information is provided so we can address any questions you may have.

Mark your calendars! Reminder, this weekend add an hour for Daylight Savings time. Next weekend is our first Writers Guild meeting, Sunday, March 19th from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at Green Hills Farm, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA, in the Cultural Center [big Red Barn].

Follow this link to our Writing Center Program that boasts a full schedule of classes and workshops and register now. Join us!

As our intrepid puzzle-solver would add – Keep Writing!