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Posts from the ‘Writing Life’ Category

Jan 3

My writerly inheritance: The curiosity gene

When I was in elementary school, I knew I wanted to be a writer. Working as a journalist turned out to be the perfect job for me because it required asking questions, which is one of my favorite things to do.

My blogging partner Carol’s post, What writerly traits run in your family?, got me thinking about my writerly DNA.

I was born with the curious gene. I figure I inherited it from my mother. When I was a newspaper reporter, she often called me with some tidbit of news she’d heard or something she saw that she thought I’d want to know about because it might make a good story. And she was often right. Read more

Jan 2

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What writerly traits run in your family?

My father was a difficult person to  live with but, in his own way, he was very philosophical. He was a voracious reader of daily news and current events. He loved learning new things and was always calling me and my cousins into the kitchen where he sat on his favorite stool and read interesting excerpts to us. Granted, there was a lot of eye rolling going on at the time, but over the years I gleaned his enthusiasm for reading, learning, and considering new ideas. Read more

Jan 1

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Happy New Year: What’s your theme for 2013?

There’s something about the first day of a new year that seems so full of promise. A new beginning.

Some people like to set New Year’s resolutions, and others prefer to have a personal theme. One of my friends has a word or phrase she picks to be her guide for the year. A touchstone that inspires her to live the life she intends. I talked to her yesterday to find out if she’d decided on her 2013 theme. She said she’s spent too much time over the past 10 years “waiting.” This is the year she takes action instead of waiting for the so-called right moment. Her 2013 theme: “There’s no time like now.” Read more

Dec 31

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Goal setting: look back before you leap forward

Before I set my goals for 2013, I’ve been looking back on 2012. My mind instantly goes to what I didn’t accomplish, instead of what I did accomplish.

It’s easy to be hard on ourselves—we have all those voices from our past that’ve become part of who we are. We may eventually learn to banish them, or at least the more vocal voices, but at some level they’re always there, always willing to whisper sour-somethings in our ear.

As writers and artists we probably have even more voices in our head—especially if we’re taking time away from family or work in order to pursue our art that isn’t yet earning its keep.

One way to silence those voices is to make a list of what you DID accomplish over the last year. This will also give you a springboard to setting your 2013 goals. Read more

Dec 28

Get a burst of writing energy from three of my favorite posts

One of my favorite things about writing this blog is how much I learn from it. As the year winds down, I thought I’d share several posts that were particularly energizing.

I discovered an interview online that led me to write, Improve your writing craft with this assignment from author Ray Bradbury. I’ve amped up my reading practice due to his advice. Read more

Dec 26

Do one thing every day that scares you

In the midst of our routines, it’s also good to try new things. Aim to write every day, but try writing something that’s unfamiliar. If you only write novels, try poetry. Everything you do contributes to your skills as a writer.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

Maybe a certain topic or idea is fluttering in the back of your mind, but the thought of writing about it makes you nervous. If you get an anxious tug in your stomach, that’s a good sign that you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. Read more

Dec 25

Merry Christmas from One Wild Word

Happy Holidays from OneWildWord

Whatever your faith or belief system, the holidays are a time to spend time with our loved ones and remind them how much they mean to us.

Over the years, I’ve tried to find ways to simplify my holiday. Instead of buying my neighbors the usual gift basket, I made homemade lasagna. They appreciated having to cook one less meal during a busy, sometimes stressful season. Read more

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