Hi, Tart Cherry Jam,

I like your logon.

So many things to say about writing!
This is what is true for me. It may or may not be true for you. I don't know you except for two paragraphs that you've posted here.

The hardest part is to start when you haven't written for a while. To get started, I write anything, and I do mean anything: how stupid I feel, what I'm going to have for dinner, what I wish for. And from there, I'll write something about my story (I write fiction) and what my characters are doing, and why what I just wrote is stupid. (I use humor to get through hard stuff.) I suspect that the putdowns are not productive, but that's what I do. Anyway, once you get started, it's easier to keep going.

Get friends. Revue and Square Peg have been my friends for years. Revue has been my source of encouragement, and the person to whom I've been accountable when I wanted that. Square Peg has also kept me going, and I want to add that his dog, Shadow (who died a few months ago) is featured in my book, "The Molly Chronicles." Writing is solitary work, and I need to read my work to someone from time to time. Also, both friends have helped me with computer issues.

Oh, here's a great prompt: "I am from . . ." Start with that phrase and write about where you came from - who your parents were.
Write "I am from: and describe the foods that were important to you
Write "I am from" and describe family traditions, spiritual values,
Write "I am from" and whatever else you think made you the person you are today.


I hope you'll be pleasantly surprised with the result.


I could add a lot more about writing, but this is probably enough for now.