Friday, November 20, 2009

Why I Love to Write - How About You?

Today in St. Peters, MO: Partly sunny, high 59 degrees--bring on the sunshine!

This past week at least 10 things happened that affirmed why I love to write and why writers are some of my favorite people.

Here they are:

1. Yesterday I finished logging in the entries for the Saturday Writers 8th Annual Short Story Contest. We received almost 90 entries from 19 states. I am contest chair, and before sending the manuscripts to the judge, I read a few of the entries. One story made me laugh out loud; another gave me chills; another moved me to tears. Writers inspire me!

2. Last night I attended a local author's event at the Middendorf-Kredell Branch Library in O'Fallon, MO. Sara Nielsen did an excellent job orchestrating the event. It was fun to talk with readers and visit with some writing friends I hadn't seen in awhile as well as making some new friends, too. Writers are welcoming!

3. At critique group on Tuesday, everyone who wanted to read got to, and their works and the critiques were great! Writers are fun to be around!

4. Also at critique group, Alice M. read an excellent essay that brought tears to the eyes of everyone there. She is submitting her essay to Chicken Soup for Mothers and Daughters. She encouraged me to write and submit an essay, and she e-mailed me information about the issue and the Dec 31 deadline. Writers are generous!

4. Earlier this week on my A Book A Week blog, I posted my review of FINDING JOY, written by Joy Wooderson. Last night at the library Joy once again thanked me for my review and told me how pleased she was with it. Writers are grateful!

5. Last night several writers complimented me on my blog and told me how much they enjoy reading it. Writers are complimentary!

6. This week I finished reading and reviewing THIS BOOK IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU by Pseudonymous Bosch and e-mailed my review a few hours after the deadline to Tom Donadio, my editor at Kidsreads.com. Good editors are a joy!

7. Wednesday a second copy of THIS BOOK IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU arrived from the publisher, so I'm going to donate it to Michael's class at All Saints School. Publishers are generous, even if by mistake!

8. On Wednesday I received an envelope from Green River Writers. My short story "Criminal Minds" won a certificate for 1st Honorable Mention in the President's Prize Contest for Short Fiction. Entering writing contests is fun!

9. Also in the envelope from Green River Writers was a certificate for the Jim O'Dell Memorial Poetry Contest. My Limerick "Pillow Talk?" won 1st Place--and I also received a check! Winning writing contests is even more fun!

10. This week I started scribbling down my thoughts for an essay about a beautiful patchwork quilt I won last Saturday, on my late daughter Julie's birthday. Writing keeps me sane and helps me remember the good times!

How about you? Care to share any thoughts about why you love to write or why writers are special people in your life?

8 comments:

  1. I love that I can read a writer's blog and as the weeks, then months, and a WHOLE year passes, I suddenly realize that I've not only learned a lot of wonderful writing stuff, but that I've also made a new friend!

    What a fine week you had, Donna-congrats!

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  2. Sounds like a good week! I'm too tired to write any witty responses to "Why Do You Write?" because our new dog kept me up all night after we brought her home from the shelter. But thanks for a great blog post!

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  3. It continuously amazes me how willing writers are to share information and provide helpful suggestions to newbies. Writers are patient!

    And Donna, your blog is a perfect example of sharing information and suggestions. Thanks so much!

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  4. Hi Cathy,
    One of the great things about blogging is meeting and making new friends--like you!
    Here's to another good week.
    Happy Thanksgiving,
    Donna

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  5. Hi Dianna,
    Hope you're having fun with your "new" dog. God bless you for adopting an older dog from the shelter. What's his name?
    Donna

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  6. Hi Pat,
    Thanks. So true about writers being patient.
    Hope you "gals" had a good time this weekend at OWL and seeing some shows in Branson.
    Donna

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  7. Donna,

    I so much enjoyed your post about the joys of writing and the bonds writers share. Everything you said is absolutely true. Thank you for these reminders.

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  8. Hi Joy,
    Thanks for you kind comments. It was great to see you last Thursday at the library!
    Donna

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