You know the saying: When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Well, what do you do when life hands you lemons? Tell us, we want to know. Set your time for 12-15 minutes and write. Just write. Post your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog. Click on “Guidelines” for information about how to post.
Author: mcullen
Marlene Cullen is enthusiastic about encouraging people to write, even those who think they can’t write. Her series of books, The Write Spot anthologies, features writing that entertains as well as inspires writing. Every story, vignette, and poem in The Write Spot books include writing prompts motivating readers to become writers.
Marlene hosts The Write Spot Blog, a treasure chest of inspirational gems for writers.
Fulfilling her passion for writing and sharing with others, Marlene has created unique writing environments such as Jumpstart Writing Workshops, where participants often experience transformational changes. Her workshops provide essential elements for successful writing.
Marlene is the founder of Writers Forum of Petaluma, a monthly literary event featuring presenters talking about the craft and business of writing.
Marlene's awarding winning short stories and essays have been published in literary journals, anthologies, and newspapers, including Tiny Lights, Building Bridges, More Bridges, Redwood Writers anthologies, and The Write Spot anthologies.
She is a member of the California Writer's Club.
Guest Blogger Amanda McTigue talks about marketing your book
So, you’ve got your book written, or almost written, or you have an idea for a book, but you’re stuck dead in your tracks because you detest the marketing aspect of the book business Amanda McTigue says, “No doubt about it: we writers love to write, hate to sell. How could it be otherwise? We’re the odd balls who’d rather spend vast quantities of time alone in our imaginations. And yet these days, we’re told not only must we craft (and sometimes publish) our works, but also find readers to read them: a daunting challenge compounded by our own dread. What’s a writer to do?” Amanda shares resources on one of our least favorite challenges: marketing yourself and your book. “The Psychology of Writer Promotion. How to Promote Yourself,” Chuck Wendig “Book Marketing 101,” Jane Friedman “Five Mistakes You’ll Make on the Way to Publishing Success,” Carmen Amato via Jane…
Winter. Prompt #126
Today’s prompt: Winter. Write whatever comes up for you. Share your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog. Log in and post your writing. Photo by Breana Marie.
Listen honey . . . — Ellen Britt
Listen honey, stop complaining about what you don’t have and start being grateful for what you DO. Then take action to make the most of it! — Ellen Britt Dr. Ellen Britt is an award-winning online marketing strategist, Amazon best-selling author and founder of PinkCoatTails.com, featuring Fabulous Finds and Delicious Deals for women online entrepreneurs. She has produced and hosted more than a dozen telesummits and has interviewed some of today’s most well-known and respected names in marketing and self-development. Connect with Ellen and her Pink Coattails community on Facebook by clicking here.
Lose Control and Just Write!
Natalie Goldberg expands her thinking about writing practice in her latest book, The True Secret of Writing. You may have heard these ideas before and may be familiar with her other books, Wild Mind and Writing Down The Bones. And it’s good to be reminded of “the basics” of freewrites. Helpful ideas for writing from Nat: Keep your hand moving. If you say you will write for ten minutes, twenty, an hour, keep your hand going. Not frantically, clutching the pen. But don’t stop. This is your chance to break through to wild mind, to the way you really think, see, and feel, rather than how you think you should think, see and feel. This does not mean you have to write orgasmic sex scenes smeared with butter to touch wild mind. You might end up writing about toast, your sore throat, your fingernail. But it will be alive, real….
Space in the Heart by Rodney Walther
Rodney Walther is an accomplished author, but new to me. I thoroughly enjoyed Space in the Heart and didn’t want it to end. Perhaps there will be a follow-up. The characters are likable (important to me). The characters inhabiting this story feel real. I care about them. I’m interested in their lives. The plot is believable and intriguing. The dialogue is superb. A well-crafted story with some surprises. I love twists, hate predictability. This is the second Walther book I have read. He’s quickly becoming a favorite author!
Let it go. Prompt #125
What do you want to let go? What do you need to let go? What should you let go? Take a look at these lyrics to the song, “Let It Go,” from the movie, Frozen. It’s funny how some distance Makes everything seem small And the fears that once controlled me Can’t get to me at all It’s time to see what I can do To test the limits and break through No right, no wrong, no rules for me, I’m free! Let it go, let it go I am one with the wind and sky Let it go, let it go You’ll never see me cry Here I stand And here I’ll stay Let the storm rage on Your turn. What do you need to do to let go? What will happen if you just . . . let . . . go? Click here for the full lyrics…
Guest Blogger Mona Mechling, In memory of Karen Batchelor
Mona first posted “In memory of Karen Batchelor” on her blog, Envelope of Random Things. In memory of Karen Batchelor A year ago a talented, amazing woman left us too soon. I always felt she was a mentor to me, not just in my writing world, but about life in general. In memory of her I want to post what I call my mission statement. Ok, other writers out there, let’s send the world some stories! I can only hope that somehow I might continue her legacy in that way. Mona’s Mission Statement My mission is to be a mentor to upcoming writers struggling to find their way with the craft of writing. I hope to do this as a testament to the mentors who were there for me. I will do this by being an example of how crucial it is to continue in my quest for knowledge…
How do you want to be remembered? Prompt #124
Humorous or serious – what would you write for your epitaph? Compose several brief epitaphs for yourself — the headlines you’d like to see on your headstone. Think of them as messages to future generations that convey how you want to be remembered. And then. . . write a story that explains why the epitaph is appropriate. You could also write this for your fictional character. Here are some ideas: He Was Happiest When He Was Young. Strongest When He Was Old. Family First, Last, and Always I’d Rather Be Smelling the Roses (Than Lying Underneath Them) Wish I Had It All to Do Over Again (So I Could Do It All the Same but Better) Prompt: Write your obituary, or your Life’s Tributes. Share your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog. From Family Tales, Family Wisdom — How to gather the stories of a lifetime and share them with…
“First thoughts have tremendous energy.” Natalie Goldberg
Natalie Goldberg says . . . “First thoughts have tremendous energy. It is the way the mind first flashes on something.” Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones. Nat’s quote perfectly describes what a free write can do . . . opens us up to ideas and thoughts that lie within us. Try it. Go to the prompts category here or here and choose a prompt. Then write . . . freely. Just Write!