Writers:

Illness seems to be swirling all around us. My neighbor lost his battle yesterday and is off to a less painful place (at least in my mind). My entire household has battled with colds and flus and infections. Which made me begin to think about how a writer describes illness. How can we make it seem real for our readers and dig deep? I’ve been doing lots and lots of revising lately. Revising is about going deeper. But, shouldn’t we also look at going deeper in our first draft — especially when it’s a subject that’s painful — like illness? Yes we should! So that’s what this week’s prompt is about.

I want you to either pick up a project that talks about illness, or write a new scene that describes it. Pull from everything you know about being sick, make it raw, make it real. It may be hard for some of us to do this scene, but you may find some healing on the other end of it.

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Here is a chance for another conference. Check it out. Several of our folks have gone to this in the past and really got a lot out of it. It’s a shorter time commitment than the PNWA conference and more affordable. So think about it. Although, if an agent is what you’re looking for, the PNWA conference has lots of opportunities.

Also, Jan. 31 is the deadline for the Glimmer Train proposal. Feb. 18 is when the PNWA conference writing contest stuff is due. So get your stuff out there!

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If anyone on this list outside of the board members and those already expressing interest were planning on attending tonight’s board meeting, please Email me. There’s some caveat’s to the meeting tonight, so want you to be aware. Nothing technology can’t fix (yay for living in 2011!).

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And now for your moment of Writing Zen:

Writing is the hardest work in the world. I have been a bricklayer and a truck driver, and I tell you – as if you haven’t been told a million times already – that writing is harder.  Lonelier. And nobler and more enriching.
~Harlan Ellison