What Have I Been up To? (Wordsmith Studio Homecoming)

Three years have gone by? How did it grow up so fast? (Yes, I ask myself the same question about my kids.) Well, I'm still not a grownup, but Wordsmith Studio has come a long way. 

In February 2012, I signed up for an April platform challenge with Robert Lee Brewer (of Writer's Digest) to learn about how to market myself as a writer. His challenge benefited me in ways I never imagined; it mainly helped me to step outside my comfort zone(s).

Since I missed participating in last week's Wordsmith Studio blog hop, I am responding to those questions this week.  

Wordsmith Studio Q & A Interview

1. Are you a WSSer (a member of Wordsmith)? If so, sound off about how long you’ve been a member, your favorite way to participate, or anything you’ve missed if you’ve been away. We’re not your mother/father . . . there will be no guilt about how long since your last call.

I am one of the original Wordsmith Studio members (a founder as we call ourselves). As most of you already know, I served on the steering committee during the inaugural year, giving me experience and friendships I am grateful for. One of the features I most enjoyed at that time were the photography prompts Rebecca Barray was in charge of (she not only created many, but also found others to come up with prompts). I do miss those prompts. I feel they stimulated my creativity in a different way than my other usual creative outlets. I also miss the interactions with the regular participants of that challenge.


2. What medium do you work in? For our writing folks, are you currently working on fiction, poetry or nonfiction, or a combination? Anyone YA or mystery or thriller or . . . ?

Last year I earned my copyediting certification through University of California, San Diego. I began working as an independent contractor and have edited a variety of genres including children’s literature (picture book and middle grade), memoir, paranormal romance, mystery, horror, and non-fiction. I’ve been tweaking my editing website, Ink Tracks Editing, and figuring out how to tie it in with my literary magazine, MouseTales Press. For now, they remain separated.

Earlier this year, I studied middle grade and young adult writing with Virginia S. Loh (who has authored more than twenty books), and I hope to have my current work-in-progress, a YA novel, completed later this year. One of my other pieces, Do Not Disturb, is a cozy mystery that I continue to tweak as I seek a home for it.  

April celebrates Robert Lee Brewer’s other challenge, his Poetic Asides Poem-a-Day Challenge (also known as the PAD challenge). If you’ve read my blog at all this month, you’ve already seen my works for the challenge. 

I’m also happy to help Robert out as a reader for one of the days of the challenge. This means I’m combing through the poems from a particular day and sending my favorites on to him. I’ve participated twice before in contest selections through the PTSA at a local elementary school where I live, and I enjoy the process.

By the way, I appreciate any tweets or Facebook shares about my editing business, Ink TracksEditing! Thanks for considering.

3. What’s the name of your current project (ok multitaskers, give us your main one)?

Oops, I already went over this in my answer for number two.

4. What is your favorite detail, sentence, or other bit you’ve written lately?

Can I cheat and offer my favorite poem? I think this is the one I like best of all I’ve written so far—How You MournYour Own Life. 

5. Any obstacles or I-hate-this-chapter moments?

Always! But I try to write through them by telling myself that’s what editing is for.

6. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned lately from your writing?

I enjoy writing poetic details (such as metaphor) into my stories. Not every editor appreciates that though.

7. In what ways do you hope to grow in the next 6 months/year?

I hope to strengthen my organizational skills and become better at outlining. I recall I was great at creating backstory for my characters when I was acting. I would like to perfect this skill for the characters I write.

8. In what ways do writing friends and communities help you do that?

Hmm . . . I’m not sure about this, though talking with them sometimes helps me to clear my thoughts. And I’ve gotten great information from them (for instance, fellow Wordsmith Studio member K.M. Weiland’s books have been very helpful). 

9. What else should we have asked you, or what would you ask other writers?

I was once asked why I became a copyeditor if my goal is to become a writer. In my opinion, editing and writing benefit each other. It turns out that I love editing though, and imagine I will continue editing and writing . . . forever. And I really look forward to watching Wordsmith Studio continue to grow!

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Wordsmith Studio Member Posts 

Be sure to read the post Jane Ann McLachlan is sharing for our anniversary, Roots and Wings. She has a book launch on April 19!

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Whew! That was long. If you've made it down to here, my next post will most likely be back to poetry. Thanks for reading!


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Histrionic (a Poem for Day Fifteen of PAD)

The prompt for today, day fifteen, is to pick an adjective to use for the title and then write a poem to go with it. Mine is below. 

 

No Longer My Apollo

Histrionic

How does it feel to pose on top 

of that ladder like a Greek statue
the masses come to admire? Only
there are no masses here. Just me,
and from this angle, I see fissures
running through from one
side of your stone
limbs to the other. Your curls
have thinned right along with your
arguments—you try to rearrange
them to make yourself feel
better, but you’re not fooling
any of the visitors who paid
admission fees for a peek
of your majesty. You’re not fooling
yourself and you’re not fooling
me. Still, you stay perched
right on top while I take a stroll
along the ridges of our rocky
getaway, keeping my focus
outwards on a horizon
I can’t yet see.
You can have what you want.
Just hold your own hands
and release me.

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His Honesty Clause (a Poem for Day Fourteen of PAD)

Today is a "Two for Tuesday." The prompts are to write an honest poem or a dishonest poem. This one might be a little of both. 

Sign Away Your Heart

His Honesty Clause   

In the event of loss 

or theft
or disposal, I propose
your heartstrings
will cease to exist,
be left
exactly
as before.

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