It often happens that I become discouraged with the progress of my writing career. There are so many interruptions and distractions. After all, my writing hat is only one of many that I must wear--I am also a mother, a wife, a friend, an employee, a supervisor, a musician. Work deadlines, dinner menus, doctor's appointments, …
Tag: writing
First Lines First
I don’t remember the first line of every book I’ve ever read. In fact, when I’m wearing my “reader” hat, I’m usually so eager to get into the story that I fly through those first words with shameful speed. But, as a “writer” I’ve analyzed first lines to the nth degree. I’ve read articles and …
A Writer’s Thank You Note
I was inspired by my friends at TeachingAuthors.com to write this post. I recently came across a piece of my own journal writing from about ten years ago. I had been reading Joseph Campbell at the time and was in a kind of existentialist reverie when I penned the entry. It is a bit wordy …
A Welcome Autumn Bowl of Chicken Soup!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hooked on Hockey is now available online and in stores. In addition to my own “Game Scents”, check out some of the offerings of my compatriots—Matt Duchene, Michael Brennan, and Tammy Crosby.
Might as Well Face it I’m Addicted to Blogs
A couple of months ago, I purged myself of most of the way, way, WAY too many blogs I'd been following. The number of posts I received were overwhelming and I felt my own precious writing time being sucked away as I tried to do justice to the writing of others. In the end, I …
Continue reading Might as Well Face it I’m Addicted to Blogs
Another bowl of Chicken Soup, please!
Just a quick post to let everyone know that I have another piece appearing in an upcoming release in the perennial Chicken Soup for the Soul Series. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hooked on Hockey will be available in stores and online October 2, 2012.
A Writer’s (non) Drought
My area of the country has been experiencing the most depressing heat wave and drought. And the hot dry weather has been affecting my creativity. I feel tired and lethargic and uninspired. Drought or no, this happens to every writer, I know. But I can't afford to let myself settle into writing inactivity. "Drought begets …
Number Seven
Last week I had the good fortune to attend an incredible one day conference offered by the Illinois chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators—“Spring Thaw: Branch Out”. The presenters were Lin Oliver and Steve Mooser, original founders of the SCBWI. Of the many pearls of wisdom and insightful tips and practical …
The Secret of the (Writer’s) Garden
Because of our freakishly warm Illinois weather this spring, I’ve already had to get out and yank a few pernicious weeds from around my faithful perennials. The spring activities of clearing out the winter debris, planting, and weeding (not to mention nursing my aching gardening muscles that haven’t been used in six-or-so months) never fail …
Spring Name Training
Today, while watching spring training baseball (featuring my team—those perennial non-World Series-winning baby bears), a player named Welington Castillo stepped up to bat. What a really great name, I thought. Cool, interesting, and—somehow—it made me curious about him. That's precisely the kind of name I want for the main character of the story I'm currently …
Leanne Pankuch 