A couple of years ago, I had a completed first draft of a first novel. Hurrah! I also had a month-long residency at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. Double hurrah! That’s the perfect storm for revising a long manuscript. A private studio, no meals to cook, no interruptions. Sounds like bliss, right? Continue reading “Never Go Back”
How About a Book Rave?
Years ago, when my venture into professional editing was just that—a new adventure—I was fortunate to be supported, and promoted, by author friends. Today, I am paying forward with an interview with fellow Pennwriter and Sisters in Crime member, Tamara Girardi. Continue reading “How About a Book Rave?”
What the Audience Knows
It is always a delight when a story finds a forever home, to borrow a phrase from the pet adoption world. “Voices” appears in the Summer 2017 issue of Philadelphia Stories, and I could not be more pleased to have my work in that fine publication. Continue reading “What the Audience Knows”
A Soldier from the Bayou
When I was in the 5th Grade, I won my first writing competition—a school contest on patriotic poems. The competition was sponsored by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars. I blogged about that experience here. If you read the opening of my prize-winning poem, you’ll understand why I am not a poet, but also why that contest was a seed for my young creative self. Continue reading “A Soldier from the Bayou”
Now You See Me
A while ago, I had a funny experience in a drug store. Not ha-ha funny, but odd funny. On the one hand, it was a small incident of little significance, but I couldn’t shake it. Naturally, I wrote about it–a brief vignette of a moment that bugged me. Continue reading “Now You See Me”
Swimming with the Guppies
In every career, there is a project or a contact or a conference that is a game changer. For me, a professional boost came in 2010, with the offer to edit the first Guppy anthology. Continue reading “Swimming with the Guppies”
Forever Uncle Edward
I grew up hearing war stories, about the home front and about those who served. The stories ran a full range: My outdoors-loving father hated his time at Fort Hood during the Korean Conflict because, in true nonsensical fashion, he was assigned to work in the mess hall. My Uncle Joe, who had great talent in the kitchen, had a wonderful time all during World War II as an officers’ cook, and never left California. My Uncle William, who served and saw combat in the Pacific Theater, did not have a wonderful time. Continue reading “Forever Uncle Edward”
Writing from Writes of Spring
This spring, I had the pleasure of joining Delaware poet Maggie Rowe for a day teaching prose and poetry at the lovely estate of former federal judge and Delaware native, Hugh M. Morris. The fieldstone house known as the Judge Morris Estate was built in the late 1700s, and is decorated in the style of the 1930s, the period when Judge Morris resided there. The home is now part of White Clay Creek State Park. Continue reading “Writing from Writes of Spring”
Why Writing is Like Childbirth
If you’ve ever given birth, you’ve probably heard the old saw that women forget the pain of childbirth. The concept is simple. A new mother forgets because, if she remembered the contractions and the pushing and the panting, she’d never do it again.
What I remember about childbirth is sitting on the edge of my bed chanting to myself, “Don’t forget. Don’t do this again.” Continue reading “Why Writing is Like Childbirth”
Spring Forward with these Events!
Delaware is small, but we have a mighty big and mighty active writing community. Ahead are a few local events scheduled in the coming few weeks.
First, a reading of Irish poetry: Continue reading “Spring Forward with these Events!”
Ramona DeFelice Long 