Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

Writing Creatively

Wow, these blogs just sneak up on one, don’t they? Things have been severely hectic around here lately – we just lost our eight year old Rottweiler mix to lymphoma last week, which was heartbreaking for everyone – and school is wrapping up, and summer college term has begun, and I have an author visit and a four day trip this weekend. Phew!

Anyway, I figured I’d talk about the most writerly things. I’m taking two courses this semester, and while they’re piling on the work (which I knew they would, hence the taking of them in the summer), I’m intrigued by both. The first one is American Women Writers after 1900. Sounds terribly boring, doesn’t it? Actually it’s been rather enlightening already. We’re reading about a novel a week, literary stuff, but related to second wave feminism (think the late ’60’s, early ’70’s). Being a female writer, I have a deep and strong tie to the subject of women writers. Watching the growth of women through the years, finding their voice, telling their stories. It’s empowering and inspiring, reading the words of my mothers, as it were. And the first novel actually has helped me greatly in the research for my WIP.

The other course I’m taking is Intro to Creative Writing. Which seems strange for an already published writer with four books to her name to do. I didn’t take it because I thought it would be an easy A, but rather to get some perspective on my own writing. I usually write the same thing all the time – YA fantasy. Occasionally a short story, but fantasy anyway. This course is forcing me out of my comfort zone, by making me write poetry, creative non-fiction, and screenplays, all NON-GENRE. EEEKKK! I’m terrified and elated all at once.

I think when all is said and done, both courses will expand my vision and make me a better writer. Which will make me happy. As does my next Samhain release coming up next month. Yay!

I’m off , but if you’re in the Upper Marlboro, Md area this weekend, drop by the Maryland Faerie Festival (www.marylandfaeriefestival.org) and say hi! I’ll be signing copies of my first two books and sweating a lot. How I hate East Coast summers is a post for another day.