Follow the rambling road of a writer. You never know what you’ll find here. Places I’ve been. Wise words gathered from other authors. Awards and honours that I’ve picked up along the way. It’s the chronicle of one writer’s journey.

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January 22, 2012: And they call me a storyteller

All I can say is “Wow!” after WCDR’s one-day workshop with literary agent Sam Hiyate, president of The Rights Factory. Through a series of “This is how this book got published” stories, he took us on a guided tour through the ride from finishing your manuscript to selling it. Thanks for the road map, Sam–I’m following it every step of the way.

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January 15, 2012: Writers’ Community of Simcoe County

The Writers’ Community of Simcoe Region invited me to speak at their monthly luncheon meeting. I headed north to take a roomful of Barrie writers on a whirlwind tour of Social Media for Writers. Their social media director (yes, they have a social media director!) live-tweeted my presentation (#wcscsocial), a first for me and for them. I met some folks there I’d only known through social media–what fun!

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January 14, 2012: Improving your odds

Like 150 other local writers, I arose bright and early to hear Hilary McMahon, literary agent with Westwood Creative Artists at The Writers’ Community of Durham Region breakfast meeting. Hilary’s one of only 30 literary agents in Canada, and she takes on only three to five new clients a year (yikes!) She gave us her advice on how to become one of them.

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January 13, 2012: Here we go again…

My second session of Creative Writing for Beginners started up at the Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre. This time, 17 writers registered. I’m glad to see returning students, some new names, and even a few WCDR friends.

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January 11, 2012: I’ve got my rights

I picked up invaluable advice on negotiating literary contracts at CANSCAIP‘s January meeting. A big thank you to speaker Sally Keefe Cohen–I have your business card and I’m not afraid to use it.

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December 28, 2011: Words of the (Christmas) season

Writers overran O’Toole’s for Words of the Season. I took to the microphone with a chapter from my novel Twice A Ghost. We heard the original work of a dozen or more wonderful singers, poets and writers, many from The Writers’ Community of Durham Region. Adele Simmons closed out the night with an original Christmas love song. Beautiful! Check out the great slideshow.

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December 3, 2012: DarkLit was GreatLit

Oshawa Public Library hosted DarkLit Fest 2011. I met some interesting authors (like Erin Bow, author of Plain Kate.) I heard some fabulous speakers (Andrew Pyper was stellar.) Even sat down for a pitch session with Jennifer MacKinnon from Scholastic Canada.

For folks who think DarkLit Fest is all vampires and blood, it was surprisingly mainstream and not at all crowded. Sample a taste by viewing some YouTube coverage (credit to DreadfulTales) or check it out next year.

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December 10, 2011: He must be Tuesday’s child…

The speaker at WCDR’s December breakfast meeting was the incomparable Wayson Choy, author of The Jade Peony. This gracious gentlemen reminded us that we writers all face the same blank page. His wise and wonderful quotes included “Good writing is great gossip,” “If at first you don’t succeed, don’t be an idiot” and “Failure is your teacher.”

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November 26: Tables turned on the journalist

Illustrator Chrissie Wysotski (far left) and me, posing with the Junior Journalist group

The group celebrated the publication of their first issue with a launch and invited me. I asked Chrissie Wysotski, a professional illustrator, to come along, too. Here’s a photo. Just look at those smiles.

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November 25, 2011: Appreciating the Art of Transition

My freelance writing business Merlin Writes was nominated for an Art of Transition Award for best writing about Durham Region. My good friend Deb Rankine (The Fridge Whisperer) and Driftwood Theatre were also nominated.

After an afternoon spent volunteering at the WCDR booth and browsing through displays by the gifted Durham arts community, I was treated to an invitation-only reception for nominees. No, I didn’t win, but in such an illustrious crowd, it was an honour just to be named.

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November 16, 2011: Writing the unreal

High fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, steampunk, dystopian…what does it all mean? CANSCAIP brought in authors Lena Coakley (Witchlanders) and Megan Crewe (The Way We Fall) to explain fantasy and its many sub-genres. I found it all…fantastic.

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November 5, 2011: What a package!

CANSCAIP assembled the cream of children’s writers, illustrators and performers for the annual Packaging Your Imagination conference. A dozen workshops to choose from, first-class speakers and a blue pencil session with lit agent Ali McDonald of The Rights Factory made for an exciting and memorable day. I took a master class on style with Sarah Ellis, absorbed Caroline Pignat‘s advice on writing historical fiction, and listened to Kathy Stinson‘s close the day with her witty keynote on children’s books and publishing.

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October 28-30, 2011: Turning Leaves at Fern Resort

I attended Writescape’s Turning Leaves Retreat at Fern Resort. Writescape facilitators Ruth Walker and Gwynn Scheltema brought together a fine group of writers for a write and learn weekend. Author and poet Jonathan Bennett brought his talent to the table as a special guest presenter.

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October 24, 2011: Part of an award-winning team

I’ve been writing for Condominiasince the innovative magazine launched last year. I’m proud to say that this online real estate publication snagged a silver in the Best Digital Edition category at the 2011 Canadian Online Publishing Awards. Not bad for a newcomer. Not only is the publication great, but so are the folks who run it. They gave me a lovely surprise, promoting me to senior writer to recognize my contribution. What an honour!

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October 17, 2011: Buying quality time

A fat brown envelope signalled good news for my fiction writing. I received an Ontario Arts Council Works in Progress grant. This generous funding will let me devote the coming months to completing my novel Twice A Ghost. Thank you, OAC!

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October 15, 2011: And first prize goes to…

I was delighted to learn that the Oshawa Public Library Pass the Book Contest awarded first prize to my short story “Breakfast is Served.” The library presented me with a certificate and a $100 gift card to Chapters (books, books, books!) at the closing reception for Pass the Book. Goes to show you’ve got to enter to win.

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October 14, 2011: Hey, Teach!

I began teaching creative writing to seniors at the Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre Northview Branch. What a wonderful group of novice, developing and experienced writers! They were game to listen, learn and try a new challenge every week.

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October 13, 2011: A “grueling” breakfast

The Writers’ Community of Durham Region brought Random House Senior Editor Craig Pyette to critique query letters and first pages at the October breakfast meeting. Six “lucky” submissions were chosen for expert feedback; mine was one. Though anticipation gave me little appetite for breakfast, Craig’s comments on my work were helpful and positive. “Yes,” he pronounced. “I would definitely turn the page.” Hurray!

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October 2, 2011: Writers are thieves and liars?

I drove up to take in the inaugural meeting of The Writers’ Community of York Region. Guest speaker Richard Scrimger told the crowd that writers are thieves and liars: we steal characters from real-life folks we know and lie about them to make them our own. So true!

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September 24, 2011: Who knew taxes could be so much fun?

I attended with It’s Not What You Earn, It’s What You Keep, a one-day tax tips workshop for writers and artists. Led by Writescape’s Gwynn Scheltema, it was practical, hands-on and…fun!

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September 12, 2011:  Writing for Children

How was I spending my Wednesday evenings this fall? Attending a super five-week course in writing for children with author Erin Thomas and Writescape’s Gwynn Scheltema. I took in a few novel ideas to explore and discovered a few more to keep them company. It was a great way to polish my craft and meet other children’s writers.

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September 7, 2011: Sharing Words of the Season

I popped in to O’Toole’s in Whitby for Words of the Season, an evening of readings organized by The Writers’ Community of Durham Region. On my turn at the microphone, I read two poems (“Disconnect” and “Mourning After”) and my sinister postcard story “One Foot in the Grave.”

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March 26, 2011: A few good words for literacy

SNAP Oshawa showed up and “snapped” me while I was reading a chapter from Twice A Ghost at Literacy Durham’s Coffee, Tea and Words Readathon. I was in good company at the fundraising event. Author Susanna Kearsley read from her newest novel The Rose Garden, and many local writers, including my talented daughter Anne MacLachlan, also shared their work.