Walking Lighter, Smiling Brighter, & Ready to be a Writer

February meeting went fabulous! Boy am I having fun. And meeting local area writers is such a pleasure! For those who weren't able to make it, please visit http://www.salemchapter.com/ as we made some special announcements including a Poetry contest we're having.

I really appreciate the encouragement and positive feedback I get at every meeting and many e-mails. Please, don't just say it to my face (although that's terrific) leave a comment either on my blog or at http://www.salemchapter.com/!

I would just like to state for the record, what a blessing and great help that I have in my Co-Anchor Heather Cuthbertson. She makes me look good, she really does, and I hope I'm doing the same for her. If you haven't had the chance to meet her yet, check us out at the Salem Chapter website (aforementioned) or visit her website http://www.heathercuthbertson.com/. When it comes to Willamette Writers and the Salem Chapter she and I are of one mind, and sometimes it's tough to recall which ideas were hers or mine, as we always work together to improve on them.

Honestly, Heather is as much the reason I worked to get the Salem Chapter started as any. Talking "shop" with her--we could go on for hours, if someone didn't stop us. And that's what we writers need. The encouragement, the ideas, the flow, the energy from each other. Heather and I had the great pleasure of meeting such a person at the last meeting. You know the type I mean, so full of positive eneregy they're like a force-field pulling you in! And before you have a chance to realize it, you're walking lighter, smiling brighter, and ready to be a writer! This is what Salem Chapter's about.

The Northwest is lush with evergreens and beautiful forests, as well as talented and motivated writers. Everyone knows it. It's "common" knowledge. We just don't want anyone to forget it, and we want to remind them that Salem is here, that we're as much a part of the Northwest as Seattle or Portland and we have some terrific writers!

Write!

Have you every been guilty of not taking your own advice? I have. I write of the importance of writing, and not getting bogged down by the events of life, but guess what... I was busy dealing with this, that, and the other and not getting enough writing done.

I love writing. It's not just a career, it's not a hobby, it's a passion. I don't do it because I have to. I do it because I HAVE to!!! It keeps me sane. When I'm not writing, I'm out of sorts, and all I'm doing is thinking about getting back to it.

Talking with my WW Salem Chapter Co-Rep, Heather Cuthbertson, always an inspiration, she said it was time to get a critique group going here in Salem. We've been talking of it for some time. Before I got the Salem Chapter started actually. I have been in a critique group in Lake Oswego and enjoying myself, but not getting the work done I need to be. Meeting in Salem, and every two weeks will certainly get me motivated, as after one meeting, it already has. (For more information visit www.SalemChapter.com or e-mail SalemChapter@aol.com.)

So, I'm giving myself some of the same old advice. Write! Write! Write! I must write, I must edit, I must sell. These are my goals to further my career, my passion, my life.

I hope in motivating myself, I motivate others, it is quickly becoming a new passion!