For an extended period of time, I have been influenced by Audre Lorde and her essays. Unsure if it is because of all the new writing deadlines that are emerging compiled with balancing “real world” demands but she has been circling my thought process. Will she ever land and assist me in sorting out all these thoughts? Its as though I have writers block with a tea kettle full of thoughts and nothing is taking true form. What a conundrum! As writers, is the ability to write/express be a luxury with the words and sounds we do not have yet?

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One of the girls is retiring. We are sad to lose Michelle, but due to personal reasons, she is having to leave us. We hope that she will come visit us and guest blog when she can. We wish her the best in her endeavors and send her our love.

All the best, Michelle,

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picture found at: bookreviewsbybobbie.wordpress.com

We girls with a pen would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Please share with us what you are Thankful for.

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Mothers and Writing
I’m sitting at my computer intently creating a beautiful work of art. The right word is at my fingertips, so close, and then…my phone rings. The caller ID says “mom.” I contemplate ignoring because I already know how this conversation will go.
“So what are you doing?” asks my mother.
I quickly ran down the list of readymade activities that are considered more acceptable to my mother then writing. She can’t believe that grown woman with a family, and outside job, has time to waste on a mere hobby?
“Um…laundry,” I say, because laundry is never really done.
This usually works and our conversation continues, but a reasonable person might ask, why would a grown adult need to lie about spending time writing? Well, simply put, I don’t want to hear her response that would evoke feelings of guilt and resentment.
Our mothers can be our greatest supporters, and our harshest critics. I take comfort that I am not the only one with ‘mother’ issues. I know of authors who’ve had last minute ’stage fright’ before their books hit the shelves and have contemplated removing or ‘toning down’ their sex scenes because of concerns with their family’s reaction.
I use to balk at those concerns, but those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. I write under a pseudonym and though I’ve recently told my mother that I won a writing contest. I didn’t disclose the name of the contest “Reveal Your Inner Vixen.” *gasp*
I don’t think I am alone in avoiding the subject of sex in writing or even the topic of writing all together with our mothers. So what are your thoughts? Do you avoid telling your family what you write? Do you let your mother read your sex scenes or do you sing it from the tree tops?

KC Cline

KC is our newest girl with a pen. We’d like to welcome her aboard!

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That’s right…you heard me! I kinda likes me a little complication here and there. Well not in real life of course, but in a book … nothing better I tell ya! I love being confused and wondering how, when, why and what the @?#*! It’s these questions that keep me reading.

I started to tell my husband about a story I was writing and he just looked at me and said, “Wow, that’s kinda complicated. Maybe a little too complicated.”

Now I could have sat back and been offended, and lets be honest, for a moment I was. But then … then I sat back and thought to myself. Yeah, this is pretty complicated … Perfect!

How do you feel about complications? Do you welcome them with open arms as though they were the prodigal son? Or do you tend to shy away from them as not to confuse your readers?

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Marybeth is an aspiring novelist currently working on her second novel. For more information visit her website www.marybethsmith.com. She also has a blog Desperately Searching for my Inner Mary Poppins where you can keep up on her moments as mother, wife and writer..

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