Jane Austen once said, “write what you know.  Places you have been, people you have observed.”  That is all of the quote that I can remember, but it stuck with me.  I love history, but I was not around to observe older times.   If I try to write a story that is older than my grandparents, it sounds false.  I have been a bit more successful with my grandparents and parents generations because I have observed them, heard their stories, seen the places they are talking about.   I actually love my characters that are based on them.  I prefer to write stories that are placed in their generations.  My question then is what is your poison?  What generation do you like to drink from for inspiration?  Tell me about your characters in that generation.  Just a fun share with everyone.

Thanks,  Brenna

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Registrations for our 2010 Muse Online Conference is now open.

Date of conference: October 11 – 17, 2010

The deadline to register for the Muse Online Writers Conference is August 15, 2010. On August 16 until the first week of September there will be a late registration fee of five dollars.

If you have friends who might be interested in joining us, please let them know that they can register now for free and avoid the late fee.

The registration link is:
http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/Registrations.html

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Okay, rarely do books start out that way, but I want to see what you can come up with when it starts like this:

It was my worst nightmare coming true, my parents…

You finish the sentence and let us know in 100 words or less what the nightmare is.

Have fun.

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Sarah is writer looking for an agent. She is currently working on novel # 4, editing novels 2 and 3, and querying novel # 1. For more insight to her work, visit: http://legendoftheprotectors.wordpress.com/ or http://legendoftheprotectors.blogspot.com/

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What is your idea of a perfect day? Is it sitting on the beach sipping a margarita? Is it going out for wine, dinner and a movie? Is it getting your house cleaned?
I had a perfect day recently and it included nothing on the above list. (But if hubby is reading this the last one is greatly needed and would be much appreciated.)
The morning started out fabulous. I woke up on time, worked out, had my hubby take the kids to school , and I enjoyed a peaceful breakfast while I planned out my day. By nine that morning I had the kitchen cleaned and was armed with a cup of green tea and a protein snack ready for my commute. A few steps and one flight of stairs later I was in my writing office complete with a door that shuts and ear buds for my Pandora. A productive morning ensued, a break for a good lunch and then a few more hours of writing until the kiddos came home from school.
It wasn’t until my daughter asked me how my day was that I stopped and thought about what I had accomplished. I realized how much I appreciated working as a “writer” even if it was for just one day. I had no overwhelming “to do” list or any great adventure, but all in all I couldn’t remember a time where I felt more at peace.
Only a writer or some other artist would be completely content to do nothing except work their craft all day. Not many people could understand that. Realizing this, I answered my daughter truthfully. It was perfect.

I've wanted to be a writer ever since I read my first book by Judy Blume, Super Fudge. Since then I've been writing bad poetry and even worse prose. I finally got serious when about two years ago, after a nervous breakdown in my kitchen, I cried to my husband "I'm not happy!" "Well, get happy," he said.Simple enough, and so I started writing and have completed my first novel. I'm now in the process of polishing and sending "my baby" out into the big bad world. :)

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No, I do not have Alzheimer’s, but over the last few years I have been really sick and part of that is losing a portion of my short term memory. For a while, I was too weak to make it downstairs to get to my computer and now that I am getting stronger and have more energy, I was hoping that writing would pick right back up. Here’s where the Alzheimer’s comes in. If I sit to write, I can. If I have to stop for any reason (i.e. use the restroom, get a drink, ect.) I forget to come back to it.

I know, how do you forget to come back to something you love?

Beats the ^&*% out of me!

But it happens. Over and over again. I have finally decided, that until it stops happening, it’s okay. This is hard for me, because I have always prided myself on my memory. Since it has left for the time being, I have no choice but to accept its lose. But I’m still writing some and if I get reminders (if I’ve promised an edit to anyone) I’ll do some of that too. At least my brain functions well enough to write and edit. (When I remember to do it.)

What troubles do you have that keep you from what you love? Am I the only one with brain freeze? What do you do to get through the rough times? And if anyone has ideas about how to help stimulate my brain to remembering, I’m all ears!

Sarah is writer looking for an agent. She is currently working on novel # 4, editing novels 2 and 3, and querying novel # 1. For more insight to her work, visit: http://legendoftheprotectors.wordpress.com/ or http://legendoftheprotectors.blogspot.com/

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Our own Suzanne is hosting a query contest at another of her blogs and we’d like you to take a look and enter. Also, enjoy her blog as well.

http://writingouttheangst.blogspot.com/2010/05/heeeellllooooooo-contest.html