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November Highlights & December Announcements

Check out this update from the Santa Clara Poet Laureate!

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Cupertino Poet Laureate – 2018-2019 It's official! I've been named the 2018-2019 Poet Laureate for the City of Cupertino! I'm excited and honored to serve in this position for the next two years, and I look forward to the opportunities this will bring to meet community members and explore the power of poetry together.

#cupertino poetry #poet laureate #poetry #power of poetry #risk taking #writing life

Pondering Poetry: A questioning exercise (that may result in a poem!)

I like using the tag line “pondering poetry” because pondering is often how a poem forms: I sit (or walk or swim or run), asking myself questions about something or another (or sometimes both something and another). When I answer the question, I try to think my answers in images. In other words, if I as myself, “What is a cat?” Instead of thinking “Grey, fur, small…” and so on, I try to picture a…

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#poetry exercise #poetry prompt #pondering poetry #using a question as a poetry prompt #using a question as a writing prompt #writing prompt

From the Bookshelf: Habits of the Creative Mind

Habits of the Creative Mind (HCM) is written to be used as a college textbook, however it is not a typical college-level writing textbook by any stretch of the imagination and can (and should) be used by a wider audience. This new book (published in 2016) is based on five core principles: (1) writing is a technology for thinking thoughts that are new to the writer; (2) the habits of mind that…

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When the World Ends: Or, I Need a New Computer

The Death of My Dell (To skip to the “best laptops for writers” information, scroll to the end.) It was the 2015-2016 academic year. I was finishing my MFA program (no biggie), launching a platform, winning NaNoWriMo, writing my thesis, planning and organizing a remodel/addition project in the SF Bay Area (from Maryland), dealing with having four kids grades 6-10 in school for the time in their…

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#best laptop for writers in 2016 #computers and writing #how to pick a laptop #laptops for writers #when your computer dies #writing life #writing tools

Fueling the Fires

When your work involves being creative, it can be hard to come up with new ideas day after day, hour after hour. To maintain a creative life, you need to feed your creativity. Visit new places, look at new works of art, eavesdrop on new conversations, read new books/articles/posts, try your hand at a new kind of project … the list is endless. But sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we get…

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#art inspiration #beating writers block #finding inspiration #nanowrimo tips #this day in history #tips for beating writer&039;s block #using this day in history #writer&039;s block #writing #writing exercises #writing inspiration #writing prompts #writing tips

An Exercise in Perspective

One of the best things about being writers is that we get to play with reality. When we craft fiction, poetry, and even creative nonfiction, we can bend and twist the boundaries of our identity, the identities of our speakers and characters, and even the world around us. Of course, there are varying degrees of reality contorting. One could tell the first-person account of the life of a…

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#creative writing prompt #persona poem #writing advice #writing challenge #writing exercise #writing ideas #writing perspective #writing prompts #writing tips

Looking for a literary agent?

I am not ready to look for an agent, but even thinking about the process makes me break out in a cold sweat. Finding a good match, writing a stellar query, knowing how to spot a fake… Never mind actually having a polished manuscript to submit! Fortunately, there are many great resources to help writers along. Websites galore, how-to articles, Facebook groups, manuals, agencies … And every year,…

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#book giveaway #finding a literary agent #giveaway #guide to literary agents #how to publish your book #literary agents #publishing books #writers digest #writing

NaNoWriMo: Creating a book cover

I was on the fence (again) this year about joining NaNoWriMo, but the idea of writing during the month of November with my amazing Platformed Challenged friends has convinced me. I’m in! Still… I worry. This year, November for me means not only all of the usual busyness of Thanksgiving, family, and work because in addition there is a 100% chance of (FINALLY) moving into our new house. It’s been…

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#nanowrimo #canva for writers #create a book cover #designing your own book cover #fun nanoprep #make a nanowrimo book cover #nanoprep 2016 #nanoprep for pantsers #nanowrimo 2016 #tips for choosing a book title #using canva #writing

Want to visit Heaven (with a quick side trip to Hell)?

Fiction Review: Fall from Grace Note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My review is very detailed, so if you want the bottom line scroll to the end of the post! Heaven. Whether or not you are of the religious variety, the word “Heaven” is synonymous with a place or state of peace, perfection, and harmony. That is, until you visit author J. Edward Ritchie’s Heaven…

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#angel demon fiction #book review #book review archangels and demons #book review fall from grace #devil&039;s fall from heaven #fall from grace #fantasy fiction #fiction and religion #fiction review #j. edward ritchie author

The Writing Life: Lions and Tiger and Titles - Oh My!

The Writing Life: Lions and Tiger and Titles – Oh My!

If you’re anything like me, you start writing because a character (or an interesting situation) comes to visit your brain. And you write and write and write and begin to bring to life the story. You start to get excited about your wonderful writing so you share bits and pieces of the project with your friends and/or fellow writers. And then, inevitably the question arises: “So … what’s the…

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#creativityjunkie #how to choose a title #how to name a book #picking a title #the writing life #tips for choosing a book title #tips for titles #titling poems #writing #writing advice #writing tools

Top Seven Takeaways from Writing Conferences (Part 7): Enjoy the Ride

My final takeaway after attending myriad writing conferences for a year is to sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself. I know it can be stressful to network, have your work critiqued, or pitch to an agent. But it’s important to remember that writing conferences are not put on to induce stress. They are there to help you grow as a writer, make new writing contacts, and have a good time. You’re…

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#enjoying conferences #having fun at conferences #how to have fun at a writing conference #how to relax at writing conferences #making the most of writing conferences #the writing life #tips for writing conferences #tips when attending writing conferences #writing #writing conferences #writing tools

Top Seven Takeaways from Writing Conferences (Part 6): Bang for Your Buck

The cost of attending writing conferences can range from my all-time favorite, FREE, to hundreds (and hundreds) of dollars. Additionally, a writing conference can last one day or multiple days, which, unless you live relatively close to the venue means a hotel room and meals out. How do you know which conference to attend in order to get the most bang for your buck? I’ll be honest. When I first…

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#bang for your buck with writing conferences #free writing conferences #genre-specific writing conferences #how to choose a writing conference #local writing conferences #the writing life #tips when attending writing conferences #which writing conference to attend #writing #writing advice #writing conferences

Top Seven Takeaways from Writing Conferences (Part 5): Critique Sessions

Many conferences offer critique sessions in a group setting or one-on-one feedback meetings with a professional writer, editor, or agent. Is it worth missing out on another session to attend a critique? YES! Even if you are in an MFA program or have a phenomenal writing group, the feedback you receive in those critique session – while valuable – is often geared toward first (or near-first)…

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#critique sessions at writing conferences #critique sessions for writing #listening to feedback #the writing life #tips when attending writing conferences #writing #writing conferences #writing feedback

What to Write When Nothing Comes

Maybe you’ve been lucky and never drawn a blank when sitting down to right. But if you’re like me, you’ve sat. And sat. And looked up prompts. And doodled. And refreshed your coffee. Or tea. Or water. Or whiskey. You’ve told yourself, “Go!” then stared numbly at the screen. So you surfed the net, checked and deleted email. Answered the phone. Did the dishes. Dreamed up fanciful and creative menus…

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#creating poetry #poetry #poetry exercise #poetry prompt #poetry tricks #pondering poetry #robert frost #the road not taken #the writing life #tips for beating writer&039;s block #writer&039;s block #writing #writing advice #writing exercises

March Giveaway Winner!

Giveaway Winner! Congratulations to the winner of my March Giveaway – James Stack! The Random Number Gods have shined their light upon him, and James will receive a Banned Books Mug from Out of Print! Didn’t win? Have no fear! April is just around the corner and it brings with it another fabulous giveaway! Be sure to check back often to win!

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#banned books #banned books mug #giveaway #giveaways

Check out my March Giveaway! www.katherinemccormick.com

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