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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/3425-.html
For Authors: December 02, 2009 Issue [#3425]

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For Authors


 This week:
  Edited by: Fyn Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing but burn, burn, burn like fabulous roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww'"-- On the Road--Jack Kerouac

"The quantity of civilization is measured by the quality of imagination."-- Les Miserables--Victor Hugo

"..the most important reason for going from one place to another is to see what's in between, and they took great pleasure in doing just that. Then one day someone discovered that if you walked as fast as possible and looked at nothing but your shoes you would arrive at your destination much more quickly. Soon everyone was doing it. They all rushed down the avenues and hurried along the boulevards seeing nothing of the wonders and beauties of their city as they went.

No one paid any attention to how things looked, and as they moved faster and faster everything grew uglier and dirtier, and as everything grew uglier and dirtier they moved faster and faster, and at last a very strange thing began to happen. Because nobody cared, the city slowly began to disappear. Day by day the buildings grew fainter and fainter, and the streets faded away, until at last it was entirely invisible. There was nothing to see at all."--The Phantom Tollbooth-- Norton Juster

"For the first time, he heard something that he knew to be music. He heard people singing. Behind him, across vast distances of space and time, from the place he had left, he thought he heard music too. But perhaps, it was only an echo."-- The Giver--Lois Lowry

"For if Jack Buggit could escape from the pickle jar, if a bird with a broken neck could fly away, what else might be possible? Water may be older than light, diamonds crack in hot goat's blood, mountaintops give off cold fire, forests appear in mid-ocean, it may happen that a crab is caught with the shadow of a hand on its back, and that the wind be imprisoned in a bit of knotted string. And it may be that love sometimes occurs without pain or misery."--The Shipping News--E. Annie Proulx

"Suddenly there was a great burst of light through the Darkness. The light spread out and where it touched the Darkness the Darkness disappeared. The light spread until the patch of Dark Thing had vanished, and there was only a gentle shining, and through the shining came the stars, clear and pure."--A Wrinkle in Time--Madeleine L'Engle


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

Last newsletter, I asked people for books that they read time and time again. A favorite book is similar to an old friend with whom one has been out of touch with for a while and then chances upon them one day on a sidewalk. Instantly one feels the urge to 'catch up' and exchange news, but until that moment the other person had been lost, wandering the the back recesses of one's mind.

Personally, The Giver by Lois Lowry is my all time favorite. I have read and reread, absorbed and inhaled this book numerous times. Sure, I know how it ends, but that isn't the point. The purpose is the journey, the going back and reliving, re imagining and rethinking that which I've read.

Another favorite is The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx because I love the way she uses words and sounds. Although I have read her works over and over, I still love to listen to her books on CD because and simply for the sounds of her word combinations.

It seems that I reread some books every year just because I enjoy reading them for the story line. These are the worn, dog-eared paged books lining the bookcase by the nightstand. Several authors come to mind--Clive Cussler, Dan Brown, Bertrice Small, Nora Roberts, Elizabeth Adler among numerous others.

A wise friend once told me, "Read little one. For if you ever aspire to become a writer, you must first be a reader. For it is in the reading that you will learn the magic of sound, the structure of a tale and the power of words to transport the reader to such a place that will transcend far beyond the comfy chair by the fire. The woman who told me that was Maia Wojciechowska who won the Newberry Medal for one of her books.

One of my favorite old friends is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. This quote: "To forget a friend is sad. Not everyone has had a friend." seems particularly appropriate at the moment.

So take some time this holiday season and curl up with an old friend. Travel the journey from first page to last once again.


Editor's Picks

So Far Gone Open in new Window. (E)
A short story written for a contest. Based on true events.
#1139759 by ~WhoMe???~ Author IconMail Icon


Image Protector
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A Thanksgiving Farewell Open in new Window. (13+)
A strong family offers thanks in the midst of great loss.
#1620315 by Winnie Kay Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1560505 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1620375 by Not Available.


Onion Skin Open in new Window. (13+)
Anita said I was her onion-friend.
#1469292 by katwoman45 Author IconMail Icon


 Gravity Open in new Window. (E)
On weakness and humanity.
#1622637 by Joseph. Author IconMail Icon




and finally,

Melancholy Blue Open in new Window. (E)
and stirred atop the chimney’s flue.
#1606399 by Lawrence Author IconMail Icon

Rest gently my dear, dear friend......

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

StephBee Author IconMail Icon wrote:Fyn, great observations. I saw the same thing in my neighborhood, too. Kids said thank you, and there wasn't as many trick or treating this year. Observations help to make good characters. Thanks for the inspiration.

Your comment about observations is the key to my observational articles. Thank you!

escapewriter says: Thank you for your insight on observation and the fun way you chose to relate the idea. I enjoyed this bit of writing!

Thanks! It is my goal to try to get folks to be more observant in their day to day lives. It is amazing the difference it can make in writing.

Tadpole1 Author IconMail Icon comments: Hi fyn, What a pleasure to see your name on the article. When I read it, I laughed out loud. Hmm, I wonder what can you do with the extra chocolate.

Didn't have to worry about it...my hubby ate it all! Glad i made you smile!

Zeke Author IconMail Icon says: You are absolutely right about the sources of inspiration. They can be anywhere. That's why I keep a note book on my bed table. Often my dreams are a great source.

Absolutely!

Little Raven Author IconMail Icon answered my question about favorite books: Hi, you asked for books that I return to time and time again. I figured that I could share!

I first read Watership Down by Richard Adams in grade school. I'll never forget the bordom that I found reading to be back then. I read the first chapter thinking that I was going to start skimming, fail the test, and be bored by another work to make up for it. To my surprise I was taken away and I found myself turning pages until a few short hours before I had to get up for school the next day. Every night was that way until I finished the book. This took several weeks as I had never dared serious reading before. Since that day, I've been hooked. I now read everyday, and thankfully much faster! I still turn to the "Down" whenever I'm feeling uninspired in my own writing. I've never written anything of that genre myself, but it makes me want to write.
Inspiration is always marvelous. And you are quite correct in that favorite books can inspire us!

NickiD89 Author IconMail Icon says: I love your newsletters, Fyn! I didn't have time this morning to read this, but I just couldn't stop! Now, I'm stealing another minute from tasks I should be doing to tell you how engaging, thoughtful, and inspiring this NL was for me. Thanks so much for your creative generosity, and for making authors like me eager to get writing!

Awwww thanks!

Mara ♣ McBain Author IconMail Icon wrote:What beautiful and encouraging descriptions of your Halloween. Thank you for sharing!

I'm glad you liked it!


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