Partially thanks to my good friend Collin Kelley, I'm finally getting started with a blog. His level headedness and kind encouragement has always been a pleasure for me. I also have Michelle Odessey to thank as she is my primary "go do already it for God's sake" prodder. You have to understand that Michelle, (who has a highly successful website, InvestorWealthcom) has earned the right to prod me in a different way. She's my daughter.

I'm still recovering from the AWP conference. It was mind boggling. There were many readings and lectures to choose from, but as no one could do them all it's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, to use an old saying.

And addressing that phrase I'd like to stand in defense of many of the good old cliches, i.e., "quick as a wink," "bet your bottom dollar" and so forth. They were created to make a point about something and they did a good job. That is not to say that I'm not a proponent of fresh language, words creatively used to bring a thought to common understanding.

This morning I thought about creating a list for myself of phrases that pop into my head, which happens sometimes. If I did, as the list grew I'd have a field of my own smart words to choose from when I was stuck. But then I'd have to start categorizing them and keeping track and all that and it quickly assumed the guise of more work. I'll have to be satisfied to allow my muse to step in when I need to fire off a brilliant mot juste.

Back to the AWP, I there was one thing that happened that has stood out from everything else there. I showed Tony Grooms my poem, "Placenta" which I had written last April, on the day my great granddaughter was born. He told me to take it over to Allison Joseph, Editor of Crab Orchard Review and show it to her. She asked me to send it to her, adding the caveat that it was no guarantee of publication. Editors can never be too careful. We'll see what happens.


A couple of nights ago I awoke in a fit of concern that my birds were getting chilled and would become ill. The day had been fairly warm and I had opened all the windows in the sunroom, where I keep the seventy or so finches I have in four cages in that bright room. I rushed downstairs to find that it wasn't really all that cold, but I did close the windows anyway. Now as I'm sitting here in the office with the ceiling fan moving to keep the air fresh... I'm hot.


It's been interesting to watch as the changes take place in Georgia Writers Association now that I am no longer in charge. Last July 1, when Kennesaw University officially took over the administration of GWA, I relinquished my position as Executive Director, a position I had held since Tony Grooms, Susan Graham and I began the organization. I still hold the position of President but my thoughts and opinions seem to be pretty much only a token now. Things have changed and will continue to do so as GWA settles in to its new life in academia. GWA was created to serve all writers at all levels in Georgia. I hope it continues to exemplify that rather lofty goal. It certainly took all my energy to move it forward and I have no regrets, about any of it.

Now there's In The Company of Writers (ITCW) my new endeavor. ITCW is a new web-based educational service for writers in all genres and at all levels of their writing careers. Interactive classes, called Webinars, are conducted live via the combination of telephone and computer. Students can both hear the presenter and see the examples of what is being discussed... on their own computer, in their own home or office, and enjoy a unique learning experience. No travel time or gas expense, no hotel, valet or parking fees, and no expensive meals.

Via the Internet, ITCW offers a virtual highway to participants' success as authors, freelance writers, poets, journalists, memoirists, family historians, documentarists, playwrights, screenwriters... you name it. Faculty members are professionals, people whose names and expertise are recognizable. They have a track record in education, leading seminars, workshops, conferences, etc., book publication, and/or marketing.

What a pleasant surprise it was to find a mention of me and ITCW on a blog search this morning. Thanks to Dan Wickett. I did have a small correction to his post, however, although we hope that all writers become "good" writers, our name does not include that word.

Our first webinar series, "SHAPE OF WORDS, Novel Writing from Concept to Contract" and presented by Dr. Brian Corrigan, was fun and chock full of valuable information for fiction writers especially. It actually had good tips for anyone writing. Its description is still up under Just Completed, a link also found on ITCW's home page. The entire class was recorded, as all our classes will be, and will be ready for new students in our "virtual classroom" probably on March 30. It will be complete but not live, of course.

ITCW is producing an online forum on writers' problems, Saturdays at noon EST. Called BLOCK TALK with Michael Lucker, it will begin on April 7, 2007 and run each Saturday for the entire month. If it is successful we'll continue into May and then review and consider our options. See the website and click on Coming April 7 for more information.

That should do it for my first posting. Thanks and goodnight.

~ GT