My New Writing Gig and Other Things

A few random things to share with you on this Saturday...

Untrained Housewife

I'm now a contributing writer at the Untrained Housewife website.  I stumbled across this website a few weeks ago and enjoyed checking out their articles, so when I saw that they were looking for writers, I was quite excited.  My first article, on "Using a Cloth Diaper Service," is now posted.  To keep an eye on what else I've posted over there, just click on the link on the right under "My Writing on the Web."

Amateur Writing Contest

Deborah Owen, CEO & Founder Creative Writing Institute, is hosting the second annual Amateur Writing Contest.   There is no fee and she says "you actually have a chance of winning!"  See the website for the rules.

2010 Green Books Campaign

Coming up on November 10th is the 2010 Green Books Campaign.  Bloggers in this campaign will be reading and reviewing "green" books—books published on recycled paper.  As a writer and reader who still likes the "old-fashioned" feel and smell of a good book, and yet one who also loves big old trees, I was very interested in this campain.  I'll be reviewing Farley Mowat's latest book, Eastern Passage (which, so far, is an excellent read—but more about that on the 10th!).  Drop by the website to see what other books are being reviewed and to check out the other bloggers participating.

Book Review: The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook

For the past week, Sunshine's bedtime story of choice has been The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook, written by Robin Currie and illustrated by Constanza Basaluzzo.  This neat little hardcover board book has cute illustrations, brief prayers and actions to go with the Christmas story.

The book starts with "Mary's Secret" and goes through the story of Joseph's dream, the trip to Bethlehem, Jesus' birth, the shepherd's arrival, and the wise men's gifts, to end with "Our Christmas," a page applying all this story to the child's life.  At the back of the book is suggestions for "Baby Bible Moments Together," such as singing and discussing favourite Christmas carols with your child.

Sunshine really enjoyed doing the actions with the words and pointing out the various people in the story (though she's still learning who the Angel is).  Her favourite picture is the sheep sleeping in the field (she always points to the sheep and says, "They're sleeping.")

Some of the actions require two hands and are hard to do while holding the book (or holding the book and a younger sibling while reading to an older child).  Parents could pick and choose which actions to do with their child, depending on the child's abilities and interests.

This book is one in a series from David C Cook that includes Baby Bible Stories About Jesus, Baby Bible ABCs, Baby Bible Animals, Baby Bible Sing and Pray, and other titles.  The series is meant for children from birth to age three, but the stories are simple enough that older children may enjoy reading the book themselves.  Any of the books would be great birthday or Christmas gifts.

This book was provided for review courtesty of the B&B Media Group.

A Lecture at the University

As I lugged Lily's carseat toward the Jeep last night, I thought, "I don't know what to expect."  I'd never been to an event like this before.  I knew it would be controversial; I knew there would probably be some angry people there; but otherwise, I wasn't quite sure what would happen.

It was 7:30 on the dot when we pulled our Jeep into the parking lot.  As we walked up, a couple of students asked, "Are you going to the presentation?" and handed us some pieces of paper.  At first, I thought it was a program for the presentation.  Then, as I glanced at the flyers quickly, I realized that they were protesting the presentation.  I scowled.  Couldn't I even to go such a presentation without being accosted outside?

We slid into a row at the back just as the main speaker, Jojo Ruba of the Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform, was introduced.  The large lecture hall was full as he gave his presentation on "Echoes of the Holocaust," comparing abortion to other forms of genocide.  He defined genocide as "the deliberate and systematic destruction in whole or in part of an ethnic, racial, religious, national, or other group."  He then presented four characteristics of past genocides (the Holocaust, the Cambodian genocide, even the African/American slave trade) and showed how abortion is similar to these.

The crowd was silent during the talk, not even responding when Jojo asked a mundane question like, "Who's seen CSI?"  When Jojo concluded, there was a smattering of polite applause.  Then the questions began.  The first couple were polite.  After that, they became more angry.  Accusatory.  The crowd gave resounding applause for several of the questions.  People began interrupting Jojo as he tried to answer questions, or arguing with him when he did answer.  Jojo remained calm, respectful.

I was saddened by some of the questions. One woman asked Jojo what he was personally doing to help women facing unplanned pregnancies. When he tried to tell her that his job was to educate and that others were available to help women in those circumstances, she just kept yelling her question at him.

Towards the end of the questions, Sunshine got restless, wandering down the first few steps at the back of the lecture hall or playing around the door.  I finally took her out, almost glad for the excuse to escape the tense atmosphere.  I felt attacked, because I had thought Jojo's presentation well-researched and well-presented, and these people were now attacking him. 

As we stood outside, a TV cameraman interviewed a student who said that she'd be complaining to the university about her student dollars being used to fund presentations like this.  I thought, "Yeah, well, my student dollars fund things that you support and I'm not in favour of, so maybe I need to start complaining too."
 
As we drove away from there, I wanted to weep.  To weep for the women who find themselves in circumstances that they feel abortion is their only option.  To weep for our society, which keeps lying to them about their options.  To weep for the children, who dying by the millions.

Mom Student

It's twenty minutes before the end of class when I feel that tell-tale tingle.  Time to feed Lily.  For a moment, my thoughts are back in my house, wondering if she's howling at the babysitter or playing with Sunshine or fast asleep in her crib.  Then the professor switches slides and pulls my attention back to the lecture.

When the class ends, I stuff my pens and notebook into my bag, throw it over my shoulder, and dash for the door.  Outside, I stretch my long legs and dodge the other students heading to class or lunch.  I'm going home to my girls, and the closer I get to them, the faster I want to walk.  I'm almost running as I come around the corner to our townhouse, down through the empty playground, around the bush and in the door.

"Mommy's home!" Sunshine yells, and that makes my day.

Many people, when I tell them that I'm a part-time student and a full-time mom, ask, "How do you do it?"  I spell out the logistics: I'm only in class two days a week, so we have two homeschoolers who babysit on Mondays and my aunt who babysits on Thursday mornings, and my husband has no class Thursday afternoon so he can watch the girls while I'm in class.  I study while they nap or play or after they go to bed.

One afternoon last week, my husband came home to a very grouchy wife.  "What's wrong?" he asked.  "I'm tired and grouchy," I said, "so just leave me alone for a bit."  I went back outside to sit in the lawn chair by the park with Lily while we watched Sunshine play.  Twenty minutes later, when I had finished reading my story and brought the girls back inside to make supper, I was in a better mood.  It had been a frustrating day with a baby who only slept for twenty-minute stretches and a toddler who wanted lots of attention while I had deadlines hovering in the back of my mind.

Those days are less frequent than the good days, however.  Getting reading done isn't a problem; I can do that while the girls play.  Writing has been slightly more difficult, as I like to have a bit more quiet and concentration for writing.  I'm looking at a couple short story deadlines looming and hoping for some nice nap times or early bedtimes. 

Somehow, though, it all gets done.  Sunshine enjoys her babysitters, Lily is adjusting to not having Mommy around constantly, and I am loving my classes—and the girls who keep me from getting too lost in academics.

ICWF's 30th Anniversary Anthology

It's here!  The Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship's 30th anniversary anthology, Inscribed: 30 Years of Inspiring Writing, is now available.  Produced by ICWF and Forever Books, this anthology contains poetry, short stories, devotionals, and nonfiction by Inscribe writers (including "Girl, I Lost You" by yours truly). 

I spent a few weeks this summer reading and editing the submissions for this book, along with two other Inscribers.  It was a delight to see the vast talent among this group of writers that I've come to know in the past ten years.  I laughed, I cried, I wanted to read more.

To order a copy, visit the Inscribe blog.

Praise for Inscribed:

"In [this anthology] you will find stories that inspire, comfort, and entertain.  You will read of faith and family, joy and hope, laughter and sorrow.  Like my mother's porridge, this book will stick to your ribs throughout the day." ~ Phil Callaway, bestselling author and speaker

"Inscribe has a special place in my heart.  ... this was where I got my start as a writer.  I found writing help, fellowship, and friendships that have lasted.  It is with great pride, therefore, that I encourage you to read these stories by my friends.  I know you will enjoy them."  ~ Linda Hall, author of 17 novels of mystery and suspense.

"InScribe is a place where writers, no matter the genre, encourage and teach each other, sharing the gifts God has given them. I have had the privilege of being blessed and stimulated and challenged by this varied and talented group of writers. I am sure this book will do the same for you.” ~ Carolyne Aarsen, author of over 25 novels

A Rock Climbing Adventure

“Have you ever rock climbed before?” my cousin asked me as she stashed her climbing harness and shoes in a sack.

“No,” I said, then clarified: “Well, once when I was like six or eight, we went out to Hinton with a church group, but I barely remember it.”

At the gym, we stood in front of a wall covered with handholds and a colourful array of tape pieces. My cousin said that each tape colour marked a “route.” She explained the rating system—5.6 is easy, 5.10 is hard—and asked if I wanted to try.

I would have preferred to watch her go up first, but there was no one around to belay her—you have to do a course first—so I said, “Sure.”

She showed me how to tie myself in and pointed out a 5.6. I grabbed the holds and pulled myself up. The first few feet weren’t too hard, other than the occasional comment from my cousin that I was stepping on a hold that wasn’t part of my route. Then, splayed in the corner of the wall, I got stuck. A glance at the floor shocked me with how high up I’d climbed. I felt myself starting to breathe faster as my hands got sweatier.

“I can’t do this,” I gasped.

“You’re doing great,” she encouraged. “Move your left foot up to the red one by your knee.”

I squinted down. After a couple attempts, I got my foot there. My fingers were aching and I realized that I didn’t trust my arms; I wanted to keep my weight on my feet. Finally, I reached the top and wrapped both my hands around the hold marked with two pieces of tape.

“Okay, now push your feet straight against the wall and let go with your hands,” my cousin instructed.

“WHAT?” In a moment, I was eight years old again, hanging out on a rock in Hinton, with my mom telling me that very thing. I don’t remember how long I argued with Mom that I simply couldn’t do it, how long she tried to tell me that she was holding me, or how they finally got me down off the wall. In the gym, it was a fight between my intellect and my emotions; I knew that my cousin was holding me and wouldn’t let me fall, but I couldn’t seem to communicate that to my fingers and arms.

Slowly, with more encouragement from my cousin, I pried one hand off the wall and grabbed the rope. I sort of pushed myself backwards and dropped, jerkily, down. On the floor again, I smiled shakily at her and said, “That was good.”

A friend of hers—a tall Englishman with long blonde dreadlocks—joined her then, and they discussed the relative merits of new routes in the other room. Finally, she picked a 5.9 and they tied themselves onto opposite ends of the rope. I watched as she went up, noting the way that she grabbed the holds, pushed herself off lumps on the wall, even used the wall itself.

When it was the Englishman’s turn, he went up the 5.10 like he was Spiderman. In less than a minute, it seemed, he rang the bell at the top and said “take” to my cousin and dropped back down to the floor. They suggested a 5.7 for me and coached me up. It felt easier than my first climb and inspired my confidence, so that when my turn next came around, I was eager to try again. Watching them helped me get some ideas, and two more climbs went easily.

For my last climb, I picked a 5.6 in the corner. The holds looked big and the wall itself was formed into rocks that allowed you to grab anywhere. When I got up there, I found it was deceiving. My fingers slipped off the rocks despite repeated dips into my chalk bag. A glance down showed the Englishman splayed like a starfish below me, watching while my cousin belayed me. Then, as I lunged up towards the spot my cousin suggested, I slipped and fell. The rope went tight as she caught me. I thought, “There—it’s over, I’m okay.” However, after a few more tries to get over the rocks, I decided that I was just getting shakier and asked to go down.

Back on solid ground, I watched them and listened to their climbing talk—chat about old routes, previous attempts, challenging climbs, the little ways they coached each other up the rocks, the climber’s lingo that they tossed about. There were red spots on my hands from where I had clung to the holds and my fingers felt stiff.  I hadn't realized that climbing was such physically hard work.  Yet as I watched them, I wanted more.

The Benefits of a Playgroup

The first day we went to playgroup, I wasn't sure what to expect.  I had been part of a mom's group when we lived in the city just after Sunshine's birth, but there had never been opportunity to attend a playgroup.  This seemed like a great way for our little social butterfly to meet some other kids, and hopefully for me to meet some moms.  So on the first day after the September long weekend, we walked over.

There were kids.  And toys.  And moms.  And snacks.  Sunshine was all over the place, trying to take it all in.  During the "circle" time, when the children were supposed to sit quietly on little carpet mats and listen to the songs and stories, Sunshine was still bouncing.  She wanted to sit beside this little friend, then that little friend.  She wanted to hold the leader's puppet.  She wanted to run around the outside of the circle.  And Lily wanted to eat.

When it was over and I told Sunshine to say goodbye, she was not happy.  I almost had to drag her away, kicking and screaming.  She wanted to stay with the toys and toddlers.  While I knew that she'd had fun and that it was a good experience for her, it was a lot of work for me.  I'd hoped to connect with some other moms, and that was hard to do when we were both supervising our kids.

We've continued to attend playgroup sporadically over the last month and a half.  It runs for two hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  Tuesdays is a music program, in which it was even harder to make Sunshine sit still; she wanted to get into the rattles, run around the circle, play with her friends.  Some days, if Sunshine slept in, I didn't mention playgroup and we didn't go.  Other days, it was a good way to get us out of the house.  I thought that maybe, if she had a few hours to play in the morning, she'd be quieter in the afternoon so that I could study.

This week, we went to playgroup once again.  Sunshine sat in the circle quietly, without a single whispered threat from me that if she didn't we'd go home.  She was the first one ready to play "roll the ball" and even rolled the ball back.  After snack, she put her dishes away on her own.  She shared with the other kids.  And when I said we needed to go, she walked happily out the door with me.

As I looked back to the first times we went, I was amazed at the change.  She really has learned a lot about interacting with a group of children, waiting for her turn, following routines in another place, and even that it's okay to say goodbye because this will happen again another day.

New Issue of Pages of Stories

Good news from my inbox:

The third issue of Pages Of Stories is now available for sale. There are 14 fascinating stories in this magazine that cover such a wide variety of subjects, you won’t want to miss out on it.

In this issue you can read about how one adolescent overcame bullying, you’ll read about how another became an infamous thief. There are stories about murder, and yet there are stories about how the human spirit can overcome personal tragedies. You’ll read about assassins and we’ve even got a gigolo in there. We’ve also got stories about justice and revenge. We are even reminded to pick our friends wisely. And in this mix, there are so many stories that have such a surprise ending, why, I still get a chill down my spine when I read them. You get all this for a mere $6.99 CAD.

There are so many good quality stories out there, and more to come. An annual subscription entitles you to 4 issues of the magazine, which is ultimately 56 stories. And until April 14, 2011, you’ll have access to the free April 15, 2010 issue (Issue #1). So really, it’s 70 stories that you’re getting for just $20.99 CAD.

On top of all these fabulous stories that you would have access to, you have a number of download options as well for you to truly enjoy this reading experience. You can download it as a regular pdf, you can download it in an interactive page-flipping format, and if you are one of the lucky ones that has an iPad or other eReader, you can download the magazine in ePub format.

This is an opportunity to read some great stories by authors from around the world.  Enjoy the magazine, and we would really appreciate any feedback you might have.

Sincerely,
Darlene Poier
Publisher, Pages Of Stories
Stories Worth Reading

Fiction writers: Pages of Stories is also a paying writing market!  I'm still trying to get another story into their magazine, so if you also write fiction, check out the guidelines on the website.  :)

Book Review: Paris Insights

Paris Insights—An Anthology is a collection of short articles and interviews about Paris, compiled or written by Tom Reeves, an American who now calls "the city of light" home.  Most of the articles are about three pages long, making them easy to read in short periods of time—such as when I needed a break from studying for classes or was sitting down to nurse Lily.  The articles are accompanied by black and white photographs that help bring the topics alive.

The anthology is divided into five sections: "La Vie Parisienne," "Americans in Paris," "Churches and Cathedrals," "Tasty Treats," and "Paris, Past and Present."  Each chapter is a reprint of an article from Reeves' newsletter, which grew out of his website and his desire to share the lesser-known parts of Paris with tourists.

In one chapter, "Wining and Dining with Juan Sanchez," we meet "an American expat with a passion for food and wine."  He has a passion for local wines and, of the 400 wines that he sells in his store, says only five or six are not French.  He also mentioned the intriguing concept of terroir: "the notion that wine is an expression of its soil and climate."  He says this is what sets French wines apart from American wines.

My favorite articles were about the churches and cathedrals of Paris, though the black and white photos only gave a taste of the beauty of these buildings.  The architecture of Europe is one of the reasons that I would love to travel there, and Reeves included bits of the fascinating history of each church as well as descriptions and other information.  For example, in one church, the beautiful tile floor was preserved from destruction during the Revolution by being covered in plaster and straw.

I knew little or nothing about Paris before reading Reeves' books, and the tidbits of information I found here fascinated me.  If my husband and I ever manage to make it to France, I'll be taking notes from this little book for places to visit.

This book was provided for review courtesy of the author.

Meeting Beatrix Potter

The DVD cover jumped off the shelf at me: a smiling, blue-eyed Renee Zellweger casts a coy look over her shoulder while a dark-haired man watches her above a large red caption reading Miss Potter. I picked it up and scanned the back quickly. Immediately I was intrigued. Sunshine has the complete Beatrix Potter books, but I knew little or nothing about the author. I headed for the checkout.

The movie begins with Beatrix seeking a publisher for Peter Rabbit, which she has already successfully self-published. However, most publishers take Beatrix’s mother’s opinion that it’s a “silly” story. According to the movie, the Warne brothers only agree to publish it because they think it will flop—and take their younger brother, an aspiring publisher, with it. Norman Warne quickly falls in love with both Peter and his creator, and Beatrix Potter’s books sell better than eggnog at Christmas.

One thing my husband found weird about the movie was the way that Beatrix talks to her characters. He asked me, “Do you do that?” When I said “no,” he was greatly relieved. At the same time, I could completely understand Beatrix. A writer should know her characters so well that they take on their own personalities—and maybe even talk back.

Beatrix Potter’s story is, overall, the writer’s dream story. A writer who is passionate and persistent about her work finally finds a publisher equally passionate and in less than three years becomes a bestselling, wealthy author. Those of us facing rejections like to say, “Well, even Beatrix Potter got numerous rejections before her success.”

While Beatrix’s books are well-known, I found the other projects of her life equally fascinating. She was a talented artist who sketched the plants, animals, and even mushrooms she saw on her trips to the Lake District with her family. However, her contributions to science were largely rejected because she was a woman. Later, Beatrix used the income from her books to purchase farms in the Lake District that would have been taken over by condo developers. She was adamant about conserving the land and left nearly 4,000 acres to a land trust after her death.

Lately, Sunshine’s favourite bedtime story books have been Beatrix Potter’s books. She really liked The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes and even made most of the way through The Tale of Pigling Bland(it had enough pictures to keep her interested, unlike The Tale of Little Pig Robinson).  While some of the books are quite cute, others are a bit dark—a bad bunny gets shot by a hunter; a squirrel taunts an owl and gets eaten by it—yet always have a moral.

The very adorable Peter Rabbit website has more information about Beatrix Potter and her books and even includes some children’s games.

Writing Assignment

It is mid-morning when you sit down at the computer to write. You've seen your husband off to work, gotten your breakfast and fed the kids their breakfast, loaded up the dishwasher, washed the rest of the dishes that didn't go in the dishwasher (who buys wooden spoons anyway?) and now, for a few minutes, it seems quiet enough that you can turn on the computer and write.

Pushing that power button always seems to do more things than just turn on the computer, however. Your two-year-old gets into a fight with your four-year-old over the stuffed puppies that one of them (if they can't remember, how are you supposed to?) got for Christmas from Grandma (or maybe it was Uncle Joe). Then the dog starts yowling at the squirrel in the yard. The phone rings. The kettle shrieks (because a mocha is always helpful to the muse). And you remember that the clothes sitting in the laundry bin upstairs MUST go in the washing machine this morning, before they walk down here on their own.

By the time you hang up on the telemarketer, yell at the dog, give the kids a talk about stuffies and sharing, and start the laundry, you have to the boil the kettle again for the mocha and the computer has gone to sleep. You wake up the computer. Check your email. Drop by Facebook, just to see what anybody else is doing. The washing machine dings, so you throw the clothes in the dryer. You get the kids a snack. You find that your mocha is cold, so you throw it in the microwave.

Then you sit down, again, and open Word. Maybe you should've opened Excel first, because you can't remember what you were supposed to work on. That editor from the writing magazine wanted an article on freelancing as a mother. And the instructor in your online course had handed out a new writing assignment, due tonight, of course. What was it? Oh yeah, write something in second-person point of view.

Movie Review: Little Town of Bethlehem

This movie caught my attention because there are so many stories about Israel and the violence there.  It's easy to have an attitude that there is no answer, that this will always be a problem.  The idea that a Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew could get together to talk about the problems there—and maybe find a solution—intrigued me.  However, I ordered the movie before school started... and haven't really found time to sit down to watch the whole thing.  The first few minutes of the movie were more stylized and less like a documentary than I expected.

There is no shortage of opinions, emotions, and actions regarding finding “peace in the Middle East.” While some are familiar with the issue and others are personally impacted by the conflict, many more are unaware, uninformed, and unconcerned about this critical global issue. Little Town of Bethlehem is a groundbreaking new documentary that shares the gripping story of three men—a Palestinian Muslim, a Palestinian Christian, and an Israeli Jew—born into violence and willing to risk everything to bring an end to violence in their lifetime.

Filmed on location in the West Bank, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem, Little Town of Bethlehem brings awareness to a growing non-violent movement in the Middle East that rarely, if ever, makes international headlines.

Sami Awad is a Palestinian Christian whose grandfather was killed in Jerusalem in 1948. Today he is the executive director of Holy Land Trust, a non-profit organization that promotes Palestinian independence through peaceful means.

Yonatan Shapira is an Israeli Jew whose grandparents were Zionist settlers who witnessed the birth of the Israeli nation. Today he is an outspoken advocate for the non-violent peace movement, both in his homeland and abroad.

Ahmad Al' Azzah is a Palestinian Muslim who has lived his entire life in the Azzah refugee camp in Bethlehem. Today, Ahmad heads the non-violence program at Holy Land Trust, where he trains others in the methods of peaceful activism.

Little Town of Bethlehem honestly and respectfully shares Sami’s, Yonatan’s, and Ahmad’s stories. With all three men referencing both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi during individual interviews, it is clear that their words, thoughts, and actions on nonviolence are still profoundly impacting today’s nonviolent movement. The images of these three men standing firm in the face of overwhelming opposition are inspirational, but Little Town of Bethlehem is not just about inspiring viewers. The filmmakers also raise the question, “Can the cycle of violence be broken?”

Little Town of Bethlehem was produced by EthnoGraphic Media (EGM), an educational non-profit organization exploring the critical issues of our time. Other feature films and documentaries from EGM include The Grandfathers (2009), Miss HIV (2008), and the award-winning End of the Spear (2005) and Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2002).

Like all EGM films, Little Town of Bethlehem was created with a global youth audience in mind. But this film will connect with any viewer who desires a deeper understanding of conflict resolution. “The major themes in the film are universal and timeless. The desire to end violence through nonviolence is not a demographic phenomenon, though often it is youth that mobilize. The theme of this film is appropriate for anyone who deals with conflict. This hopeful message of equality is for all,” says Jim Hanon, chief creative officer at EGM and the film’s director. “Little Town of Bethlehem doesn’t focus on who’s right or who’s wrong. The focus is on three men from different places and with different backgrounds who struggle together toward this common goal through nonviolence. We feel that the nonviolent approach promoted by the film is a humanitarian message with the power to transcend religions, nations, politics, languages, and cultures.” Watch the trailer for more information.

Movie and review provided courtesy of the publisher and/or publicity group.

What's in a Degree

My father and my father-in-law are both engineers. They did their four years at university, got a job, and worked for the next fourty years or so with the same company. As I talk to people today, it seems that most want a degree like that: one they can “use” right away.

My first degree is in English. When I was in university, it seemed that everyone asked me, “What are you going to do with that? Teach?” No, I did not want to teach. I was doing the degree entirely for fun. My dad encouraged us to go to university and once I got there, I loved it.

In terms of getting a job, an English degree is about as useless as they come. However, I’d do it all over again if given the chance; it was one of the best times of my life. I met my husband and made some close friends. I read a lot of really good books (hey, it was an English degree). I gained my first experience as an editor. I learned self-confidence.

I’m working on my second degree now, one that looks equally as “worthless” as my first. I can’t say that I expect the piece of paper I’ll get at the end of this to get me anywhere. One of my fellow students, who laughed when I asked him why he’s taking writing, compared it to the participation trophies that kids get for playing sports. A writing degree just shows you participated.

If you show someone all your participation medals, he said, they may not be that interested. But if you actually get out and show them how well you can play, then they’ll be impressed. Same with writing. The degree won’t matter much—but what we learn during the course of the degree will. How much I get published or what competitions I place in during the next four years will matter more than the piece of paper saying I finished.

So in the end, all writers are measured by the same standards, whether or not they have degrees. However, I can already see that I’m learning so much from my classes. While the degree that I get out of this might be “worthless,” what I learn from doing it won’t be.

October Write Mama

Welcome to this very first edition of the Write Mama blog carnival!  I hope you enjoy reading this diverse selection of posts from a variety of writers and moms.

Writing about Mothering

Julianne Harvey presents a reflection on her relationship with her son in Forgiveness posted at The Dream To Write.

Melissa Brown Levine presents thoughts on leaving her own parents and on sending her son off to college in Me, Myself and I posted at The Acceptance Project.

Julianne Harvey presents thoughts on the mundane tasks of a stay-at-home mom in Rat on a Wheel posted at The Dream To Write.

Bonnie Way presents a poem about her daughter in Baby's Smiles posted at The Koala Bear Writer.

Julianne Harvey presents an honest, insightful essay on Grace Under Pressure posted at The Dream To Write.

Writing Tips for Moms

Jena Ellis presents some writing triva in 10 Famous Writers Who Didn't Die From Suicide or Alcohol posted at Online Certificate Programs.

Bonnie Way presents some ways she's found inspiration to write in Where Story Ideas Come From posted at The Koala Bear Writer.

Jena Ellis presents a few fiction suggestions for moms who need a break in 10 Mesmerizing Works of Metafiction posted at Online Certificate Programs.

Moms and Writers

Kimberley Payne presents memories about what drew her to the local library as a child in A Library Love Story posted at Canadian Authors Who Are Christian.

Autumn Beck presents My #1 Pregnancy Must Have posted at All About Cloth Diapers, saying, "Nope, this post will have nothing to do with cloth diapers. It’s all about the mama this time."

That concludes this edition. Thanks for dropping by, and thanks to all the contributors.  If you've blogged about writing or mothering, submit your blog article to the next edition of Write Mama using our carnival submission form. Look for the next edition on November 1st!

While Baby Sleeps...

I'm not much of an Anne Geddes fan, but I love Adele Enersen's photos of her sleeping daughter.  I stumbled across her blog tonight and got lost for a while—the pictures were just too cute.  (I'm also envious that her daughter naps well enough to be included in the pictures!)