Dear Literary Ladies

I think that writing needs a great imagination. Fo...

2011-07-28T00:00:21.805-07:00

I think that writing needs a great imagination. For example, william Faulkner has created a new county in his writings. I also think that experience is important in developing one's imagination.

I like the thought that if writers were too wise, ...

2011-01-28T17:03:00.690-08:00

I like the thought that if writers were too wise, maybe books would never be written at all. Very perceptive.

Thanks, Ms. B, Patti, and Sarah. Sarah, Don't ...

2011-01-21T09:17:36.217-08:00

Thanks, Ms. B, Patti, and Sarah. Sarah, Don't forget, Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë rarely left their homes. They created classics from their personal reality. Willa Cather became successful when she wrote about the experiences she grew up with in Red Cloud, Nebraska (such as O Pioneers! and My Antonia) instead of trying to write like Henry James, as she started out doing. It's not so much about the cliché of "write what you know," but starting from where you are. Your voice and experience widen with each small success.

This is wonderful. I've lived in plain old Uta...

2011-01-21T09:08:31.916-08:00

This is wonderful. I've lived in plain old Utah my whole life, and have had the same question about my own lack of life experiences. This is inspiring, thank you.

Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)

We all have a wealth of stories to share if we are...

2011-01-21T07:16:07.982-08:00

We all have a wealth of stories to share if we are willing to remember and share them authentically. Sometimes a memory or experience that seems ho-hum to you may be an inspiration for someone else. I've learned that these last 18 months as I've been writing my book and blog.

I live to write, I write to live...very simply it ...

2011-01-17T10:49:21.705-08:00

I live to write, I write to live...very simply it is all I know.

Thanks so much, Debbie! Happy 2011 to you...

2011-01-01T05:37:28.502-08:00

Thanks so much, Debbie! Happy 2011 to you...

Dear Nava, Thank you so much for this wonderful s...

2010-12-31T20:14:23.398-08:00

Dear Nava,

Thank you so much for this wonderful source of inspiration. Writing, including songwriting, is truly a narrow, winding and sometimes lonely road. We need all the encouragement we can get, especially from the literary ladies :) Keep them coming and all the best for the new books!

Blessings,
Debbie (from Malaysia!) :)
http://debslym.wordpress.com

Thanks, Amber... I can't wait myself! It's...

2010-12-06T07:14:33.195-08:00

Thanks, Amber... I can't wait myself! It's due out April 12, 2011.

Can't wait for the Literary Ladies book! Fant...

2010-11-28T11:04:15.811-08:00

Can't wait for the Literary Ladies book! Fantastic!

I'd guess that 90% of you seeing 95% of writer...

2010-11-20T03:14:29.679-08:00

I'd guess that 90% of you seeing 95% of writers that didn't write what they wanted to write came from you - not from them. You had some things to deal with yourself...

I think 95% couldn't be further from the truth.

Thanks for this, Nava! I have long appreciated you...

2010-11-19T05:43:23.928-08:00

Thanks for this, Nava! I have long appreciated you as a cookbook writer and didn't realize you had this blog as well. What a clever idea, and a great read!

*Dusts off own journal*

I can't wait to read a book version of this bl...

2010-11-10T20:47:59.124-08:00

I can't wait to read a book version of this blog - I think it's wonderful.

Wow, I can't wait to read a book version of th...

2010-11-10T20:47:32.814-08:00

Wow, I can't wait to read a book version of this blog! It would be tremendous. :)

I've always tried to be a writer just couldn&#...

2010-10-29T08:40:55.992-07:00

I've always tried to be a writer just couldn't work hard on it especially the artistic side.=)

HI Scriblerus, Thanks for sticking with me here. ...

2010-09-17T05:03:58.185-07:00

HI Scriblerus,

Thanks for sticking with me here. I've actually not been posting because I've been so busy trying to finish up the book version of this blog, which is much more in depth (and not in the Q & A format). It's almost done, and then I can get back to posting regularly. Thanks for your question! It's a great one, and I will try to find an inspiring and wise answer from a Literary Lady!

Hi, I've been checking for new posts regularl...

2010-09-17T03:04:52.432-07:00

Hi,

I've been checking for new posts regularly, but have had no luck. Hope you'll be posting soon. Here's a query to help you out:

Dear Literary Ladies,
It is said that inorder to master any art you must study it well. How exactly can one study writing? Does a student of literature make a good writer?

Another fascinating post. Sounds very difficult t...

2010-08-12T14:27:12.999-07:00

Another fascinating post. Sounds very difficult to be a good writer. Rather glad that I'm a reader!

Another great post and advice from Willa Cather is...

2010-06-20T12:59:27.185-07:00

Another great post and advice from Willa Cather is always worth its weight in gold!

Thanks to both of you!

2010-06-08T14:25:45.446-07:00

Thanks to both of you!

Love it!

2010-06-08T13:42:00.776-07:00

Love it!

Just found your blog and love it! I'm an emerg...

2010-06-01T10:59:49.867-07:00

Just found your blog and love it! I'm an emerging writer, with eight published essays and a novel-in-progress. I'm one of the Southern Authors who blogs at "A Good Blog is Hard to Find," and I also have my own blog, Pen and Palette. Check it out and consider adding it to your blog roll. I'm going to add yours to mine.

Yes, Charlotte was definitely given a "makeov...

2010-05-19T18:05:28.756-07:00

Yes, Charlotte was definitely given a "makeover" in this print. There is actually one existent photo of her, I think from just before her death. She looks very sweet, but certainly not glamorous.

Charlotte Bronte was as eloquent in her letters as...

2010-05-16T13:28:00.304-07:00

Charlotte Bronte was as eloquent in her letters as she is in her fiction. Excellent post. That picture of Bronte looks as though it has been glamourised or softened - I've seen it on a book cover lately.

I've never thought about writing style in quit...

2010-04-04T01:42:44.941-07:00

I've never thought about writing style in quite the same way, but I definitely agree with her. My style is me - it's how I write and how I speak and also how I see the world. "You work, and develop yourself; your style is emanation from your own being." Quite profound, and entirely true. By the way, this is my first time visiting this blog and it's wonderful! I love having literary ladies answer writing questions. It really helps! ~ Meg