For The Love Of Writing

I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again. ~ Oscar Wilde

I love quotes! Sometimes when I am writing, I like to find a quote to inspire me, one that fits what I am about to write and also my personality! This quote, by Oscar Wilde, hit home with me. As a writer, commas are not my friend. I wrote my book, then had a "professional" edit it for me. She came back with 58 pages, each page had 26 sentences where I should have put a comma.

Of course, I ignored her advice. I added a sentence in my "Author's Note" that explained I write like I talk, and commas slow me down, so don't expect to see a comma where you think one should be. The problem with that sentence when I wrote it, I spelled comma, coma...and I dare say, a coma would slow me down.

Lucky for me, I caught that typo!

But it does show a point! Punctuation and spelling are key in writing. What else is important in writing? Well, my good news is that if you have an interest in writing, there are some excellent writing events about to come to Lilburn.

I am pleased to have found a great group of writers who want to make writing easier for you by sharing some of the finer things they have learned. The workshops below are for teens and adults. Some are free and some have a fee, but all are totally awesome (I've always wanted to use that phrase!).

And if you dream of writing, but don't think you have the time, here is another quote to make you think twice.

The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes. ~ Agatha Christie

This weekend, in Old Town, you can meet authors Anne B. Jones and Jackie Lee Miles, along with Gwinnett columnist Susan Larson, and Rupert Fike, from the Georgia Poetry Society. They have all volunteered their time to host a free writer's conference this Friday and Saturday. Friday night, there is an open mic from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. when you can join other aspiring writers as they read their poetry and works in progress.

On Saturday, from noon until 5 p.m., the conference begins with each of the writers having a 45-minute discussion on what they know best.

Anne B. Jones, author of Gold Thunder, All Around the Track, Brave at Heart, Tides of Fear and A Light on Peachtree is a former Gwinnett teacher. Her list of credentials includes victim-witness assistant, volunteer probation officer, public relations writer, and member of the Gwinnett County Domestic Violence Task Force. She never dreamed she would write a thriller set on St. Simons, become a close friend of a NASCAR champion, be in the dugout with the Atlanta Braves, or in a race car at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But she has. She will talk on becoming a published writer.

Jackie Lee Miles is a Gwinnett County author whose works include Roseflower Creek, Cold Rock River, and All That's True. She is in high demand as a writing instructor and has made numerous television and stage appearances. She will talk on the art of getting an agent.

Susan Larson, a familiar name to many of you, is a columnist for the Gwinnett Daily Post and has freelanced for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Lilburn Courier, Guideposts and a feature writer for Senior News. She will speak on her life as a columnist.

Rupert Fike, author Voices From The Farm and Lotus Buffet, a collection of poems to be published this fall, will conduct a short poetry workshop.

Writer and Lilburn resident, Emilie P. Bush, is the co-organizer of the newly formed Lilburn Writer's Guild. She has written and published two novels, Chenda and the Airship Brofman and The Gospel According to Verdu, which picks up the epic tale where Chenda left off. The first official meeting is this Monday, July 18 at 7 p.m. What exactly is a writer's guild? Come and find out. It is a place to talk about writing with others who love to write! An then some.

Join Emilie again on Saturday, July 23, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. as she talks on "The Good, The Bad, and the Huh? of Self Publishing in the 21st Century." Emilie will provide handouts with her talk, and there is a small fee for her class. Afterwards she will be signing books until 4 p.m.

Just when you thought there was no more to write about, there is one more writing class! The Basics of Writing Short Stories taught by Playwright Evan Guilford-Blake begins on July 28 and is a five-week Thursday night course. Evan has had numerous stories published in anthologies, magazines and online. His Pushcart Prize-nominated "Absence" won the 2006 Porter Fleming competition, and "My Enemy Dr. Seuss" was the runner-up in 2009. He has also won the Judith Siegel Pearson Fiction Award from Wayne State University, and national competitions sponsored by Ramble Underground, Soundings Review and Rambunctious Review. He has stories in forthcoming issues of Kansas City Voices, Deep South Magazine and Soundings Review. He's a member of the Atlanta Writers Club, and has 19 published plays. Class is limited to ten students. 

Interested in any of the above events? Contact , 94 Main Street NW, in the heart of Old Town Lilburn, 404-326-7306, for additional information! 

Author's note: I have intentionally left out some commas in this post. That is my story and I am sticking with it!