Dallas Woodburn's Blog, page 2
April 10, 2018
Interview with Young Author Daniel Williams
I met Daniel Williams years ago when he reached out to me as a curious young writer. Since then, we have become good email buddies and pen pals, and I am so proud of how his writing career continues to blossom. His work was featured in Dancing With The Pen and he self-published his own book Brothers Stand Strong a few years ago. Now, his new book titled This is Dan will be released soon. Daniel was kind enough to stop by the blog today to answer some questions about writing, publishing, and following your dreams. Welcome Daniel!
What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction?
My name is Daniel Williams and I am 25 years old. I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I graduated from North Side High School in June 2011 and attended Ivy Tech Community College back in January 2012, but left in May 2013 due to personal reasons. My hobbies are reading books and writing my own books. I like going to movies, walking in parks, going to festivals, and spending time with family and friends. What people don't know about me is that I can dance, I can cook and I can bowl as well.
How did you get your idea for This is Dan? Take us through your writing process.
I just started writing out my ideas out on paper. All I needed to say about myself. I wanted to write my life story out on paper and let readers know who I am. Let them know who the real Dan is. I started writing the book in January 2016 and just kept writing it. It took me two years to write it, and I finished in January 2018. Now, I am in the process of editing and doing the finishing touches to the book.
What do you like most about writing?
I like writing mostly because you get to tell a story about what you want to talk about. You are in control of what you write and you can give readers an insight to help them in their lives.
How was writing and publishing this book different from the writing and publishing experience of your first book?
The last book I wrote, Brothers Stand Strong, was my very first book. I had little support and was just a learning experience from publishing the book. I had to learn about the writing and publishing business out on my own and it took time. Now, with this book, I have had time to really understand self-publishing and having control of my book without anyone taking that from me. I put a lot of time with my new book This is Dan and hope that the readers know how dedicated I was with writing the book and when it is published.
Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams?
My advice for any aspiring writer or upcoming writer is know what you have passion for writing. Know what you want to write and study the craft of writing. Read as many writing self-help books as you can and take notes. For young people out there going after their dreams, do what you want and continue to believe in yourself.
Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors?
Goodness, my favorite books and authors I love to read are I Say a Little Prayer by the late E. Lynn Harris and The Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper. E. Lynn Harris and Sharon M. Draper are my favorite authors.
What inspires you?
What inspires me most is myself for going after my dreams and doing what makes me happy. I can do anything once I put my mind to it.
What are you working on now? What’s next for you?
Next for me, once my second book This is Dan is self-published this year, I want to do a documentary on my life about all the highs and lows of my life. I plan to continue writing another book and will write another memoir on my life when I get older.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Anyone reading this, make sure you all follow my social media sites online and see what I am up to.
Add or follow me on Facebook: Daniel Ray Williams. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dan_delightfulDallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction?
My name is Daniel Williams and I am 25 years old. I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I graduated from North Side High School in June 2011 and attended Ivy Tech Community College back in January 2012, but left in May 2013 due to personal reasons. My hobbies are reading books and writing my own books. I like going to movies, walking in parks, going to festivals, and spending time with family and friends. What people don't know about me is that I can dance, I can cook and I can bowl as well.
How did you get your idea for This is Dan? Take us through your writing process.
I just started writing out my ideas out on paper. All I needed to say about myself. I wanted to write my life story out on paper and let readers know who I am. Let them know who the real Dan is. I started writing the book in January 2016 and just kept writing it. It took me two years to write it, and I finished in January 2018. Now, I am in the process of editing and doing the finishing touches to the book.
What do you like most about writing?
I like writing mostly because you get to tell a story about what you want to talk about. You are in control of what you write and you can give readers an insight to help them in their lives.
How was writing and publishing this book different from the writing and publishing experience of your first book?
The last book I wrote, Brothers Stand Strong, was my very first book. I had little support and was just a learning experience from publishing the book. I had to learn about the writing and publishing business out on my own and it took time. Now, with this book, I have had time to really understand self-publishing and having control of my book without anyone taking that from me. I put a lot of time with my new book This is Dan and hope that the readers know how dedicated I was with writing the book and when it is published.
Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams?
My advice for any aspiring writer or upcoming writer is know what you have passion for writing. Know what you want to write and study the craft of writing. Read as many writing self-help books as you can and take notes. For young people out there going after their dreams, do what you want and continue to believe in yourself.
Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors?
Goodness, my favorite books and authors I love to read are I Say a Little Prayer by the late E. Lynn Harris and The Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper. E. Lynn Harris and Sharon M. Draper are my favorite authors.
What inspires you?
What inspires me most is myself for going after my dreams and doing what makes me happy. I can do anything once I put my mind to it.
What are you working on now? What’s next for you?
Next for me, once my second book This is Dan is self-published this year, I want to do a documentary on my life about all the highs and lows of my life. I plan to continue writing another book and will write another memoir on my life when I get older.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Anyone reading this, make sure you all follow my social media sites online and see what I am up to.
Add or follow me on Facebook: Daniel Ray Williams. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dan_delightfulDallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
January 31, 2018
TeenPit: mentoring, editing, support, and being taken seriously as a writer
Guest Post by Lyric Shard
You know that feeling of having butterflies in your stomach? The first one flapped its wings when I saw my manuscript title by a mentor’s name, the second when I met my fellow mentees, the third when I received an email from my mentor where she said she loved my pages. Then it was continuous flapping, hundreds of butterflies all at once. I still can’t count how many are left flapping their wings in my stomach, because my TeenPit experience did not only last for the one month promised--it’s stretched until today and hopefully will remain forever.
TeenPit is a writing contest designed for high school writers, where the participants submit their first 250 words and a short pitch for a chance to be paired with a mentor. You can go here to read about all the details for TeenPit 2018. And hurry up, the very brief submission window opens on March 17th.
I first noticed a tweet from K. Hopkins, a PitchWars mentor, in early April about a contest for teens. It’s always hard to be taken seriously when you’re sixteen trying to find your way into the publishing industry. TeenPit sounded like the perfect chance where I could hear something more than "your writing is good for your age." I could get feedback about my writing as a writer, not as a kid, and go from there to improve.
I immediately checked it out, drafted my submission email (almost a month before the submission window opened since only first 200 entries were accepted). Then one month passed fast, and the submission day came.
Thanks to living on the west coast, the window opened at five in the morning, and more thanks to the flat tire in the middle of the road the night before, I’d just come home, meaning my brain was perfectly functioning. I was able to send the email… well, with one very embarrassing mistake which ate me up the entire time I waited for the results. I wasn’t going to be picked. I couldn’t be. I sent an email in Comic Sans. They would delete it before they read it.
The mentor teasers started a few hours before the results were posted. My impostor syndrome, for those few hours, seemed weaker than my high hopes. However, my hopes were right. My manuscript title was there, in the list of those that made it to the mentor round.
A few rounds of screaming contest (to relieve the excitement) with my chickens later, I sat down to relax and take time to believe my eyes. Only then was I able to open the email from my mentor, Kristen Lepionka, author of the Roxane Weary mystery series. It was greetings, introductions, "I love your voice" and gifs. That was all that was needed, to know that the first two chapters of my manuscript and I were in good hands. The next thing I needed was to listen, understand, and be open to making changes in my manuscript.
That’s what I did. In between school, senior activities and tons of essays, I knew to give my manuscript some time to edit it. I read her notes and edited. And edited. Scenes, characters, lines—everything. It was sending those twenty pages back and forth, more polished each time until we both looked at it and thought, "That looks about perfect."
The final edits were sent in, and now it was time to wait again. The top picks were announced, they were going to go straight to PitchWars, where they’d work with mentors for two months before their entries went up for agent showcase.
I wasn’t one of them.
That was okay.
In that one month, and all the months afterwards, I’ve become friends with the mentees from TeenPit Class of '17, a group of talented teen writers who are still there for each other. In between edits and gifs, I realized Kristen was more than a mentor. Can I call her my fairy godmother? She’s there to help get me through--from her amazing feedback and edits, to fighting impostor syndrome, or whatever is in the way.
TeenPit is so much more than the contest itself. It is a community, filled with love and support that doesn’t go away when the contest is over.
Note from Dallas: I hope you enter TeenPit 2018! Here are all the details. Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
You know that feeling of having butterflies in your stomach? The first one flapped its wings when I saw my manuscript title by a mentor’s name, the second when I met my fellow mentees, the third when I received an email from my mentor where she said she loved my pages. Then it was continuous flapping, hundreds of butterflies all at once. I still can’t count how many are left flapping their wings in my stomach, because my TeenPit experience did not only last for the one month promised--it’s stretched until today and hopefully will remain forever.
TeenPit is a writing contest designed for high school writers, where the participants submit their first 250 words and a short pitch for a chance to be paired with a mentor. You can go here to read about all the details for TeenPit 2018. And hurry up, the very brief submission window opens on March 17th.
I first noticed a tweet from K. Hopkins, a PitchWars mentor, in early April about a contest for teens. It’s always hard to be taken seriously when you’re sixteen trying to find your way into the publishing industry. TeenPit sounded like the perfect chance where I could hear something more than "your writing is good for your age." I could get feedback about my writing as a writer, not as a kid, and go from there to improve.
I immediately checked it out, drafted my submission email (almost a month before the submission window opened since only first 200 entries were accepted). Then one month passed fast, and the submission day came.
Thanks to living on the west coast, the window opened at five in the morning, and more thanks to the flat tire in the middle of the road the night before, I’d just come home, meaning my brain was perfectly functioning. I was able to send the email… well, with one very embarrassing mistake which ate me up the entire time I waited for the results. I wasn’t going to be picked. I couldn’t be. I sent an email in Comic Sans. They would delete it before they read it.
The mentor teasers started a few hours before the results were posted. My impostor syndrome, for those few hours, seemed weaker than my high hopes. However, my hopes were right. My manuscript title was there, in the list of those that made it to the mentor round.
A few rounds of screaming contest (to relieve the excitement) with my chickens later, I sat down to relax and take time to believe my eyes. Only then was I able to open the email from my mentor, Kristen Lepionka, author of the Roxane Weary mystery series. It was greetings, introductions, "I love your voice" and gifs. That was all that was needed, to know that the first two chapters of my manuscript and I were in good hands. The next thing I needed was to listen, understand, and be open to making changes in my manuscript.
That’s what I did. In between school, senior activities and tons of essays, I knew to give my manuscript some time to edit it. I read her notes and edited. And edited. Scenes, characters, lines—everything. It was sending those twenty pages back and forth, more polished each time until we both looked at it and thought, "That looks about perfect."
The final edits were sent in, and now it was time to wait again. The top picks were announced, they were going to go straight to PitchWars, where they’d work with mentors for two months before their entries went up for agent showcase.
I wasn’t one of them.
That was okay.
In that one month, and all the months afterwards, I’ve become friends with the mentees from TeenPit Class of '17, a group of talented teen writers who are still there for each other. In between edits and gifs, I realized Kristen was more than a mentor. Can I call her my fairy godmother? She’s there to help get me through--from her amazing feedback and edits, to fighting impostor syndrome, or whatever is in the way.
TeenPit is so much more than the contest itself. It is a community, filled with love and support that doesn’t go away when the contest is over.
Note from Dallas: I hope you enter TeenPit 2018! Here are all the details. Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
January 24, 2018
Interview with Young Author E.K. Baer
Today I am thrilled to introduce you to my dear friend and fabulous poet E.K. Baer, who has recently released her first collection of poetry! It was one of my favorite books of 2017 and one that I think will delight and inspire all readers, young and old. E.K. was kind enough to stop by the blog today to answer a few questions about her writing process, how she finds inspiration, and the steps she took to get published. Enjoy!
What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction?
My name is E.K, I am 10-years old and I am from Atlanta, Georgia. My best friend is my cuddly dog Coco who inspires me to do silly stuff. I has been writing poems ever since I can remember. Besides writing, I love to sing, play the violin and the piano. Music gives me the tempo and inspiration for my poems and helps transport me to the places that I write about.
Take us through your writing process when you were creating A Collection of Poems.
A Collection of Poems started as just a bunch of random poems that came to mind. Writing has always helped me with whatever problems I encountered in my life. When I was writing these poems, it was not with the intent to publish a book. The idea of making it a book formed over the course of several months. It wasn’t until I met Ms. Dallas Woodburn that the possibility of making my poems into a book became a reality. Ms. Woodburn has been such a wonderful mentor! She assisted me in editing all my poems and formatting the book. This collection took me a couple of years to write, edit and publish. I am now thrilled to share it and I hope you enjoy my poems.
What do you like most about writing?
What I like most about writing is how it is a way to organize your thoughts, to put your life and dreams into a legible form, to spread your creations with the world. Writing is a freeing experience – the satisfaction after your mind races around with inspiration is tranquilizing.
What surprised you the most about the publishing process?
What I found quite surprising was the amount of work and time that went into publishing just when I thought I was done. ☺ I learned a lot through the whole process. It takes a lot of thought and consideration to figure out the right order of poems, an interesting cover and – hopefully – a good title!
Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams?
Wow, this is difficult because I myself could use some good advice! I feel like some of my best work comes from the times when I do not worry about what other people think or do and when I simply focus on what I am currently writing. I find that it helps me when I can let go of the outside world. I would like to hope that I write some of my best poems when I am ready to describe all my feelings and experiences with pure honesty. I hope that it makes my poems into stories that other people can relate to. I once received a helpful advice about entering my work into contests. The suggestion was to try and put it out of my mind as soon as I click “submit” and try to forget about it. That way I can go on and focus on new work. It is not easy, though, because we are putting ourselves out there every time we share our work. I am still working on it myself.
Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors?
Some of my favorite authors and books by them are:
• 3 a.m., There’s a Huge Pimple on my Nose – Dallas Woodburn
• Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
• Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë
• A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court – Mark Twain
• The Giver – Lois Lowry
• The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers – Alexander Dumas
• Blue Horses, A Thousand Mornings – Mary Oliver
• To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
What inspires you?
I am inspired by my favorite authors, as listed above, by the sounds and movement of nature, by my Mom, things people say in the booth next to us at dinner, my dog, Coco, the song of the birds, the whistle of the wind, and a cloud of thoughts. Inspiration never stops rushing to mind. Sometimes it seems as if inspiration is everywhere, floating around in little bubbles, ready to be used for stories or poems, but first you must catch it. ☺
What are you working on now? What’s next for you?
Currently, I am working on poems for my next book, which I hope to publish very soon! I also continue to submit my poems and short stories to various competitions.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you for your interest in my new book. I wish everyone the best of luck. Always follow your dreams and never give up!
Links:
Order your own copy of A Collection of Poems on Amazon.Visit E.K.'s website!Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction?
My name is E.K, I am 10-years old and I am from Atlanta, Georgia. My best friend is my cuddly dog Coco who inspires me to do silly stuff. I has been writing poems ever since I can remember. Besides writing, I love to sing, play the violin and the piano. Music gives me the tempo and inspiration for my poems and helps transport me to the places that I write about.
Take us through your writing process when you were creating A Collection of Poems.
A Collection of Poems started as just a bunch of random poems that came to mind. Writing has always helped me with whatever problems I encountered in my life. When I was writing these poems, it was not with the intent to publish a book. The idea of making it a book formed over the course of several months. It wasn’t until I met Ms. Dallas Woodburn that the possibility of making my poems into a book became a reality. Ms. Woodburn has been such a wonderful mentor! She assisted me in editing all my poems and formatting the book. This collection took me a couple of years to write, edit and publish. I am now thrilled to share it and I hope you enjoy my poems.
What do you like most about writing?
What I like most about writing is how it is a way to organize your thoughts, to put your life and dreams into a legible form, to spread your creations with the world. Writing is a freeing experience – the satisfaction after your mind races around with inspiration is tranquilizing.
What surprised you the most about the publishing process?
What I found quite surprising was the amount of work and time that went into publishing just when I thought I was done. ☺ I learned a lot through the whole process. It takes a lot of thought and consideration to figure out the right order of poems, an interesting cover and – hopefully – a good title!
Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams?
Wow, this is difficult because I myself could use some good advice! I feel like some of my best work comes from the times when I do not worry about what other people think or do and when I simply focus on what I am currently writing. I find that it helps me when I can let go of the outside world. I would like to hope that I write some of my best poems when I am ready to describe all my feelings and experiences with pure honesty. I hope that it makes my poems into stories that other people can relate to. I once received a helpful advice about entering my work into contests. The suggestion was to try and put it out of my mind as soon as I click “submit” and try to forget about it. That way I can go on and focus on new work. It is not easy, though, because we are putting ourselves out there every time we share our work. I am still working on it myself.
Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors?
Some of my favorite authors and books by them are:
• 3 a.m., There’s a Huge Pimple on my Nose – Dallas Woodburn
• Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
• Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë
• A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court – Mark Twain
• The Giver – Lois Lowry
• The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers – Alexander Dumas
• Blue Horses, A Thousand Mornings – Mary Oliver
• To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
What inspires you?
I am inspired by my favorite authors, as listed above, by the sounds and movement of nature, by my Mom, things people say in the booth next to us at dinner, my dog, Coco, the song of the birds, the whistle of the wind, and a cloud of thoughts. Inspiration never stops rushing to mind. Sometimes it seems as if inspiration is everywhere, floating around in little bubbles, ready to be used for stories or poems, but first you must catch it. ☺
What are you working on now? What’s next for you?
Currently, I am working on poems for my next book, which I hope to publish very soon! I also continue to submit my poems and short stories to various competitions.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you for your interest in my new book. I wish everyone the best of luck. Always follow your dreams and never give up!
Links:
Order your own copy of A Collection of Poems on Amazon.Visit E.K.'s website!Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
November 17, 2017
Interview with Young Author Marina Baker
I am so excited to feature an interview today with young author Marina Baker, who I have been honored to know for a few years now. She has participated in Write On's Summer & Winter Writing Camps and she is also a featured author in Dancing With The Pen II.
Marina is a prolific and talented writer and has already published a collection of poetry titled Sock Drawer. Now, she is celebrating the publication of her novel Escape Reality, which is available on Amazon here.
Read on for Marina's insights about the writing process, finding inspiration, going after your goals, and publishing your work!
Marina and her brother, Miles, in Colorado.What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction?
My name is Marina Baker. I am in ninth grade and I live in Ventura, California. Some of my other hobbies, besides writing, are swimming and reading.
How did you get your idea for Escape Reality? Take us through your writing process.
I got the idea for Escape Reality when my mom said that I had a little inner monster inside me after I got really mad when doing yard work. I thought that this would be really cool if I actually turned into a monster, which happens to the main character of Escape Reality, Lily.
What do you like most about writing?
What I love most about writing is the fact that I can create a whole new world that can be my own. I also love that I can possibly inspire other people, just like how I was inspired by some of my favorite authors.
Marina, you are quite amazing because at your young age, this is already your second published book! (Your first, Sock Drawer, was a wonderful collection of poems!) How was writing and publishing Escape Reality different from the writing and publishing experience of Sock Drawer?
I think that when I self-published Sock Drawer I was new to the world of publishing. One big difference was that my parents and I really had to set up the font size and page breaks, everything like that. When publishing Escape Reality I didn't have to worry about that as much, because the book was published as a Kindle eBook. I think that both experiences were very important and memorable.
Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams?
For other authors, I would say to keep working for your goals. If I had scrapped all of Escape Reality because of the first page, I wouldn't be where I am now. For other young people, I would say the same. Go with your gut and keep pushing because you are going to achieve great things.
Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors?
One of my favorite books is the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. I really look up to JK Rowling and think that she is an amazing author. Another one of my favorites is the Selection series by Kiera Cass. I would definitely recommend both of them.
What inspires you?
I am really inspired by other writers as well as my cat, Chanel. I also really like to write about magic and far off places.
What are you working on now? What’s next?
Right now I am working on a story about an escaped prisoner. I don't really know how it is going to pan out, but I really like it so far, and I hope that I can stick with the story.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Some other things about me: I am addicted to Harry Potter books. I just love the story so much!!!
Links:
Order Marina's book Escape Reality here.Learn more about Dancing With The Pen II here.Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
Marina is a prolific and talented writer and has already published a collection of poetry titled Sock Drawer. Now, she is celebrating the publication of her novel Escape Reality, which is available on Amazon here.
Read on for Marina's insights about the writing process, finding inspiration, going after your goals, and publishing your work!
Marina and her brother, Miles, in Colorado.What would you like readers to know about you as an introduction?My name is Marina Baker. I am in ninth grade and I live in Ventura, California. Some of my other hobbies, besides writing, are swimming and reading.
How did you get your idea for Escape Reality? Take us through your writing process.
I got the idea for Escape Reality when my mom said that I had a little inner monster inside me after I got really mad when doing yard work. I thought that this would be really cool if I actually turned into a monster, which happens to the main character of Escape Reality, Lily.
What do you like most about writing?
What I love most about writing is the fact that I can create a whole new world that can be my own. I also love that I can possibly inspire other people, just like how I was inspired by some of my favorite authors.
Marina, you are quite amazing because at your young age, this is already your second published book! (Your first, Sock Drawer, was a wonderful collection of poems!) How was writing and publishing Escape Reality different from the writing and publishing experience of Sock Drawer?
I think that when I self-published Sock Drawer I was new to the world of publishing. One big difference was that my parents and I really had to set up the font size and page breaks, everything like that. When publishing Escape Reality I didn't have to worry about that as much, because the book was published as a Kindle eBook. I think that both experiences were very important and memorable.
Do you have any advice for other writers, or for other young people going after their dreams?
For other authors, I would say to keep working for your goals. If I had scrapped all of Escape Reality because of the first page, I wouldn't be where I am now. For other young people, I would say the same. Go with your gut and keep pushing because you are going to achieve great things.
Can you share a few of your favorite books or authors?
One of my favorite books is the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. I really look up to JK Rowling and think that she is an amazing author. Another one of my favorites is the Selection series by Kiera Cass. I would definitely recommend both of them.
What inspires you?
I am really inspired by other writers as well as my cat, Chanel. I also really like to write about magic and far off places.
What are you working on now? What’s next?
Right now I am working on a story about an escaped prisoner. I don't really know how it is going to pan out, but I really like it so far, and I hope that I can stick with the story.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Some other things about me: I am addicted to Harry Potter books. I just love the story so much!!!
Links:
Order Marina's book Escape Reality here.Learn more about Dancing With The Pen II here.Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
November 9, 2017
Guest Post: Boost Your Mood and Creativity with Travel
by Henry Moore
Your job performance requires you to think creatively, but lately, you’ve been finding that harder and harder. It’s not that you cannot do your job, but the stress is sapping your creativity and making things more difficult.
Rather than start searching for a new job, consider planning some travel. Heading out for even just a few days can recharge your spirit, boost your creativity, and improve your mental health. It can even help you stay healthy. Read on to learn why vacations can be so helpful.
(Image Source: Pixabay)The Chopra Center lists six reasons why travel is good for you: 1. You tend to get exercise while traveling, and that’s great for your physical health. And when your body is healthy, your mood is better. 2. Stimulation from traveling somewhere improves memory and concentration. 3. Engaging new people and cultures boosts your creativity. 4. A relaxing trip reduces your stress and decreases depression. 5. Traveling broadens your perspectives, allowing you to find solutions you never thought about before. 6. You can build relationships with the people that travel with you.
Another reason why taking a trip improves your mood and creativity is that you test your comfort zone. It’s easy to stick with repetitive routines at home. That’s fine, but in the long-run, you get stuck in a rut. Breaking that up by traveling pushes you into new territory (literally and figuratively) However, not all travel is equally beneficial. You’ve probably been on one that ended up stressful and taxing rather than relaxing and fun. That’s why you need to follow these tips for a good vacation: ● Instead of saving your vacation days for one big trip, space them out through the year so you have more to look forward to. ● Don’t create a complex plan. Explore your options, but be sure to schedule some downtime in your itinerary. ● If you’re traveling with family or friends, talk beforehand about guidelines and expectations so no one gets upset because they expected something different. ● Pick an underrated destination. Crowds and tourist traps can make your trip stressful, so pick a destination that doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
If you are in addiction recovery, you also need to worry about temptation and relapses when traveling. That said, you can definitely find a relaxing trip. Focus on places not known for alcohol or drugs (avoid spring break towns, for example) and go where there are fun but sober activities to explore. Traveling can do wonders for both your mood and your creativity. If you feel stuck in a rut, take a few days and travel somewhere new. After meeting new places, activities, and people, you’ll be surprised how you’ll be happier and able to think more creatively.
Henry is the co-creator of FitWellTraveler. The site blends two of his favorite subjects (travel and wellness) to provide readers with information about how to get the most out of both. He believes travel can change you, and good health preserves you.Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
Your job performance requires you to think creatively, but lately, you’ve been finding that harder and harder. It’s not that you cannot do your job, but the stress is sapping your creativity and making things more difficult.
Rather than start searching for a new job, consider planning some travel. Heading out for even just a few days can recharge your spirit, boost your creativity, and improve your mental health. It can even help you stay healthy. Read on to learn why vacations can be so helpful.
(Image Source: Pixabay)The Chopra Center lists six reasons why travel is good for you: 1. You tend to get exercise while traveling, and that’s great for your physical health. And when your body is healthy, your mood is better. 2. Stimulation from traveling somewhere improves memory and concentration. 3. Engaging new people and cultures boosts your creativity. 4. A relaxing trip reduces your stress and decreases depression. 5. Traveling broadens your perspectives, allowing you to find solutions you never thought about before. 6. You can build relationships with the people that travel with you.
Another reason why taking a trip improves your mood and creativity is that you test your comfort zone. It’s easy to stick with repetitive routines at home. That’s fine, but in the long-run, you get stuck in a rut. Breaking that up by traveling pushes you into new territory (literally and figuratively) However, not all travel is equally beneficial. You’ve probably been on one that ended up stressful and taxing rather than relaxing and fun. That’s why you need to follow these tips for a good vacation: ● Instead of saving your vacation days for one big trip, space them out through the year so you have more to look forward to. ● Don’t create a complex plan. Explore your options, but be sure to schedule some downtime in your itinerary. ● If you’re traveling with family or friends, talk beforehand about guidelines and expectations so no one gets upset because they expected something different. ● Pick an underrated destination. Crowds and tourist traps can make your trip stressful, so pick a destination that doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
If you are in addiction recovery, you also need to worry about temptation and relapses when traveling. That said, you can definitely find a relaxing trip. Focus on places not known for alcohol or drugs (avoid spring break towns, for example) and go where there are fun but sober activities to explore. Traveling can do wonders for both your mood and your creativity. If you feel stuck in a rut, take a few days and travel somewhere new. After meeting new places, activities, and people, you’ll be surprised how you’ll be happier and able to think more creatively.
Henry is the co-creator of FitWellTraveler. The site blends two of his favorite subjects (travel and wellness) to provide readers with information about how to get the most out of both. He believes travel can change you, and good health preserves you.Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
September 28, 2017
Winners of the Write On! Fiction & Poetry Prizes!
I am so proud to announce the winners of our Write On! Fiction and Poetry Prizes! This was a highly competitive submissions period and we received so many excellent pieces from young writers all around the world. It was a tough decision for our judges! Congratulations to all of our winners and many thanks to everyone who entered. It was a pleasure to read your work!
You can read a selection of the winning entries published on Word Smorgasbord literary journal.
More exciting news: the Write On! Youth Drama Prizes for short plays are currently underway! Learn more and submit your work here!
And now, without further ado...
Write On! Fiction Prize
Ages 12 & under
Gold: Suntali Donahue, “The Dream Portal”
Silver: Alex Zhong, “Hawk and Willow”
Bronze: Ada Sheeran, “Survivors”
Honorable Mention:
Logan Chan, “The Fox and The Owl: A Tale of Cleverness” Benjamin Webb, “The Three Little Figs: A Fairytale Adaptation"
Ages 13-18
Gold: Victoria Saltz, “Escape”
Silver: Anjali Zyla, “The Merry-Go-Round”
Bronze: Andrew Huang, “The Crash”
Honorable Mention:
Sydney Anderson, “The Little Blue Dragon” Aidan Chisholm, “Steps” Vichar Lochan, “You” Kanchan Naik, “To Mourn a Flower” Daisy Wang, “Five Years Later: Bitter Is The Night”
Write On! Poetry Prize
Ages 12 & under
Gold: Macy Li, “One in a Million”
Silver: Elisabeth Baer, “Purple Moon”
Bronze: Samitha Nemirajaiah, “Whisper, Trees”
Honorable Mention:
Rosalie Chiang, “Dear Mom” Anika Johnson, “Take Care, Take Care” Luca Pasquini, “I am from…”
Ages 13-18
Gold: Cameron Moore, “Teach Your Kids to Swim”
Silver: Kanchan Naik, “Summer Angel”
Bronze: Cara Levicoff, “An Exposé on Time”
Honorable Mention:
Marina Baker, “Growing Pains” Michelle Bless, “Falling Down” Sam Jacovitz, “Butterfly Effect” Sameed Sayeed, “Tomorrow Never Came"
Congratulations again to all of our winners -- it is my extreme pleasure and delight to share your work with the world! And thank you again to everyone who entered our contest and opened your minds, hearts and imaginations to our judges. We hope you go forth and create more marvelous writing to share with the world!
"Write with passion. Write with love." -Ray Bradbury Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
June 7, 2017
Write On! Youth Fiction and Poetry Prizes
Ten years ago, I held the first Write On! Summer Writing Camp for young writers. In the years since:
Summer Writing Camp has expanded to two summer weekends with sessions in both the morning and afternoon. I now also offer a Winter Writing Camp. Dozens of students are enrolled in my yearlong Guided Mentorship program. I have been honored to teach hundreds of young writers. Many of my students have gone on to publish their work and win writing contests; many have become editors for their high school newspapers and literary magazines; some have even gone on to study Creative Writing and Journalism in college! I am so proud of every single one of the young writers I have had the privilege to meet and teach in the past decade. All these years, one thing has remained the same: my belief in the magic of unleashing your creativity through writing.
Exciting news! In celebration of the 10th Annual Summer Writing Camp—held this year in Ventura, California, on August 15, 16, 19, and 20—I am holding the first ever Write On! Youth Fiction and Poetry Prizes for young writers ages 18 and under!
You can win prize money, books, a free coaching call with me… and you might even become a published writer! Read below for the rules and submission procedures. I can’t wait to read your work!
Prizes in all categories are:
First place: $50, a free 30-minute coaching call with me, a signed copy of my book of short stories 3 a.m., and publication of your work on Word Smorgasbord online literary magazineSecond place: $25, a signed copy of 3 a.m., and publication of your work Third place: a signed copy of 3 a.m. and publication of your work Finalists: publication of your work
Contest Rules:
This contest is judged BLIND, which means no identifying information should be on your entry. You will submit your name, age and contact information through the submission form. If your name is included on your entry, it will be disqualified. Word limit: fiction should be 1,000 words or less. Poetry should be 2 pages or less. There is a $10 entry fee for each piece, or you can submit 3 entries for $25. This helps fund the prizes and the administration costs of Submittable. You also have the option to purchase a copy of Dancing With The Pen II: a collection of today’s best youth writing at the special discounted price of $15, rather than its cover price of $25. You may submit as many entries as you would like, as long as you pay the entry fee for each piece you submit. The contest deadline is midnight Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, August 20, 2017 (the final day of this year’s Summer Writing Camp).
–> Click here to submit your work now! <–
I can't wait to read your wonderful, beautiful, amazing, brilliant, scary, funny, thrilling, heart-wrenching, goosebump-inducing, magical, lovely stories and poems! :)Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
May 19, 2017
How Far Will Your Ripples Go?
Last week, I went with my friend Marjie to UC Berkeley to see the Scottish Ballet's stunning performance of Tennessee Williams' famous play "A Streetcar Named Desire." It was my first time going to a professional ballet performance---my only previous ballet experience was attending community performances of "The Nutcracker." I always enjoyed "The Nutcracker" and was always impressed by the talent of the ballerinas. Still, I was not expecting to feel so emotionally moved and enraptured as I watched the performance last night.
The dancers conveyed so much with their bodies and expressions; I forgot they were not speaking in words. Because they were speaking in movement. Even without dialogue, they were able to capture the aching hope and despair of Williams' play, and bring his story to life in a new way. What's more, this performance imagined and fleshed out a vivid backstory for Blanche's character, inspired by the original title Tennessee Williams considered for the play: "The Moth." The ballet closed with a vulnerable portrayal of Blanche as a moth, struggling to get close to the light. Illuminated in a spotlight centerstage, one of her hands fluttered skyward like a moth's delicate wings. A hush descended over the audience and some people even gasped, viscerally moved by the image, and then the curtain fell to thunderous applause.
I wish Tennessee Williams could have been there to see this interpretation of his play as a ballet. I think he would have been pleased to see his story brought to life in this new way, filled with the tension and drama of music and dance.
I have felt a connection to Tennessee Williams ever since last Thanksgiving, when my family and I traveled to New Orleans and tracked down the apartment that he had lived in during his New Orleans days at the end of his life. Serendipitously, while we were outside, taking photos and reading the small plaque affixed to the front wall, a man who lived there just happened to be returning home. He introduced himself as Brobson and invited us inside for a drink; he had lived there for many years and had known Tennessee Williams. He kindly welcomed us inside and shared many stories, even taking us around to the backyard to see the pool where Tennessee used to relax in the afternoons. (My dad wrote a terrific two-part column about our visit with Brobson, which you can read here on his website.)
Before that day, Tennessee Williams had been larger-than-life to me; a name in a list of Great Writers I Admire; a photo on a Wikipedia page. But seeing where he had lived and meeting someone who had known him turned him into a real person. There were surely days he struggled to write, as I sometimes do. Days when he doubted himself. Days when he wanted to give up. "A Streetcar Named Desire" was once merely a glimmer of an idea on the edge of his consciousness.
Thankfully, he wrote the idea down, and he kept writing until the play was finished. Even when it was hard. Even when there were a million other things he could have been doing, or would have rather been doing. Even when he wondered if the words he was painstakingly stacking up, one after the next after the next, would amount to anything at all.
Tennessee Williams had no way of knowing how much his plays would impact people and how far the ripples of his creativity would extend. He had no way of knowing that on a Thursday evening in Berkeley thirty-seven years after his death, hundreds of people would be moved to tears from a new portrayal of the characters he had dreamed up.
None of us know how far our own ripples will go. The gifts we create. The lives we touch. The kind words we share. All of these are stones dropped into water. What was once still is now in motion.
You have no idea how your daily actions might inspire others. What you do and make today might affect someone tomorrow, or next week, or ten years from now. Others in the future might learn from you and build upon what you have done, creating something of their own that is entirely new and wonderful, something else that will launch more ripples out into the world.
{source}
Back when I was in elementary school, I wrote and self-published a small book of stories and poems. Nearly two decades later, I received an email from a composer named Alex Marthaler at Carnegie Mellon University. He was creating a song-cycle around the theme of childhood and adulthood, and he had somehow discovered my little book. Would it be okay if he used some of my poems as lyrics for the songs he wanted to compose?
Yes! I quickly responded. Yes, that would be amazing!
Would I be willing to write a few companion poems, responding to the themes of the poems I had written as a child, now from an adult perspective?
Yes, yes! What a fun project!
And it was an extremely fun project, unlike anything else I had done before or since. I looked at the poems my child-self had written with fresh eyes and new appreciation, and I wrote new poems that were in conversation with them. It was like talking to the girl I had once been, and listening to her replies. She helped me remember why I first fell in love with writing to begin with. The magic of setting your thoughts down onto paper, and then releasing those words into the universe. Like launching hundreds of miniature paper airplanes into the sky.
I sent him the new poems, and a few months later, Alex sent me the recordings of the songs. Listening to them, I was blown away with wonder. Who would have imagined that a few little poems I wrote in pencil on lined notebook paper at my kitchen table when I was nine years old, would one day be turned into beautiful songs performed at Carnegie Mellon?
{Me in fifth grade with copies of my first little self-published book}
I love this quote from Brene Brown:"Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world."
How will you share your soul with the world? What ripples will come from what you share? One thing I do know is that our world will be so much richer for it.
P.S. You can listen to Alex's song rendition of my fifth-grade poem "Peanut Butter Surprise" on my website, and if you'd like a copy of my first little book, it's available here. And here is a free download of my childhood poems with their adult counterparts, in case you'd like to read them.
Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
The dancers conveyed so much with their bodies and expressions; I forgot they were not speaking in words. Because they were speaking in movement. Even without dialogue, they were able to capture the aching hope and despair of Williams' play, and bring his story to life in a new way. What's more, this performance imagined and fleshed out a vivid backstory for Blanche's character, inspired by the original title Tennessee Williams considered for the play: "The Moth." The ballet closed with a vulnerable portrayal of Blanche as a moth, struggling to get close to the light. Illuminated in a spotlight centerstage, one of her hands fluttered skyward like a moth's delicate wings. A hush descended over the audience and some people even gasped, viscerally moved by the image, and then the curtain fell to thunderous applause.
I wish Tennessee Williams could have been there to see this interpretation of his play as a ballet. I think he would have been pleased to see his story brought to life in this new way, filled with the tension and drama of music and dance.
I have felt a connection to Tennessee Williams ever since last Thanksgiving, when my family and I traveled to New Orleans and tracked down the apartment that he had lived in during his New Orleans days at the end of his life. Serendipitously, while we were outside, taking photos and reading the small plaque affixed to the front wall, a man who lived there just happened to be returning home. He introduced himself as Brobson and invited us inside for a drink; he had lived there for many years and had known Tennessee Williams. He kindly welcomed us inside and shared many stories, even taking us around to the backyard to see the pool where Tennessee used to relax in the afternoons. (My dad wrote a terrific two-part column about our visit with Brobson, which you can read here on his website.)
Before that day, Tennessee Williams had been larger-than-life to me; a name in a list of Great Writers I Admire; a photo on a Wikipedia page. But seeing where he had lived and meeting someone who had known him turned him into a real person. There were surely days he struggled to write, as I sometimes do. Days when he doubted himself. Days when he wanted to give up. "A Streetcar Named Desire" was once merely a glimmer of an idea on the edge of his consciousness.
Thankfully, he wrote the idea down, and he kept writing until the play was finished. Even when it was hard. Even when there were a million other things he could have been doing, or would have rather been doing. Even when he wondered if the words he was painstakingly stacking up, one after the next after the next, would amount to anything at all.
Tennessee Williams had no way of knowing how much his plays would impact people and how far the ripples of his creativity would extend. He had no way of knowing that on a Thursday evening in Berkeley thirty-seven years after his death, hundreds of people would be moved to tears from a new portrayal of the characters he had dreamed up.
None of us know how far our own ripples will go. The gifts we create. The lives we touch. The kind words we share. All of these are stones dropped into water. What was once still is now in motion.
You have no idea how your daily actions might inspire others. What you do and make today might affect someone tomorrow, or next week, or ten years from now. Others in the future might learn from you and build upon what you have done, creating something of their own that is entirely new and wonderful, something else that will launch more ripples out into the world.
{source}Back when I was in elementary school, I wrote and self-published a small book of stories and poems. Nearly two decades later, I received an email from a composer named Alex Marthaler at Carnegie Mellon University. He was creating a song-cycle around the theme of childhood and adulthood, and he had somehow discovered my little book. Would it be okay if he used some of my poems as lyrics for the songs he wanted to compose?
Yes! I quickly responded. Yes, that would be amazing!
Would I be willing to write a few companion poems, responding to the themes of the poems I had written as a child, now from an adult perspective?
Yes, yes! What a fun project!
And it was an extremely fun project, unlike anything else I had done before or since. I looked at the poems my child-self had written with fresh eyes and new appreciation, and I wrote new poems that were in conversation with them. It was like talking to the girl I had once been, and listening to her replies. She helped me remember why I first fell in love with writing to begin with. The magic of setting your thoughts down onto paper, and then releasing those words into the universe. Like launching hundreds of miniature paper airplanes into the sky.
I sent him the new poems, and a few months later, Alex sent me the recordings of the songs. Listening to them, I was blown away with wonder. Who would have imagined that a few little poems I wrote in pencil on lined notebook paper at my kitchen table when I was nine years old, would one day be turned into beautiful songs performed at Carnegie Mellon?
{Me in fifth grade with copies of my first little self-published book}I love this quote from Brene Brown:"Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world."
How will you share your soul with the world? What ripples will come from what you share? One thing I do know is that our world will be so much richer for it.
P.S. You can listen to Alex's song rendition of my fifth-grade poem "Peanut Butter Surprise" on my website, and if you'd like a copy of my first little book, it's available here. And here is a free download of my childhood poems with their adult counterparts, in case you'd like to read them.
Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
April 14, 2017
How Not to Lose the Ending of a Story
A Guest Post by Lucy Adams
(source)Excellent stories influence people months and even years after they are read. However, it sometimes happens that a story that seems perfect at first glance eventually does not meet the high expectations of both the author and the audience. Why does this happen?
Imagine you read a book with all the components (conflict, plot, characters, idea, symbols) in harmony, but after half a year passes you can’t recall even the name of the protagonist, let alone the details. What's the catch?
In most cases, the weakest point of the book is its ending. Weak endings have buried millions of potential bestsellers! Memorable stories always have a strong ending, and it seems that such stories live their own lives. Some of them become great and live for centuries, influencing the fates of readers.
Today our goal is to identify and analyze the main mistakes that authors make when working on the final of the book.
To begin with, let’s distinguish three main reasons that make an ending boring and unremarkable:
1. Premature ending.
2. Artificial ending.
3. Fully completed ending.
#1 Premature Ending There are several reasons that an ending might seem premature:
• There is a too-fast change in the character traits of the protagonist.
For the reader, the shift in the mindset and character traits is the most important event: the climax in the story. And if it happens too early, the development of the character ceases, and hence all subsequent events seem not so significant and not so interesting to the reader.
• Too-fast goal achievements.
In every story, the protagonist (as well as the antagonist) has an ultimate goal that he strives for through thick and thin. For example, to get the woman of his dreams. When this happens, the reader gradually gets bored. Therefore, if you want to change the global desire, you should introduce some plot twists as well.
• Untypical actions.
A coward suddenly becomes brave; an angry soldier engages in charity; a child solves Fermat's theorem, etc. Untypical actions are a sign that the events happen not for the objective reasons but the will of the author. And it’s quite disappointing for the reader!
#2 Artificial EndingThe artificial ending is the most common mistake among aspiring writers. In most cases, the reason for such an unremarkable ending is a thoughtless plot. Note that any narration should be a consistent system that contributes to the development of the protagonist and further change in his or her traits. Non-compliance with this rule results in a blurred ending. Although there’s often is a visible ending, the thoughtful reader will see that you did not know where you were going but simply wandered meaninglessly in the dark.
(source)#3 Fully Completed EndingThe protagonist reached his goals, changed his traits, and finally achieved complete tranquility… nothing more bothers him, and that’s cool! All the secondary conflicts are solved, and there’s nothing more to talk about. These events suggest that the story is over. But in fact, it should not be so! The achieved calmness is temporary while the change in traits does not guarantee a peaceful life! An excellent story lives for a long time because its ending is always a start of something even more intriguing!
Let’s recall One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. The story seems to be over. What to talk about? Suddenly the Chief escapes from the hospital to continue the work of McMurphy, thereby giving us a new meaning. The idea is still alive; it doesn’t die with the protagonist!
In Conclusion When working on the ending of the story, authors should make sure that:
• The ending is not premature and the plot develops naturally, preparing readers for the final stage.
• All the secondary storylines are completed.
• The protagonist has reached the goal or failed the mission.
• There are no questions left regarding the main characters.
• The ended story gives birth to a new one and leaves room for thought.
I wish you best of luck in your writing endeavors!
Bio: Lucy Adams is a blogger and essay helper from BuzzEssay. She covers a wide range of topics, from education to psychology. Lucy is a generalist ready to prepare a few guest posts exclusively for your blog. Feel free to suggest something interesting, and you will get a fast and grounded response!Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
March 15, 2017
Celebrating Success
For most of the year, my job as a writing teacher is a slow, gradual process with my students… helping them write more clearly and expansively, broaden and deepen their thinking, and discover more joy and freedom in the act of writing. Like training for a marathon, it is a “slow and steady” endeavor. I see their growth, but sometimes it is harder for them to see it.
Then, every so often, there are spectacularly exciting days. Days when I receive their giddy emails and phone calls and I get to celebrate with them. Days when their hard work and hours of time are rewarded.
Just in the past few weeks, I have learned that my students were honored in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards with a whopping 7 Gold Keys, 11 Silver Keys, and 3 Honorable Mentions; Honorable Mention in the national Princeton University High School Poetry Contest; and National Finalist honors in the American High School Poets Just Poetry Competition.
Sometimes the successes are more personal, such as my student who proudly told me that he received a perfect score on an in-class English essay “for the first time ever!!” He said, “I didn’t think I could do that.” I knew he could.
Recently, I received an email from one of my adult students -- who is finally, bravely working on a book that has been bouncing around in her mind for years -- that simply said: "Thank you for helping me break through my inertia." After years of thinking she was not good enough to try her hand at writing, she is now getting her words and ideas down on paper.
I am so grateful for my students, who remind me daily the power of persistence and who fill my life with imagination and enthusiasm. I am so proud of them. It fills my heart to see them gain pride and confidence in themselves.
Would you like to work with me?
I currently have a select number of spots available in my Guided Mentorship and Online Tutoring programs for young writers, as well as my Writing Coaching programs for adults. Contact me to learn more and book your free 20-minute consultation call with me. I'd love to help you, or your child, gain confidence in your ideas and tell the stories that matter most to you. Let's work together to reframe writing for what it truly is: a tool of connection and empowerment! Dallas Woodburn
author, speaker, freelance writer
founder of Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy
www.writeonbooks.org
http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/
